Construction of a High‑Performance Composite Solid Electrolyte Through In‑Situ Polymerization within a Self‑Supported Porous Garnet Framework

Composite solid electrolytes(CSEs)have emerged as promising candidates for safe and high-energy–density solid-state lithium metal batteries(SSLMBs).However,concurrently achieving exceptional ionic conductivity and interface compatibility between the electrolyte and electrode presents a significant challenge in the development of high-performance CSEs for SSLMBs.To overcome these challenges,we present a method involving the in-situ polymerization of a monomer within a self-supported porous Li_(6.4)La_(3)Zr_(1.4)Ta_(0.6)O_(12)(LLZT)to produce the CSE.The synergy of the continuous conductive LLZT network,well-organized polymer,and their interface can enhance the ionic conductivity of the CSE at room temperature.Furthermore,the in-situ polymerization process can also con-struct the integration and compatibility of the solid electrolyte–solid electrode interface.The synthesized CSE exhibited a high ionic conductivity of 1.117 mS cm^(-1),a significant lithium transference number of 0.627,and exhibited electrochemical stability up to 5.06 V vs.Li/Li+at 30℃.Moreover,the Li|CSE|LiNi_(0.8)Co_(0.1)Mn_(0.1)O_(2) cell delivered a discharge capacity of 105.1 mAh g^(-1) after 400 cycles at 0.5 C and 30℃,corresponding to a capacity retention of 61%.This methodology could be extended to a variety of ceramic,polymer electrolytes,or battery systems,thereby offering a viable strategy to improve the electrochemical properties of CSEs for high-energy–density SSLMBs.

Preparation and properties of porous silicon carbide ceramics through coat-mix and composite additives process

The core-shell structure silicon-resin precursor powders were synthesized through coat-mix process and addition of Al2O3-SiO2-Y2O3 composite additives.A series of porous silicon carbide ceramics were produced after molding,carbonization and sintering.The phase,morphology,porosity,thermal conductivity,thermal expansion coefficient,and thermal shock resistance were analyzed.The results show that porous silicon carbide ceramics can be produced at low temperature.The grain size of porous silicon carbide ceramic is small,and the thermal conductivity is enhanced significantly.Composite additives also improve the thermal shock resistance of porous ceramics.The bending strength loss rate after 30 times of thermal shock test of the porous ceramics which were added Al2O3-SiO2-Y2O3 and sintered at 1 650 ℃ is only 6.5%.Moreover,the pore inside of the sample is smooth,and the pore size distribution is uniform.Composite additives make little effect on the thermal expansion coefficient of the porous silicon carbide ceramics.

Step-scheme porous g-C3N4/Zn0.2Cd0.8S-DETA composites for efficient and stable photocatalytic H2 production

In recent years,environmental pollution and energy crisis have become increasingly serious issues owing to the burning of fossil fuels.Among the many technologies,decomposition of water to produce hydrogen has attracted much attention because of its sustainability and non-polluting characteristic.However,highly efficient decomposition of water that is driven by visible light is still a challenge.Herein,we report the large-scale preparation of step-scheme porous graphite carbon nitride/Zn0.2Cd0.8S-diethylenetriamine(Pg-C3N4/Zn0.2Cd0.8S-DETA)composite by a facile solvothermal method.It was found by UV-vis spectroscopy that 15%Pg-C3N4/Zn0.2Cd0.8S-DETA exhibited suitable visible absorption edge and band gap for water decomposition.The hydrogen production rate of 15%Pg-C3N4/Zn0.2Cd0.8S-DETA composite was 6.69 mmol g^-1 h^-1,which was 16.73,1.61,and 1.44 times greater than those of Pg-C3N4,CdS-DETA,and Zn0.2Cd0.8S-DETA,respectively.In addition,15%Pg-C3N4/Zn0.2Cd0.8S-DETA composite displayed excellent photocatalytic stability,which was maintained for seven cycles of photocatalytic water splitting test.We believe that 15%Pg-C3N4/Zn0.2Cd0.8S-DETA composite can be a valuable guide for the development of solar hydrogen production applications in the near future.

N-doped porous carbon nanofibers sheathed pumpkin-like Si/C composites as free-standing anodes for lithium-ion batteries

Dramatic capacity fading and poor rate performance are two main obstacles that severely hamper the widespread application of the Si anode owing to its large volume variation during cycling and low intrinsic electrical conductivity.To mitigate these issues,free-standing N-doped porous carbon nanofibers sheathed pumpkin-like Si/C composites(Si/C-ZIF-8/CNFs)are designed and synthesized by electrospinning and carbonization methods,which present greatly enhanced electrochemical properties for lithium-ion battery anodes.This particular structure alleviates the volume variation,promotes the formation of stable solid electrolyte interphase(SEI)film,and improves the electrical conductivity.As a result,the as-obtained free-standing Si/C-ZIF-8/CNFs electrode delivers a high reversible capacity of 945.5 mAh g^(-1) at 0.2 A g^(-1) with a capacity retention of 64% for 150 cycles,and exhibits a reversible capacity of 538.6 mA h g^(-1) at 0.5 A g^(-1) over 500 cycles.Moreover,the full cell composed of a freestanding Si/C-ZIF-8/CNFs anode and commercial LiNi_(1/3)Co_(1/3)Mn_(1/3)O_(2)(NCM)cathode shows a capacity of 63.4 mA h g^(-1) after 100 cycles at 0.2 C,which corresponds to a capacity retention of 60%.This rational design could provide a new path for the development of high-performance Si-based anodes.

Functional porous carbon-based composite electrode materials for lithium secondary batteries

The synthetic routes of porous carbons and the applications of the functional porous carbon-based composite electrode materials for lithium secondary batteries are reviewed. The synthetic methods have made great breakthroughs to control the pore size and volume, wall thickness, surface area, and connectivity of porous carbons, which result in the development of functional porous carbon-based composite electrode materials. The effects of porous carbons on the electrochemical properties are further discussed. The porous carbons as ideal matrixes to incorporate active materials make a great improvement on the electrochemical properties because of high surface area and pore volume, excellent electronic conductivity, and strong adsorption capacity. Large numbers of the composite electrode materials have been used for the devices of electrochemical energy conversion and storage, such as lithium-ion batteries （LIBs）, Li-S batteries, and Li-O2 batteries. It is believed that functional porous carbon-based composite electrode materials will continuously contribute to the field of lithium secondary batteries.

Microstructure,mechanical properties and corrosion performance of selective laser melting Ti/GNPs composite with a porous structure

In this study,nano-graphene reinforced titanium matrix composites(GNPs/Ti)with a honeycomb porous structure were fabricated by selective laser melting(SLM).The effects of graphene on the microstructure,mechanical properties and corrosion performance of the SLM GNPs/Ti were systematically investigated.Results of microstructure characterization show that:1)the density of the SLM GNPs/Ti was improved as compared to that of the SLM Ti;2)abundant TiC particles were formed in the SLM GNPs/Ti.The hardness and compressive strength of the composite increased by 90%(from HV 236 to HV 503)and 14%(from 277 MPa to 316 MPa),respectively,attributed to the uniformly distributed TiC and fine GNPs in the Ti matrix.Electrochemical tests reveal that the corrosion current density of the SLM GNPs/Ti is only 0.328μA/cm^(2),that is about 25%less than that of the SLM Ti.The results indicate that the incorporation of nano-graphene is a potential method to strengthen the Ti by SLM.

Sulfur/carbon composites prepared with ordered porous carbon for Li-S battery cathode

Ordered porous cabon with a 2-D hexagonal structure,high specific surface area and large pore volume was synthesized through a twostep heating method using tri-block copolymer as template and phenolic resin as carbon precursor.The results indicated the electrochemical performance of the sulfur/carbon composites prepared with the ordered porous carbon was significantly affected by the pore structure of the carbon.Both the specific capacity and cycling stability of the sulfur/carbon composites were improved using the bimodal micro/meso-porous carbon frameworks with high surface area.Its initial discharge capacity can be as high as 1200 mAh·g-1 at a current density of 167.5 mA·g-1The improved capacity retention was obtained during the cell cycling as well.

Wave transmission through laminated composite double-walled cylindrical shell lined with porous materials

A study on free harmonic wave propagation in a double-walled cylindrical shell, whose walls sandwich a layer of porous materials, is presented within the framework of the classic theory for laminated composite shells. One of the most effective components of the wave propagation through the porous core is estimated with the aid of a flat panel with the same geometrical properties. By considering the effective wave component, the porous layer is modeled as a fluid with equivalent properties. Thus, the model is simplified as a double-walled cylindrical shell trapping the fluid media. Finally, the transmission loss （TL） of the structure is estimated in a broadband frequency, and then the results are compared.

Preparation and characterization of the n-HA/PVA/CS porous composite hydrogel☆

In this paper,a new method combines chemical/physical crosslinking,and emulsification-foaming porogenic was adopted to prepare n-hydroxyapatite(n-HA)/polyvinyl alcohol(PVA)/chitosan(CS)porous composite hydrogel using artificial cornea scaffold materials.The fabricate conditions,including the type and amount of emulsification-foaming porogen,mixing time and speed etc.were researched.The results showed the optimal condition that the alkylphenol polyoxyethylene ether(OP)acted as emulsification-foaming porogen,with the ratio of WPVA/WOP as 3.75,and mixing 15 min with a stirring speed of 800 r·min-1.Additionally,the fabricated composite hydrogel scaffold materials possessed interconnected internal holes,a moisture content of above 65%,and tensile strength of above 6 MPa.In vitro cytotoxicity and acute systemic toxicity assay confirmed that the scaffolds did not show any cytotoxicity.The as-prepared hydrogel could be a promising candidate for artificial cornea scaffold material.

Synthesis of Hierarchically Porous FAU/γ-Al2O3 Composites with Different Morphologies via Directing Agent Induced Method

Zeolite FAU composites with a macro/meso-microporous hierarchical structure were hydrothermally synthesized using macro-mesoporous γ-Al_2O_3 monolith as the substrate by means of the liquid crystallization directing agent(LCDA) induced method. No template was needed throughout the synthesis processes. The structure and porosity of zeolite composites were analyzed by means of X-ray powder diffraction(XRD), scanning electron microscopy(SEM) and N_2adsorption-desorption isotherms. The results showed that the supported zeolite composites with varied zeolitic crystalline phases and different morphologies can be obtained by adjusting the crystallization parameters, such as the crystallization temperature, the composition and the alkalinity of the precursor solution. The presence of LCDA was defined as a determinant for synthesizing the zeolite composites. The mechanisms for formation of the hierarchically porous FAU zeolite composites in the LCDA induced synthesis process were discussed. The resulting monolithic zeolite with a trimodal-porous hierarchical structure shows potential applicability where facile diffusion is required.

Laser-induced porous graphene on Polyimide/PDMS composites andits kirigami-inspired strain sensor

The laser-induced porous graphene(LIG)prepared in a straightforward fabrication method is presented,and its applications in stretchable strain sensors to detect the applied strain are also explored.The LIGformed on the polyimide/polydimethylsiloxane(PI/PDMS)composite exhibits a naturally high stretchabil-ity(over 30%),bypassing the transfer printing process compared to the one prepared by laser scribing onPI films.The PI/PDMS composite with LIG shows tunable mechanical and electronic performances withdifferent PI particle concentrations in PDMS.The good cyclic stability and almost linear response of theprepared LIG’s resistance with respect to tensile strain provide its access to wearable electronics.To im-prove the PDMS/PI composite stretchability,we designed and optimized a kirigami-inspired strain sensorwith LIG on the top surface,dramatically increasing the maximum strain value that in linear response toapplied strain from 3%to 79%.

Effect of porous structure on mechanical properties of C/PLA/nano-HA composites scaffold

Nonporous and porous C/PLA/nano-HA composites were fabricated by the process of solvent blending and freeze-drying technique, and the effect of porous structure on the mechanical properties of C/PLA/nano-HA composites scaffold was investigated and analyzed. The results show that the effects of porous structure on the bending strength, modulus and curves of stress and strain were obvious. Compared with nonporous sample, the curves of stress and strain of porous sample show more rough, and alternative phenomenon of stress increase and stress relaxation appears. It is strongly suggested that the fracture model of C/PLA/nano-HA composites scaffold transforms from the local to global load due to the porous structure.

Self-diffractionin Porous Silicon/PMMA-DR1 Composite Fil ms

Two-layer structure consisting of PS/PMMA-DR1 composite film planar waveguide layer on porous silicon cladding layer was fabricated in our experiment. The induced grating based on the third nonlinear optical properties was formed by interaction of two Nd∶YAG laser beams at 1064nm in the porous silicon/PMMA-DR1 waveguide. The diffraction efficiency of the first order diffracted light is measured to be about 0.2% of the total output.

Processing and performance of 2D fused-silica fiber reinforced porous Si_3N_4 matrix composites

Two-dimension （2D） fused-silica fiber reinforced porous silicon nitride matrix composites were fabricated using slurry impregnation and cyclic infiltration with colloidal silica sol. The microstructure and fracture surface were characterized by SEM, the mechanical behavior was investigated by three-point bending test, and the dielectric constant was also measured by impedance analysis. The microstructure showed that the fiber and the matrix had a physical bonding, forming a clearance interface. The mechanical behavior suggested that the porous matrix acted as crack deflection, and the fracture surface had a lot of fiber pull-out. However, the interlaminar shear strength was not so good. The dielectric constant of the composites at room temperature was about 2.8-3.1. The relatively low dielectric constant and non-catastrophic failure indicated the potential application in the radome materials field. 2008 University of Science and Technology Beijing. All rights reserved.

Nonlinear stability of advanced sandwich cylindrical shells comprising porous functionally graded material and carbon nanotube reinforced composite layers under elevated temperature

The nonlinear stability of sandwich cylindrical shells comprising porous functionally graded material(FGM) and carbon nanotube reinforced composite(CNTRC)layers subjected to uniform temperature rise is investigated. Two sandwich models corresponding to CNTRC and FGM face sheets are proposed. Carbon nanotubes(CNTs) in the CNTRC layer are embedded into a matrix according to functionally graded distributions. The effects of porosity in the FGM and the temperature dependence of properties of all constituent materials are considered. The effective properties of the porous FGM and CNTRC are determined by using the modified and extended versions of a linear mixture rule, respectively. The basic equations governing the stability problem of thin sandwich cylindrical shells are established within the framework of the Donnell shell theory including the von K’arm’an-Donnell nonlinearity. These equations are solved by using the multi-term analytical solutions and the Galerkin method for simply supported shells.The critical buckling temperatures and postbuckling paths are determined through an iteration procedure. The study reveals that the sandwich shell model with a CNTRC core layer and relatively thin porous FGM face sheets can have the best capacity of thermal load carrying. In addition, unlike the cases of mechanical loads, porosities have beneficial effects on the nonlinear stability of sandwich shells under the thermal load. It is suggested that an appropriate combination of advantages of FGM and CNTRC can result in optimal efficiency for advanced sandwich structures.

Synergistic photocatalytic effect of porous g-C_3N_4 in a Cr(Ⅵ)/4-chlorophenol composite pollution system

The photocatalytic reduction of aqueous Cr(VI)to Cr(III)was preliminarily studied using porousg‐C3N4as a photocatalyst under acidic conditions.The observed synergistic photocatalytic effect ofporous g‐C3N4on a Cr(VI)/4‐chlorophenol(4‐CP)composite pollution system was further studiedunder different pH conditions.Compared with single‐component photocatalytic systems for Cr(VI)reduction or4‐CP degradation,the Cr(VI)reduction efficiency and4‐CP degradation efficiency weresimultaneously improved in the Cr(VI)/4‐CP composite pollution system.The synergistic photocatalyticeffect in the Cr(VI)/4‐CP composite pollution system can be attributed to the acceleratedredox reaction between dichromate and4‐CP by electron transfer with porous g‐C3N4.

Dynamic indentation response of porous SiC/Ti-based metallic glass composite

Porous SiC/Ti-based metallic glass composite (Ti-BMGC), a new kind of composite, has significant application prospectin the field of light armor. To evaluate the dynamic mechanical response of the composite, dynamic Vickers hardness andindentation-induced deformation behavior were investigated by comparison with that under static indentation. The dynamic hardnesswas measured by a modified split Hopkinson pressure bar (SHPB). The dynamic hardness is obviously greater than the statichardness. The brittleness parameter under dynamic indentation is also greater than that under static indentation. Although thedynamic indentation induced more severe deformation behavior than the static indentation, the deformation and fracturecharacteristics in the two loading cases are nearly the same, both exhibiting extensive cracks in the SiC phase and severe plasticdeformation in the metallic glass phase.

Preparation of Porous Mullite Composite by Microwave Sintering

Microwave sintering method was carried out to prepare porous mullite composite. An insulation structure based on hybrid heating mode was well designed with the wall of mullite and the aided heaters of SiC. The obtained samples were characterized by XRD analysis, apparent porosity detection, and bending strength measurement. SEM was used to observe the microstructure of the sample. It is found that the porous mullite composite could be prepared through the microwave sintering within 2 h at relatively low temperatures around 1000 ℃. The lasted samples show comparatively superior properties to the products prepared by conventional processing.

Hierarchically porous Fe_2O_3 /CuO composite monoliths:Synthesis and characterization

In this paper,hierarchically porous Fe2O3 /CuO composite monoliths were first successfully synthesized by a mild method using silica monoliths as templates.The structure of composite monoliths was characterized by X-ray diffraction,scanning electron microscopy,nitrogen adsorption-desorption.The results indicated that the molar ratio of Fe to Cu had a great influence on the crystal phase of Fe2O3,pore size and the structure of the macroporous wall.The Fe2O3 /CuO composite monoliths consist of hierarchically macroporous and mesoporous structure,while the sample with the Fe/Cu molar ratio of 2：1 possesses tighter wall structure than other samples.It is expected that asprepared Fe2O3/CuO composite monoliths have potential applications in several fields as catalysts,catalyst supports,chemical sensors and high-performance liquid chromatography （HPLC）.

Research in Moisture Transport through One and Two-layered Porous Composites

Research into the moisture transport processes in porous materials is primarily important for theoretical modelling and industrial applications in the design of energy saving buildings and living environments, etc. Based on experimental investigation, we propose new models which describe one-dimensional transport through one-layered uniform materials and dissimilar two-layered composites. Diffusivity as a function of moisture content is obtained through a Boltzman transformation, master curves, and combined numerical and regression techniques. Transport processes in one and two-layered composites are simulated on the basis of extended unsaturated Darcy’s Law using the finite element method (FEM). Simulation results show significantly different transport patterns of moisture profile when moisture migrates in different directions, and high agreement with experimental moisture profiles. Keywords Porous materials - moisture transport - two-layered composites - modelling and simulation Qingguo Wang graduated from Hebei Normal University, China, in 1985. He received the M.Sc. degree from Beijing Petroleum University in 1988 and the Ph.D. degree from the University of Luton, UK, in 2005. He is currently a Research Associate in the Department of Electrical Engineering and Electronics at the University of Liverpool, UK and an Associate Professor of Shijiazhuang Mechanical Engineering College, China. His research interests include measurement and control, mass and heat transportation, EMC, etc.Kemal Ahmet graduated in physics from the University of Leeds. Following the completion of his masters degree, he completed his Ph.D. at the University of London in the area of nuclear instrumentation in 1992. Until recently, he was a Principal Lecturer at the University of Luton, leading a research group in moisture instrumentation, measurement and monitoring. In 2004 he joined Medtronic, world leader in medical technology, and is currently working in the Neurologic Technologies division as a specialist in powered surgical instrumentation.Young Yue is a Principal Lecturer at the University of Luton, UK. He holds a B.Sc. in mechanical engineering from the Northeastern University, China, and a Ph.D. from Heriot-Watt University, UK. He is a chartered engineer and a member of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, UK. Dr. Yue has been working in academia for 15 years following his 8 years of industrial experience. His main research interests are CAD/CAM, geometric modelling, virtual reality, and pattern recognition. He has over 70 publications in refereed books, journals and conferences.