Electrocatalysts based on metal@carbon core@shell nanocomposites:An overview

Developing low-cost, high-performance catalysts is of fundamental significance for electrochemical energy conversion and storage. In recent years, metal@carbon core@shell nanocomposites have emerged as a unique class of functional nanomaterials that show apparent electrocatalytic activity towards a range of reactions, such as hydrogen evolution reaction, oxygen evolution reaction, oxygen reduction reaction, and CO2 reduction reaction, that are important in water splitting, fuel cells and metal-air batteries. The activity is primarily attributed to interfacial charge transfer from the metal core to the carbon shell that manipulate the electronic interactions between the catalyst surface and reaction intermediates, and varies with the structures and morphologies of the metal core(elemental composition, core size, etc.) and carbon shell(doping,layer thickness, etc.). Further manipulation can be achieved by the incorporation of a third structural component. A perspective is also included highlighting the current gap between theoretical modeling and experimental results, and technical challenges for future research.

Formation of Germanium-Carbon Core-Shell Nanowires by Laser Vaporization in High-Pressure Ar Gas without the Addition of Other Metal Catalysts

Germanium (Ge)-carbon (C) core-shell nanowires (NWs), 15 - 80 nm thick and <1 μm long, were grown using continuous-wave laser vaporization of Ge-graphite composite targets in high pressure (0.1 - 0.9 MPa) Ar gas. The NW core was crystalline Ge and the shell was amorphous C. The fraction of the NWs in deposits was changed significantly by the Ge content in the targets and had a maximum at the Ge content of 40 atomic %. With increasing Ar pressure, thicker NWs were grown. A strong correlation was evident between the two diameters of the NW and nanoparticle (NP) attached with the tip of the NW. The growth of the NWs can be explained by the formation of Ge-C liquid-like molten NPs having a specific range of size and composition and precipitation of Ge and C followed by phase separation.

Tibetan Plateau Geladaindong black carbon ice core record(1843-1982):Recent increases due to higher emissions and lower snow accumulation

Black carbon(BC) deposited on snow and glacier surfaces can reduce albedo and lead to accelerated melt. An ice core recovered from Guoqu glacier on Mt. Geladaindong and analyzed using a Single Particle Soot Photometer(SP2) provides the ?rst long-term(1843-1982) record of BC from the central Tibetan Plateau. Post 1940 the record is characterized by an increased occurrence of years with above average BC, and the highest BC values of the record. The BC increase in recent decades is likely caused by a combination of increased emissions from regional BC sources, and a reduction in snow accumulation. Guoqu glacier has received no net ice accumulation since the 1980 s, and is a potential example of a glacier where an increase in the equilibrium line altitude is exposing buried high impurity layers. That BC concentrations in the uppermost layers of the Geladaindong ice core are not substantially higher relative to deeper in the ice core suggests that some of the BC that must have been deposited on Guoqu glacier via wet or dry deposition between 1983 and 2005 has been removed from the surface of the glacier, potentially via supraglacial or englacial meltwater.

Fabrication and Testing of Carbon Fiber Reinforced Truss Core Sandwich Panels

Truss core sandwich panels reinforced by carbon fibers were assembled with bonded laminate facesheets and carbon fiber reinforced truss cores. The top and bottom facesheets were interconnected with truss cores. Both ends of the truss cores were embedded into four layers of top and bottom facesheets. The mechanical properties of truss core sandwich panels were then investigated under out-of-plane and in-plane compression loadings to reveal the failure mechanisms of sandwich panels. Experimental results indicated that the mechanical behavior of sandwich structure under in-plane loading is dominated by the buckling and debonding of facesheets.

An improved method for quantitatively measuring the sequences of total organic carbon and black carbon in marine sediment cores

Understanding global carbon cycle is critical to uncover the mechanisms of global warming and remediate its adverse ef fects on human activities.Organic carbon in marine sediments is an indispensable part of the global carbon reservoir in global carbon cycling.Evaluating such a reservoir calls for quantitative studies of marine carbon burial,which closely depend on quantifying total organic carbon and black carbon in marine sediment cores and subsequently on obtaining their high-resolution temporal sequences.However,the conventional methods for detecting the contents of total organic carbon or black carbon cannot resolve the following specific difficulties,i.e.,(1)a very limited amount of each subsample versus the diverse analytical items,(2) a low and fluctuating recovery rate of total organic carbon or black carbon versus the reproducibility of carbon data,and(3)a large number of subsamples versus the rapid batch measurements.In this work,(i)adopting the customized disposable ceramic crucibles with the microporecontrolled ability,(ii)developing self-made or customized facilities for the procedures of acidification and chemothermal oxidization,and(iii)optimizing procedures and carbon-sulfur analyzer,we have built a novel Wang-Xu-Yuan method(the WXY method)for measuring the contents of total organic carbon or black carbon in marine sediment cores,which includes the procedures of pretreatment,weighing,acidification,chemothermal oxidation and quantification;and can fully meet the requirements of establishing their highresolution temporal sequences,whatever in the recovery,experimental efficiency,accuracy and reliability of the measurements,and homogeneity of samples.In particular,the usage of disposable ceramic crucibles leads to evidently simplify the experimental scenario,which further results in the very high recovery rates for total organic carbon and black carbon.This new technique may provide a significant support for revealing the mechanism of carbon burial and evaluating the capacity of marine carbon accumulation and sequestration.

Core-shell meso/microporous carbon host for sulfur loading toward applications in lithium-sulfur batteries

Lithium-sulfur（Li-S） batteries belong to one of the promising technologies for high-energy-density rechargeable batteries.However,sulfur cathodes suffer from inherent problems of its poor electronic conductivity and the shuttling of highly dissoluble lithium polysulfides generated during the cycles.Loading sulfur into porous carbons has been proved to be an effective approach to alleviate these issues.Mesoporous and microporous carbons have been widely used for sulfur accommodation,but mesoporous carbons have poor sulfur confinement,whereas microporous carbons are impeded by low sulfur loading rates.Here,a core-shell carbon,combining both the merits of mesoporous carbon with large pore volume and microporous carbon with effective sulfur confinement,was prepared by coating the mesoporous CMK-3 with a microporous carbon（MPC） shell and served as the carbon host（CMK-3 @MPC） to accommodate sulfur.After sulfur infusion,the as-obtained S/（CMK-3@MPC） cathode delivered a high initial capacity of up to 1422 mAh·g-1 and sustained 654 mAh·g-1 reversible specific capacity after 36 cycles at 0.1 C.The good performance is ascribed to the unique core-shell structure of the CMK-3@MPC matrix,in which sulfur can be effectively confined within the meso/microporous carbon host,thus achieving simultaneously high electrochemical utilization.

Nitrogen forms and decomposition of organic carbon in the southern Bohai Sea core sediments

Study on form characteristics of nitrogen in marine sediments is the primary method to research its biogeochemical cycling and nitrogen form characteristics in core sediments can reflect the process and results of early diagenesis in a certain degree. In this paper, Sequential extraction process in natural grain size was used for studying the existent forms of nitrogen in five core sediments of the southern Bohai Sea for the first time. Nitrogen was divided into two parts - transferable and fixed based on whether it could be extracted by the reagent. Distributions and early diagenesis of transferable nitrogen forms in the southern Bohai Sea were researched integratedly. Results indicate that IEF - N and OSF-N are predominant forms in transferable part in the studied core sediments. Contents of different nitrogen forms vary differently with depth, and have different diagenesis process. Decomposition constant of organic nitrogen (ON) and OC are about 15.51 -× 10^(-3)a^(-3)and 4.79× 10^(-3)a^(-1) respectively, and the decomposition content of biogenic elements C, N, P, Si has the sequence N>P>CSi. OC/TN (simplified as C/N in the following) ratio is much lower than OC/ON, which indicates that sediment preserves plenty of inorganic nitrogen (IN) and/or fixed nitrogen, and the decrease of OC/ON ratio with depth is due to ON reservation in sediments. Generally, transferable nitrogen accounts for more proportion of TN in the surface layer than in the deep layer of core sediments, whereas, some stable forms of nitrogen can activate and become transferable under appropriate environment, which induces the proportion of transferable nitrogen in TN in the deep layer to be almost the same as that in the surface layer.

Effect of Carbon and Sulfur on Iron Melting at High Pressure:Implications for Composition and Evolution of the Planetary Terrestrial Cores

The presence of light element(s)in the Earth’s core is necessary in order to explain the observed density and velocity discrepancy for the core(Anderson and Ahrens,1994).O,Si,S,C and H were suggested as potential candidates based on cosmochemical considerations(Stevenson,1981).High-pressure experiment results,in conjunction with theoretical and cosmochemical evidences,argued that it is difficult for any one of them to account for the core

Supercapacitor Consisting of a Form Core Sandwich with Woven Carbon Fiber Skin

Structural capacitors are composite structures that function as energy storage capacitors. Parallel plate-type capacitors have the advantage of high voltage resistance, but are limited by low capacitance. An electric double-layer capacitor with a composite structure using a solid polymer electrolyte matrix with a glass fiber fabric separator has recently been developed. However, the solid polymer electrolyte caused the capacitor to possess high internal resistance. In the present study, a new design of supercapacitor using a form core sandwich with high water retention is proposed and experimentally investigated. Activated carbon sheets are used as electrodes on the form core sandwich to make a supercapacitor. Woven carbon fabric is used as lead wires of the supercapacitor. The resulting supercapacitor displays a low surface resistance of 810 Ωcm2 and high areal capacitance of 520 mF/cm2.

Microwave Absorption of Crystalline Fe/MnO@C Nanocapsules Embedded in Amorphous Carbon

Crystalline Fe/MnO@C core–shell nanocapsules inlaid in porous amorphous carbon matrix(FMCA)was synthesized successfully with a novel confinement strategy.The heterogeneous Fe/MnO nanocrystals are with approximate single-domain size which gives rise to natural resonance in 2–18 GHz.The addition of MnO2 confines degree of graphitization catalyzed by iron and contributes to the formation of amorphous carbon.The heterogeneous materials composed of crystalline–amorphous structures disperse evenly and its density is significantly reduced on account of porous properties.Meanwhile,adjustable dielectric loss is achieved by interrupting Fe core aggregation and stacking graphene conductive network.The dielectric loss synergistically with magnetic loss endows the FMCA enhanced absorption.The optimal reflection loss(RL)is up to−45 dB,and the effective bandwidth(RL<−10 dB)is 5.0 GHz with 2.0 mm thickness.The proposed confinement strategy not only lays the foundation for designing high-performance microwave absorber,but also offers a general duty synthesis method for heterogeneous crystalline–amorphous composites with tunable composition in other fields.

Stabilising Cobalt Sulphide Nanocapsules with Nitrogen-Doped Carbon for High-Performance Sodium-Ion Storage

Conversion-type anode materials with a high charge storage capability generally su er from large volume expansion, poor electron conductivity, and sluggish metal ion transport kinetics. The electrode material described in this paper, namely cobalt sulphide nanoparticles encapsulated in carbon cages(Co9S8@NC), can circumvent these problems. This electrode material exhibited a reversible sodium-ion storage capacity of 705 mAh g^-1 at 100 mA g^-1 with an extraordinary rate capability and good cycling stability. Mechanistic study using the in situ transmission electron microscope technique revealed that the volumetric expansion of the Co9S8 nanoparticles is bu ered by the carbon cages, enabling a stable electrode–electrolyte interface. In addition, the carbon shell with high-content doped nitrogen significantly enhances the electron conductivity of the Co9S8@NC electrode material and provides doping-induced active sites to accommodate sodium ions. By integrating the Co9S8@NC as negative electrode with a cellulose-derived porous hard carbon/graphene oxide composite as positive electrode and 1 M NaPF6 in diglyme as the electrolyte, the sodium-ion capacitor full cell can achieve energy densities of 101.4 and 45.8 Wh kg^-1 at power densities of 200 and 10,000 W kg^-1, respectively.

Growth of Carbon Encapsulated Long Nickel Nanorods on Bulk Nickel Substrate

Carbon nanotube encapsulated nickel nanorods were catalytic grown via pyrolysis of oil on a bulk nickel wire substrate. X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy and Raman spectroscopy were employed to characterize the as-prepared sample. The results show that, carbon nanotubes possess several microns in length, the filled metallic nickel nanorods with a uniform diameter of 35 nm were tightly encapsulated by the carbon capsules. The detailed formation mechanism for the carbon nanotubes encapsulated nickel nanorods were discussed briefly.

Stepwise Fabrication of Co-Embedded Porous Multichannel Carbon Nanofibers for High-Efficiency Oxygen Reduction

A novel nonprecious metal material consisting of Coembedded porous interconnected multichannel carbon nanofibers(Co/IMCCNFs) was rationally designed for oxygen reduction reaction(ORR)electrocatalysis.In the synthesis,ZnCo2O4 was employed to form interconnected mesoporous channels and provide highly active Co3O4/Co core–shell nanoparticle-based sites for the ORR.The IMC structure with a large synergistic effect of the N and Co active sites provided fast ORR electrocatalysis kinetics.The Co/IMCCNFs exhibited a high half-wave potential of 0.82 V(vs.reversible hydrogen electrode) and excellent stability with a current retention up to 88% after 12,000 cycles in a current–time test,which is only 55% for 30 wt% Pt/C.

A Facile Synthesis of Carbon Black Fluid Grafting by Polyetheramine Using Neutralization Reaction

Nanoscale ionic materials（NIMS） based on carbon black（CB） were prepared through a facile method. Firstly, CB was oxidized in the mixture of nitric acid and sulfuric acid, resulting in a large amounts of -COOH on surface of CB. Then oxidized CB was grafted by polyetheramine through neutralization reaction between -COOH of CB and -NH_2- of polyetheramine, and CB derivatives were obtained. This surface- functionalized CB can behave as liquid at ambient temperature in the absence of solvent by carefully varying the components. FTIR and thermaogravimelric analysis confirmed that the successively grafting of polyetheramine. TEM revealed the monodisperse core-shell structure of CB derivatives particles. The viscoelasticity of CB derivatives were closely related to the molecular weight and loading of polyetheramine. The unique core- shell and ionic structure and flowability of these CB derivatives could guide our future work on obtaining NIMs with tunable and controllable properties and broaden its commercial applications.

Coating Multi-walled Carbon Nanotubes with Uniform Silica Shells:Independent of Surface Chemistry

A facile and general method was described to coat six types of multi-walled carbon nanotubes, functionalized by either noncovalent or covalent way, with smooth silica shells. 3-Aminopropyltriethoxysilane（APTES） and pH value play important roles in the coating process and the thickness of silica shell could be controlled by the added amount of silicon alkoxides. After the removal of multi-walled carbon nanotubes by calcination, the silica nanotubes were successfully prepared.

Application of nuclear magnetic resonance technology to carbon capture,utilization and storage:A review

Carbon capture,utilization and storage (CCUS) is considered as a very important technology for mitigating global climate change.Carbon dioxide (CO2) injected into an underground reservoir will induce changes in its physical properties and the migration of CO2 will be affected by many factors.Accurately understanding these changes and migration characteristics of CO2 is crucial for selecting a CCUS project site,estimating storage capacity and ensuring storage security.In this paper,the basic principles of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technologies are briefly introduced in the context of laboratory experiments related to CCUS.The types of NMR apparatus,experimental samples and testing approaches applied worldwide are discussed and analyzed.Then two typical NMR core analysis systems used in CCUS field and a self-developed high-pressure,low-field NMR rock core flooding experimental system are compared.Finally,a summary of the current deficiencies related to NMR applied to CCUS field is given and future research plans are proposed.

Formation mechanism of spheroidal carbide in ultra-low carbon ductile cast iron

The formation mechanism of the spheroidal carbide in the ultra-low carbon ductile cast iron fabricated by the metal mold casting technique was systematically investigated. The results demonstrated that the spheroidal carbide belonged to eutectic carbide and crystallized in the isolated eutectic liquid phase area. The formation process of the spheroidal carbide was related to the contact and the intersection between the primary dendrite and the secondary dendrite of austenite. The oxides of magnesium, rare earths and other elements can act as heterogeneous nucleation sites for the spheroidal carbide. It was also found that the amount of the spheroidal carbide would increase with an increase in carbon content. The cooling rate has an important influence on the spheroidal carbide under the same chemical composition condition.

Laboratory core flooding experimental systems for CO_2 geosequestration: An updated review over the past decade

Carbon dioxide(CO2) geosequestration in deep saline aquifers has been currently deemed as a preferable and practicable mitigation means for reducing anthropogenic greenhouse gases(GHGs) emissions to the atmosphere, as deep saline aquifers can offer the greatest potential from a capacity point of view. Hence,research on core-scale CO2/brine multiphase migration processes is of great significance for precisely estimating storage efficiency, ensuring storage security, and predicting the long-term effects of the sequestered CO2in subsurface saline aquifers. This review article initially presents a brief description of the essential aspects of CO2subsurface transport and geological trapping mechanisms, and then outlines the state-of-the-art laboratory core flooding experimental apparatus that has been adopted for simulating CO2injection and migration processes in the literature over the past decade. Finally, a summary of the characteristics, components and applications of publicly reported core flooding equipment as well as major research gaps and areas in need of further study are given in relevance to laboratory-scale core flooding experiments in CO2geosequestration under reservoir conditions.

Nitrogen-Doped Carbon-Encased Bimetallic Selenide for High-Performance Water Electrolysis

Demand of highly efficient earth-abundant transition metal-based electrocatalysts to replace noble metal materials for boosting oxygen evolution reaction(OER)is rapidly growing.Herein,an electrochemically exfoliated graphite(EG)foil supported bimetallic selenide encased in N-doped carbon(EG/(Co,Ni)Se2-NC)hybrid is developed and synthesized by a vapor-phase hydrothermal strategy and subsequent selenization process.The as-prepared EG/(Co,Ni)Se2-NC hybrid exhibits a core-shell structure where the particle diameter of(Co,Ni)Se2 core is about 70 nm and the thickness of N-doped carbon shell is approximately 5 nm.Benefitting from the synergistic effects between the combination of highly active Co species and improved electron transfer from Ni species,and N-doped carbon,the EG/(Co,Ni)Se2-NC hybrid shows remarkable electrocatalytic activity toward OER with a comparatively low overpotential of 258 mV at an current density of 10 mA cm?2 and a small Tafel slope of 73.3 mV dec?1.The excellent OER catalysis performance of EG/(Co,Ni)Se2-NC hybrid is much better than that of commercial Ir/C(343 mV at 10 mA cm?2 and 98.1 mV dec?1),and even almost the best among all previously reported binary CoNi selenide-based OER electrocatalysts.Furthermore,in situ electrochemical Raman spectroscopy combined with ex situ X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis indicates that the superb OER catalysis activity can be attributed to the highly active Co-OOH species and modified electron transfer process from Ni element.

轻木夹芯/碳纤维复合材料结构后推构型无人机机身设计与分析

设计了一款后推构型轻木夹芯/碳纤维复合材料结构无人机机身,完成了机身气动外形设计、流场分析和内部结构设计。建立了机身结构有限元模型,完成了结构刚度校核。编写子程序,将3D Hashin失效准则嵌入计算模型,基于三类失效模式构建极限状态函数g(x),对机身结构进行了强度及稳定性校核。采用等步长施加超设计载荷,预测了结构的初始损伤位置及模式。对机身蒙皮铺层方案进行了优化设计,采用g(x)函数对更改铺层方案后的结构性能进行了评估。研究结果表明:着陆工况和最大飞行速度工况的机身蒙皮表面压强最大值均在机头整流罩区域。两种工况的极限状态函数g(x)均大于0,最大位移分别为3.076 mm和2.92 mm,机身结构满足刚度、强度和稳定性要求。对着陆工况施加1.17倍设计载荷时,油料舱下壁板轻木芯材发生压缩分层初始损伤。机身结构失稳发生于侧面蒙皮,提高45°铺层占比可提高蒙皮的稳定性。玻纤蒙皮铺层优化后,在质量不变的条件下,结构稳定性裕度提高了7.2%。