Meticulously tailoring phase boundary in KNN-based ceramics to enhance piezoelectricity and temperature stability

Although KNN-based ceramics with high electrical properties are obtained through a variety of strategies, the temperature sensitivity is still one of the key technical bottlenecks hindering practical applications. Here, we use a new strategy, meticulously tailoring phase boundary, to refine the ferroelectric boundary of KNN-based ceramics, leading to high piezoelectricity companied with improving temperature stability. The highest d₃₃ value in this system reaches 501 pC/N with a T_C ∼ 240°C, whereas a large strain of ∼0.134% can be kept with 10% lower deterioration until 100°C. The origin of high piezoelectricity is mainly attributed to the well-preserved multiphase coexistence and the appearance of nanodomains, which greatly facilitate the polarization rotation. Instead of the changed intrinsic thermal insensitivity, the precision phase boundary engineering plays an important role in strengthening the temperature stability of electric-induced strain. This work provides a simple and effective method to obtain both high electrical properties and excellent thermal stability in KNN-based ceramics, which is expected to promote the practical applications in the future.     

Investigation on La3+ and Dy3+ co-doped ceria ceramics with an optimized average atomic number of dopants for electrolytes in IT-SOFCs

In the present study, we investigate the fundamental properties of CeO₂ by selecting La³⁺ (57), and Dy³⁺ (66) as dopants with optimized average atomic number of 61.5, which lies in between Pm³⁺ (62) and Sm³⁺ (62) in accordance with the criteria for optimum doping. A system of co-doped ceria ceramics Ce_1–x–yLa_xDy_yO_2-δ ((x, y) = (0.00, 0.00), (0.025, 0.025), (0.05, 0.05), (0.075, 0.075), (0.10, 0.10), (0.00, 0.20) and (0.20, 0.00)) as electrolytes for intermediate temperature solid oxide fuel cells were successfully prepared by a well-known sol-gel auto-combustion route. In order to obtain dense samples, the prepared pellets were sintered in air at 1300 °C for 4 h using conventional furnace and relative densities of all the samples were found to be higher than 95%. Single phase cubic structure, microstructural density and elemental composition analysis of all the samples were studied by powder X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscope and energy dispersive spectroscopy techniques, respectively. Raman spectroscopy analysis confirmed the formation of concentrated O^2-–vacancies in the co-doped ceria system. Impedance spectroscopy measurements revealed the high value of total ionic conductivity and low activation energy for the composition Ce_0.85La_0.075Dy_0.075O_2?δ i.e., 2.08 × 10^–2 S cm^–1 and 0.58 eV, respectively. Linear thermal expansion analyses of all the samples revealed the matched thermal expansion coefficients. Finally, these results recommend that the Ce_0.85La_0.075Dy_0.075O_2?δ sample can be useful as a solid electrolyte in IT-SOFC applications.     

Hydrogen production by hybrid system and its conversion by fuel cell in Algeria; Djanet

In this work we present a scenario of wind and solar energy production and seasonal energy storage producing Hydrogen in Djanet (East-South of Algeria). In addition we suppose assume the use of a set of fuel cells which are connected to the grid to provide a supply of energy when needed afterwards. The aim of this primary study is giving an alternative solution for the electric production in Djanet, which is mainly based on diesel generator. For that we made an investigation to highlight the potential of renewable energy production in this region. To ascertain feasibility of one hybrid system, we made energetic assessment considering the real climatic conditions of Djanet.     

Improving Properties of Poly(vinylidene fluoride) by Adding Expanded Graphite without Surface Modification via Water‐Assisted Mixing Extrusion

Expanded graphite (EG) is introduced into poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) by melt mixing extrusion with water injection. The results demonstrate that the unfunctionalized EG in composite prepared with water injection exbibits better dispersion than that in the one prepared without water injection due to the promoting role of water during extrusion. Thus, the PVDF/EG composite with loading of 4 wt% prepared by water‐assisted mixing extrusion (WAME) exhibits electrical conductivity of about three orders of magnitude higher than the neat PVDF and one order of magnitude higher than the one prepared without water injection. Comparing to the neat PVDF, the thermal conductivity of the composites prepared with and without water injection is increased by 101.5% and 75.0%, respectively. The introduced EG leads to increased Young’s modulus and tensile strength especially for the composite prepared by WAME. The present work indicates that WAME can promote the dispersion of EG in PVDF matrix without any extra functionalization.     

New local binary pattern approaches based on color channels in texture classification

Multimedia Tools and Applications - In this paper, four novel, simple and robust approaches, which are left to right local binary patterns (LBPLL2R), top to down local binary patterns (LBPT2D),...     

Within-class multimodal classification

Multimedia Tools and Applications - In many real-world classification problems there exist multiple subclasses (or clusters) within a class; in other words, the underlying data distribution is...     

Bounding the Inefficiency of the Reliability-Based Continuous Network Design Problem Under Cost Recovery

Networks and Spatial Economics - This study defines the price of anarchy for general reliability-based transport network design problems, which is an indicator of inefficiency that reveals how much...     

Studies on the Structure and Catalytic Properties for Heck Reaction of Troxerutin Supported Palladium Catalyst

Theoretical Foundations of Chemical Engineering - Troxerutin supported palladium (TXT-Pd) catalyst was prepared readily by using one-step synthetic method. As-fabricated TXT-Pd catalyst was...     

Iron Towers in Guangxiao Temple,Guangzhou City

正Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period (963 A.D. and 967 A.D.)The western tower was damaged and is now incomplete. The eastern tower is 7.7 m high.There are two towers, called the eastern tower and the western tower, which were built in 963 A.D. and 967 A.D.,respectively, and are the earliest extant iron towers. There are 1,024 Buddha statues cast on each side of the tower body.The whole tower is made up of 17 castings, which are stacked layer by layer, and each casting is made to be a single     

Characterisation of the microplasma spraying of biocompatible coating of titanium

This paper presents new results of studying the influence of parameters of microplasma spraying (MPS) of Ti wire on the structure and properties of Ti coatings. Based on the design of the experiment and the results of the SEM study, certain spraying modes were chosen to form the desired composition and structure of the Ti coating.  The dense sublayer (up to 300 µm thick) provides good adhesion to the substrate, and a porous top layer can accelerate the coated implant ingrowth with the bone.  This technology is developed for the manufacture of coated endoprosthesis implants.