Development of paraffin and paraffin/bitumen composites with additions of B2O3 for thermal neutron shielding applications

In this work, paraffin and paraffin/bitumen composites with additions of boron oxide (B₂O₃) were prepared to evaluate the viscosity, flexural, and thermal neutron shielding properties for uses as thermal neutron shielding materials. The results showed that the addition of 3 wt% or 9 wt% bitumen to paraffin increased the overall flexural properties with the content of 9 wt% bitumen having the highest values. The improvement in flexural properties made the composites less brittle, stiffer, and longer-lasting. Furthermore, different contents of B₂O₃ (0, 7, 14, 21, 28, and 35 wt%) were added to paraffin and paraffin/bitumen composites to investigate the effects of the B₂O₃ contents. The results indicated that an increase in B₂O₃ contents improved the shielding properties but slightly reduced the flexural properties. Specifically for 5-mm paraffin and 5-mm paraffin/bitumen samples with 35 wt% of B₂O₃, both samples could reduce neutron flux by more than 70%. The overall results suggested that the paraffin and paraffin/bitumen composites with additions of B₂O₃ showed improved properties for utilization as effective thermal neutron shielding materials.     

Effect of vibration on behaviour of bifilms in A356 and A357 melts

The effect of applying vibration to a melt on the behaviour of bifilm defects in A356 and A357 melts was studied using a reduced pressure test technique. The results showed that vibrating a melt can have a dual effect on bifilms. This effect depends on the rate of phase transformations that occur in the oxide films. If the transformation occurs fast enough then the vibration would facilitate the formation of bonding between the layers of bifilm defects by causing the atmosphere of the defects to be consumed faster. Otherwise, the vibration might facilitate the diffusion of hydrogen into the atmosphere of the defects, and hence prevent or delay the formation of bonding between the oxide layers.     

Positron Emitting Magnetic Nanoconstructs for PET/MR Imaging

Hybrid PET/MRI scanners have the potential to provide fundamental molecular, cellular, and anatomic information essential for optimizing therapeutic and surgical interventions. However, their full utilization is currently limited by the lack of truly multi‐modal contrast agents capable of exploiting the strengths of each modality. Here, we report on the development of long‐circulating positron‐emitting magnetic nanoconstructs (PEM) designed to image solid tumors for combined PET/MRI. PEMs are synthesized by a modified nano‐precipitation method mixing poly(lactic‐co‐glycolic acid) (PLGA), lipids, and polyethylene glycol (PEG) chains with 5 nm iron oxide nanoparticles (USPIOs). PEM lipids are coupled with 1,4,7,10‐tetraazacyclododecane‐1,4,7,10‐tetraacetic acid (DOTA) and subsequently chelated to ⁶⁴Cu. PEMs show a diameter of 140 ± 7 nm and a transversal relaxivity r₂ of 265.0 ± 10.0 (mM × s)^?1, with a r₂/r₁ ratio of 123. Using a murine xenograft model bearing human breast cancer cell line (MDA‐MB‐231), intravenously administered PEMs progressively accumulate in tumors reaching a maximum of 3.5 ± 0.25% ID/g tumor at 20 h post‐injection. Correlation of PET and MRI signals revealed non‐uniform intratumoral distribution of PEMs with focal areas of accumulation at the tumor periphery. These long‐circulating PEMs with high transversal relaxivity and tumor accumulation may allow for detailed interrogation over multiple scales in a clinically relevant setting.     

Influence of Oxide Morphologies on Galvanizability of Third Generation Automotive Steel

Focusing on improving the galvanizability of the third generation automotive steel, the effect of surface ox ide morphologies on the galvanizability was studied. The results show that the surface oxide types of sample steels by X ray photoelectron spectroscopy （XPS） analysis after annealing in different conditions are the same. Only MnO, MnO2 and Cr2O3 were detected and no complex oxide exists on the surface. Morphologies of surface oxides can greatly influence the galvanizability of the third generation automotive steel. Nodule-like oxide surface can contribute to better wettability and inhibition layer than vitreous film like oxide surface. Galvanized panels of nodule-like oxide surface steels only show pinhole sized bare spots, while panels galvanized from vitreous film-like oxide surface steels reveal larger areas of bare spots and uncoated areas. Inhibition layer observed in galvanized panels of nodule-like oxide surface steels is compact but not homogeneous; some inhibition layer grains are fine, and others are coarse, while the inhibition layer grains of panels galvanized from vitreous film-like oxide surface steels have a non-compact morphology with some particularly fine equiaxed crystals which developed deficiently.     

Bridging TiO2 nanoparticles using graphene for use in dye‐sensitized solar cells

The use of graphene to bridge TiO₂ particles in the photoanode of dye‐sensitized solar cell for reduced electrical resistance has been investigated. The difficulty in dispersing graphene in TiO₂ paste was overcome by first dispersing graphene oxide (GO) into the TiO₂ paste. The GO was then reduced to graphene after the sintering of TiO₂. This is shown through transmission electron microscopy and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis. Cell performance was evaluated using a solar simulator, incident photon to electron conversion efficiency, intensity modulated photocurrent/photovoltage spectroscopy under blue light, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. Depending on the amount of graphene in the photoanode, the cell performance was enhanced to different degrees. A maximum increase of 11.4% in the cell efficiency has been obtained. In particular, the inclusion of graphene has reduced the electron diffusion time by as much as 23.4%, i.e. from 4.74 to 3.63 ms and increased the electron lifetime by as much as 42.3%, i.e. from 19.58 to 27.85 ms. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Review: Enhancement of composite anode materials for low-temperature solid oxide fuels

Solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) technology is attractive for its high-energy efficiency and expanded fuel flexibility. It is also more environmentally benign than conventional power generation systems. Recently, increasing attention has been paid to intermediate-to-low-temperature solid oxide fuel cells, which operating at 400–800 °C. Reducing its operating temperature can render SOFC more competitive with other types of fuel cells and portable energy storage system (EES) over a range of applications (eg: transportation, portable, stationary) and more conducive for commercialization. The high-performance composite anode requirements for low operating temperature (400–600 °C) demand microstructural and chemical stability, high electronic conductivity, and good electrochemical performance. The current high-temperature anode, Ni-YSZ (nickel-yttria stabilized zirconia) is generally reported with high interfacial resistance at reduced temperatures. This review highlights several potential composite anode materials (Ni-based and Ni-free) that have been developed for low-temperature SOFCs within the past 10 years. This literature survey shows that most of these anodes still exhibit relatively high polarization resistance. Focus is also given on reducing polarization resistance to maintain the cell power density. In literature, common approaches that have been adopted to enhance the performance of anodes are (i) selecting high-performance electrolyte, (ii) exploiting nanopowder properties, and (iii) adding noble metals as electrocatalysts.     

Reacting flow coupling with thermal impacts in a single solid oxide fuel cell

Thermal impacts are the major concern for the designs of electrolyte of Solid Oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) due to the high temperature operating conditions. In this study, the coupling dynamics of electrochemical reacting flows with heat transfer and generations of thermal strains and stresses (thermal impact) of solid electrolyte and porous electrodes are investigated in a single SOFC by numerical simulations. Modeling results from a test case show that the coupling is necessary as the electrochemical and thermal properties of the cell strongly depends on temperature, meanwhile, the thermal strains and stresses on temperature gradients. The differences in current density and thermal strain gradients predicted by coupling and decoupling simulations are as larger as 20% because of the strong dependents of ionic conductivity of the electrolyte material on temperature, the maximum thermal strain, thermal stresses, and temperature are all about 5%. It is identified that the high operation voltage benefits to the thermal strain, which decreases 20% when the cell operating from 0.5 V–0.7 V.     

Monodisperse rutheniumcopper alloy nanoparticles decorated on reduced graphene oxide for dehydrogenation of DMAB

In this study, we report a superior dehydrogenation catalyst for dimethylamine borane, which exhibited one of the best catalytic activities. The newly formed catalyst system contains well dispersed ruthenium-copper nanomaterials on reduced graphene oxide (3.86 ± 0.47 nm), which was prepared by using the ultrasonic double reduction technique. The characterization of monodisperse ruthenium-copper alloy nanoparticles was performed using some advanced analytical methods such as TEM, HRTEM, XPS, Raman spectroscopic analysis. The experiments results revealed that the monodisperse ruthenium-copper alloy catalyst (RuCu@rGO) has one of the highest catalytic activity compared to previous studies, having a high turnover frequency value (256.70 h⁻¹). The detailed kinetic parameters such as activation energy, enthalpy, and entropy values were also calculated for the dehydrogenation of dimethylamine borane at room temperature. Also, the results showed that the monodisperse RuCu@rGO catalyst has high durability and reusability as retained its 81% initial catalytic activity even after 4th runs for the dehydrogenation of dimethylamine borane.     

Nano-to-macroporous TiO2 (anatase) by cold sintering process

Cold Sintering Process (CSP) was applied on commercial nanopowders to produce nanostructured TiO₂ anatase with nano-to-macro porosity. Nanoporous TiO₂ based materials were obtained by applying CSP at 150 °C and pressures up to 500 MPa on three TiO₂ nanopowders with different specific surface area (s.s.a. = 50, 90 and 370 m²/g), using water as transient aqueous environment. Although TiO₂ is insoluble in water, a density of 68% and s.s.a. = 117 m²/g were achieved from the powder with the highest specific surface area. A post annealing process at 500 °C increased the density up to 73% with a s.s.a. = 59 m²/g, and the crystallites dimensions passed from 110 Å in the powder to 130 Å in CSP material and 172 Å after post annealing. Finally, macroporosity was produced by using thermoplastic polymer beads as sacrificial templates within TiO₂ nanopowder during CSP, followed by a debonding at 500 °C.     

A remarkable three-component RuO2-MnCo2O4/rGO nanocatalyst towards methanol electrooxidation

A three-part nano-catalyst including ruthenium oxide, manganese cobalt oxide, and reduced graphene oxide nanosheet in form of RuO₂-MnCo₂O₄/rGO is synthesized by one-step hydrothermal synthesis. The material is placed on a glassy carbon electrode (GCE) for electrochemical studies. The ability of these nano-catalysts in the oxidation process of methanol in an alkaline medium for usage in direct methanol fuel cells (DMFC) was examined with electrochemical tests of cyclic voltammetry (CV), linear sweep voltammetry (LSV), and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The effect of the addition of rGO to the nanocatalyst structure in the methanol oxidation reaction (MOR) process was investigated. We introduced the RuO₂-MnCo₂O₄/rGO as a nanocatalyst with excellent cyclic stability of 97% after 5000 cycles in the MOR process. Besides, the study of the Tafel plots and the effect of temperature and scan rate in the MOR process showed that RuO₂-MnCo₂O₄/rGO nanocatalyst has better electrochemical properties than MnCo₂O₄ and RuO₂-MnCo₂O₄. This high electrocatalytic activity could be related to the synergistic effect of placement of metal oxides of ruthenium, manganese, and cobalt near each other and putting them on rGO, which enhances conductivity and surface area and improve electron transfer. The decrease in the resistance against charge transfer and the increment in the anodic current density illustrated that the reaction rate is enhanced at higher temperature. Thus RuO₂-MnCo₂O₄/rGO shows robust stability and superior performance for MOR.