Production of Large Specific Capacitance by Electrodes with Low Active Mass and Synergistic Mechanisms.

Decoration of vanadium nitride nanoparticles on carbon nanotubes creates electrodes with three different energy storage mechanisms that operate synergistically to give a high specific capacitance with a low active mass. Calculation and measurements further indicate the power and energy density to be as high as 105-106 W/kg and 102 Wh/kg, respectively. Particle attachment also greatly improves the capacitive coefficient, including ionic transmittance, charge transfer, porosity, and conductivity. Corrosion tests based on the Tafel method reveal the corrosion potential and current of electrodes as low as -0.721 V and 7.53 × 10-4 A, respectively.

Carbon nanotube papers with p-n junctions along the thickness direction.

Conductive papers made from carbon nanotubes and wood fibers exhibit a p-type character. N2 plasma treatment converts paper into n-type and conversion is verified by elemental analyses, work function and Hall-effect measurements. By screening one face of p-type paper in plasma, the p-n junctions are successfully created along the thickness direction and electrical rectification is evident by current-voltage measurement.

Electric field created p-n junction in composite films made from carbon nanotubes, iron (III) sulfate and polyvinyl alcohol.

Suspension made of Fe2(SO4)3(aq), polyvinyl alcohol and carbon nanotubes is placed in electric field to separate charges. Charges remain separated as suspension solidifies, forming composite films with cations and anions enriched at opposite sides. Polarized films behave as junction diodes with forward current and threshold voltage found to be 10-4-10-5 A and 2.4-2.6 V at ± 5 V. Rectification is preserved in strained composite films.

The effect of social comparison with peers on self-evaluation.

Social comparison refers to self-evaluation against other people. When people are outperformed by peers in a domain relevant (irrelevant) to them, it negatively (positively) affects how they evaluate themselves, compared to an irrelevant (relevant) domain. Whether a domain is self-relevant or self-irrelevant, the comparison direction and closeness should interact on how people evaluate themselves. Taiwanese undergraduates (N = 276) ages 19 to 22 years (M = 20.5, SD = 1.8), participated to assess whether the results from Western samples would be similar to those in an Asian sample, which were expected to be more collectivist.