Strain‐rate‐dependent mechanical properties of polypropylene separator for lithium‐ion batteries

The mechanical integrity of battery separators is critical for battery safety and durability. A comprehensive study of strain‐rate‐dependent tensile and puncture properties of a polypropylene lithium‐ion battery separator is presented here with a new model. Due to anisotropy of the polymeric membrane, tensile testing was conducted for different directions. Results showed that tensile strength and elastic modulus were increased 1000% and 500%, respectively, for different directions. It was also demonstrated that tensile strength changed 10 to 25% with strain rate (1.67 × 10^?4 to 1.67 × 10^?1 s^?1) for different directions. An equation was obtained for the first time for flow stress versus strain rate at varied tensile directions with respect to machine direction. Moreover, puncture testing was performed and it was shown that puncture strength was increased 140% with increasing strain rate from 0.25 to 250 mm min^?1. Two failure modes were also observed in puncture samples. Finally, Eyring's model was used to calculate activation enthalpy of the porous polypropylene separator. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry     

High-resolution FIB-TEM-STEM structural characterization of grain boundaries in the high dielectric constant perovskite CaCu3Ti4O12

In this work, the grain boundaries composition of the polycrystalline CaCu₃Ti₄O₁₂ (CCTO) was investigated. A Focused Ion Beam (FIB)/lift-out technique was used to prepare site-specific thin samples of the grain boundaries interface of CCTO ceramics. Scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) coupled with energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry (EDXS) and Electron Energy Loss Spectroscopy (EELS) systems were used to characterize the composition and nanostructure of the grain and grain boundaries region. It is known that during conventional sintering, discontinuous grain growth occurs and a Cu-rich phase appears at grain boundaries. This Cu-rich phase may affect the final dielectric properties of CCTO but its structure and chemical composition remained unknown. For the first time, this high-resolution FIB-TEM-STEM study of CCTO interfacial region highlights the composition of the phases segregated at grain boundaries namely CuO, Cu₂O and the metastable phase Cu₃TiO_4.     

Steady MHD Casson Ohmic heating and viscous dissipative fluid flow past an infinite vertical porous plate in the presence of Soret,Hall, and ion‐slip current

In the present study, the influence of Hall and ion‐slip current on steady magnetohydrodynamics mixed convective, Ohmic heating, and viscous dissipative Casson fluid flow over an infinite vertical porous plate in the presence of Soret effect and chemical reaction are investigated. The modeling equations are transformed into dimensionless equations and then solved analytically through the multiple regular perturbation law. Computations are performed graphically to analyze the behavior of fluid velocity, temperature, concentration, skin friction, Nusselt number, and Sherwood number on the vertical plate with the difference of emerging physical parameters. This study reflects that the incremental values of Casson fluid parameter and Schmidt number lead to reduction in velocity. However, fluid velocity rises due to enhancement of ion‐slip parameter but an opposite effect is observed in case of Hall parameter. In addition, the Sherwood number declines with enhancing dissimilar estimators of the chemical reaction, Schmidt number, as well as Soret number.     

溶液浓差能驱动的逆电渗析反应器制氢实验研究

低品位热能制氢技术首先是将热能转换为溶液浓差能，然后通过逆电渗析（RED）反应器将溶液浓差能转换成氢能。为了验证RED反应器能将溶液浓差能转换为氢能，探索关键运行参数变化对能量转换过程的影响。设计了一个由40个膜对所构成的RED反应器，以NaCl水溶液为工作溶液，NaOH水溶液为电极液的制氢系统。通过改变浓/稀溶液入口浓度，溶液过膜流速以及输出电流来考察对RED反应器产氢率、制氢效率和能量转换效率的影响。实验结果发现，浓/稀溶液入口浓度，过膜流速变化均会影响RED反应器的输出电流。在外电路短接条件下，输出电流越大，反应器产氢率和制氢效率越高，但能量转换效率越低。     

Impact of gypsum on flotation of scheelite and fluorite using sodium oleate as collector

ABSTRACT

In this study, effect of calcium and gypsum on scheelite and fluorite was investigated using sodium oleate as collector. Micro-flotation and contact angle results showed that the adsorption of calcium could inhibit the hydrophobicity of scheelite and fluorite. Moreover, sulfate could enhance the inhibition. FT-IR results showed that calcium could be priori precipitated into calcium oleate and adsorb on mineral surface. The adsorption of calcium could increase the scheelite potential to IEP, while it showed limited effect on fluorite potential. However, the interaction of calcium on scheelite and fluorite in gypsum solution was more complex than that in calcium solution.     

用于盐湖卤水吸附法提锂的连续离子交换工艺研究

采用连续离子交换技术用于盐湖卤水的吸附法提锂。针对青海一里坪盐湖老卤体系,开发了连续离子交换吸附提锂工艺,研究了操作参数对连续离子交换系统提锂性能的影响,并在优化的工艺条件下进行了长周期的稳定性评价。结果表明,在转动步进周期为20 min、卤水进料量为3.2 BV/h、淋洗水量为2.9 BV/h、解吸水量为9.3 BV/h、解吸温度为15~25 ℃时,连续离子交换系统可以稳定获得镁锂质量浓度比（简称镁锂比）在3左右、锂质量浓度接近1.1 g/L的合格液,锂回收率为98.5%以上。     

Superior lithium storage performance of hierarchical N-doped carbon encapsulated NaTi2(PO4)3 microflower

Na-superionic conductor (NASICON) structured NaTi₂(PO₄)₃ (NTP) as anode shows broad prospect in aqueous lithium ion battery. However, inherent low electrical conductivity of NaTi₂(PO₄)₃ remains a pivotal issue to be resolved. Herein, we report N-doped carbon encapsulated NaTi₂(PO₄)₃ microflower (NTP-CN) as anode for aqueous lithium ion battery, which is prepared via solvothermal way. NTP-CN with unique structural feature displays superb electrochemical performances. It delivers the discharge capacities of 131.2, 110.1, and 84.3 mAh g⁻¹ at 0.2, 3.0, and 15 C, respectively, 38.8, 33.8, and 51.1 mAh g⁻¹ higher than these of pristine NTP. NTP-CN also shows remarkable cycling stability at 6 C after 1000 cycles (capacity retention: 88.8%), superior to NTP (70.7%). The outstanding properties of NTP-CN may be due to that microflower structure can increase touching area between electrolyte and electrode, and carbon coating for electrode improves stability in aqueous electrolyte and ameliorates electrical conductivity. Moreover, nitrogen doping can further enhance hydrophilicity and conductivity of the sample, and also form lots of defects on electrode surface, which is beneficial for the intercalation/deintercalation of Li ions. This work reveals that the combination of microflower structure and N-doped carbon layer offers a promising method to improve electrochemical performances of NaTi₂(PO₄)₃.     

高纯半绝缘SiC电阻率影响因素

采用物理气相传输(PVT)法进行高纯半绝缘SiC晶体生长,利用高温真空解吸附以及在系统中通入HCl和H2的方法,有效降低了系统中N、B和Al等杂质的背景浓度。使用二次离子质谱(SIMS)对晶体中杂质浓度测试,N、B和Al浓度分别小于1×1016、1×1015和2×1014 cm-3。对加工得到的晶片进行测试,全片的电阻率均在1×1010Ω·cm以上,微管密度小于0.02 cm-2,(004)衍射面的X射线摇摆曲线半高宽为34″。结果表明,该方法可以有效降低SiC晶体中N、B和Al等杂质浓度,提升SiC晶片的电阻率。使用该方法成功制备了4英寸(1英寸=2.54 cm)高纯半绝缘4H-SiC晶体。     

Revealing Electrical-Poling-Induced Polarization Potential in Hybrid Perovskite Photodetectors

Despite recent rapid advances in metal halide perovskites for use in optoelectronics, the fundamental understanding of the electrical-poling-induced ion migration, accounting for many unusual attributes and thus performance in perovskite-based devices, remain comparatively elusive. Herein, the electrical-poling-promoted polarization potential is reported for rendering hybrid organic–inorganic perovskite photodetectors with high photocurrent and fast response time, displaying a tenfold enhancement in the photocurrent and a twofold decrease in the response time after an external electric field poling. First, a robust meniscus-assisted solution-printing strategy is employed to facilitate the oriented perovskite crystals over a large area. Subsequently, the electrical poling invokes the ion migration within perovskite crystals, thus inducing a polarization potential, as substantiated by the surface potential change assessed by Kelvin probe force microscopy. Such electrical-poling-induced polarization potential is responsible for the markedly enhanced photocurrent and largely shortened response time. This work presents new insights into the electrical-poling-triggered ion migration and, in turn, polarization potential as well as into the implication of the latter for optoelectronic devices with greater performance. As such, the utilization of ion-migration-produced polarization potential may represent an important endeavor toward a wide range of high-performance perovskite-based photodetectors, solar cells, transistors, scintillators, etc.     

Interlayer Engineering of Molybdenum Trioxide toward High‐Capacity and Stable Sodium Ion Half/Full Batteries

Orthorhombic molybdenum trioxide (MoO₃) is one of the most promising anode materials for sodium‐ion batteries because of its rich chemistry associated with multiple valence states and intriguing layered structure. However, MoO₃ still suffers from the low rate capability and poor cycle induced by pulverization during de/sodiation. An ingenious two‐step synthesis strategy to fine tune the layer structure of MoO₃ targeting stable and fast sodium ionic diffusion channels is reported here. By integrating partially reduction and organic molecule intercalation methodologies, the interlayer spacing of MoO₃ is remarkably enlarged to 10.40 Å and the layer structural integration are reinforced by dimercapto groups of bismuththiol molecules. Comprehensive characterizations and density functional theory calculations prove that the intercalated bismuththiol (DMcT) molecules substantially enhanced electronic conductivity and effectively shield the electrostatic interaction between Na⁺ and the MoO₃ host by conjugated double bond, resulting in improved Na⁺ insertion/extraction kinetics. Benefiting from these features, the newly devised layered MoO₃ electrode achieves excellent long‐term cycling stability and outstanding rate performance. These achievements are of vital significance for the preparation of sodium‐ion battery anode materials with high‐rate capability and long cycling life using intercalation chemistry.