Progress in preparation of non-noble electrocatalysts for PEM fuel cell reactions

This paper reviews the literature on the preparation aspect of non-noble electrocatalysts for PEM fuel cell reactions, especially focusing on cathode electrocatalyst preparation methods. Various effective synthesis methods for two kinds of promising catalysts such as transition metal chalcogenides, and heat-treated nitrogen containing complexes (macrocyclic complexes) are discussed. Though some remarkable progress has been made in catalyst preparation techniques, neither of these catalysts has reached the level of a Pt based catalyst in terms of catalytic activity, durability and chemical/electrochemical stability. In order to make non-noble electrocatalysts commercially feasible, cost-effective and innovative, catalyst synthesis methods are needed for new catalyst discovery and catalyst performance optimization.     

Diffraction field computation from arbitrarily distributed data points in space

Computation of the diffraction field from a given set of arbitrarily distributed data points in space is an important signal processing problem arising in digital holographic 3D displays. The field arising from such distributed data points has to be solved simultaneously by considering all mutual couplings to get correct results. In our approach, the discrete form of the plane wave decomposition is used to calculate the diffraction field. Two approaches, based on matrix inversion and on projections on to convex sets (POCS), are studied. Both approaches are able to obtain the desired field when the number of given data points is larger than the number of data points on a transverse cross-section of the space. The POCS-based algorithm outperforms the matrix-inversion-based algorithm when the number of known data points is large.     

Description and application of an analytical model to quantify downward smoke displacement caused by a water spray

An analytical model is developed from basic principles to quantify the downward smoke displacement as caused by a water spray from e.g., a sprinkler head. The underlying assumptions are identified and the global balance is described between downward drag force, potentially downward buoyancy due to a cooling effect within the water spray envelope in the smoke layer, and the upward buoyant force in the ambient air below the smoke layer. From this balance, the downward smoke displacement is quantified. It is explained that the classical Bullen theory to define a criterion for smoke layer stability is in general not valid. There is always downward smoke displacement, although potentially small, depending on the circumstances. The tracking of individual water droplets leads to the evolution of the spray envelope radius and provides the total downward drag force on the smoke. An extensive sensitivity study is presented, varying the water spray angle at the nozzle, the water droplet diameter, the smoke layer temperature, and inclusion or not of the cooling effect by water and air entrainment in the downward smoke displacement. It is highlighted that the downward smoke displacement is more pronounced for smaller droplets (for fixed water mass flow rate), and for lower smoke layer temperatures. For larger water spray angle at the nozzle, the downward displacement also increases monotonically with initial smoke layer thickness. A smaller spray angle at the nozzle leads to stronger downward smoke displacement and the variation of downward smoke displacement with initial smoke layer thickness is non-monotonic: stronger descent of smoke for thinner smoke layer, but beyond a critical smoke layer thickness also again a stronger descent with increasing smoke layer thickness. The accuracy of the model as presented is illustrated by means of an experimental data set.     

Extraction and preparation of bamboo fibre-reinforced composites

Natural plant fibre composites have been developed for the production of a variety of industrial products, with benefits including biodegradability and environmental protection. Bamboo fibre materials have attracted broad attention as reinforcement polymer composites due to their environmental sustainability, mechanical properties, and recyclability, and they can be compared with glass fibres. This review classifies and describes the various procedures that have been developed to extract fibres from raw bamboo culm. There are three main types of procedures: mechanical, chemical and combined mechanical and chemical extraction. Composite preparation from extracted bamboo fibres and various thermal analysis methods are also classified and analysed. Many parameters affect the mechanical properties and composite characteristics of bamboo fibres and bamboo composites, including fibre extraction methods, fibre length, fibre size, resin application, temperature, moisture content and composite preparation techniques. Mechanical extraction methods are more eco-friendly than chemical methods, and steam explosion and chemical methods significantly affect the microstructure of bamboo fibres. The development of bamboo fibre-reinforced composites and interfacial adhesion fabrication techniques must consider the type of matrix, the microstructure of bamboo and fibre extraction methods.     

Attribute driven process architecture for additive manufacturing

In additive manufacturing (AM) process, the manufacturing attributes are highly dependent upon the execution of hierarchical plan. Among them, material deposition plan can frequently interrupt the AM process due to tool-path changes, tool start-stop and non-deposition time, which can be challenging during free-form part fabrication. In this paper, the layer geometries for both model and support structure are analyzed to identify the features that create change in deposition modality. First, the overhanging points on the part surface are identified using the normal vector direction of the model surface. A k-th nearest point algorithm is implemented to generate the 3d boundary support contour which is used to construct the support structure. Both model and support structures are sliced and contours are evaluated. The layer contour, plurality, concavity, number of contours, geometric shape, size and interior islands are considered to generate an AM deposition model. The proposed model is solved for minimizing the change in deposition modality by maximizing the continuity and connectivity in the material deposition plan. Both continuity and connectivity algorithms are implemented for model and support structure for free-form object. The proposed algorithm provides the optimum deposition direction that results in minimum number of tool-path segments and their connectivity while minimizing contour plurality effect. This information is stored as a generic digital file format named Part Attributable Motion (PAM). A common application program interface (API) platform is also proposed in this paper, which can access the PAM and generate machine readable file for different existing 3D printers. The proposed research is implemented on three free-form objects with complex geometry and parts are fabricated. Also, the build time is evaluated and the results are compared with the available 3d printing software.     

A kinetic study of gaseous alkali capture by kaolin in the fixed bed reactor equipped with an alkali detector

In this study, the interaction between gas phase potassium species and kaolin was investigated in a fixed bed reactor equipped with a surface ionization detector, which is capable of detecting alkali metals in gas phase at ppb level. The effects of mass transport, space time, sorbent temperature and concentration of KCl on the rate of potassium adsorption on kaolin were studied in air. Kaolin, mainly composed of kaolinite—Al₂Si₂O₅(OH)₄, was found to be very efficient in removing gaseous alkali species from hot flue gases at fluidized bed combustion temperatures. The removal efficiency increased as temperature was decreased or KCl concentration was increased. The capture of potassium by kaolin was irreversible with formation of both water-soluble and water-insoluble products. Kaolin captured KOH almost as effectively as KCl, but K₂SO₄ was captured much less effectively than KCl.     

Polycarbonates as temporary adhesives

In this study, a series of polycarbonates were examined as temporary adhesives for wafer-to-wafer bonding. Temporary adhesives require adequate adhesion strength, solvent resistance, and thermal stability during processing of the mated wafers. Polycarbonates were shown to have thermal and chemical stability over a range of values, as well the ability to thermally release the substrates over a range of temperatures. The polycarbonates had adequate adhesion strength for wafer processes, such as polishing. Little or no mechanical force is required to release the wafers after thermal decomposition of the polycarbonate.     

A single-source molten salt synthesis of rod-shaped Na2Ti6O13 crystals

As one of the most potential negative electrode materials, Na₂Ti₆O₁₃ is expected to play an important role in the area of high-performance battery. In this work, we have developed an easy, efficient and controllable method to prepare rod-shaped Na₂Ti₆O₁₃ crystals. This approach utilized a single-source molten salt strategy and only needed to sinter a special precursor synthesized from an aqueous solution containing H₃BO₃ and (NH₄)₂TiF₆ in presence of sodium salts. The component and shape of precursor crystals can be tuned by adjusting the reagent concentration and reaction temperature. By sintering precursor crystals in air at 900 °C for 30 min, Na₂Ti₆O₁₃ with high crystallinity and purity can be obtained. X-ray diffraction and scanning electron micrographs results of different sintering times show that the sintering process can be divided into two steps. Firstly, the precursor crystals are converted to TiO₂ (anatase) nano-particles and amorphous sodium salts. Subsequently, molten salt reaction occurs between amorphous sodium salts and TiO₂ and forms rod-shaped Na₂Ti₆O₁₃ crystals.     

Corrosion resistance of poly p-phenylenediamine conducting polymer coated 316L SS bipolar plates for Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells

The usage of conducting polymers as coating materials for bipolar plates to prevent corrosion is the recent trend in Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell (PEMFC) technology. Paraphenylenediamine (pPD) monomer was electropolymerized to poly p-phenylenediamine (PpPD) over 316L SS. The characterization of PpPD, the conducting polymer coating, over 316L SS was done using attenuated total reflectance infra-red (ATR-IR) spectroscopy to confirm the formation of PpPD. The surface morphology and topography were studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The corrosion protection performance of the coating was evaluated using open circuit potential (OCP) measurement, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and potentiodynamic polarization studies in PEMFC environment. EIS studies revealed that the charge transfer resistance for the coated substrates has increased by one order of magnitude than the bare substrate. Potentiodynamic polarization studies have registered lower corrosion current density by one order magnitude for the 0.06 M pPD coated substrate than the bare substrate and the polarization resistance values for the coated substrates have increased by two and a half time than the bare substrate. These results showed that PpPD coated substrates exhibited enhanced corrosion resistance in PEMFC environment.