FexCo1−x-doped titanium oxide nanotubes as effective photocatalysts for hydrogen extraction from ammonium phosphate

Theoretically, tri-ammonium phosphate (NH₄)₃PO₄ embeds considerable amount of hydrogen. Typically, the expected hydrogen release from this cheap and stable material is 73.83 mmol/g_salt if a proper catalyst is exploited in the hydrolysis reaction. In this study Fe_xCo_1?x-doped titanium oxide nanotubes are introduced as an efficient photocatalyst under solar radiation. The introduced modified titanium oxide nanotubes have been prepared in two successive steps. First, Na-doped TiO₂ nanotubes were synthesized by hydrothermal treatment in presence of 10 N NaOH solution at 160 °C for 16 h. Then, doping by the proposed metals was carried out by ion exchange process in a microwave oven. X-ray photoelectron microscopy (XPS) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) confirmed the success of the doping process and the nanotubular morphology, respectively. Study the photo characteristics indicated that the proposed metal doping shifted the band gap from UV to the visible light region as the estimated band gap energies for the as-prepared and doped nanotubes were 3.4 and 2.1 eV, respectively. Moreover, distinct enhancement for the visible light absorption capacity was observed. Accordingly, a distinguished improvement in the photocatalytic activity toward tri-ammonium phosphate hydrolysis was observed. However, the two metals content has a strong influence on the amount of the obtained hydrogen per gram of tri-ammonium phosphate salt. Numerically, the maximum obtained hydrogen was 4.0, 11.2, 11.2, 11.6, 13.4, 16.5, 17.4, 13.4 and 9.8 mmol/g_salt for the pristine TiO₂, and Fe_xCo_1?x-doped TiO₂ with x = 1, 0.8, 0.6, 0.5, 0.4, 0.3, 0.2, and 0.0, respectively.     

HYDRIDE4MOBILITY: An EU HORIZON 2020 project on hydrogen powered fuel cell utility vehicles using metal hydrides in hydrogen storage and refuelling systems

The goal of the EU Horizon 2020 RISE project 778307 “Hydrogen fuelled utility vehicles and their support systems utilising metal hydrides” (HYDRIDE4MOBILITY), is in addressing critical issues towards a commercial implementation of hydrogen powered forklifts using metal hydride (MH) based hydrogen storage and PEM fuel cells, together with the systems for their refuelling at industrial customers facilities. For these applications, high specific weight of the metallic hydrides has an added value, as it allows counterbalancing of a vehicle with no extra cost. Improving the rates of H₂ charge/discharge in MH on the materials and system level, simplification of the design and reducing the system cost, together with improvement of the efficiency of system “MH store-FC”, is in the focus of this work as a joint effort of consortium uniting academic teams and industrial partners from two EU and associated countries Member States (Norway, Germany, Croatia), and two partner countries (South Africa and Indonesia).The work within the project is focused on the validation of various efficient and cost-competitive solutions including (i) advanced MH materials for hydrogen storage and compression, (ii) advanced MH containers characterised by improved charge-discharge dynamic performance and ability to be mass produced, (iii) integrated hydrogen storage and compression/refuelling systems which are developed and tested together with PEM fuel cells during the collaborative efforts of the consortium.This article gives an overview of HYDRIDE4MOBILITY project focused on the results generated during its first phase (2017–2019).     

Catalytic mechanism of TiO2 quantum dots on the de/re-hydrogenation characteristics of magnesium hydride

In the present study, the catalyst anatase titanium dioxide (TiO₂) quantum dots (QDs) of size ∼ (2.50–4.00)nm was successfully synthesized by the hydrothermal method. The formation of TiO₂: QDs has been established by UV–Vis spectroscopy and confirmed by transmission electron microscopy. Here, we report the catalytic action of TiO₂:QDs on de/re-hydrogenation properties of magnesium hydride (MgH₂/Mg). By catalyzing MgH₂ through this catalyst, the onset desorption temperature of MgH₂ gets reduced significantly from ∼360 °C (for ball-milled MgH₂) to ∼260 °C. Moreover, the Mg-TiO₂: QDs sample absorbed a significant amount of hydrogen up to ∼6.10 wt% in just 77sec at 280 °C. Improved rehydrogenation kinetics has been found even at lower temperatures by absorbing ∼5.30 wt% in 74 s at 225 °C and ∼5.0 wt% of hydrogen in 30 min at 100 °C. Based on structural,.microstructural, and XPS investigations, a feasible mechanism for improved hydrogen sorption and cyclic stability in MgH₂ catalyzed with TiO₂:QDs has been explained and discussed. To our knowledge, no studies have been carried out on the sorption of hydrogen in MgH₂ catalyzed by TiO₂:QDs.     

Role of oxygen vacancies on the energy storage performance of battery-type NiO electrodes

In this study, the influence of the surface oxygen vacancies on the energy storage performance of electrodes based on nickel oxide (NiO) nanoparticles was investigated. NiO samples were synthesized by three facile and low-cost syntheses routes: nitrate calcination, citrate, and combustion methods. The concentration of surface defects in NiO powders was determined using XPS analyses, which showed a higher amount of oxygen vacancies for the sample obtained by nitrate calcination. According to the cyclic voltammetry (CV) and galvanostatic charge-discharge (GCD) curves, NiO-based electrodes were classified as battery-like. CV results suggest that redox reactions are diffusion-controlled processes with a faster diffusion rate for the sample obtained by the nitrate calcination method. This is in accordance with the GCD and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) results, with higher specific capacity and higher electrical conductivity (lower equivalent series resistance) for the sample obtained by nitrate calcination. The results indicate that oxygen vacancies play an important role in the electrochemical performance of battery-type NiO electrodes.     

Review and selection of EPCM as TES materials for building applications

In order to improve the thermal efficiency of building thermal energy storage (TES) systems, the feasibility of using encapsulated phase change materials (EPCMs) as heat storage media is analysed in this work. Specifically, the finite element method is used to perform thermal behaviour analyses of several EPCMs. These analyses include technical and economic assessments in order to identify the best combination of PCM and shell material, using as main parameters: thermal energy storage, heat transfer rate, materials cost, among others. The results show that EPCMs composed by Na₂SO₄·6H₂O as PCM and covered by stainless steel highlight as TES materials.     

Crystallization behavior,ultrahigh power density and high actual discharge energy density of lead-free borate glass-ceramics containing TiO2

This work presents SrO-BaO-Nb₂O₅-B₂O₃-P₂O₅-K₂O-TiO₂ glass-ceramics prepared by controlled crystallization method. The uniformly dense microstructure with fine grains can be achieved by introducing TiO₂. The structural changes were confirmed by the results of SEM and TEM. The 0.5 mol% TiO₂ added glass heated at 750 °C for 2 h demonstrates excellent comprehensive properties of ε_r= 110, BDS = 1408 kV/cm, high energy storage efficiency (η) of 92% and energy storage density of 9.65 J/cm³. The as-prepared glass-ceramic exhibits ultrahigh power density (86.21 MW/cm³), actual discharge energy density (1.00 J/cm³) and excellent temperature stability. These findings qualify this environment-friendly glass-ceramics as one potential candidate for energy storage applications, especially in high power and pulsed power system field.     

基于变效率压气机的AA-CAES变工况性能分析

先进绝热压缩空气储能系统(advanced adiabatic compressed air energy storage system,AA-CAES)是一种清洁、环保的大规模储能技术,能够为可再生能源并网及电网调峰提供新的解决方案。为了深入研究压气机模型对变工况下AA-CAES系统运行性能的影响,本文在传统模型的基础上添加了压气机效率模型。求解系统模型发现:相对于储气室最高压比,换热器效能对储能效率的影响较大,换热器效能每提高0.05,储能效率平均提高2.9%;随着储气室最高压比的上升,储能密度近似呈线性增加;AA-CAES系统在储能阶段,稳定运行的前两级压气机功率保持不变,非稳定运行的第3级压气机功率随储气室压比的升高而逐渐增大,储能阶段结束时第3级压气机耗功最多。     

磷酸铁锂电池储存性能研究

评估了一种高功率的磷酸铁锂电池在长时间满荷电储存以后的电性能,认为其具有良好的满荷电储存性能,可用于长期储存型锂电池组的开发设计。     

Shrimp processing residue as an alternative ingredient for new product development

Shrimp residues were dried (65 °C), grounded, and posteriorly used as an ingredient to the production of ‘spiced shrimp flour’ and ‘shrimp flavoured biscuits’. Both products were packed in modified atmosphere (100% N₂) and stored for 180 days (25 °C) for shelf life evaluation. The centesimal composition, physicochemical, microbiological and sensory analyses were carried out in triplicate. The microbiological analysis (residue and shrimp flour) was within the limits of the legislation, confirming the hygienic–sanitary care during processing. The protein content was the most outstanding (40.13% for the spiced shrimp flour and 20.52% for the shrimp flavoured biscuits). The microbiological evaluation for the ‘spiced shrimp flour’ and ‘shrimp flavoured biscuits’ was below the legal limit, and both products were accepted by sensory analysis. The shelf life evaluation demonstrated stability for 6 months. Thus, we concluded that the Litopenaeus vannamei shrimp residue is a promising ingredient in the food industry.     

Rheological and thermal properties of epoxy nanocomposites reinforced with alkylated multi‐walled carbon nanotubes

The effects of functionalized multi‐walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) on thermal and chemorheological behaviors of an epoxy‐based nanocomposite system were investigated. Chemical functionalization of MWCNTs by acid modification (A‐MWCNTs) and chemical amidation (D‐MWCNTs) was confirmed using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and thermogravimetric analysis. It was found that the D‐MWCNTs had a significant effect on the chemorheological behaviors of the epoxy‐based nanocomposite. Compared to the epoxy/A‐MWCNT nanocomposite, the epoxy/D‐MWCNTs nanocomposite showed a significant increase in gel time, as obtained from isothermal rheology measurements. Also, the storage modulus of the diglycidylether of bisphenol F (DGEBF)/D‐MWCNTs nanocomposite was higher than that of the DGEBF/D‐MWCNTs nanocomposite and gradually increased with an increase of frequency. This could be interpreted by the relatively strongly interconnected structure of the D‐MWCNTs in the DGEBF epoxy resin, which arises from the functionalized alkyl groups of the D‐MWCNTs in dispersion phases with the DGEBF epoxy resin. Copyright © 2012 Society of Chemical Industry