Numerical study of microscopic particle arrangement of suspension flow in a narrow channel for the estimation of macroscopic rheological properties

In a narrow channel, the apparent relative viscosity of a suspension with finite-size particles is strongly dependent on its microscopic particle arrangement. Relative viscosity increases when suspended particles flow near the channel wall; thus, a suspension in a narrow channel does not always exhibit the same rheological properties even if the concentration is the same. In this study, we focus on the inertia and concentration of particles in a narrow channel and consider their effects on the microscopic particle arrangement and macroscopic suspension rheology. Two-dimensional pressure-driven suspension flow simulations were performed using a two-way coupling scheme, and normalized particle density distribution (PDD) were implemented to consider their particle arrangements. The results demonstrated that the velocity profiles for the particle suspension were changed by the Reynolds number and particle concentration because of the interactions between particles according to the power-law index. These changes affected the particle equilibrium positions in the channel, and the subsequent changes in solvent layer thickness caused changes in the macroscopic apparent viscosity. The behavior of microscopic particles played important roles in determining macroscopic rheology. Thus, we have confirmed that a normalized PDD can be used to estimate and assess the macroscopic rheology of a suspension.     

A review of thin film electrolytes fabricated by physical vapor deposition for solid oxide fuel cells

The ohmic resistance in solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) mainly comes from the electrolyte, which can be reduced by developing novel electrolyte materials with higher ionic conductivity and/or fabricating thin-film electrolytes. Among various kinds of thin-film fabrication technology, the physical vapor deposition (PVD) method can reduce the electrolyte thickness to a few micrometers and mitigate the issues associated with high-temperature sintering, which is necessary for wet ceramic methods. This review summarizes recent development progress in thin-film electrolytes fabricated by the PVD method, especially pulsed laser deposition (PLD) and magnetron sputtering. At first, the importance of the substrate surface morphology for the quality of the film is emphasized. After that, the fabrication of thin-film doped-zirconia and doped-ceria electrolytes is presented, then we provide a brief summary of the works on other types of electrolytes prepared by PVD. Finally, we have come to the summary and made perspectives.     

One-step to prepare high-performance gas diffusion layer (GDL) with three different functional layers for proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs)

Gas diffusion layer (GDL) is one of the most important components of fuel cells. In order to improve the fuel cell performance, GDL has developed from single layer to dual layers, and then to multiple layers. However, dual or multi layers in GDL are usually prepared by layer-by-layer methods, which cost too much time, energy, and resources. In this work, we successfully developed a facile one-step method to prepare a GDL with three functional layers by utilizing the different sedimentation rates and filtration rates of short carbon fiber (CF) and carbon nanotube (CNT). The treatment temperature for this GDL is much lower than that of traditional method. The thickness of the GDL can be effectively controlled from as thin as 50 μm to more than 200 μm by simply adjusting the content of CF. The GDL with high flexibility is suitable to develop high performance flexible electronics. The fuel cell with the GDL has the maximum power density 1021 mW cm^?2, which shows 19% improvement comparing to the conventional one. Therefore, this work breaks the traditional concept that GDL for fuel cells only can be prepared by very complex and high-cost procedure.     

Nonsimilar solution of a boundary layer flow of a Reiner–Philippoff fluid with nonlinear thermal convection

The thermodynamics modeling of a Reiner–Philippoff-type fluid is essential because it is a complex fluid with three distinct probable modifications. This fluid model can be modified to describe a shear-thinning, Newtonian, or shear-thickening fluid under varied viscoelastic conditions. This study constructs a mathematical model that describes a boundary layer flow of a Reiner–Philippoff fluid with nonlinear radiative heat flux and temperature- and concentration-induced buoyancy force. The dynamical model follows the usual conservation laws and is reduced through a nonsimilar group of transformations. The resulting equations are solved using a spectral-based local linearization method, and the accuracy of the numerical results is validated through the grid dependence and convergence tests. Detailed analyses of the effects of specific thermophysical parameters are presented through tables and graphs. The study reveals, among other results, that the buoyancy force, solute and thermal expansion coefficients, and thermal radiation increase the overall wall drag, heat, and mass fluxes. Furthermore, the study shows that amplifying the space and temperature-dependent heat source parameters allows fluid particles to lose their cohesive force and, consequently, maximize flow and heat transfer.     

Antibacterial activity of V- doped rod-like MgO crystals decorated with nanoflake layer

In present study, we report a V doping fabrication method for obtaining rod-like MgO crystals decorated with a nanoflake layer. This novel structure has only been minimally reported in literature. Pure MgO and Mg₂V₂O₇–MgO composite materials were obtained by precipitation and impregnation methods, with vanadium added concentrations of 0–9%. The influence of V doping on crystal structure and particle morphology of MgO was investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis demonstrated that MgO has a cubic structure, while X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) revealed that V⁵⁺ exists on the surface of MgO. The specific surface areas and pore sizes of MgO composites were calculated by BET and BJH analysis. These techniques revealed that specific surface area and pore size of MgO increased due to vanadium doping. The antibacterial effects of Mg₂V₂O₇–MgO composite materials against Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) were assessed using a bacterial killing/colony-forming unit (CFU) assay and bacteriostatic ring method. Our results demonstrate that V doping dramatically improved antimicrobial properties of MgO, with 7 mol% doping inducing the best antibacterial activity. The antibacterial mechanisms of Mg₂V₂O₇–MgO composite material were also proposed.     

Sulfate- and pH-driven metabolic flexibility in sugarcane vinasse dark fermentation stimulates biohydrogen evolution,sulfidogenesis or homoacetogenesis

Dark fermentation of sugarcane vinasse can be used as a “cleaning” step to remove sulfate prior to methanogenesis because sulfidogenic conditions can be successfully established in parallel with biohydrogen production. Using a 2² central composite rotational design (CCRD) and response surface methodology (RSM), this study assessed the impacts of bicarbonate and sulfate availability on the establishment of sulfidogenesis in the thermophilic (55 °C) fermentation of vinasse in batch reactors, equally assessing the impacts on biohydrogen evolution. CCRD-RSM results indicated the favoring of biohydrogen production at the lowest sulfate and bicarbonate concentrations, whilst the opposite was observed for sulfidogenesis. Glycerol, lactate, and hydrogen were the preferential electron donors utilized by sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB), whilst ethanol was markedly consumed only at high sulfate concentrations. SRB were inhibited by sodium when dosing excess NaHCO₃ and Na₂SO₄. Complementary tests revealed maximum biohydrogen production (2.40 mmol) out of the CCRD, at pH exceeding 7.5 with no interference of sulfidogenesis. Non-efficient biohydrogen production was observed at low pH (<5.0; ～1.90 mmol) because the uptake of lactate was inhibited. Meanwhile, homoacetogenesis was established under intermediate pH range (5.5–6.5), as revealed by the accumulation of acetate (up to 2.5 g L^?1). 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing further revealed the genera Thermoanaerobacterium/Pseudoclostridium, Desulfotomaculum/Desulfohalotomaculum and Sporomusaceae/Moorella as the main biohydrogen-producing, sulfate-removing and biohydrogen-consuming (homoacetogens) microbial groups, respectively. Hence, using a single inoculum source, vinasse may provide a butyrate-rich (along with biohydrogen-rich biogas) or a sulfate-free and acetate-rich fermented effluent, depending mainly on proper pH control.     

Two-dimensional numerical pore-scale investigation of oxygen evolution in proton exchange membrane electrolysis cells

Oxygen blocking the porous transport layer (PTL) increases the mass transport loss, and then limits the high current density condition of proton exchange membrane electrolysis cells (PEMEC). In this paper, a two-dimensional transient mathematical model of anode two-phase flow in PEMEC is established by the fluid volume method (VOF) method. The transport mechanism of oxygen in porous layer is analyzed in details. The effects of liquid water flow velocity, porosity, fiber diameter and contact angle on oxygen pressure and saturation are studied. The results show that the oxygen bubble transport in the porous layer is mainly affected by capillary pressure and follows the transport mechanism of ‘pressurization breakthrough depressurization’. The oxygen bubble goes through three stages of growth, migration and separation in the channel, and then be carried out of the electrolysis cell by liquid water. When oxygen breaks through the porous layer and enters the flow channel, there is a phenomenon that the branch flow is merged into the main stream, and the last limiting throat affects the maximum pressure and oxygen saturation during stable condition. In addition, increasing the liquid water velocity is helpful to bubble separation; changing the porosity and fiber diameter directly affects the width of pore throat and the correlative capillary pressure; increasing porosity, reducing fiber diameter and contact angle can promote oxygen breakthrough and reduce the stable saturation of oxygen.     

Study on ice-melting performance of gradient gas diffusion layer in proton exchange membrane fuel cell

In this study, a three-dimensional model was established using the lattice Boltzmann method (LBM) to study the internal ice melting process of the gas diffusion layer (GDL) of the proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC). The single-point second-order curved boundary condition was adopted. The effects of GDL carbon fiber number, growth slope of the number of carbon fibers and carbon fiber diameter on ice melting were studied. The results were revealed that the temperature in the middle and lower part of the gradient distribution GDL is significantly higher than that of the no-gradient GDL. With the increase of the growth slope of the number of carbon fiber, the temperature and melting rate gradually increase, and the position of the solid-liquid interface gradually decreases. The decrease in the number of carbon fibers has a similar effect as the increase in the growth slope of the number of carbon fibers. In addition, as the diameter of the carbon fiber increases, the position of the solid-liquid interface gradually decreases first and then increases.     

Tunable BaxSr1-xTiO3 nanoparticles induced high energy storage density in layer-structured asymmetric polymer-based nanocomposites

In order to solve the problem of low charging and discharging energy density of dielectric capacitors, the structure design of layered polymer matrix composites is carried out in this paper. Ba_0.7Sr_0.3TiO₃, Ba_0.8Sr_0.2TiO₃ and Ba_0.9Sr_0.1TiO₃ nanoparticles were successfully prepared by the oxalate coprecipitation method. The surface of Ba_xSr_1-xTiO₃ was successfully coated with dopamine, which promoted the dispersion of the polymer matrix of the ceramic powder. Monolayer Ba_xSr_1-xTiO₃/PVDF composites containing Ba_xSr_1-xTiO₃ with different Ba/Sr ratios were successfully prepared by the casting method. Three-layer asymmetric composites with different fillers were successfully prepared by layer-by-layer casting. The phase and microstructure of the as-prepared materials were analyzed by XRD and SEM. The dielectric, electrical conductivity, ferroelectric and energy storage properties of the composites were tested. The effects and laws of the design of the three-layer asymmetric structure on the dielectric properties and energy storage properties of the layered composites are mainly studied. When the structure of the three-layer asymmetric composite is 1-2-3, the breakdown field strength reaches 330 kV/mm, the discharge energy density reaches 8.51 J/cm³, and the charge-discharge efficiency is 67%. This work demonstrates that layered composites with asymmetric properties can facilitate the development of electrical energy storage.     

毫米波三维异质异构集成技术的进展与应用

三维异质异构集成技术是实现电子信息系统向着微型化、高效能、高整合、低功耗及低成本方向发展的最重要方法,也是决定信息化平台中微电子和微纳系统领域未来发展的一项核心高技术。文章详细介绍了毫米波频段三维异质异构集成技术的优势、近年来的发展趋势以及面临的挑战。利用硅基MEMS 光敏复合薄膜多层布线工艺可实现异质芯片的低损耗互连,同时三维集成高性能封装滤波器、高辐射效率封装天线等无源元件,还能很好地处理布线间的电磁兼容和芯片间的屏蔽问题。最后介绍了一款新型毫米波三维异质异构集成雷达及其在远距离生命体征探测方面的应用。