Sustainable energy observations

Presence of medium range order gives rise to another phenomenon observed in spectroscopy, known as Boson peaks. These arise from the quasi-local excitations sustained by regions in which such intermediate order (IRO) is present. Several studies have indicated the presence of anomalies of vibrational properties such as excess vibrational density of states at low energies observed at low temperatures. This manifests as Boson peaks in Raman spectra. The normalized Raman spectra in the low frequency region are shown in Figure 3.13 for the same glasses for which... 

Both deflagrations and detonations can produce what a lay observer might describe as an explosion . Nonetheless, a detonation is a special type of explosion with specific physical characteristics. It is initiated by the heat accompanying shock compression it liberates sufficient energy, before any expansion occurs, to sustain the shock wave. The shock wave propagates into the unreacted material at supersonic speed, typically 1500—9000 m/s. We discuss the practical differences between the effects of detonation and deflagration in Chapter 11 on post-blast issues. 

No doubt Chadwick and Rutherford would have been quick to pronounce similarly on the experiments of Pons and Fleischmann, a who announced on 23 March 1989 that they had observed I sustained nuclear fusion from the electrolysis of heavy water using palladium electrodes. Deuterium is absorbed by palladium in the same way as hydrogen, but its fusion into helium does not require such extreme conditions (see page 109). All the same, these conditions have long proved impossible to sustain in physicists attempts to harness nuclear fusion for energy generation. Now two chemists were claiming that these massively expensive fusion projects could be abandoned all you needed was a test tube and two strips of palladium. 

When titanium oxides are irradiated with UV light that is greater than the band-gap energy of the catalyst (about X < 380 nm), electrons (e ) and holes (h+) are produced in the conduction and valence bands, respectively. These electrons and holes have a high reductive potential and oxidative potential, respectively, which, together, cause catalytic reactions on the surfaces namely photocatalytic reactions are induced. Because of its similarity with the mechanism observed with photosynthesis in green plants, photocatalysis may also be referred to as artificial photosynthesis [1-4]. As will be introduced in a later section, there are no limits to the possibilities and applications of titanium oxide photocatalysts as environmentally harmonious catalysts and/or sustainable green chemical systems. ... 

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