Development of a probabilistic algorithm of surface residual materials on Si3N4 ceramics under longitudinal torsional ultrasonic grinding

Longitudinal torsional ultrasonic-assisted grinding (LTUG) is one of the main methods to achieve high-quality and high-efficiency machining of high-performance ceramic materials. However, it isn't easy to accurately characterize the three-dimensional (3-D) surface topography due to multiple random factors during LTUG. Aiming at the complex surface features caused by multiple random factors in the LTUG of Si3N4 ceramics, a probabilistic algorithm for the height of residual material on the surface (HRMS) in LTUG of Si3N4 ceramic was proposed, and the prediction model for the 3-D surface topography and 3-D surface roughness parameters of Si3N4 ceramics in LTUG was established by using this algorithm. Simulation and experimental results show that the prediction model of 3-D surface topography and 3-D surface roughness established by the HRMS algorithm can more realistically predict the general characteristics of 3-D surface topography in LTUG under different process parameters, and the error range of the 3-D surface roughness parameter is 0–14.07%, which realizes the high-precision and high-reliability prediction of the 3-D surface topography and 3-D surface roughness parameters of the Si3N4 ceramic under LTUG.     

Fine-diameter Si–B–C–N ceramic fibers enabled by polyborosilazanes with N–methyl pendant group

Given the superior thermal stability and electromagnetic features, continuous Si–B–(C)–N ceramic fibers have displayed great potential to fulfill the increasing demand for the high-temperature structural and functional materials. Manufacture of such ceramic fibers depends heavily upon the design of processable polymer precursors. Herein, a class of polyborosilazanes (PBSZs) with high spinnability were created through a facile one-pot synthesis. The trade-off between spinnability and ceramic yield of PBSZs was overcome by using heptamethyldisilazane and hexamethyldisilazane as the co-condensing agents to polymerize silicon and boron chloride monomers. The optimal PBSZs can fabricate continuous Si–B–C–N fibers with homogeneous diameter of 7.9 ± 0.5 μm and high ceramic yield of 80 wt%. Experimental characterization and quantum chemical computation revealed the mechanistic pictures of the impact of pendant groups on the polycondensation, melt spinning, and pyrolyzing process. These insights improve our understanding of spinnable pre-ceramic polymers for exploiting high-performance nitride ceramic fibers.     

Synthesis and color tuning of titanium oxide inorganic pigment by phase control and mixed-anion co-doping

B and N co-doped anatase, rutile, and brookite TiO₂ (abbreviated as BN-Ana, BN-Rut, and BN-Bro) were successfully synthesized. The apparent color of as-obtain BN-Ana, BN-Rut and BN-Bro was red, cyan and yellow-green, respectively. The mechanisms of various coloring were concluded as the different band gap configurations and the formation of covalent B-N bonding. The nitridation time expressed less effect on changing the color. On the contrary, nitridation temperature enabled the distinct color changes by altering the brightness. Lower temperature, fewer doping concentration, and brighter apparent color, vice versa. Through tuning the brightness, a gradient of yellow-orange-red was achieved in the case of BN-Ana, as well the transitions of grey-to-cyan and white-to-pale-yellow were achieved in BN-Rut and BN-Bro, respectively. This research proposed a method for the synthesis of color-full titania pigment without the addition of other toxic transition metal elements.     

Phase evolution of a novel silicon-alumina-fused mullite-containing Ti2O3 refractory at 1300 °C in N2

A novel silicon-alumina-fused mullite-containing Ti₂O₃ composite refractory is prepared and sintered in the presence of solid carbon at 1300 °C in N₂. The sintered samples exhibit a functional gradient characteristic. The phase evolution can be described as follows: Passive and active oxidation of Si to form SiO₂ and SiO to reduce the partial pressure of oxygen. SiO(g) and Si react with N₂ to form Si₃N₄ respectively. As the temperature increases and the partial pressure of oxygen decreases, Ti₂O₃ reacts with CO and N₂ to form Ti(C,N)ss, which is accompanied by the release of O₂. Si₃N₄ fixes the O₂ and reacts to form Si₂N₂O, and Si₂N₂O reacts with Al₂O₃ to form O′-Sialon, thereby realizing the transformation from Si₃N₄ to Sialon. CO and residual carbon from the pyrolysis of phenolic resin react with SiO(s) and Si to form SiC. The dense layer formed by SiC and SiO₂ blocks the diffusion of external gas to the central parts of the samples, there is still free Si which can continue to react and transform into a non-oxide reinforcing phase. In this paper, the reaction models are presented.     

Engineering knowledge formalization and proposition for informatics development towards a CAD-integrated DfX system for product design

Target design methodologies (DfX) were developed to cope with specific engineering design issues such as cost-effectiveness, manufacturability, assemblability, maintainability, among others. However, DfX methodologies are undergoing the lack of real integration with 3D CAD systems. Their principles are currently applied downstream of the 3D modelling by following the well-known rules available from the literature and engineers’ know-how (tacit internal knowledge).This paper provides a method to formalize complex DfX engineering knowledge into explicit knowledge that can be reused for Advanced Engineering Informatics to aid designers and engineers in developing mechanical products. This research work wants to define a general method (ontology) able to couple DfX design guidelines (engineering knowledge) with geometrical product features of a product 3D model (engineering parametric data). A common layer for all DfX methods (horizontal) and dedicated layers for each DfX method (vertical) allow creating the suitable ontology for the systematic collection of the DfX rules considering each target. Moreover, the proposed framework is the first step for developing (future work) a software tool to assist engineers and designers during product development (3D CAD modelling).A design for assembly (DfA) case study shows how to collect assembly rules in the given framework. It demonstrates the applicability of the CAD-integrated DfX system in the mechanical design of a jig-crane. Several benefits are recognized: (i) systematic collection of DfA rules for informatics development, (ii) identification of assembly issues in the product development process, and (iii) reduction of effort and time during the design review.     

A General Strategy for Antimony-Based Alloy Nanocomposite Embedded in Swiss-Cheese-Like Nitrogen-Doped Porous Carbon for Energy Storage

Due to its suitable working voltage and high theoretical storage capacity, antimony is considered a promising negative electrode material for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) and has attracted widespread attention. The volume effect during cycling, however, will cause the antimony anode to undergo a severe structural collapse and a rapid decrease in capacity. Here, a general in situ self-template-assisted strategy is proposed for the rational design and preparation of a series of M Sb (M = Ni, Co, or Fe) nanocomposites with M N C coordination, which are firmly anchored on Swiss-cheese-like nitrogen-doped porous carbon as anodes for LIBs. The large interface pore network structure, the introduction of heteroatoms, and the formation of strong metal N C bonds effectively enhance their electronic conductivity and structural integrity, and provide abundant interfacial lithium storage. The experimental results have proved the high rate performance and excellent cycling stability of antimony-based composite materials. Electrochemical kinetics studies have demonstrated that the increase in capacity during cycling is mainly controlled by the diffusion mechanism rather than the pseudocapacitance contribution. This facile strategy can provide a new pathway for low-cost and high-yield synthesis of Sb-based composites with high performance, and is expected to be applied in other energy-related fields such as sodium-/potassium-ion batteries or electrocatalysis.     

Metal–organic framework-derived Co@NMPC as efficient electrocatalyst for hydrogen evolution reaction: Revealing the synergic effect of pyridinic N–Co

Developing hydrogen economy is one of the feasible routes to reduce carbon emission in response to the energy crisis and global warming. The hydrogen generation by electrochemical water splitting has received widespread attention, but it is still challenging to fabricate high-efficient electrocatalysts to decrease the kinetic energy barrier of hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). Loading transition metal (TM) nanoparticles (NPs) into heteroatom-doped carbon materials (HCM) has been reported as a capable scheme to increase the electrochemical activity and stability, but the synergic effect between TM surface and HCM is still worth exploring. Ascertaining that, we used metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) as the sacrificial precursor to synthesis a series of Co NPs encapsulated in N-doped microporous carbon (NMPC) nanocatalysts (denoted as Co@NMPC) with different N species (such as pyrrolic, pyridinic and graphitic N). The nanocatalyst prepared at an appropriate condition displayed an outstanding HER activity with an overpotential of 193 mV in 1 M KOH solution and 132 mV in 0.5 M H₂SO₄ solution to reach 10 mA cm^?2 current density. Furthermore, the results of in situ shielding tests indicate that the synergy of pyridinic N–Co site owing to the intimate contact between Co surface and NMPC play the pivotal role in boosting HER performance. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations were employed to obtain an in-depth mechanism of synergic effect between Co and NMPC.     

Integrated LaB6/g-C3N4 solar absorber for solving dye accumulation during solar steam generation

Solar steam generation has attracted considerable interest due to its easy accessibility and sustainability. However, dye molecules were gradually concentrated on bulk water or the surface of solar absorbers during the disposal of dye wastewater. Herein, LaB₆/g-C₃N₄ composites were immobilized on porous cotton cloth, served as a solar absorber resistant to dye clogging. The optimal solar absorber possessed solar harvesting of 92.3% and showed great application potential in the field of the treatment of dye wastewater. This study presented a new approach for the treatment of dye wastewater.     

Morphological influence of graphitic carbon nanofibers by N–F dual-doping on Pt electrocatalytic activity and stability for oxygen reduction reaction in polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells

Morphology of carbon nanofibers significantly effects Pt nanoparticles dispersion and specific interaction with the support, which is an important aspect in the fuel cell performance of the electrocatalysts. This study emphasizes, the defects creation and structural evolution comprised due to N–F co-doping on graphitic carbon nanofibers (GNFs) of different morphologies, viz. GNF-linearly aligned platelets (L), antlers (A), herringbone (H), and their specific interaction with Pt nanoparticle in enhancing the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). GNFs–NF–Pt catalysts exhibit better ORR electrocatalytic activity, superior durability that is solely ascribed to the morphological evolution and the doped N–F heteroatoms, prompting the charge density variations in the resultant carbon fiber matrices. Amongst, H–NF–Pt catalyst performed outstanding ORR activity with exceptional electrochemical stability, which shows only 20 mV loss in the half-wave potential whilst 100 mV loss for Pt/C catalyst on 20,000 potential cycling. The PEMFC comprising H–NF–Pt as cathode catalyst with minimum loading of 0.10 mg cm^?2, delivers power density of 0.942 W cm^?2 at current density of 2.50 A cm^?2 without backpressures in H₂–O₂ feeds. The H–NF–Pt catalyst owing to its hierarchical architectures, performs well in PEMFC at the minimized catalyst loading with outstanding stability that can significantly decrease total price for the fuel cell.