Electrochemical performance of spherical Li-rich LMNCO cathode materials prepared using a two-step spray-drying method

In this study we synthesized Li-rich Li_1.2Ni_0.13Mn_0.54Co_0.13O₂ (LMNCO) as a composite cathode material through a two-step spray-drying method, using transition metal (TM) acetates and citric acid (CA, as a chelating agent) at various molar ratios and then calcining at various temperatures for various periods of time. This two-step spray-drying method created hierarchical nano/micro-sphere structures of the LMNCO cathode material. The LMNCO cathode exhibited the best electrochemical performance when synthesized with a TM:CA ratio of 3:2, a calcination temperature of 900 °C, and a calcination time of 5 h. This as-prepared LMNCO composite was then modified with polyimide (PI) at various weight ratios (PI/LMNCO = 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5 wt%) to improve its electrochemical properties. Among the various structures, the LMNCO cathode material coated with 1.0 wt% of PI at a layer thickness of approximately 1.88 nm achieved the best initial discharge capacities. This modified electrode also displayed enhanced cycle stability, with over 93.3 and 87.9% of the capacity retained after 30 cycles at 0.1C and 100 cycles at 1C, respectively. In comparison, the capacity retention of the unmodified LMNCO electrode measured under the same conditions was no more than 91.3% at 0.1C and 70.1% at 1C. Thus, surface modification with PI was an effective method for improving the coulombic efficiency, discharge capacity, and long-term cycling performance of the LMNCO cathode. Such PI-coated LMNCO composite cathode materials appear to be potential candidates for use in next-generation high-performance lithium-ion batteries.     

The phosphorescence emission in undoped lead-halide Cs4PbBr6 single crystals at low temperature

Recently, all-inorganic cesium lead-halide perovskites have shown their promise for light emission applications, due to the excellent optical performance. Herein, we report that the initially nonphosphorescent undoped lead-halide Cs₄PbBr₆ single crystals (SCs) exhibit an ultralong phosphorescence emission under X-ray excitation at low temperatures. It is shown that the dramatic change has been taken place in radioluminescence spectra and the broad-band emission gradually appeared with the decrease of temperature. Below 210 K, the radioluminescence spectra can be deconvoluted into one narrow peak located at 530 nm and two broad peaks centered at 595 nm and 672 nm respectively. Subsequently, the time-dependent radioluminescence spectra in undoped lead-halide Cs₄PbBr₆ SCs were investigated. The ultralong phosphorescence emission can persist over 120 min at 70 K. We consider that ultralong phosphorescence originates from defect-related emission. To the best of our knowledge, our finding is the first time that undoped Cs₄PbBr₆ SCs exhibit the phosphorescence emission, which will offer a paradigm to motivate revolutionary applications on perovskite.     

High performance asymmetric supercapacitor based on 3D microsphere-like 1T-MoS2 with high 1T phase content

1T phase molybdenum disulfide (1T-MoS₂) has aroused extensive concern in energy storage devices such as supercapacitors due to its large interlayer spacing, high conductivity and good hydrophilicity. However, it is struggle to synthesize 1T-MoS₂ with stable 1T phase with high content. Herein, Ammonium ion intercalation molybdenum disulfide (A-MoS₂) with high 1T content and stable 3D microsphere structure was successfully synthesized using a facile hydrothermal method. We explained the feasibility of ammonium ion (NH₄⁺) intercalation through density functional theory (DFT) calculations and proved the successful intercalation of NH₄⁺ by XRD and XPS. Through XPS fitting, the 1T phase content is calculated as high as 83.1%. The as-prepared A-MoS₂ presents a stable 3D microsphere structure with the interlayer spacing expanded to 0.93 nm, which provides a wide ion diffusion channel that allows ions to pass through quickly. Moreover, the high 1T content increases the hydrophilicity of MoS₂, thereby improving the wettability of the electrode, which contributes to the interaction between the electrolyte and electrode. In 1 M Na₂SO₄, A-MoS₂ electrode material displays high specific capacitance of 228 F g^?1 at 5 mV s^?1 and retains 127 F g^?1 at 80 mV s^?1, which proves the good rate capability. Furthermore, the assembled α-MnO₂//A-MoS₂ asymmetric supercapacitor (ASC) displayed a wide operating voltage of 2.1 V. The assembled ASC displays a high energy density of 35.8 Wh?kg^?1 at a power density of 525.0 W kg^?1, which indicates excellent energy storage performance.     

IRS辅助的SWIPT系统中基于能效优先的波束成形设计与优化

以智能反射面(intelligent reflecting surface,IRS)辅助的无线携能通信(simultaneous wireless information and power transfer,SWIPT)系统为背景,研究了该系统中基于能效优先的多天线发送端有源波束成形与IRS无源波束成形联合设计与优化方法。以最大化接收端的最小能效为优化目标,构造在发送端功率、接收端能量阈值、IRS相移等多约束下的非线性优化问题,用交替方向乘子法(alternating direction method of multipliers,ADMM)求解。采用Dinkelbach算法转化目标函数,通过奇异值分解(singular value decomposition,SVD)和半定松弛(semi-definite relaxation,SDR)得到发送端有源波束成形向量。采用SDR得到IRS相移矩阵与反射波束成形向量。结果表明,该系统显著降低了系统能量收集(energy harvesting,EH)接收端的能量阈值。当系统总电路功耗为?15 dBm时,所提方案的用户能效为300 KB/J。当IRS反射阵源数与发送天线数均为最大值时,系统可达最大能效。     

Thermal properties of hierarchical YSZ and LZO ceramic microspheres with multi-scaled voids investigated by using theoretical,experimental and simulation methods

Heat transfer within ceramic feedstock powders is still unclear, which impedes optimization of the thermal and mechanical properties of the thermal sprayed coatings. The microspheres (yttria-stabilized zirconia YSZ and lanthanum zirconate LZO) were prepared via the electro-spraying assisted phase inversion method (ESP). The thermal properties of the two ESP microspheres and a commercial hollow spherical powder (HOSP) were investigated by using theoretical, experimental, and simulation methods. Thermal conductivity of the single microsphere was estimated via a novel nest model that was derived from the Maxwell-Eucken 1 and the EMT model. Thermal conductivity of a single YSZ/LZO-ESP microsphere prepared at 1100–1200 °C was within 0.36–0.75 W/m K, which was ～ 20 % lower than that of a single YSZ-HOSP microsphere with a similar porosity. Heat flux simulation showed that high tortuosity around the multi-scaled voids of the ESP microsphere led to a more efficient decrease in thermal conductivity compared with total porosity.     

Directional separation of hydrogen-containing gas mixture by hydrate-membrane coupling method

Recovery of hydrogen (H₂) from H₂-containing gas mixtures has great significance for energy conservation, cost reduction and benefit increase. However, the common separation methods have the ubiquitous problem due to phase equilibrium principle and results in the conflict between H₂ concentration and H₂ recovery rate in the product gas. Consequently, an innovative conception of hydrate-membrane coupling approach is proposed in this work. In the separation process, hydration and membrane permeation two separation driving forces coexist to achieve the aim of strengthening mass transfer kinetics. H₂ and non-H₂ components (hydrocarbons) are synchronously and directionally selected by membrane and hydrate to improve different phase compositions. Therefore, the gas in feed side could keep relatively high two separation driving forces (H₂ fugacity and hydrocarbons fugacity). The results show that the coupling method could synchronously increase both the concentration and the recovery rate of H₂ in the product gas. At the same time, the volume and concentration of the hydrocarbons in hydrate both increases effectively. It indicates that hydrate and membrane separation methods support each other in the separation process. The hydrate-membrane coupling method fundamentally solves the issue of the decreasing driving force resulting from single separation method and phase equilibrium relationship.     

Numerical simulation of the influence of confined multi-point ignited H2–O2 mixture on the propagation of shock waves towards a deformable plate

The study of shock wave propagation in a detonation chamber is of great importance as a part of the plate forming process. Investigations related to the effects of premixed gas detonation on the deflection of a plate require in-depth examination. An Eulerian-Lagrangian numerical simulation is conducted using the space-time conservation element and solution element method of LS-DYNA software to study the effect of confined multi-point ignited gaseous mixture on the dynamic response of thin plates clamped at the end of a combustion chamber. The FSI couples a Lagrangian finite element solver with a Eulerian fluid solver in a 2D space with detailed chemistry of H₂–O₂ mixture. The solution contains the detonation wave propagation through the combustion chamber and its interaction with the plate. The influence of variation in the multi-point ignition locations and combustion chamber dimensions on the pressure history and plate deflection is studied. To verify the model, a comparison with the experimental study is carried out using an adjustable model representative of the real experiment. The verified model is used to link the evolution of plate shape with the arrival time and intensity of shock waves within the chamber. It is found that a longer distance between the ignition point and the plate intensifies the ultimate deflection of the plate. In addition, a fairly large combustion area employed in a direction rather than transverse to the plate surface is unable to influence the ultimate deformation of the plate.     

Analytical approach on magnetohydrodynamic Casson fluid flow past a stretching sheet via Adomian decomposition method

Flow phenomena of three-dimensional conducting Casson fluid through a stretching sheet are proposed in the present investigation with the impact of the magnetic parameter in a permeable medium. The adaptation of particular transformations is useful to modify the governing equations into their nondimensional as well as the ordinary form. However, these transformed equations are nonlinear and approximate analytical methods for the solution of the complex form of governing equations. In particular, the Adomian decomposition method is proposed for the solution. The behavior of several variables, such as the magnetic and porous matrix, on the flow profile as well as the rate of shear stress, are discussed via graphs and tables. The conformity of the current result with the earlier study shows a road map for further investigation. The major concluding remarks are; the retardation in the velocity distribution is rendered due to an increase in the Casson parameter moreover, the Casson parameter favors in reducing the rate of shear stress coefficient in magnitude.     

Direct shear behavior of gravel-rubber mixtures: Discrete element modeling and microscopic investigations

In this paper, a newly developed 3-dimentional discrete element model (DEM) for gravel-rubber mixtures (GRMs), namely DEM4GRM, that is capable of accurately describing the macro-scale shear response (from small to large deformation) of GRMs in a direct shear box apparatus is presented. Rigid gravel grains are modelled as simple multi-shape clumps, while soft rubber particles are modeled by using deformable 35-ball body-centered-cubic clusters. Mixtures are prepared with different volumetric rubber content (VRC) at 0, 10, 25, 40 and 100%, statically compressed under 30, 60 and 100 kPa vertical stress and then sheared, by closely simulating a reference laboratory test procedure. The variation of micro-scale factors such as fabric, normal and tangential force anisotropy is carefully examined throughout the shearing process and described by means of novel micro-mechanical relationships valid for GRMs. Moreover, strong-force chains are scrutinized to identify the transition from rigid to soft granular skeleton and gain insights on the load transfer and deformation mechanisms of GRMs. It is shown that the development of the fabric and force anisotropy during shearing is closely related to the macro-scale shear strength of GRMs, and strongly depends on the VRC. Besides, strong-force chains appear to be primarily formed by gravel-gravel contacts (resulting in a rigid-like mechanical behavior) up to VRC = 30%, and by rubber-rubber contacts (causing a soft-like mechanical response) beyond VRC = 60%. Alternatively, at 30% < VRC < 60%, gravel-rubber contacts are predominant in the strong-force network and an intermediate mechanical behavior is observed. This is consistent with the behavioral trends observed in the macro- and micro-mechanical responses.     

Comparative study of EICP treatment methods on the mechanical properties of sandy soil

This study analyzed the effect of different treatment methods in enzyme-induced carbonate precipitation (EICP) on the mechanical properties of soil. Soybean crude urease was used to catalyze the precipitation of calcium carbonate (CaCO₃). A multiple-phase method was proposed and further compared with commonly practiced EICP treatment methods (including the one-phase method, two-phase method, and premix-and-compact method) from the aspects of chemical conversion efficiency, CaCO₃ precipitation distribution, permeability, and unconfined compressive strength. Based on the findings, the characteristics of each method were further discussed and summarized. Although the enzymatic CaCO₃ precipitation generated from all the treatment methods could potentiate the soil strength to a great or less degree, using the proposed multiple-phase method could bring about a high chemical conversion efficiency, uniform distribution of CaCO₃ as well as preferable permeability retention. In addition, the multiple-phase method could significantly improve the efficiency of urease usage.