Improving the fill factor of N2200-based all polymer solar cells by introducing EPPDI as a solid additive

A cheap and commercially available small molecule (namely EPPDI) is introduced to the active layer of N2200-based all polymer solar cells as a solid additive. EPPDI at the optimal ratio can improve the D-A nano-scale morphology and reduce trap density of the active layer by filling morphological spaces. As a result, the photovoltaic performance of the resulting devices based on PF2:N2200 are increased from 6.28% to 7.03% with significantly enhanced fill factor. This work demonstrates a facile approach for improving the performance of all polymer solar cells.     

Measurements of the melting points,liquidus, and solidus of the Mo,Ta, and MoTa binary alloys using a novel high-speed pyrometric technique

The measurement of high phase-transition temperature is equally challenging and useful for developing high-temperature materials for critical applications. Pyrometer is a suitable option to measure the phase-transition temperature above 2300 K. In this work, Mo, Ta, and their isomorphous binary alloys are selected as the target system for high-speed pyrometer temperature measurements in the arc-melting setup. The present phase transitions (melting point, solidus, and liquidus) measurements indicate that the MoTa is an isomorphous system with a narrow freezing range (i.e., an average value < 35 K). The results from this present work would change the existing MoTa phase diagram. The Gibbs energy modeling for liquid (L) and BCC_A2 (α) phases of the MoTa system are then performed, including the latest experimental results from this work. The applications of the current experimental methodology could be extended to measure the high phase-transition temperatures in superalloys with significant commercial values.     

Self-assembly of ultralight and compressible inorganic sponges with hierarchical porosity by electrospinning

The construction of three dimensional macroporous architectures holds exciting implications for applications such as catalysis, sensing, tissue engineering and thermal insulation. Here, we report a general self-assembly process for inorganic sponges with hierarchical porosity of intrafibre micro-/meso-/macropores and interfibre macropores. The as-fabricated SiO₂-TiO₂ sponge possesses a high porosity of >99.86%, ultralow bulk density of 2.9 mg cm⁻³ and enhanced compressibility (recovery from 50% compression). The self-assembly mechanism of the SiO₂-TiO₂ sponge has been investigated in detail. The results confirmed that the hydrolysis and polycondensation of mixed inorganic alkoxides could affect the solidification process and the charge transpote during electrospinning, and plays an essential role on the hierarchical porosity and the self-assembly of the sponge macro-structure. The concerted effects of the solidification and electrostatic repulsion between fibres are responsible for the self-assembly process of the electrospun PVP-SiO₂-TiO₂ sponge. When used as a thermal insulation material, the SiO₂-TiO₂ sponge shows good fireproof performances. The current contribution may guide more construction of functional inorganic macroporous architectures for advance applications in future.     

Interfacially reinforced methylphenylsilicone resin composites by chemically grafting multiwall carbon nanotubes onto carbon fibers

Both silane and multiwall carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were grafted successfully onto carbon fibers (CFs) to enhance the interfacial strength of CFs reinforced methylphenylsilicone resin (MPSR) composites. The microstructure, interfacial properties, impact toughness and heat resistance of CFs before and after modification were investigated. Experimental results revealed that CNTs were grafted uniformly onto CFs using 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APS) as the bridging agent. The wettability and surface energy of the obtained hybrid fiber (CF-APS-CNT) were increased obviously in comparison with those of the untreated-CF. The CF-APS-CNT composites showed simultaneously remarkable enhancement in interlaminar shear strength (ILSS) and impact toughness. Moreover, the interfacial reinforcing and toughening mechanisms were also discussed. In addition, Thermogravimetric analysis and thermal oxygen aging experiments indicated a remarkable improvement in the thermal stability and heat oxidation resistance of composites by the introduction of APS and CNTs. We believe the facile and effective method may provide a novel interface design strategy for developing multifunctional fibers.     

Enhanced properties for visible-light-driven photocatalysis of Ag nanoparticle modified Bi2MoO6 nanoplates

The visible light driven Bi₂MoO₆ photocatalyst doped with different contents of Ag nanoparticles was successfully synthesized by a combination of hydrothermal and sonochemical methods. The as-synthesized samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), scanning and transmission electron microscopy (SEM and TEM) and UV–visible spectroscopy to investigate crystalline structure, morphology, composition and photocatalytic properties. XRD patterns and TEM images of the samples revealed pure phase orthorhombic Bi₂MoO₆ nanoplates without any detection of Ag dopant due to its low concentration and very tiny particle size. TEM images showed that Ag nanoparticles with the size of 10–15 nm were dispersed randomly on the surface of Bi₂MoO₆. The XPS analysis of Ag/Bi₂MoO₆ nanocomposites revealed the presence of additional metallic Ag. Photocatalytic activities of the Ag/Bi₂MoO₆ nanocomposites were evaluated by determining the degradation of rhodamine B (RhB) under visible light radiation. In this research, the 10 wt% Ag/Bi₂MoO₆ nanocomposites showed the best photocatalytic activity. The results suggest that the dispersion of Ag nanoparticles on the surface of Bi₂MoO₆ significantly enhances its photocatalytic activity.     

Cylindrical conformal single-patch microstrip antennas based on three dimensional woven glass fiber/epoxy resin composites

Three dimensional integrated microstrip antenna (3DIMA) can carry the designed load while functioning as an antenna. In this study, the cylindrical conformal single-patch 3DIMAs with various curvatures were designed, simulated, fabricated and tested experimentally using a 3D orthogonal woven glass preform/epoxy resin composite system. The electromagnetic performances of the cylindrical microstrip antennas were analyzed. The simulated and tested results matched well and the return losses of the cylindrical conformal 3DIMAs with radii of curvatures of 60, 45 and 25 mm were less than −10 dB while resonant frequencies and their gain values were significantly influenced by the radius of curvature and the feeding direction. The 3DIMAs with the curvature perpendicular to the feeding directions showed more stable resonant frequencies and larger gain values than those of 3DIMAs with the curvature along their feeding directions.     

含双酚A及其衍生物的聚芳酯的制备及表征

用熔融缩聚法制备了含有2,2-双(4-羟基苯基)丙烷(BPA)、1,1-双(4-羟基苯基)苯乙烷(BPAP)、2,2-双(4-羟基苯基)六氟丙烷(BPAF)的系列聚芳酯,并采用固相聚合增黏的方法提高了聚芳酯的相对分子质量,从而使其拥有更好的热性能和更优良的加工性能。采用傅里叶红外光谱、差示扫描量热分析、热失重分析、热台偏光显微镜、熔融指数仪等手段对其进行表征,证明这种从分子结构修饰聚芳酯分子链改变聚芳酯热力学性能的手段是行之有效的。在热台偏光显微镜中观察到的热致性液晶图像也证实在聚合物内部含有热致性液晶晶区。通过测试对比发现,含有BPAP单体的聚芳酯同时兼顾了较高的耐热性能和更优良的加工性能。     

不同激发功率下碳纤维的拉曼光谱研究

采用激光共聚焦拉曼技术获得聚丙烯腈基碳纤维的拉曼光谱,分析了碳纤维拉曼特征峰在不同的激发功率下的变化。通过Gaussian-Lorentz混合函数拟合得到了不同激发功率下碳纤维拉曼特征峰的拉曼位移、半高宽和R值。研究发现,随着激发功率的增大,碳纤维的拉曼特征峰向低波数方向移动。激发功率在3.8 mW以内,对碳纤维的拉曼位移和半高宽影响较小;激发功率不超过3.2 mW,R值基本保持不变。研究还发现,在较高的激发功率下,碳纤维表面发生了无定形态向结晶态的转变,石墨微晶尺寸有所增大,碳纤维局部表面结构遭到破坏。     

Electrically conducting polyolefin composites containing electric field-aligned multiwall carbon nanotube structures: The effects of process parameters and filler loading

The characteristics of network formation of multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) inside ethylene–octene copolymer (EOC) melts under an alternating current (AC) electric field and the resulting electrical conductivity improvements are studied by combining dynamic and steady state resistivity measurements. Fine MWCNT dispersion during melt compounding of the samples is accomplished by means of a novel non-specific, non-covalent functionalization method. It is found that the electrified composite films exhibit nanotube assembly into columnar structures parallel to the electric field, accompanied by dramatic increases in electrical conductivity up to eight orders of magnitude. Experimentally acquired resistivity data are used to derive correlations between the characteristic insulator-to-conductor transition times of the composites and process parameters, such as electric field strength (E), polymer viscosity (η) and nanotube volume fraction (ϕ). Finally, a criterion for the selection of (η, E, C) conditions that enable MWCNT assembly under an electric field controlled regime (i.e., minimal Brownian motion-driven aggregation effects) is developed. The correlations presented herein not only provide insights in the MWCNT assembly process, but can also guide the experimental design in future studies on electrified composites or assist in the selection of process parameters in composites manufacturing.