Research on self-supporting T-shaped gate structure of GaN-based HEMT devices

A self-supporting T-shaped gate(SST-gate) GaN device and process method using electron beam lithography are proposed.An AlGaN/GaN high-electron-mobility transistor(HEMT) device with a gate length of 100 nm is fabricated by this method.The current gain cutoff frequency(f_(T)) is 60 GHz,and the maximum oscillation frequency(f_(max)) is 104 GHz.The current collapse has improved by 13% at static bias of(V_(GSQ),V_(DSQ))=(-8 V,10 V),and gate manufacturing yield has improved by 17% compared with the traditional floating T-shaped gate(FT-gate) device.

Low-temperature characteristicsof rubbers and performance testsof type 120 emergencyvalve diaphragms

Purpose–The type 120 emergency valve is an essential braking component of railway freight trains,butcorresponding diaphragms consisting of natural rubber(NR)and chloroprene rubber(CR)exhibit insufficientaging resistance and low-temperature resistance,respectively.In order to develop type 120 emergency valverubber diaphragms with long-life and high-performance,low-temperatureresistant CR and NR were processed.Design/methodology/approach–The physical properties of the low-temperature-resistant CR and NRwere tested by low-temperature stretching,dynamic mechanical analysis,differential scanning calorimetryand thermogravimetric analysis.Single-valve and single-vehicle tests of type 120 emergency valves werecarried out for emergency diaphragms consisting of NR and CR.Findings–The low-temperature-resistant CR and NR exhibited excellent physical properties.The elasticityand low-temperature resistance of NR were superior to those of CR,whereas the mechanical properties of thetwo rubbers were similar in the temperature range of 0℃–150℃.The NR and CR emergency diaphragms metthe requirements of the single-valve test.In the low-temperature single-vehicle test,only the low-temperaturesensitivity test of the NR emergency diaphragm met the requirements.Originality/value–The innovation of this study is that it provides valuable data and experience for futuredevelopment of type 120 valve rubber diaphragms.

Recent progress of self-supported air electrodes for flexible Zn-air batteries

Smart wearable devices are regarded to be the next prevailing technology product after smartphones and smart homes,and thus there has recently been rapid development in flexible electronic energy storage devices.Among them,flexible solid-state zinc-air batteries have received widespread attention because of their high energy density,good safety,and stability.Efficient bifunctional oxygen electrocatalysts are the primary consideration in the development of flexible solid-state zinc-air batteries,and self-supported air cathodes are strong candidates because of their advantages including simplified fabrication process,reduced interfacial resistance,accelerated electron transfer,and good flexibility.This review outlines the research progress in the design and construction of nanoarray bifunctional oxygen electrocatalysts.Starting from the configuration and basic principles of zinc-air batteries and the strategies for the design of bifunctional oxygen electrocatalysts,a detailed discussion of self-supported air cathodes on carbon and metal substrates and their uses in flexible zinc-air batteries will follow.Finally,the challenges and opportunities in the development of flexible zinc-air batteries will be discussed.

Mechanical behavior of nanorubber reinforced epoxy over a wide strain rate loading

Nanorubber/epoxy composites containing 0,2,6 and 10 wt%nanorubber are subjected to uniaxial compression over a wide range of strain rate from 8×10^(-4) s^(-1) to~2×10^(4) s^(-1).Unexpectedly,their strain rate sensitivity and strain hardening index increase with increasing nanorubber content.Potential mechanisms are proposed based on numerical simulations using a unit cell model.An increase in the strain rate sensitivity with increasing nanorubber content results from the fact that the nanorubber becomes less incompressible at high strain,generating a higher hydro-static pressure.Adiabatic shear localization starts to occur in the epoxy under a strain rate of 22,000 s^(-1) when the strain exceeds 0.35.The presence of nanorubber in the epoxy reduces adiabatic shear localization by preventing it from propagating.

Comparison of nonlinear modeling methods for the composite rubber clamp

The cubic stiffness force model(CSFM)and Bouc-Wen model(BWM)are introduced and compared innovatively.The unknown coefficients of the nonlinear models are identified by the genetic algorithm combined with experiments.By fitting the identified nonlinear coefficients under different excitation amplitudes,the nonlinear vibration responses of the system are predicted.The results show that the accuracy of the BWM is higher than that of the CSFM,especially in the non-resonant region.However,the optimization time of the BWM is longer than that of the CSFM.

Carbon-based flexible self-supporting cathode for lithium-sulfur batteries:Progress and perspective

The flexible self-supporting electrode can maintain good mechanical and electrical properties while retaining high specific capacity,which meets the requirements of flexible batteries.Lithium-sulfur batteries(LSBs),as a new generation of energy storage system,hold much higher theoretical energy density than traditional batteries,and they have attracted extensive attention from both the academic and industrial communities.Selection of a proper substrate material is important for the flexible self-supporting electrode.Carbon materials,with the advantages of light weight,high conductivity,strong structural plasticity,and low cost,provide the electrode with a large loading space for the active material and a conductive network.This makes the carbon materials meet the mechanical and electrochemical requirements of flexible electrodes.In this paper,the commonly used fabrication methods and recent research progresses of the flexible self-supporting cathode with a carbon material as the substrate are introduced.Various sulfur loading methods are summarized,which provides useful information for the structural design of the cathode.As the first review article of the carbon-based flexible self-supporting LSB cathodes,it provides valuable guidance for the researchers working in the field of LSB.

Self-supporting and hierarchically porous Ni_(x)Fe-S/NiFe_(2)O_(4) heterostructure as a bifunctional electrocatalyst for fluctuating overall water splitting

Stable non-noble metal bifunctional electrocatalysts are one of the challenges to the fluctuating overall water splitting driven by re-newable energy.Herein,a novel self-supporting hierarchically porous Ni_(x)Fe-S/NiFe_(2)O_(4) heterostructure as bifunctional electrocatalyst was constructed based on porous Ni-Fe electrodeposition on three-dimensional(3D)carbon fiber cloth,in situ oxidation,and chemical sulfuration.Results showed that the Ni_(x)Fe-S/NiFe_(2)O_(4) heterostructure with a large specific surface area exhibits good bifunctional activity and stability for both hydrogen evolution reaction(HER)and oxygen evolution reaction(OER)because of the abundance of active sites,synergistic effect of the heterostructure,superhydrophilic surface,and stable,self-supporting structure.The results further confirmed that the Ni_(x)Fe-S phase in the heterostructure is transformed into metal oxides/hydroxides and Ni_(3)S_(2) during OER.Compared with the commercial 20wt%Pt/C||IrO_(2)-Ta_(2)O_(5) electrolyzer,the self-supporting Ni1/5Fe-S/NiFe_(2)O_(4)||Ni1/2Fe-S/NiFe_(2)O_(4) electrolyzer exhibits better stability and lower cell voltage in the fluctu-ating current density range of 10-500 mA/cm^(2).Particularly,the cell voltage of Ni1/5Fe-S/NiFe_(2)O_(4)||Ni1/2Fe-S/NiFe_(2)O_(4) is only approximately 3.91 V at an industrial current density of 500 mA/cm^(2),which is lower than that of the 20wt%Pt/C||IrO_(2)-Ta_(2)O_(5) electrolyzer(i.e.,approximately 4.79 V).This work provides a promising strategy to develop excellent bifunctional electrocatalysts for fluctuating overall water splitting.

Self-supported metal(Fe, Co, Ni)-embedded nitrogen-doping carbon nanorod framework as trifunctional electrode for flexible Zn-air batteries and switchable water electrolysis

To meet the practical demand of wearable/portable electronics, developing high-efficiency and durable multifunctional catalyst and in-situ assembling catalysts into electrodes with flexible features are urgently needed but challenging. Herein, we report a simple route to fabricate bendable multifunctional electrodes by in-situ carbonization of metal ion absorbed polyaniline precursor. Alloy nanoparticles encapsulated in graphite layer are uniformly distributed in the N-doping carbon nanorod skeleton. Profiting from the favorable free-standing structure and the cooperative effect of metallic nanoparticles, graphitic layer and N doped-carbon architecture, the trifunctional electrodes exhibit prominent activities and stability toward HER, OER and ORR. Notably, due to the protection of carbon layer, the electrocatalysts show the reversible catalytic HER/OER properties. The overall water splitting device can continuously work for 12 h under frequent exchanges of cathode and anode. Importantly, the bendable metal air batteries fabricated by self-supported electrode not only displays the outstanding battery performance,achieving a decent peak power density(125 mW cm^(-2)) and exhibiting favorable charge-discharge durability of 22 h, but also holds superb flexible stability. Specially, a lightweight self-driven water splitting unit is demonstrated with stable hydrogen production.

The legacy effects of rubber defoliation period on the refoliation phenology,leaf disease,and latex yield

The leaf phenology of trees has received particular attention for its crucial role in the global water and carbon balances,ecosystem,and species distribution.However,current studies on leaf phenology have mainly focused on temperate trees,while few studies including tropical trees.Little attention has been paid to globally extensive industrial plantations.Rubber plantations are important to both the local and global economies.In this study,we investigated the legacy effects of defoliation phenology on the following year’s leaf flushing,leaf disease,and also latex yield of rubber trees,an economically important tree to local people and the world.Results show that extended duration of defoliation increased the subsequent duration of refoliation and rates of infection by powdery mildew disease,but led to reduced latex yield in March.This legacy effect of rubber defoliation may relate to the carbohydrate reserved in the trees.A longer duration of defoliation would consume more reserved carbohydrates,reducing available reserves for disease defense and latex production.Extended duration of defoliation period was associated with either a lower temperature before the cessation of latex tapping in October-November and/or a higher temperature after the cessation of latex tapping in December-January.Leaf falling signals the end of photosynthetic activities in deciduous trees.Thus,the leaf falling phenology will impact ecological processes involving rubber trees.Our findings indicated that the inclusion of defoliation periods in future rubber trees’ research,will be crucial to furthering our understanding of leaf flushing,powdery mildew disease,and latex yield.

Self-supporting and dual-active 3D Co-S nanosheets constructed by ligand replacement reaction from MOF for rechargeable Al battery

Metal sulfides with high theoretical capacities are expected as promising cathode materials of Al batteries(AIBs). However, powdery active materials are mainly synthesized and loaded on current collector by insulating binder without capacity. Meanwhile, S as inert element in metal sulfides can not usually provide capacity. So, powdery metal sulfides only exhibit limiting practical capacity and poor cycling stability due to weak conductivity and low mass utilization. Herein, the novel self-supporting and dual-active Co-S nanosheets on carbon cloth (i.e. Co-S/CC) with hierarchically porous structure are constructed as cathode of AIBs. Co-S nanosheets are derived from ZIF-67 nanosheets on CC by a facile ligand replacement reaction. As a result, the binder-free Co-S/CC cathode with good conductivity delivers excellent initial discharge capacity of 383.4 m Ah g^(-1)(0.211 m Ah cm^(-2)) at current density of 200 m A g^(-1)and maintain reversible capacity of 156.9 m Ah g^(-1)(0.086 m Ah cm^(-2)) with Coulombic efficiency of 95.8% after 500 cycles,which are much higher than those of the traditional slurry-coating cathodes. Both Co and S as active elements in Co-S/CC contribute to capacity, which leads to a high mass utilization. This work provides a significant strategy for the construction of self-supporting metallic cathode for advanced high-energy density Al battery.

Topology Optimization of Self-Supporting Structures for Additive Manufacturing with Adaptive Explicit Continuous Constraint

The integration of topology optimization(TO)and additive manufacturing(AM)technologies can create significant synergy benefits,while the lack of AM-friendly TO algorithms is a serious bottleneck for the application of TO in AM.In this paper,a TO method is proposed to design self-supporting structures with an explicit continuous self-supporting constraint,which can be adaptively activated and tightened during the optimization procedure.The TO procedure is suitable for various critical overhang angles(COA),which is integrated with build direction assignment to reduce performance loss.Besides,a triangular directional self-supporting constraint sensitivity filter is devised to promote the downward evolution of structures and maintain stability.Two numerical examples are presented;all the test cases have successfully converged and the optimized solutions demonstrate good manufacturability.In the meanwhile,a fully self-supporting design can be obtained with a slight cost in performance through combination with build direction assignment.

Synthesis of Zeolite LTN-(SOD) Self-Supporting Membranes from SiO2-Rich Industrial Waste

Synthesis of zeolite LTN (“Linde Type N”) was investigated under insertion of a SiO2-rich filtration residue (FR) from waste water cleaning of the silane production. A new synthesis procedure was therefore developed applying a flotation mechanism with the aim to grow LTN in form of thin membrane like sheets. Preparation starts with preactivation of FR by slurrying first in alkaline solution, followed by an addition of aluminate solution and citric acid. The latter was added as suitable chelating agent for the initiation of the flotation process. In the course of these experiments, we succeeded in synthesizing zeo-lite LTN with more or less zeolite SOD as byproduct in the form of a stable compact membrane-like layer at low temperature of 60℃. The crystallization was performed under isotherm static conditions in an open reaction system without addition of organic templates as structure directing agents (OSDA’s). FR was utilized as a total substitute of sodium silicate in all experiments and an expansive pre-treatment procedure like calcinations was not needed. Furthermore, membrane formation with LTN of usual synthesis needs chemically functionalized supports. In contrast self-supporting membranous LTN layers were grown for the first time in the present study.

Influence of Rubber Powder Movement on Properties of Asphalt Rubber from the Mesoscopic View

The research on asphalt performance mainly focused on the macro performance and micro mechanism.Mesoscopic analysis was introduced to study the effect of rubber powder movement on asphalt rubber properties.After the preparation parameters and the preparation process of asphalt rubber were determined,the modification mechanism and rheological properties were analyzed which revealed the compatible stability mechanism.Then,the analysis model of asphalt rubber was established to focus on simulating the effect of rubber powder and the spatial movement on its mechanical properties.The experimental results show that rubber powder can make the asphalt rubber bear more uniform stress distribution and enhance the ability to resist deformation.Meanwhile,the rotational motion and final distribution of rubber powder have an obvious impact on the mechanical properties of asphalt rubber.In the selected feature points,the average stress of rubber powder at 0°space angle is only 34.1%of that at90°space angle.When the rubber powders are all in parallel in the ideal state,it enhances the mechanical properties the most.This study supplements the“mesoscopic”scale between macro and micro research.The relationship between micro mechanism and macro properties of asphalt rubber will be established from the mesoscopic perspective.It is also an effort to realize the effective correlation from micro,mesoscopic to macro in asphalt.

Workability and Durability of Concrete Incorporating Waste Tire Rubber:A Review

Environmental problems caused by waste tires are becoming increasingly prominent.There is an urgent need to find a green way to dispose of waste tires,and scholars have made considerable efforts in this regard.In the construction industry,rubber extracted from waste tires can be added to concrete to alleviate environmental problems to a certain extent.As a new building material,rubber concrete has superior properties compared to ordinary concrete and has been widely used in many fields.Numerous studies have been conducted worldwide to investigate the effect of waste tire rubber on the performance of concrete.It has been reported that the addition of waste tire rubber has a significant influence on the performance of concrete.Workability influences the hardened performance of rubber concrete,especially the durability.Based on the current research results,the workability and durability of concrete manufactured with waste tire rubber,including water absorption and permeability,carbonation resistance,chloride ion permeability resistance,and freeze-thaw resistance,are summarized in this paper.It is concluded that the addition of waste tires has a negative effect on the workability of concrete.In terms of durability,concrete exhibits better chloride ion penetration resistance and frost resistance,with a higher water absorption rate,and lower anti-permeability and carbonation resistance owing to the addition of waste tire rubber.

Mechanical Test and Meso-Model Numerical Study of Composite Rubber Concrete under Salt-Freezing Cycle

A composite rubber concrete(CRC)was designed by combining waste tire rubber particles with particle sizes of 3~5 mm,1~3 mm and 20 mesh.Taking the rubber content of different particle sizes as the influencing factors,the range and variance analysis of the mechanical and impermeability properties of CRC was carried out by orthogonal test.Through analysis,it is concluded that the optimal proportion of 3~5 mm,1~3 mm,and 20 mesh particle size composite rubber is 1:2.5:5.5 kinds of CRC and 3 kinds of ordinary single-mixed rubber concrete(RC)with a total content of 10%~20%were designed under this ratio,and the salt-freezing cycle test was carried out with a concentration of 5%Na 2 SO4 solution.The physical and mechanical damage laws during 120 salt-freezing cycles are obtained,and the corresponding damage prediction model is established according to the experimental data.The results show that:on the one hand,the composite rubber in CRC produces a more uniform“graded”structure,forms a retractable particle group,and reduces the loss of mechanical properties of CRC.On the other hand,colloidal particles with different particle sizes are used as air entraining agent to improve the pore structure of concrete and introduce evenly dispersed bubbles,which fundamentally improves the durability of concrete.Under the experimental conditions,the CRC performance is the best when the overall content of composite rubber is 15%.

Rheological and Morphological Characterization of Modified Bitumen with Cup Lump Rubber

Pure bitumen is not suitable for heavy traffic loads;hence modifiers are used to improve the bitumen performance.Recently,cup lump rubber(CLR)has become a preferred modifier due to its outstanding performance and less cost.However,little is known about the interactions between CLR and bitumen.Thus,this study investigates the behavior of bitumen with CLR.Four percentages of CLR(2.5%,5.0%,7.5%,and 10.0%by weight of bitumen)were used to modify conventional 60/70 penetration grade bitumen.The modified bitumen was evaluated through different laboratory testing such as dynamic shear rheometer,rotational viscosity,softening point,bending beam rheometer,ductility,and elastic recovery.The testing results show that the addition of CLR increased the bitumen’s rutting resistance by 3 PG grades at high temperatures.At low pavement temperatures,the cup lump rubber modified bitumen(CMB)can withstand up to−34℃.Fourier Transform Infrared(FTIR)analysis shows that the Aromaticity index at 1600 cm^(−1) rose as the CLR percentage increased,indicating the formation of a binder with a compact structure.This is expected to improve the elasticity of bitumen throughπ-πinteractions.Atomic Force Microscopy(AFM)results showed the Catana phase increased in size and quantity at 5.0%and 7.5%CLR content.While contact angle measurement revealed that the binders are hydrophobic and tend to repel the dropped water on the bitumen surface.

Exploration and Practice of Rubber Based Agroforestry Complex Systems in China

Agroforestry ecosystems are constructed by simulating natural ecosystems, applying the principles of symbiosis in nature, and organizing multiple plant populations to coexist, while conducting targeted cultivation and structural control scientifically. Rubber agroforestry complex ecosystems aim for sustainable development in terms of industry, ecology, resource utilization, and the livelihoods of producers. Rubber agroforestry complex ecosystems create a complex production structure system that integrates biology, society, and the economy through species combinations. Rubber trees and associated biological components coordinate with each other, mutually promote growth, and yield a variety of products for producers. Cultivation techniques and patterns of rubber agroforestry are essential components of these ecosystems. This study analyzes the production practices of rubber agroforestry complex cultivation, with a focus on the development and characteristics (complexity, systematicity, intensity, and hierarchy) of rubber agroforestry systems using a literature analysis and a survey approach. It explores the types and scales of complex planting, specifications and forms, and major effects of complex cultivation. This study identifies successful rubber agroforestry cultivation patterns and practical techniques, as well as the potential benefits of developing rubber agroforestry cultivation. It also points out the shortcomings in the development of complex planting, including an emphasis on production practices but insufficient theoretical research, a focus on production but inadequate attention to the market, and an emphasis on yield while overlooking the improvement of standards, brands, and added value. There are various complex patterns for young rubber plantations, but relatively fewer for mature plantations. Based on this analysis, this study suggests that future efforts should focus on in-depth research on interspecies and environmental interactions in rubber agroforestry ecosystems, clearly define key roles, accelerate the innovation of development patterns, and strengthen the foundation for development. It recommends promoting and demonstrating successful rubber agroforestry complex patterns and providing technical training, developing product branding for rubber agroforestry patterns, enhancing product value, expanding the application functions of rubber-forest mixed crop products, and establishing a stable and sustainable industry chain. This study provide practical experience and theoretical insights in rubber agroforestry complex systems from China the potential to enrich the knowledge of rubber agroforestry composite systems, provide practical experience to improve the operating income of smallholders, and even promote the sustainable development of rubber plantations.

Mechanical Properties of Self-Compacting Rubberized Concrete with Different Rubber Types under Triaxial Compression

Different rubber aggregates lead to changes in the effect of stress conditions on the mechanical behavior of concrete,and studies on the triaxial properties of self-compacting rubber concrete(SCRC)are rare.In this study,35 cylindrical specimens taking lateral stress and rubber type as variables were prepared to study the fresh properties and mechanical behaviors of SCRC under triaxial compression,where the rubber contains two types,i.e.,380μm rubber powder and 1–4 mm rubber particles,and four contents,i.e.,10%,20%and 30%.The test results demonstrated that SCRC exhibited a typical oblique shear failure mode under triaxial compression and had a more moderate descending branch compared with self-compacting concrete(SCC).The presence of lateral stress can significantly improve the compression properties,including initial elastic modulus,peak stress and peak strain,with an improvement range of 3%–73%for peak stress.While rubber aggregates mainly targeted the deformation abilities and toughness for improvement,and the peak strain improvement ranges were 0.1–3.1 times and 0.1–1.0 times for SCRC containing rubber powder and SCRC containing rubber particles,respectively,relative to SCC.At a high lateral stress of at least 12 MPa,the loss of strength due to the addition of rubber can be controlled within 10%,in which case the content of rubber powder and rubber particles was recommended to be at most 20%and 30%,respectively.Based on the Mohr-Coulomb theory,the failure criteria of SCRC with different rubber types were established.For analysis and design purposes,an empirical model was proposed to predict the stressstrain behavior under triaxial compression,considering the influence of different rubber content and lateral stress.The results obtained in this study can provide a valuable reference for the design and application of self-compacting rubberized concrete in practical projects,especially those involving three-way compression states and requiring high-quality deformation and energy dissipation.

Preparation and application of carbon nanotubes/conductive carbon black/ethylene-propylene-diene rubber composite

Addition of conductive fillers such as conductive carbon black(CCB)and carbon nanotubes(CNTs)could significantly improve the electrical conductivity of rubber.However,that would result in the deterioration of processing properties for rubber compound and the rapid increase in hardness of vulcanizates,which affected seriously the preparation of conductive rubber composites and thus limits the application in the field of flexible conductive rubber materials.

Investigation of the Potential of Using Liquid Rubbers in Rubber Industry

Along with the developing technology in the rubber industry, the use of natural and synthetic rubbers as well as liquid rubbers has increased significantly in recent years. The formulation of the tread compound, which directly affects the performance of a tire, is generally produced from natural and synthetic rubbers. Intensive scientific studies have been carried out on liquid rubbers because they reduce the consumption of process oils used in the tire production phase and increase dispersion. In this study, the rheological and physico-mechanical properties of rubbers developed using only liquid rubber (liquid isoprene and liquid SBR) with four different viscosities and without using process oil (Styrene Butadiene Rubber—SBR) were investigated. It has been observed that the rubber blends produced by adding four different liquid rubbers to the same recipe caused changes in rheological and physico-mechanical properties compared to the reference sample. It was observed that the minimum torque/viscosity (ML), maximum torque/viscosity (MH) and curing time (t90) in some of the formulas tested decreased significantly due to the use of liquid rubber.