Control of a turbulent flow separated at mid-chord along an airfoil with DBD plasma actuators

The goal of the present experimental study is to investigate the ability of surface DBD plasma actuators to delay flow separation along the suction side of a NACA0015 airfoil. Three single surface DBD actuators that can operate separately are mounted on the suction side of the profile, at 18%, 27% and 37% of the chord length. The boundary layer is transitioned by a tripper to be sure that the flow control is not due to the laminar-to-turbulent transition. The angle of attack is equal to 11.5° and the free-stream velocity to U₀ = 40 m/s, resulting in a chord-based Reynolds number of Re_c = 1.33 × 10⁶. The flow is studied with a high-resolution PIV system. In such conditions, the baseline flow separation occurs at 50% of chord. Then, the different single DBD have been switched on separately, in order to investigate the actuator location effect. One highlights that the DBD located at x_c/c = 18% is more effective than the two others ones, with a separation delay up to 64% of chord. When the three DBDs operate simultaneously, the separation point moves progressively toward the trailing edge when the high voltage is increased, up to 76% of chord at 20 kV. Finally, the effect of the actuation frequency on the control authority has been investigated, by varying the value of the operating frequency and by burst-modulation. For frequencies equal to 50 Hz and 500 Hz (reduced frequency F⁺ = 0.31 and 3.1), the separation has been delayed at 76 and 80% of chord, respectively.     

Computational investigation toward selective collection of water particles containing odorous molecules by electrostatic spraying

The necessity of odor sensing has been increasing from environmental and health standpoints. Here, we propose the novel concept of a small device which can select odor molecules based on electrostatic spraying. For high selectivity of the target gas or odor, we conducted computational fluid dynamics coupled with an electrostatic field, as well as measurements by particle image velocimetry and anemometry. The computational model successfully reproduced characteristic features of ionic wind. Different trajectories of charged particles were computationally obtained owing to their electrical mobility. The results imply that different materials might be separated by the arrangement of the collecting electrode.     

Synthesis of ionic liquid intercalated layered double hydroxides of magnesium and aluminum: A greener catalyst of Knoevenagel condensation

Due to their structural merits that arise from their stability and high surface area, the layered double hydroxide (LDH) materials have caused strong attention. These characteristics provided intriguing possibilities with improved efficiency for catalytic applications. In this work, the preparation of 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hydroxide ([BMIM]⁺OH⁻) intercalated by a facile approach in a layered double hydroxide (LDH) matrix is reported and its implementation as a greener catalyst is shown. Different physico-chemical techniques such as XRD, FTIR, TGA, and N₂-physisorption, HRTEM, and CO₂ adsorption are implemented to characterize the structure of the fabricated catalysts. The [BMIM]⁺OH⁻/LDH exhibit outstanding catalytic performance in Knoevenagel condensation, resulting from the high LDH surface area and synergistic effects between both the intercalated ionic liquid and LDHs matrix. Knoevenagel’s fabricated catalysts can be exploited to catalyze different condensations and can be reused well. This work therefore generates good opportunities in the field of catalysis for the preparing and implementation of LDH-based catalysts.     

Metal ion capacitor composed of the thin-walled surfaces enabling high-rate performance and long cycling stability

Electrochemical capacitors (referred to as supercapacitors) have high power density, long cycling stability, and are eco-friendly for use in electronic applications. The proper and stable utilization of supercapacitor systems can expand the practical scope of energy-powering applications in various device platforms. Nevertheless, the low energy density of conventional oxide and sulfide electrode materials still limits the practical realization of supercapacitor devices in real electronic applications. This limitation results from the poor surface stability, structural collapse, and low electrical conductivity of the oxide and sulfide materials. Single metal electrodes with multivalent metal ions exhibit promising energy-storing kinetics and may be viable alternatives to these oxide and sulfide electrode materials. Here, we report a metal zinc (Zn) electrode supercapacitor (ZIC) consisting of a thin-walled architecture as an electrode by means of a voltage-controlled electroplating method. The optimized ZIC exhibited excellent pseudo-capacitive performance, excellent high-rate performance, and an outstanding cycling stability.     

An expedient one-pot synthesis of highly substituted imidazoles using supported ionic liquid-like phase（SILLP） as a green and effcient catalyst and evaluation of their anti-microbial activity

An effcient method for the synthesis of imidazole derivatives by a three-component condensation of benzil or 9,10-phenanthrenequinone,aldehydes and ammonium acetate using supported ionic liquidlike phase（SILLP）catalyst under ultrasonic irradiation or classical heating conditions is reported.The present methodology offers several advantages,such as excellent yields,simple procedures,short reaction times,simple work-up and mild conditions.The catalyst is easily separated from the products by fltration and also exhibits remarkable reusable activity.These highly substituted imidazoles were also evaluated for their anti-microbial activity.     

Structural,morphological, ionic conductivity,and thermal properties of pectin-based polymer electrolytes

New polymer electrolytes (PEs), potentially interesting for solid-state electrochemical devices applications, were synthesized by a solvent casting method using pectin and ionic liquid (IL) N,N,N-trimethyl-N-(2-hydroxyethyl)ammonium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide ([N_{1 1 1 2(OH)}] [NTf₂]. The resulting electrolytes besides being moderately homogenous and thermally stable below 155°C, they also exhibited good mechanical properties. The SPE membranes were analyzed by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), and complex impedance spectroscopy.     

NOVEL POLYPHENYLENES CONTAINING ORTHOGONAL PHENYL AND BENZO-CROWN-ETHER GROUPS

The synthesis of a new class of polyphenylenes substituted with a large number of phenyl and benzo-crown-ether groups has been described. The polymers, prepared by Suzuki cross-coupling reaction between polyphenylated dibromide and benzene-1,4-diboronic acid, exhibit outstanding solubility in common organic solvents such as THF and chloroform. Preliminary results on molecular weights and thermal analysis of one representative polymer are discussed.     

Orientation and Structure of Ionic Liquid Cation at Air/[bmim][BF4] Aqueous Solution Interface

The watermiscible room temperature ionic liquid 1butyl3methylimidazolium tetrafluorob orate （[bmim] [BF4]） is a model system for studying the interactions between ionic liquid and water molecules. In this work the orientational structure of the low concentrated aqueous solution of [bmim] [BF4] at the air/liquid interface was investigated by sum frequency gener ation vibrational spectroscopy. It has been found that at very low concentrations, the butyl chain exhibited a significant gauche defect, indicating a disordered conformation; and the cation ring oriented with a fairly small tilting angle at the surface. When the concentration increased, the cation ring tended to lie flat at the surface, and the gauche defects of the butyl chain decreased due to the intermolecular chainchain interactions and the consequent more ordered interfacial molecular arrangement. Additionally, the antisymmetric stretching mode in the PPP and SPS spectra exhibited a peak shift, showing that there exists more than one kind of orientation or chemical environment for the butyl CH3 group. These results may shed new light on understanding the surface behavior of watermiscible ionic liquids as well as the imidazolium based surfactants.     

Novel redox-active ionic thermotropic liquid crystalline complexes of polyelectrolyte and ferrocenyl surfactants

Redox-active polyelectrolyte-surfactant complexes(PSC) were prepared via the ionic self-assembly of sodium poly(styrenesulfonate) (PSS) and ferrocenyl surfactant,(11-ferrocenylundecyl)trimethylammonium bromide(FTMA) in aqueous solution. The PSS-FTMA complex exhibited an ordered interdigitated monolayer mesomorphous structure with the long period of d = 3.13 nm,and was in the ionic thermotropic liquid crystal SmA state at room temperature.Interestingly,in the solid complex, the ferrocenyl moieties formed H-aggregation showing an increase in theπ-π~* energy transfer of cyclopentadienes in the ferrocene moieties as known from the blue-shift in the UV spectrum.The complexes showed higher thermal stability compared with their components due to the ionic interaction.The PSS-FTMA film had a good redox reversibility,which promised to be used in electrochemical sensors.     

One-step synthesis ofα,β-unsaturated arylsulfones by a novel multicomponent reaction of aromatic aldehydes,chloroacetonitrile, benzenesulfinic acid sodium salt

A new and green method for the synthesis of α,β-unsaturated arylsulfones had been achieved through the condensation of aromatic aldehydes,chloroacetonitrile,benzenesulfinic acid sodium salt in the presence of l-butyl-3-methyl imidazolium hydroxide([bmim]OH) in EtOH under reflux.The ionic liquid was recovered and recycled for subsequent reactions.The advantages of this protocol were non-toxic,easy work-up and good yields.