Efficient removal of Congo red from pH-unregulated aqueous solutions by lignosulfonate-based polycatecholamine

Lignosulfonate-based polycatecholamine (PCEA-LS) was synthesized by a two-stage approach involving Mannich and catechol–amine reactions, and it was directly used to adsorb Congo red (CR) from the pH-unadjusted aqueous solution. PCEA-LS was characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Various factors affecting on removal of CR by PCEA-LS were investigated in depth, including contact time, adsorbent dosage, and initial concentration of CR and adsorption temperature. The adsorption kinetics, isotherm, and thermodynamics of PCEA-LS for CR were explored in detail, and then its adsorption mechanism was systematically elucidated. Results indicated that the removal process of CR followed the pseudo-second-order kinetic model, and the isotherm data fitted the Langmuir model well. The maximum adsorption capacity reached 972.6 mg g⁻¹ at 30°C in the pH-unadjusted (pH = 6.25) solution possibly due to the hydrogen bond, π–π stacking, and electrostatic interaction between PCEA-LS and CR. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2020 , 137, 48640.     

氯碱离子膜的水传递和水通量

水传递对氯碱离子膜的电化学性能有重要的影响,而膜内水传递过程是电解过程的重要环节。在计算氯碱装置的宏观水通量的基础上,讨论了水传递现象对氯碱离子膜的电化学性能的影响,提出膜的离子透过性赋予膜以电导性,而离子的水传递数决定了氯碱膜的水通量大小。简要介绍了国产氯碱离子膜的基本结构和应用进展,展望了氯碱膜的发展前景。     

Graphene nanochains and nanoislands in the layers of room-temperature fluorinated graphite

Intercalated compound of graphite fluoride with n-heptane has been synthesized at room temperature using a multi-stage process including fluorination by a gaseous BrF₃ and a set of intercalant exchange reactions. It was found that composition of the compound is CF_0.40(C₇H₁₆)_0.04 and the guest molecules interact with the graphite fluoride layers through the van der Waals forces. Since the distance between the filled layers is 1.04 nm and the unfilled layers are separated by ∼0.60 nm, the obtained compound can be considered as a stack of the fluorinated graphenes. These fluorinated graphenes are large in area making it possible to study local destruction of the π conjugated system on the basal plane. It was shown that fluorine atoms form short chains, while non-fluorinated sp² carbon atoms are organized in very narrow ribbons and aromatic areas with a size smaller than 3 nm. These π electron nanochains and nanoislands preserved after the fluorination process are likely responsible for the value of the energy gap of the compound of ∼2.5 eV. Variation in the size and the shape of π electron regions within the fluorinated graphene layers could be a way for tuning the electronic and optical characteristics of the graphene-based materials.     

Unraveling the Crystallization Kinetics of 2D Perovskites with Sandwich-Type Structure for High-Performance Photovoltaics

2D perovskite solar cells with high stability and high efficiency have attracted significant attention. A systematical static and dynamic structure investigation is carried out to show the details of 2D morphology evolution. A dual additive approach is used, where the synergy between an alkali metal cation and a polar solvent leads to high-quality 2D perovskite films with sandwich-type structures and vertical phase segregation. Such novel structure can induce high-quality 2D slab growth and reduce internal and surface defects, resulting in a high device efficiency of 16.48% with enhanced continuous illumination stability and improved moisture (55–60%) and thermal (85 °C) tolerances. Transient absorption spectra reveal the carrier migration from low n to high n species with different kinetics. An [PbI₆]⁴⁻ octagon coalescence transformation mechanism coupled with metal and organic cations wrapped is proposed. By solvent vapor annealing, a recrystallization and reorientation of the 2D perovskite slabs occurs to form an ideal structure with improved device performance and stability.     

挤出硅橡胶气孔的分析研究与解决方法

通过目视观察硅橡胶切面气孔情况,探讨了脱低时间、填料用量、羟基硅油用量、放置时间、生胶硫化速率、含氢硅油用量对硅橡胶气孔的影响.结果表明,未脱低的硅橡胶硫化后存在较多气孔.当胶料脱低时间超过30 min后硅橡胶中几乎不存在气孔;较佳的填料用量为480份;较佳的羟基硅油用量为28份;当放置时间不超过24 h时硅橡胶中无明...     

全氟磺酸树脂在氯碱膜中的作用机理探析

根据氯碱膜电解的工作原理,分析了磺酸树脂层的微观结构,认为电驱动下的离子迁移与水传递是以水合离子通过膜通道的方式进行的。膜的离子交换基团主导离子簇和离子通道的形成。结合加工过程解释了离子通道的形成过程,提出曲折贯通的离子通道而非离子交换能力是磺酸层的主要作用机理。膜的离子透过性赋予膜以电导性,而离子的水传递数决定了氯碱膜的水通量大小。在膜中构建纳米通道可以为新一代氯碱膜的开发提供新的思路。     

Photo-physics of PTB7, PCBM and ICBA based ternary solar cells

Indene-C₆₀bisadduct (ICBA) is one of the rare acceptors which can supersede commonly used phenyl-C71-butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM70) in enhancing the performance of bulk heterojunction (BHJ) solar cells owing to its shallower lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) level. However, ICBA tends to decrease the photocurrent for most of the low band-gap polymers synthesized to date. Here we examine the interaction of ICBA with the one of the popular low band-gap polymers poly[[4,8-bis[(2-ethylhexyl)oxy]benzo[1,2-b:4,5-b′]dithiophene-2,6-diyl][3-fluoro-2-[(2-ethylhexyl) carbonyl] thieno[3,4-b]thiophenediyl]] (PTB7), at femtosecond level, to explore key dynamics governing the operation of BHJ cells involving ICBA. The photo-physics of binary and ternary systems based on PTB7 coupled with PCBM70 and/or ICBA are studied by means of transient absorption spectroscopy (TAS) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and supported by morphology analysis. Our study suggests that both inefficient charge-separation and poor charge transport of ICBA is responsible for relatively low photocurrent generation.     

Water uptake and pore volume determination of porous styrene–divinylbenzene copolymers

The relationship of water uptake and pore volume has been investigated for porous styrene–divinylbenzene (St–DVB) copolymers prepared in the presence of different inert diluents. It was found that the copolymers prepared in some conditions significantly increased their volume on taking up the water (swelling), and thus the use of water to measure the pore volume of porous St–DVB copolymers could hardly be recommended because the water uptake measurement does not always give a true value of the pore volume in dry state.     

Cold start capability and durability of electrospun catalyst layer for proton exchange membrane fuel cell

The electrospun catalyst layer (E-spun CL) was found capable of improving both catalyst performance and durability under normal temperature operations. In this work, we first explored the reasons for this improvement, and then systematically compared the cold start capability and durability of E-spun CL with that of the commercial electro-sprayed catalyst layer (E-sprayed CL). Improved performance under normal temperature operations for E-spun CL was attributed to the optimized pore structure, which resulted in less mass transport losses. E-spun CL exhibited a better cold start capability in terms of more condensed product water due to longer survival time, possibly caused by the lower freezing probability of super-cooled water in micro-pores. After enduring several cold start tests, less performance and structural deterioration were observed for E-spun CL, mainly resulting from the high mechanical flexibility of porous nanofiber structure.     

Antioxidant technology for durability enhancement in polymer electrolyte membranes for fuel cell applications

While polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) have surged in popularity due to their low environmental impact and high efficiency, their susceptibility to degradation by in-situ generated peroxide and oxygen radical species has prevented their widespread adoption. To alleviate chemical attack on components of PEMFCs, particularly on polymer electrolyte membranes (PEMs), antioxidant approaches have been the subject of enormous interest as a key solution because they can directly scavenge and remove detrimental peroxide and oxygen radical species. However, a consequence is that long-term PEMFC device operation can cause undesirable adverse degradation of antioxidant additives provoked by the distinctive chemical/electrochemical environment of low pH, electric potential, water flux, and ion exchange/concentration gradient. Moreover, changes in the physical state such as migration, agglomeration, and dissolution of antioxidants by mechanical or chemical pressures are serious problems that gradually deteriorate antioxidant activity and capacity. This review presents current opportunities for and limitations to antioxidant therapy for durability enhancement in PEMs for electrochemical device applications. We also provide a summary of advanced synthetic design strategies and in-depth analyses of antioxidants regarding optimizing activity-stability factors. This review will bring new insight into the design to realization of ideal antioxidant nanostructures for PEMs and open up new opportunities for enhancing proliferation of durable PEMFCs.