Synthesis and thermal characterization of the C-S-H/paraffin composite phase change material utilizing a discontinuous two-step nucleation method

The novel calcium-silicate-hydrate(C-S-H)/paraffin composite phase change materials were synthesized using a discontinuous two-step nucleation method.Initially,the C-S-H precursor is separated and dried,followed by immersion in an aqueous environment to transform it into C-S-H.This two-step nucleation approach results in C-S-H with a specific surface area of 497.2 m^(2)/g,achieved by preventing C-S-H foil overlapping and refining its pore structure.When impregnated with paraffin,the novel C-S-H/paraffin composite exhibits superior thermal properties,such as a higher potential heat value of 148.3 J/g and an encapsulation efficiency of 81.6%,outperforming conventional C-S-H.Moreover,the composite material demonstrates excellent cyclic performance,indicating its potential for building thermal storage compared to other paraffin-based composites.Compared with the conventional method,this simple technology,which only adds conversion and centrifugation steps,does not negatively impact preparation costs,the environment,and resource consumption.This study provides valuable theoretical insights for designing thermal storage concrete materials and advancing building heat management.

Cerium oxide inclusion nucleation mechanism based on classical nucleation theory and two-step nucleation

It is challenging to assess the mechanism responsible for the nucleation of inclusions in metals at high temperatures.The present work therefore systematically investigates the nucleation of cerium oxide inclusions according to classical nucleation theory and a two-step nucleation mechanism.The nucleation rates and nucleation radii of these inclusions are obtained,and the results demonstrate a considerable difference between theoretical and experimental values.On the basis of a two-step nucleation mechanism,(CeO_(2))_(n) and(Ce_(2)O_(3))_(n)(n=1-6)clusters were constructed and the thermodynamic properties of both these clusters and of cerium oxide nanoparticles were analyzed.In addition,the entropies and heat capacity changes of cerium oxides were determined using first principles calculations and are found to be consistent with literature data.The present data indicate that the cerium oxide inclusion nucleation pathway can be summarized as[Ce]+[O]→(CeO_(2))n/(Ce_(2)O_(3))_(n)→(Ce_(2)O_(3))_(n)→(Ce_(2)O_(3))_(2)→core(Ce_(2)O_(3)crystal)-shell((Ce_(2)O_(3))_(2) cluster)nanoparticles→(Ce_(2)O_(3))bulk.

Sn nucleation and growth from Sn(II)dissolved in ethylene glycol:Electrochemical behavior and temperature effect

Thermodynamic and kinetic aspects of Sn nucleation and growth processes onto a glassy carbon electrode from SnCl2·2H2O dissolved in ethylene glycol solutions were studied.Typical reduction and oxidation peaks observed in voltammograms have demonstrated the capability of ethylene glycol solutions to electrodeposit Sn.The temperature-dependence of diffusion coefficient values derived from potentiodynamic and potentiostatic studies helped to determine and validate estimations of the activation energy for Sn(II)bulk diffusion.Chronoamperometric results have identified that,the suitable model to describe the early stage of Sn electrodeposition could be composed of Sn three-dimensional nucleation and diffusion-controlled growth and water reduction contributions,which was duly validated by theoretical and experimental approaches.From the model,typical kinetic parameters such as the nucleation frequency of Sn(A),number density of Sn nuclei(N_(0)),and diffusion coefficient of Sn(II)ions(D),were determined.The presence of Sn nuclei with excellent quality and their structures were verified using SEM,EDX,and XRD techniques.

Ribosome-inspired electrocatalysts inducing preferential nucleation and growth of three-dimensional lithium sulfide for high-performance lithium-sulfur batteries

Nucleation of lithium sulfide(Li_(2)S)induced by electrocatalysts plays a crucial role in mitigating the shut-tle effect.However,short-chain polysulfides on electrocatalysts surfaces tend to re-dissolve into elec-trolytes,delaying Li_(2)S supersaturation and its nucleation.In this study,we draw inspiration from the ribosome-driven protein synthesis process in cells to prepare ultrasmall nitrogen-doped MoS_(2) nanocrys-tals anchored on porous nitrogen-doped carbon networks(N-MoS_(2)-NC)electrocatalysts.Excitedly,the ex-situ SEM demonstrates that ribosome-inspired N-MoS_(2)-NC electrocatalysts induce early nucleation and rapid growth of three-dimensional Li_(2)s during discharge.Theoretical calculations reveal that the Li-s bond length in N-MoS_(2)-Li_(2)S(100)is shorter,and the corresponding interfacial formation energy is lower than in MoS_(2)-Li_(2)S(100).This accelerated conversion of lithium polysulfides to Li_(2)S can enhance the utilization of active substances and inhibit the shuttle effect.This study highlights the potential of ribosome-inspired N-MoS_(2)-NC in improving the electrochemical stability of Li-S batteries,providing valuable insights for future electrocatalyst design.

Na_(3)P interphase reduces Na nucleation energy enabling stable anode-less sodium metal batteries

Sodium metal batteries(SMBs)are rising as viable alternatives to lithium-ion systems due to their superior energy density and sodium's relative abundance.However,SMBs face significant impediments,particularly the exceedingly high negative-to-positive capacity ratios(N/P ratios)which severely encumber energy density and hinder their practical application.Herein,a novel nucleophilic Na_(3)P interphase on aluminum foil has been designed to significantly lower the nucleation energy barrier for sodium atom deposition,resulting in a remarkable reduction of nucleation overpotential and efficient mitigation of dendritic growth at high sodium deposition of 5 mA h cm^(−2).The interphase promotes stable cycling in anode-less SMB configurations with a low N/P ratio of 1.4 and high cathode mass loading of 11.5 mg cm^(−2),and demonstrates a substantial increase in high capacity retention of 92.4%after 500 cycles even under 1 C rate condition.This innovation signifies a promising leap forward in the development of high-energy-density,anode-less SMBs,offering a potential solution to the longstanding issues of cycle stability and energy efficiency.

Driving inward growth of lithium metal in hollow microcapsule hosts by heteroatom‐controlled nucleation

The application of Li metal anodes in rechargeable batteries is impeded by safety issues arising from the severe volume changes and formation of dendritic Li deposits.Three‐dimensional hollow carbon is receiving increasing attention as a host material capable of accommodating Li metal inside its cavity;however,uncontrollable and nonuniform deposition of Li remains a challenge.In this study,we synthesize metal–organic framework‐derived carbon microcapsules with heteroatom clusters(Zn and Ag)on the capsule walls and it is demonstrated that Ag‐assisted nucleation of Li metal alters the outward‐to‐inward growth in the microcapsule host.Zn‐incorporated microcapsules are prepared via chemical etching of zeolitic imidazole framework‐8 polyhedra and are subsequently decorated with Ag by a galvanic displacement reaction between Ag^(+) and metallic Zn.Galvanically introduced Ag significantly reduces the energy barrier and increases the reaction rate for Li nucleation in the microcapsule host upon Li plating.Through combined electrochemical,microstructural,and computational studies,we verify the beneficial role of Ag‐assisted Li nucleation in facilitating inward growth inside the cavity of the microcapsule host and,in turn,enhancing electrochemical performance.This study provides new insights into the design of reversible host materials for practical Li metal batteries.

Nucleation of Supercooled Water by Neutrons: Latitude Dependence and Implications for Cloud Modelling

It has recently been shown that incident particles, neutrons, can initiate the freezing in a supercooled water volume. This new finding may have ramifications for the interpretation of both experimental data on the nucleation of laboratory samples of supercooled water and perhaps more importantly on the interpretation of ice nucleation involved in cloud physics. For example, if some fraction of the cloud nucleation previously attributed to dust, soot, or aerosols has been caused by cosmogenic neutrons, fresh consideration is required in the context of climate models. Moreover, as cosmogenic neutrons, most being muon-induced, have much greater flux at high latitudes, estimates of ice nucleates in these regions may be larger than required to accurately model cloud and condensation properties. This discrepancy has been pointed out in IPCC reports. Our paper discusses the connection between the new concept of neutrons nucleating supercooled water and the need for a new source of nucleation in high latitude clouds, ideally causing others to review current data, or to analyse future data with this idea in mind. .

Kinetic nucleation of primary α(Al) dendrites in Al-7%Si-Mg cast alloys with Ce and Sr additions

Nucleation of dendritic primaryα（Al） phase with addition of element Ce and Sr in hypoeutectic Al-7%Si-Mg cast alloy was investigated by using differential scanning calorimetry （DSC） and scanning electron microscopy. DSC results were used to calculate the activation energy and nucleation work of primaryα（Al） phase. The results show that the values of activation energy and nucleation work are decreased and the nucleation frequency is increased with the additions of Ce and Sr to the alloys. Moreover, the grain size of dendriticα（Al） phase is well refined, and the nucleation temperatures of primaryα（Al） dendrites are decreased with the additions of Ce and Sr. The effects of elements Ce and Sr additions on kinetic nucleation of primary α（Al） phases were also discussed in hypoeutectic Al-7%Si-Mg cast alloy.

Nucleation and growth of eutectic cell in hypoeutectic Al-Si alloy

The nucleation and growth of eutectic cell in hypoeutectic Al-Si alloy was investigated using optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy equipped with electron backscattering diffraction（EBSD）.By revealing the eutectic cells and analyzing the crystallographic orientation,it was found that both the eutectic Si and Al phases in an eutectic cell were not single crystal,representing an eutectic cell consisting of small ＇grains＇.It is also suggested that the eutectic nucleation mode can not be determined based on the crystallographic orientation between eutectic Al phases and the neighboring primary dendrite Al phases.However,the evolution of primary dendrite Al phases affects remarkably the following nucleation and growth of eutectic cell.The coarse flake-fine fibrous transition of eutectic Si morphology involved in impurity elements modification may be independent of eutectic nucleation.

Magnesium vapor nucleation in phase transitions and condensation under vacuum conditions

Recent findings related to coagulable magnesium vapor nucleation and growth in vacuum were assessed critically, with emphasis on understanding these processes at a fundamental molecular level. The effects of magnesium vapor pressure, condensation temperature, and condensation zone temperature gradient on magnesium vapor nucleation in phase transitions and condensation from atomic collision and coacervation with collision under vacuum conditions were discussed. Magnesium powder and magnesium lump condensates were produced under different conditions and characterized by scanning electron microscopy （SEM） and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy （EDS）. The right condensation zone temperature approach to the liquid transition primarily improved the magnesium vapor concentration rate. The gas-solid phase transition was primarily inhibited by setting a small condenser temperature gradient. Under the right condensation temperature and temperature gradients, increasing magnesium vapor partial pressure improved crystallization and reduced the oxidation rate.

Enhancement of nucleation of diamond films deposited on copper substrate by nickel modification layer

A Ni layer with a thickness of about 100 nm was sputtered on Cu substrates,followed by an ultrasonic seeding with nanodiamond suspension.High-quality diamond film with its crystalline grains close to thermal equilibrium shape was deposited on Cu substrates by hot-filament chemical vapor deposition（HF-CVD）,and the sp2 carbon content was less than 5.56%.The nucleation and growth of diamond film were investigated by micro-Raman spectroscopy,scanning electron microscopy,and X-ray diffraction.The results show that the nucleation density of diamond on the Ni-modified Cu substrates is 10 times higher than that on blank Cu substrates.The enhancement mechanism of the nucleation kinetics by Ni modification layer results from two effects：namely,the nanometer rough Ni-modified surface shows an improved absorption of nanodiamond particles that act as starting points for the diamond nucleation during HF-CVD process;the strong catalytic effect of the Ni-modified surface causes the formation of graphite layer that acts as an intermediate to facilitate diamond nucleation quickly.

Regional epidemic laws of poplar Ice Nucleation Active bacterial canker

Through the methods of correlation analysis and main factor analysis, the relationship between the poplar INA bacte-rial canker and circumstances was analyzed and 9 main factors for affecting the disease were selected. Based on the compre-hensive analysis of main factors and induced factors, the standard for risk grades of this disease was promoted and northeast region of China was divided into 4 districts with different risk grades: seriously occurring district, commonly occurring district, occasionally occurring district, and un-occurring district. Nonlinear regression analysis for six model curves showed that the Richard growth model was suitable for describing the temporal dynamics of poplar INA bacterial canker. By stepwise variable selection method, the multi-variable linear regression forecasting equation was set up to predict the next year抯 disease index, and the GM (1,1) model was also set up by grey method to submit middle or long period forecast.

EFFECT OF NEGATIVE BIAS ON DIAMOND NUCLEATION IN MICROWAVE PLASMA ASSISTED CHEMICAL VAPOR DEPOSITION SYSTEM

Effect of direct current negative bias on diamond nucleation in microwave plasma assisted chemical vapor deposition system was discussed. The influence of the magnitude of negative bias value,bias duration and methane concentration in the gas mixture on nucleation density of diamond films was studied respectively. It is demonstrated that direct current negative bias can drastically enhance the diamond nucleation at a suitable value.Long bias duration and high methane concentration are helpful for diamond nucleation.

Effect of Impurity on Critical Conditions of Colloidal Cluster Nucleation in Colloidal System

Due to depletion interactions, a few of colloidal spheres will be packed into cluster or clusters, even a phase transition may take place if the volume fraction of system is large enough. In a binary colloidal system, if the mole fraction of one component is very small, then it can be taken as the impurity of the other component. In this work, the effect of impurity on critical conditions of colloidal cluster nucleation was studied by Carnahan-Starling state equation and the principle of entropy maximum. The results show that, even the mole fraction of small-spheres is very small, the critical volume fraction is obvious smaller than that of one component system, so the influence on critical volume fraction from impurity is very huge and cannot be ignored. In addition, it is also found that, the larger the volume fraction of the system is, the larger cluster density can be packed, however, the critical size of nucleating cluster is almost independent of the density of the cluster.

Molecular Dynamics Studies of Solid-Liquid Phase Transitions Ⅱ——Homogeneous Nucleation of (KI)_(108) Clusters

在一系列分子动力学计算中，（ＫＩ）１０８离子簇冷却时自发地由液相变为立方面心相．在３５０Ｋ和４００Ｋ的成核速率大于１０３６核／ｍ３·ｓ．由成核速率得到的固－液界面自由能约为５０ｍＪ／ｍ２．

Fundamental mechanisms and phenomena of clathrate hydrate nucleation

Insights into the mechanism of hydrate nucleation are of great significance for the development of hydrate-based technologies,hydrate relevant flow assurance,and the exploration of in situ natural gas hydrates.Compared with the thermodynamics of hydrate formation,understanding the nucleation mechanism is challenging and has drawn substantial attention in recent decades.In this paper,we attempt to give a comprehensive review of the recent progress of studies of clathrate hydrate nucleation.First,the existing hypotheses on the hydrate nucleation mechanism are introduced and discussed.Then,we summarize recent experimental studies on induction time,a key parameter evaluating the velocity of the nucleation process.Subsequently,the memory effect is particularly discussed,followed by the suggestion of several promising research perspectives.

Memory effect on the pressure-temperature condition and induction time of gas hydrate nucleation

The focus of this study is to investigate the influence of memory effect and the relation of its existence with the dissociation temperature,using gas hydrate formation and dissociation experiments.This is beneficial because memory effect is considered as an effective approach to promote the thermodynamic and dynamic conditions of gas hydrate nucleation.Seven experimental systems （twenty tests in total） were performed in a 1 L pressure cell.Three types of hydrate morphology,namely massive,whiskery and jelly crystals were present in the experiments.The pressures and temperatures at the time when visual hydrate crystals appeared were measured.Furthermore,the influence of memory effect was quantified in terms of pressure-temperature-time （p-T-t） relations.The results revealed that memory effect could promote the thermodynamic conditions and shorten the induction time when the dissociation temperature was not higher than 25℃.In this study,the nucleation superpressure and induction time decrease gradually with time of tests,when the earlier and the later tests are compared.It is assumed that the residual structure of hydrate dissociation,as the source of the memory effect,provides a site for mass transfer between host and guest molecules.Therefore,a driving force is created between the residual structures and its surrounding bulk phase to promote the hydrate nucleation.However,when the dissociation temperature was higher than 25 ℃,the memory effect vanished.These findings provide references for the application of memory effect in hydrate-based technology.

Crystal Nucleation and Growth of Al-based Alloys Produced by Electrolysis

The nucleation and growth of grains in a series of Al-based alloys produced by electrolysis are observed under SEM. The atomic Ti/AI ratios of the nuclei and the distribution of Ti at certain points are analyzed by point EDS. The particles in different atomic Ti/AI ratios might act as the nuclei of α-Al. At the early stage of growth, the spherical Ti-enriched regions might form around these particles within very limited temperature ranges in which the reactions such as the peritectic reactions etc occur. At the latter stage of growth, the dendrites freely develop in the radial orientations, and the concentration of Ti decreases linearly along the dendrite arm and becomes negligible in the region near the periphery of the dendrite. It is believed that the nucleation is closely related with the number and dispersion of primary spherical areas in the melts, and the segregation of Ti leads to the free growth of dendrite, which is necessary for the formation of equiaxial grains.

Nucleation and crystallization of tailing-based glass-ceramics by microwave heating

The effect of microwave radiation on the nucleation and crystallization of tailing-based glass-ceramics was investigated using a 2.45 GHz multimode microwave cavity. Tailing-based glass samples were prepared fi＇om Shandong gold tailings and Guyang iron tailings utilizing a conventional glass melting technique. For comparison, the tailing-based glass samples were crystallized using two different heat-treatment methods： conventional heating and hybrid microwave heating. The nucleation and crystallization temperatures were determined by performing a differential thermal analysis of the quenched tailing-based glass. The prepared glass-ceramic samples were further characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, thermal expansion coefficient measurements, and scanning electron microscopy. The results demonstrated that hybrid microwave heating could be successfully used to crystallize the tailing-based glass, reduce the processing time, and decrease the crystallization temperature. Furthermore, the results indicated that the nucleation and crystallization mechanism of the hybrid microwave heating process slightly differs fi＇om that of the conventional heating process.

Nucleation mechanisms of dynamic recrystallization in Inconel 625 superalloy deformed with different strain rates

The effects of strain rates on the hot working characteristics and nucleation mechanisms of dynamic recrystallization (DRX) were studied by optical microscopy and electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) technique. Hot compression tests were conducted using a Gleeble-1500 simulator at a true strain of 0.7 in the temperature range of 1000 to 1150 °C and strain rate range of 0.01 to 10.00 s?1. It is found that the size and volume fraction of the DRX grains in hot-deformed Inconel 625 superalloy firstly decrease and then increase with increasing strain rate. Meanwhile, the nucleation mechanism of DRX is closely related to the deformation strain rate due to the deformation thermal effect. The discontinuous DRX (DDRX) with bulging of original grain boundaries is the primary nucleation mechanism of DRX, while the continuous DRX (CDRX) with progressive subgrain rotation acts as a secondary nucleation mechanism. The twinning formation can activate the nucleation of DRX. The effects of bulging of original grain boundaries and twinning formation are firstly gradually weakened and then strengthened with the increasing strain rate due to the deformation thermal effect. On the contrary, the effect of subgrain rotation is firstly gradually strengthened and then weakened with the increasing strain rate.