Understanding on the hydrogen detection of plasma sprayed tin oxide/tungsten oxide (SnO2/WO3) sensor

The plasma spray technique was well proven in producing metal oxide based gas sensors in the last two decades using different powder feedstocks. However, limited research was made to fabricate hydrogen gas sensor from tin oxide layer coated over tungsten oxide layer. This paper attempts to interpret the hydrogen gas sensing performances of plasma sprayed coating derived by depositing tin oxide layer over tungsten oxide (SnO₂/WO₃) layer. Plasma sprayed SnO₂/WO₃ sensor showed maximum response of 90% at 150 °C in contrast to stand-alone WO₃ (89% at 350 °C) and stand-alone SnO₂ (89% at 250 °C). The lower operating temperature of SnO₂/WO₃ sensor without compromising gas response was attributed to the WO₃–SnO₂ hetero-junction. SnO₂/WO₃ sensor showed selective sensing towards hydrogen with respect to carbon monoxide and methane gases. This sensor also possessed repeatable characteristics after 39 days from the initial measurement. In a nut-shell, plasma spayed SnO₂/WO₃ sensor showed stability of base resistance, repeatability after successive response and recovery cycles, selective sensing towards 500 ppm H₂ with significant magnitude of gas response of 90%, response time of 35 s and recovery time of 269 s at a temperature of 150 °C.     

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.     

Anti-coking and anti-carburizing behavior of amorphous AlPO4 coating

The aim of the present study was to examine the anti-coking and anti-carburizing behavior of amorphous AlPO₄ coating. So, aluminum phosphate composition was synthesized by sol-gel process and applied on the AISI 304 stainless steel by dip coating technique. Anti-coking performance was examined in a tube furnace at 1000 °C for 30 min under Ethane (C₂H₆) atmosphere. Carburizing test was performed in a sealed charcoal medium at 1100 °C for a total of 30 h exposure time. Phase composition of the samples was analyzed by X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) after coking and carburizing tests. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Energy Dispersive X-Ray Spectroscopy (EDS) were employed to study the morphology and elemental analysis of the samples after coke and carbon formation experiments. Microhardness indenter was applied on the cross section of the carbon-exposed specimens to plot the hardness profile through the carburizing zone. The results of the coking experiment revealed catalytic coke formed on the uncoated surface, while irregular spherical coke with no trace of catalytic coke was formed on the coated surface, indicating the great anti-coking performance of the amorphous AlPO₄ coating. The results of pack-carburizing test demonstrated that the thickness of the carbide layer formed on the bare surface was ～10 times greater than that of the coated sample. Hardness measurement for the amorphous AlPO₄ coated sample detected lower values compared to those for the uncoated one at all distances from the surface, indicating less carbon diffusion occurred beneath the coated surface. In overall, the results declared that the amorphous AlPO₄ coating could be a good candidate for surface protection of stainless steel against catalytic coke formation and carbon diffusion.     

高压直流接地极对埋地管道的电流干扰及人身安全距离

高压直流输电系统的直流接地极在运行初期或发生故障和检修时,会产生瞬间大电流,给附近埋地油气管道设施及操作人员带来极大的安全隐患。为了保障埋地管道附近人员的安全,对高压直流接地极对埋地管道的电流干扰及人身安全距离(以下简称安全距离)进行了研究。首先利用数值模拟技术建立了埋地管道受电磁干扰的模型,进而利用该模型计算了不同土壤电阻率、管线长度、管道防腐层、接地极入地电流、管道尺寸等情况下,高压直流接地极对埋地管道杂散电流干扰的安全距离,并分析了上述条件对高压直流接地极干扰程度的影响规律。研究结果表明:①管线长度对高压直流接地极干扰程度的影响较大,管线越长,安全距离越大,但当管线长度达到或超过600 km时,安全距离则基本不变;②管线涂层对高压直流接地极干扰程度的影响较大,随着涂层面电阻率的增加,安全距离逐渐增大;③对于多层土壤结构,可将最大的单层电阻率作为整体电阻率,其计算得到的安全距离最大,评价结果也更为保守。结论认为,利用计算结果得到的4类长度管线的安全距离图谱,可供高压直流接地极及管线设计时参考,并且可以作为拟建高压直流接地极或埋地管线安全距离选取的依据。     

Ta含量对NiCoCrAlY涂层性能的影响

采用真空雾化的方法制备了Ta含量为0、2%及5%的NiCoCrAlYTa合金粉末,利用超音速火焰喷涂制备了三种涂层,研究了Ta对合金粉末微观组织及物相的影响,绘制了1050℃条件下涂层的高温氧化动力学曲线,研究了500h氧化试验后涂层组织和β相的分布,初步探讨了Ta元素对改善涂层抗氧化性能的作用机理。研究结果表明:Ta通过提高MCrAlY体系抗氧化元素的溶质浓度,促进了氧化膜的形成,随着Ta含量的增加,涂层的内氧化程度降低,涂层抗氧化性能提高。但含Ta涂层在长时间氧化条件下会生成CrTaO_4、AlTaO_4等尖晶石类氧化物,且Ta的氧化物PBR值较大,对涂层的抗热震性能不利。     

Preparation of Layer-by-Layer Self-Assembled Coating Modified Polyethylene Terephthalate Fabric with Flame Retardancy and UV Protection based on ZnO Nanopaticles

A hybrid coating containing zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles, polyethyleneimine and sodium alginate was fabricated on the surface of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) fabric using layer-by-layer (LbL) self-assembled method. The construction of ZnO based coating on the surface of PET fabric resulted reduced DTG peak value compared with that of pure PET. Compared with the pure PET fabric, 4 bilayers coating obviously improved the fire resistance of PET fabric, as evidenced by the obvious reduction (39%) of peak heat release rate. UV transmission intensities of ZnO coated PET fabrics are lower at 320–400 nm than that of pure PET fabric.     

Use of cryogenic machining to improve the adhesion of sphene bioceramic coatings on titanium substrates for dental and orthopaedic applications

Rods of commercially pure titanium were machined using standard oil-based emulsion and cryogenic cooling, and were then coated with sphene (CaTiSiO₅) bioceramic by spray coating using an automatic airbrush. The sphene bioceramic was synthesized in-situ starting from a suspension of polysiloxane that used as SiO₂ precursor, CaCO₃ and TiO₂ nanoparticles. The suspension was deposited on the machined substrates, which were heat treated up to 950?°C in order to promote the formation of sphene ceramic. The produced coated prototypes were characterized to evaluate the effect of the machining conditions on surface roughness and microstructure of the substrate, and thereby their effect on coating adhesion. Nanoindentation tests were employed to determine the hardness and elastic modulus of the coating through its thickness. Results showed that the reduced amount of defects on the surface of the cryo-machined substrates, contributed to increase the hardness, elastic modulus and adhesion strength of the coating-substrate interfaces compared to standard machined samples, therefore improving adhesion of the coating to the underlying substrate.     

Performance of a direct formic acid fuel cell fabricated by ultrasonic spraying

The performances of a direct formic acid fuel cells (DFAFCs) comprising anode catalyst layers prepared via the following three different coating techniques are tested: direct paint (DP), ultrasonic spraying on the diffusion layer (US-D), and ultrasonic spraying directly on the membrane (US-M). These tests confirm that the ultrasonic spraying is a suitable method for the fabricating DFAFC anodes. Palladium black was used for the anode catalyst and a commercially available Pt/C cathode electrode was used for all tests. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed deep cracks caused by the porous substrate in the catalyst layers prepared by DP and by ultrasonic spraying on the diffusion layer. However, catalyst layers prepared by ultrasonic spraying directly on the membrane were less cracked and less porous, with small Pd particles. The catalyst layer prepared by ultrasonic spraying directly on the membrane showed the highest electrochemical surface area (ECSA) among the three anodes. In performance tests, ultrasonic spraying on the membrane yielded the highest power output because it produces the lowest ohmic resistance, the lowest anode potential, and the highest ECSA. By coating the catalyst membrane directly with ultrasonic spraying, we prepared a DFAFC with maximum power density as high as 245 mW cm^?2 using 5 M formic acid with 2 mg cm^?2 of catalyst loading.     

Preparation of biphasic hydroxyapatite/ β-tricalcium phosphate foam using the replication technique

Biphasic hydroxyapatite/β-tricalcium phosphate foams were prepared using the replication technique starting from a precipitated hydroxyapatite (Ca₁₀(PO₄)₆(OH)₂: HAP) powder, and sodium glycerophosphate (GP). The effect of the grinding time, solid loading, dispersant amount, and etching, replication, and sintering processes were investigated. The SEM, OEM and FTIR analyses proved that the surface of the polyurethane template must be treated with NaOH solution to make it more hydrophilic prior to the coating process. With a solid loading of 40 wt-%, the slurries prepared from the precipitated hydroxyapatite presented a shear thinning behavior, which was useful for the coating process. The SEM analysis of the foams showed that the optimum number of coating layers to obtain foam with an identical structure with the template was limited to three. The use of GP and the optimized preparation parameters helped to decrease the consolidation temperature of the ceramic foams to 1000 °C. The XRD and FTIR analyses of the prepared foams showed that the thermal treatment of the GP and the HAP mixture led to a partial decomposition of the HAP to tricalcium phosphate. The fitting of the XRD patterns and the obtained lattice parameters proved that the decomposition was accompanied by the insertion of sodium from GP toward the lattice of tricalcium phosphate and the formation of Na-β-tricalcium. The results of the SEM analysis, the pore size distribution and the mechanical strength showed that the presence of the Na-β-tricalcium reduced the pore size distribution from 500-2700 to 100–1700 μm, decreased slightly the total porosity from 80 vol-% to 70 vol-%; and improved the mechanical strength of the obtained foam from 1.56 MPa to 2.60 MPa.