Control over fibril width via different solubility additives for diketopyrrolopyrrole-based photovoltaic devices

Control over polymeric bulk heterojunction (BHJ) morphology is one of the key factors in obtaining high-efficiency devices. The domain size influence on device performance is widely considered critical. In this paper, the fibril width of 3,6-bis-(thiophen-2-yl)-N,N′-bis(2-octyl-1-dodecyl)-1,4-dioxo-pyrrolo[3,4-c]pyrrole and thieno[3,2-b]thiophene (PDBT-TT):[6,6]-phenyl-C₇₁-butyric acid methyl ester (PC₇₁BM) blend thin film was adjusted by different processing additives. By decreasing the solubility of PDBT-TT in different additives, the fibril width can be decreased from 65.7 nm to 14.8 nm. It is possible that the PDBT-TT seed-crystallite nuclei concentration is higher in the relatively low solubility solvents than that in the relatively high solubility solvents, thus leading to the formation of narrower fibrils. The PDBT-TT/PC71BM narrow fibrillar interpenetrating network structure was beneficial to exciton separation and charge transport processes. As a result, the solar cell with the narrowest fibril width has a higher short circuit current (J_sc) and fill factor (FF), thus achieving optimized device performance from less than 1% to 4.75%.     

Novel preparation and high electrical performance effect of Mn-doped ultra-high surface area activated carbon (USAC) as an additive for Ni hybrid capacitors

This paper reports the synthesis of various molar concentrations of manganese (Mn)-doped Ultra-High Surface area Activated Carbon (USAC) additives and their efficient use as cathode materials for supercapacitors. We synthesized the nanoparticles via a novel and facile dip-coating process and characterized them in detail by various analytical techniques. The SEM, EDAX, and XPS results showed that the Mn ions were successfully substituted on the USAC additives’ layered structure without any structural changes. The long cyclic stability of the as-prepared Mn-doped USAC additives was tested as a cathode material for supercapacitors at different current densities. The detailed experimental results showed that the Mn dopant content crucially determines the electrochemical performances of the USAC additives. Electrochemical measurements showed that the MnCEP-S600HTT with 0.10 mol% molar concentration of Mn dopant gives the best cycling performances. It delivers a discharge capacity of 262.9 mAh g^?1 after 100 cycles. Further increasing the current density to 1000 mA g^?1 allowed it to still maintain 253.6 mAh g^?1 after 200 cycles. We confirmed that the structure of Mn-doped USAC additives is an important pole to improve the structural stability and electrochemical properties.     

优质硅砖生产中原料除铁工艺及添加剂自动添加系统的研发

为提高硅砖的成品率和性能指标,进一步降低产品能耗,研究了硅砖生产过程中容易影响制品性能和成品率的关键环节和设备,并参考国内外先进技术,研发出原料除铁工艺及添加剂、矿化剂自动添加系统,确定了优质硅砖生产线相应环节的最佳技术方案,最大限度地提高了成品质量并降低能耗。     

Influence of a cyclic butylene terephthalate oligomer on the processability and thermoelectric properties of polycarbonate/MWCNT nanocomposites

The thermoelectric properties of melt-processed nanocomposites consisting of a polycarbonate (PC) thermoplastic matrix filled with commercially available carboxyl (–COOH) functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were evaluated. MWCNTs carrying carboxylic acid moieties (MWCNT-COOH) were used due the p-doping that the carboxyl groups facilitate, via electron withdrawing from the electron-rich π-conjugated system. Preliminary thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) of MWCNT-COOH revealed that the melt-mixing was limited at low temperatures due to thermal decomposition of the MWCNT functional groups. Therefore, PC was mixed with 2.5 wt% MWCNT-COOH (PC/MWCNT-COOH) at 240 °C and 270 °C. In order to reduce the polymer melt viscosity, a cyclic butylene terephthalate (CBT) oligomer was utilized as an additive, improving additionally the electrical conductivity of the nanocomposites. The melt rheological characterization of neat PC and PC/CBT blends demonstrated a significant decrease of the complex viscosity by the addition of CBT (10 wt%). Optical and transmission electron microscopy (OM, TEM) depicted an improved MWCNT dispersion in the PC/CBT polymer blend. The electrical conductivity was remarkably higher for the PC/MWCNT-COOH/CBT composites compared to the PC/MWCNT-COOH ones. Namely, the PC/MWCNT-COOH/CBT processed at 270 °C exhibited the best values with electrical conductivity; σ = 0.05 S/m, Seebeck coefficient; S = 13.55 μV/K, power factor; PF = 7.60 × 10⁻⁶μW/m K⁻², and thermoelectric figure of merit; ZT = 7.94 × 10⁻⁹. The PC/MWCNT-COOH/CBT nanocomposites could be ideal candidates for large-scale thermal energy harvesting, even though the presently obtained ZT values are still too low for commercial applications.     

用于珠光颜料的片状氧化铝制备

采用熔融盐法制备片状α-Al2O3,研究了硫酸盐、煅烧温度、添加剂(磷酸盐、二氧化钛)对片状α-Al2O3晶体形貌的影响。当氢氧化铝凝胶煅烧温度为900℃时,没加硫酸盐分解所得的氧化铝晶相为κ-Al2O3晶相,而加入硫酸盐的氧化铝晶相为α-Al2O3晶相,熔融盐降低了片状α-Al2O3的形成温度,促进κ-Al2O3向α-Al2O3晶型转变。煅烧温度由900℃上升到1200℃时,片状α-Al2O3的团聚程度降低,颗粒尺寸分布更加均匀。当煅烧温度在1200℃下、磷酸盐添加量为3%、二氧化钛添加量为2%时,所制得片状氧化铝分散均匀,径厚比较大,片状氧化铝平均粒径为5.225μm、厚度约400-500 nm。     

Food Additives Reducing Volatility of Antioxidants at Frying Temperature

At frying temperature, antioxidants are lost not only by reaction with radicals formed by oil oxidation but also by decomposition and evaporation before they are able to exert antioxidant activity. In this study, it was hypothesized that an additive that can bind or interact with an antioxidant could reduce volatility of the antioxidant at frying temperature. Three synthetic antioxidants, tert‐butylhydroquinone (TBHQ), butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) and butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), which have relatively high volatility, were used as antioxidants in this study to examine the hypothesis. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) experiments showed that all 22 additives tested in this study effectively reduced volatility of the antioxidants. An NMR study showed that signals of BHT shifted by addition of an additive, evidencing the interaction between the two substances in the chloroform solution. To examine the effect of these interactions on antioxidant activity, heating tests were conducted with soybean oil (SBO) containing 200 ppm antioxidants at 180 °C. Oxidation was monitored with ¹H NMR for loss of olefinic protons and bisallylic protons in SBO and with gel permeation chromatography (GPC) for polymerized triacylglycerols (PTAG). Improved antioxidant activity of the antioxidants were observed when combined with several additives tested in this study, and HPLC analysis showed that the antioxidants were effectively reserved by the additives in SBO during the heating process. The concentrations of the antioxidants retained in SBO were relatively well correlated with the antioxidant activity.     

七氟丙烷气体清洁灭火剂的灭火原理

基于哈龙（Halon）灭火剂的消防产品是一种最为有效的气体消防系统。根据《蒙特利尔议定书》的建议，一些新的清洁消防灭火剂将用来取代哈龙减火剂。其中一种候选者就是七氟丙烷（Heptafluoropropane）灭火剂以及基于七氟丙烷的全覆盖灭火系统正开始应用于电脑机房、电信交换投施等领域。然而，大泉仍未封七氟丙烷灭火剂的灭火原理有一个全面了解。该类型系统的操作是有其缺点的，比如，使用遇程会产生氟化氩（hydrogen fluorideo本文将回顾哈龙灭火剂的灭火原理及使用中的一些相关问题，然後讨论七氟丙烷的化学分解遇程、灭火原理以及在使用遇程中减少氟化氢产生的添加剂妁工作原理。本文亦将简要介绍将水雾冷却系统（waterspray coolingsystem，WSCS）与七氟丙烷灭火剂结合以减少氟化氢产生的设想，同时会论及如何定义更好的添加剂的标准。     

Effect of concentration on R134a/Al2O3 nanolubricant mixture boiling on a reentrant cavity surface

This paper quantifies the influence of Al₂O₃ nanoparticles on the pool boiling performance of R134a/polyolester mixtures on a Turbo-BII-HP boiling surface. Nanolubricants with 10 nm diameter Al₂O₃ nanoparticles of various volume fractions (1.6%, 2.3%, and 5.1%) in the base polyolester lubricant were mixed with R134a at two different mass fractions (0.5% and 1%). The study showed that nanolubricants can improve R134a boiling on a reentrant cavity surface as long as the nanoparticles remain well dispersed in the lubricant and are at sufficiently large concentration. For example, three of the refrigerant/nanolubricant mixtures with the smallest nanoparticle mass fraction exhibited average enhancements over the entire heat flux range of approximately 10%. However, when the nanoparticle mass fraction was increased to a point that likely encouraged agglomeration, an average heat transfer degradation of approximately 14% resulted. An existing model was used to predict the boiling heat transfer.     

Effect of monosodium glutamate on physicochemical properties and quality of Alkali‐treated Pacific white shrimp

Physicochemical properties and quality of Pacific white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) treated with alkaline soaking solution (ASS; 0.75% NaOH with 2.5% NaCl) containing 3% monosodium glutamate (MSG), pH 11.5 (ASS+3% MSG) were investigated, in comparison with those treated with mixed phosphates or ASS alone. Muscle proteins underwent conformational changes as evidenced by the shift of T_max to the lower temperature and the increased negative charge when treated with ASS+3% MSG. This coincided with the higher moisture and NaCl contents (P < 0.05). Such a treatment led to the pronounced swelling of muscle fibrils as visualised by scanning electron microscope. Highest likeness score for all attributes except for flavour was observed in sample treated with ASS+3% MSG. Slightly fishy odour in the treated sample was associated with higher abundance of volatile compounds, especially alcohol and aldehyde. Thus, ASS+3% MSG could be used as the replacer of phosphate and bicarbonate for shrimp processing.