High power density and flexible self-powered piezoelectric nanogenerator based on solution crystallization

A flexible self-powered piezoelectric nanogenerator (FSPN) of high power density was constructed using a poly (vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) polymer matrix based on solution crystallization. Since the solubility parameter of the N-methylpyrrolidone (NMP) was closed to that of the PVDF, the FSPNs fabricated by PVDF and NMP showed a high concentrations of β-phase and a high power density of 6.6 W/m³ together with excellent mechanical properties and transparent. In addition, the FSPN retained its excellent performance even after 2000 cycles of cantilever vibration, which hold a great potential for harvesting mechanical energy for self-powered systems and provide a simpler solution for energy collection and utilization in our actual lives.     

Template-free synthesis of novel Co3O4 micro-bundles assembled with flakes for high-performance hybrid supercapacitors

In this paper, a novel Co₃O₄ micro-bundles structure (Co₃O₄ MBs) was obtained at 120 °C after a hydrothermal reaction for 24 h and followed by an annealing treatment at 300 °C in air. The unique Co₃O₄ MBs are constructed by many adjacent flakes with 0.4 μm in thickness, and exhibit a large surface area of 81.2 m² g^?1 and a mean pore diameter of 6.14 nm, which may facilitate a sufficient contact with electrolyte and then shorten the diffusion pathway of ions. A remarkable electrochemical behavior including specific capacity of 282.3 C g^?1 at 1 A g^?1 and 205.9 C g^?1 at 10 A g^?1, and an excellent cycling performance with 74.6% capacity retention after 4000 charge-discharge process at 5 A g^?1 are achieved when the test of Co₃O₄ MBs-modified electrode is performed using three-electrode configuration. Additionally, a hybrid supercapacitor (HSC) was fabricated with the obtained Co₃O₄ MBs as positive electrode and commercial activated carbon (AC) as negative electrode. The HSC exhibits a specific capacity of 144.1 C g^?1 at 1 A g^?1 and 126.4% capacity retention after 5000 cycles at 5 A g^?1. An energy density of 38.5 W h kg^?1 can be obtained at a power density of 962.0 W kg^?1, and 29.5 W h kg^?1 is still retained at 8532.5 W kg^?1. The simple synthetic strategy can be applicable to the synthesis of other transition metal oxides with superior electrochemical performance.     

Symmetry Breaking in Monometallic Nanocrystals toward Broadband and Direct Electron Transfer Enhanced Plasmonic Photocatalysis

Metallic nanocrystals manifest themselves as fascinating light absorbers for applications in plasmon-enhanced photocatalysis and solar energy harvesting. The essential challenges lie in harvesting the full-spectrum solar light and harnessing the plasmon-induced hot carriers at the metal–acceptor interface. To this end, a cooperative overpotential and underpotential deposition strategy is proposed to mitigate both the challenges. Specifically, by utilizing both ionic additive and thiol passivator to introduce symmetry-breaking growth over gold icosahedral nanocrystals, the microscopic origin can be attributed to the site-specific nucleation of stacking faults and dislocations. By adopting asymmetric crystal shape and unique surface facets, such nanocrystals attain high activity toward photocatalytic ammonia borane hydrolysis, arising from combined broadband plasmonic properties and enhanced direct transfer of hot electrons across the metal–adsorbate interface.     

The effect of Nd3+ concentration on fabrication,microstructure, and luminescent properties of anisotropic S-FAP ceramics

Nd³⁺ doped strontium fluorophosphate (S-FAP), with chemical formula Sr₅(PO₄)₃F, nanopowders were prepared using the co-precipitation method. The prepared powders had no impurity phase with a grain size of about 30 nm and the doping limit of Nd³⁺ ions in strontium fluorophosphate is about 9 at.%. The morphology and particle size were determined by the doping concentration of Nd³⁺. Anisotropic Nd: S-FAP transparent ceramics with different Nd³⁺ doping concentrations were fabricated successfully by the simple hot-pressing method. The grain size of prepared S-FAP transparent ceramics decreased first and then increased with the increase of Nd³⁺ concentration. The 2 at.% Nd: S-FAP ceramic presented the highest optical transmittance at all wavelengths range. The characteristic transitions from the ground state to the excited states of Nd³⁺ ions were observed from the absorption spectra, and the absorption cross-section was calculated at 3.71 × 10^–20 cm². The influence of Nd³⁺ ion concentration on luminescence intensity and fluorescence lifetime was studied under 796 nm excitation. The strong emission of ⁴F_3/2→⁴I_9/2 transition in Nd: S-FAP was calculated by Judd–Ofelt (J-O) theory.     

In-situ synthesis of 15R-Sialon from Al-Si3N4-Al2O3 composite at 1500°C via liquid-phase sintering

In this study, alumina-based composite with 12 wt% Al and 16 wt% Si₃N₄ was designed to achieve the synthesis of 15R-Sialon reinforced alumina composite. To investigate the reaction mechanism, two-step sintered Al-Si₃N₄-Al₂O₃ samples at different temperatures ranging from 600°C to 1500°C were prepared and characterized via X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscope (SEM). The results revealed that 15R-Sialon was synthesized at 1500°C through a novel liquid Si phase sintering and Si₃N₄ played as a precursor and a reactant. First, Si₃N₄ precursor reacted with Al to form intermediate phases AlN and Si, which were not further transformed below 1400°C. When the sintering temperature was 1500°C, the formed Si presented as a liquid phase, under the influence of which plate-like15R-Sialon was generated from Al₂O₃, residual Si₃N₄, and derived AlN. The obtained Si was also involved in the synthesis of 15R-Sialon and completely transformed. In addition to the AlN from Si₃N₄, the AlN deriving from the nitridation of Al may not react with liquid Si. Compared to 15R-Sialon from liquid Si, plate-like 15R-Sialon with smaller size was generated from AlN, SiO, and O₂.     

Research on Crop Irrigation Schedules Under Deficit Irrigation—A Meta-analysis

Water Resources Management - Increasing water consumption in agriculture due to global climate change has posed considerable challenges to food security, thus improving the efficiency of water...     

Effects of direct current magnetic field treatment time on the properties of pork myofibrillar protein

This study investigated the effects of direct current magnetic field (DC-MF) treatment time (1, 3, 5, 8 h) on properties of porcine myofibrillar protein (MP). Gel water-holding capacity increased from 83.40% to 87.20% when DC-MF-treatment time changed from 1-h to 8-h. The 3-h treatment time of DC-MF was found to promote MP unfolding, rearrangement and aggregation, leading to the loss of total sulfhydryl, the increase of reactive sulfhydryl, surface hydrophobicity, turbidity as well as the formation of MP clusters and the greater degree of crosslinking as compared with 0-h treatment, thus a firmer and more ordered MP gel network for trapping more water. However, excessive DC-MF treatment (8-h) weakened DC-MF effect on MP aggregation as well as gel network and texture. This study has shed light on the effects of DC-MF treatment time on MP properties and provides useful information for the application of DC-MF in the food industry.     

基于ROS的爬壁机器人控制系统设计

大型压力容器探伤作业中,存在效率低、危险性高、成本高等问题,为提高自动化和智能检测水平,研制出一款爬壁机器人进行探伤检测.该爬壁机器人基于机器人操作系统(ROS)进行系统软件开发,以开源硬件Beagle Bone Black为核心搭建硬件平台,采用永磁吸附式移动平台搭载探伤检测仪器方式,对工件进行无损探伤检测作业.现场试验结果表明,爬壁探伤机器人可以替代人工进行探伤作业,控制系统性能良好、稳定,能够实现对机器人的精准控制,有效探伤速度可达40 mm/s,兼具有人机界面友好、智能化水平高、易于扩展等特点,极大地提高了作业效率,并降低了作业风险.     

Kinetics and mechanistic studies of methane dry reforming over Ca promoted 1Co–1Ce/AC-N catalyst

The mechanism and kinetic features of dry reforming with methane (DRM) over Ca promoted 1Co–1Ce/AC-N catalyst was investigated. The mechanistic pathway studies have conducted by FTIR and XPS analysis, structure-activity correlations demonstrated the CH₄ and CO₂ could adsorb on catalyst active sites and generate intermediate CH_x, OH and CH_xO, continue to generate CO and H₂ and then desorbed from active sites. Moreover, CH₄ could also oxidized by Ce⁴⁺ and CO₂ reduced by Ce³⁺, the same content of Ce⁴⁺ and Ce³⁺ on promoted catalyst greatly improved the reaction rate. The kinetic of dry reforming with methane was examined for temperature between 650 and 850 at 800 °C. The research was carried out by changing the CH₄/CO₂ ratios between 0.3 and 3.0. The obtained experiment data were fitted by three typical kinetic models (Power Law, Eley-Rideal and Langmuir-Hinshelwood), the fitting results demonstrated that the best prediction of reforming rates can provided by Langmuir-Hinshelwood model for the reaction temperatures between 650 and 800 °C. Moreover, activation energies of methane and carbon dioxide consumption were ?117 and ?47 kJ/mol, indicating that much higher energy barrier is needed for methane activation compared to carbon dioxide.     

Hydrogen and ethanol: Production,storage, and transportation

The present paper provides insights into the feasibility of using hydrogen and bioethanol blends as energy carriers in the foreseeable future upon discussions on the advantages and the disadvantages. The comprehensive overviews on the production, storage, and transportation of hydrogen and bioethanol have been made; and the current problems and potential solutions for the three stages have been summarized. Finally, the prospections on hydrogen and bioethanol could be expect optimistically.