Aramid pulp treated with imidazolium ionic liquids as a filler in rigid polyurethane bio-foams

This article reports an aramid pulp (AP) treated with two ionic liquids (IL), namely 1-n-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride (C₄.Cl) and 1-carboxymethyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride (HO₂C), and its use as a filler in reinforced rigid polyurethane foams (RPUF). The RPUF were incorporated with the treated AP at three weight fractions (c.a. 0.1, 0.5, and 1.0 wt%) and were produced by the free rising method. The results showed that the studied IL promoted a better interaction between the AP and the RPUF system, which increased the overall reactivity, imparting a higher cell anisotropy. This also yielded a positive effect in mechanical properties and thermal stability of the RPUF. Compared to the neat RPUF, outstanding increases of approximately 50 and 20% were achieved in compressive modulus and strength, respectively. In all, the use of IL promoted increased compatibility between matrix and reinforcement, especially that HO₂C IL.     

Ionic liquid modified graphene oxide for enhanced flame retardancy and mechanical properties of epoxy resin

In this work, to improve its dispersion and flame retardancy, graphene oxide (GO) was functionalized by silane coupling agent KH550 and 1-butyl-3-methylimidazole hexafluorophosphate (PF₆-ILs), and characteristics of the PF₆-ILs@GO was obtained by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Then, the synergistic flame retardant of GO or PF₆-ILs@GO and melamine pyrophosphate (MPP) were applied for epoxy resin (EP) materials. Specifically, the limiting oxygen index (LOI) value of EP with 0.1 wt% PF₆-ILs@GO was increased to 29.2% from 27.5% of EP/MPP composites, and the UL-94 test reached the V-0 rating. The CCT results showed that the total heat release (THR) and total smoke release (TSP) of EP/MPP/PF₆-ILs@GO composites were significantly 24.4% and 53.4% lower than that of EP/MPP composites. Besides, the thermal behavior investigated by TGA indicated that the char-forming effect of GO and PF₆-ILs@GO was great, the residual char of EP/MPP/PF₆-ILs@GO composites was as high as 19.5% at 700°C, and its thermal stability was higher than that of EP/MPP composites. On the other hand, the tensile strength of EP/MPP/GO and EP/MPP/PF₆-ILs@GO composites were increased by 15.6% and 28.3% compared with EP/MPP composites. According to SEM analysis, the EP/MPP/GO composites formed a good protective char layer, which can effectively improve flame retardancy of EP. This research represents a new method of flame retardant modified GO to improve the flame retardancy and mechanical properties of polymers.     

Development of sodium hybrid quasi-solid electrolytes based on porous NASICON and ionic liquids

Lithium-ion batteries are currently the alternative of choice to overcome the increasing demand of energy. However, besides the scarcity of lithium and limited geolocation, it is believed that such batteries have already reached their maximum maturity. Sodium batteries emerge as an alternative to produce the new, so called, post-lithium batteries. In this study, we explore (i) the effect of sodium content and sintering temperature in solid electrolytes based in NASICON-type compounds and (ii) the use of two methodologies to obtain porous NASICON samples: application of natural substances and organic materials as pore-formers and freeze casting. The main purpose is the attainment of hybrid quasi-solid state electrolytes, with enhanced room temperature conductivity, based on porous ceramic electrolyte layers infiltrated with ionic liquids. Using this approach, porous samples with different microstructure and porous morphology and distribution were achieved, providing an enhancement in conductivity (ranging from 0.45 to 0.96 mS cm⁻¹ at 30 °C) of one order of magnitude for infiltrated samples respect to pore-free samples. According to these results the porous NASICON might be considered as a functional macroporous inorganic separator that can act as a Na⁺ reservoir.     

Simulation of a liquid-liquid floating interface

The planar interface between two simple liquids interacting with 6-12 LJ potentials was simulated by molecular dynamics at a low temperature. The peculiar physical picture. the new breathing mode, the 2 x 2 matrix of the structure factorsS(k l, and the interfacial dynamic structure factor Slk. ), are reported.Paper presented at the Twelfth Symposium on Thermophysical Properties, June 19–24, 1994, Boulder, Colorado, U.S.A.     

Metal-Organic Framework Thin Films Grown on Functionalized Graphene as Solid-State Ion-Gated FETs

The unique properties of 2D-materials like graphene are exploited in various electronic devices. In sensor applications, graphene shows a very high sensitivity, but only a low specificity. This shortcoming can be mastered by using heterostructures, where graphene is combined with materials exhibiting high analyte selectivities. Herein, this study demonstrates the precise deposition of nanoporous metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) on graphene, yielding bilayers with excellent specificity while the sensitivity remains large. The key for the successful layer-by-layer deposition of the MOF films (SURMOFs) is the use of planar polyaromatic anchors. Then, the MOF pores are loaded with ionic liquid (IL). For functioning sensor devices, the IL@MOF films are grown on graphene field-effect transistors (GFETs). Adding a top-gate electrode yields an ion-gated GFET. Analysis of the transistor characteristics reveals a clear Dirac point at low gate voltages, good on-off ratios, and decent charge mobilities and densities in the graphene channel. The GFET-sensor reveals a strong and selective response. Compared to other ion-gated-FET devices, the IL@MOF material is relatively hard, allowing the manufacturing of ultrathin devices. The new MOF-anchoring strategy offers a novel approach generally applicable for the functionalization of 2D-materials, where MOF/2D-material hetero-bilayers carry a huge potential for a wide variety of applications.     

An Intrinsically Nonflammable Electrolyte for Prominent-Safety Lithium Metal Batteries with High Energy Density and Cycling Stability

Nex-generation high-energy-density storage battery, assembled with lithium (Li)-metal anode and nickel-rich cathode, puts forward urgent demand for advanced electrolytes that simultaneously possess high security, wide electrochemical window, and good compatibility with electrode materials. Herein an intrinsically nonflammable electrolyte is designed by using 1 M lithium difluoro(oxalato)borate (LiDFOB) in triethyl phosphate (TEP) and N-methyl-N-propyl-pyrrolidinium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide [Pyr₁₃][TFSI] ionic liquid (IL) solvents. The introduction of IL can bring plentiful organic cations and anions, which provides a cation shielding effect and regulates the Li⁺ solvation structure with plentiful Li⁺-DFOB⁻ and Li⁺-TFSI⁻ complexes. The unique Li⁺ solvation structure can induce stable anion-derived electrolyte/electrode interphases, which effectively inhibit Li dendrite growth and suppress side reactions between TEP and electrodes. Therefore, the LiNi_0.9Co_0.05Mn_0.05O₂ (NCM90)/Li coin cell with this electrolyte can deliver stable cycling even under 4.5 V and 60 °C. Moreover, a Li-metal battery with thick NCM90 cathode (≈ 15 mg cm⁻²) and thin Li-metal anode (≈ 50 µm) (N/P ≈ 3), also reveals stable cycling performance under 4.4 V. And a 2.2 Ah NCM90/Li pouch cell can simultaneously possess prominent safety with stably passing the nail penetration test, and high gravimetric energy density of 470 Wh kg⁻¹ at 4.4 V.     

An improved correlation for the calculation of liquid thermal conductivity

Eighteen correlations appearing in the literature for the prediction of thermal conductivity, , of liquids are critically analyzed, and their reliability is checked using coherent input data and selected experimental values. The best results are obtained using the Reid, Sherwood, and Prausnitz correlation with a mean deviation of about 8% between predicted and experimental values. An improved correlation is proposed starting from the Viswanath equation, chosen because of its simplicity and convenience. The values of thermal conductivity obtained by this new correlation agree with the experimental values within 1%.     

离子液体[C_6mim]Br中TiO_2气凝胶的制备

以钛酸四丁酯为前驱体,离子液体[C6mim]Br为催化剂及模板剂,在低温、常压条件下制备了TiO2气凝胶。利用扫描电子显微镜(SEM)、X射线衍射(XRD)及N2吸附/脱附法对结构进行了分析。结果表明,TiO2气凝胶为锐钛矿晶体结构,平均孔径为9.7nm,比表面积为264.3m2/g,孔体积为0.513cm3/g。以活性蓝为模拟污染物,紫外汞灯为光源,研究了TiO2气凝胶的光催化活性。结果表明,TiO2气凝胶具有优于P25的光催化活性。