Dimethoxymethane (DMM, or OME1) has recently raised significant attention as the archetypal species of the oxymethylene ethers (OME) family, identified as a potential sustainable alternative to diesel fuels. However, so far limited attention has been paid to the sensitizing and inhibiting effects of nitrogen oxides (NOx) on its oxidation chemistry, which may play an important role for combustion with exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) systems. In this work, DMM oxidation was systematically studied with and without NO addition through a targeted experimental campaign. Four fuel-oxidizer mixtures were analyzed in a laminar flow reactor, across a range of variable equivalence ratios (0.8 <= <= 2), argon dilution levels (93% and 97%) and NO concentrations (0 and 900 ppm). At the same time, a comprehensive kinetic mechanism was set up, including carbon-nitrogen interactions up to the fuel-NO level. It was found that the dilution level significantly affected the DMM/NO interaction. While the onset temperature of the DMM conversion remained unchanged for a fixed dilution, the addition of NO led to a faster completion of the DMM conversion. The kinetic analysis clarified that the earlier reactivity of DMM at lower dilution triggers C-N interaction both at the fuel level, through the NO-alkoxy reaction inhibiting the low-temperature oxidation, and at a C-0-C-1 level, via the enhanced formation of CH3O, promoting an earlier reactivity (as observed for simpler fuels). Conversely, when the reactivity onset shifted to higher temperatures because of the higher dilution, the interaction was much less emphasized at the fuel level, but mostly controlled by CH3O formation and consumption channels.
Artificial intelligence promises to transform marketing, but some relational constants endure across technological ages. The current research proposes a three-layer hierarchical framework that prioritizes three time-invariant foundations of cooperative exchange relationships. Specifically, each foundation comprises a universal principle (interdependence, reciprocity, justice), corresponding psychological construct (trust, gratitude, unfairness), and resulting behaviors that permit, propel, and protect cooperative exchange relationships, regardless of technological contexts. The authors trace the evolution of the three foundations and their manifestations across pre-industrial, industrial, and digital ages to demonstrate their consistency. A projection details how these foundations will shape relationship marketing in the future, guiding marketers to focus on constants to establish effective relationship marketing strategies in an evolving AI age. This hierarchical framework counters the paralysis of uncertainty by offering evidence of stability amid technological disruption. It also reorients relationship marketing from commitment toward cooperation as the practical, dynamic engine of value creation in any technological age.
A key challenge for companies engaged in business model innovation is to prototype and evaluate new business models quantitatively. The complexity of this challenge is compounded when companies operate in business ecosystems, due to the need for joint value creation and mutual value capture. However, extant evaluation approaches, such as spreadsheets, are insufficient for addressing the complex, multilateral dynamics inherent to ecosystems. Though research indicates that system dynamics simulation represents a promising approach to overcoming this gap, its application in ecosystem settings remains an unexplored area of research. Therefore, we develop an actor-based modeling framework to leverage system dynamics for business model prototyping and evaluation from an ecosystem perspective. Furthermore, we present nine good design practices to guide effectively a business model’s system dynamics modeling process in the context of a business model innovation project. Our findings are derived from a two-and-a-half-year action design research project conducted in collaboration with two German industrial companies. Our research contributes to the existing body of knowledge on business model innovation, particularly regarding quantitative business model prototyping and evaluation prior to market implementation.
For solar water splitting, semiconducting surfaces must be stable and able to efficiently transfer charge carriers across the semiconductor/aqueous electrolyte interface. Despite its ubiquitous use as the topmost layer in various record-breaking photoelectrochemical (PEC) devices, the initial interaction of the AlInP (001) with water remains unexplored. This study examines the interactions between atomically ordered AlInP (001) surfaces prepared with either phosphorus (P-rich) or indium (In-rich) terminations and reactive electrolyte species such as water and oxygen are examined. Using photoemission and reflection anisotropy spectroscopy combined with computational calculations, changes to surface states, chemistry, and near-surface band structure under representative adsorbate environments are investigated. Water dissociates on both terminations: on the P-rich surface, the Al and In sites are active, whereas on the In-rich surface, the In-In bonds dissociate promptly, increasing surface reactivity. Prolonged oxygen exposure causes surface reordering, resulting in a decrease in band bending from 1.00 to 0.85 eV on the P-rich and from 1.80 to 0.85 eV on the In-rich surface. Time-resolved two-photon photoemission measurements show that the near-surface band edges remain stable within 0.15 eV upon exposure to water and heat despite the work function increasing by 0.32 eV in UPS. Meanwhile, hydroxylation reduces surface dipoles. Initial O2 exposure has little effect on the P-rich surface, but prolonged exposure leads to the dehydrogenatition of hydroxyls on the In-rich surface. DFT calculations indicate that the reactivity is dependent on reconstruction, showing that molecular water adsorption on the In-rich surface (-0.40 eV) is more favorable than on the P-rich AlInP (-0.23 eV). These findings provide a comprehensive understanding of AlInP (001) surfaces under conditions representative of PEC and other applications of III-V heterostructures.
