The effect of particle size distribution on the microstructure and properties of Al2O3 ceramics formed by stereolithography

Stereolithography (SL) shows advantages for preparing alumina-based ceramics with complex structures. The effects of the particle size distribution, which strongly influence the sintering properties in ceramic SL, have not been systematically explored until now. Herein, the influence of the particle size distribution on SL-manufactured alumina ceramics was investigated, including bending strength at room temperature, post-sintering shrinkage, porosity, and microstructural morphology. Seven particle size distributions of alumina ceramics were studied (in μm/μm: 30/5, 20/3, 10/2, 5/2, 5/0.8, 3/0.5, and 2/0.3); a coarse:fine particle ratio of 6:4 was maintained. At the same sintering temperature, the degree of sintering was greater for finer particle sizes. The particle size distribution had a larger influence on flexural strength, porosity and shrinkage than sintering temperature when the particle size distribution difference reached 10-fold but was weaker for 10 μm/2 μm, 5 μm/2 μm and 5 μm/0.8 μm. The sintering shrinkage characteristics of cuboid samples with different particle sizes were studied. The use of coarse particles influenced the accuracy of small-scale samples. When the particle size was comparable to the sample width, such as 30 μm/5 μm and 5 mm, the width shrinkage was consistent with the height shrinkage. When the particle size was much smaller than the sample width, such as 2 μm/0.3 μm and 5 mm, the width shrinkage was consistent with the length shrinkage. The results of this study provide meaningful guidance for future research on applications of SL and precise control of alumina ceramics through particle gradation.     

Enhanced photodegradation of Rhodamine B under visible light by N-K2Ti4O9/MIL-101 composite

N-K₂Ti₄O₉/MIL-101 composites were successfully synthesized by a facile hydrothermal method, and were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction, UV–vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, the valence band X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, field emission transmission electron microscopy, photoluminescence emission spectra, N₂ adsorption–desorption and thermogravimetric analysis. Photocatalytic activities of N-K₂Ti₄O₉, MIL-101 and the composites were investigated by the degradation of Rhodamine B (RhB) under visible light irradiation. The results show that the composites exhibit higher photocatalytic activity as compared with the pure materials. The synergistically enhanced photocatalytic activity of the composites is due to big adsorption capacity of MIL-101 and high separation efficiency of photogenerated electron-hole pairs through interfaces between N-K₂Ti₄O₉ and MIL-101.     

Recent progress of the gas diffusion layer in proton exchange membrane fuel cells: Material and structure designs of microporous layer

Proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) have become the most attractive power supply units for stationary and mobile applications. The operation, design characteristics, as well as performance of PEMFCs, are closely related to the multiphase transport of mass, heat, and electricity in the cell, a critical of which is the gas diffusion layer (GDL). It is very important to guarantee the transmission of water and gasses under high current density, and which is the weakness of PEMFCs at present. Microporous layer (MPL) is considered to be the key variable for mass transfer, so varieties of works focus on modification of MPL materials and its structure design. However, there is still a lack of special review to summarize and prospect the progress of MPL in recent years. This review article therefore focuses on the insights and comprehensive understanding of four critical issues of the MPL, the porosity, pore size distribution, wettability, structural design and the durability of MPL. At last, the conclusion and recommendations section summarized the future prospects and recommendations for possible research opportunities.     

靶面激光光斑尺寸原位测量的研究

提供了一种简便易行的靶面激光光斑尺寸原位测量的方法。从高斯光束的横向光强分布特性出发,建立了激光烧蚀斑半径与辐照激光能量、光斑尺寸、烧蚀阈值间的关系式,模拟分析发现辐照激光光斑尺寸对烧蚀斑半径随辐照能量变化曲线有较大影响。对于脉宽为2 ms,波长为1064 nm的激光,实验测量了不同能量激光辐照下相纸烧蚀斑半径,并用推导出的关系式拟合测量数据,获得了靶面处光斑尺寸和样品烧蚀阈值。同时,也测量了不同位置处的光斑尺寸和样品烧蚀阈值,对高斯光束束腰位置和样品烧蚀阈值的光斑尺寸效应进行了验证。研究结果表明该技术结果可靠,简单高效。该技术可以为高能激光与固体物质相互作用的基础研究和激光加工等应用领域中实现简单方便地测量靶面光斑尺寸提供帮助。     

A new perspective of co-doping and Nd segregation effect on proton stability and transportation in Y and Nd co-doped BaCeO3

Bulk and surface properties of proton stability and transportation in Y and Nd co-doped BaCeO₃ (BCYN), especially the effect of Nd segregation, were investigated by first-principles calculations. Since the structure of doped BaCeO₃ at the operating temperature of proton-conducting has been unclear for a long time, we have summarized the latest experimental results and calculated the structure of the asymmetric BCYN for the first time. The results show that compared with Y, Nd doping promotes oxygen vacancy formation, however reduces proton stability. Our calculation can also provide a possible explanation for the formation of space charge layer at the grain boundary of doped BaCeO₃ in experiment. Unlike the stable Y in BCYN, Nd is calculated to be easily segregated, which can facilitate both proton hydration and proton transportation near the surface. Moreover, Nd segregation at the grain boundary is predicted to be beneficial for proton transportation between grains.     

Theoretical investigation of solvent effects on the selective hydrogenation of furfural over Pt(111)

It was well known that solvent effect plays a very important role in the catalytic reaction. There are many theoretical studies on the solvent effect in homogeneous catalysis while there are few theoretical studies on the solvent effect in the heterogeneous catalytic reaction and there has been no work to investigate the solvent effect on furfural transformation in heterogeneous catalysis. In the present work, both the density functional calculations and the microkinetic analysis were performed to study the selective hydrogenation of furfural over Pt(111) in the presence of methanol as well as toluene and compared with that in the gas condition. The present results indicated that the methanol can enhance the adsorption strength of furfural and other oxygen-containing reaction species due to its relatively strong polarity properties and this can be a main reason for solvent-induced high activity and selectivity. Another reason is that reaction paths study showed that the presence of methanol solvent makes the dehydrogenation of furfural less thermochemical due to the fact that furfural is more stabilized than that of dehydrogenation species, and methanol also has an inhibition effect on the dehydrogenation of furfural in the kinetic aspect, and further energetic span theory proves highest activity and selectivity for hydrogenation in methanol solvent of vapor, methanol and toluene. Moreover, microkinetic model simulation demonstrated that the activity and selectivity of hydrogenation in methanol is both higher than that in vapor and toluene. The much higher activity in methanol is due to the stabilized adsorbed reactants in the surface, which leads to a higher surface coverage of furfural. It might be proposed based on the present work that a solvent with relatively strong polarity may be favorable for the high selective hydrogenation of furfural.     

高光谱激光雷达谱位合一的角度效应分析

高光谱激光雷达以其谱位合一的技术优势为实现超三维精准遥感观测提供了可行途径,因此成为当前激光雷达与高光谱遥感领域共同大力推进的前沿发展方向。目前已有多型原型系统研发出来并得到了原理性验证,然而针对其数据处理核心环节问题的基础技术仍较为欠缺。典型问题之一是不同波段回波信号受激光入射角度的影响,该角度效应限制了高光谱激光雷达实现高性能遥感。以芬兰空间信息研究所高光谱激光雷达原型系统扫描桦树树干为例探讨了该角度效应,发现了不同激光波段对不同入射角度的回波强度响应模式,推导出了角度效应的基本规律及其精细尺度的统计规律,为后续该方向的系统研发、数据处理及信息提取等提供了可借鉴的底层机理与技术基础。     

基于神经网络算法的井下裂缝诊断与堵漏技术

在钻井过程中，常常钻遇不同宽度的井下地层裂缝。钻遇裂缝时容易发生钻井液漏失现象，甚至发生钻井液失返现象，严重影响了安全、高效钻井。目前裂缝封堵的方法常存在封堵成功率不高、堵漏承压能力低的问题，其中一个重要的原因是对井下地层的裂缝宽度等特征认识不清。基于地层裂缝产生的岩石力学机理，确定影响裂缝宽度关键的6个力学和工程因素，并利用神经网络计算的非线性、大数据特点建立了井下地层裂缝宽度的分析模型，模型包含输入层、输出层和3个隐藏层。通过该模型诊断井下裂缝宽度，提高了计算精度，平均误差仅为2.09%，最大误差为5.88%，解决钻井现场仅凭经验判断裂缝误差较大和依靠成像测井成本较高的问题。同时根据神经网络模型诊断得到的裂缝宽度优化堵漏材料的粒径配比，提高了裂缝内的架桥封堵强度和架桥的稳定性，封堵层的承压能力达到12.8 MPa，反向承压能力达到4.5 MPa。现场堵漏试验最高憋压10 MPa，经过封堵作业后大排量循环不漏，达到了裂缝性地层高效堵漏的目的，堵漏一次成功。