Abstract:
A working electrode and dye sensitized solar (DSSC) cell having working electrode where the working electrode includes a porous metal foil conductor and a particulate metal oxide layer on the side of the foil for facing incident light and process for preparing the electrode and DSSC.
Abstract:
A new composite comprises (a) 10.1 -99.9 % by weight of elemental Ag and (b) 0.1 -89.9 % by weight of ZnO, wherein the sum of (a) and (b) makes 90 % or more by weight of the composite and wherein the elemental Ag has a primary particle size of 10-200 nm and/or the ZnO has a primary particle size of 0.1 to below 50μm and/or the composite has a particle size distribution of 0.1 - 50 μm and/or a BET surface area of 10-100 m2/g. The novel composite may be obtained by the steps (i) mixing a first mixture of at least one Ag-salt with a second mixture of at least one Zn-salt thereby forming a third mixture of Ag- and Zn-salts, (ii) adding the third mixture to a mixture of a carbonate source, (iii) co-precipitating of the Ag- and Zn-carbonates formed in step (ii), (iv) washing of the Ag- and Zn-carbonates and (v) thermal decompositing of the Ag- and Zn-carbonates. The novel composites are useful to impart antimicrobial properties to surfaces, articles or bulk compositions, especially to membrane systems for gas- or water separation.
Abstract:
The present invention relates to a dye sensitized solar cell comprising a semiconductor formed of a particulate metal oxide, a dye adsorbed onto the semiconductor wherein the semiconductor interface with the dye is formed by atomic layer deposition (ALD) of asemiconductor material onto the particulate metal oxide.
Abstract:
Disclosed is a process for preparing an antimicrobial article, wherein a silver colloid is formed in situ as a result of the components employed. The process comprises the steps of (i) providing a liquid, which contains a soluble polar polymer in a solvent selected from certain polar organic solvents; (ii) adding a silver salt selected from alpha-functionalized silver carboxylates to said liquid; (iii) allowing the mixture to react with formation of a silver colloid; and (iv) separating the solvent from the mixture and forming of the antimicrobial article. The antimicrobial articles thus obtained may be sheets, films, fibres, coating layers, and especially membranes like a semipermeable membrane for ultrafiltration, water separation or gas separation.
Abstract:
This invention relates to patterning metal oxide layers by atomic layer deposition (ALD) on substrates used in the fabrication of dye-sensitised solar cells (DSSC).
Abstract:
A method of controlling the degradation of a polymeric film to cause the film to degrade after an intended useful life time includes providing a polymeric film comprising a polymer and prodegradant for the polymer adapted to be activated on irradiation with a controlled dosage of electromagnetic radiation, activating one or more sources of artificial radiation adapted to emit electromagnetic radiation and irradiating at least part of the polymeric film with the artificial radiation. The electromagnetic radiation comprises wavelengths less than about 400 nm. A system for predisposing a polymeric film containing a prodegradant to degrade after an intended service life includes one or more sources of artificial radiation and an irradiation controller, together with a film dispenser dispensing film into the irradiation zone.
Abstract:
A process for modifying a polymeric surface, the process comprising; contacting the polymeric surface with a solution comprising at least one ethylenically unsaturated monomer; and exposing the polymeric surface in contact with the solution to ultra-violet light to provide a graft-polymer of the monomer coated on the polymeric surface.
Abstract:
A new composite comprises (a) 10.1 -99.9 % by weight of elemental Ag and (b) 0.1 -89.9 % by weight of ZnO, wherein the sum of (a) and (b) makes 90 % or more by weight of the composite and wherein the elemental Ag has a primary particle size of 10-200 nm and/or the ZnO has a primary particle size of 0.1 to below 50µm and/or the composite has a particle size distribution of 0.1 - 50 µm and/or a BET surface area of 10-100 m2/g. The novel composite may be obtained by the steps (i) mixing a first mixture of at least one Ag-salt with a second mixture of at least one Zn-salt thereby forming a third mixture of Ag- and Zn-salts, (ii) adding the third mixture to a mixture of a carbonate source, (iii) co-precipitating of the Ag- and Zn-carbonates formed in step (ii), (iv) washing of the Ag- and Zn-carbonates and (v) thermal decompositing of the Ag- and Zn-carbonates. The novel composites are useful to impart antimicrobial properties to surfaces, articles or bulk compositions, especially to membrane systems for gas- or water separation.
Abstract:
The present invention relates to the preparation of clickable thin film composite (TFC) polyamide membranes, i.e. either azide functionalized, alkyne functionalized or both, that allow a very simple and easy surface modification of the membrane via click chemistry. Further aspects of the invention are such membranes per se, a process for the subsequent modification of the thin film composite polyamide membrane surface using click chemistry to yield membranes having new chemical and physical properties, e.g. antifouling and/or antibacterial properties.
Abstract:
A method of fabricating microstructured cell culture devices comprising: providing a mold surface on which the microstructure is to be formed in an injection mold; subjecting the mold surface to pulsed laser etching to form the inverse pattern of the microstructure defining the walls of an array of micro-wells; forming an injection mold cavity defined by internal surfaces comprising the mold surface; injecting a solidifiable polymeric material into the injection mold to form a solidified polymeric cell culture device having the array of micro-wells formed therein; and removing the cell culture device from the mold.