2008 DEC 29 - (VerticalNews.com) -- According to a study from Taiwan, "A series of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) decorated with bimetallic platinum/ruthenium nanocatalysts were fabricated to investigate their electrochemical activities in acid solution. These PtRu/CNT composites were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD). and N-2 physisorption."

  "The crystalline size of PtRu nanocatalysts generally decreased with Ru atomic ratio, i.e., from 4.34 to 2.77 nm. The specific surface areas and pore size distributions of PtRu/CNT composites were slightly altered after the PtRu deposition. Cyclic voltammetry measurements in 1M H2SO4 showed that Pt75Ru25/CNT electrode has the greatest activity in electrochemical adsorption and desorption of hydrogen, i.e., the ratio of electrochemical surface coverage: 84.6%," wrote C.T. Hsieh and colleagues, Yuan-Ze University ...read more

  2008 DEC 29 - (VerticalNews.com) -- "Single crystals of Zn-Mg-Er and Zn-Mg-Ho icosahedral phases were grown from the melt using the liquid encapsulated top seeded solution growth technique. The fivefold planes of these as-grown single crystals were polished and used for the present nanoindentation studies using Hysitron triboscope attached to an atomic force microscope with a maximum load up to 16 mN," investigators in Varanasi, India report ...read more

  2008 DEC 29 - (VerticalNews.com) -- According to a study from Singapore, Singapore, "In the present study, pure magnesium and a Mg/Y2O3 nanocomposite were microwave sintered using heating rates of 49 and 20 degrees C/min."

  "Results obtained from extruded rods revealed that average hardness and strengths of both Mg and MgY2O3 samples were higher when they were sintered at higher heating rate. Ductility of pure Mg, however, reduced at higher heating rate while it remained similar for Mg/Y2O3 nanocomposite," wrote K.S. Tun and colleagues, National University ...read more