Perovskite electrodes have been considered as an alternative to Ni-YSZ cermet-based anodes as they afford better tolerance towards coking and impurities and due to redox stability can allow very high levels of fuel utilisation. Unfortunately performance levels have rarely been sufficient, especially for a second generation anode supported concept. A-site deficient lanthanum and calcium co-doped SrTiO3, La0.2Sr0.25Ca0.45TiO3 (LSCTA-) shows promising thermal, mechanical and electrical properties and has been investigated in this study as a potential anode support material for SOFCs. Flat multilayer ceramics cells were fabricated by aqueous tape casting and co-sintering, comprising a 450-µm thick porous LSCTA-scaffold support, a dense YSZ electrolyte and a thin layer of La0.8Sr0.2CoO3-δ (LSC)-La0.8Sr0.2FeO3-δ ( LSF)-YSZ cathode. Impregnation of a small content of Ni significantly enhanced fuel cell performance over naked LSCTA-. Use of ceria as a co-catalyst was found to improve the microstructure and stability of impregnated Ni and this in combination with the catalytic enhancement from ceria significantly improved performance over Ni impregnation alone. With addition of CeO2 and Ni to a titanate scaffold anode that had been pre-reduced at 1000 o C, a maximum powder density of 0.96Wcm -2 can be achieved at 800 o C using humidified hydrogen as fuel. The encouraging results show that an oxide anode material, LSCTA-can be used as anode support with YSZ electrolyte heralding a new option for SOFC development.

Aim: This study was designed to evaluate the effects of intrauterine transplantation of menstrual blood stem cells (MenSCs) on endometrial thickness and pregnancy outcomes in patients with refractory intrauterine adhesion (IUA). Methods: This study included a group of infertile women (n = 12, age 22-40 years), with refractory IUA. Autologous MenSCs isolated from the women's menstrual blood were expanded in vitro and transplanted into their uteruses, followed by hormone replacement therapy. Transvaginal ultrasound examination was performed to assess the endometrial thickness. Transabdominal ultrasound was conducted to detect pregnancy outcome. Results: Autologous MenSCs were successfully isolated and expanded from menstrual blood and transplanted into the uterus of each patient. A significant improvement of the endometrial thickness was observed from 3.9 ± 0.9 to 7.5 ± 0.6 mm (P < 0.001). No adverse reaction was observed. The duration of menstruation was increased from 2.4 ± 0.7 to 5.3 ± 0.6 days (P < 0.001). Five out of 12 patients achieved clinical pregnancy and the pregnancy rate was 41.7%. Conclusions: Intrauterine transplantation of autologous MenSCs results in regeneration of endometrium, a prolongation of menstrual duration and an increase rate of pregnancy in patients with refractory IUA.

High peak power density and slow performance degradation for Ni–Fe infiltrated LSCTA− anode resulted from a favourable interaction between NiFe and the perovskite backbone due to the formation of a Fe-rich oxide interface layer.

The persistent problems with Ni-YSZ cermet based SOFCs, with respect to redox stability and tolerance towards sulfur has stimulated the development of a full ceramic cell based on strontium titanate(ST)-based anodes and anode support materials, within the EU FCH JU project SCOTAS-SOFC. Three different compositions (La, Y and Nb substituted ST) have been developed as anode backbones for either 25 cm 2 or larger than 100 cm 2 cell areas. Cell performances, once infiltrated with suitable electro catalysts, exhibited a maximum power density of 0.5 W/cm 2 at 850 °C. While the ST based backbone remains intact and tolerant to redox cycles, cell performance degradation appears linked to the infiltrated electro catalysts. The materials have also been assessed with respect to their electrical and mechanical properties, in order to further evaluate their potential use as anode and anode support layers in SOFCs.

Alternative anodes are of great interest for robust solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs). A-site deficient strontium titanate co-doped with lanthanum and calcium, La0.2Sr0.25Ca0.45TiO3 (LSCTA-), has been investigated as a potential anode for SOFCs. Flat multilayer ceramics have been produced by controlling the sintering behavior of LSCTA-, resulting in a 450 µm thick porous LSCTA- scaffold with a well adhered 40 µm dense YSZ electrolyte. Impregnation of CeO2 and Ni has resulted in power densities of 0.96 Wcm-2 at 800 oC, higher than 0.125 Wcm-2 without impregnation and 0.38 Wcm-2 for Ni alone, demonstrating encouraging performance. Work continues to improve understanding of catalyst-scaffold interactions and scaling up the concept.

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Photocatalysis is considered to be efficient in combatting emission nitrogen oxide (NOx), which is one of the atmospheric pollutants affecting human health. Polymeric carbon nitride (PCN) is a low-cost polymeric photocatalyst with a 2-dimensional structure that is sensitive to the visible sunlight in the solar spectrum, but its photocatalytic efficiency needs to be enhanced for the purpose of pollutant abatement. In this study, PCN was treated using a facile ambient pressure dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma in air, Ar and Ar-5% H2 flow. According to the spectroscopic characterization and NO removal tests, the DBD plasma did not destroy the crystal structure of PCN, but improved the separation efficiency of photogenerated charges and enhanced the capacity of NO abatement. The plasma treatment in Ar-5% H2 showed an optimal removal efficiency of 69.19% and a selectivity for nitrate of 90.51% under visible light irradiation. The hydrogen plasma etched the PCN surface, resulting in more defects (carbon vacancies) and carbonyl group on the surface, while the air plasma was found to increase the suspending NOx bonding on the surface for the increased NOx emission under illumination. The generation of high-energy electron and reactive radicals in the electrical discharges could cause the surface modification of PCN for efficient photocatalysis.