STUDY ON PREPARATION OF UNIFORM POLYSTYRENE HOLLOW PARTICLES

Uniform polystyrene hollow particles were prepared successfully by employing SPG (Shirasu porous glass) emulsification technique. The oil phase composed of monomer [styrene (St) and N,N’-dimethylamino ethylmethacrylate (DMAEMA)], hexadecane (HD) and initiator was permeated through the uniform pores of SPG membrane into the aqueous phase (containing stabilizer, emulsifier and water-soluble inhibitor ) by a gas pressure to form uniform droplets. The droplets were then polymerized at 70℃. It was found that the hollow particles were obtained by adding a small amount of DMAEMA into the oil phase and by using NaNo2 as the water-soluble inhibitor, while only one-hole particles were obtained without adding DMAEMA, or when using diaminophenylene (DAP) or hydroquinone (HQ) as the inhibitor. The formation mechanism was discussed by the view of interfacial tensions between polymer and aqueous phase, HD and aqueous phase, and HD and polymer. Further more, it was found that hollow particles can be obtained even when DMAEMA content in the oil phase was very low, by increasing HD to high value.

Optimizing Hot Forging Process Parameters of Hollow Parts Using Tubular and Cylindrical Workpiece： Numerical Analysis and Experimental Validation

CAE （computer aided engineering） evaluates the forging process virtually to optimize the industrial production. The numerical and experimental investigations of forging process of a hollow part are important in industrial point of view. This study has been focused on the development of a 3D elastic-plastic FEM （finite element model） of hot forging to evaluate the forming process of hollow parts. The validity of this method was verified through a laboratory experiment using aluminum alloy （AA6351） with medium geometric complexity. The distributions of effective strain, temperature, metal flow and strength were analyzed for two different initial workpieces （tubular and cylindrical）. It was observed that both initial workpieces can be used to produce the final hollow part using the numerical simulation model. The results showed that the numerical analyses predict, filling cavity, calculated strength, work temperature and material flow were in agreement with the experimental results. However, some problems such as air trapping in the die causing incomplete filling could not be predicted and this problem was resolved experimentally by drilling small holes for air release in the dies.

The Numerical Simulation on Hollow Part's Precise Sizing Process With Cross-wedge Rolling

The hollow parts formed with cross-wedge rolling (CWR) have a wide application in many fields, such as architecture and automobile, etc. But the finished configuration of part’s cross section was always ellipse and it was hard to make it satisfied with traditional forming process. This paper proposed a FEM model of hollow workpiece of CWR in the sizing process, and simulated the deformation condition using the ANSYS program. Three kinds of parts with different wall thickness were calculated. Some stress and strain fields of the deformed hollow parts at various conditions are gained. The influence of wall thickness on the distribution of stress and strain was analyzed. The paper also found two phenomena, which never have been seen at traditional experiment, and author tried to give some explanations. The ANSYS program provided the relationship between the tolerance of the deformed workpiece and the deforming parameter. It is helpful to design the sizing dies of a new precise forming process of hollow parts on the CWR. The new process that designed through the information of FEM improved the accuracy of hollow parts on CWR. It proved the validity and practicability of numerical simulation.

Preparation of Porous Silicone Resin Sheet with Phase Inversion in Parallel with Non Solvent Induced Phase Separation and Application to Hollow Particle Formation

We have tried to prepare the porous silicone resin sheet with the phase inversion method in parallel with the non solvent induced phase separation method. In the experiment, ethyl acetate and water were adopted as a good solvent and a poor solvent for silicone resin, respectively and ethyl alcohol as an amphiphilic solvent was used to increase the solubility of ethyl acetate in water and decrease the interfacial tension by mass transfer from water to ethyl acetate. The concentration of silicone resin in ethyl acetate and the oil soluble surfactant species were changed. Increasing the concentration of silicone resin could depress coalescence between the water droplets in the (W/O) dispersion and increase the porosity and pore number density of silicone resin sheet. Span 80 among the oil soluble surfactant species made the porosity and pore number density larger. The effect of physical proparties of liquids concerned on the porosity and pore number density was discussed on the basis of dispersing behavior of liquid droplets in the liquid-liquid dispersion. The hollow silicone resin particles could be prepared by applying the preparation method presented here.

Controllable fabrication of FeCoS_(4) nanoparticles/S-doped bowl-shaped hollow carbon as efficient lithium storage anode

To address the low conductivity and easy agglomeration of transition metal sulfide nanoparticles,FeCoS_(4) nanoparticles embedded in S-doped hollow carbon(FeCoS_(4)@S-HC)composites were successfully fabricated through a combination of hydrothermal processes and sulfidation treatment.The unique bowlshaped FeCoS_(4)/S-HC composites exhibit excellent structural stability with a high specific surface area of 303.7 m^(2)·g^(-1) and a pore volume of 0.93 cm^(3)·g^(-1).When applied as anode material for lithium-ion batteries,the FeCoS_(4)@S-HC anode exhibits efficient lithium storage with high reversible specific capacity(970.2 mA·h·g^(-1) at 100 mA·g^(-1))and enhanced cycling stability(574 mA·h·g^(-1) at 0.2 A·g^(-1) after 350 cycles,a capacity retention of 84%).The excellent lithium storage is attributed to the fact that the bimetallic FeCoS_(4) nanoparticles with abundant active sites can accelerate the electrochemical reaction kinetics,and the bowl-shaped S-HC structure can provide a stable mechanical structure to suppress volume expansion.

Size Effect on the Radiation Stability Silicon Dioxide Sphere Particles

The effect of protons(E = 100 keV,F = 5×10^(15) cm^(-2)) exposure on the diffuse reflectance spectra of the SiO_(2 )with different size particles in wavelength range from 250 to 2500 nm have been investigated.Particles were nanosphere,submicrosphere,microsphere and submacrosphere,as well as solid micro-and nanocrystals.The synthesis of the particles was carried out by the formation of silica shells and dissolution of the polystyrene core particles.The surface morphology,surface area and crystal structure of the particles have been investigated.When evaluating the changes of the solar absorptance,it was found that the radiation stability of the micro-and submacro-hollow particles is higher than that of the other nanostructured particles,except for solid microcrystals.The low radiation stability of the hollow microparticles is due to the large void inside the hollow particles where radiation defects are not formed.

Rationally designed hollow carbon nanospheres decorated with S,P co-doped NiSe_(2) nanoparticles for high-performance potassium-ion and lithium-ion batteries

Hollow nanostructures with external shells and inner voids have been proved to greatly shorten the transport distance of ions/electrons and buffer volume change,especially for the large-sized potassium-ions in secondary batteries.In this work,hollow carbon(HC) nanospheres embedded with S,P co-doped NiSe_(2)nanoparticles are fabricated by "drop and dry" and "dissolving and precipitation" processes to form Ni(OH)2nanocrystals followed by annealing with S and P dopants to form nanoparticles.The resultant S,P-NiSe_(2)/HC composite exhibits excellent cyclic performance with 131.6 mA h g^(-1)at1000 mA g^(-1)after 3000 cycles for K^(+)storage and a capacity of 417.1 mA h g^(-1)at 1000 mA g^(-1)after1000 cycles for Li^(+)storage.K-ion full cells are assembled and deliver superior cycling stability with a ca pacity of 72.5 mA h g^(-1)at 200 mA g^(-1)after 500 cycles.The hollow carbon shell with excellent electrical conductivity effectively promotes the transporta tion and tolerates large volume variation for both K^(+)and Li^(+).Density functional theory calculations confirm that the S and P co-doping NiSe_(2) enables stronger adsorption of K^(+)ions and higher electrical conductivity that contributes to the improved electrochemical performance.

Bi/Bi_(3)Se_(4) nanoparticles embedded in hollow porous carbon nanorod:High rate capability material for potassium-ion batteries

Considering their superior theoretical capacity and low voltage plateau,bismuth(Bi)-based materials are being widely explored for application in potassium-ion batteries(PIBs).Unfortunately,pure Bi and Bibased compounds suffer from severe electrochemical polarization,agglomeration,and dramatic volume fluctuations.To develop an advanced bismuth-based anode material with high reactivity and durability,in this work,the pyrolysis of Bi-based metal-organic frameworks and in-situ selenization techniques have been successfully used to produce a Bi-based composite with high capacity and unique structure,in which Bi/Bi_(3)Se_(4)nanoparticles are encapsulated in carbon nanorods(Bi/Bi_(3)Se_(4)@CNR).Applied as the anode material of PIBs,the Bi/Bi_(3)Se_(4)@CNR displays fast potassium storage capability with 307.5 m A h g^(-1)at 20 A g^(-1)and durable cycle performance of 2000 cycles at 5 A g^(-1).Notably,the Bi/Bi_(3)Se_(4)@CNR also showed long cycle stability over 1600 cycles when working in a full cell system with potassium vanadate as the cathode material,which further demonstrates its promising potential in the field of PIBs.Additionally,the dual potassium storage mechanism of the Bi/Bi_(3)Se_(4)@CNR based on conversion and alloying reaction has also been revealed by in-situ X-ray diffraction.

N-doped graphene quantum dot-decorated N-TiO2/P-doped porous hollow g-C_(3)N_(4) nanotube composite photocatalysts for antibiotic photodegradation and H2 production

Exclusive responsiveness to ultraviolet light (~3.2 eV) and high photogenerated charge recombination rate are the two primary drawbacks of pure TiO_(2). We combined N-doped graphene quantum dots (N-GQDs), morphology regulation, and heterojunction construction strategies to synthesize N-GQD/N-doped TiO_(2)/P-doped porous hollow g-C_(3)N_(4) nanotube (PCN) composite photocatalysts (denoted as G-TPCN). The optimal sample (G-TPCN doped with 0.1wt% N-GQD, denoted as 0.1% G-TPCN) exhibits significantly enhanced photoabsorption, which is attributed to the change in bandgap caused by elemental doping (P and N), the improved light-harvesting resulting from the tube structure, and the upconversion effect of N-GQDs. In addition, the internal charge separation and transfer capability of0.1% G-TPCN are dramatically boosted, and its carrier concentration is 3.7, 2.3, and 1.9 times that of N-TiO_(2), PCN, and N-TiO_(2)/PCN(TPCN-1), respectively. This phenomenon is attributed to the formation of Z-scheme heterojunction between N-TiO_(2) and PCNs, the excellent electron conduction ability of N-GQDs, and the short transfer distance caused by the porous nanotube structure. Compared with those of N-TiO_(2), PCNs, and TPCN-1, the H2 production activity of 0.1%G-TPCN under visible light is enhanced by 12.4, 2.3, and 1.4times, respectively, and its ciprofloxacin (CIP) degradation rate is increased by 7.9, 5.7, and 2.9 times, respectively. The optimized performance benefits from excellent photoresponsiveness and improved carrier separation and migration efficiencies. Finally, the photocatalytic mechanism of 0.1% G-TPCN and five possible degradation pathways of CIP are proposed. This study clarifies the mechanism of multiple modification strategies to synergistically improve the photocatalytic performance of 0.1% G-TPCN and provides a potential strategy for rationally designing novel photocatalysts for environmental remediation and solar energy conversion.

Compositional and Hollow Engineering of Silicon Carbide/Carbon Microspheres as High-Performance Microwave Absorbing Materials with Good Environmental Tolerance

Microwave absorbing materials(MAMs)characterized by high absorption efficiency and good environmental tolerance are highly desirable in practical applications.Both silicon carbide and carbon are considered as stable MAMs under some rigorous conditions,while their composites still fail to produce satisfactory microwave absorption performance regardless of the improvements as compared with the individuals.Herein,we have successfully implemented compositional and structural engineering to fabricate hollow Si C/C microspheres with controllable composition.The simultaneous modulation on dielectric properties and impedance matching can be easily achieved as the change in the composition of these composites.The formation of hollow structure not only favors lightweight feature,but also generates considerable contribution to microwave attenuation capacity.With the synergistic effect of composition and structure,the optimized SiC/C composite exhibits excellent performance,whose the strongest reflection loss intensity and broadest effective absorption reach-60.8 dB and 5.1 GHz,respectively,and its microwave absorption properties are actually superior to those of most SiC/C composites in previous studies.In addition,the stability tests of microwave absorption capacity after exposure to harsh conditions and Radar Cross Section simulation data demonstrate that hollow SiC/C microspheres from compositional and structural optimization have a bright prospect in practical applications.

Plasma density enhancement in radio-frequency hollow electrode discharge

The plasma density enhancement outside hollow electrodes in capacitively coupled radio-frequency(RF) discharges is investigated by a two-dimensional(2D) particle-in-cell/Monte-Carlo collision(PIC/MCC) model. Results show that plasma exists inside the cavity when the sheath inside the hollow electrode hole is fully collapsed, which is an essential condition for the plasma density enhancement outside hollow electrodes. In addition, the existence of the electron density peak at the orifice is generated via the hollow cathode effect(HCE), which plays an important role in the density enhancement. It is also found that the radial width of bulk plasma at the orifice affects the magnitude of the density enhancement, and narrow radial plasma bulk width at the orifice is not beneficial to obtain high-density plasma outside hollow electrodes.Higher electron density at the orifice, combined with larger radial plasma bulk width at the orifice,causes higher electron density outside hollow electrodes. The results also imply that the HCE strength inside the cavity cannot be determined by the magnitude of the electron density outside hollow electrodes.

Hollow cathode effect in radio frequency hollow electrode discharge in argon

Radio frequency capacitively coupled plasma source(RF-CCP)with a hollow electrode can increase the electron density through the hollow cathode effect(HCE),which offers a method to modify the spatial profiles of the plasma density.In this work,the variations of the HCE in one RF period are investigated by using a two-dimensional particle-in-cell/Monte-Carlo collision(PIC/MCC)model.The results show that the sheath electric field,the sheath potential drop,the sheath thickness,the radial plasma bulk width,the electron energy distribution function(EEDF),and the average electron energy in the cavity vary in one RF period.During the hollow electrode sheath's expansion phase,the secondary electron heating and sheath oscillation heating in the cavity are gradually enhanced,and the frequency of the electron pendular motion in the cavity gradually increases,hence the HCE is gradually enhanced.However,during the hollow electrode sheath's collapse phase,the secondary electron heating is gradually attenuated.In addition,when interacting with the gradually collapsed hollow electrode sheaths,high-energy plasma bulk electrons in the cavity will lose some energy.Furthermore,the frequency of the electron pendular motion in the cavity gradually decreases.Therefore,during the hollow electrode sheath's collapse phase,the HCE is gradually attenuated.

Atomically Dispersed Ruthenium Catalysts with Open Hollow Structure for Lithium-Oxygen Batteries

Lithium–oxygen battery with ultrahigh theoretical energy density is considered a highly competitive next-generation energy storage device,but its practical application is severely hindered by issues such as difficult decomposition of discharge products at present.Here,we have developed N-doped carbon anchored atomically dispersed Ru sites cathode catalyst with open hollow structure(h-RuNC)for Lithium–oxygen battery.On one hand,the abundance of atomically dispersed Ru sites can effectively catalyze the formation and decomposition of discharge products,thereby greatly enhancing the redox kinetics.On the other hand,the open hollow structure not only enhances the mass activity of atomically dispersed Ru sites but also improves the diffusion efficiency of catalytic molecules.Therefore,the excellent activity from atomically dispersed Ru sites and the enhanced diffusion from open hollow structure respectively improve the redox kinetics and cycling stability,ultimately achieving a high-performance lithium–oxygen battery.

Hollow ZIF-67-derived Co@N-doped carbon nanotubes boosting the hydrogenation of phenolic compounds to alcohols

The selective hydrogenation of highly toxic phenolic compounds to generate alcohols with thermal stability,environmental friendliness,and non-toxicity is of great importance.Herein,a series of Co-based catalysts,named Co@NCNTs,were designed and constructed by direct pyrolysis of hollow ZIF-67(HZIF-67)under H_(2)/Ar atmosphere.The evolution of the catalyst surface from the shell layer assembled by ZIF-67-derived particles to the in situ-grown hollow nitrogen-doped carbon nanotubes(NCNTs)with certain length and density is achieved by adjusting the pyrolysis atmosphere and temperature.Due to the synergistic effects of in situ-formed hollow NCNTs,well-dispersed Co nanoparticles,and intact carbon matrix,the as-prepared Co@NCNTs-0.10-450 catalyst exhibits superior catalytic performance in the hydrogenation of phenolic compounds to alcohols.The turnover frequency value of Co@NCNTs-0.10-450is 3.52 h^(-1),5.9 times higher than that of Co@NCNTs-0.40-450 and 4.5 times higher than that of Co@NCNTs-0.10-550,exceeding most previously reported non-noble metal catalysts.Our findings provide new insights into the development of non-precious metal,efficient,and cost-effective metal-organic framework-derived catalysts for the hydrogenation of phenolic compounds to alcohols.

Recent advances in producing hollow carbon spheres for use in sodium−sulfur and potassium−sulfur batteries

Sodium-sulfur(Na-S)and potassium-sulfur(K-S)batteries for use at room temperature have received widespread attention because of the abundance and low cost of their raw materials and their high energy density.However,their development is restricted by the shuttling of polysulfides,large volume expansion and poor conductivity.To overcome these obstacles,an effective approach is to use carbon-based materials with abundant space for the sulfur that has sulfiphilic sites to immobilize it,and a high electrical conductivity.Hollow carbon spheres(HCSs)with a controllable structure and composition are promising for this purpose.We consider recent progress in optimizing the electrochemical performance of Na-/K-S batteries by using these materials.First,the advantages of HCSs,their synthesis methods,and strategies for preparing HCSs/sulfur composite materials are reviewed.Second,the use of HCSs in Na-/K-S batteries,along with mechanisms underlying the resulting performance improvement,are discussed.Finally,prospects for the further development of HCSs for metal−S batteries are presented.

Hyperbranched polymer hollow-fiber-composite membranes for pervaporation separation of aromatic/aliphatic hydrocarbon mixtures

The separation of aromatic/aliphatic hydrocarbon mixtures is crucial in the petrochemical industry.Pervaporation is regarded as a promising approach for the separation of aromatic compounds from alkanes. Developing membrane materials with efficient separation performance is still the main task since the membrane should provide chemical stability, high permeation flux, and selectivity. In this study, the hyperbranched polymer(HBP) was deposited on the outer surface of a polyvinylidene fluoride(PVDF)hollow-fiber ultrafiltration membrane by a facile dip-coating method. The dip-coating rate, HBP concentration, and thermal cross-linking temperature were regulated to optimize the membrane structure.The obtained HBP/PVDF hollow-fiber-composite membrane had a good separation performance for aromatic/aliphatic hydrocarbon mixtures. For the 50%/50%(mass) toluene/n-heptane mixture, the permeation flux of optimized composite membranes could reach 1766 g·m^(-2)·h^(-1), with a separation factor of 4.1 at 60℃. Therefore, the HBP/PVDF hollow-fiber-composite membrane has great application prospects in the pervaporation separation of aromatic/aliphatic hydrocarbon mixtures.

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.

Apically guiding electron/mass transfer reaction induced by Ag/FeN_(x)Mott-Schottky effect within a hollow star reactor toward high performance zinc-air batteries

The disparity in the transfer of carriers(electrons/mass)during the reaction in zinc-air batteries(ZABs)results in sluggish kinetics of the oxygen reduction reaction(ORR)and oxygen evolution reaction(OER),along with elevated overpotentials,thereby imposing additional constraints on its utilization.Therefore,the pre-design and target-development of inexpensive,high-performance,and long-term stable bifunctional catalysts are urgently needed.In this work,an apically guiding dual-functional electrocatalyst(Ag-FeN_(x)-N-C)was prepared,in which a hierarchical porous nitrogen-doped carbon with three-dimensional(3D)hollow star-shaped structure is used as a substrate and high-conductivity Ag nanoparticles are coupled with iron nitride(FeN_(x))nanoparticles.Theoretical calculations indicate that the Mott-Schottky heterojunction as an inherent electric field comes from the two-phase bound of Ag and FeN_(x),of which electron accumulation in the FeN_(x)phase region and electron depletion in the Ag phase region promote orientated-guiding charge migration.The effective modulation of local electronic structures felicitously reforms the d-band electron-group distribution,and intellectually tunes the masstransfer reaction energy barriers for both ORR/OER.Additionally,the hollow star-s haped hierarchical porous structure provides an apical region for fast mass transfer.Experimental results show that the halfwave potential for ORR is 0.914 V,and the overpotential for OER is only 327 mV at 10 mA cm^(-2).A rechargeable ZAB with Ag-FeN_(x)-N-C as the air cathode demonstrates long-term cycling performance exceeding 1500 cycles(500 h),with a power density of 180 mW cm^(-2).Moreover,when employing AgFeN_(x)-N-C as the air cathode,flexible ZABs demonstrate a notable open-circuit voltage of 1.42 V and achieve a maximum power density of 65.6 mW cm^(-2).Ag-FeN_(x)-N-C shows guiding electron/mass transfer route and apical reaction microenvironment for the electrocatalyst architecture in the exploration prospects of ZABs.

Hollow tubes constructed by carbon nanotubes self-assembly for CO_(2) capture

Carbon nanotubes(CNTs)have garnered significant attention in the fields of science,engineering,and medicine due to their numerous advantages.The initial step towards harnessing the potential of CNTs involves their macroscopic assembly.The present study employed a gentle and direct self-assembly technique,wherein controlled growth of CNT sheaths occurred on the metal wire’s surface,followed by etching of the remaining metal to obtain the hollow tubes composed of CNTs.By controlling the growth time and temperature,it is possible to alter the thickness of the CNTs sheath.After immersing in a solution containing 1 g/L of CNTs at 60℃ for 24 h,the resulting CNTs layer achieved a thickness of up to 60μm.These hollow CNTs tubes with varying inner diameters were prepared through surface reinforcement using polymers and sacrificing metal wires,thereby exhibiting exceptional attributes such as robustness,flexibility,air tightness,and high adsorption capacity that effectively capture CO_(2) from the gas mixture.

Four-channel catalytic micro-reactor based on alumina hollow fiber membrane for efficient catalytic oxidation of CO

The traditional automotive catalytic converter using commercial ceramic honeycomb carriers has many problems such as high back pressure,low engine efficiency,and high usage of precious metals.This study proposes a four-channel catalytic micro-reactor based on alumina hollow fiber membrane,which uses phase inversion method for structural molding and regulation.Due to the advantages of its carrier,it can achieve lower ignition temperature under low noble metal loading.With Pd/CeO_(2) at a loading rate of 2.3%(mass),the result showed that the reaction ignition temperature is even less than 160℃,which is more than 90℃ lower than the data of commercial ceramic substrates under similar catalyst loading and airspeed conditions.The technology in turn significantly reduces the energy consumption of the reaction.And stability tests were conducted under constant conditions for 1000 h,which proved that this catalytic converter has high catalytic efficiency and stability,providing prospects for the design of innovative catalytic converters in the future.