High performance of a solid-state flexible asymmetric supercapacitor based on graphene films

Solid-state flexible energy storage devices hold the key to realizing portable and flexible electronic devices. Achieving fully flexible energy storage devices requires that all of the essential components (i.e., electrodes, separator, and electrolyte) with specific electrochemical and interfacial properties are integrated into a single solid-state and mechanically flexible unit. In this study, we describe the fabrication of solid-state flexible asymmetric supercapacitors based on an ionic liquid functionalized-chemically modified graphene (IL-CMG) film (as the negative electrode) and a hydrous RuO(2)-IL-CMG composite film (as the positive electrode), separated with polyvinyl alcohol-H(2)SO(4) electrolyte. The highly ordered macroscopic layer structures of these films arising through direct flow self-assembly make them simultaneously excellent electrical conductors and mechanical supports, allowing them to serve as flexible electrodes and current collectors in supercapacitor devices. Our asymmetric supercapacitors have been optimized with a maximum cell voltage up to 1.8 V and deliver a high energy density (19.7 W h kg(-1)) and power density (6.8 kW g(-1)), higher than those of symmetric supercapacitors based on IL-CMG films. They can operate even under an extremely high rate of 10 A g(-1) with 79.4% retention of specific capacitance. Their superior flexibility and cycling stability are evident in their good performance stability over 2000 cycles under harsh mechanical conditions including twisted and bent states. These solid-state flexible asymmetric supercapacitors with their simple cell configuration could offer new design and fabrication opportunities for flexible energy storage devices that can combine high energy and power densities, high rate capability, and long-term cycling stability.     

The Effect of Copper Loading on the Selective Catalytic Reduction of Nitric Oxide by Ammonia Over Cu-SSZ-13

Abstract  

The effect of Cu loading on the selective catalytic reduction of NO_x by NH₃ was examined over a series of Cu ion-exchanged (20–80%) SSZ-13 zeolite catalysts. High NO reduction efficiencies (80–95%) were obtained over all catalyst samples between 250 and 500 °C, and at the gas hourly space velocity of 200,000 h⁻¹. Both NO reduction and NH₃ oxidation activities under these conditions were found to increase slightly with increasing Cu loading at low temperatures. However, NO reduction activity was suppressed with increasing Cu loadings at high temperatures (>500 °C) due to excess NH₃ oxidation. The optimum Cu ion exchange level appears to be ~40–60% since higher than 80% NO reduction efficiency was obtained over 50% Cu ion-exchanged SSZ-13 up to 600 °C. The NO oxidation activity of Cu-SSZ-13 was found to be low regardless of Cu loading, although it was somewhat improved with increasing Cu ion exchange level at high temperatures. During the “fast” SCR (i.e., NO/NO₂ = 1), only a slight improvement in NO_x reduction activity was obtained for Cu-SSZ-13. Regardless of Cu loading, near 100% selectivity to N₂ was observed; only a very small amount of N₂O was produced even in the presence of NO₂. The apparent activation energies for NO oxidation and NO SCR were estimated to be ~58 and ~41 kJ/mol, respectively.     

Effect of oxidation states of Mn in Ca<Subscript>1−<Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>Li<Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>MnO<Subscript>3</Subscript> on chemical-looping combustion reactions

We investigated the effect of the oxidation state of Mn in CaMnO₃ perovskite particles to improve their oxygen transfer performance for chemical-looping combustion (CLC). Li was introduced in the Ca site of CaMnO₃ to increase the Mn oxidation state. Ca_1?x Li _x MnO₃ particles were synthesized by the solid-state method, and the amount of Li added ranged from 0 to 0.015 mol. The structure of the synthesized Ca_1?x Li _x MnO₃ particles was examined using XRD, and all particles were confirmed to have a CaMnO₃ perovskite structure. The shape and chemical properties of the prepared particles were characterized by using SEM and CH₄-TPD. The binding energy and oxidation state of the different elements in the Ca_1?x Li _x MnO₃ particles were measured by XPS. When Li was added, the oxidation state of Mn in Ca_1?x Li _x MnO₃ was higher than that of Mn in CaMnO₃. The oxygen transfer performance of the particles was determined by an isothermal H₂-N₂/air and CH₄-CO₂/air redox cycle at 850 °C, repeated ten times, using TGA. All particles showed an oxygen transfer capacity of about 8.0 to 9.0 wt%. Among them, Ca_0.99Li_0.01MnO₃ particles had the best performance and the oxygen transfer capacity under H₂-N₂/air and CH₄-CO₂/air atmosphere was 8.47 and 8.75 wt%, respectively.     

A prioritization method for replacement of water mains using rank aggregation

Pipe breaks in municipal water distribution networks may cause serious damage economically and socially. Existing methods for replacement scheduling of pipes do not provide practical indicators for replacing an individual deteriorated pipe. This work formulates the selection problem as the decision of preference ordering or ranking and proposes a bipartite ranking-based approach. The suggested approach also considers loss from broken pipes in terms of the costs associated with broken water main and its repair. We use rank aggregation method to integrate multiple ranks into replacement order of water mains. The suggested framework prioritizes current pipe sections for replacement based on the aggregated ranks. Multiple ranks given by the reliability of water pipe sections are aggregated and a cost effective policy for pipe replacement is derived.     

A reaction kinetic study of CO<Subscript>2</Subscript> gasification of petroleum coke,coals and mixture

Characteristics of Char-CO₂ gasification were compared in the temperature range of 1,100–1,400 °C using a thermogravimetric analyzer (TGA) for petroleum coke, coal chars and mixed fuels (Petroleum coke/coal ratios: 0, 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, 1). The results showed that reaction time decreased with increasing gasification temperature, BET surface area and alkali index of coal. Mixed fuels composed of petroleum coke/coal exhibited reduced activation energies. Modified volumetric reaction model and shrinking core model might be suitably matched with experimental data depending on coal type and petroleum coke/coal ratio. Rate equations were suggested by selecting gas-solid reaction rate models for each sample that could simulate CO₂ gasification behavior.     

Analysis and estimation of yield strength of API X80 linepipe steel pipe by low-cycle fatigue tests

In the present study, spiral piping was conducted on API X80 linepipe steel, and the outer and inner wall pipe yield strengths were measured. A low-cycle fatigue test was conducted on a leveled X80 steel sheet to simulate piping and flattening processes, and the strain hardening and Bauschinger effects, induced from different strain histories, were evaluated and combined using Swift??s equation and the Bauschinger stress parameter, respectively. By analyzing the stress-strain curves obtained from the low-cycle fatigue test, the yield strengths of the outer and inner walls were estimated to be 592 MPa and 492 MPa, respectively, which are lower by 20?C80 MPa than that of the actual pipe used. Possible reasons for measured and estimated yield strength differences could be the simulation determining procedure of the pre-strain and Bauschinger stress parameters, preposition of same strain hardening behavior depending on strain history, and pre-strain differences depending on thickness location in the steel sheet during piping.     

Wear Resistance of the La<Subscript>62</Subscript>Cu<Subscript>12</Subscript>Ni<Subscript>12</Subscript>Al<Subscript>14</Subscript> Bulk Metallic Glass Under Dry Friction Conditions

The wear properties of a La₆₂Cu₁₂Ni₁₂Al₁₄ bulk metallic glass (BMG) using sliding wear system under the various normal loads and the annealing conditions have been investigated. Although the La₆₂Cu₁₂Ni₁₂Al₁₄ BMG is brittle during the tensile testing, it exhibits ductile behaviors during the sliding wear process. The SEM and the EDS analyses of the wear tracks and the debris after the sliding wear processes indicate that the wear mechanism is a combination of abrasion, adhesion, and oxidation. It is found that the wear resistance is significantly affected by the normal loads. With the increases in the wear load, the wear loss and the friction coefficient decrease. In addition, it is found that the wear properties are significantly affected by the annealing conditions. Compared with the annealed BMG alloys, the as-cast BMG alloy with a low hardness exhibits good wear resistance, which is attributed to the better ductility during the wear testing.     

Frequency response of continuous-flow adsorber for multicomponent system

In this paper, we present a theoretical analysis of the frequency response of a continuous-flow adsorber with periodic modulation of the inlet flow-rate to measure multicomponent diffusion kinetics in porous media. Micropore diffusion kinetics is assumed for the intraparticle mass transfer mechanism and three different shapes of microparticle are considered: slab, cylinder, and sphere. Simulation results for a binary system show that the frequency response of the faster diffusing component is strongly influenced by the slower component. The out-of-phase characteristic function of the frequency response of the faster diffusing component shows maximum and minimum points. The deviation between these maximum and minimum values becomes smaller when the cross-terms of diffusivity go to zero, while the deviation becomes larger when the cross-terms of the adsorption equilibrium constant go to zero. Contrary to the behaviour of the out-of-phase function of the faster diffusing component, the out-of-phase function of the slower diffusing component shows no extrema at all. The in-phase characteristic function of the frequency response of the continuous-flow adsorber is not affected by the overflow parameter.     

Functionalization of fullerene nanowhiskers using pyrenebutanoic acid, succinimidyl ester in an aqueous solution

The functionalization of fullerene nanowhiskers was accomplished by non-covalent π-π interaction using pyrenebutanoic acid, succinimidyl ester to immobilize target molecules on the nanowhiskers. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and fluorescence microscopy proved that the fullerene nanowhiskers were functionalized without damaging the nanostructure.     

Effect of preparation method on structure and catalytic activity of Cr-promoted Cu catalyst in glycerol hydrogenolysis

Relationships between surface structure and catalytic properties were investigated for a series of copper chromium catalysts. The catalysts were prepared using methods involving impregnation and precipitation, and their catalytic activities were evaluated for the hydrogenolysis of glycerol. Catalyst (10I and 50I) prepared by the impregnation method contained a mixed phase of both individual copper and chromium oxide structures, while the catalyst (50P) prepared by precipitation showed a single phase, with a copper chromite spinel structure (CuCr₂O₄). XPS data indicated that, after the reduction step, the copper species in the impregnated catalyst was reduced to Cu⁰, but the catalyst prepared by the precipitation method retained a spinel structure evidenced by the large amount of Cu²⁺ species. In hydrogenolysis reactions, the precipitated catalyst showed a higher catalytic activity than the impregnated catalyst. Thus, the reduced copper chromite spinel structure, which constitutes a single phase, appears to be responsible for the high catalytic activity in the hydrogenolysis of glycerol to propylene glycol.