Efficient overall water splitting over a Mo(IV)-doped Co3O4/NC electrocatalyst

To meet the demand of producing hydrogen at low cost, a molybdenum (Mo)-doped cobalt oxide (Co₃O₄) supported on nitrogen (N)-doped carbon (x%Mo–Co₃O₄/NC, where x% represents Mo/Co molar ratio) is developed as an efficient bifunctional electrocatalyst for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER). This defect engineering strategy is realized by a facile urea oxidation method in nitrogen atmosphere. Through X-ray diffraction (XRD) refinement and other detailed characterizations, molybdenum ion (Mo⁴⁺) is found to be doped into Co₃O₄ by substituting cobalt ion (Co²⁺) at tetrahedron site, while N is doped into carbon matrix simultaneously. 4%Mo–Co₃O₄/NC is the optimized sample to show the lowest overpotentials of 91 and 276 mV to deliver 10 mA cm^?2 for HER and OER in 1 M potassium hydroxide solution (KOH), respectively. The overall water splitting cell 4%Mo–Co₃O₄/NC||4%Mo–Co₃O₄/NC displays a voltage of 1.62 V to deliver 10 mA cm^?2 in 1 M KOH. The Mo⁴⁺ dopant modulates the electronic structure of active cobalt ion (Co³⁺) and boosts the water dissociation process during HER, while the increased amount of lattice oxygen and formation of pyridinic nitrogen due to Mo doping benefits the OER activity. Besides, the smaller grain size owing to Mo doping leads to higher electrochemically active surface area (ECSA) on 4%Mo–Co₃O₄/NC, resulting in its superior bifunctional catalytic activity.     

Flame characteristics of premixed H2-air mixtures explosion venting in a spherical container through a duct

The explosion venting duct can effectively reduce the hazard degree of a gas explosion and conduct the venting energy to the safe area. To investigate the flame quantitative propagation law of explosion venting with a duct, the effects of hydrogen fraction and explosion venting duct length on jet flame propagation characteristics of premixed H₂-air mixtures were analyzed through experiment and simulation. The experiment results under initial conditions of room temperature and 1 atm show that when hydrogen fraction was high enough, part of the unburned hydrogen was mixed with air again to reach an ignitable concentration, resulting in the secondary combustion was easier produced and the duration of the secondary flame increased. With the increase of venting duct length, the flame front distance and propagation velocity increased. Meanwhile, the spatial distribution of pressure field and temperature field, and the propagation process and mechanism of the flame venting with a duct were analyzed using FLUENT software. The variation of the pressure wave and the pressure reflection oscillation law in the explosion venting duct was captured. Therefore, in the industrial explosion venting design with a duct, the hazard caused by the coupling of venting pressure and venting flame under different fractions should be considered comprehensively.     

Improved rheological properties and stability of multiwalled carbon nanotubes/polymer in harsh environment

This work aims to improve the rheological properties and stability of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs)/acrylamide (AA) base skeleton polymer blends at harsh environment of high salinity-high temperature (HS-HT) or various pH. Different co/terpolymers have been accomplished to modify the structure of AA polymer by free-radical copolymerization of AA-based monomers. Anionic, cationic, and hydrophobic functional groups were used for the synthesis of polyelectrolyte, polyampholytic, and partially hydrophobic AA polymer types. The conversion, molecular weight, and poly dispersity of co/terpolymers have been evaluated by nuclear magnetic resonance (¹H-NMR), gel permeation chromatography, and differential scanning calorimetry analysis. The effects of sonication power, concentration of polymer, and concentration of MWCNTs were also investigated on rheological behavior of co/terpolymers. The results show that negative polyelectrolyte and polyampholytic polymers are the best candidates for the improvement of MWCNTs/polymer stability and viscosity at HS-HT and alkali environment, respectively. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2019 , 136, 47205.     

Efficient hydrogen evolution by liquid phase plasma irradiation over Sn doped ZnO/CNTs photocatalyst

In this study, the liquid phase plasma (LPP) was irradiated over pure zinc oxide (ZnO), strontium (Sn) doped ZnO, and Sn doped ZnO/CNTs photocatalysts for hydrogen evolution from pure water and from aqueous solution of water-methanol. The possible relationship between hydrogen evolution and optical emissions from LPP for activation of ZnO based photocatalysts was revealed. The role of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) as a support material for improved photocatalytic hydrogen evolution was also investigated in this study. The photocatalytic hydrogen evolution from water mixed methanol under LPP irradiation was compared with pure water splitting. The photolysis produced negligible amount of hydrogen due to minimal photodecomposition of water molecules under LPP irradiation. The plasma born reactive species also played crucial role in photolysis. However, the hydrogen evolution rate increased significantly in the presence of ZnO photocatalyst. Further improvement in hydrogen evolution rate was noticed on Sn doping of ZnO and compositing with CNTs. The highest hydrogen evolution rate of 11.46 mmh⁻¹g⁻¹ from water mixed methanol was achieved with Sn doped ZnO/CNTs photocatalyst. This hydrogen evolution rate from water-methanol solution was 9 times higher than from the splitting of pure water. This hydrogen evolution rate is attributed to excessive production of hydroxyl radicals, red shift in optical band gap of Sn doped ZnO/CNTs photocatalyst, slow electron-hole recombination and fast decomposition of methanol as sacrificial reagent.     

Preparation of PEDOT-modified double-layered hollow carbon spheres as Pt catalyst support for methanol oxidation

In this paper, Pt nanoparticles (Pt NPs) deposited hybrid carbon support is prepared by modifying double-layered hollow carbon spheres（DLHCs）with poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) and used as anode catalyst of methanol oxidation. The structure of nanocomposites is characterized by SEM, TEM, FT-IR, XRD and XPS, confirming the greatly enhanced synergistic effect between the PEDOT and DLHCs, and illustrating the uniform distribution of Pt NPs on the PEDOT/DLHCs composite surface with a small particle size (~2.63 nm). Cyclic voltammetry, chronoamperometry and impedance spectroscopy applied to determine the electrocatalytic activity of catalysts, it is found that the synthesized PEDOT/DLHCs/Pt possesses excellent characteristics such as large electrochemically active surface area and high mass activity of 59.45 m² g⁻¹ and 807 mA mg⁻¹ in 0.5 M H₂SO₄ containing 1 M methanol solution, which is almost 1.24 and 2.8 times greater than those of commercial Pt/C, and the catalyst exhibits superior stability after 500 durability cycles. The enhanced electrocatalytic behavior can be ascribed to the excellent electronic conductivity of PEDOT-modified DLHCs and the strong binding of PEDOT/DLHCs to Pt NPs, suggesting that the PEDOT/DLHCs/Pt is a promising electrocatalyst for direct methanol fuel cell.     

典型废玻璃回收厂区空气颗粒物及噪声分布特征研究

以某典型废玻璃回收厂区作为研究对象, 监测和分析了车间及厂区内部的噪声强度、空气颗粒物(PM_2.5、PM₁₀) 浓度等环境指标, 点位布设涵盖了车间入口、人工分拣、物料筛分、破碎、干法清洗等关键工艺环节; 其次, 解析了空气颗粒物的组分及形貌特征, 并对其在厂区及车间内部的时空分布特征进行了研究; 此外, 利用噪声控制模型模拟并分析了隔声罩对噪声的控制作用。结果表明, 生产车间中工作态的空气颗粒物浓度显著高于非工作态, 其中干法清洗区浓度最高, 其PM_2.5 浓度为3.725 mg/m³, PM₁₀浓度为4.055 mg/m³; 噪声监测结果显示生产车间内噪声强度较高, 达到99.5 dB, 而引入隔声罩后噪声强度可降至67 dB, 结果表明, 隔声罩可有效控制频率为125~1 000 Hz 的噪声。该研究可为废玻璃的绿色、高效回收处置提供理论基础和实践经验。     

Early hydration properties and microstructure evolutions of MgO-activated slag materials at different curing temperatures

This study reports on the early hydration properties and microstructure evolutions of MgO-activated slag at five curing temperatures (20 °C, 40 °C, 50 °C, 60 °C, and 80 °C) and three MgO types (S-MgO, M ? MgO, and R-MgO). The results indicated that high-temperature curing substantially increased the compressive strength of the specimens. Particularly, the highest strength was obtained at 40 °C and 60 °C for the S-MgO and M-MgO-activated slag specimens, respectively, and the high curing temperature for the R-MgO-activated slag specimen was 40 °C. We focused on the relationship between the mechanical properties, pore structure characteristics, and hydration products. The combination of calcium-silicate-hydrate (C-S-H) gel and Al increased under high-temperature curing conditions. XRD, FT-IR, TG-DTG, and ²⁷Al MAS-NMR results showed a high Al content in the formation of calcium silicate hydrate with Al in its structure (C-A-S-H gel) for the R-MgO-activated slag pastes under high-temperature curing; however, the microstructure was loose owing to the formation of excessive brucite. For the S-MgO-activated slag specimen, the Ca/Si ratio was high, with more Mg²⁺ penetrating the C-S-H gel interlayer, forming more hydrotalcite-like phases and increasing the chain length of the C-S-H gel. The microstructure showed good compatibility of the hydration products interweaving to form dense microstructures.     

Dual functions of three-dimensional hierarchical architecture on improving the rate capability and cycle performance of LiNi0.8Co0.1Mn0.1O2 cathode material for lithium-ion battery

The main obstacles in lithium-ion battery are limited by rate performance and the rapid capacity fading of LiNi_0.8Co_0.1Mn_0.1O₂ (NCM811). Herein, a novel three-dimensional (3D) hierarchical coating material has been fabricated by in situ growing carbon nanotubes (CNTs) on the surfaces of Ni–Al double oxide (Ni–Al-LDO) sheets (named as LDO&CNT) with Ni–Al double hydroxide (Ni–Al-LDH) as both the substrate and catalyst precursor. The resultant LDO&CNT nanocomposites are uniformly coated on the surfaces of NCM811 by the physical mixing method. The rate capability of the resultant cathode material retains to 78.80% at a current rate of 3C. Its capacity retention increases by 6.7–14.42% compared with pristine NCM811 after 100 cycles within a potential range of 2.75–4.3 V at 0.5C. The improved rate capability and cycle performance of NCM811 are assigned to the synergistic effects between Ni–Al-LDO and CNTs. The hierarchical LDO&CNT nanocomposites coating on the surface of NCM811 avoids the aggregation of conductive CNTs and the stacking of Ni–Al-LDO nanosheets. Furthermore, it accelerates Li⁺ and electrons shuttle and reduces the reaction of Li₂O with H₂O and CO₂ in air, which results in Li₂CO₃ and LiOH alkali formation on the NCM811 surface.     

斑衣蜡蝉在葡萄上的危害及防治措施

斑衣蜡蝉是一种危害多种林木和果树的重要刺吸性害虫,主要分布于中国、日本、越南、韩国、印度和美国等地。该虫在经济林木中最喜危害葡萄,目前在宁夏地区随着转换寄主,现已扩散到了部分葡萄园,成为贺兰山东麓酿酒葡萄的重要虫害之一。为全面了解其研究进展,本文概述了国内外关于斑衣蜡蝉的寄主植物、形态特征、危害状况、发生规律、生活习性、诱发因素及防治措施等研究现状,以期为防治该虫,寻求进一步研究方向及探讨新的防治途径提供帮助。