Harvesting Air and Light Energy via “All-in-One” Polymer Cathodes for High-Capacity,Self-Chargeable,and Multimode-Switching Zinc Batteries

Aqueous rechargeable Zinc (Zn)–polymer batteries are promising alternatives to prevalent Li-ion cells in terms of cost, safety, and rate capability but they suffer from limited specific capacity in addition to poor environmental adaptability. Herein, air and light are successfully utilized from external environments in single near-neutral two-electrode Zn batteries to enable remarkably improved electrochemical performance, fast self-charging, and switchable multimode-operation from Zn–polymer to Zn–air cells. This system is enabled by a well-designed polyaniline-nanorod-array based “all-in-one” cathode combining reversible redox capability, oxygen reduction activity, and photothermal-responsiveness. The initiative design allows perfect integration of multiple energy harvesting from ambient “air” and light, energy conversion, and storage in one single cathode. Thus, it can act as an efficient light-assisted electrically-rechargeable Zn–polymer cell featuring the highest specific capacity of 430.0 mAh g⁻¹ among all existing polymer cathodes. Without external power sources, it can be self-charged to deliver a high discharging capacity of 363.1 mAh g⁻¹ by concurrently harvesting chemical energy from air and light energy for only 20 min. It can also switch to a light-responsive Zn–air battery mode to surmount the output capacity limit of Zn–polymer battery mode for continued electricity supply.     

浅谈电子电工技术在电力系统中的应用

本文针对电子电工技术在电力系统中的作用进行了分析,同时为该技术的推广提出了相应的建议。     

The influence of processing methods on the dielectric properties of BaTi1-xGdxO3-x/2 - Based materials

In this study, the intermediate rare-earth oxide Gd₂O₃ (Gd) was substituted in different amounts (x = 0.2–2 mol%) for the formulation of BaTi_1-xGd_xO_3-x/2 (BTG_x) dielectric materials. The effect of B-site substitution was confirmed by the additional Raman active A_1g octahedral peak at ~835cm^-1 strengthened at x ≥ 0.4 mol%. Additionally, properties of 0.9BTG_0.007-0.1BA dielectric ceramics were analysed based on the influence of various processing methods as a function of sintering temperature. The focal samples were labelled Method-A (direct-mix) and Method-B (indirect-mix). As the sintering temperature (1075–1200 °C) increased, the 1 kHz response of the ε–T curves of Method-A samples transformed from a single peak to broad-narrow double peaks of high dielectric loss tangent (tan δ). Nonetheless, samples of Method-B possessed a clearly defined transmission electron microscopy (TEM) core-shell structure, flattened double-peak ε-T curves, optimised dielectric properties (ε = ~1563–1851 and tan δ < 1.5% at room temperature), and a wide-ranging temperature behaviour that meets the X8R dielectric standards (ΔC/C_25°C < ±15%). The maximum dielectric breakdown strength of Method-B samples reached ~131 kVcm, while the energy storage density was ~0.726 J/cm³ at a maximum efficiency of ~80% at 1100 °C. Thus, exhibiting good potentials for balancing temperature stability with energy storage applications.     

Preparation of a ternary hybrid of P-g-C3N4@PGS-Ti and its enhancement of the flame retardancy of epoxy resins

A novel ternary hybrid flame retardant named P-g-C₃N₄@PGS-Ti was prepared through step-by-step method. First, titanium dioxide was loaded on PGS to make PGS-Ti (where PGS = palygorskite), and then, PGS-Ti was decorated by phosphor-doped g-C₃N₄ (abbreviated as P-g-C₃N₄) to prepare a ternary flame retardant of P-g-C₃N₄@PGS-Ti. It showed that P-g-C₃N₄@PGS-Ti could efficiently improve the flame retardancy of epoxy resins (EP). The structure and the morphology of P-C₃N₄@PGS-Ti were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, scaanning electron microscopy and hermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The flame retardancy and the burning behavior of 5 wt% P-g-C₃N₄@PGS-Ti composited EP were well investigated through TGA, limiting oxygen index (LOI), cone calorimeter test (CCT) and vertical burning test (UL-94 standard). It was found that the peak heat releasing (pk-HRR) of the EP/P-g-C₃N₄@PGS-Ti composite reduced 36% (from 1459 to 852 kW/m²) with the addition of 5 wt% of P-g-C₃N₄@PGS-Ti flame retardant to the matrix of EP. The combustion residue analysis showed that the EP/P-g-C₃N₄@PGS-Ti composite gained the most continuous and firmest char yield due to the synergistic effect of PGS, TiO₂ and the introducing of P element. The mechanism proved that the combination of gas phase and condensed phase flame-retardant processes were well coordinated to improve the fire retardancy for EP. We tested and studied the mechanical properties of EP/P-g-C₃N₄@PGS-Ti composites. Only 2.4% decreasing of flexural strength and 23.5% decreasing of impact strength in EP/P-g-C₃N₄@PGS-Ti composites compared to pure EP, respectively. But according to the test results of EP/P-g-C₃N₄@PGS-Ti composite material and the control sample in the system, EP/P-g-C₃N₄@PGS-Ti composite material had the highest flexural modulus and impact strength.     

Research on Crop Irrigation Schedules Under Deficit Irrigation—A Meta-analysis

Water Resources Management - Increasing water consumption in agriculture due to global climate change has posed considerable challenges to food security, thus improving the efficiency of water...     

黄芩苷印迹聚合物在银黄口服液质量分析中的应用

从天然产物和中草药中选择性提取生物活性化合物是困难的,但对药物分析和新药开发是必要的也是亟需的.该研究采用沉淀聚合法,以黄芩苷为模板分子,与丙烯酰胺和乙二醇甲基丙烯酸共聚,以N、N-二甲基甲酰胺为致孔剂合成了分子印迹聚合物,与非印迹聚合物相比,制备的分子印迹聚合物具有良好的选择性,并用于银黄口服液的质量分析.结果表明:该分子印迹聚合物能从复杂基质中选择性提取黄芩苷及其结构类似物.     

Novel silicon-contained lignin-based carbon fibers derived from bamboo pulping black liquor with improved electrochemical performance for supercapacitors

Carbon fibers (CFs) are a promising candidate as electrode materials for flexible supercapacitors given its light weight and moderate cost. In this study, the lignin used was partially separated from kraft bamboo pulping black liquor and the higher molecular weight fraction, unavoidably contains a small amount of silicon compounds, so named silicon-contained lignin. Novel CFs were prepared using commercial polyacrylonitrile (PAN) and the lignin by electrospinning and further carbonization. Even in the presence of silicon compounds, the fibrous morphology of precursor fibers was significantly good, and the CFs with uniform fiber diameter and high specific surface area up to 182 m²/g were obtained with an increase in silicon-contained lignin. The CFs fabricated from silicon-contained lignin and commercial PAN had higher specific capacitance (22.20 mF/cm² at 10 mA/cm²) and superb cycling stability (94.21%) than that from silicon-free lignin or pure PAN separately.     

Investigating the effect of water-mixing nitrogen atmospheric pressure plasma jet on polyether-ether-ketone and time stability under different conditions

Possessing excellent properties including good biocompatibility, high strength, and stiffness, polyether-ether-ketone (PEEK) has significant application values in medical and industrial fields. However, the relatively poor wettability and low adhesion limit its further applications. Atmospheric pressure plasma jet (APPJ) has been utilized for adjusting PEEK properties, but better hydrophilization effect and time stability after treatment are still urgently needed. In this paper, we employ a water-mixing nitrogen (N₂ H₂O) APPJ to process PEEK, and surface wettability can be effectively improved (contact angle ~18° within 2 min, distance between sample and nozzle outlet: 10 mm) without inducing obvious microstructure damages. Additionally, after storing for 40 days, the sample treated by N₂ H₂O APPJ also possessed better wettability (~54°) compared with that treated by N₂ APPJ (~65°). On the basis of this low-damage and high-efficient modification method, we perform aging experiments under different conditions (different temperatures 25, −10°C; and low vacuum condition: 50 kPa) to determine a relatively optimum storing condition for this method. The experiment results indicate that low temperature and vacuum are conducive to retaining the plasma-induced wettability (~34°). The treatment method and storing conditions for PEEK presented here may facilitate the application of PEEK in various fields.     

Inorganic Nanoparticles Applied as Functional Therapeutics

Inorganic nanoparticles (NPs) offer significant advantages to the biomedical field owing to their large surface area, controllable structures, diverse surface chemistry, and unique optical and physical properties. Researchers worldwide have shown that inorganic NPs and the released metal ions can act as therapeutic agents in targeted tissues or to cure various diseases without acute toxicity. In this progress report, the recent developments in inorganic NPs with different compositions directly used as therapeutics are discussed. First, the recent convergence of nanotechnology and biotechnology in biomedical applications as well as the unique functions, features, and advantages of inorganic NPs in biomedical applications are summarized. Thereafter, the biological effects of inorganic compositions in NPs which include balancing the intracellular redox environment, regulating the specific cellular signaling and cellular behaviors, and apoptosis are explained. In addition, the emerging therapeutic applications of inorganic NPs in various diseases are exemplified. Finally, the perspectives and challenges for overcoming the weaknesses of inorganic NPs as therapeutics are discussed. By carefully considering and investigating the biological effects of inorganic NPs and metal ions released from NPs, more promising inorganic NPs based therapeutic agents can be developed.     

浸渍剂和压紧系数对全膜电容器端部电场分布的影响研究

全膜电容器边缘处的电场畸变是影响电容器元件击穿的重要因素之一.为研究浸渍情况和压紧系数对全膜电容器电场分布的影响,对电容器端部进行建模,通过改变浸渍情况和压紧系数,计算不同参数下电容器端部的电场分布情况,结果表明:未浸渍情况下电场最大值集中在折边处两侧,浸渍情况下场强在折边圆弧处分布较为均匀.同时发现,在浸渍情况下增大压紧系数K可以明显改善全膜电容器端部电场的分布情况.