Fabrication of paper based carbon/graphene/ZnO aerogel composite decorated by polyaniline nanostructure: Investigation of electrochemical properties

The cellulose derived carbon/graphene/ZnO aerogel composite was prepared as an electrode in order to investigate the electrochemical properties. Carbon aerogel was synthesized using paper as an available cellulose source, and the composite was obtained through a new and simple preparation method including the immersion of monolithic carbon aerogel in graphene oxide/Zn²⁺ suspension and subsequent chemical reduction and freeze drying. The morphology, functional groups and crystalline structure of the samples were studied with Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and X-ray Diffraction Spectroscopy (XRD), respectively. Electrochemical performance of the prepared binder free electrodes was examined using Cyclic Voltammetry (CV), Galvanostatic Charge-Discharge (GCD) and Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS). The data revealed that flexible carbon/graphene/ZnO composite resulted in a low density (0.035 g cm⁻³) electrode with the capacitance of 900 mF cm⁻² at a high current density of 10 mA cm⁻², lower IR drop and high cyclic stability (capacitance retention of 96%) after 1000 cycles, at 10 mA cm⁻². These features were due to the presence of 3D porous conductive network, highly reduced graphene oxide, and the formation of ZnO nanoparticles on graphene sheets. Moreover, polyaniline (PANI) was introduced to carbon/graphene/ZnO composite electrode using electro-oxidation method at different reaction time and aniline concentration in order to achieve remarkably improved capacitance of 2500 mF cm⁻² (at 10 mA cm⁻²) and low charge transfer resistance. Also, after the supercapacitor device assembly, the capacitance was retained. Based on the results, the synthesized composite is a promising material for new generation of lightweight freestanding electrodes with the high electrochemical performance.     

基于纸喷雾离子化衍生质谱法快速检测PM2.5中的醌污染物

醌类化合物是PM2.5中的一类有害物质。本研究建立了纸喷雾离子化衍生质谱法快速测定PM2.5中的醌类污染物。通过衍生化反应在醌化合物中引入氨基，提高醌在纸喷雾中的离子化效率。随后对衍生化试剂种类、电压、喷雾溶剂种类等反应条件进行优化。在最优实验条件下，采用内标法定量分析1,4-苯醌、甲基对苯醌、1,4-萘醌和1,4-蒽醌，4种化合物均呈现较好的线性关系，其检出限分别为4.49、20.89、0.13、0.17 ng。利用该方法分析PM2.5实际样品中的萘醌和蒽醌，均获得了较好的定性和定量结果。     

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.     

Simply constructed highly dispersed cobalt nanoparticles in diverse N-doped graphitic carbon with remarkable performances for water electrolysis

Metal/carbon composite materials are highly promising electrocatalysts for water electrolysis. In this work, three composites of metal cobalt nanoparticles highly dispersed in N-doped carbon materials were facilely constructed by pyrolysis of different phenylenediamine based Schiff base-Co complexes (PDBs). Interestingly, the composites derived from PDBs based on different phenylenediamine exhibited different morphologies. The superior case is that rodlike composite catalyst was derived from o-phenylenediamine based PDBs. The obtained catalyst exhibited remarkable performances for both cathodic hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and anodic oxygen evolution reaction (OER), as well as overall water electrolysis. Only 172 and 289 mV of overpotentials and 1.57 V of cell voltage were exhibited at 10 mA cm^?2 for HER, OER and water splitting in 1.0 M KOH, respectively. The catalyst also displayed robust stability and high Faraday efficiency, and thus are potential high-performance catalyst for commercial water electrolysis.     

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.     

Identification and U-control of a state-space system with time-delay

This article presents a state-space model with time-delay to map the relationship between known input-output data for discrete systems. For the given input-output data, a model identification algorithm combining parameter estimation and state estimation is proposed in line with the causality constraints. Consequently, this article proposes a least squares parameter estimation algorithm, and analyzes its convergence for the studied systems to prove that the parameter estimation errors converge to zero under the persistent excitation conditions. In control system design, the U-model based control is introduced to provide a unilateral platform to improve the design efficiency and generality. A simulation portfolio from modeling to control is provided with computational experiments to validate the derived results.     

煤基高能量密度燃料的合成及表征

高能量密度燃料是为新型高性能飞行器提供动力保障的关键,其合成及应用研究具有重要的前瞻性和重大战略意义。煤炭是我国的主体能源和重要原料,通过煤直接转化获取的煤基油,充分保留了煤中特有的环状分子化学结构,具有良好的热安定性和较高的能量密度,被认为是高超音速飞行器的优选燃料。以煤直接液化工艺生产的煤液化石脑油馏分为起始原料,通过富集轻质芳烃、化学合成、催化加氢稳定和产物分离提纯等方法制备煤基高能量密度燃料,并对其产物进行分子结构表征和性能评价。结果表明,煤直接液化生产的石脑油馏分是一种优异的催化重整原料,经催化重整富集轻质芳烃后,其轻质芳烃质量分数高达71.05%。Diels-Alder化学合成主产物是由多个封闭环平面组成且具有空间立体构型的二环或三环烃类物质,质量分数为46.18%,因分子内存在较大的张力能,结构紧凑,其拥有更大的密度和体积热值。煤基高能量密度燃料的密度和体积热值分别为0.8990 g/cm3与38.06 MJ/L,均大大超过现行的国内石油基喷气燃料(RP-3和RP-6)、煤基大比重喷气燃料、美国和俄罗斯军用标准。与单一纯物质合成高能量密度燃料(JP-10和T-10)比较,其密度与体积热值偏小。究其原因主要是轻质芳烃的富集度仅为71.05%,需进一步提高其轻质芳烃质量分数。另外,制备的煤基高能量密度燃料种类复杂,其主产物质量分数仅46.18%,下一步可重点调控合成产物的分子构型和纯化分离。     

Moulded pulp products manufacturing with thermoforming

For an effective optimization of pulp thermoforming and of the moulded pulp products manufactured by this process, a full understanding of the process physics combined with full knowledge of the pressing equipment is necessary. For this reason, in this Addendum, we clarify how the process parameters “Holding time,” “Vacuum time,” “Cycle time,” and “Temperature” were interpreted and subsequently defined for the analysis of the process and product‐related outputs of the thermoforming experiments.     

M- S-H formation in MgO-SiO2slurries via wet milling for magnesia based castables

It is believed that the formation of hydration phase, MgO-SiO₂-H₂O (M-S-H), contributes to good workability and reliable comprehensive properties for magnesia based castables. In order to stimulate the formation of M-S-H in magnesia based castables and understand the minimum introduction of microslica amount, wet milling process was used to promote the dissolution of MgO and SiO₂ in this work. The slurry containing different content of microsilica with wet milling technology and the castables with/without wet milling slurry were prepared. The effects of microsilica content on the formation of hydration phases were analyzed by XRD, FT-IR and TG/DSC and the properties of magnesia based castables were evaluated by explosion resistance, CMOR, HMOR and so on. The results showed that the formation of M-S-H was accelerated because of the dissolution of Mg²⁺ and HSiO₃^? in wet milling process. Higher amount of M-S-H led to a tight bonding in the early stage, and a denser structure after firing at high temperature due to the limited formation of brucite and in-situ formation of evenly distributed forsterite phase. In addition, much higher HMOR were obtained when less microsilica was added, attributing to the suppressed formation of low-melting-point liquid. Therefore, 2–3 wt% microsilica addition was recommended in this process.