Highly Active,Durable Ultrathin MoTe2 Layers for the Electroreduction of CO2 to CH4

The electroreduction of CO₂ to CH₄ is a highly desirable, challenging research topic. In this study, an electrocatalytic system comprising ultrathin MoTe₂ layers and an ionic liquid electrolyte for the reduction of CO₂ to methane is reported, efficiently affording methane with a faradaic efficiency of 83 ± 3% (similar to the best Cu‐based catalysts reported thus far) and a durable activity of greater than 45 h at a relatively high current density of 25.6 mA cm^?2 (?1.0 V_RHE). The results obtained can facilitate research on the design of other transition‐metal dichalcogenide electrocatalysts for the reduction of CO₂ to valuable fuels.     

Solid-state electrochemical CO2 gas sensors based on sodium ionic conductors

The sensing characteristics of a solid-state electrochemical CO₂ gas sensor, expressed as PtO₂, Na₂O Na ionic conductor Na₂CO₃CO₂, O₂Pt were investigated in terms of a two-electron electrochemical reaction. The number of electrons for the cell reaction was higher than 2 and approached 2 with an increase in the operating temperature up to about 500 °C. The introduction of water vapour induced a lowering of the e.m.f. and a prolongation of the response time. The formation of sodium oxides in the Na₂CO₃ layer was considered as a possible cause of these water effects. The sensing characteristics recovered completely after the water vapour was cutoff. The e.m.f. reduction due to water sorption was depressed by using a densified Na₃Zr₂Si₂PO₁₂. A densified Na₃Zr₂Si₂PO₁₂-based electrolyte is preferable for use as a gas sensor with a fast response and high stability for detection of CO₂ in air.     

Effect of annealing on the structural and electrical properties of In2Te3

Amorphous In2Te3 was prepared in both bulk form, by quenching the molten material, and thin-film form, by the thermal evaporation technique. X-ray diffraction analysis showed that the prepared samples in bulk and as-deposited thin-film forms were in the amorphous state. - and -phases of In2Te3 were prepared by annealing bulk samples at 615 and 813 K, respectively. Films annealed at 573 K give -phase polycrystalline structure. The electrical conductivity for the as-deposited In2Te3 films increases with increasing film thickness. The conduction activation energy, E, of the as-prepared bulk and thin film samples were found to be 0.516 and 0.521 eV. The corresponding values of room-temperature electrical conductivity, RT, for these samples are 1.1×10-6 and 7.15×10-7-1m-1, respectively. The observed change in the value of RT may be due to the difference in the structure of bulk and thin-film samples. The increase of E with annealing temperature for both bulk and thin-film samples is interpreted in terms of the density of states model proposed by Mott and Davis. © 1998 Chapman & Hall     

A methyl parathion electrochemical sensor based on Nano-TiO2, graphene composite film modified electrode

A methyl parathion electrochemical sensor based on nano-TiO₂ and graphene composite film modified glassy carbon electrode has been developed. The electrochemical behavior of MP at the sensor was investigated by cyclic voltammetry and linear sweep voltammetry. Scanning electron microscopy was used to characterize the surface morphology of nano-TiO₂ and graphene composite film. Compared with a bare glassy carbon electrode or a mono-film modified electrode, the redox peak currents of methyl parathion on the composite film modified electrode improved greatly, indicating that the sensor showed good catalytic effects. The optimal experimental condition was obtained. The results indicated that the linear sweep voltammetry responses of methyl parathion, in pH 5.2 acetate buffer solution with open-circuit accumulation for 2 min, were linear with concentrations of methyl parathion in two ranges of 0.002～5 μM and 5～100 μM. The linear equations were i_Pc(μA) = 0.0136 + 4.965c_MP(μM) (R₁² = 0.9911) and i_Pc(μA) = 21.87 + 0.8206c_MP(μM) (R₂² = 0.9914), respectively. The detection limit was 1.0 nM (S/N = 3). The sensor exhibited high sensitivity and good reproducibility as well as certain anti-interference ability. It was applied to the determination of residual MP in fresh apple sample with the recovery of 92%～102%. The result was satisfactory.     

An electrochemical sensor based on V2O5 nanoparticles for the detection of ciprofloxacin

This research constructed and utilized a screen-printed electrode (SPE) modified with V₂O₅ nanoparticles (NPs) (V₂O₅/SPE) employed in order to sensitively and selectively quantify ciprofloxacin with exceptional accuracy in the phosphate buffer solution (PBS) with the use of differential pulse voltammetry (DPV). Moreover, electrochemical properties of this new V₂O₅/SPE sensor have been examined using diverse characterization procedures. Very good V₂O₅/SPE electrochemical features offered sensitive ciprofloxacin voltammetric determination with the reduced limit of detection (LOD?=?0.01 µM) toward electrocatalytic oxidation of ciprofloxacin in comparison with the bare SPE. Finally, this new disposable sensor exhibited higher sensitivity and thus has been efficiently utilized to determine ciprofloxacin in the real samples.

     

Phosphate recovery through struvite precipitation by CO2 removal: effect of magnesium, phosphate and ammonium concentrations

In the present study, the precipitation of struvite (MgNH(4)PO(4)·6H(2)O) using the CO(2) degasification technique is investigated. The precipitation of struvite was done from supersaturated solutions in which precipitation was induced by the increase of the solution supersaturation concomitant with the removal of dissolved carbon dioxide. The effect of magnesium, phosphate and ammonium concentrations on the kinetics and the efficiency of struvite precipitation was measured monitoring the respective concentrations in solution. In all cases struvite precipitated exclusively and the solid was characterized by powder XRD and FTIR. The morphology of the precipitated crystals was examined by scanning electronic microscopy and it was found that it exhibited the typical prismatic pattern of the struvite crystals with sizes in the range between 100 and 300 μm. The increase of magnesium concentration in the supersaturated solutions, resulted for all phosphate concentration tested, in significantly higher phosphate removal efficiency. Moreover, it is interesting to note that in this case the adhesion of the suspended struvite crystals to the reactor walls was reduced suggesting changes in the particle characteristics. The increase of phosphate concentration in the supersaturated solutions, for the magnesium concentrations tested resulted to the reduction of struvite suppression which reached complete suppression of the precipitate formation. Excess of ammonium in solution was found favour struvite precipitation. Contrary to the results found with increasing the magnesium concentration in solution, higher ammonium concentrations resulted to higher adhesion of the precipitated crystallites to the reactor walls. The results of the present work showed that it is possible to recover phosphorus in the form of struvite from wastewater reducing water pollution and at the same time saving valuable resources.     

Compact sensor for measuring two-dimensional tilt using a two-dimensional transmission grating and the Talbot effect

This paper proposes a tilt sensor that measures the small two-dimensional tilt of a plane reflective object using the Talbot effect. It is an extension of a previously proposed one-dimensional tilt sensor. The light beam reflected from the object impinges on a hexagonal grating, and the intensity of the diffracted wave is detected on an image sensor located at a Talbot distance from the grating. The diffraction intensity displaces due to the tilt of the object. The displacement is calculated by the Fourier transform method to obtain the two-dimensional tilt. This sensor is very simple and compact. The principle of the sensor is explained for a grating with a general pattern. An experiment using a hexagonal grating shows its validity. Discussions are given for making it more practical.     

The effect of fast annealing treatment on the interface structure and electrical properties of Au/Hg3In2Te6 contact

The effect of fast annealing treatment on the electrical properties and interface structures of Au/Hg₃In₂Te₆ contact has been studied by means of current–voltage test and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy. The current–voltage characteristics of Au/Hg₃In₂Te₆ indicate an improvement of the Schottky barrier height (SBH) from 0.557 to 0.601 eV after proper annealing treatment. Meanwhile, the orthorhombic AuTe₂ particles with irregular morphology formed near the interface region after 200 °C annealing treatment. These particles were generated by chemical reaction between Au and Te atoms rather than the phase transformation process. Two types of crystallographic orientation relationship were confirmed between AuTe₂ particles and the Hg₃In₂Te₆ matrix owing to the orientation attachment mechanism. Based on the results, it is believed that the formation of the AuTe₂ phase is likely to introduce additional energy level in Hg₃In₂Te₆, leading to the upward of band bending and increment of SBH.     

The effect of the interlayer element on the exfoliation of layered Mo2AC (A = Al,Si, P,Ga, Ge,As or In) MAX phases into two-dimensional Mo2C nanosheets

The experimental exfoliation of layered, ternary transition-metal carbide and nitride compounds, known as MAX phases, into two-dimensional (2D) nanosheets, is a great development in the synthesis of novel low-dimensional inorganic systems. Among the MAX phases, Mo-containing ones might be considered as the source for obtaining Mo₂C nanosheets with potentially unique properties, if they could be exfoliated. Here, by using a set of first-principles calculations, we discuss the effect of the interlayer ‘A’ element on the exfoliation of Mo₂AC (A = Al, Si, P, Ga, Ge, As or In) MAX phases into the 2D Mo₂C nanosheets. Based on the calculated exfoliation energies and the elastic constants, we propose that Mo₂InC with the lowest exfoliation energy and the highest elastic constant anisotropy between C₁₁ and C₃₃ might be a suitable compound for exfoliation into 2D Mo₂C nanosheets.     

An electrochemical sensor based on the human estrogen receptor ligand binding domain

Three different conformations of the ligand binding domain of the human estrogen receptor (ER-LBD) are observed for the native state when binding an agonist and when binding an antagonist. By conjugating ER-LBD conformation specific peptides to CdS nanoparticles, the three different states can be identified by anodic stripping voltammetry. This electrochemical sensor can detect and distinguish the binding of different ligands to the human estrogen receptor.     

CO2 laser-grooved long period fiber grating temperature sensor system based on intensity modulation

A long period fiber grating (LPFG) temperature sensor system based on intensity modulation is developed. The LPFG employed is fabricated by the use of a focused CO2 laser beam to carve periodic grooves on the fiber. The temperature measurement resolution of up to 0.1 degrees C has been obtained within the temperature range between 20 degrees C and 100 degrees C. The system uses a simple intensity measurement method and exhibits the advantages of convenient intensity measurement, double temperature sensitivity, high resolution, simple configuration, and low cost.     

传感器阵列的CO与H_2S混合气体检测系统设计与试验

采用气体传感器单敏感性和多敏感性相结合的交叉方法,基于传感器阵列和人工神经网络模式识别技术,设计了一种CO与H2S混合气体检测系统.该系统以AT89C51单片机芯片作为控制核心,优选MQ135,MQ136和TGS2602构成气体传感器阵列,通过RS232串行通信接口实现单片机与上位机通信连接,利用改进的BP神经网络算法进行模式识别,完成了CO和H2S混合气体浓度的检测试验.结果表明,BP神经网络训练误差均在0.01范围内,识别率达到95%,验证了检测系统设计的正确性和可行性,为气体检测传感器的进一步研究开发提供了基础.     

二维投影式光学传感器轴类零件测量研究

针对各种轴类零件的测量问题,提出一种二维投影式光学测量方案。利用二维投影式光学传感器发射的平行LED光照射到物体表面,在物体后方形成与待测物体等大小的阴影。传感器使用二维CMOS对阴影进行捕捉后对其进行图像处理,得到测量数据,并对测量数据进行分析,得出测量结论。对试验的待测件进行测量后与其标准值进行对比,最大误差在0.01 mm以内,最大重复性在0.02 mm以内,判断准确率达99.8%,同时检测单个待测件用时少于10 s。该方法能够实现多尺寸同时测量,有效提高轴类零件测量速度,再配合机械手与传动机构,实现生产现场非接触在线测量,同时有效防止测量过程损伤零件。     

基于塞贝克效应的半导体气敏传感器的研制

利用塞贝克效应研制成功ZnO半导体气敏传感器。这种新型传感器能够输出0-100mV的直流电压,对于信号的放大与处理将十分方便。在实验中对20×10-6NO2气体进行检测,结果表明:传感器的输出电压(温差电动势),随着待测气体浓度而变化。因此,利用温差电效应制作气敏传感器是一条完全可行的新思路。