Modifying the photocatalytic property of ZnO-based photoelectrodes by introducing MgFe2O4 nanoparticles

Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Electronics - Limited light absorption and acute charge recombination on the surface of ZnO nanostructure-based photoelectrodes are the basic challenges...     

On the dependence of interfacial resistance on contact materials between cathode and interconnect in solid oxide fuel cells

The dependence of interfacial contact resistance (ICR) on contact materials between cathode and interconnect is systematically studied under both isothermal oxidation and thermal cycling conditions. Three kinds of cathode current-collecting layer (CCCL) are used, (La,Sr) (Co,Fe)O₃ (LSCF), LSCF+10%Ag, and Ag, and tested in a SUS430/CCCL/SUS430 sandwich structure to simulate the actual operation of the solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs). Experimental results show that the ICR of LSCF+10%Ag exhibits the smallest value, in comparison with the specimens with LSCF and Ag paste, as well as the sample without a CCCL. For LSCF+10%Ag contact, the ICR increases from 0.0069 mΩ cm² to 3.74 mΩ cm² under an isothermal condition for 150 h, then increases from 3.74 mΩ cm² to 10.79 mΩ cm² after 15 thermal cycles. This work provides information for the understanding of possible mechanisms of performance degradation of SOFCs.     

Interfacial interactions and properties of cellular structured polyurethane nanocomposite based on carbonaceous nano-fillers

In this article, we have studied the effect of carbonaceous nanofillers viz. fullerenol (0D), carboxylated multi-wall carbon nanotube (MWCNT, 1D), hydroxylated graphene (2D) and combination of carboxylated CNT and hydroxylated graphene as 3D in thermoplastic polyurethane on the tensile properties of the fabricated cellular structures. The concentration of nano-fillers was varied as 0.1, 1, and 5 wt%. Tensile properties of the nanocomposite cellular structures were measured as per ASTM D882 at 20°C (below glass transition temperature, T_g) and 40°C (above T_g). The results have shown that the tensile strength was found to increase by 200%–300% and the tensile modulus was found to increase by 150%–300% for 2D and 3D nano-fillers while significantly poor results were observed for 0D. However, the test data tensile strength and modulus showed marginal increase at 20°C and marginally low at 40°C for 1D filler. The interfacial adhesion was calculated by using experimental tensile data and the predictive models. The interfacial adhesion parameter (B_σ) calculated using Pukanszky equation was found significantly higher value for 2D (B_σ20 = 195.8) and 3D (B_σ20 = 192.0) fillers while poor adhesion was observed for 0D (B_σ20 = −81.6) fillers. The developed cellular structured materials were also evaluated by attenuated total reflection Fourier transform IR spectra, differential scanning calorimetry, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscope, and transmission electron microscope.     

Nonmonotonic Coupled Dissolution-Precipitation Reactions at the Mineral–Water Interface

Dissolution is inherent to fluid-mineral systems. Yet its impact on minerals reacting with electrolytes is overlooked. Here, a novel nonmonotonic behavior for the surface interactions of carbonates (calcite and Mg-calcite) with organic acids is reported. Applying a bioinspired approach, Mg-calcite sensors via amorphous precursors, avoiding any preconditioning with functional groups are synthesized. A quartz crystal microbalance is used to study the mass changes of the mineral on contact with organic acids under varying ionic conditions, temperatures, and flow velocities. Supported by confocal Raman microscopy and potentiometric titrations, nonmonotonous mass developments are found as a function of Ca²⁺ concentration and flowrate, and attributed to three coupled chemical reactions: i) carbonate dissolution via Ca²⁺ ion complexation with organic molecules, and the formation of organo-calcium compounds as ii) a surface phase at the mineral–water interface, and iii) particles in the bulk fluid. These processes depend on local ion contents and the precipitation onset (i.e., saturation index) of organo-calcium salts, both of which substantially differ in the bulk fluid and in the fluid boundary layer at mineral interfaces. This continuum between dissolution and precipitation provides a conceptual framework to address reactions at mineral interfacial across disciplines including biomineralization, ocean acidification and reservoir geochemistry.     

Solar thermal modelling of a building with a roof pond and ventilation control systems

The paper proposes and presents thermal modelling of a ventilation-controlled, non-air-conditioned building with evaporative cooling (e.g. open water pond) over the roof for passive solar air conditioning. The ventilation rate, expressed in terms of number of air changes per hour, is assumed to be time-dependent, as should be the case in normal practice. A self-consistent periodic heat transfer analysis for a non-air-conditioned building with roof cooling and ventilation control systems, furnishing (assumed isothermal mass), windows, door and basement ground heat storage effects has been developed to assess the feasibility of the proposed passive space air-conditioning. It is shown that for no-ventilation summer nights the inside air temperature remains higher than the ambient air temperature even with an effective roof cooling system, and hence the windows should be opened to lose the internal heat and to introduce cool and fresh outside air. It is found that for a ventilation-controlled building with a roof pond the passive solar air conditioning can be achieved more effectively.     

Heat transfer analysis of receiver for large aperture parabolic trough solar collector

Parabolic trough solar collector (PTSC) is one of the most proven technologies for large‐scale solar thermal power generation. Currently, the cost of power generation from PTSC is expensive as compared with conventional power generation. The capital/power generation cost can be reduced by increasing aperture sizes of the collector. However, increase in aperture of the collector leads to higher heat flux on the absorber surface and results in higher thermal gradient. Hence, the analysis of heat distribution from the absorber to heat transfer fluid (HTF) and within the absorber is essential to identify the possibilities of failure of the receiver. In this article, extensive heat transfer analysis (HTA) of the receiver is performed for various aperture diameter of a PTSC using commercially available computational fluid dynamics (CFD) software ANSYS Fluent 19.0. The numerical simulations of the receiver are performed to analyze the temperature distribution around the circumference of the absorber tube as well as along the length of tube, the rate of heat transfer from the absorber tube to the HTF, and heat losses from the receiver for various geometric and operating conditions such as collector aperture diameter, mass flow rate, heat loss coefficient (HLC), HTF, and its inlet temperature. It is observed that temperature gradient around the circumference of the absorber and heat losses from the receiver increases with collector aperture. The temperature gradient around the circumference of the absorber tube wall at 2 m length from the inlet are observed as 11, 37, 48, 74, and 129 K, respectively, for 2.5‐, 5‐, 5.77‐, 7.5‐, and 10‐m aperture diameter of PTSC at mass flow rate of 1.25 kg/s and inlet temperature of 300 K for therminol oil as HTF. To minimize the thermal gradient around the absorber circumference, HTFs with better heat transfer characteristics are explored such as molten salt, liquid sodium, and NaK78. Liquid sodium offers a significant reduction in temperature gradient as compared of other HTFs for all the aperture sizes of the collector. It is found that the temperature gradient around the circumference of the absorber tube wall at a length of 2 m is reduced to 4, 8, 10, 13, and 18 K, respectively, for the above‐mentioned mass flow rate with liquid sodium as HTF. The analyses are also performed for different HTF inlet temperature in order to study the behavior of the receiver. Based on the HTA, it is desired to have larger aperture parabolic trough collector to generate higher temperature from the solar field and reduce the capital cost. To achieve higher temperature and better performance of the receiver, HTF with good thermophysical properties may be preferable to minimize the heat losses and thermal gradient around the circumference of the absorber tube.     

IoT Based Multimode Sensing Platform for Underground Coal Mines

Wireless Personal Communications - Real-time information of the underground environment plays a vital role for underground coal mines. For this purpose, a number of systems have been developed by...