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ABSTRACTA novel design for a high temperature SOFC, based on lamellar electrode-electrolyte segments obtained by solidification of an oxidic eutectic melt on an electrolyte substrate is presented. Such “composite” electrodes contain NiO or MnO - 8Y-ZrO2 lamellae, which after reduction / oxidation yield electrode-electrolyte lamellae with 1–2 μm width and a vertical dimension of> 100 μm, depending upon the amount of eutectic melt solidified on a polycrystalline substrate. The nucleation of the eutectic on a polycrystalline substrate followed by a semi-directional crystallization of the two phases yields a gradient of 3-phase boundaries over the height of such an electrode, with the number of 3-phase boundaries increasing towards the substrate.

Abstract Since the adoption of the Kyoto protocol in 1997 and its entry into force in 2005, as well its aftermath such as the Doha amendment and Paris agreement, national policies have become more conscious of the usage of clean energy, mostly the different forms of renewable energy and nuclear energy. Ratifying countries and signatories had committed themselves to binding targets for the reduction of greenhouse emissions by 8% with respect to 1990 levels until 2012, also based on the particular contribution to global emissions from each country. This paper examines the integrational properties of clean energy consumption from eight emerging economies which are also high greenhouse gas emitters. The empirical results show that the clean energy consumption is stationarity for Brazil and Philippines by using a quantile unit root test without smooth breaks (Koenker and Xiao, 2004). However, after capturing the smooth breaks (Bahmani-Oskooee et al., 2018), we find the clean energy consumption of China, Pakistan and Thailand are stationary. The time-varying deterministic trend with smooth breaks is more fitted to the path of clean energy consumption in comparison to the deterministic trend without smooth breaks. The paper suggests economic insights useful for policy making.

Abstract Recently, the oxygen potential dependence of the signal of a potentiometric CO 2 sensor, based on a cation conductor with carbonate as gas sensitive layer, has been interpreted as caused by electronic transference through the electrolyte. Though this interpretation is quite correct, the relationships on the basis of which the effect of electronic conductivity has been discussed are wrong and so are the conclusions on the electronic conduction parameter of the electrolyte material under consideration, i.e. of the lithium ion conductor Li 3 PO 4 + SiO 2 (5 mol%). In what follows, the questionable points will be corrected and the role of the electronic conductivity for the understanding of the behaviour of a CO 2 sensor will be re-examined.

This study evaluates and compares the trends in CO2 emissions for the manufacturing industries of three countries: two developed countries (Germany and Sweden) that have applied several measures to promote a shift towards a low-carbon economy and one developing country (Colombia) that has shown substantial improvements in the reduction of CO2 emissions. This analysis is conducted using panel data cointegration techniques to infer causality between CO2 emissions, production factors and energy sources. The results indicate a trend of producing more output with less pollution. The trends for these countries’ CO2 emissions depend on investment levels, energy sources and economic factors. Furthermore, the trends in CO2 emissions indicate that there are emission level differences between the two developed countries and the developing country. Moreover, the study confirms that it is possible to achieve economic growth and sustainable development while reducing greenhouse gas emissions, as Germany and Sweden demonstrate. In the case of Colombia, it is important to encourage a reduction in CO2 emissions through policies that combine technical and economic instruments and incentivise the application of new technologies that promote clean and environmentally friendly processes.

In view of pressing unemployment problems, policy makers across all parties jump on the prospects of renewable energy promotion as a job creation engine which can boost economic well-being. Our analytical model shows that initial labor market rigidities in theory provide some scope for such a double dividend. However, the practical outcome of renewable energy promotion might be sobering. Our computable general equilibrium analysis of subsidized electricity production from renewable energy sources (RES-E) in Germany suggests that the prospects for employment and welfare gains are quite limited and hinge crucially on the level of the subsidy rate and the financing mechanism. If RES-E subsidies are financed by labor taxes, welfare and employment effects are strictly negative for a broad range of subsidy rates. The use of an electricity tax to fund RES-E subsidies generates minor benefits for small subsidy rates but these benefits quickly turn into significant losses as the subsidy rate exceeds some threshold value.

Using survey information of 150 randomly selected households across 21 villages of the forest-rich district of Swat, Pakistan, this study assessed households’ decision-making behaviors in depending on income from nearby forested land using socio-economic attributes. The evidence from the study may aid in making the existing policies be better targeted toward families that depend on the forest for income. Descriptive statistics and econometric techniques such as logit and tobit were used to analyze the data. Respondent households obtained the highest share of their income from off-farm activities (37%) and least from forest activities (16%). Fuelwood constitutes the biggest share (66%) of forest income, followed by medical plants (20%) and fodder (13%). We found that households with more physical assets, more family members working in off-farm jobs, and households earning more income from off-farm jobs were significantly and negatively associated with households’ decision to depend on forest income and total income obtained. We also found that households with less distance to the market and membership to joint forest management committees (JFMCs) were significantly and negatively associated with households’ total income obtained. However, household size was significantly and positively related to households’ decision of forest dependency. The study recommends the creation of off-farm opportunities and inclusion of local people in the management of forests through establishment of JFMCs, particularly for large and poor families.

Redox flow batteries are promising devices for large-scale stationary energy storage.

Tin (Sn), antimony (Sb), as well as their intermetallic compound SnSb are potential high‐capacity negative electrodes for lithium‐ or sodium‐ion batteries. Starting from bulk Sn and Sb, the effect of ball milling in sodium‐ion half cells with a diglyme‐based electrolyte is studied. Nonreactive ball milling of Sn, Sb, and carbon leads to intimately mixed but largely phase‐separated composites (Sn + Sb) with electrochemical sodiation behavior being the sum of the individual phases. Thereby, Sb shows an unusual and rapid capacity fade in the chosen electrolyte which is unexpected, considering the usually excellent compatibility of diglyme‐based electrolytes with negative electrodes. Reactive ball milling of Sn and Sb using a planetary ball mill leads to the phase‐pure intermetallic compound β‐SnSb. Compared with Sn + Sb, SnSb shows excellent performance with a specific capacity exceeding 400 mAh g−1 after 190 cycles and a high rate capability (around 400 mAh g−1 at 5 C). Hence, herein, Sb is largely inactive as a pure phase but active when bound in the β‐SnSb intermetallic compound. Using in situ electrochemical dilatometry, the “breathing” of the electrodes during charging/discharging is minimized by optimizing ball‐milling time, which improves cycle life.