Nagoya Institute of Technology

About: Nagoya Institute of Technology is a education organization based out in Nagoya, Japan. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Thin film & Catalysis. The organization has 10766 authors who have published 19140 publications receiving 255696 citations. The organization is also known as: Nagoya Kōgyō Daigaku & Nitech.

Photochromism of Anabaena sensory rhodopsin.

Abstract: Protein-controlled photochemical reactions often mediate biological light-signal and light-energy conversions. Microbial rhodopsins possess all-trans or 13-cis retinal as the chromophore in the dark, and in the light-driven proton pump, bacteriorhodopsin (BR), the stable photoproduct at the end of the functional cycle of the all-trans form is 100% all-trans. In contrast, a microbial rhodopsin discovered in Anabaena PCC7120 is believed to function as a photochromic sensor. For Anabaena sensory rhodopsin (ASR), the photoreaction is expected to be not cyclic, but photochromic. The present low-temperature UV-visible spectroscopy of ASR indeed revealed that the stable photoproduct of the all-trans form in ASR is 100% 13-cis, and that of the 13-cis form is 100% all-trans. The complete photocycle for the proton pump in BR and the complete photochromism for the chromatic sensor of ASR are highly advantageous for their functions. Thus, the microbial rhodopsins have acquired unique photoreactions, in spite of their similar structures, during evolution.

Structural and Transport Properties of Mixed Phosphotungstic Acid/Phosphomolybdic Acid/SiO2 Glass Membranes for H2/O2 Fuel Cells

Abstract: The synthesis and characterization of a novel inorganic glass composite membrane consisting of a mixture of phosphotungstic acid and phosphomolybdic acid are reported. Phosphosilicate gels doped with these two proton conducting donor components were derived by a sol−gel method. The influence of the textural properties of the glass composites could be interpreted from N2 adsoption−desorption isotherms. The pore size was less than 6 nm for all glass membranes. These glass membranes were found to be stable up to 400 °C. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy indicated that the characteristic Keggin anions PW12O403- and PMo12O403- were present in the glass composite membrane. The highest proton conductivity was measured to 1.01 × 10-1 S cm-1 at 85 °C with 85% relative humidity (RH). Membrane electrode assemblies were prepared and showed good performance, with a maximum power density value of 35 mW/cm2 at 93 mA/cm2 as well as a current density of 137 mA/cm2 when utilized in a H2/O2 fuel cell at 28 °C and 30% RH.

Neural network potential for Al-Mg-Si alloys

Abstract: The 6000 series Al alloys, which include a few percent of Mg and Si, are important in automotive and aviation industries because of their low weight, as compared to steels, and the fact their strength can be greatly improved through engineered precipitation. To enable atomistic-level simulations of both the processing and performance of this important alloy system, a neural network (NN) potential for the ternary Al-Mg-Si has been created. Training of the NN uses an extensive database of properties computed using first-principles density functional theory, including complex precipitate phases in this alloy. The NN potential accurately reproduces most of the pure Al properties relevant to the mechanical behavior as well as heat of solution, solute-solute, and solute-vacancy interaction energies, and formation energies of small solute clusters and precipitates that are required for modeling the early stage of precipitation and mechanical strengthening. This success not only enables future detailed studies of Al-Mg-Si but also highlights the ability of NN methods to generate useful potentials in complex alloy systems.

Design Studies on Hybrid Excitation Motor for Main Spindle Drive in Machine Tools

Abstract: This paper presents a hybrid excitation motor for a main spindle drive in end- and face-milling tools, which is operated with a high speed of 50 000 r/min. The proposed motor has not only a permanent magnet but also the field coil which makes field-weakening and field-strengthening controls possible with taking no notice of the permanent magnet demagnetization. In addition, the sum of iron and copper losses of the motor at the end-milling operation is significantly reduced by the field-weakening control. The 3-D finite-element-method-based design studies on the proposed motor for the target application are demonstrated.