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Monday, February 18, 2013
Affordable fuel cells closer: Synthetic molecule first electricity-making catalyst to use iron to split hydrogen gas
Feb. 17, 2013 ? To make fuel cells more economical, engineers want a fast and efficient iron-based molecule that splits hydrogen gas to make electricity. Online Feb. 17 at Nature Chemistry, researchers report such a catalyst. It is the first iron-based catalyst that converts hydrogen directly to electricity. The result moves chemists and engineers one step closer to widely affordable fuel cells.
"A drawback with today's fuel cells is that the platinum they use is more than a thousand times more expensive than iron," said chemist R. Morris Bullock, who leads the research at the Department of Energy's Pacific Northwest National Laboratory.
His team at the Center for Molecular Electrocatalysis has been developing catalysts that use cheaper metals such as nickel and iron. The one they report here can split hydrogen as fast as two molecules per second with an efficiency approaching those of commercial catalysts. The center is one of 46 Energy Frontier Research Centers established by the DOE Office of Science across the nation in 2009 to accelerate basic research in energy.
Fuel cells generate electricity out of a chemical fuel, usually hydrogen. The bond within a hydrogen molecule stores electricity, where two electrons connect two hydrogen atoms like a barbell.
Fuel cells use a platinum catalyst -- essentially a chunk of metal -- to crack a hydrogen molecule open like an egg: The electron whites run out and form a current that is electricity. Because platinum's chemical nature gives it the ability to do this, chemists can't simply replace the expensive metal with the cheaper iron or nickel. However, a molecule that exists in nature called a hydrogenase (high-dra-jin-ace) uses iron to split hydrogen.
Bullock and his PNNL colleagues, chemists Tianbiao "Leo" Liu and Dan DuBois, have taken inspiration for their iron-wielding catalyst from a hydrogenase. First Liu created several potential molecules for the team to test. Then, with the best-working molecule up to that point, they determined and tweaked the shape and the internal electronic forces to make additional improvements.
One of the tricks they needed the catalyst to do was to split hydrogen atoms into all of their parts. If a hydrogen atom is an egg, the positively charged proton that serves as the nucleus of the atom would be the yolk. And the electron, which orbits around the proton in a cloud, would be the white. The catalyst moves both the proton-yolks and electron-whites around in a controlled series of steps, sending the protons in one direction and the electrons to an electrode, where the electricity can be used to power things.
To do this, they need to split hydrogen molecules unevenly in an early step of the process. One hydrogen molecule is made up of two protons and two electrons, but the team needed the catalyst to tug away one proton first and send it away, where it is caught by a kind of molecule called a proton acceptor. In a real fuel cell, the acceptor would be oxygen.
Once the first proton with its electron-wooing force is gone, the electrode easily plucks off the first electron. Then another proton and electron are similarly removed, with both of the electrons being shuttled off to the electrode.
The team determined the shape and size of the catalyst and also tested different proton acceptors. With the iron in the middle, arms hanging like pendants around the edges draw out the protons. The best acceptors stole these drawn-off protons away quickly.
With their design down, the team measured how fast the catalyst split molecular hydrogen. It peaked at about two molecules per second, thousands of times faster than the closest, non-electricity making iron-based competitor. In addition, they determined its overpotential, which is a measure of how efficient the catalyst is. Coming in at 160 to 220 millivolts, the catalyst revealed itself to be similar in efficiency to most commercially available catalysts.
Now the team is figuring out the slow steps so they can make them faster, as well as determining the best conditions under which this catalyst performs.
This work was supported by the Department of Energy, Office of Science.
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The above story is reprinted from materials provided by DOE/Pacific Northwest National Laboratory.
Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. For further information, please contact the source cited above.
Journal Reference:
- Tianbiao Liu, Daniel L. DuBois, R. Morris Bullock. An iron complex with pendent amines as a molecular electrocatalyst for oxidation of hydrogen. Nature Chemistry, 2013; DOI: 10.1038/nchem.1571
Note: If no author is given, the source is cited instead.
Disclaimer: Views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.
Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/most_popular/~3/XzD42vuHiWY/130217134237.htm
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TV show with Pistorius' dead girlfriend airs
JOHANNESBURG (AP) ? Reeva Steenkamp's last wish for her family before she was shot dead at boyfriend Oscar Pistorius' home was for them to watch her in a reality TV show that went on air in South Africa on Saturday night, two days after her killing.
Sharon Steenkamp, Reeva's cousin, told The Associated Press that the model and law graduate was "proud of being in the show" and asked them in their last conversation to make sure that they watched it.
The South African Broadcasting Corp. aired the "Tropika Island of Treasure" program, showing the late Steenkamp ? the victim of a Valentine's Day shooting at Pistorius' home ? laughing and smiling in Jamaica when it was filmed last year.
South Africans saw her swimming in the ocean and watching people jump off a cliff and into the sea, shaking her head as they leaped.
The country was rocked Thursday when news broke of Steenkamp's shooting death at the upscale house of the Olympic star and double-amputee athlete. Pistorius was arrested and charged with her murder and remains in custody in a police station.
Steenkamp's family said earlier Saturday that they had not been contacted by either the SABC ? South Africa's national broadcaster ? or the show's producers for permission to air it, but were not opposed to it because Reeva wanted everyone to see it.
"Her last words to us personally was that she wants us to watch it," Sharon Steenkamp said, hours before the program was shown.
SABC aired the reality show on its main channel, which prominently featured Steenkamp.
The show's executive producer, Samantha Moon, said going ahead with the show "is what she would have wanted."
Steenkamp, a 29-year-old blonde model who graduated from law school, died after suffering four gunshot wounds, police said. Officers recovered a 9 mm pistol from Pistorius' house and quickly charged the Olympian with murder over Steenkamp's killing.
Pistorius will appear in court Tuesday for a bail hearing, something police have said they oppose. Prosecutors also say they will pursue upgraded charges of premeditated murder against him, which means the disabled icon and double-amputee runner could face a life sentence.
Steenkamp is known in South Africa for appearing in commercials and as a bikini-clad model in men's magazines.
Pistorius and Steenkamp met Nov. 4 at the Kyalami race track, which sits between Pretoria and Johannesburg and has been used for Grand Prix and Formula 1 races, said Justin Divaris, a mutual friend.
Divaris said his own girlfriend was a close friend to Steenkamp. The two immediately hit it off and decided in the spur of the moment to attend a sports award ceremony together the same night, Divaris said. At the time, Pistorius had been dating another woman and his personal life was constant fodder for gossip pages.
Later, however, problems may have started, as police have said there were previous domestic altercations at Pretorius' home in a gated community near South Africa's capital, Pretoria.
A Steenkamp family spokesman said late Friday that relatives still faced a long struggle to come to terms with her killing.
"I can't see the family getting over this shortly," Reeva's uncle, Mike Steenkamp said. "It's going to be a long, long-term reconciliation with a lot of things and issues."
Family members plan for a memorial service next week for the model in Port Elizabeth, her hometown on South Africa's southern coast. Pistorius has a court appearance scheduled in Pretoria next week for his lawyers to argue that he can be released on bail.
Portions released earlier Saturday of the reality show, sponsored by a milk fruit drink, feature Steenkamp laughing and smiling on the beaches of Jamaica. Another portion shows her swimming with two dolphins, which tap her on the cheek with their snouts.
"I think the way that you go out, not just your journey in life, but the way that you go out and the way you make your exit is so important," Steenkamp says in the video. "You either made an impact in a positive or a negative way, but just maintain integrity and maintain class and just remain true to yourself.
"I'm going to miss you all so much and I love you very, very much."
___
Associated Press writer Jon Gambrell contributed to this report.
___
Gerald Imray can be reached at www.twitter.com/jongambrellAP .
Source: http://news.yahoo.com/tv-show-pistorius-dead-girlfriend-airs-183552746--spt.html
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Sunday, February 17, 2013
Golf-Korean Bae takes early control at Riviera
PACIFIC PALISADES, California |
PACIFIC PALISADES, California Feb 15 (Reuters) - South Korean Bae Sang-moon upstaged some of the game's biggest names by charging into an early one-shot lead in the second round of the Northern Trust Open on Friday.
Taking advantage of ideal scoring conditions on another glorious morning of sunshine at Riviera Country Club, the 26-year-old birdied his first four holes on the way to a six-under-par 65 and a nine-under total of 133.
That left him one ahead of little-known American John Merrick, who carded a 66, but several former major winners and heavyweight players were in hot pursuit.
British world number three Luke Donald was just two shots off the pace after returning a 66, with 2011 Masters winner Charl Schwartzel of South Africa (67) and U.S. Open champion Webb Simpson (66) a further stroke back.
Spaniard Sergio Garcia (73), Australian Adam Scott (67) and British Open champion Ernie Els of South Africa (68) were among four players knotted at four-under 138.
"I played very well today," Bae told reporters after mixing nine birdies with three bogeys on a challenging Riviera layout where there is very little margin for error with approach shots into the small greens.
"I hit a bunch of good shots and I made many good putts, but I missed a couple of short putts on holes number five and seven. But that was not a big problem. I did my best today."
DIFFICULT TASK
Bae was a runner-up at last year's Transitions Championship in his rookie season on the PGA Tour and he knows how difficult it is to win on the U.S. circuit.
"There are many good players on the PGA Tour so it's very competitive," he smiled. "It's a good experience for me and I will just play my game. My goal is win, but you know, that's not easy."
Winning this week will certainly not be easy for Bae with 12 of the world's top 20 players heading a strong field at Riviera.
Among them is former world number one Donald who has recorded three top-six finishes at the venue in the past five years.
"I'm happy with my score, obviously coming off a pretty good break," said the Englishman who is playing his first tournament since he tied for third at the European Tour's DP World Tour Championship in November.
"You never know how you're going to deal with being back in competition again but certainly a big improvement today, ball-striking wise. My short game has been very sharp.
"I've been excited about that. It's been a big key to my score so far and I'm excited to be in the mix again."
Donald, a five-times champion on the PGA Tour, totalled only 25 putts on Friday and sank monster putts from just off the fringe at the third, from 22 feet, and at the fourth, from 72 feet.
Overnight leader Matt Kuchar, who opened with a 64 to take a one-stroke lead, was among the day's late starters.
The cut was projected to fall at one-over 143 with triple major winner Padraig Harrington of Ireland and Masters champion Bubba Watson among those likely to miss out. (Reporting by Mark Lamport-Stokes; Editing by Frank Pingue)
Source: http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/reuters/INgolf/~3/yGaVeHwL_iw/golf-pga-idINL1N0BF13720130215
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Hollywood looks to China
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Turkey-Israel gas pipeline deal would cut through Cyprus' EEZ
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Why 'zombie' cyberattack is a real concern for Emergency Alert System (+video)
The Emergency Alert System was hacked this week by someone who inserted a warning that zombies were attacking the US. Funny, yes, but the vulnerabilities to cyberattack are real.
Kris Filion, left, and Brittney Filion, walk their dog, Coffee, as they near the finish line during the fourth annual Zombie Run 5k in Traverse City, Mich., last fall. Proceeds from the run/walk going toward TART Trails.
(AP Photo/The Record-Eagle, Keith King)
Enlarge PhotosThe Emergency Alert System, intended as a last-ditch measure to enable the president to communicate to Americans in national emergencies, was hacked Monday by someone who inserted messages reporting that the nation was being attacked by zombies.
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While the episode is not without humor, the hoax highlights that the EAS system is vulnerable to far more serious cyberattacks, cybersecurity experts say.
An EAS alert began unexpectedly at 8:36 p.m. on Feb 11, interrupting programming on two Michigan television stations with a message scrolling across the bottom of the screen, that read: ?dead bodies are rising from their graves.? The alert also said the bodies were ?attacking the living.?
In all, three Michigan TV stations were affected by the so-called ?zombie? cyberattack, and another in Great Falls, Mont., was reported to have issued similar alerts. But the real problem is that such vulnerabilities could leave the nation open to fake alerts that look far more real than the ?zombie? message and could potentially panic the public, broadcasters and other cybersecurity experts say.
"It isn't what they said. It is the fact that they got into the system. They could have caused some real damage," said Karole White, president of the Michigan Association of Broadcasters told Reuters. Underscoring the seriousness of the hack, federal agencies were reported to be investigating the attack ? and no hacking group touted that it was responsible, as is common.
The zombie hack attack was particularly disturbing to broadcast engineers who work on the EAS system because of a series of concerns that preceded them.
The attacks followed an 11-hour outage of a key computer system that runs the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS) being developed by FEMA and the FCC. The system will eventually include not only the EAS, but digital capability to send alerts to cell phones and websites.
They also followed a threat by the hacktivist group ?Anonymous? to disrupt President Obama?s State of the Union speech on the Internet.
In an ?urgent advisory? this week, the Federal Communication Commission also required TV and radio broadcasters nationwide in the EAS to ?take immediate action? including resetting passwords and securing EAS equipment ?behind properly configured firewalls and other defensive measures.? The FCC did not respond by press time to requests for comment.
Cybersecurity and EAS experts both agree that at least some elements of the EAS system ? which has its roots in the cold war and is intended to be a last ditch measure for the president to communicate with Americans ? are vulnerable to intrusion via the Internet.
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