Imidazolium functionalized poly(vinyl alcohol) membranes for direct methanol alkaline fuel cell applications

In this study, imidazolium functionalized poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) was synthesized by acetalization and direct quaternization reaction. Afterwards, composite anion exchange membranes based on imidazolium‐ and quaternary ammonium‐ functionalized PVA were used for direct methanol alkaline fuel cell applications. ¹H NMR and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy data indicated that imidazole functionalized PVA was successfully synthesized. Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry data demonstrated that the imidazolium structure was efficiently obtained by direct quaternization of the imidazole group. Composite anion exchange membranes were fabricated by application of the functionalized PVA solution on the surface of porous polycarbonate (PC) membranes. Fuel cell related properties of all prepared membranes were investigated systematically. The imidazolium functionalized composite membrane (PVA‐Im/PC) exhibited higher ionic conductivity (7.8 mS cm^?1 at 30 °C) despite a lower water uptake and ion exchange capacity value compared to that of quaternary ammonium. In addition, PVA‐Im/PC showed the lowest methanol permeation rate and the highest membrane selectivity as well as high alkaline and oxidative stability. Dynamic mechanical analysis results reveal that both composite membranes were mechanically resistant up to 10⁷ Pa at 140 °C. The superior performance of imidazolium functionalized PVA composite membrane compared to quaternary ammonium functionalized membrane makes it a promising candidate for direct methanol alkaline fuel cell applications. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry     

碳基采暖电热材料研究进展

近几年,由于节能与环保的需求,电取暖的方式得到大力的推广,电热材料的研究与应用受到人们广泛的重视。非金属碳基电热材料是新型的节能型电热采暖材料,本文重点对影响非金属碳基电热材料中的炭黑基电热材料、碳纤维基电热材料、碳晶电热材料电热性能的因素及相关应用进行了综述。     

Characteristics of polycarbosilanes produced under different synthetic conditions and their influence on SiC fibers: Part I

SiC fibers can be obtained by the spinning, curing, and heat treatment of polycarbosilane (PCS); however, the properties of the PCS precursor must be considered to set the correct spinning conditions. Although many studies have focused on the synthesis conditions, the characterization (in particular, the structural characteristics) of PCS fibers, and the polymer itself has limitations. In this study, PCS was prepared in two steps, and the growth of the polymer with respect to the reaction conditions was analyzed. We found that PCS is formed and grown by the rearrangement and subsequent condensation reactions of polydimethylsilane (PDMS). Further, fiber formation was affected by the reaction temperature, time, and pressure. Three types of PCS were obtained under different synthetic conditions, and they were all characterized. Regardless of the structural similarity of the PCS fibers (based on the spectroscopic analysis), the polymers showed different thermal and rheological properties. Our findings will be important in improving the production of PCS fibers (and subsequent SiC fibers) with finely controlled properties.     

Fabrication and properties of carbon fiber-Si3N4 nanowires-hydroxyapatite/phenolic resin composites for biological applications

Carbon fiber-Si₃N₄ nanowires-hydroxyapatite/phenolic resin (CF–Si₃N₄nws-HA/resin) composites were successfully fabricated by the combined methods of precursor impregnation-pyrolysis (PIP) and pulse electrochemical deposition (PED). The morphology, microstructure and element compositions of Si₃N₄nws and HA were characterized. The mechanical properties, biological friction performances and in-vitro bioactivity of CF-Si₃N₄nws-HA/resin composites were investigated. The results showed that the Si₃N₄nws induced the uniform growth of HA. The tensile strength of the CF-Si₃N₄nws-HA/resin composites increased by 41.7% compared with CF-HA/resin composites. The wear rate decreased by 85.8% compared with CF-HA/resin composites. CF-Si₃N₄nws-HA/resin composites showed good in-vitro bioactivity and have potential for applications in bone graft.     

Balancing the specific surface area and mass diffusion property of electrospun carbon fibers to enhance the cell performance of vanadium redox flow battery

Electrospun carbon fibers are featured with abundant electroactive sites but large mass transport resistances as the electrodes for vanadium redox flow battery. To lower mass transport resistances while maintaining large specific areas, electrospun carbon fibers with different structural properties, including pore size and pore distribution, are prepared by varying precursor concentrations. Increasing the polyacrylonitrile concentration from 9 wt% to 18 wt% results in carbonized fibers with an average fiber diameter ranging from 0.28 μm to 1.82 μm. The median pore diameter, in the meantime, almost linearly increases from 1.32 μm to 9.05 μm while maintaining the porosity of higher than 82%. The subsequent electroactivity evaluation and full battery testing demonstrate that the mass transport of vanadium ions through the electrode with larger fiber diameters are significantly improved but not scarifying the electrochemical activity. It is shown that the flow battery with these electrodes obtains an energy efficiency of 79% and electrolyte utilization of 74% at 300 mA cm⁻². Hence, all these results eliminate the concern of mass transport when applying electrospun carbon fibers as the electrodes for redox flow batteries and guide the future development of electrospun carbon fibers.     

Dynamic mechanical analysis and broadband electromagnetic interference shielding characteristics of poly (vinyl alcohol)-poly (4-styrenesulfonic acid)-titanium dioxide nanoparticles based tertiary nanocomposites

ABSTRACT

Novel tertiary nanocomposite films comprising of poly (vinyl alcohol) (PVA), poly (4-styrenesulfonic acid) (PSSA) and titanium dioxide (TiO₂) nanoparticles (NP_S) were prepared using simple solvent casting method. The structural, thermal, morphological, thermo-mechanical and electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding properties of PVA/PSSA/TiO₂ nanocomposite films were investigated. The EMI shielding effectiveness (SE) of PVA/PSSA/TiO₂ nanocomposite films in the X and Ku band was found to be 12 dB and 13 dB respectively at 25 wt% TiO₂ NPs loading. These results demonstrate the possible applications of PVA/PSSA/TiO₂ nanocomposite films as low cost, lightweight and flexible material for EMI shielding.     

氧化石墨烯改性碳纤维复合材料抗冲击行为研究

使用单层纳米氧化石墨烯（NGO）粒子对环氧树脂进行改性处理，采用真空辅助树脂传递模塑成型工艺制备了[±45/0/90]_2S铺层角度下的纯树脂及单层NGO改性碳纤维复合材料（CFRP）层合板。通过落锤冲击试验、超声C扫描检测、冲击后压缩试验等对纯树脂及单层NGO改性CFRP进行实验研究。结果表明，纯树脂及单层NGO改性CFRP在损伤阻抗及损伤容限实验中均存在拐点现象，且拐点出现在相同深度位置，其中纯树脂CFRP拐点位置为0.51 mm，单层NGO改性CFRP拐点位置为0.43 mm；相对于纯树脂CFRP，单层NGO改性CFRP可以显著提高复合材料的抗冲击性能及冲击后的压缩性能；通过对冲击后凹坑深度及凹坑面积进行数据模拟，可以用拟合公式实现对复合材料的损伤预测。     

二硫化钼纳米片用于修饰微生物燃料电池阳极的研究

利用简单的一步水热法制备了MoS2纳米片并用于修饰不锈钢纤维毡阳极(MoS2-SSFF),与未修饰不锈钢纤维毡阳极(SSFF)和多壁碳纳米管修饰阳极(CNT-SSFF)进行了对比研究。装配MFC运行的测试结果表明,MoS2-SSFF/MFC的功率密度为714 m W/m2,略高于CNT-SSFF/MFC的功率密度693 m W/m2,远高于未修饰SSFF/MFC的功率密度197 m W/m2。利用扫描电子显微镜(SEM)观察到MoS2纳米片呈簇状附着于MoS2-SSFF电极表面,显著增加了电极的比表面积。MoS2纳米片修饰改善了SSFF阳极的生物相容性,修饰电极在循环伏安测试(CV)中表现出良好的氧化还原性能。水热法制备的MoS2纳米片用于修饰阳极是一种高效、经济、简单的阳极修饰方法。     

RTM制备玻璃纤维增强环氧树脂复合材料的力学性能分析

以环氧树脂为基体,短切玻璃纤维和玻璃纤维布为增强材料,通过RTM工艺制备了玻璃纤维增强环氧树脂(GF/EP)复合材料,并研究了RTM工艺制备玻璃纤维布增强环氧树脂(L-GF/EP)和短切玻璃纤维增强环氧树脂(S-GF/EP)复合材料的拉伸和弯曲性能,分析了开孔对两种复合材料拉伸性能的影响。结果表明:在拉伸过程中,开孔试样因孔边产生的应力集中,导致其拉伸强度与无孔试样相比下降了30%左右;玻纤铺层类型的不同对复合材料的力学性能具有显著影响;L-GF/EP复合材料内部结构完整,在载荷作用下,复合材料的弯曲断裂呈现一定的假塑性断裂模式,达到弯曲极限挠度值后,出现一定程度的回弹现象,其力学性能优于S-GF/EP复合材料。