Investigation of fabrication of gas diffusion substrate for proton exchange membrane fuel cells

The gas diffusion substrate (GDS) is essential in the proton exchange membrane fuel cells. Its fabrication techniques affect the performance significantly and are worthy of investigation. In this study, a manufacturing process of the GDS is proposed to understand the formation process of GDS and promote its structure and performance more pertinently. Different states during the preparation process, raw carbon paper, pre-curing, curing, carbonation, and graphitization, are characterized and measured. Experimental and numerical methods are employed to determine the relationships between microstructure, transport, and mechanical performance variation with the fabricating processes. The results show that its porosity, average pore size, and effective diffusivity decrease first and increase after curing. These parameters after graphitization are lower than that of the carbon paper (CP). The electrical resistivity increases dramatically while pre-curing and decreases gradually after curing, carbonation, and graphitization, and it is much reduced after graphitization. Moreover, mechanical measurement results show that both the picks of tensile strength and flexural modulus occur after curing. Its tensile strength shows little change after graphitization compared to the initial paper's. In contrast, the flexural modulus is improved significantly.     

激光打孔技术在光伏背板玻璃上的应用

双玻光伏组件以其抗PID性强、防隐裂、防水汽透过、抗蜗牛纹、可靠性优异、轻量化等诸多优点,在晶硅太阳能组件市占比逐步提高。双玻光伏组件用背板玻璃一般需要预留出线孔,光伏背板玻璃的出线孔主要有两种打孔方式:金钢钻上下同步钻孔的模式和激光打孔。激光打孔以其易维护、可异形孔加工、效率高、生产成本低等优势得到各大玻璃厂的认可。通过分析在实际生产中激光打孔出现的打孔缺陷问题,提出了改善措施,有助于工厂的降本增效。     

High voltage and self-healing zwitterionic double-network hydrogels as electrolyte for zinc-ion hybrid supercapacitor/battery

The hydrogel electrolyte is an important part of safety and development potential in zinc-based energy storage equipment due to its inherent low mechanical strength and voltage decomposition. However, hydrogel electrolytes possess a reduced working life for zinc dendrites growth and a narrow voltage window. In this study, a hydrogel electrolyte prepares by the zwitterionic monomer [2-(methacryloyloxy)ethyl]dimethyl-(3-sulfopropyl) (MS) and sodium alginate (SA) alleviate these problems. The zwitterionic double-network hydrogel has good mechanical strength, inhibits the growth of zinc dendrites, enhances practicability, greatly increases the voltage window (0–2.4 V), and has self-healing properties to its rich functional groups. The assembled zinc-ion hybrid supercapacitors (ZHSs) have a high-power density of 172.33 W kg^?1 and an energy density of 88.56 Wh·kg^?1 at 0.5 A g^?1. The assembled zinc-ion battery also has good electrochemical performance. Flexible ZHSs and batteries provide power to the timer stably under different bending angles. The zwitterionic double-network hydrogel can be applied to both zinc-based supercapacitors and batteries.     

Removing data and using metafounders alleviates biases for all traits in Lacaune dairy sheep predictions

Bias in dairy genetic evaluations, when it exists, has to be understood and properly addressed. The origin of biases is not always clear. We analyzed 40 yr of records from the Lacaune dairy sheep breeding program to evaluate the extent of bias, assess possible corrections, and emit hypotheses on its origin. The data set included 7 traits (milk yield, fat and protein contents, somatic cell score, teat angle, udder cleft, and udder depth) with records from 600,000 to 5 million depending on the trait, ～1,900,000 animals, and ～5,900 genotyped elite artificial insemination rams. For the ～8% animals with missing sire, we fit 25 unknown parent groups. We used the linear regression method to compare “partial” and “whole” predictions of young rams before and after progeny testing, with 7 cut-off points, and we obtained estimates of their bias, (over)dispersion, and accuracy in early proofs. We tried (1) several scenarios as follows: multiple or single trait, the “official” (routine) evaluation, which is a mixture of both single and multiple trait, and “deletion” of data before 1990; and (2) several models as follows: BLUP and single-step genomic (SSG)BLUP with fixed unknown parent groups or metafounders, where, for metafounders, their relationship matrix gamma was estimated using either a model for inbreeding trend, or base allele frequencies estimated by peeling. The estimate of gamma obtained by modeling the inbreeding trend resulted in an estimated increase of inbreeding, based on markers, faster than the pedigree-based one. The estimated genetic trends were similar for most models and scenarios across all traits, but were shrunken when gamma was estimated by peeling. This was due to shrinking of the estimates of metafounders in the latter case. Across scenarios, all traits showed bias, generally as an overestimate of genetic trend for milk yield and an underestimate for the other traits. As for the slope, it showed overdispersion of estimated breeding values for all traits. Using multiple-trait models slightly reduced the overestimate of genetic trend and the overdispersion, as did including genomic information (i.e., SSGBLUP) when the gamma matrix was estimated by the model for inbreeding trend. However, only deletion of historical data before 1990 resulted in elimination of both kind of biases. The SSGBLUP resulted in more accurate early proofs than BLUP for all traits. We considered that a snowball effect of small errors in each genetic evaluation, combined with selection, may have resulted in biased evaluations. Improving statistical methods reduced some bias but not all, and a simple solution for this data set was to remove historical records.     

Microstructure,mechanical and tribological properties of Mo–V–Cu–N coatings prepared by HIPIMS technique

A combination of high wear-resistance and low-friction is crucial for improving the wear performance of self-lubricating coatings, which is generally determined by an excellent lubricating effect and mechanical strength. In this study, the Mo–V–Cu–N coatings were prepared by HIPIMS technique with a spliced target of Mo–V–Cu at various charge voltages. The results revealed that Mo–V–Cu–N coatings presented a solid solution phase of B1–MoVN with (200) preferred orientation, and the preferred orientation was enhanced at high charge voltages. Whereas the Cu atoms formed an amorphous phase in Mo–V–Cu–N coatings due to a low Cu content of 2.3–3.6 at.%. As the charge voltage increased to 750 V, more charged metallic ions were accelerated and bombarded substrate surface efficiently, forming smooth and dense Mo–V–Cu–N coatings with a high hardness of 31.0 GPa. All the coatings presented a low friction coefficient of 0.34–0.39 due to the formation of MoO₂, VO₂ and CuO mixed oxides, and the wear mechanism was dominated by abrasive and tribo-oxidation wear at room temperature.     

Concentration dependence of physical properties of low temperature processed ZnO quantum dots thin films on polyethylene terephthalate as potential electron transport material for perovskite solar cell

Colloidal Zinc oxide quantum dots (ZnO QDs) prepared with varying concentrations through precipitation method were deposited on flexible ITO/PET substrates using spin-coating technique. Various characterization tools were utilized to investigate the morphological, structural, electrical and optical properties of the films. The crystallinity of the films was found to improve with increasing ZnO QD concentration (ZQ_C) as evident from the X-ray diffraction (XRD) and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) studies. Crystallographic and optical parameters were evaluated and explained in depth. The average nanograin size and bandgap were increased and decreased respectively, from ～5 nm to ～8 nm and 3.29 eV–3.24 eV with an increase in ZQ_C from 10 mg/mL to 70 mg/mL. Columnar structure growth of the films is revealed by AFM results. The films showed decent optical transparency up to 81%. All the ZnO films exhibited n-type semiconducting property as indicated by the electrical measurements with carrier mobility and low resistivity of 12.21–26.63 cm²/Vs and 11.84 × 10^?3 to 13.16 × 10^?3 Ω cm respectively. Based on the experimental findings, ZnO QD nanostructure film grown at 50 mg/mL is envisaged to be a potential candidate for flexible perovskite photovoltaic application.     

[2.2]Paracyclophane-Based TCN-201 Analogs as GluN2A-Selective NMDA Receptor Antagonists

Recent studies have shown the involvement of GluN2A subunit-containing NMDA receptors in various neurological and pathological disorders. In the X-ray crystal structure, TCN-201 ( 1 ) and analogous pyrazine derivatives 2 and 3 adopt a U-shape (hairpin) conformation within the binding site formed by the ligand binding domains of the GluN1 and GluN2A subunits. In order to mimic the resulting π/π-interactions of two aromatic rings in the binding site, a [2.2]paracyclophane system was designed to lock these aromatic rings in a parallel orientation. Acylation of [2.2]paracyclophane ( 5 ) with oxalyl chloride and chloroacetyl chloride and subsequent transformations led to the oxalamide 7 , triazole 10 and benzamides 12 . The GluN2A inhibitory activities of the paracyclophane derivatives were tested with two-electrode voltage clamp electrophysiology using Xenopus laevis oocytes expressing selectively functional NMDA receptors with GluN2A subunit. The o-iodobenzamide 12 b with the highest similarity to TCN-201 showed the highest GuN2A inhibitory activity of this series of compounds. At a concentration of 10 μM, 12 b reached 36 % of the inhibitory activity of TCN-201 ( 1 ). This result indicates that the [2.2]paracyclophane system is well accepted by the TCN-201 binding site.     

Synthesis and characterization of SrFeOx hetero-film resistance-switching device with low operation voltage

As a critical topological phase transition material, SrFeO_x could play an essential role in the field of resistive memory. How to implement resistance-switching more softly and ensure the stability of materials has always been a relevant research hotspot. Regulating the oxygen environment during the deposition process of the films can effectively control the stoichiometry of the functional layer and then improve the resistance-switching characteristics of the device. In this paper, a SrFeO_x hetero-film was prepared by oxygen pretreatment on the SrRuO₃ surface before SrFeO_x deposition, and the as-assembled micrometer-scale device exhibits a low set operating voltage of 0.6 V and favorable cycling characteristics. The SrFeO_x hetero-film reveals a vertical brownmillerite superlattice-like structure with ～20 nm perovskite buffer layer, which benefits the connection and rupture of conductive filament. Additionally, XPS and UV–vis were used to analyze the bonding energy and band gap of SrFeO_x hetero-film, and offers the experimental basis for the explanation of the conductive mechanism. Therefore, the device based on SrFeO_x hetero-film with low operation voltage provides a reference for low power consumption research on topological phase transition material.     

Recycling spent lead acid batteries into aqueous zinc-ion battery material with ultra-flat voltage platforms

The harmless disposal of lead paste in the spent lead-acid batteries (LABs) remains an enormous challenge in traditional pyrometallurgical recycling. Here, we introduced a hydrometallurgical method for the recycling of the spent LABs’ waste to obtain the β-PbO as a novel zinc ion batteries (ZIBs) active material. The obtained β-PbO exhibits ultra-flat charge/discharge voltage platforms (0.21 mV/(mAh g^?1)) and stable specific capacity. During the charge/discharge, the β-PbO spontaneously triggers the formation of (ZnSO₄)[Zn(OH)₂]₃·5H₂O (ZHS) micro-sheets as a surface passivation layer. Moreover, the ex-situ X-ray spectra reveal that the reversible phase transformation occurs between PbSO₄ and Pb with the assistance of ZHS by adjusting the PH value on the electrode-electrolyte interface. The synergistic two-phase-reaction mechanism generates ultra-flat voltage platforms upon the charge/discharge. This “energy-saving and environment-friendly” recycling route eliminates the major source of emission of pollution particulates/gases compared to the traditional pyrometallurgical recycling, while at the same time replacing energy-consuming and environmentally detrimental processes of synthesis of current ZIBs cathodes.     

Preparation of P(St-NMA) microsphere inks and their application in photonic crystal patterns with brilliant structural colors

Patterned photonic crystals with structural colors on textile substrates have attracted a special attention due to the great advantages in application, which currently become a research hot-spot. This study utilized an ink-jet printing technology to prepare high-quality photonic crystal patterns with structural colors on polyester substrates. The self-assembly temperature of poly(styrene-N-methylol acrylamide) (P(St-NMA)) microspheres set to construct photonic crystals were deeply optimized. Moreover, the structural colors of prepared photonic crystal patterns were characterized and evaluated. When the mass fraction of P(St-NMA) microspheres was 1.0 wt.%, the pH value ranged from 5 to 7, and the surface tension was in the range of 63.79 to 71.20 mN/m, inks could present the best print performance. At 60 °C, prepared P(St-NMA) microsphere inks were good for printing to obtain patterned photonic crystals with regular arrangement and beautiful structural colors. Specifically, photonic crystals with different colors could be constructed by regulating the diameter of microspheres in inks, and prepared structural colors exhibited distinct iridescent phenomenon. The present results could provide a theoretical basis for the industrial realization of patterned photonic crystals by ink-jet printing technology.