Silicon-silver dendritic nanostructures for the enhanced photoelectrochemical splitting of natural water

We report on the photoelectrochemical (PEC) splitting of natural water (pH 7) using silicon (Si) nanowires fitted with silver (Ag) dendrites (dendritic nanostructures) as working electrodes (photoanodes). A detailed study of the PEC water splitting process was carried out using linear sweep voltammetry, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and Mott-Schottky (M-S) measurements. The measured photocurrent density of 1.7 mA/cm² at an external voltage of ?0.6 V under white light illumination demonstrates the efficient decomposition of natural water using dendritic nanostructures as working electrodes. This decomposition is mainly attributed to a significant strengthening of the effective interface between working electrode surface/water and to a decline in the recombination of photoinduced carriers in the presence of Ag dendrites. We propose that the Schottky barrier between Si and Ag dendritic nanostructures favors enhanced photoinduced charge carrier separation. Photoinduced holes in Si are transferred to Ag dendrites (nano branches and leaves) that serve as a charge sink to effectively carry out the PEC oxidation of water. Photoinduced charge carrier separation enhancement was corroborated by the kinetics of our carrier recombination study. We obtained a reasonably long transient period of 80 s for the photoinduced carriers. EIS results show that the charge transfer resistance (150 Ω) of the dendritic nanostructure surface is low enough to promote interfacial charge transfer. This resistance generated a large carrier concentration of ～1.1 × 10²⁰ cm^?3 at the working electrode/water interface according to an M-S analysis. An applied bias-photon-to-current-conversion efficiency level of roughly 4% is reported, demonstrating the efficient PEC splitting of natural water.     

Fish-scale-like nano-porous membrane based on zeolite nanosheets for long stable zinc-based flow battery

Zinc-based flow batteries receive widespread attention due to their advantages of low cost and high energy density. However, zinc dendrites are easy to appear during the charge process, pierce the membrane and thus destroy the battery, which seriously restrict its further development. In this article, MFI-type zeolite nanosheets (ns-MFIs) with high mechanical strength and hydrophobicity are in situ introduced to porous polymer membranes, which spontaneously form turnup fish-scale-like structure through the one-step phase inversion/surface segregation process. This special structure well disperses mechanical energy to provide effective protection characteristics to resist the penetration of zinc dendrites, and meanwhile promotes the uniform zinc depositions on the electrode by alleviating the water migration and accelerating zincate ion diffusion, so as to prolong the cycle life of the battery for more than 600 cycles, which is 4 times and 2.5 times longer than the commercial Nafion 212 and pristine porous polymer membrane, respectively. Moreover, the sub-nano size pores and high-aspect-ratio of ns-MFIs afford membranes extra ion sieving ability and transport area for the charging-balancing ions OH⁻ to ensure superior battery performance, delivering an average coulombic efficiency (CE) of ~98.5%, voltage efficiency (VE) of ~83.2%, and energy efficiency (EE) of ~81.9% at 80 mA/cm².     

Rational Designs for Lithium-Sulfur Batteries with Low Electrolyte/Sulfur Ratio

Lithium-sulfur batteries (LSBs) are considered a promising next-generation energy storage device owing to their high theoretical energy density. However, their overall performance is limited by several critical issues such as lithium polysulfide (PS) shuttles, low sulfur utilization, and unstable Li metal anodes. Despite recent huge progress, the electrolyte/sulfur ratio (E/S) used is usually very high (≥20 µL mg⁻¹), which greatly reduces the practical energy density of devices. To push forward LSBs from the lab to the industry, considerable attention is devoted to reducing E/S while ensuring the electrochemical performance. To date, however, few reviews have comprehensively elucidated the possible strategies to achieve that purpose. In this review, recent advances in low E/S cathodes and anodes based on the issues resulting from low E/S and the corresponding solutions are summarized. These will be beneficial for a systematic understanding of the rational design ideas and research trends of low E/S LSBs. In particular, three strategies are proposed for cathodes: preventing PS formation/aggregation to avoid inadequate dissolution, designing multifunctional macroporous networks to address incomplete infiltration, and utilizing an imprison strategy to relieve the adsorption dependence on specific surface area. Finally, the challenges and future prospects for low E/S LSBs are discussed.     

轻压下枝晶变形及溶质分布的试验模拟研究

通过丁二腈-水合金试验类比研究了连铸过程中的轻压下工艺。水冷强度1.2、0.6、0.3mL/s下,分别研究了不同固相分数和不同变形量对枝晶变形及溶质再分布的影响,并用示踪剂进行示踪。结果表明：实施轻压下时,大部分柱状晶发生弯曲变形,不再继续生长,此时二次枝晶和部分等轴晶快速长大;在溶液凝固早期,会形成凝固中心上升,凝固前沿下沉的对流,对凝固前沿进行充分的溶质交换,当这种对流减弱之后才能进行有效的轻压下操作;变形量对溶质分布的影响比较复杂,在变形量逐渐增大的过程中,首先形成负偏析,经过一个偏析为零的阶段后再形成正偏析,且偏析越来越严重,并且位于压下区间不同的区域,影响程度不一样。试验结果对研究轻压下对偏析的改善机理有意义。     

Silver Stars: Silver–Polymer Composite Stars: Synthesis and Applications (Adv. Funct. Mater. 9/2011)

Colloidal “silver stars” were synthesized upon poly(lactic‐co‐glycolic) acid nanosphere templates via a facile two‐step silver reduction method. Myriad dendrimer‐like Ag star morphologies were synthesized by varying the amount of poly(vinyl alcohol) and trisodium citrate used during silver reduction. Scanning electron microscopy studies revealed that star‐shaped silver–polymer composites possessing nanoscopic, fractal morphologies with diameters ranging from 500 nm to 7 μm were produced. These composites have broad applications from antibacterial agents to catalysis; two such applications were tested here. Surface‐enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) studies showed multiple hot spots of SERS activity within a single star. Electrochemical catalysis experiments demonstrated the feasibility of using the silver stars instead of platinum for the oxygen reduction reaction in alkaline fuel cells.     

Size and Shape Effects for Gamma Prime in Alloy 738

Cast IN-738 and wrought Inconel 738 are generic applications for most metallurgical designers of gas turbine blades in the Power Generation Industry on a worldwide basis... Particularly, where first stage buckets are concerned. This is the case because both alloy types exhibit outstanding creep and stress rupture properties to provide an extended service period in a harsh environment. Typically, Alloy 738 is fired in the turbine at 1970 °F (1074 °C) which is about 0.9T _m where T _m represents the melting temperature... A very demanding service temperature, indeed. Furthermore, Alloy 738 is expected to endure this high temperature for a duration of 26,000 h at base load before being retired (R) or replaced (R′) or reused (R′′) issues are ever considered. When these three (3) problems (R-R′-R′′) are brought before a given Materials Review Board for appropriate debate, many pro and con arguments are always evident because (1) Gas turbine blades are not inexpensive and (2) The threat of field failures with possible product liability litigation is of maximum interest to all gas turbine repair shop personnel. The intent of this paper is show how gamma prime precipitate particles can be better examined and more efficiently evaluated using a new characterization method. This research is offered as a contribution to the sum of total knowledge.     

化学砂面及其生产应用

本文在大量实验的基础上,初步确认,采用 KC-1粗化液及KS-1砂面剂的化学砂面工艺,具有良好的生产工艺可行性。     

Microtomographic characterization of columnar Al–Cu dendrites for fluid flow and flow stress determination

During the twin roll casting of Al alloys, the interdendritic liquid may flow as the two solidification fronts are compressed together between the rolls. This can lead to defects such as centerline segregation. To understand the flow properties of the interdendritic liquid, samples of Al–12 wt.% Cu were solidified directionally in a Bridgman furnace and quenched to capture the growing columnar dendritic structures. The quenched samples were scanned using a laboratory X-ray microtomography (XMT) unit to obtain the 3D structure with a voxel resolution of 7.2 μm. Image analysis was used to separate the Al dendrite from the interdendritic Al–Al₂Cu eutectic. Flow between the dendrites was simulated by solving the Stokes equation to calculate the permeability tensor as a function of the fraction solid. The results were compared to prior experimental measurements and calculations using synchrotron tomography observations of equiaxed structures. Elasto–plastic finite element (FE) simulations were performed on the dendritic structures to determine flow stress behavior as a function of fraction solid. It was found that the standard approximations for the reduction in flow stress in the semi-solid have a variation in excess of 100% from that calculated using the true structure. Therefore, it is critical to simulate the actual dendrite for effective flow stress determination.