As a highly efficient-clean power generation technology, intermediate temperature (600-800 °C) solid oxide fuel cells (IT-SOFCs) have gained much interest due to their rapid start-up and shut-down capability, longer life-time...

The sun has been observed to emit radiation in three major wavelengths; visible light (400-700nm), infrared radiation (700-1000nm) and ultraviolet radiation (UV) (3.0-400nm). UV possesses a short wavelength, hence, it is more energetic when compared to radiation of longer wavelengths. Davis wireless vantage pro2 weather station was used to obatin the UV radiation data over Ota, Ogun State, Nigeria from May 2012 to December 2013. The research revealed that mean UV index was 5.37. The UV peak time was consistently 12 noon for year 2012, while it was found to be 1:00 pm in March and April for 2013. Thus, the study observed that UV index over Ota is in the moderate range.

In regions that experience abundant sunshine, solar radiation emanating from the sun constantly generates significant thermal energy which has been an established potential source of harvestable clean energy. But an enormous amount of this form of renewable energy reaching the earth’s crust gets re-emitted back into the space at sunset period without being harnessed. There is a special need for researches to further develop thermal storage alternatives with high thermal capacity, good thermal transfer rate, portable, cost effective and durable. From literature, aluminum and silicon alloys have proved to be one of the most efficient thermal storage materials for medium to high temperature storage applications. It has been shown that different combinations of these gives different results depending on the application the alloy is to be used for. This paper reviews the application of Al-Si alloys for thermal storage with superior properties to Al-Cu, Al-Mg, Al-Cu-Zn, Al-Si-Mg and Al-Si-Cu alloys. The making of Al-Si for thermal storage through liquid and solid metallurgical processes were also highlighted.

Practically, an ideal catalyst for Formic acid-decomposition is one that best suits the reaction and significantly lowers its activation energy and improves the reaction rate under favourable conditions. Several catalysts for Formic Acid (FA)-decomposition reactions were examined. Based on the volcano curve and the potential of copper to give high hydrogen yields, emphasis was placed on a Cu-catalysed reaction as potential system for sustainable hydrogen production. Some recent advances in hydrogen production from formic acid were discussed and an effective system for FA-decomposition for hydrogen production was proposed. Since helium can be stored in weather balloons and weighs almost the same as hydrogen, a hydrogen buffer made from polyester fabric and coated with polyurethane or a hydrogen cylinder/tube was proposed for storing hydrogen for use as transportfuel. Also, due to the nature of the mechanisms/pathways describing FA-conversion reactions at the sites or surfaces of the copper-nanocatalysts, it is evident that the Cu(2 1 1) coordination site possesses the highest activation energy relative to those of Cu(1 0 0) and Cu(1 1 1), hence, the reason for the noticeable high or low hydrogen yields. Thus, the potential of Cu giving high hydrogen yields from FA spans from the reactions of FA at the Cu(1 1 1) and Cu(1 0 0) sites.

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