Developments of high-efficiency solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) make it necessary to create multilayered electrode systems providing both a superior electrochemical activity and stability in the entire range of SOFC operation conditions. This work summarizes experimental results on the functional properties of fluorite-like Ce_1-x-yLa_xPr_yO_2-δ (x=0.29-40, y=0.10-0.14) mixed conductors, which were synthesized by the glycine-nitrate technique and studied as potential materials of the catalytically active protective interlayers for the SOFC electrodes. Using the data on total conductivity as a function of the oxygen partial pressure varied from 0.35 atm down to 10^-19 atm 973-1223 К, the defect formation and transport processes were modelled. Increasing praseodymium concentration was found to increase p-type electronic conduction under oxidizing conditions, whilst the dominant defect reaction at low oxygen chemical potentials is the reduction of cerium cations, leading to the formation of n-type electronic charge carriers. The chemical reactivity with lanthanum gallate-based solid electrolyte (LSGM) was assessed employing annealing of the powder mixtures and X-ray diffraction analysis. Model cells with perovskite-like PrBaFe_1.2Ni_0.8O_5+δ electrodes and multifunctional Ce_0.50La_0.40Pr_0.10O_2-δ sublayers in contact with the lanthanum gallate solid-electrolyte membranes were evaluated by scanning electron microscopy.

Development of highly efficient and commercially viable solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) requires throughout optimization of all their components from micro- to macro-level, taking into account the device type, fabrication technologies, materials and application conditions. This work was focused on numerical modeling of the distributions of current density, temperature, fuel and oxidant concentrations in a planar SOFC with supporting solid-electrolyte membrane of stabilized zirconia, bilayered electrodes and stainless steel interconnectors of the Crofer 22 APU alloy. The simulations by the finite volume method, performed in order to determine major optimization factors of the single SOFC construction, made it possible to obtain realistic integral parameters close to the experimental data on la-boratory-scale SOFCs. The fact that the massive metallic current collectors in the planar SOFC configuration significantly suppress local inhomogeneities in the temperature field within entire examined current range was confirmed. The key optimization tasks include width and geometry of the contacts between interconnectors and electrodes, optimum gas-channel size for various fuels and catalysts, an evaluation of technologically feasible alternative types of the current collector configurations in order to avoid partly blocked edge zones with a low local current density, and experimental studies of the porous electrodes near the “current collector | electrode” interface edge where sintering and degradation processes may be induced by high currents. The boundary conditions for such simulations should be selected in the intermediate current range around the SOFC power density maximum in order to minimize limiting effects of mass-transport processes and to achieve the regimes necessary for practical applications.

Heterogeneous combustion (or self-propagating high-temperature synthesis (SHS)) is widely used for making inorganic materials. SHS in such systems is accompanied by generation of electric potentials, which appear between the combustion wave front and condensed products of combustion as a result of chemical ionization of starting materials and intermediate products (so-called Electro Motive Force of combustion - EMF). Maximal registered EMF signals in SHS now having amplitude more than 2 Volts. Experiments were carried out for ions of the starting reagents as well as ions of intermediate and final products. Control of the processes may be carried out by using external electric and magnetic fields. During SHS-process intermediate reaction products arise in an ionic form. In condensed media SHS processes involve an electrochemical stage, which can be considered to be a concentration cell, that moves together with the combustion wave front and result in origin of EMF of combustion. As a result of that, the full ion-diagrams of combustion processes have been constructed for many complex oxide systems with the elements of I-VIII groups of Periodic Table. It is opening the wide horizons for the diagnostics of heterogeneous combustion processes at micro and nano-level. Besides that, as a result of our experiments, preconditions for the new directions in combustion science have been formed, such as ionic chemistry of heterogeneous combustion and dynamic ionography of heterogeneous combustion processes. External electrical and magnetic fields modify combustion parameters of the SHS systems (including EMF).

The effect of an external magnetic field of 0.2 T on the self-propagating high temperature syntheses (SHS) of a mixture of first row transition metals (Ni and Ti) and their oxides with and without addition of internal solid oxidizer (sodium perchlorate - NaClO₄) was studied by time resolved X-ray diffraction using the Rietveld refinement for determination of phase percentages. The driving force for the reactions is the oxidation of the appropriate metal powder. Reactions typically reached temperatures in excess of 1150⁰C with a timescale for the complete conversion of reactant to products of 20 s. This enabled accurate monitoring of the combustion process in particular propagation velocity, maximum temperature, cooling rates, synthesis wave width, and pathway. Several interesting phenomena, such as combustion wave segmentation were detected in some systems. All the final products were characterized by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDXA) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM).

Promising developments in the field of engine building, associated with increasing of natural gas usage as a motor fuel for internal combustion engines (ICE), are presented. Technology of hydrogen-containing fuel composition forming, implemented by incorporating of the catalytic generator of synthesis gas in the fuel system of the engine, which is generating hydrogen component directly on board of the vehicle, is created. As it seems to the authors, this is the most promising way for the development of hydrogen and fuel complex in the engine building industry. Currently a real running tests of standard gasoline internal combustion engine vehicles “Sable” and “Barguzin” with an onboard generators of hydrogen-containing gas are finished. They showed positive results. The perspectives of modified engines for the various interested organizations and ministries operating gasoline and diesel vehicles, under the orders of the President of the Russian Federation for 2013-2014, are marked.

Palladium alloy film microstructure influence on hydrogen interaction with the films has been investigated. It was shown that during initial stages of the thin film growth (3 - 25 Å), microstructures of various types are formed depending on the film growth rate, growth temperature, chemical composition and morphology of the growth substrate. These initial microstructures are inherited by the films when their thickness grows to 30 -50 nm. As a result, the difference in the microstructures brings to the variability of thermodynamic and kinetic parameters of hydrogen interaction with alloy thin films, in particularly, the hydrogen solubility, the hydrogen diffusion in the alloys and hence the hydrogen permeability in the alloys. Roughness evolution during the thin films thermal treatment shows a stressed state immediately after the films growth. The stress extent of the films grown on the different substrates is different as well.

The paper presents comparative results of studies of two types of catalytic materials effectiveness in the reaction of steam reforming of methane. The first type of such material was developed by the authors to the fiberglass woven basis catalysts (fiberglass woven catalysts - FGWC). FGWC-item is a product made from the amorphous silicate glass (the silica component carrier was SiO₂ and its content was 55-98 wt.%) in the form of panels or grids with different ways of textile activated catalytic metal components (Pt, Pd, Ag, Cr, Ni, Mn, Co and others), the set and value of which are determined by the requirements of each particular catalytic process. In the experiments the FGWC-samples were used with mesh netting and activated with platinum (Pt content from 0.10 to 0.15 wt.%). At the temperature of 800⁰C and methane flow of 20 cm³/min, its conversion reaches maximum at 85% with a hydrogen yield of 75 %. Life tests of stability of steam reforming process of methane on developed FGWC catalysts at the temperatures of 700-800°C in the harsh conditions of periodic "start/stop" modes within a few months confirmed the stability of conversion with release of hydrogen at 50%. Fluids, containing CH₄+H₂O, are one of the most common types of fluids in the earth’s lithosphere. Besides that, direct experimental investigation of catalytic activity of serpentinite (widespread rocks of the earth’s crust) in relation to the reaction of steam reforming of methane - reaction of "synthesis gas" formation was carried out. Serpentinite, due to its composition (MgO-SiO₂ - based and containing the catalytically active components - Fe, Ni, Cr) and structure (fine fiber, finely porous matrix), is a very close analog to the artificial catalytic materials traditionally used in industrial catalysis. The main results of experiments is follows: methane conversion to hydrogen increases with temperature and at 825 C is 14 %; methane conversion to CO and CO₂ at the same temperature is 3 % for each component; an unexpected result of the experiments was qualitative detection of CH₃OH and C₂H₅OH in the products of conversion. In the process of steam reforming of methane at standard catalysts oxygen-containing hydrocarbons are not formed. Experimental results suggest the need to deploy of systematic studies of the catalytic properties of wide range of the earth’s crust rocks in relation to the various routes of chemical transformations of the fluid’s components and thus to the further development of the little studied trends in Geochemistry - "catalytic Geochemistry".

In the present work there are many new comprehensive and progressive proposals for the problems solution facing the EMERCOM of Russia, the Ministry of Nature Protection, the Forest Service and other agencies responsible for fire safety, forests rehabilitation and ensure their environmental safety. These tasks should be solved in conjunction with the provision of economic benefits due to the introduction in the wood production of fundamentally new technological approaches to ensure virtually waste-free use of all kinds of wood materials, including dry rot affected and various types of pests of trees, and all kinds of waste wood, chipboard production and waste remaining after felling. Progressive and environmentally friendly processing technology and use of all of the above substandard species of woody materials proposed by the authors will contribute to the ecological situation improvement in the forests, providing them with fire safety and increasing production volumes of useful wood products through high-quality composite wood-strand materials and products from them.

The potential of porous implants synthesized from titanium or NiTi (known as - nitinol) for the creation of scaffold tissue constructions (carrier matrix) are discussed. Sufficient understanding of the nature of laser synthesized titanium and nitinol structures was developed to determine their suitability for being used as functional implants. This resulted in superior tissue-to-implant fixation and development of minimal invasive surgical procedures. The role of surface roughness of the porous matrix on cell morphology, proliferation and adhesion are discussed. Test porous samples were prepared by using the Selective Laser Synthesis (SLS) method with different kinds of surface treatments. Surface microstructure and roughness were analyzed by Scanning Electron and Optical Microscopy. Studies were carried out on the ingress of primary cultures of dermal fibroblasts and mesenchymal stromal human cells into the porous structures from 1-2 days to three months of culture. A study of bone intergrowth in the porous carrier matrix made from nitinol and pure titanium was determined in vitro. The results reveal the influence of surface roughness on cell proliferation, morphology and adhesion. Pure titanium was well tolerated by the living cells, but the number of focal contacts was lower than for the nitinol samples.

Systematic researches results of radiation-chemical synthesis of tetrafluoroethylene telomeres solutions in various solvents are generalized. Research of kinetics and the mechanism of process, structure and properties of the received products is conducted, necessary parameters of produced telomeres with the most optimum properties are determined. Prospects of their application are considered. Radiation initiation provided the new functional products with a wide range of properties and developing the new technological approaches to create composite materials and protective (hydrophobic, anti-friction, heat-resistant) coating containing fluoropolymers.

Radiation-chemical synthesis of low molecular weight polymer solutions (telomeres) of tetrafluoroethylene (TFE) in ethyl acetate was carried out and the kinetics of the process is studied. Telomer thermostability is defined initial concentration of monomer in the reaction mixture. The practical application of telomere solutions for modification aluminoborosilicate glass fabrics was also evaluated. Technology of introduction fluoroplastic in fiberglass based on the impregnation of fiberglass filler by solutions of TFE telomere. It is shown when the content of the 3-5% telomere of weight of the fabric, uniform continuous coating, providing a high level of hydrophobicity of the composite product is formed in the filler structure.