In situ electrodeposition of nickel cobalt selenides on FTO as an efficient counter electrode for dye-sensitized solar cells

Construction of transition metal selenides with high electrocatalytic performance is of significant importance, but it is still a challenge to develop the corresponding counter electrodes (CEs) by an electrodeposition technique. In the present work, nickel cobalt selenide (Ni_xCo_ySe) films are prepared in situ on fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) glasses through a potential reversal electrodeposition technique. The morphology and electronic structure of Ni_xCo_ySe films can be tuned by controlling the Ni/Co molar ratio in electroplating solution. Specially, Ni_xCo_ySe-6 film (the Ni/Co molar ratio of 1:1) with the optimized interaction between the Ni and Co elements displays numerous particles composed of sheets attached with nanocrystals, resulting in the more electrocatalytic active sites. Benefiting from the unique morphology and optimized synergistic effect, Ni_xCo_ySe-6 CE exhibits superior electrocatalytic activity for the triiodide reduction. Then, the dye-sensitized solar cell (DSC) fabricated by Ni_xCo_ySe-6 CE has demonstrated a power conversion efficiency (PCE) over 7.40%, which is higher than that of platinum (Pt)-based device (6.32%). Furthermore, Ni_xCo_ySe-6 array CE is also prepared by using polystyrene array as template. The PCE of the DSC with Ni_xCo_ySe-6 array CE reaches its maximum value of 7.64% and 20.9% larger than that of Pt-based device.     

Autochthonous white grape pomaces as bioactive source for functional jams

Seeds and skins from grape pomaces of Pecorello and Mantonico cv underwent extraction (ultrasound–assisted or maceration), in order to obtain added-value ingredients for the production of a functional pear jam. The antioxidant features of the extracts were tested by in vitro colorimetric assays. Among seeds, Mantonico by maceration (MSC) showed the best results, as well as Mantonico by ultrasound-assisted extraction (MBs) among skin extracts. The selected extracts were fully characterised by NMR and MS techniques, confirming the presence of many polyphenols, flavonoids and tannins among others. Pectin was then derivatised by the grafting procedure with the active molecules of MBs and MSC. The latter produced the best antioxidant polymer also without toxicity evaluated using Caco-2 cells and was used for the jam preparation. The functional pear jam showed improved antioxidant performances in comparison with its non-functional counterparts as well as its maintenance over time (15 days).     

Finite element analyses of slope stability problems using non-associated plasticity

In recent years, finite element analyses have increasingly been utilized for slope stability problems. In comparison to limit equilibrium methods, numerical analyses do not require any definition of the failure mechanism a priori and enable the determination of the safety level more accurately. The paper compares the performances of strength reduction finite element analysis (SRFEA) with finite element limit analysis (FELA), whereby the focus is related to non-associated plasticity. Displacement-based finite element analyses using a strength reduction technique suffer from numerical instabilities when using non-associated plasticity, especially when dealing with high friction angles but moderate dilatancy angles. The FELA on the other hand provides rigorous upper and lower bounds of the factor of safety (FoS) but is restricted to associated flow rules. Suggestions to overcome this problem, proposed by Davis (1968), lead to conservative FoSs; therefore, an enhanced procedure has been investigated. When using the modified approach, both the SRFEA and the FELA provide very similar results. Further studies highlight the advantages of using an adaptive mesh refinement to determine FoSs. Additionally, it is shown that the initial stress field does not affect the FoS when using a Mohr-Coulomb failure criterion.     

A review on ultrasonic spot welding of copper alloys

As a solid state joining process, ultrasonic spot welding has been proven to be a promising technique for joining copper alloys. However, challenges still remain in employing ultrasonic spot welding to join copper alloys. This article comprehensively reviews the current state of ultrasonic spot welding of copper alloys with a number of critical issues including materials flow, plastic deformation, temperature distribution, vibration, relative motion, vertical displacement, interface friction coefficient, online monitoring technique, coupled with the macrostructure and microstructure, the mechanical properties and electrical conductivity. In addition, the future trends in this field are provided.     

A novel mixing method for powder metallurgy copper-carbon nanotube composites

In this study, copper matrix composite materials with different ratios of carbon nanotubes were produced. The biggest problem faced in the production of carbon nanotube-reinforced composites is that carbon nanotubes do not distribute homogeneously in the matrix. A novel mixing technique was applied to overcome this problem. Hot pressing was used in sample production. A second high-pressure densification process was applied following the hot pressing process for enhancing the properties. The properties of both the hot-pressed specimens and the specimens to which a second high-pressure densification process was applied were characterized with the density measurements, microstructure examinations, and mechanical tests. The microstructure examinations showed that carbon nanotubes could be distributed homogeneously in the copper matrix with the mixing process applied. It was found out that the high-pressure densification process applied following the hot-pressing process increased the relative density and thus, all mechanical properties.     

基于HHT-RDT算法的高拱坝泄流结构工作模态识别方法

根据高拱坝泄流结构自身的工作特点,为准确辨识环境激励下的结构模态参数特征,提出了一种基于改进的HHT-RDT算法的高拱坝泄流结构工作模态识别方法。以某高拱坝原型振动响应测试资料为基础,利用改进的小波阈值-EMD算法对原始信号进行降噪预处理,滤除干扰噪声的同时保留有效特征信息;采用HHT-RDT算法识别高拱坝泄流结构的工作模态参数,运用带通滤波对振动响应信号的EMD过程进行控制得到结构的各阶模态分量,利用RDT法提取各阶模态分量的自由衰减信息,识别出高拱坝泄流结构系统的固有频率及阻尼比。工程实例表明,该方法避免了复杂系统定阶过程,有效提高结构振动响应工作模态识别精度,为辨识高拱坝泄流结构的工作模态参数提供捷径。     

Quantum Coin Method for Numerical Integration

Light transport simulation in rendering is formulated as a numerical integration problem in each pixel, which is commonly estimated by Monte Carlo integration. Monte Carlo integration approximates an integral of a black-box function by taking the average of many evaluations (i.e. samples) of the function (integrand). For N queries of the integrand, Monte Carlo integration achieves the estimation error of . Recently, Johnston [Joh16] introduced quantum super-sampling (QSS) into rendering as a numerical integration method that can run on quantum computers. QSS breaks the fundamental limitation of the convergence rate of Monte Carlo integration and achieves the faster convergence rate of approximately which is the best possible bound of any quantum algorithms we know today [NW99]. We introduce yet another quantum numerical integration algorithm, quantum coin (QCoin) [AW99], and provide numerical experiments that are unprecedented in the fields of both quantum computing and rendering. We show that QCoin's convergence rate is equivalent to QSS's. We additionally show that QCoin is fundamentally more robust under the presence of noise in actual quantum computers due to its simpler quantum circuit and the use of fewer qubits. Considering various aspects of quantum computers, we discuss how QCoin can be a more practical alternative to QSS if we were to run light transport simulation in quantum computers in the future.     

Strain gradient differential quadrature finite element for moderately thick micro-plates

In this study, we integrate the advantages of differential quadrature method (DQM) and finite element method (FEM) to construct a C¹-type four-node quadrilateral element with 48 degrees of freedom (DOF) for strain gradient Mindlin micro-plates. This element is free of shape functions and shear locking. The C¹-continuity requirements of deflection and rotation functions are accomplished by a fourth-order differential quadrature (DQ)-based geometric mapping scheme, which facilitates the conversion of the displacement parameters at Gauss-Lobatto quadrature (GLQ) points into those at element nodes. The appropriate application of DQ rule to non-rectangular domains is proceeded by the natural-to-Cartesian geometric mapping technique. Using GLQ and DQ rules, we discretize the total potential energy functional of a generic micro-plate element into a function of nodal displacement parameters. Then, we adopt the principle of minimum potential energy to determine element stiffness matrix, mass matrix, and load vector. The efficacy of the present element is validated through several examples associated with the static bending and free vibration problems of rectangular, annular sectorial, and elliptical micro-plates. Finally, the developed element is applied to study the behavior of freely vibrating moderately thick micro-plates with irregular shapes. It is shown that our element has better convergence and adaptability than that of Bogner-Fox-Schmit (BFS) one, and strain gradient effects can cause a significant increase in vibration frequencies and a certain change in vibration mode shapes.     

Oxy-fuel combustion of heavy oil based on OH - PLIF technique

Oxy-fuel combustion of heavy oil can be applied to oil field steam injection boilers, allowing the utilization of both heavy oil and CO₂ resources. This paper studied the local distribution characteristics of OH on oxy-fuel combustion of heavy oil during the ignition and stable combustion processes. During the ignition process, we observed the generation and evolution of fire kernel, and got the flame propagation velocity. During the stable combustion process, the results showed that the OH distribution and its relative signal intensity were influenced by the oxygen concentration, excess air coefficient, gas flow, reaction atmosphere, oil mist scattering, incident laser energy and laser sheet position. In the same reaction atmosphere, the ranges of OH dense distribution and the high temperature area increased as O₂ concentration increased. In the same O₂ concentration, both the ranges of OH dense distribution and the high temperature area in O₂/N₂ were larger than that in O₂/CO₂. In 29% O₂/71% CO₂, the flame shape was similar to combust in air, while the OH relative signal intensity and its volatility were much larger than that in air. In the same combustion condition, the location of high concentration of OH relative concentration field lagged behind the high temperature area. The results further reveal the differences between the conventional and oxy-fuel combustion.     

土壤硝酸盐中15N同位素测定前处理自动化辅助装置设计和验证

随着稳定同位素质谱技术在土壤氮循环研究中的广泛应用,氮稳定同位素分析对样品前处理方法提出了更高要求,而合适的样品处理方法是确保分析结果准确可靠的关键。设计开发1种适用于土壤微量硝酸盐中氮稳定同位素分析前处理辅助装置,将基于光电感应装置的自动进样系统与注液、抽真空-气体置换系统相融合,将原前处理方法中液体试剂注入,反应体系抽真空及氦气置换等人为操作过程改为自动化处理环节。系统测试结果表明:该套辅助装置具有良好的自动抽真空、注气和加液重复性。装置抽真空系统的真空度绝对误差可控制在0.5 Pa以内,气体注入体积绝对误差可控制在0.2 mL以内,而注液系统的注液体积绝对误差也可控制在0.1 mL以内,变异系数(CV)均小于1%。使用标准参比样品测试整套系统的准确度和精密度,所有测试样品均获得了较好的准确度和精密度,CV<1%。研制的装置结合痕量气体预浓缩装置—稳定同位素质谱(PreCon-IRMS)联用仪,可以建立方便快捷的低样品量下硝酸盐中15 N同位素质谱检测方法,可为土壤氮循环过程研究提供关键技术支撑。