Quantitative Elemental Analysis of a Single Cell by Using Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry in Fast Time-Resolved Analysis Mode

The elemental composition of a single yeast, green alga, or red blood cell (RBC) was precisely determined by using inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) operating in fast time-resolved analysis (TRA) mode. The technique is known as single-cell (SC)-ICP-MS. Phosphorus, sulfur, magnesium, zinc, and iron were detected in the three types of cell. The elemental composition of yeast and green alga obtained by SC-ICP-MS was consistent with results obtained from conventional ICP-MS measurements following acid digestion of the cells. Slight differences were found in the measured values between SC-ICP-MS and the conventional ICP-MS results for RBC. However, the SC-ICP-MS results for S and Fe in RBC were closer to the estimated values for these elements that were calculated from the level of hemoglobin in RBCs. The data suggest that SC-ICP-MS is suitable for the analysis of various cell types, namely, fungus, plant, and animal cells.     

纳米压痕法研究单晶Al3Sc相的硬度和杨氏模量

使用EBSD和纳米压痕法研究毫米级块状单晶Al₃Sc对应的取向、硬度和杨氏模量。试验结果表明,选用过共晶Al-Sc合金加热至液态后缓慢冷却(60 ℃/h)可以得到毫米级单晶Al₃Sc,通过EBSD和纳米压痕法得到五个不同取向(567)、(139)、(124)、(113)和(144)单晶Al₃Sc的硬度在3.7~4.3 GPa,复合弹性响应模量在143.6~146.1 GPa。对比不同泊松比下各取向的杨氏模量理论值与试验值,发现泊松比为0.188时二者之间差异最小,对应各取向的杨氏模量试验值在157.5~160.6 GPa。     

抗氢合金J75中低∑CSL晶界的形成与演化

以铁镍基抗氢合金J75为研究对象,采用单步形变热处理和电子背散射衍射(EBSD)技术,研究了低∑CSL晶界的形成和演化过程。结果表明:采用5%预变形+1000℃退火的单步形变热处理方法,可将J75合金中低∑CSL晶界的比例提升至70%以上,形成具有∑3n取向关系的晶粒团簇;退火过程中,低∑CSL晶界比例的提升主要是由于∑3n界面比例的提升,其中∑3占绝大比例。发现一种∑3再生过程,其机制在于:由于∑3ic迁移能力强,在退火过程中与其他∑3相遇会形成∑9晶界,而∑9与∑3相遇,倾向于发生∑9+∑3→∑3,导致∑3的再生;不连续大角度随机晶界(R)与低∑CSL晶界相遇会形成R/∑晶界,当R/∑晶界为低∑CSL晶界时,则构成较多具有低∑CSL晶界的网络,打断了R晶界的连通性。     

Er3+-doped CaF2 polycrystalline ceramic with perfect transparency for mid-infrared laser

Er³⁺-doped CaF₂ transparent ceramics are promising mid-infrared gain materials because of their utra-low phonon energy as well as excellent physical, chemical, and optical properties. However, existing hot-pressed and hot-formed CaF₂ ceramics are very difficult to be used in practical applications due to residual pores and weak polycrystallization, respectively. Here, we developed the high quality Er³⁺-doped CaF₂ transparent polycrystalline ceramic by single crystal ceramization. The sample exhibits obvious polycrystalline structure, good mechanical properties, perfectly transmittance, and excellent mid-infrared performance, which provides significant and wide-ranging opportunities for advanced mid-infrared gain materials.     

Investigation of Nafion series membranes on the performance of iron‐chromium redox flow battery

To boost the performance of the iron‐chromium redox flow battery (ICRFB), opting an appropriate proton exchange membrane (PEM) as the core component of ICRFB is of great importance. For the purpose, in this paper, various widely adopted commercial Nafion membranes with a different thickness of 50 μm (Nafion 212, N212), 126 μm (N115), and 178 μm (N117) are chosen for the sake of evaluating the influence of membrane thickness on the ICRFB single‐cell performance. Physicochemical properties, electrolyte utilization, cell efficiency, long‐term cycling stability, and the self‐discharge process of ICRFBs based on a series of Nafion membranes are contrasted comprehensively. The cycling test of ICRFBs is carried out under the current density range of 40 to 120 mA/cm² for the charge‐discharge process. As a result of the good equilibrium of membrane resistance and electro‐active species permeability, Nafion 212 membrane exhibits the highest electrolyte utilization and energy efficiency during the operation, accompanied by the lowest overpotential. In the final part, the selection of Nafion membrane thickness was optimized on the basis of single‐cell performance and the overall cost of the system.     

The optimization performance of cross‐linked sodium alginate polymer electrolyte bio‐membranes in passive direct methanol/ethanol fuel cells

Consumption of methanol and ethanol as a fuel in the passive direct fuel cells technologies is suitable and more useful for the portable application compared with hydrogen as a preliminary fuel due to the ease of management, including design of cell, transportation, and storage. However, the cost production of commercial membrane is still far from the acceptable commercialization stage. Based to our previous works, the low cost of cross‐linked sodium alginate (SA) polymer electrolyte bio‐membrane shown the virtuous chemical, mechanical, and thermal characterization as polymer electrolyte membrane in the direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs). This study will further the investigation of cross‐linked SA polymer electrolyte bio‐membrane performance in the passive DMFCs and the passive direct ethanol fuel cells (DEFCs). The experimental study investigates the influence of the membrane thickness, loading of catalysts, temperature, type of fuel, and fuel concentration in order to achieve the optimal working operation performances. The passive DMFCs is improved from 1.45 up to 13.5 mW cm^?2 for the maximum peak of power density, which is obtained by using 0.16 mm as an optimum thick of SA bio‐membrane that shown the highest selectivity 6.31 10⁴ S s cm^?3, 4 mg cm^?2 of Pt‐Ru as an optimum of anode catalyst loading, 2 mg cm^?2 of Pt at the cathode, 2M of methanol as an optimum fuel concentration, and an optimum temperature at 90°C. Under the same conditions of cells, the passive DEFCs are shown to be 10.2 mW cm^?2 in the maximum peak of power density with 2M ethanol. Based on our knowledge, this is the first work that reports the optimization works of performance SA‐based membrane in the passive DMFCs via experimental studies of single cells and the primary performance of passive DEFCs using the SA‐based membrane as polymer electrolyte membrane.     

Preparation and properties of lithium sulfonated polyoxadiazoles electrolyte

以硫酸肼（HS）、对苯二甲酸（TPA）、4，4'-联苯醚二甲酸（DPE）为单体，发烟硫酸做溶剂和脱水剂一步合成了一系列不同TPA和DPE单体配比的磺化聚芳噁二唑（SPOD），再通过氢氧化锂中和得到聚芳噁二唑磺酸锂（Li-SPOD）聚合物电解质，采用浇铸成膜法制得Li-SPOD电解质膜，研究改变TPA和DPE两种单体配比对Li-SPOD结构及性能的影响。结果表明，几种不同单体配比均能实现在聚合过程中一步得到SPOD，磺酸基团接枝在DPE结构的苯环上，并且可以达到理论接枝量；同时Li-SPOD电解质膜的聚集态结构差异很小；热性能的表现均非常优异，初始热分解温度都在450 ℃以上；力学性能随DPE单体含量的增加稍有下降但依然保持在较高的水平；电导率约为10^-5S/cm级别，随DPE含量增加而逐渐降低；Li-SPOD固态电解质电化学稳定性较好，对锂稳定电化学窗口均在4.0 V以上。     

Structure and properties of bio‐based polyamide 109 treated with superheated water

The structure and properties of bio‐based polyamide 109 (PA109) after treatment with superheated water (140 °C ≤ T ≤ 280 °C) were investigated and characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, wide‐angle X‐ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and small‐angle X‐ray scattering. Below 170 °C, the hydrothermal treatment was considered to be a physical process, which exerted an annealing effect on PA109. It led to an increase in melting temperature, lamellar thickness and crystallinity, while the macromolecular structure, crystal structure and the order of crystalline regions were not affected. Above 170 °C, complete melting/dissolution of PA109 occurred with partial hydrolysis. Due to the high temperature and long reaction time, the hydrolysis reaction became more and more prominent, and the resin was completely hydrolyzed into oligomers at 280 °C. Also, above 170 °C, the hydrothermal treatment was accompanied by a chemical process and the melting temperature and molecular weight decreased progressively. Notably, the crystal structure was not altered, but the degree of perfection of crystals and the order of crystalline regions were broken, especially above 200 °C. The hydrolytic degradation reaction was significantly affected by temperature, while both time and the water to polyamide ratio were secondary factors which influenced it to a minor extent. The process could be considered as a typical nucleophilic substitution reaction which takes place step by step inducing the molecular weight to decrease gradually. Overall, this study provides a ‘green’ route for the processing, recycling and treatment of environmentally friendly polyamides based on hydrothermal treatment technology. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry     

Physics‐based model of lithium‐ion batteries running on a circuit simulator

The authors developed a physics‐based equivalent circuit model of a lithium‐ion battery (LIB) whose parameters are continually updated, reflecting the theoretical calculation results of the Butler‐Volmer equation, diffusion equations of the lithium‐ion and lithium, and Nernst equations of the liquid and solid phases. The developed model was applied to the charge/discharge simulations of an LIB, and the experimental and simulated results of constant current discharges and pulsed‐charge/discharge were found to be in excellent agreement. In particular, using the developed model, analyzing transient responses of the LIB derived from the transition of the electric double layer charging to the electrode reaction is possible. These results demonstrate that the electrochemical performance of an LIB can be calculated on a circuit simulator using the developed model.