Effect of dimethylamino substituent on tetraphenylethylene-based hole transport material in perovskite solar cells

A N,N-dimethylamino substituted tetraphenylethylene derivative (TPE-NMe) was synthesized and characterized, and was successfully applied as hole transport material (HTM) in perovskite solar cells. The methoxy-substituted analogue TPE-4DPA was also studied for comparison. The effect of replacing the para-methoxy substituent with N,N-dimethylamino on photophysical properties, energy levels, and hole transport properties is investigated. Photovoltaic performances of the corresponding devices using the two HTMs are studied. Compared to the methoxy substituent, the N,N-dimethylamino groups in TPE-NMe generates a lower V_oc (0.87 V), yet it provides higher J_sc (21.69 mA/cm²) and FF (0.73) values, resulting in an overall power conversion efficiency of 13.78%.     

Graphene nanochains and nanoislands in the layers of room-temperature fluorinated graphite

Intercalated compound of graphite fluoride with n-heptane has been synthesized at room temperature using a multi-stage process including fluorination by a gaseous BrF₃ and a set of intercalant exchange reactions. It was found that composition of the compound is CF_0.40(C₇H₁₆)_0.04 and the guest molecules interact with the graphite fluoride layers through the van der Waals forces. Since the distance between the filled layers is 1.04 nm and the unfilled layers are separated by ∼0.60 nm, the obtained compound can be considered as a stack of the fluorinated graphenes. These fluorinated graphenes are large in area making it possible to study local destruction of the π conjugated system on the basal plane. It was shown that fluorine atoms form short chains, while non-fluorinated sp² carbon atoms are organized in very narrow ribbons and aromatic areas with a size smaller than 3 nm. These π electron nanochains and nanoislands preserved after the fluorination process are likely responsible for the value of the energy gap of the compound of ∼2.5 eV. Variation in the size and the shape of π electron regions within the fluorinated graphene layers could be a way for tuning the electronic and optical characteristics of the graphene-based materials.     

Ultrasensitive strain sensors made from metal-coated carbon nanofiller/epoxy composites

A set of resistance-type strain sensors has been fabricated from metal-coated carbon nanofiller (CNF)/epoxy composites. Two nanofillers, i.e., multi-walled carbon nanotubes and vapor growth carbon fibers (VGCFs) with nickel, copper and silver coatings were used. The ultrahigh strain sensitivity was observed in these novel sensors as compared to the sensors made from the CNFs without metal-coating, and conventional strain gauges. In terms of gauge factor, the sensor made of VGCFs with silver coating is estimated to be 155, which is around 80 times higher than that in a metal-foil strain gauge. The possible mechanism responsible for the high sensitivity and its dependence with the networks of the CNFs with and without metal-coating and the geometries of the CNFs were thoroughly investigated.     

Effect of highly dispersed sputtered silver nanoparticles on structural properties of multiwalled carbon nanotubes

A simple method to decorate mutliwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) with silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) to enhance the structural properties is reported in the present study. The Ag NPs of average size 9 nm were deposited uniformly on MWCNTs network by RF sputtering technique. X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy and Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) are used to compare the structural properties of Ag NPs sputtered nanotubes with those containing functionalized tubes. In addition, effect of these Ag NPs on the surface of nanotubes and optimization of the experimental parameter for uniform deposition of Ag NPs are also discussed.     

Improvement of the thermal behaviour of gypsum blocks by the incorporation of microcapsules containing PCMS obtained by suspension polymerization with an optimal core/coating mass ratio

The feasibility of incorporating microcapsules containing Phase Change Materials (PCMs), previously obtained by a suspension polymerization process, in gypsum wallboards to increase the wall energy storage capacity was studied. Firstly, the energy storage capacity of the resulting microcapsules and the microencapsulation efficiency was maximized by studying the influence of the synthesis variable core/coating mass ratio on the suspension polymerization process. Results indicate that the higher paraffin wax to styrene monomer mass ratio, the lower microencapsulation efficiency. A mass ratio of Rubitherm® RT27 to styrene monomer equal 1.5 allowed to obtain microcapsules with the highest energy storage capacity and a good microencapsulation efficiency. It was also observed that the energy storage capacity is dependent on the particle size; the maximum capacity was obtained for a particle size of 500 μm. Finally, the thermal behaviour of three gypsum wallboards one without PCMs and the others doped with 4.7% and 7.5% by weight of microcapsules containing Rubitherm® RT27 at the optimal core/coating mass ratio was studied. Results showed that the higher the amount of microcapsules containing PCMs incorporated to the gypsum wallboard, the lower or higher the external wall temperature for heating or cooling process, respectively. Besides, the incorporation of the microcapsules to the wall increased the time required to achieve the final steady state, verifying that the material insulation capacity was enhanced by increasing PCMs content in the wall.     

Thermal batteries with ceramic felt separators – Part 2: Ionic conductivity,electrochemical and mechanical properties

In this Part 2, the ionic conductivity of molten salt electrolytes, the electrochemical properties of single cells containing a ceramic separator infiltrated with an electrolyte, and the mechanical strength of the electrolyte layer are compared with those of the conventional pellet-pressed structure. The ionic conductivity for the molten electrolyte is higher than that of the previous report for both LiCl-KCl and LiF-LiCl-LiBr electrolytes, which is explained by the decrease in contact resistance using a graphite electrode instead of stainless steel. The electrochemical performance of the single cells containing a ceramic felt separator assembled with Li(Si)/FeS₂ electrodes shows longer operating time to a cut off voltage of 1.3 V compared to the conventional MgO-contained single cell. In addition, the flexural strength of the electrolyte layer with the ceramic felt separators is in the range of 2.80–6.29 kgf cm⁻², which is incomparable to that (=0.01 kgf cm⁻²) of the pellet-pressed conventional separator. These findings suggest that the ceramic felt separator can be an alternative to mitigate the current problems of pellet-pressed structure in thermal batteries, enhancing the mechanical strength and electrochemical properties.     

Corrosion inhibitor binding in an acidic medium: Interaction of 2-mercaptobenizmidazole with carbon-steel in hydrochloric acid

Mechanistic understanding of the functionality of organic corrosion inhibitors in acidic media is essential to knowledge-based performance optimization. In this study, we address a key issue hindering progress in this area, namely the chemical nature of the corrosion inhibitor/substrate interface. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) is employed to reveal the surface termination of carbon-steel, following immersion in 1 M hydrochloric acid inhibited with 2-mercaptobenzimidazole (MBI). Core level spectra indicate that the termination varies as a function of MBI concentration, with the interface consisting of MBI bound to film-free carbon-steel on highly inhibited substrates.     

Al/H62黄铜和Al/304不锈钢在乙二醇溶液中的电偶腐蚀

采用电化学方法研究了浓度、温度、阴阳极面积比的变化对乙二醇水溶液中3A21铝合金/H62黄铜(Al/Cu)、3A21铝合金/304不锈钢(Al/SS)两种电偶对的腐蚀行为的影响。通过扫描电子显微镜观察了电偶对中铝合金局部腐蚀形貌。结果表明:随着乙二醇浓度的升高,Al/Cu和Al/SS电偶对的平均电偶电流密度Ig下降。随着温度的升高或Sc/Sa比例的增大,Al/Cu和Al/SS电偶对的Ig增大;相同条件下,Al/Cu电偶对Ig均大于Al/SS电偶对,Al/Cu和Al/SS两种电偶对具有相似的电偶腐蚀规律。     

Fabrication of surface-treated BN/ETDS composites for enhanced thermal and mechanical properties

The ceramic/polymer composites based on epoxy-terminated dimethylsiloxane (ETDS) and boron nitride (BN) were prepared for use as thermal interface materials (TIMs). 250 µm-sized BN was used as a filler to achieve high-thermal-conductivity composites. To improve the interfacial adhesion between the BN particles and the ETDS matrix, the surface of BN particles were modified with silica via the sol–gel method with tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS). The interfacial adhesion properties of the composites were determined by the surface free energy of the particles using a contact angle test. The surface-modified BN/ETDS composites exhibited thermal conductivities ranging from 0.2 W/m K to 3.1 W/m K, exceeding those of raw BN/ETDS composites at the same weight fractions. Agari׳s model was used to analyze the measured thermal conductivity as a function of the SiO₂-BN concentration. Moreover, the storage modulus of the BN/ETDS composites was found to increase with surface modification of the BN particles.     

负偏压对多弧离子镀 TiN 涂层大颗粒形貌及像素分布的影响

目的分析不同负偏压下Ti N涂层表面的大颗粒数量、尺寸和面积以及像素分布,为多弧离子镀技术的工业化应用提供基础数据。方法采用多弧离子镀膜技术,以脉冲负偏压为变量,在硬质合金表面沉积Ti N涂层。用扫描电子显微镜对涂层表面形貌进行表征,并利用Image J软件对表面大颗粒的数量和尺寸进行分析,对像素分布进行统计。结果随着负偏压的增加,涂层表面大颗粒的数量先增多,后减少。负偏压为100 V时,大颗粒数量最多,为1364;负偏压为300 V时,大颗粒数量最少,为750。此外随着负偏压的增加,大颗粒所占涂层面积比逐渐减小。未加负偏压时,涂层表面大颗粒所占面积比最大,为6.9%,且此时涂层的力学性能最差;采用400 V负偏压时,涂层表面大颗粒所占面积比最小,为3.3%,且此时涂层的力学性能最好。负偏压为300 V时,亮、暗像素点的个数最多,为8302;负偏压为400 V时,亮、暗像素点的个数最少,为4067。结论当占空比为30%,沉积时间为1 h,负偏压为400 V时,获得的涂层力学性能最好,颗粒数量少且尺寸小。