Phase,domain, and microstructures in Sr2+ substituted low-temperature sintering PZT-based relaxor ferroelectrics

The Ag-Pd internal electrode of multilayer piezoelectric ceramics needs to be sintered below 1000°C, and lead wires and components need to be welded with lead-free solder at 260°C. PNN–PMW–PZT–xSr piezoelectric ceramics with high Curie temperature (T_c > 260°C) were synthesized at a low sintering temperature (960°C) to meet the requirements of multilayer piezoelectric devices. The relationship between structures (phase, domain, and microstructures) and electrical properties (piezo/ferroelectric properties, and dielectric relaxation) in the Sr²⁺ substituted ceramics was investigated. Rietveld refinement and Raman spectra show that Sr²⁺ substitution can cause the phase change and increase the force constant of [BO₆] octahedron. The piezoelectric response increases with increasing the content of the tetragonal phase (CTP) in the rhombohedral-tetragonal (R-T) coexisted ceramics. The ceramics with 0.6 mol% Sr²⁺ substitution have minimum activation energy for domain wall movement (E_a) of 0.0362 eV which favors the formation of nanometer-sized domains, and possess excellent electrical properties (d₃₃ = 623 pC/N, d₃₃^* =783 pm/V, T_c =295°C). The higher the CTP, the lower the E_a. The lower E_a favors the rotation of polarization direction and extension, and is beneficial to the generation of the nanometer-size domains, resulting in high piezoelectric properties.     

Statistical Piezotronic Effect in Nanocrystal Bulk by Anisotropic Geometry Control

Utilizing inner-crystal piezoelectric polarization charges to control carrier transport across a metal-semiconductor or semiconductor–semiconductor interface, piezotronic effect has great potential applications in smart micro/nano-electromechanical system (MEMS/NEMS), human-machine interfacing, and nanorobotics. However, current research on piezotronics has mainly focused on systems with only one or rather limited interfaces. Here, the statistical piezotronic effect is reported in ZnO bulk composited of nanoplatelets, of which the strain/stress-induced piezo-potential at the crystals’ interfaces can effectively gate the electrical transport of ZnO bulk. It is a statistical phenomenon of piezotronic modification of large numbers of interfaces, and the crystal orientation of inner ZnO nanoplatelets strongly influence the transport property of ZnO bulk. With optimum preferred orientation of ZnO nanoplatelets, the bulk exhibits an increased conductivity with decreasing stress at a high pressure range of 200–400 MPa, which has not been observed previously in bulk. A maximum sensitivity of 1.149 µS m⁻¹ MPa⁻¹ and a corresponding gauge factor of 467–589 have been achieved. As a statistical phenomenon of many piezotronic interfaces modulation, the proposed statistical piezotronic effect extends the connotation of piezotronics and promotes its practical applications in intelligent sensing.     

Evaluation of anticorrosion and contact resistance behavior of poly(orthophenylenediamine)- coated 316L SS bipolar plate for proton exchange membrane fuel cell

The present work was focused on the corrosion properties and contact resistance behavior of poly(orthophenlyenediamine) (PoPD) coating on 316L SS bipolar plates. To reduce the corrosion rate and increase the interfacial conductivity of 316L SS bipolar plates, PoPD coating was deposited using an electropolymerization technique by the various monomer concentration of orthophenlyenediamine (oPD) on its surface. The presence of 1, 2, 4, 5- tetra substituted benzene nuclei of phenazine units in the polymer coating was confirmed by infrared spectroscopy. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis has confirmed the (%) of chemical composition in PoPD coating. The results of scanning electron microscopy analysis revealed that the uniform and compact coating with complete cover on 316L SS. The corrosion properties were investigated in 0.5 M H₂SO₄ and 2 ppm HF solution at 80 °C. The polarization test results showed that the PoPD coating reduced the corrosion current density both in the PEMFC anode and cathode environments. The charge transfer resistance values were in the order of 316L SS ? 0.02 M PoPD ? 0.06 M PoPD ? 0.04 M PoPD. A very low interfacial contact resistance and good adhesion strength was observed for 0.04 M PoPD coating. The higher contact angle of 0.04 M PoPD coating explained the hydrophobic property and more benefit of water management in the PEMFC environment. The results of the analysis of total metal ion releases clearly explained that the low level of metal ions released for 0.04 M PoPD coating. The overall studies revealed the PoPD coating with optimized 0.04 M oPD concentration showed best performance and provided more anodic protection to 316L SS bipolar plates.     

High H2 selectivity with low coke formation for methanol steam reforming over Cu/Y1.5Ce0.84Ru0.04O4 catalyst in a microchannel plate reactor

The synthesized novel metal oxides Y_xCe_yRu_zO₄ (x = 1.5, y = 0.84, z = 0.04) which was produced by the sol-gel method was used as a support for Cu active metal on the surface of a microchannel plate reactor in the methanol steam reforming (MSR) process. The prepared catalysts were characterized by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), BET surface area analysis (S_BET), energy-dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX), field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), temperature-programmed desorption (NH₃-TPD), and temperature-programmed reduction (H₂-TPR). High methanol conversion (99.5%) and H₂ selectivity (98.7%) and low CO selectivity (1.4%) were achieved for Cu/Y_xCe_yRu_zO₄ coated microchannel reactor at 250 °C. FE-SEM images and TGA curve of the spent catalyst displayed no coke formation on the surface of the catalyst after 32 h on stream at 300 °C. The low reduction temperature of Cu, high BET surface area, and high pore volume of the catalyst are considered imperative factors that cause a better dispersion of copper on the Y_1.5Ce_0.84Ru_0.04O₄ support.     

Effect of metal oxide nanofluids on the performance of passive solar still single slope for two different absorbent plates

This study aims to improve the performances of a solar still single slope using metal oxide nanofluid (Al₂O₃–water, Cu₂O–water, and TiO₂–water). The numerical study was carried out for the climatic conditions of Agadir, Morocco, with different concentrations of nanofluids inside a basin equipped with an absorber plate with two different absorptivities. The numerical study is based on thermal balance equations applied on different solar system components and solved using the Runge Kutta method. The numerical model is validated by comparing our results with the literature available data. A comparison study of the effect of these nanofluids on solar still productivity is done. The results show that the productivity of the solar still using nanoparticles Cu₂O, TiO₂, and Al₂O₃ are 7.38, 7.1, and 7.064 kg m⁻² day⁻¹, respectively. It is obtained that the maximum efficiency of the solar still is found to be 55.27% by using cuprous oxide nanoparticles. Furthermore, an enhancement in solar still productivity of 6.36%, 19.54%, and 33.25% is obtained by dispersing 1%, 3%, and 5% volume fraction of Cu₂O nanoparticles in pure water, respectively compared to the conventional solar. Moreover, the impact of the absorptivity of the absorber plate on the solar still effectiveness is investigated. Two types of coatings are considered to change the absorber plate absorptivity. The results indicate that the efficiencies of the solar system are 58.81% and 51.77% using an absorber plate with 0.95 and 0.85 of absorptivity, respectively.     

Entropy generation minimization on electromagnetohydrodynamic radiative Casson nanofluid flow over a melting Riga plate

Minimizing entropy generation is a technique that helps improve the effectiveness of real processes by studying the associated irreversibility of system performance of nanofluid. This study examines the entropy generation analysis of electromagnetohydrodynamic radiative Casson flow induced by a stretching Riga plate in a non-Darcian porous medium under the influence of internal energy change, Arrhenius activation energy, chemical reaction, and melting heat transfer. The thermophysical features of the fluid are assumed constant in most of the literature. However, this current research bridges this gap by considering viscosity, conductivity, and diffusivity as temperature-dependent variables. Also, the exponential decaying Grinberg term is used as a resistive force in this investigation due to the electromagnetic properties of the Riga plate in the momentum conservation equation. Some suitable dimensionless variables are introduced to remodel the transport equations into unitless ones and then solved numerically by employing Galerkin Weighted Residual Method. Analyses reveal that the Casson parameter declines the fluid velocity, while the existence of the melting parameter has the opposite effect. Also, this article includes some future recommendations.     

微通道板表面羟基化工艺研究北大核心

研究了3种微通道板基底羟基化的方法,测量了羟基化处理后微通道板基底表面水接触角及通道端面的形貌变化,分析了各种方法中微通道板基底的亲水性和腐蚀情况。实验结果表明:氨水双氧水溶液对基体表面的亲水性能提升不大,NaOH溶液对基体有腐蚀作用,经食人鱼溶液处理的基体表面亲水性明显提高且无腐蚀作用。研究了微通道板在食人鱼溶液中的浸泡时间和浸泡温度对表面亲水性的影响。结果表明:随着浸泡温度的增加,微通道板表面水接触角先减小后增大,当温度为80℃时达到极小值,浸泡时间对微通道板表面的亲水性影响不大。最终确定了微通道板表面羟基化工艺:浸泡温度为80℃,静置时间为20~60 min。     

Mechanical properties,corrosion resistance,and rubber pad forming of cold differential speed-rolled pure titanium for bipolar plates of proton-exchange membrane fuel cells

Due to problems such as pores on surface-treated coatings, the corrosion resistance of pure titanium bipolar plates for proton-exchange membrane fuel cells can be further improved by increasing the corrosion resistance of pure titanium by using differential speed-rolling (DSR); however, these materials have not yet reached the standard requirements of bipolar plates (corrosion current density i_corr＜10³ nA·cm^?2). In this work, the corrosion resistance of pure titanium was improved by optimizing the DSR process while the strength was maintained. The best corrosion resistance of the DSR pure titanium was achieved when the roller speed ratio was 2, while i_corr was 429 nA·cm^?2 in a solution of 0.5 M H₂SO₄ and 2 mg/L HF at room temperature. The formability of the DSR pure titanium for bipolar plates was verified. The optimal holding pressure range was 6.8–7.0 kN.     

Investigation of stress fields for non-standard sized glass plates loaded by ring-on-ring

A ring-on-ring (ROR) test is a prevailing test method for evaluating the equi-biaxial strength of glass materials. However, current ROR test standards limit the strength and size of glass to prevent a nonlinear behavior. In this study, the feasibility of ROR testing for non-standard, high-strength glass, such as tempered or ion-exchanged rectangular glass is investigated. To this end, ROR simulation based on theory and experiment is conducted for thirty non-standard glasses with widths of 100–300 mm and aspect ratios of 1.0–2.0. As a result, the maximum measurable stress was about 215.6 MPa for 100 × 200 mm glass and 481.3 MPa for 300 × 600 mm glass with a 3% deviation, which is well above the strength of regular tempered glass. The main purpose of this work is to understand the range of aspect ratio of horizontal and vertical widths of a glass plate that can be evaluated by the standard ROR test.