Role and prospects of green quantum dots in photoelectrochemical hydrogen generation: A review

Eco-friendly quantum dots (QDs) can be termed green QDs which stand as an attractive choice to modify the properties of known semiconductors in the direction of getting efficient photoelectrodes for solar-induced photoelectrochemical (PEC) splitting of water, due to their peculiar properties. Thus, it is of high significance to analyze their merit/demerit as an effective scaffold in PEC cell. QDs are known for their excellent optical properties however, the coupling of green QDs with semiconductor is not only useful in improving absorption characteristics but also promotes charge transfer. This review has undertaken the critical analysis on the worldwide research going on the green QDs modified photoelectrode with respect to their optical, electrical & photoelectrochemical properties, role, usefulness, efficiency, and finally the success in PEC system for hydrogen production. Various methods on the facile synthesis & sensitization techniques of green QDs available in the literature have also been discussed. Further, recent advances on the development of green QDs based photo-electrode, along with major challenges of using green QDs in this field have also been presented.     

Photoelectronic and transport properties of polypyrrole doped with a dianionic dye

Polypyrrole (PPy) doped with dodecylsulfate (DS) and an organic dye (indigo carmine, IC) was electrochemically prepared and characterized by Raman spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The photoelectrochemical properties of PPy-DS and PPy-DS-IC in contact with an electrolytic solution containing a redox couple were studied using the theories for the semiconductor ∣ electrolyte interface. Results indicate that the system containing IC presents a higher photocurrent density under polychromatic illumination and faster response time when compared with PPy-DS. This fact was assigned to the formation of molecular-scale paths in PPy-DS-IC. The IC molecules lying perpendicularly between PPy chains, as confirmed by the X-ray analysis, could facilitate the mass transport at the interface and increase the ordering degree to provide better electronic charge transfer in the bulk. Although the photoelectrochemical devices presented here do not present all the properties of inorganic-based devices, we discuss some strategies to enhance the photoelectrochemical properties and response time of conducting polymers used in these type of systems.     

Influence of groove type on welding-induced residual stress,deformation and width of sensitization region in a SUS304 steel butt welded joint

To join a medium or thick plate weldment with a full penetration, a groove is usually prepared in the space between two sections of metal. Because weld metal needs to be deposited within the groove to form the joint, it is expected that different groove type will require different heat input, which may consequently have influence on welding residual stress and deformation. Generally, different groove corresponds to different bead layout, so it can be foreseen that the groove type has a significant effect on temperature history, shape and size of heat affected zone, and region of sensitization in certain alloys such as austenitic stainless steel. The influences of groove type on residual stress, angular distortion and width of sensitization region in a SUS304 butt-welded joint were investigated by means of numerical simulation and experiment. Based on ABAQUS code, a computational approach with considering thermo-mechanical coupling behaviors, moving heat source, strain hardening and annealing effect was developed to simulate temperature profile, stress field and deformation in multi-pass joint. Welding temperature cycles, residual stress distributions and deformations in V, K and X groove joints were calculated through using the proposed computational procedure. Meanwhile, experiments were carried out to obtain residual stress distributions and angular distortions. Through comparing the numerical results and the measured data, the effectiveness and accuracy of the developed computational approach were verified. The simulation results show that groove type has a significant influence on welding residual stress distribution, angular distortion and width of sensitization region.     

Evaluation of sensitization in stainless steel 304 and 304L using nonlinear Rayleigh waves

Austenitic stainless steels have a wide range of applications in the energy industry, but the corrosion resistance of these stainless steels can be reduced by sensitization, particularly in the heat affected zones in welds. Sensitization is the formation of chromium carbide precipitates along the grain boundaries, causing the formation of a zone of chromium depletion around the grain boundary. Since chromium is the primary alloying element that makes stainless steel corrosion resistant, this chromium depleted zone is susceptible to intergranular stress corrosion cracking (IGSCC). Sensitization occurs when a stainless steel is exposed to a high temperature for an extended time period, such as during welding. The objective of this research is to determine the sensitivity of nonlinear ultrasound to the presence of sensitization by using nonlinear Rayleigh waves to quantitatively track the sensitization of 304 and 304L stainless steels as a function of holding time at 675 °C. The effect of the carbon content of the alloys (304 versus 304L) to the sensitization process and the measured nonlinearity parameter, β are investigated. Annealing of these specimens isolates the effect of just sensitization, removing the presence of cold work which can also affect the material nonlinearity. Complementary electrochemical potentiodynamic reactivation (EPR) measurements and microscopy are used to confirm the absence or presence of sensitization. The results show that the acoustic nonlinearity parameter is sensitive to the presence of chromium carbide precipitates in sensitized austenitic stainless steels.     

Visible photocatalytic activity and photoelectrochemical behavior of TiO2 nanoparticles modified with metal porphyrins containing hydroxyl group

TiO₂ nanoparticles modified with 5-(p-hydroxylphenyl)-10,15,20-triphenylporphyrin (HTPP), 5-(p-hydroxylphenyl)-10,15,20-triphenylporphyrin zinc (ZnHTPP) and trans-dichloro-5-(p-hydroxylphenyl)-10,15,20-triphenylporphyrin tin (SnHTPP) were prepared in order to improve the visible photocatalytic activity of TiO₂ nanoparticles. The photocatalytic activity of the modified TiO₂ nanoparticles was investigated by carrying out the photodegradation of methyl orange in aqueous solution under visible light irradiation. The TiO₂ nanoparticles modified with SnHTPP show the highest visible photocatalytic activity with a degradation ratio of 86% of methyl orange after 180 min irradiation among three catalysts. This result indicates that the central metal ions in porphyrins can significantly influence the sensitization efficiency of porphyrins. In addition, the photoelectrochemical behavior of the modified TiO₂ nanoparticles was examined and related to their photocatalytic activity. Finally, the photocatalytic mechanism was discussed preliminarily.     

硫铵装置中的加热器腐蚀原因

某装置中的316L不锈钢制加热器在运转不久即在管口局部区域发生严重腐蚀.经对加热器进行宏观检验和理化分析,认为该腐蚀是由于加热器在制造中引起了局部材料敏化而使耐蚀性能下降所致.提出了改进建议.     

Characterization of microstructural changes in an Al-6.8 wt.% Mg alloy by electrical resistivity measurements

Microstructural changes in an AlMg6.8 alloy after different thermo mechanical (TMT) and sensitization treatments were investigated by electrical resistivity measurements. The electrical resistivity was most affected by the content of Mg solute atoms in the α-Al matrix, due to β-phase precipitation, while contribution of the dislocation density to the resistivity of the AlMg6.8 alloy was less pronounced. The amount and distribution of the β-phase precipitated during sensitization were found to be strongly affected by the microstructure developed under the previously applied TMTs, i.e. by the dislocation density and the primary β-phase particles in the dual (α + β) phase structure. During sensitization of the specimens with a recovered/recrystallized dual (α + β) phase structure, precipitation of randomly distributed, globular β-phase particles occurred. Sensitization of cold deformed and recrystallized single α-Al structures induced β-phase precipitation in the form of a continuous layer along the shear bands/grain boundaries.     

Organic–inorganic hybrid composites for photovoltaics: Organic guest molecules embedded in μc-Si and ZnSe host matrices

The concept of organic–inorganic hybrid composites for bulk sensitization of inorganic semiconductors by organic dye molecules is introduced. The idea is either to increase the absorptivity of e.g. indirect semiconductors as μc-Si or to expand in a two-step process the absorption spectrum of wide gap semiconductors to photons of energy smaller than the band gap. The composites are prepared by vacuum-based codeposition. Raman and optical spectroscopy, and photoemission have been used to prove the stability of the organic molecules ZnPc and F₁₆ZnPc for the applied growth conditions. Enhancement of photoconductivity has been shown for ZnPc–Si bilayer. As a crucial parameter for the transfer of excited charges, the alignment of dye HOMO–LUMO states versus semiconductor band edges has been determined using photoelectron spectroscopy.     

A photoelectrochemical solar cell based on ZnO/dye/polypyrrole film electrode as photoanode

Nanostructured ZnO film electrodes were prepared. A preliminary PEC solar cell based on nanostructured Zno/dye/polypyrrole (PPy) film electrode was fabricated. A fill factor of 0.754 and a high overall light to electricity conversion efficiency of 1.3% for this PEC solar cell were obtained. The sensitization mechanisms of the nanostructured ZnO electrodes were also discussed.     

照相稳定剂583对扁平卤化银乳剂微晶的增感作用

应用双注仪制备了单分散六边形扁平溴碘化银乳剂微晶，研究了照相稳定剂５８３对乳剂照相性能和电性质的影响。结果表明：５８３对Ｓ＋Ａｕ增感的扁平溴碘化银乳剂微晶有明显的增感作用，而对未经化学增感的乳剂没有增感作用。从５８３对离子过程、电子的复合和捕获过程的影响进一步研究了其增感机理。