The microstructure and interfacial transition zone characteristics of Portland cement mortars prepared with a polynaphthalene sulfate (PNS) superplasticizer at relatively high dosages (0.8%, 1.5% by mass of cement) and varying sand-to-cement ratios (0.5, 1.0, 1.5) were investigated, using AC impedance spectroscopy, mercury intrusion porosimetry, helium pycnometry and two electrical conductance ...

This study describes the use of a composite nitrate salt solution as a precursor to synthesize CeO2 and Gd2O3-doped CeO2 (GDC) nanoparticles (NPs) using an atmospheric pressure plasma jet (APPJ). The microstructures of CeO2 and GDC NPs were found to be cubical and spherical shaped nanocrystallites with average particle sizes of 10.5 and 6.7 nm, respectively. Reactive oxygen species, detected by...

This paper investigates the effect of water vapour in CO sensing by using Pd doped SnO2 sensors realized in thick film technology as an example of the basic understanding of sensing mechanisms applied to sensors. The results of phenomenological and spectroscopic measurement techniques, all of them obtained under working conditions for sensors, were combined with modelling in order to derive con...

LiMn2-xTixO4 compounds with 0 ≤ x ≤ 1 were prepared by solid state reaction and Pechini technique. Powder X-ray diffraction showed that all samples crystallize with the spinel crystal structure (S.G. Fd 3 m). The cubic unit-cell parameter increases with Ti content. The influence of the Ti content and cationic distribution on the magnetic properties of the compounds was studied by measuring the ...

Mains impedance is a critical parameter to consider when diagnosing load generated power quality problems. High impedance can contribute to voltage sags, low voltage conditions, high frequency noise, transient impulses, and harmonic voltages. These problems can be created by the critical load, or by other loads powered from the same electrical source. This paper presents the concept of mains im...

An end-launched adapter combining a coaxial loop within a rectangular waveguide has been analyzed and designed. The accurate electromagnetic modeling of input impedance for the adapter design has been developed using a modal analysis method. Also, design parameters to improve the end-launched adapter have been investigated. Numerical and experimental results of the proposed model have been comp...

In this study, poly (vinyl alcohol) (PVA), lithium perchlorate (LiClO4) and nano-sized titanium oxide (TiO2) were employed as host polymer, dopant salt and inorganic filler respectively. The influence of the inorganic filler on ionic conductivity, structural and morphological properties of the polymer matrix are investigated. Ionic conductivity of polymer electrolytes is measured by ac-impedanc...