A Ti3C2Tx-carbon black-acrylic epoxy coating for 304SS bipolar plates with enhanced corrosion resistant and conductivity

A conducting and anticorrosive coating is crucial for the application of metal bipolar plates (BP) in proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC). In this work, a Ti₃C₂T_x (T)-carbon black (C)-acrylic epoxy (AE) coating is prepared on 304 stainless steel (SS) with enhanced corrosion resistance and conductivity. The corrosion resistance of the T-C-AE coating is investigated in a 0.5 M H₂SO₄ solution as compared to the AE, T, and T-AE coatings. The T-C-AE coated 304SS exhibits the strongest corrosion resistance with the most positive corrosion potential and the lowest corrosion current density of 0.00673 μA cm^?2 in all the samples, while retaining intact and compact surface morphology with the lowest metal ion dissolution even after immersed for 720 h. The addition of Ti₃C₂T_x and carbon black into the AE matrix greatly decreases interfacial contact resistance (ICR), and the T-C-AE coating achieves a low ICR of 15.5 mΩ cm^?2 under 140 N cm^?2 compaction force. The excellent anticorrosion performance is mainly attributed to the physical barrier and the cathodic protection provided by the stacked Ti₃C₂T_x (MXene) nanosheets in the T-C-AE coating. This eco-friendly, conducting, and anticorrosive T-C-AE coating has a good application prospect on SS BP of PEMFC.     

Pressure-less joining of alumina ceramics by the reaction-bonded aluminum oxide (RBAO) method

The present work demonstrates a pressure-less and reliable joining technique for alumina ceramics through a reaction-bonded aluminum oxide (RBAO) method. Effective joining relies on the RBAO mechanism, in which Al particles are converted to alumina through oxidation and bond with alumina particles from the parts to be joined upon sintering. Alumina ceramics in a green state were successfully joined with the use of an Al/Al₂O₃ powder mixture as an interlayer. The oxidation behavior of the Al particles was confirmed by thermogravimetry and X-ray diffraction analyses. Joining was performed in ambient air at 1650 °C for 2 h without applying any external pressure. Microstructural observations at the joining interfaces indicated a compact joining. The joining strengths were assessed by determining the biaxial strengths at room temperature, and the joined samples exhibited no fractures at the joining interfaces. Moreover, the joints had a strength of almost 100 % when compared with those of the parent alumina ceramics.     

How does the new-type urbanisation affect CO2 emissions in China? An empirical analysis from the perspective of technological progress

The development of traditional urbanisation has generated environmental problems, so the Chinese Government has proposed a new-type of urbanisation path with uniquely Chinese characteristics. How does this new-type of urbanisation affect CO₂ emissions? Based on panel data from 29 provinces in China (2005 to 2016), we apply an exploratory spatial data analysis model, a spatial econometric model, and a threshold model to analyse the spatial autocorrelation of CO₂ emissions, the direct and indirect effects of new-type urbanisation on CO₂ emissions, and the threshold characteristics produced by technological progress, respectively. The key results are: (1) CO₂ emissions show significant positive autocorrelation in China, and the spatial distribution of CO₂ emissions is HH (High-High) or LL (Low-Low) clustered in most provinces; (2) new-type urbanisation has a paradoxical effect on CO₂ emissions. Energy-saving technology has a rebound effect on CO₂ emissions, but environmental technology inhibits CO₂ emissions; (3) by eliminating the rebound effect of energy-saving technology on CO₂ emissions and promoting environmental technology, new-type urbanisation indirectly inhibits CO₂ emissions; (4) new-type urbanisation exhibits a threshold effect on CO₂ emissions due to the different levels of energy-saving technology and environmental technology. Finally, policy recommendations for CO₂ emissions reduction are proposed from the perspective of new-type urbanisation, energy-saving technology, and environmental technology.     

Efficient hydrogen evolution catalyzed by amorphous molybdenum sulfide/N-doped active carbon hybrid on carbon fiber paper

Among numerous noble-metal-free electrocatalysts, molybdenum sulfides are recognized as promising candidates for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). Owing to abundant under-coordinated sulfur atoms serving as catalytically active centers, intensive spectra studies have revealed that the HER property of amorphous molybdenum sulfide (a-MoS_x) is superior to crystal molybdenum sulfide (c-MoS₂). In this work, nitrogen-doped active carbon (NAC) is obtained through plasma treatment and amorphous MoS_x/NAC hybrid catalyst films are electrodeposited on carbon fiber papers (CFP) which are employed as porous three-dimensional electrodes with low resistivity. The incorporation of NAC increases the electrochemically active surface area, enhances the electron transport, and facilitates the reaction kinetics. Moreover, the functionality durability benefits from synergistic effect between a-MoS_x and NAC. Thus, the obtained hybrid catalyst delivers the excellent HER activity, requiring only 203 mV overpotential to achieve a geometrical current density of 100 mA cm^?2 with a Tafel slope of ～43.9 mV per decade.     

Enhanced transduction coefficient in piezoelectric PZT ceramics by mixing powders calcined at different temperatures

Large transduction coefficient ($d_{33}\times g_{33}$) is difficult to obtain in piezoelectric ceramics because these two parameters show opposite trends with compositional modifications. Herein, the Pb(Zr_0.53Ti_0.47)O₃ ceramic powders were calcinated under different temperatures (A:830 °C, B:860 °C, and C:890 °C), and then mixed together according to different weight ratios (1A:1B:1C, 1A:2B:1C, 1A:2B:3C and 3A:2B:1C) for ceramics preparation. Both d₃₃ and g₃₃ are improved successfully, and the transduction coefficient with the weight ratio of 1A:2B:3C reaches up to 17,500 × 10⁻¹⁵ m²/N, which is 60 % higher than that with the powders calcinated under 830 °C, and at least twice those of commercial PZT-4, PZT-5A and PZT-8 ceramics. The improved transduction coefficient is owing to the enhanced piezoelectric constant and spontaneous polarization resulted from the increased grain size, relative density and the fraction of tetragonal phase. These results indicate that this is a simple but effective way to tailor the transduction coefficient in piezoelectric ceramics.     

Phase-transition induced optimization of electrostrain,electrocaloric refrigeration and energy storage of LiNbO3 doped BNT-BT ceramics

((Bi_0.5Na_0.5TiO₃)_0.88-(BaTiO₃)_0.12)_(1-x)-(LiNbO₃)_x (x = 0.0, 0.01, 0.02, 0.03, 0.04, 0.05, 0.06, and 0.07; abbreviated as LiNbO₃-doped BNT-BT) ceramics possessing many excellent performances (large electrostrain, negative electrocaloric effect and energy storage density with high efficiency) was fabricated by the conventional solid-state reaction method. A large electrostrain (maximum ~ 0.34% at 100 kV/cm and room temperature) with high thermal stability over a broad temperature range (~80 K) is obtained at x = 0.03. A large energy storage density (maximum W_energy ~ 0.665 J/cm³ at 100 kV/cm and room temperature) with a high efficiency (η ~ 49.3%) is achieved at x = 0.06. Moreover, a large negative electrocaloric (EC) effect (maximum ΔT ~ 1.71 K with ΔS ~ - 0.22 J/(K kg) at 70 kV/cm)) is also obtained at x = 0.04. Phase transition (from ferroelectric to antiferroelectric and then to relaxor) induced by increasing the doping amount of LiNbO₃ plays a very key role on the optimization of these performances. These findings and breakthroughs make the LiNbO₃-doped BNT-BT ceramics very promising candidates as multifunctional materials.     

Self-supported Ni2P nanotubes coated with FeP nanoparticles electrocatalyst (FeP@Ni2P/NF) for oxygen evolution reaction

Bimetallic phosphides have been widely investigated as electrocatalysts for oxygen evolution reaction (OER) due to their efficient activity and environmental friendliness. While the reasonable design and controllable synthesis of bimetallic phosphide with typical nanostructure is still a great challenge. Hence, we put forward a novel and straightforward way for constructing FeP nanoparticles coated Ni₂P ultrathin nanotube arrays on the surface of Ni foil (FeP@Ni₂P/NF), which is synthesized through two steps of electrodeposition and subsequent in-situ phosphorization process. The obtained FeP@Ni₂P/NF shows excellent electrochemical activity for OER, and it only needs potential of 1.52 V vs. RHE to reach the current density of 50 mA cm⁻² in an alkaline media. The excellent electrocatalytic activity of FeP@Ni₂P/NF mainly benefits from: (i) the synergistic effect between FeP and Ni₂P promoting electron transfer; (ii) the formation of the unique 3D ultrathin nanotube arrays increasing the quantity of active sites and avoiding the agglomeration of catalysts during testing. In addition, the influence of reaction condition on the electrochemical activity for OER has also been investigated through altering the phosphorization temperature of precursor.