Effect of Nano Carbon Black and Graphite Flake on Properties of Low Carbon Al2O3-C Refractories

Low carbon Al2O3 - C refractories specimens were prepared with tabular alumina （3. 0 - 1.0, 1.0 - 0. 5, 0.6-0.2, ≤0.3, ≤0. 045 and ≤0. 02 mm）, active alumina micropowder （≤2 μm ） and silicon （ 〈≤0. 045 mm ） as main raw materials. Nano carbon black （N220） and natural graphite flake （ 〈≤0. 074 mm ） were adopted as the carbon sources. The specimens were treated at 800, 1 000, 1 200 and 1 400 ℃ under coke embedded atmosphere. The effects of additions of nano carbon black and graphite flake on mechanical properties and thermal shock resistance of the specimens were stud- ied. Their mechanical properties were measured by three- point bending test and thermal shock resistance was de- termined by water quenching method. The phase compo- sition of the specimens was analyzed with X-ray diffrac- tion and microstruetures were observed through FESEM. The results reveal that： （1） the strengths of A1203 - C refractories with these two carbon sources show no big differences when coked at lower than 1 000 ℃ ; when coked at over 1 200 ℃ , the strengths of the specimens with graphite added are much higher than those of the specimens containing carbon black due to much more sil- icon carbide whiskers formed; （2） since the nano carbon black has small particle size, they can be filled into in- terstice of Al2O3 particles to form the nano carbon net- work structure, absorbing and relieving the thermal stressgenerated from expansion and contraction and reducing the thermal expansion coefficient of the specimens, thus their thermal shock resistance is better than that of the specimens containing graphite ; （ 3 ） low carbon Al2 O3 - C refractories with good mechanical properties and excellent thermal shock resistance can be prepared with combi- nation of nano carbon black and graphite flake.

Carbon dioxide catalytic conversion to nano carbon material on the iron–nickel catalysts using CVD-IP method

The over-consumption of fossil fuels resulted in the large quantity emission of carbon dioxide （CO2）, which was the main reason for the climate change and more extreme weathers. Hence, it is extremely pressing to ex- plore efficient and sustainable approaches for the carbon-neutral pathway of CO2 utilization and recycling. In our recent works with this context, we developed successfully a novel ＂chemical vapor deposition integrated process （CVD-IP）＂ technology to converting robustly CO2 into the value-added solid-form carbon materials, The monometallic FeNi0-Al2O3 （FNi0） and bimetallic FeNix-Al2O3 （FNi2, FNi4, FNi8 and FNi20） samples were synthesized and effective for this new approach. The catalyst labeled FNi8 gave the better performance, exhibited the single pass solid carbon yield of 30%. These results illustrated alternative promising cases for the CO2 capture utilization storage （CCUS）, by means of the CO2 catalytic conversion into the solid-form nano carbon materials.

The Influence of Carbon Nanotubes and Nano-Silica Fume on Enhancing the Damping and Mechanical Properties of Cement-Based Materials

This paper conducted experimental studies on the damping and mechanical properties of carbon nanotube-nanosilica-cement composite materials with different carbon nanotube contents. The damping and mechanical properties enhancement mechanisms were analyzed and compared through the porosity structure test, XRD analysis, and scanning electron microscope observation. The results show that the introduction of nanosilica significantly improves the dispersion of carbon nanotubes in the cement matrix. At the same time, the addition of nanosilica not only effectively reduces the critical pore size and average pore size of the cement composite material, but also exhibits good synergistic effects with carbon nanotubes, which can significantly optimize the pore structure. Finally, a rationalization suggestion for the co-doping of nanosilica and carbon nanotubes was given to achieve a significant increase in the flexural strength, compressive strength and loss factor of cement-based materials.

Effects of nano carbon on soil erosion and nutrient loss in a semi-arid loess region of Northwestern China

Since 2005,the application of nano carbon(NC)in agriculture and environmental remediation has received considerable attention with most of the research focusing on plant growth and heavy metal absorption.However,little is known about the potential effects of NC on soil erosion and nutrient loss.In this study,rainfall simulation tests were conducted on a soil plot(1 m×1 m,located in a semi-arid loess region of northwestern China),in which a mixture(5-cm below the soil surface)of NC(0,0.1%,0.5%,0.7% and 1.0% on a mass base)and sandy soil(same as the one in the plot)was embedded as three bands(5 cm wide,1 m long and 5 cm thick)at the three positions(top,middle and bottom of the plot),respectively.Before the rainfall simulation test,a mixed solution of potassium bromide(1.0 mol/L KBr),potassium nitrate(1.0 mol/L KNO_(3)),monopotassium phosphate(1.0 mol/L KH_(2)PQ_(4))was sprayed on the soil surface.Results showed that the sandy soil on the Loess Plateau with 0.7%NC addition(36.47 kg/hm^(2) on a mass basis)could improve soil water runoff,sediment yield,and nutrient loss in the semi-arid loess region of northwestern China,in addition to preventing soil water from deep percolation.Therefore,NC may have a great potential in soil erosion control on the Loess Plateau of China.

Electrochemical efficacies of coal derived nanocarbons

Carbon based nanomaterials are acknowledged for their admirable optical,electrical,mechanical characteristics and broad class of applications.Choice of precursor and simple synthesis techniques have decisive roles in viable production and commercialization of carbon produce.The intense demand to develop high purity carbon nanomaterials through inexpensive techniques has promoted usage of fossil derivatives as feasible source of carbon.Coal serves as a naturally available,abundant and cheap feedstock for carbon materials.From the crystalline clusters of aromatic hydrocarbons in a cross-linked network,carbon nanostructures can easily be extracted through green synthesis routes.It promotes a potent alternative for the cost effective and scaled up production of nanocarbon.The well-developed pores distribution,presence of numerous active sites and appropriate migration channels for ions enhance the electrochemical parameters necessary for the fabrication of supercapacitors,batteries and electrochemical sensors.The metallic impurities contained in coal contribute towards faradic redox reactions required for an efficient electrode modification.In this review,the potential uses of coal based carbon nanomaterials in energy storage and environmental sectors are discussed in detail.

Heterointerface Engineering of β‑Chitin/Carbon Nano‑Onions/Ni-P Composites with Boosted Maxwell‑Wagner‑Sillars Effect for Highly Efficient Electromagnetic Wave Response and Thermal Management

The rational construction of microstructure and composition with enhanced Maxwell-Wagner-Sillars effect(MWSE)is still a challenging direction for reinforcing electromagnetic wave(EMW)absorption performance,and the related EMW attenuation mechanism has rarely been elucidated.Herein,MWSE boostedβ-chitin/carbon nano-onions/Ni–P composites is prepared according to the heterointerface engineering strategy via facile layer-by-layer electrostatic assembly and electroless plating techniques.The heterogeneous interface is reinforced from the aspect of porous skeleton,nanomaterials and multilayer construction.The composites exhibit competitive EMW response mechanism between the conductive loss and the polarization/magnetic loss,as describing like the story of“The Hare and the Tortoise”.As a result,the composites not only achieve a minimum reflection loss(RL_(min))of−50.83 dB and an effective bandwidth of 6.8 GHz,but also present remarkable EMW interference shielding effectiveness of 66.66 dB.In addition,diverse functions such as good thermal insulation,infrared shielding and photothermal performance were also achieved in the hybrid composites as a result of intrinsic morphology and chemicophysics properties.Therefore,we believe that the boosted MWSE open up a novel orientation toward developing multifunctional composites with high-efficient EMW response and thermal management.

Effects of Nano Calcium Carbonate on Strength and Microstructure of Corundum-based Castables

The castables specimens were prepared using white fused alumina particle and powder, α-Al2O3 micropowder, hydrated alumina, nano calcium carbonate or calcium aluminate cement as starting materials. Effects of nano calcium carbonate addition on phase compositions, strength and microstructure of corundum based castables were studied. The calcium aluminate cement-containing corundum based castables with the same CaO amount was also tested for comparison. The results show that, when temperature is higher than 900 ℃ , the phase compositions of nano CaCO3-containing mixture and the calcium aluminate cement containing mixture are the same, but the forming mechanism, modality and distribution of new phases in the castables are different. With temperature rising, the hydration cement dehydrates and reacts inside cement forming calcium aluminate until the alumina in cement is not enough for the reaction （ternperature is 91 400 ℃ ） , then reacts with the surrounding alumina forming cluster CA6 in the castables. The change process of nano CaCO3 in corundum based enstables is that nano calcium carbonate decomposes to CaO after firing at 800℃ which reacts with Al2O3 forming amorphous calcium aluminate that causes an in-situ bonding. With temperature rising, the formed calcium aluminate reacts with Al2O3 in matrix and wholly forms tabular CA6 at 1 600 ℃ , which distributes uniformly in the castables. The cold and hot strength of the castables with nano calcium carbonate are obviously higher than those of the castables without nano calcium carbonate, especially at 800 -1 000 ℃ due to smaller size and higher dispersion of the nano calcium carbonate and its different reaction mechanism with Al2O3.

REINFORCEMENT OF POLYDIMETHYLSILOXANE NETWORKS BY NANOCALCIUM CARBONATE

Although a number of investigations have been devoted to the analysis of silica or carbon black filled elastomer networks,little work has been done on the reinforcement of CaCO_3 filled elastomer network.In this work,the reinforcement of polydimethylsiloxane(PDMS)network by using CaCO_3 nano-particles was investigated.We have found a simultaneous increase of tensile strength,modulus and elongation with the increase in nano-CaCO_3 content,which suggests that nano- CaCO_3 particles can indeed be used as a reinforcing agent,just like silica or carbon black.Interestingly,the tensile strength, modulus and elongation were seen to leave off for the first time when the content of nano-CaCO_3 particles reaches to 80%. PDMS also showed an enhanced elastic modulus and storage modulus with the increase in nano-CaCO_3 content,particularly for samples with high nano-CaCO_3 content.SEM was used to investigate the dispersion of the filler in PDMS matrix.A better dispersion was found for samples with high nano-CaCO_3 content.A great increase of viscosity was found for samples with higher filler content,which is considered to be the reason for the good dispersion thus the reinforcement,because high viscosity will be helpful for breaking the agglomerates of fillers into small size particles under effect of shear.Our work provides a new way for the reinforcement of elastomer by using an adequate amount of nano-CaCO_3 particles instead of a small quantity of silica,which is not only economically cheap but also very effective.

DNA Immobilization on Nano-Gold Modified Glassy Carbon Electrode

CT-DNA were electrochemically immobilized on the surfaces of both nano-gold modified glassy carbon electrode and bare glassy carbon electrode. The cyclic voltammetric behavior of Co (phen)(3)(3+) adsorbed on the immobilized DNA was studied. Increase in the peak current of Co (phen)(3)(3+) redox reaction was obtained on nano-gold modified glassy carbon electrode. The result suggests that more DNA molecules were immobilized on this electrode and nano-gold modification can enhance the heterogeneous electron transfer rate constant of the Co (phen)(3)(3+).

Effect of Nano Calcium Carbonate on Properties of Corundum-spinel Castables

Using sintered corundum as aggregate, white fused corundum powder, fused spinel powder, ultra-fine a-A12 0 3, nano calcium carbonate and hydrated alumina as matrix, effects of nano calcium carbonate additions （0. 4%, O. 8%, 1.2%, 1.6% and 2. 0% in mass, the same hereinafter） on modulus of rupture, thermal shock resi.~tanee and slag resistance of corundum -spinel castables after treating at different temperatures were studied. The results show that nano calcium carbonate decomposes at high temperatures and in-situ forms ealci- ant aluminates, which can significantly increase the CMOR and HMOR of the castables after treating at 800 -1 400 ℃ ; adding nano calcium carbonate obviously improves the thermal shock resistance of the castables, and has little influence on the high basicity slag resist- ance, however, significantly decreases the corrosion and penetration resistance to low basicity slag.

Adsorption of phenol from aqueous solution by a hierarchical micro-nano porous carbon material

A hierarchical micro-nano porous carbon material (MNC) was prepared using expanded graphite (EG), sucrose, and phosphoric acid as raw materials, followed by sucrose-phosphoric acid solution impregnation, solidification, carbonization and activation. Nitrogen adsorption and mercury porosimetry show that mixed nanopores and micropores coexist in MNC with a high specific surface area of 1978 m2·g-1 and a total pore volume of 0.99 cm3·g-1. In addition, the MNC is found to consist of EG and activated carbon with the latter deposited on the interior and the exterior surfaces of the EG pores. The thickness of the activated carbon layer is calculated to be about one hundred nanometers and is further confirmed by scanning electron microscope (SEM) and transmission election microscope (TEM). A maximum static phenol adsorption of 241.2 mg·g-1 was obtained by using MNC, slightly higher than that of 220.4 mg·g-1 by using commercial activated carbon (CAC). The phenol adsorption kinetics were investigated and the data fitted well to a pseudo-second-order model. Also, an intra-particle diffusion mechanism was proposed. Furthermore, it is found that the dynamic adsorption capacity of MNC is nearly three times that of CAC. The results suggest that the MNC is a more efficient adsorbent than CAC for the removal of phenol from aqueous solution.

Effect of Ni,Fe and Fe-Ni alloy catalysts on the synthesis of metal contained carbon nano-onions and studies of their electrochemical hydrogen storage properties

Three types of carbon nano-onions（CNOs） including Ni@CNOs.Fe3C@CNOs and Fe0.64Ni0.36@CNOs nanoparticles have been synthesized by catalytic decomposition of methane at 850 ℃ using nickel,iron and iron-nickel alloy catalysts.Comparative and systematic studies have been carried out on the morphology,structural characteristics and graphitic crystallinity of these CNOs products.Furthermore,the electrochemical hydrogen storage properties of three types of CNOs have been investigated.Measurements show that the Ni@CNOs have the highest discharge capacity of 387.2 mAh/g,coiTesponding to a hydrogen storage of 1.42%.This comparison study shows the advantages of each catalyst in the growth of CNOs.enabling the controllable synthesis and tuning the properties of CNOs by mediating different metals and their alloy for using in the fuel cell system.

The Study of Electrochemical Behavior of Dopamine at Nano-gold Modified Carbon Fiber Electrode

The electrochemical behaviors (cyclic voltammetry, CV and different pulse voltammetry, DPV) of dopamine (DA) were studied in this paper. The result indicated that the oxidation of dopamine was controlled by diffusion and adsorption simultaneously at nano-gold (NG) modified carbon fiber electrode (CFE). This modified electrode can separate the peak potentials of dopamine and ascorbic acid (AA). The peak current of DA in DPV curve was found to be linearly proportional to the concentration of DA at range of 2.0?0-6～1.5?0-5mol/L and 1.0?0-5～5.0?0-4mol/L, respectively.

Effects of Nano-carbon Humic Acid Water-retaining Fertilizer on Citrus Growth and the Soil Bacterial Community in Citrus Field

[Objective] In order to reveal the effects of reducing the amount of novel nano-carbon humic acid water-retaining fertilizer(CSF) on soil microbial community structure and citrus growth. [Method]In this study,conventional fertilization was as the control(KC1) in Wanzhou citrus orchard of Three Gorges Reservoir area. CSF reductions by 0%(KC2),10%(KC3),20%(KC4),30%(KC5) and 40%(KC6) were used to analyze the changes of soil bacterial community structure,citrus yield and quality. [Result]The results showed that the observed species,Shannon index,Chao1 index and PDwholetree of KC6 were higher than those of KC1,and were the same as KC2. The abundance of Xanthomonadaceae was the highest in KC5. Compared with KC1,the Xanthomonadaceae in KC3,KC4 and KC6 was significantly decreased,and the levels of Nitrosomonadaceae and Pseudomonasaceae were higher than that of KC1 after the treatment of KC6. Sphingomonas in different reduction treatments was lower than that of KC1,but Burkholderia and Pseudomonas were significantly higher than those of KC1. It was found that the similarity among treatments was small after bacterial community similarity clustering analysis,and citrus yield increased somewhat after CSF fertilization reduction.When CSF fertilization reduced by 30%,citrus yield increased by 4. 50%. When CSF fertilization reduced by 40%,citrus yield decreased by4. 14%. After CSF fertilization,citrus quality did not change significantly in CSF conventional fertilization and reduction of 10% and 40%,while significantly decreased in 20% and 30% of fertilization reduction. [Conclusion] CSF fertilization reduction changed the diversity of soil bacterial community structure and the yield and quality of citrus.

Enhanced field emission characteristics of thin-Au-coated nano-sheet carbon films

This paper reports that the nano-sheet carbon films （NSCFs） were fabricated on Si wafer chips with hydrogen- methane gas mixture by means of quartz-tube-type microwave plasma chemical vapour deposition （MWPCVD）. In order to further improve the field emission （FE） characteristics, a 5-nm Au film was prepared on the samples by using electron beam evaporation. The FE properties were obviously improved due to depositing Au thin film on NSCFs. The FE current density at a macroscopic electric field, E, of 9 V/μm was increased from 12.4 mA/cm2 to 27.2 mA/cm2 and the threshold field was decreased from 2.6 V/μm to 2.0 V/μm for Au-coated carbon films. A modified F-N model considering statistic effects of FE tip structures in the low E region and a space-chavge-limited-current effect in the high E region were applied successfully to explain the FE data of the Au-coated NSCF.

Stability and activity of carbon nanofiber-supported catalysts in the aqueous phase reforming of ethylene glycol

Nickel, cobalt, copper and platinum nanoparticles supported on carbon nano-fibers were evaluated with respect to their stability, catalytic activity and selectivity in the aqueous phase reforming of ethylene glycol （230 ℃, autogenous pressure, batch reactor）. The initial surface-specific activities for ethylene glycol reforming were in a similar range but decreased in the order of Pt （15.5 h-1 ） 〉Co（13.0 h 1 ） 〉Ni（5.2 h-1） while the Cu catalyst only showed low dehydrogenation activity. The hydrogen molar selectivity decreased in the order of Pt （53%）〉Co（21%）〉Ni （15%） as a result of the production of methane over the latter two catalysts. Over the Co catalyst acids were formed in the liquid phase while alcohols were formed over Ni and Pt. Due to the low pH of the reaction mixture, especially in the case of Co （as a result of the formed acids）, significant cobalt leaching occurs which resulted in a rapid deactivation of this catalyst. Investigations of the spent catalysts with various techniques showed that metal particle growth is responsible for the deactivation of the Pt and Ni catalysts. In addition, coking might also contribute to the deactivation of the Ni catalyst.

Preparation of multi-walled carbon nanotube–Fe composites and their application as light weight and broadband electromagnetic wave absorbers

Multi-walled carbon nanotube （MWCNT）-Fe composites were prepared via the metal organic chemical vapor deposi- tion by depositing iron pentacarbonyl on the surface of MWCNTs. The structural and morphological analyses demonstrated that Fe nanoparticles were deposited on the surface of the MWCNTs. The electromagnetic properties of the MWCNTs were significantly changed, and the absorbing capacity evidently improved after the Fe deposition on the MWCNT surface. A minimum reflection loss of -29.4 dB was observed at 8.39 GHz, and the less than -10 dB bandwidth was about 10.6 GHz, which covered the whole X band （8.2-12.4 GHz） and the whole Ku band （12.4-18 GHz）, indicating that the MWCNT-Fe composites could be used as an effective microwave absorption material.

Cyclic Voltammetry Determination of Epinephrine with a Nano-gold Modified Glassy Carbon Electrode in the Presence of High Concentration Ascorbic Acid

Nano-gold (NG) modified glassy carbon electrodes (GCEs) were used for determination of epinephrine (EP) in the presence of high concentration ascorbic acid (AA) by cyclic voltammetry (CV). This modified electrode can not only catalytically oxidize EP and AA, but also separate the catalytic peak potentials of EP and AA by about 183.5 mV. In pH = 7.0 ogisogate byffer solution, the linear range of epinephrine was 5 106 ~ 1 ?10-4 mol/L.

Electron field emission characteristics of nano-catkin carbon films deposited by electron cyclotron resonance microwave plasma chemical vapour deposition

This paper reported that the nano-catkin carbon films were prepared on Si substrates by means of electron cyclotron resonance microwave plasma chemical vapour deposition in a hydrogen and methane mixture. The surface morphology and the structure of the fabricated films were characterized by using scanning electron microscopes and Raman spectroscopy, respectively. The stable field emission properties with a low threshold field of 5V/μm corresponding to a current density of about 1μA/cm^2 and a current density of 3.2mA/cm^2 at an electric field of 10V/μm were obtained from the carbon film deposited at CH4 concentration of 8%. The mechanism that the threshold field decreased with the increase of the CH4 concentration and the high emission current appeared at the high CH4 concentration was explained by using the Fowler-Nordheim theory.

Field emission characteristics of nano-sheet carbon films deposited by quartz-tube microwave plasma chemical vapour deposition

Nano-sheet carbon films are prepared on Si wafers by means of quartz-tube microwave plasma chemical vapour deposition （MPCVD） in a gas mixture of hydrogen and methane. The structure of the fabricated films is investigated by using field emission scanning electron microscope （FESEM） and Raman spectroscopy. These nano^carbon films are possessed of good field emission （FE） characteristics with a low threshold field of 2.6 V/μm and a high current density of 12.6 mA/cm^2 at an electric field of 9 V/μm. As the FE currents tend to be saturated in a high E region, no simple Fowler-Nordheim （F-N） model is applicable. A modified F N model considering statistic effects of FE tip structures and a space-charge-limited-current （SCLC） effect is applied successfully to explaining the FE data observed at low and high electric fields, respectively.