Development of an SFMM/CGO composite electrode with stable electrochemical performance at different oxygen partial pressures

This paper carefully evaluates the electrocatalytic activity of Sr₂FeMo_0.5Mn_0.5O₆ (SFMM) double perovskite as a candidate to substitute the state-of-the-art Ni/YSZ fuel electrode. The electrochemical performance of a 40% SFMM/CGO composite electrode was studied in CO/CO₂ and H₂ with different oxygen partial pressure. Two different cell configurations are prepared at a relatively low temperature of 800 °C to increase the electrochemically active surface area. The cell was supported with a 150 μm 10Sc1CeSZ electrolyte in the first configuration. The cell in the second configuration was made by applying a 400 nm thin 8YSZ layer on 150 μm CGO electrolyte to improve the electrolyte ionic conductivity. Improving catalytic activity with increasing oxygen partial pressure is a key characteristic of the developed electrode. The polarization resistance of about 0.34 and 0.56 Ω cm² at 750 °C in 3%H₂O + H₂ and 60% CO/CO₂ makes this electrode a promising candidate for SOCs application.     

内含实体对H型垂直轴风力机气动性能的影响

以H型垂直轴风力机及其内含圆柱形实体为研究对象,对NACA0018翼型的五叶片H型垂直轴风力机的气动性能进行数值模拟和实验验证。分析8种不同直径的内含圆柱体,在内含实体截面积占风轮迎风面积之比分别为21.2%、50.0%和76.9%时,风力机风能利用率的峰值分别下降8.04%、20.7%及74.3%。结果表明：随着内含实体直径的增大,风能利用率的峰值逐渐减小,开始较为缓慢,达到一定值时快速下降。小直径内含实体主要影响叶片在下风区的转矩,对风能利用率的影响较小,而大直径内含实体还会影响叶片在上风区的转矩,其风能利用率迅速减小。对于内含固定直径的实体,比如在现有建筑物外侧安装风力机时,其风轮半径的选择需综合考虑风能利用率和风力机的建造成本两方面的因素。研究结果可为建筑物与垂直轴风力机进行有效结合以提高风能的利用提供参考。     

Combining a new baseboard radiator with a fan coil system for improving heating performance and reduce energy consumption

In the present work, the heating performance of a new system combined with a new modified baseboard radiator and fan coil is investigated. Using longitudinal fins with special geometry and also forced airflow at the end of the system causes that at the lower inlet water temperature compared with the conventional models, higher heat output rate be obtained. The heat output rate of the new modified system is obtained by experimental metrology based on the European Standard No. EN-442. Temperature and velocity distribution in the room space is done by simulation of the modified system in the Flovent software. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) results are validated against experimental results and there is a good agreement between them. Also, the energy consumption of the system during the winter season is calculated in TRANSYS software. Experimental results show that the heat output rate of a new modified heating system with inlet water temperature in the range of 45–55°C is on average 4.17 times higher compared with the conventional model. CFD simulation also showed that the combined system provides good thermal comfort conditions. Energy consumption of the new system reduced about 13% compared with conventional models.     

High lithium storage of Co3O4 enabled by integrating hollow and porous carbon scaffolds

The Co₃O₄, as a potential anode of lithium-ion batteries, has gained considerable attention because of high theoretical capacity. However, the Co₃O₄ is suffering from serious structure deterioration and rapid capacity fading due to its bulky volume change during cyclic charge/discharge process. Herein, to stabilize the lithium storage performance of the Co₃O₄ nanoparticles, a characteristic carbon scaffold (HPC) integrating hollow and porous structures has been fabricated by a well-designed method for the first time. The ultrafine Co₃O₄ nanoparticles are cleverly anchored on the HPC (HPC@Co₃O₄) and hence achieve significantly improved electrochemical properties including high capacity, improved reaction kinetics and outstanding cycle stability, showing high capacity of 1084.7 mAh g^-1 after 200 cycles at 200 mA g^-1 as well as 681.4 mAh g^-1 after 300 cycles at 1000 mA g^-1. The HPC@Co₃O₄ therefore shows good promising for application in advanced lithium-ion battery anodes. The results of the systematically material and electrochemical characterizations indicate that the synergistic effects of ultrafine Co₃O₄ nanoparticles and well-designed HPC scaffolds are responsible for the outstand performance of the HPC@Co₃O₄ anode. Moreover, this work can enrich the understanding and development of stable and high-performance metal oxide-based lithium-ion battery anodes for advanced lithium storage.     

Effect of MnOx phase on Pt-based catalyst for enhancing CO/C3H6/NO oxidation performance

To improve the fuel economy, it is crucial to promote the low-temperature performance in eliminating diesel emissions. The work investigates the impact of different MnO₂/Mn₂O₃ phase ratio on the low-temperature performance of Pt-based monolithic diesel oxidation catalyst. Near equal ratio of MnO_x phase could form the three-phase (platinum, MnO₂, Mn₂O₃) interfacial structure, leading to the smaller platinum particle size and exhibiting the higher interface rate (1.6–11.1 times) than other mono-manganese oxide with platinum. Besides, the higher oxygen mobility and more active oxygen species could be contributed to the positive effect of Pt/MnO_x interface, which are prevalent to activate the reactant and greatly enhance the TOF value (1.4–20.8 times). The results imply that the modification of multi-phase metal/oxide interface is potential in dispersing platinum for greatly enhancing the catalytic efficiency.     

An analytical model for gas leakage through contact interface in proton exchange membrane fuel cells

Sealing performance between two contacting surfaces is of significant importance to stable operation of proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells. In this work, an analytical micro-scale approach is first established to predict the gas leakage in fuel cells. Gas pressure and uneven pressure distribution at the interface are also included in the model. At first, the micro tortuous leakage path at the interface is constructed by introducing contact modelling and fractal porous structure theory. In order to obtain the leakage at the entire surface, contact pressure distribution is predicted based on bonded elastic layer model. The gas leakage through the discontinuous interface can be obtained with consideration of convection and diffusion. Then, experiments are conducted to validate the numerical model, and good agreement is obtained between them. Finally, influences of surface topology, gasket compression and gasket width on leakage are studied based on the model. The results show that gas leakage would be greatly amplified when the asperity standard deviation of surface roughness exceeds 1.0 μm. Gaskets with larger width and smaller thickness are beneficial to sealing performance. The model is helpful to understand the gas leakage behavior at the interface and guide the gasket design of fuel cells.     

Investigation of fabrication of gas diffusion substrate for proton exchange membrane fuel cells

The gas diffusion substrate (GDS) is essential in the proton exchange membrane fuel cells. Its fabrication techniques affect the performance significantly and are worthy of investigation. In this study, a manufacturing process of the GDS is proposed to understand the formation process of GDS and promote its structure and performance more pertinently. Different states during the preparation process, raw carbon paper, pre-curing, curing, carbonation, and graphitization, are characterized and measured. Experimental and numerical methods are employed to determine the relationships between microstructure, transport, and mechanical performance variation with the fabricating processes. The results show that its porosity, average pore size, and effective diffusivity decrease first and increase after curing. These parameters after graphitization are lower than that of the carbon paper (CP). The electrical resistivity increases dramatically while pre-curing and decreases gradually after curing, carbonation, and graphitization, and it is much reduced after graphitization. Moreover, mechanical measurement results show that both the picks of tensile strength and flexural modulus occur after curing. Its tensile strength shows little change after graphitization compared to the initial paper's. In contrast, the flexural modulus is improved significantly.     

Driving performance and road sign identification by multifocal contact lens wearers in a driving simulator

PurposeThe purpose of this study was to compare sign identification distances and driving performance metrics in presbyopic participants while wearing multifocal contact lenses (MFCL) and while wearing progressive addition lens (PAL) spectacles.Methods19 presbyopic participants completed PAL spectacle assessments and contact lens fitting and follow up visits before driving assessments began. These assessments occurred in a simulator equipped with a full-sized sedan on a motion platform and a 260 degree screen. Participants completed the driving task with PAL and with MFCL. Participants followed a lead car and identified signs at various distances from the road. For the two wearing conditions, comparisons of the distance along the road at which signs were identified were made using repeated measures ANOVA. Paired t-tests were used to compare driving performance for the two conditions.ResultsThere was no statistical difference in sign identification distance between PAL and MFLC for signs 32.0 m from the road side of the road (182 ± 46 m for MFCL; 205 ± 45 m for PAL; P = 0.07) or 51.4 m from the side of the road (204 ± 43 m for MFCL; 216 ± 36 m for PAL; P = 0.3). Only signs 70.2 m from the roadside showed a significant difference (207 ± 42 m with MFCL; 232 ± 39 m with PAL; P = 0.01), All distances were greater than those required to safely stop a vehicle. There were no significant differences in the driving performance metrics between the refractive corrections.ConclusionDriving performance metrics were similar for MFCL and PAL spectacles. Sign identification distances with both eyewear types were well within the distances required for safe vehicle stopping.     

Sea urchin-like LiAlO2@NiCoO2 hybrid composites with core-shell structure as high-performance Li storage materials

Sea urchin-like LiAlO₂@NiCoO₂ hybrid composites with core-shell structure assembled with nanoneedles have been successfully fabricated through a facile hydrothermal route followed by a calcination procedure in N₂ for the first time. The sea urchin-like architecture with large accessible surface can offer numerous active sites for redox reaction. The synergy of two advantages has dramatically improved the electrochemical behavior in terms of specific capacity, cycle performance and rate capability, especially at high current densities. The LiAlO₂(5.0 wt%)@NiCoO₂ displays charge capacities are 1309.0 and 933.6 mAh g^?1 at 0.5 and 1A g^?1, respectively, after 400 cycles. However, the charge capacities of bare NiCoO₂ are only 562.9 and 476.7 mAh g^?1 at corresponding rates. Especially, LiAlO₂(5.0 wt%)@NiCoO₂ preserves 358.1 mAh g^?1 after 500 cycles at 2A g^?1 with a capacity retention of 74%. The superior electrochemical property is related to the sea urchin-like nature and the ingenious composition design. In addition, the DFT calculation result shows that the formed stable, well-coordinated, and metallic interface between LiAlO₂ and NiCoO₂ are very helpful for reducing the interfacial impedance and beneficial for the improved rate capability of the materials. Therefore, such LiAlO₂@NiCoO₂ composites with unique morphology demonstrate a huge potential as electrode materials for Li-ion batteries.