Effects of structural characteristics on microwave dielectric properties of low-loss (Zn1-xNix)ZrNbTaO8 ceramics

Low-loss (Zn_1-xNi_x)ZrNbTaO₈ (0.02?≤?x?≤?0.10) ceramics possessing single wolframite structure are initiatively synthesized by solid-state route. Based on the results of Rietveld refinement, complex chemical bond theory is used to establish the correlation between structural characteristics and microwave performance in this ceramic system. A small amount of Ni²⁺ (x?=?0.06) in A-site with the fixed substitution of Ta⁵⁺ in B-site can effectually raise the Q?×?f value of ZnZrNb₂O₈ ceramic, embodying a dense microstructure and high lattice energy. The dielectric constant and τ_f are mainly affected by bond ionicity and the average octahedral distortion. The (Zn_0.94Ni_0.06)ZrNbTaO₈ ceramic sample sintered at 1150?°C for 3?h exhibits an outstanding combination of microwave dielectric properties: ε_r =?27.88, Q?×?f?=?128,951?GHz, τ_f =?–39.9?ppm/°C. Thus, it is considered to be a candidate material for the communication device applications at high frequency.     

Plasmonic-excitonic multi-hybrid glass-based nanocomposites incorporating Ag plus core-shell CdSe/CdS and alloyed CdSxSe1−x nanoparticles

Successful fabrication of glass-based hybrid nanocomposites (GHNCs) incorporating Ag, core-shell CdSe/CdS and CdS_xSe_1?x nanoparticles (NPs) is herein reported. Both metallic (Ag) and semiconductor (CdSe/CdS) NPs were pre-synthesized, suspended in colloids and added into the sol-gel reaction medium which was used to fabricate the GHNCs. During fabrication of the nanocomposites a fraction (20–60%) of core-shell CdSe/CdS NPs was alloyed into CdS_xSe_1?x (0.20 < x < 0.35) NPs without changing morphology. Modulation of in situ alloying is possible via the relative content of organics added into the sol-gel protocol. Within colloids Ag (core-shell CdSe/CdS) NPs presented average diameter and polydispersity index of 49.5 nm (4.2 nm) and 0.41 (0.21), respectively. On the other hand, the Ag (core-shell CdSe/CdS) NPs’ average diameter and polydispersity index assessed from the GHNCs were respectively 51.5 nm (4.1 nm) and 0.43 (0.25), revealing negligible aggregation of the nanophases within the glass template. The new GHNCs herein introduced presented two independent excitonic transitions associated to homogenously dispersed semiconductor NPs, peaking around 420 nm (core-shell CdSe/CdS) and 650 nm (CdS_xSe_1?x) and matching the plasmonic resonance (Ag NPs) in the 400–500 nm range. We envisage that the new GHNCs represent very promising candidates for superior light manipulation while illuminated with multiple laser beams in quantum interference-based devices.     

Mixed-Metal MOF-74 Templated Catalysts for Efficient Carbon Dioxide Capture and Methanation

The vast chemical and structural tunability of metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) are beginning to be harnessed as functional supports for catalytic nanoparticles spanning a range of applications. However, a lack of straightforward methods for producing nanoparticle-encapsulated MOFs as efficient heterogeneous catalysts limits their usage. Herein, a mixed-metal MOF, NiMg-MOF-74, is utilized as a template to disperse small Ni nanoclusters throughout the parent MOF. By exploiting the difference in Ni O and Mg O coordination bond strength, Ni²⁺ is selectively reduced to form highly dispersed Ni nanoclusters constrained by the parent MOF pore diameter, while Mg²⁺ remains coordinated in the framework. By varying the ratio of Ni to Mg in the parent MOF, accessible surface area and crystallinity can be tuned upon thermal treatment, influencing CO₂ adsorption capacity and hydrogenation selectivity. The resulting Ni nanoclusters prove to be an active catalyst for CO₂ methanation and are examined using extended X-ray absorption fine structure and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. By preserving a segment of the Mg²⁺-containing MOF framework, the composite system retains a portion of its CO₂ adsorption capacity while continuing to deliver catalytic activity. The approach is thus critical for designing materials that can bridge the gap between carbon capture and CO₂ utilization.     

Design structure matrix (DSM) method application to issue of modeling and analyzing the fault tree of a wind energy asset

The perpetual energy production of a wind farm could be accomplished (under proper weather conditions) if no failures occurred. But even the best possible design, manufacturing, and maintenance of a system cannot eliminate the failure possibility. In order to understand and minimize the system failures, the most crucial components of the wind turbines, which are prone to failures, should be identified. Moreover, it is essential to determine and classify the criticality of the system failures according to the impact of these failure events on wind turbine safety. The present study is processing the failure data from a wind farm and uses the Fault Tree Analysis as a baseline for applying the Design Structure Matrix technique to reveal the failure and risk interactions between wind turbine subsystems. Based on the analysis performed and by introducing new importance measures, the “readiness to fail” of a subsystem in conjunction with the “failure riskiness” can determine the “failure criticality.” The value of the failure criticality can define the frame within which interventions could be done. The arising interventions could be applied either to the whole system or could be focused in specified pairs of wind turbine subsystems. In conclusion, the method analyzed in the present research can be effectively applied by the wind turbine manufacturers and the wind farm operators as an operation framework, which can lead to a limited (as possible) design‐out maintenance cost, failures' minimization, and safety maximization for the whole wind turbine system.     

Decorating surface charge of graphite nanoplate using an electrostatic coupling agent for 3-dimensional polymer nanocomposite

Here, we report a facile approach to electrostatically couple the surface charges of graphite nanoplate (GNP) fillers and poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) polymer particles using ethylene maleic anhydride (EMA) copolymer as an electrostatic coupling agent. Our strategy involved switching the intrinsic repulsive electrostatic interactions between the directly exfoliated GNPs fillers and the PMMA particles to attractive electrostatic surface interactions for preparing core(PMMA)-shell (GNP) precursor in order to optimizing 3-dimensionally dispersed polymer nanocomposite. As a result, the electrical conductivity of the composites dramatically increased by a factor of 16.7 in the EMA-coupled GNP/PMMA composites compared with that of the EMA-free GNP/PMMA composites. In addition, the percolation threshold was also notably reduced from 0.32 to 0.159 vol% after electrostatic coupling of the GNPs fillers and PMMA particles. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2020 , 137, 48390.     

Effects of sintering in a high magnetic field on properties of vitrified bond and vitrified CBN composites

Vitrified bond CBN grinding wheels are being widely used due to their superior performance. Also, advantages of vitrified grinding wheels are high elastic modulus, stable chemical property, and low thermal expansion coefficient. Brittleness and low strength are key factors restricting the development of vitrified bond CBN grinding wheels. In this paper, the sintering in a high magnetic field was innovatively introduced into the manufacturing of vitrified bond CBN grinding wheels, and the effects of sintering in a high magnetic field on properties on vitrified bond and vitrified CBN composites were systematically investigated. Vitrified bond was characterized using three-point bending, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction. It was observed that microstructure of vitrified bond could be changed, grain orientation could be controlled and average grain size could be decreased in a high magnetic field, while vitrified bond strength could be simultaneously improved. High quality vitrified bond could be obtained by appropriately adjusting the strength and direction of high magnetic field. Results demonstrated that vitrified bond properties were improved when the magnetic field strength was 6?T. In order to highlight the high magnetic field effect on the vitrified CBN composites, the ordinary CBN abrasives and nickel plated CBN abrasives were used respectively. Microstructures, bending strengths of vitrified CBN composites were compared in different high magnetic fields. When the magnetic field strength was appropriate (less than 6?T), the binding characteristic of vitrified bond CBN composites with nickel plated CBN abrasives was greatly improved. The highest bending strength value of vitrified CBN composites was 79.5?MPa in 6?T high magnetic field.     

Polymer electrolytes and interfaces in solid-state lithium metal batteries

The polymer electrolyte based solid-state lithium metal batteries are the promising candidate for the high-energy electrochemical energy storage with high safety and stability. Moreover, the intrinsic properties of polymer electrolytes and interface contact between electrolyte and electrodes have played critical roles for determining the comprehensive performances of solid-state lithium metal batteries. In this review, the development of polymer electrolytes with the design strategies by functional units adjustments are firstly discussed. Then the interfaces between polymer electrolyte and cathode/anode, including the interface issues, remedy strategies for stabilizing the interface contact and reducing resistances, and the in-situ polymerization method for enhancing the compatibilities and assembling the batteries with favorable performances, have been introduced. Lastly, the perspectives on developing polymer electrolytes by functional units adjustment, and improving interface contact and stability by effective strategies for solid-state lithium metal batteries have been provided.     

Ni,Cr, and Fe surfaces corroded by molten ZnCl2

Understanding the corrosion of molten ZnCl₂ on metal surfaces is significant for the corrosion protection of metals, sustainable use of molten salts, preparation of ZnO coatings, and so on. In this paper, surfaces of pure Ni, Cr, and Fe corroded by molten ZnCl₂ were investigated. The results show that Ni suffered very slight corrosion, while Cr experienced more serious corrosion than Ni, but lighter corrosion than Fe. The morphology of the corrosion of Cr and Fe, respectively, presented pitting and intergranular corrosion characteristics. Furthermore, nanostructured ZnO coatings were obtained on the surfaces of Ni and Fe, but not on the surface of Cr. The ZnO coating on the Ni surface was doped with a small amount of Zn₅(OH)₈Cl₂, and the ZnO coating on the Fe surface was doped with ZnFe₂O₄ and Zn₂OCl₂. The coatings on the Ni and Fe surfaces had an average thickness of 1.5 and 50 μm, respectively.     

Matrix influence on the piezoelectric properties of piezoelectric ceramic/polymer composite exhibiting particle alignment

This study was addressed to the influence of an electric field strength applied at fabrication process and matrix properties, such as the dielectric constant and the Young's modulus, on “pseudo‐1‐3 piezoelectric ceramic/polymer composite” in order to further enhance the piezoelectricity of that. The pseudo‐1‐3 piezoelectric ceramic/polymer composite consists of linearly ordered piezoelectric ceramic particles in polymer material. Silicone gel, silicone rubber, urethane rubber, and poly‐methyl‐methacrylate, which exhibit different dielectric constants and Young's modulus, were used as matrices to evaluate the matrix influence. The piezoelectricity of the pseudo‐1‐3 piezoelectric ceramic/polymer composite was evaluated using the piezoelectric strain constant d₃₃. The d₃₃ is one of the indices of the piezoelectric properties for piezoelectric materials. As a result, it was confirmed that d₃₃ of the pseudo‐1‐3 piezoelectric ceramic/polymer composite increased with the increase of the electric filed strength applied at fabrication process, though, it reached a constant value at a certain strength value. Further it was confirmed that dielectric constant of the matrix had a small influence on d₃₃ of the pseudo‐1‐3 piezoelectric ceramic/polymer composite, however, in case of matrix of lower Young's modulus, d₃₃ was increase. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015 , 132, 41817.