SmPO4-coated Li1.2Mn0.54Ni0.13Co0.13O2 as a cathode material with enhanced cycling stability for lithium ion batteries

SmPO₄ coated Li_1.2Mn_0.54Ni_0.13Co_0.13O₂ cathode materials were prepared by the precipitation method and calcined at 450 °C. The crystal structures and electrochemical properties of the pristine and coated samples are studied by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, high resolution transmission electron microscopy, electron diffraction spectroscopy, galvanostatic cycling, cyclic voltammetry, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). It has been found that the electrochemical performances of the Li-rich cathode material have been substantially improved by SmPO₄ surface coating. Especially, the 2 wt% SmPO₄-coated sample demonstrates the best cycling performance, with capacity retention of 88.4% at 1 C rate after 100 cycles, which is much better than that of 72.3% in the pristine sample. The improved electrochemical properties have been ascribed to the SmPO₄ coating layer, which not only stabilizes the cathode structure by decreasing the loss of oxygen, but also protects the Li-rich cathode material from side reaction with the electrolyte and increases the Li⁺ migration rate at the cathode interface.     

Synthesis and photocatalytic properties of HTaWO6/(Pt,TiO2) and HTaWO6/(Pt,Fe2O3) nanocomposites

HTaWO₆/(Pt,TiO₂) and HTaWO₆/(Pt,Fe₂O₃) nanocomposites were synthesized by successive intercalation reactions of HTaWO₆ with [Pt(NH₃)₄]Cl₂ aqueous solution, n-C₃H₇NH₂/n-heptane mixed solution and acidic TiO₂ colloid solution or [Fe₃(CH₃CO₂)₇(OH)(H₂O)₂]NO₃ aqueous solution followed by UV light irradiation. The gallery heights of HTaWO₆/(Pt,TiO₂), HTaWO₆/TiO₂, HTaWO₆/(Pt,Fe₂O₃) and HTaWO₆/Fe₂O₃ was less than 0.51 nm. The host HTaWO₆ was white possessing band gap energy of 3.1 eV, whereas HTaWO₆/Pt, HTaWO₆/(Pt,TiO₂), HTaWO₆/Fe₂O₃ and HTaWO₆/(Pt,Fe₂O₃) were yellow and showed broad reflection over 400–600 nm together with that corresponding to the host layer. Photocatalytic activities of HTaWO₆/TiO₂ and HTaWO₆/Fe₂O₃ were superior to those of unsupported TiO₂ and Fe₂O₃ and were greatly enhanced by co-incorporation of Pt. HTaWO₆/Pt, HTaWO₆/(Pt,TiO₂), HTaWO₆/Fe₂O₃ and HTaWO₆/(Pt,Fe₂O₃) showed photocatalytic activity.     

The performance of green carbon as a backbone for hydrogen storage materials

We investigate the use of carbonized bamboo, which has an organic porous structure, as a hydrogen storage material. Bamboo samples were thermally treated at 800, 900, 1000, and 1100 °C for 24 h. The pore size and hydrogen storage capacity of each sample were measured by N₂ and H₂ gas sorption up to 1.13 bar at 77 K. The maximum hydrogen storage was exhibited by the sample treated at 900 °C, which reached 1.35 wt% at 1.13 bar/77 K. The results showed that the bamboo, one of the green carbons, has the potential to be used as an environmental-friendly carbon backbone for hybrid hydrogen storage materials.     

A novel hierarchical Bi2MoO6/Mn0.2Cd0.8S Heterostructured Nanocomposite for Efficient Visible-light hydrogen production

In this work, a series of Mn_xCd_1-xS solid solutions as efficient photocatalysts for hydrogen evolution with visible light response were synthesized via a co-precipitation method firstly. Then, the hierarchical Bi₂MoO₆/Mn_0.2Cd_0.8S heterostructured composite was prepared by combining Mn_0.2Cd_0.8S composite with Bi₂MoO₆ nanocrystalline through a hydrothermal process. The optimized Mn_0.2Cd_0.8S composite's photocatalytic activity is more than 3 times of pristine CdS and the prepared Bi₂MoO₆/Mn_0.2Cd_0.8S nanocomposites exhibited a significantly improved photocatalytic activity for hydrogen evolution from water with visible light response comparing with single Mn_0.2Cd_0.8S composite. The optimized photocatalytic activity of Bi₂MoO₆/Mn_0.2Cd_0.8S composite is around 10 times of pristine CdS. The excellent photocatalytic activity of Bi₂MoO₆/Mn_0.2Cd_0.8S composite might be ascribed to the well-matched energy band structures of the Bi₂MoO₆ and Mn_0.2Cd_0.8S. Furthermore, the heterojunctions in Bi₂MoO₆/Mn_0.2Cd_0.8S composite might also do some contributions to improve its photocatalytic activities to some extent. A possible photocatalytic mechanism was proposed. Due to its excellent photocatalytic activity and good stability for hydrogen evolution from water, the obtained hierarchical Bi₂MoO₆/Mn_0.2Cd_0.8S composite has potential application in photocatalytic hydrogen evolution from water by using solar power.     

In-situ formation of Ni (oxy)hydroxide on Ni foam as an efficient electrocatalyst for oxygen evolution reaction

A binder-free Ni (oxy)hydroxide on Ni foam was prepared through an in-situ electrochemical activation method. Ni (oxy)hydroxide is active for the oxygen evolution reaction. The Ni (oxy)hydroxide directly formed on the surface of Ni foam as a binder-free catalyst not only exhibited large electrochemically active area, but also displayed low interfacial electronic resistance and low charge transfer resistance. Therefore, the optimized Ni (oxy)hydroxide exhibits an overpotential of 288 and 370 mV at 10 and 500 mA cm⁻², respectively, in 1.0 M KOH for the oxygen evolution reaction, as well as favorable during 240 h at 100 mA cm⁻².     

Dirty money in clean systems

It is said that the laundering of the proceeds of crime is the third biggest industry by value worldwide. In the USA a survey stated that 90% of notes in circulation are tainted with narcotics. Governments all over the world are falling into line and drawing up legislation to control the movement of proceeds of crime. The EC (as it was) in 1991 accepted that it was not possible to control crime by targeting the criminal and that the only way of reducing crime seemed to be try to prevent criminals profiting from their labours. And of course, to profit, the criminal needs to spend money and, wherever money is spent, it sooner or later finds its way into the financial services industry through banking or investments.     

樟树叶提取液在硫酸介质中对碳钢的缓蚀作用

应用动电位极化法和电化学阻抗(EIS)研究了樟树叶提取液(CCLE)在硫酸介质中对碳钢的缓蚀性能和缓蚀机理. 结果表明, 采用酸浸泡法从樟树叶中提取的缓蚀剂, 对碳钢在10% H₂SO₄溶液中具有良好的缓蚀作用, 随着提取液浓度的增加, 缓蚀效率增大; 随着实验温度升高, 缓蚀效率减小. 樟树叶提取液为混合抑制型缓蚀剂, 提取液中的有效缓蚀成分在碳钢表面的吸附满足Langmuir等温吸附方程; 樟树叶提取液的加入使碳钢在硫酸中反应的表观活化能增加, 起到缓蚀作用.     

鲜白酒糟提取液对Q235钢硫酸酸洗的缓蚀性能

为了综合利用白酒糟和开发新型绿色酸洗缓蚀剂,制取了鲜白酒糟提取液,采用失重法和电化学法研究了其作为硫酸酸洗缓蚀剂的缓蚀性能。结果表明:15 g酒糟在300 mL 5%硫酸溶液中30℃静置浸泡6 h,得到的提取液在5%硫酸介质中对Q235钢的缓蚀率最高;酒糟提取液在Q235钢表面的吸附符合El-Awady动力学模型和Flory-Huggins吸附等温方程,属于几何覆盖效应的单分子层吸附,提取液为混合型缓蚀剂;放置时间延长时,提取液的缓蚀率降低。     

PTFE/Al反应多层膜的制备及力学性能

以铝(Al)为可燃物质,聚四氟乙烯(PTFE)为氧化剂,利用射频磁控溅射法制备了不同厚度,交替沉积的PTFE/Al反应多层膜。采用原子力显微镜(AFM)、X-射线衍射仪(XRD)研究了溅射功率对薄膜表面形貌的影响规律,得到了PTFE/Al反应多层膜适宜的制备工艺,利用纳米压痕仪研究了PTFE/Al反应多层膜的力学性能。结果表明,当射频溅射功率分别为50 W和150 W时,制得的PTFE薄膜和Al薄膜的平均粗糙度与均方根粗糙度均较低。当PTFE/Al反应多层膜总厚度约为300 nm时,与相同厚度的纯PTFE膜和纯Al膜相比,PTFE/Al反应多层膜具有较高的硬度和弹性模量,分别为5.8 GPa和120.0 GPa。