Enhanced oxygen evolution reaction kinetics through biochar-based nickel-iron phosphides nanocages in water electrolysis for hydrogen production

Highly-efficient and stable non-noble metal electrocatalysts for overcoming the sluggish kinetics of oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is urgent for water electrolysis. Biomass-derived biochar has been considered as promising carbon material because of its advantages such as low-cost, renewable, simple preparation, rich structure, and easy to obtain heteroatom by in-situ doping. Herein, Ni₂P–Fe₂P bimetallic phosphide spherical nanocages encapsulated in N/P-doped pine needles biochar is prepared via a simple two-step pyrolysis method. Benefiting from the maximum synergistic effects of bimetallic phosphide and biochar, high conductivity of biochar encapsulation, highly exposed active sites of Ni₂P–Fe₂P spherical nanocages, rapid mass transfer in porous channels with large specific surface area, and the promotion in adsorption of reaction intermediates by high-level heteroatom doping, the (Ni_0.75Fe_0.25)₂P@NP/C demonstrates excellent OER activity with an overpotential of 250 mV and a Tafel slope of 48 mV/dec at 10 mA/cm² in 1 M KOH. Also it exhibits a long-term durability in 10 h electrolysis and its activity even improves during the electrocatalytic process. The present work provides a favorable strategy for the inexpensive synthesis of biochar-based transition metal electrocatalysts toward OER, and improves the water electrolysis for hydrogen production.     

南水北调中线总干渠藻类的生态调度

南水北调中线总干渠无在线调蓄水库,对藻类生态调度过程中出现的问题开展生态调度实现策略和实施方式研究。主要实现策略包括:划定自身的调蓄区,隔离生态调度对下游的影响;采用高效的渠池运行方式,减少生态调度时蓄量的反复调整;综合考虑安全、快速、平稳等需求,设定生态调度实施进程和方式。具体实施方式包括:将总干渠划分为流速调控区、调蓄区和正常运行区,分别实施等体积、控制蓄量和闸前常水位方式运行;将生态调度过程划分为充水阶段和泄水阶段,基于流速调控目标值、持续时长和水位降幅约束条件,确定各阶段时长和各分区的闸门群调控方案等。基于2018年3月输水工况,采用明渠一维非恒定流模型,仿真总干渠上游15个渠池的藻类生态调度过程。结果表明,生态调度可在3.5 d内完成,各渠池的平均流速由0.48 m/s增至0.93 m/s,持续时间超过2 h。在整个生态调度过程中,水位变化平稳,水位变幅符合安全阈值要求,下游渠道的正常运行未受生态调度明显影响。     

Investigation of liquid water heterogeneities in large area proton exchange membrane fuel cells using a Darcy two-phase flow model in a multiphysics code

Proper management of the liquid water and heat produced in proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells remains crucial to increase both its performance and durability. In this study, a two-phase flow and multicomponent model, called two-fluid model, is developed in the commercial COMSOL Multiphysics® software to investigate the liquid water heterogeneities in large area PEM fuel cells, considering the real flow fields in the bipolar plate. A macroscopic pseudo-3D multi-layers approach has been chosen and generalized Darcy's relation is used both in the membrane-electrode assembly (MEA) and in the channel. The model considers two-phase flow and gas convection and diffusion coupled with electrochemistry and water transport through the membrane. The numerical results are compared to one-fluid model results and liquid water measurements obtained by neutron imaging for several operating conditions. Finally, according to the good agreement between the two-fluid and experimentation results, the numerical water distribution is examined in each component of the cell, exhibiting very heterogeneous water thickness over the cell surface.     

Experimental investigation on the heat and water transfer enhancement in a membrane-based air-to-air humidifier at insulation condition

In the present study, a membrane-based air-to-air planar humidifier (MAPH) with baffle-blocked flow channels and a common MAPH are fabricated, tested and compared. These MAPHs are well thermal insulated from their surroundings. Polyoxymethylene (POM) plates with some unique properties such as large tensile and flexural strength, high chemical resistance and high stiffness are used to create channels at dry and humid sides of MAPHs. The obtained findings revealed that the higher heat and water transfer rates and smaller dew point approach temperature (DPAT) in entire tested flow rates occurs in baffle-blocked MAPH. To evaluate the MAPH performance with considering the pressure drop, a dimensionless parameter, performance evaluation criteria (PEC), is introduced. At flow rates less than 1 m³/h, PEC is less than 1, indicating a decline in MAPH performance with considering the pressure drop. In baffle-blocked MAPH using water trap in the inlet of dry side leads to the performance deterioration. Additionally, the increased relative humidity (RH) of humid side inlet causes an increase in DPAT, consequently, the performance deterioration.     

Novel proton-conducting layered perovskite based on BaLaInO4 with two different cations in B-sublattice: Synthesis,hydration, ionic (O2−, H+) conductivity

The present study focused on the novel material with significantly improved properties for the application in the area of clean energy. The new complex oxide BaLaIn_0·5Y_0·5O₄ with layered perovskite structure was obtained for the first time. It was proved that the introduction of Y³⁺ ions in the perovskite layer of BaLaInO₄ leads i) to the rise of the oxygen-ionic conductivity due to the increase in mobility of oxygen ions as a result of the expand of the cell volume and ii) to the enhancement of protonic conductivity due to the increase in the proton concentration and mobility. The sample BaLaIn_0·5Y_0·5O₄ is nearly pure proton conductor below 400 °C and has the protonic conductivity value 1.6?10^?5 S/cm at this temperature.     

Wavelength-dependent photoactivity of ZnxCd1−xS and ZnCo2O4/ZnxCd1−xS for H2 and H2O2 production

Zinc cadmium sulfide (Zn_xCd_1?xS) is a good photocatalyst for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), but an optimum x (x_m) at which a maximum HER rate is reached varies from one report to another. In this work, we examine the effect of light wavelength, not only for the HER to H₂ in the presence of Na₂S and Na₂SO₃, but also for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) without addition of any sacrifices. For the HER under a 365 and 420 nm LED lamp, the x_m were 0.9 and 0.7, respectively. For the HER under a 330 and 395–515 nm cut-off xenon lamp, the x_m were 0.7 and 0.5, respectively. For the ORR under a 420 nm cut-off halogen lamp, a maximum production of H₂O₂ was observed at x = 0.3. Furthermore, after 4% ZnCo₂O₄ loading, Zn_xCd_1?xS had an increased activity and stability, either for the HER or for the ORR. Through a (photo)electrochemical measurement, it is proposed that the photocatalytic activity of Zn_xCd_1?xS is determined by its light absorptivity and electron reactivity. The improved performance of n-type Zn_xCd_1?xS by p-type ZnCo₂O₄ is due to formation of a p-n junction, promoting the HER (ORR) on Zn_xCd_1?xS, and the sulfide (water) oxidation on ZnCo₂O₄. This work highlights that Zn_xCd_1-xS is a promising photocatalyst for H₂ and H₂O₂ production, respectively.     

Influence of polymer enhancement on water uptake,retention and barrier performance of geosynthetic clay liners

This paper explores the influence of polymer enhancement on water uptake and retention by geosynthetic clay liners (GCLs) across a wide suction range (up to 10⁶ kPa), including the low suction regime (0.1–10 kPa) typically omitted in past studies. The suction measurement methods used enabled elucidation of water uptake and retention behaviour through the framework of GCL pore structures and their corresponding suction regimes. Polymer enhanced GCLs (PE-GCLs) have high maximum water uptake, and both the water entry and air expulsion values tend to be high. Due to high swelling, the onset of geotextile confinement for PE-GCLs was observed at high suctions. The impact of polymer becomes more apparent when the bentonite achieves a pseudo-two-layer interlayer hydration state at a suction of about 40 MPa (RH = 75%). The hydration mechanism for the polymer fraction in bentonite is unique to the specific polymer type, polymer dosage, and manufacturing process. The water retention behaviour at the low suction range is caused by the in-filling of geotextile pores, bentonite swelling and extrusion, and polymer water adsorption. Insights from this study can form the basis for developing a more suitable bimodal generalised model for fitting the water retention curves of GCLs.     

Enhancement of a global lake and reservoir database to aid climate studies and resource monitoring utilizing satellite radar altimetry

Here, we describe the expansion and enhancement of a large (surface area ≥100 km²) lake and reservoir database (1.GREALD). These efforts have also resulted in the spin-off of two additional databases, one containing lakes and reservoirs (2.GREALD, area 10–99 km²), and the other containing ephemeral lakes (3.GELD, area ≥100 km²). These databases are unique sources for projects that utilize satellite radar altimeter data to monitor surface water levels. While 1.GREALD aims to be a complete catalog, 2.GREALD focuses on reservoirs in response to applied sciences programs that monitor water and energy resources. The creation of 3.GELD has climate change objectives as well as water resources and ecosystem conservation applications. The recording of information pertaining to the potential overpasses (waterbody crossings) of the current and archive satellite altimeters is a primary objective as is the need to highlight any form of controlled water level variation. The permanent water databases now contain 6282 entries, half experience some form of anthropogenic influence and ～430 have been identified as potential climatically sensitive terminal lakes. The revised integral surface area distribution is a power law with exponent ?1.016. Statistics reveal that with altimetric repeat visit times of 10-day to monthly, at least 80% of the permanent water bodies (≥10 km²) have been overflown at some period since the 1990s. Current information on water use and reservoir formation date show that the primary use of the reservoir class is hydroelectric power, and that China, Brazil, India, Turkey, and Vietnam dominate the dam building in recent decades.     

江西省水系连通及水美乡村建设试点县实施方案编制存在的问题及对策

为提高水系连通及水美乡村建设试点县实施方案编制质量，更好地参加全国竞争性立项，本文分析研究了江西省55个水系连通及水美乡村建设试点县实施方案和相应的专家评审意见，对实施方案编制过程中存在的符合性、完整性不够，实施范围情况调查不准等七个方面突出问题进行梳理剖析，并提出相应对策，可为实施方案编制提供参考。     

Synthesis,microstructures, and corrosion behaviors of multi-components rare-earth silicates

Multi-components and equimolar rare earth monosilicates, (Y_1/3Dy_1/3Er_1/3)₂SiO₅, (Y_1/3Dy_1/3Lu_1/3)₂SiO₅, (Y_1/4Dy_1/4Ho_1/4Er_1/4)₂SiO₅ and (Yb_1/4Dy_1/4Ho_1/4Er_1/4)₂SiO₅, were prepared by solid-state reactions and the following hot-pressing. Dense microstructures with uniform elemental distributions were obtained for all samples. These investigated multi-components monosilicates exhibit low thermal conductivities and similar coefficients of thermal expansion with SiC. Moreover, they exhibit high corrosion resistances in 1400 °C water vapor, especially, four-components (Y_1/4Dy_1/4Ho_1/4Er_1/4)₂SiO₅ and (Yb_1/4Dy_1/4Ho_1/4Er_1/4)₂SiO₅ experienced almost invariable weights after small weight losses during the initial 0.5 h. All those results indicate that multi-components rare earth monosilicates are promising candidates of environmental barrier coatings for SiC/SiC composites.