Fabrication and Thermal Dissipation Properties of Carbon Nanofibers Derived from Electrospun Poly(Amic Acid) Carboxylate Salt Nanofibers

Polyimides (PIs) possess excellent mechanical properties, thermal stability, and chemical resistance and can be converted to carbon materials by thermal carbonization. The preparation of carbon nanomaterials by carbonizing PI‐based nanomaterials, however, has been less studied. In this work, the fabrication of PI nanofibers is investigated using electrospinning and their transformation to carbon nanofibers. Poly(amic acid) carboxylate salts (PAASs) solutions are first electrospun to form PAAS nanofibers. After the imidization and carbonization processes, PI and carbon nanofibers can then be obtained, respectively. The Raman spectra reveal that the carbon nanofibers are partially graphitized by the carbonization process. The diameters of the PI nanofibers are observed to be smaller than those of the PAAS nanofibers because of the formation of the more densely packed structures after the imidization processes; the diameters of the carbon nanofibers remain similar to those of the PI nanofibers after the carbonization process. The thermal dissipation behaviors of the PI and carbon nanofibers are also examined. The infrared images indicate that the transfer rates of thermal energy for the carbon nanofibers are higher than those for the PI nanofibers, due to the better thermal conductivity of carbon caused by the covalent sp² bonding between carbon atoms.     

Making reusable reaction-bonded silicon nitride crucibles for silicon casting from kerf-loss silicon waste

Silicon kerf loss during wafer slicing and the broken quartz crucibles after silicon casting are two major solid wastes from photovoltaic (PV) industry. Especially, the recycle of kerf-loss silicon has become an urgent issue because near 100 000 t of solid wastes are generated every year. One of the most meaningful recycle routes of the kerf-loss silicon is to make silicon nitride crucibles to replace the quartz crucibles. In this study, we demonstrated how this is feasible through acid leaching refining, slip casting, and nitridation. The reaction-bonded silicon nitride (RBSN) crucibles after oxidation were found pure enough for silicon ingot growth. More importantly, they could be reused after ingot growth. With the present examples, the potential of using the kerf-loss silicon for fine ceramics is prominent.     

Crystallization of Li2O · Al2O3· 6SiO2 Glasses Containing Niobium Pentoxide as Nucleating Dopant

Niobium pentoxide (T form, orthorhombic system) was utilized to promote devitrification in Li₂O · Al₂O₃· 6SiO₂ glasses. Two or more mole percentage of this nucleating dopant enhanced crystallization in these glasses. Glasses containing 4.0 and 8.0 mol% T-Nb₂O₅ exhibited a high tendency to form dispersed TT-Nb₂O₅ (monoclinic system) precipitates during the glass quenching process. The crystallization process in glasses containing 2.0 or 4.0 mol% T-Nb₂O₅ occurred as microphase separation, followed by the formation of dispersed TT-Nb₂O₅ crystalline precipitates (760°C), followed by β-quartz solid-solution ( ss ) formation (850° to 900°C) heterogeneously nucleated from the precipitates. β-quartz( ss ) transformed to β-spodumene( ss ), along with a polymorphic transition from the TT-Nb₂O₅ to M-Nb₂O₅ (tetragonal system) crystalline phase.     

Evaluation of a novel approach to a delamination factor after drilling composite laminates using a core–saw drill

Drilling is the most commonly applied method for hole making of fiber-reinforced materials owing to the need for structure joining. Delamination is the most common defect during drilling because of the heterogeneity of both the fibers and the matrix. The delamination, in general, is an irregular shape and size, containing long and fine breaks and cracks at the exit of the drilled hole, especially in the drilling of carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic (CFRP). On the other hand, a core–saw drill is designed to reduce the threat of chip removal in drilling composite materials. Since the thrust force of core–saw drill is distributed toward the periphery, the core–saw drill allows a larger critical thrust force than the twist drill at the onset of delamination when drilling composite materials. The aim of this paper is to present a novel approach of the equivalent delamination factor (F _ed) to characterize drilling-induced delamination using a core–saw drill and compare it with the adjusted delamination factor (F _da) and the conventional delamination factor (F _a). The experimental results indicated that the F _ed obtained is considered suitable for characterizing delamination at the exit of a hole after drilling CFRP.     

Optimization of the dye-sensitized solar cell performance by mechanical compression

In this study, the P25 titanium dioxide (TiO₂) nanoparticle (NP) thin film was coated on the fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) glass substrate by a doctor blade method. The film then compressed mechanically to be the photoanode of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). Various compression pressures on TiO₂ NP film were tested to optimize the performance of DSSCs. The mechanical compression reduces TiO₂ inter-particle distance improving the electron transport efficiency. The UV–vis spectrophotometer and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) were employed to quantify the light-harvesting efficiency and the charge transport impedance at various interfaces in DSSC, respectively. The incident photon-to-current conversion efficiency was also monitored. The results show that when the DSSC fabricated by the TiO₂ NP thin film compressed at pressure of 279 kg/cm², the minimum resistance of 9.38 Ω at dye/TiO₂ NP/electrolyte interfaces, the maximum short-circuit photocurrent density of 15.11 mA/cm², and the photoelectric conversion efficiency of 5.94% were observed. Compared to the DSSC fabricated by the non-compression of TiO₂ NP thin film, the overall conversion efficiency is improved over 19.5%. The study proves that under suitable compression pressure the performance of DSSC can be optimized.     

The Preozonation of Phenolic Aqueous Solution and Its Effect on the Improvement of Coagulation Treatment

Phenolic solutions are difficult to treat with coagulation processes because phenol is well soluble in water. However, with suitable preozonation, the ozonized organic components can be removed more effectively by coagulation processes. In order to avoid excessive preozonation, a good control on the degree of preozonation is crucial for practical applications. The degree of preozonation of phenolic solution was evaluated by measuring the phenol decomposition rate, ADMI value and ozone outlet concentration during the ozonation. Three characteristic times were observed, namely (1) ADMI value reaches the peak value during preozonation, (2) the ozone outlet concentration starts increasing, and (3) the ADMI value reaches the discharge standard (500 value, EPA Taiwan). These characteristic times provide the useful means as real-time control parameters on the extent of preozonation. The results of HPLC and GPC show that phenol is almost completely decomposed after 43?min of preozonation. The major components after preozonation are oxalic acid and coupling compounds. The preozonized solution, containing phenol decomposition products, was then subjected to coagulation treatments. The coagulation behavior of preozonized solution is dependent on the extent of preozonation. Three types of coagulant were investigated, namely alum, ferric chloride (FeCl₃) and poly aluminum chloride (PAC). Both PAC and FeCl₃ are effective coagulants for COD removal. As an example, phenol solution (initial phenol concentration=300?mg/L, C _{O 3},i=20?mg/L) was preozonized for 50 minutes, followed by FeCl₃ coagulation treatment. After preozonation and coagulation processes, the total COD and ADMI removal rates are as high as 70% and 80%, respectively. Most of the coupling compounds and oxalic acid are removed by the coagulant.     

Effects of molecular weight and molecular structure of low profile additives on the properties of bulk molding compound (BMC)

The effects of molecular weight and molecular structure of styrene(St)‐based and vinyl acetate(VAc)‐based low‐profile additive (LPA) on the curing kinetics and compatibility of unsaturated polyester (UP)/LPA system and linear shrinkage, water absorption rate, surface gloss and pigmentability of bulk molding compound (BMC) were investigated. Results show that the curing reaction rate decreases with an increase of the molecular weight of LPA due to the chain entanglement effect. The plasticizing effect of LPA on the (UP) network was reduced with an increase of the molecular weight of LPA. Water absorption of BMC increases as the molecular weight of LPA increases, implying that more microvoids were formed inside the BMC, resulting a lower linear shrinkage rate, and worse pigmentability. However, good shrinkage control LPA does not necessarily lead to a smoother surface and better surface gloss. Furthermore, modified LPAs possess better compatibility with UP, the final curing conversion of UP is elevated, and both better shrinkage control and surface properties are also observed.     

Hydrogen treatment-improved uniform deposition of Ag nanoparticles on ZnO nanorod arrays and their visible-light photocatalytic and surface-enhanced Raman scattering properties

ZnO nanorod arrays were synthesized by chemical bath deposition. After heat treatment in hydrogen or air, Ag nanoparticles were deposited on ZnO nanorod arrays by photo-reduction method. The size of Ag nanoparticles as well as the surface morphology, structure, composition, and optical property of ZnO nanorod arrays before and after the deposition of Ag nanoparticles were characterized by SEM, XRD, EDS, and UV/VIS/NIR spectrophotometer. As compared to the samples with heat treatment in air or without heat treatment, the ZnO nanorod arrays after heat treatment in hydrogen allowed Ag nanoparticles to be deposited more uniformly, densely, and numerously. Also, they exhibited higher efficiency for the visible light-driven photocatalytic degradation of Rhodamine 6G (R6G) dye. The effects of the amount of Ag nanoparticles, initial dye concentration, and temperature on the photocatalytic degradation efficiency were investigated. Furthermore, they also exhibited better surface-enhanced Raman scattering property for the detection of R6G dyes.     

Optimization of the sputtering process parameters of GZO films using the Grey–Taguchi method

This paper examines the optimization of the process parameters of GZO films deposited on polyethylene terephthalate substrates by R.F. magnetron sputtering using the Taguchi method, aiming to obtain highly transparent and conductive films. The influences of the various sputtering factors (R.F. power, sputtering pressure, deposition time, substrate temperature and post-annealing temperature) on electrical resistivity and structural, morphological and optical transmittance of GZO films are analyzed. The electrical resistivity and the optical transmittance of GZO films were improved by post-annealing the substrate during the deposition process. Experimental results indicate the optimal process parameters in GZO films deposited on polyethylene terephthalate substrates can be determined effectively. The electrical resistivity of GZO films is decreased from 1.194 × 10⁻³ Ω cm to 8.627 × 10⁻⁴ Ω cm and the optical transmittance is increased from 86.148% to 90%, leading to multiple performance characteristics in deposition qualities through the Grey–Taguchi method.