Nucleation of Supercooled Water by Neutrons: Latitude Dependence and Implications for Cloud Modelling

It has recently been shown that incident particles, neutrons, can initiate the freezing in a supercooled water volume. This new finding may have ramifications for the interpretation of both experimental data on the nucleation of laboratory samples of supercooled water and perhaps more importantly on the interpretation of ice nucleation involved in cloud physics. For example, if some fraction of the cloud nucleation previously attributed to dust, soot, or aerosols has been caused by cosmogenic neutrons, fresh consideration is required in the context of climate models. Moreover, as cosmogenic neutrons, most being muon-induced, have much greater flux at high latitudes, estimates of ice nucleates in these regions may be larger than required to accurately model cloud and condensation properties. This discrepancy has been pointed out in IPCC reports. Our paper discusses the connection between the new concept of neutrons nucleating supercooled water and the need for a new source of nucleation in high latitude clouds, ideally causing others to review current data, or to analyse future data with this idea in mind. .

Highly Reversible Zn Metal Anodes Enabled by Increased Nucleation Overpotential

Dendrite formation severely compromises further development of zinc ion batteries. Increasing the nucleation overpotential plays a crucial role in achieving uniform deposition of metal ions. However, this strategy has not yet attracted enough attention from researchers to our knowledge. Here, we propose that thermodynamic nucleation overpotential of Zn deposition can be boosted through complexing agent and select sodium L-tartrate(Na-L) as example. Theoretical and experimental characterization reveals L-tartrate anion can partially replace H_(2)O in the solvation sheath of Zn^(2+), increasing de-solvation energy. Concurrently, the Na^(+) could absorb on the surface of Zn anode preferentially to inhibit the deposition of Zn^(2+) aggregation. In consequence, the overpotential of Zn deposition could increase from 32.2 to 45.1 mV with the help of Na-L. The Zn-Zn cell could achieve a Zn utilization rate of 80% at areal capacity of 20 mAh cm^(-2). Zn-LiMn_(2)O_(4) full cell with Na-L additive delivers improved stability than that with blank electrolyte. This study also provides insight into the regulation of nucleation overpotential to achieve homogeneous Zn deposition.

Nucleation and growth control for iron-and phosphorus-rich phases from a modified steelmaking waste slag

Recovering the iron(Fe)and phosphorus(P)contained in steelmaking slags not only reduces the environmental burden caused by the accumulated slag,but also is the way to develop a circular economy and achieve sustainable development in the steel industry.We had pre-viously found the possibility of recovering Fe and P resources,i.e.,magnetite(Fe_(3)O_(4)) and calcium phosphate(Ca_(10)P_(6)O_(25)),contained in steel-making slags by adjusting oxygen partial pressure and adding modifier B_(2)O_(3).As a fundamental study for efficiently recovering Fe and P from steelmaking slag,in this study,the crystallization behavior of the CaO-SiO_(2)-FeO-P_(2)O_(5)-B_(2)O_(3) melt has been observed in situ,using a confocal scanning laser microscope(CLSM).The kinetics of nucleation and growth of Fe-and P-rich phases have been calculated using a classical crys-tallization kinetic theory.During cooling,a Fe_(3)O_(4) phase with faceted morphology was observed as the 1st precipitated phase in the isothermal interval of 1300-1150℃,while Ca_(10)P_(6)O_(25),with rod-shaped morphology,was found to be the 2nd phase to precipitate in the interval of 1150-1000℃.The crystallization abilities of Fe_(3)O_(4) and Ca_(10)P_(6)O_(25) phases in the CaO-SiO_(2)-FeO-P_(2)O_(5)-B_(2)O_(3) melt were quantified with the in-dex of(T_(U)−T_(I))/T_(I)(where T_(I) represents the peak temperature of the nucleation rate and TU stands for that of growth rate),and the crystalliza-tion ability of Fe_(3)O_(4) was found to be larger than that of Ca_(10)P_(6)O_(25) phase.The range of crystallization temperature for Fe_(3)O_(4) and Ca_(10)P_(6)O_(25) phases was optimized subsequently.The Fe_(3)O_(4) and Ca_(10)P_(6)O_(25) phases are the potential sources for ferrous feedstock and phosphate fertilizer,respectively.

Inner-pore reduction nucleation of palladium nanoparticles in highly conductive wurster-type covalent organic frameworks for efficient oxygen reduction electrocatalysis

Covalent organic frameworks(COFs)have emerged as a class of promising supports for electrocatalysis because of their advantages including good crystallinity,highly ordered pores,and structural diversity.However,their poor conductivity represents the main obstruction to their practical application.Here,we reported a novel synthesis strategy for synergistically endowing a triphenylamine-based COFs with improved electrical conductivity and excellent catalytic activity for oxygen reduction,via the in-situ redox deposition and confined growth of palladium nanoparticles inside the porous structure of COFs using reductive triphenylamine frameworks as reducing agent;meanwhile,the triphenylamine unit was oxidized to radical cation structure and affords radical cation COFs with conductivity as high as3.2*10^(-1) S m^(-1).Such a uniform confine palladium nanoparticle on highly conductive COFs makes it an efficient electrocatalyst for four-electron oxygen reduction reaction(4e-ORR),showing excellent activities and fast kinetics with a remarkable half-wave potential(E_(1/2))of 0.865 V and an ultralow Tafel slope of 39.7 mV dec^(-1) in alkaline media even in the absence of extra commercial conductive fillers.The generality of this strategy was proved by preparing the different metal and metal alloy nanoparticles supported on COFs(Au@COF,Pt@COF,AuPd@COF,AgPd@COF,and PtPd@COF)using reductive triphenylamine frameworks as reducing agent.This work not only provides a facile strategy for the fabrication of highly conductive COF supported ORR electrocatalysts,but also sheds new light on the practical application of Zn-air battery.

Different roles of surfaces’ interaction on lattice mismatched/matched surfaces in facilitating ice nucleation

The freezing of water is one of the most common processes in nature and affects many aspects of human activity. Ice nucleation is a crucial part of the freezing process and usually occurs on material surfaces. There is still a lack of clear physical pictures about the central question how various features of material surfaces affect their capability in facilitating ice nucleation. Via molecular dynamics simulations, here we show that the detailed features of surfaces, such as atomic arrangements, lattice parameters, hydrophobicity, and function forms of surfaces’ interaction to water molecules, generally affect the ice nucleation through the average adsorption energy per unit-area surfaces to individual water molecules, when the lattice of surfaces mismatches that of ice. However, for the surfaces whose lattice matches ice, even the detailed function form of the surfaces’ interaction to water molecules can largely regulate the icing ability of these surfaces. This study provides new insights into understanding the diverse relationship between various microscopic features of different material surfaces and their nucleation efficacy.

Simultaneous refinement of α-Mg grains and β-Mg_(17)Al_(12) in Mg-Al based alloys via heterogeneous nucleation on Al_(8)Mn_(4)Sm

Due to the significant differences in the formation temperature and crystal structure between the primaryα-Mg and eutecticβ-Mg_(17)Al_(12),it is a great challenge to achieve simultaneous refinement of the primary and eutectic phases in Mg-Al based alloys via heterogeneous nucleation.Surprisingly,we found that theα-Mg andβ-Mg_(17)Al_(12) in the AZ80 alloy can be simultaneously refined after 0.2 wt.%Sm addition,with the grain size decreasing from∼217±15μm to∼170±10μm and theβ-Mg_(17)Al_(12) morphology changing from a typical continuous network to a nod-like or spherical structure.The simultaneous refinement mechanism is investigated through solidification simulation,transmission electron microscopy(TEM),and differential thermal analysis(DTA).In the AZ80-0.2Sm alloy,many Al8Mn4Sm particles can be observed near the center of theα-Mg grains or inside theβ-Mg_(17)Al_(12).Crystallographic calculations further reveal that the Al8Mn4Sm has good crystallographic matching with both theα-Mg andβ-Mg_(17)Al_(12),so it possesses the potency to serve as heterogeneous nucleation sites for both phases.The promoted heterogeneous nucleation on the Al8Mn4Sm decreases the undercooling required by the nucleation of the primary and eutectic phases,which enhances the heterogeneous nucleation rate,thus causing the simultaneous refinement of theα-Mg andβ-Mg_(17)Al_(12).The orientation relationships between the Al8Mn4Sm and Mg/Mg_(17)Al_(12) are identified,which are[1210]_(Mg)//[010]_(Al8Mn4Sm),(1010)_(Mg)//(301)_(Al8Mn4Sm) and[112]_(Mg_(17)Al_(12))//[010]_(Al8Mn4Sm),(110)_(Mg_(17)Al_(12))//(301)_(Al8Mn4Sm),respectively.Furthermore,the refinement of theβ-Mg_(17)Al_(12) accelerates its dissolution during the solution treatment,which is beneficial for cost saving in industrial applications.Other Al8Mn4RE compounds such as Al8Mn4Y might have the same positive effect on the simultaneous refinement due to the similar physicochemical properties of rare earth elements.This work not only proves the possibility of simultaneously refining the primary and eutectic phases in Mg-Al based alloys via heterogeneous nucleation,but also provides new insights into the development of refiners for cast Mg alloys.

Bubble nucleation in spherical liquid cavity wrapped by elastic medium

According to classical nucleation theory, gas nuclei can generate and grow into a cavitation bubble when the liquid pressure exceeds a threshold. However, classical nucleation theory does not include boundary effects. An enclosed spherical liquid cavity surrounded by elastic medium is introduced to model the nucleation process in tissue. Based on the equilibrium pressure relationship of a quasi-static process, the expressions of the threshold and the modified nucleation rate are derived by considering the tissue elasticity. It is shown that the constraint plays an important role in the nucleation process. There is a positive correlation between nucleation threshold pressure and constraint, which can be enhanced by an increasing tissue elasticity and reducing the size of the cavity. Meanwhile, temperature is found to be a key parameter of nucleation process, and cavitation is more likely to occur in confined liquids at temperature T > 100℃. In contrast, less influences are induced by these factors, such as bulk modulus, liquid cavity size, and acoustic frequency. Although these theoretical predictions of the thresholds have been demonstrated by many previous researches, much lower thresholds can be obtained in liquids containing dissolved gases, e.g., the nucleation threshold is about-21 MPa in a liquid of 0.8-nm gas nuclei at room temperature. Moreover, when there is a gas nucleus of 20 nm, the theoretical threshold pressure might be less than1 MPa.

聚丙烯/蒙脱土纳米复合材料的制备与力学性能预测

本文采用熔融挤出法制备了β成核聚丙烯/蒙脱土纳米复合材料,考察了蒙脱土、β成核剂及增容剂用量对复合材料缺口冲击强度和弯曲强度的影响,并用BP神经网络进行预测。结果表明,增加蒙脱土用量有助于复合材料强度的提高但对韧性不利;随β成核剂用量的增加,复合材料的缺口冲击强度略有增加,而弯曲强度存在最优值,即添加β成核剂0.1%时,弯曲强度达到最大值35.06MPa,较不添加时增加了13.68%;随增容剂用量的增加,复合材料的韧性显著增大而强度有所降低,添加30%增容剂,复合材料的缺口冲击强度较不添加时增加了约3倍,而弯曲强度仅降低了28.39%;BP神经网络预测结果表明,该模型能够比较精确的预测该复合材料的力学性能。该研究对于优化聚丙烯基纳米复合材料制备及改进力学性能预测具有借鉴意义。

EICP与木质素联合改性粉土边坡抗雨蚀试验研究

通过设置6组试样,采用降雨试验,通过试样的表面侵蚀状况与冲蚀量、表面强度、碳酸钙含量的变化分析了改性后粉土边坡的抗雨蚀性能。试验结果表明:植物源酶诱导碳酸钙沉淀(EICP)与木质素联合改性试样并在表面喷洒EICP溶液后,试样表面完整度更好,表面强度及碳酸钙含量更高,质量损失更小,抗雨蚀能力明显提高,与其他试样的平均值相比,边坡土体侵蚀量降低了75.0%,表面强度提高了33.8%,碳酸钙含量提高了235.2%;坡面喷洒EICP溶液可形成硬壳层,有效避免坡面侵蚀;木质素可为碳酸钙提供成核位点,使分布散乱的碳酸钙附着在木质素上,添加木质素后试样碳酸钙含量提高,且表面强度随碳酸钙含量提高而增大。

纳米凹槽表面结冰的分子动力学模拟研究

采用分子动力学模拟方法建立了水在金表面结冰的模型,在疏水表面上引入亲水纳米凹槽结构,模拟研究了纳米凹槽表面上的冰成核过程,揭示了凹槽深宽比对冰成核的影响规律和机制.结果表明,在疏水表面引入亲水纳米凹槽结构并改变表面的凹槽宽度,可以调节疏水表面的结冰过程.当纳米凹槽与六边形冰结构相匹配时,凹槽内部更容易形成冰核,可以提高疏水表面的冰成核率的效果,其表面成核率接近与亲水表面成核率.当纳米凹槽结构与六边形冰结构不匹配时,凹槽内不易形成冰核,结冰过程受到抑制.为提高疏水表面成核率提供了新方法,为控制疏水表面冰成核位置和冰生长方向提供了新思路.

利用废岩棉制备高性能泡沫玻璃陶瓷的实验研究

以工业垃圾废岩棉和废玻璃为原料,以CaCO_(3)为发泡剂制备出高强度泡沫玻璃陶瓷。研究了废岩棉和废玻璃的添加量及烧结温度对泡沫玻璃陶瓷材料性能的影响。结果表明:随着废岩棉添加量的增加和烧结温度的提高,熔体黏度会降低,不利于气泡结构的稳定;在废岩棉添加量为40%、750℃烧结温度下得到的样品容重为0.54 g/cm^(3)、孔隙率为62.5%、抗压强度为4.76 MPa;样品主晶相为亚硅酸钙和石英晶相,加入TiO_(2)作为晶核剂后主晶相改变为榍石;TiO_(2)掺量为10%时,在750℃烧结20 min更经济,所得样品容重为0.82 g/cm^(3)、孔隙率为50%、抗压强度为7.76 MPa。

Sc和Si相互作用对铸造Al-Si-Sc合金组织和性能的影响

通常在铸造Al-Si合金加入Sc来改善合金的性能,但是Si和Sc的相互作用对合金组织和性能影响仍需要进一步深入研究。本文研究了不同含量的Si和Sc对合金组织和性能的影响,结果表明,Sc通过原位形成初生Al_(3)Sc作为α-Al异质形核质点从而细化α-Al晶粒;在凝固过程中,共晶反应生成了网格状AlSi_(2)Sc_(2)相,包晶反应形成了块状AlSi_(2)Sc_(2)相;两种AlSi_(2)Sc_(2)相都会消耗合金中Sc原子,从而降低了Al_(3)Sc的细化效果;Sc还变质共晶Si为更有序的纤维/片状结构,适当的Si与Sc的比可以避免AlSi_(2)Sc_(2)的形成;Al-6Si中Sc含量从0.3%增加至1%时,抗拉强度和屈服强度均上升,但由于AlSi_(2)Sc_(2)相的存在,其伸长率下降;当Sc含量为1%、Si含量从6%降至3%时,抗拉强度、屈服强度和伸长率分别上升2%、12%和21%,主要是凝固过程中析出了Al_(3)Sc而非AlSi_(2)Sc_(2)相。最后,还讨论了Si-Sc交互作用对组织演变的机制。

不同预时效挤压态Mg−Gd−Y−Zn−Zr合金的再结晶行为和强化机制

通过控制预时效时间制备3种不同状态的试样,研究不同预时效状态对挤压态Mg−9.5Gd−4Y−2.2Zn−0.5Zr(质量分数,%)合金的动态再结晶行为(DRX)和性能的影响。结果表明,欠时效挤压(UAE)样品的细晶体积分数为17.4%,而峰时效挤压(PAE)和过时效挤压(OAE)样品的细晶体积分数分别达到89.7%和50.4%。在晶粒内部和晶界处分布的致密、细小的β颗粒相通过粒子激发形核机制显著提高了形核位点和位错密度。然而,致密针状γ'相抑制位错滑移,延迟DRX形核。PEA和OAE样品中细小晶粒的差异归因于原始颗粒相的数量和尺寸的不同,而其拉伸性能的差异归因于不同的显微组织。由于晶界强化和析出强化机制的贡献更大,PAE样品具有更优异的拉伸性能。

β成核聚丙烯/蒙脱土纳米复合材料的结构与力学性能

本文使用双螺杆挤出机制备了β成核聚丙烯(β-PP)/有机蒙脱土(OMMT)纳米复合材料。采用FTIR、XRD和SEM分析了复合材料的微观结构与形貌特征,考察了OMMT、β成核剂(β-NA)及增容剂用量对复合材料冲击强度和弯曲强度的影响,并对比研究了标准BP神经网络模型和LM-BP神经网络模型对力学性能的预测能力。结果表明,增容剂与OMMT表面形成了强相互作用,提高了复合体系的相容性,黏土片以插层结构分散在β-PP基体内。OMMT、β-NA及增容剂用量对复合材料的力学性能均产生了一定影响,其中添加30%增容剂时复合材料的冲击强度约为不添加时的4倍,而弯曲强度仅降低了28.39%。此外,与标准BP神经网络模型相比,LM-BP神经网络模型具有更快的收敛速度和更高的预测精度。该研究为优化PP基纳米复合材料的制备及力学性能预测提供了参考。

好氧颗粒污泥结构稳定强化策略研究评述

好氧颗粒污泥由于其强大的抗冲击能力和出色的除污效果,在常规活性污泥性能升级改造中得到热点关注,而其形成时间较长和稳定性较弱的问题限制了在污水处理厂的商业化应用。为了能尽快将好氧颗粒污泥技术广泛投入到污水处理领域中,有必要重新深入认知形成机制和结构稳定性的关键影响因素,从而达到精准调控其形成过程和实现长期稳定有效使用目的。该文通过系统地收集和分析相关研究文献,梳理了好氧颗粒污泥形成机制,形成机制主要集中在七大类假说,即晶核理论、自凝聚原理、胞外聚合物假说、丝状菌假说、细胞疏水性假说、选择压驱动假说和阶段假说等。从宏观和微观两个角度分析了其稳定性的关键影响因素。宏观上,反应器的高径比、水力剪切力、有机负荷率等因素都会对好氧颗粒污泥的形成和稳定性产生影响;微观上,微生物的群体感应及其分泌的胞外聚合物等因素也发挥着重要作用。详细阐述了好氧颗粒污泥微生物群落组成和功能,进一步整理了好氧颗粒污泥微生物群落与颗粒结构稳定性能的内在关联。依据以上研究进展并结合工程应用的实际情况和需求,总结概况了好氧颗粒污泥结构稳定强化策略,即控制污泥粒径、改善进料与曝气方式、调控胞外聚合物分泌、调控群体感应等。初步构想了基于生物强化、崩解和再造粒的技术路径,具有生化、物化和化学理论融合的特点,在一定程度上可能代表了群体感应-晶核凝聚共诱导造粒的研究方向。

燃料包壳表面沉积层对汽化核心密度影响的实验研究

燃料包壳表面沉积层在压水堆常规运行中形成,其对包壳沸腾传热的影响尚不清楚。为了探索包壳表面沉积层对汽化核心密度的影响规律,本文基于常压下的流动沸腾可视化实验台架,以锆-4合金为基板,采用逐层沉积的方法形成不同厚度的SiO_(2)沉积层,通过开展流动沸腾实验对比不同沉积层厚度下的汽化核心密度差异。研究发现,SiO_(2)沉积表面与未沉积表面相比汽化核心密度增大,Koncar模型可较好地预测本实验工况条件下的汽化核心密度。

成核剂改性沥青的制备及性能评价

为了扩大沥青改性剂的使用范围,并改善现有技术中存在的问题。采用NAB、NAP两种成核剂来制备不同掺量的改性沥青。通过三大指标试验、DSR试验、紫外老化试验、长期老化试验和BBR试验,研究成核剂改性沥青的基本性能、高温流变性能、紫外老化性能、长期压力老化性能和低温流变性能。研究结果表明:成核剂改性沥青软化点提高12.93%,针入度下降21.60%;成核剂改性沥青高温抗车辙性能较好;其紫外老化指数和长期老化指数远低于基质沥青的,具有较明显的抗老化性能;成核剂改性沥青的低温蠕变劲度模量减小,蠕变速率增大,低温流变性能得到明显改善。成核剂改性沥青明显提高了基质沥青的高温流变性能、抗老化性能和低温流变性能,推荐成核剂最佳掺量为1.0%~2.0%。

铱衬底上金刚石外延形核与生长:第一性原理计算

异质外延为金刚石晶圆合成提供了一个有效的实现路径,而Ir衬底上金刚石形核生长技术经过20多年的发展已经有能力制备最大直径为3.5英寸的晶体,开启了金刚石作为终极半导体在电子信息产业应用的大门。然而,表面形核、偏压技术窗口、金刚石外延生长等一系列发生在异质衬底上的问题都需要从生长热力学的角度给予解释。本研究针对化学气相沉积气氛中金刚石如何实现外延形核与生长这一关键问题,利用第一性原理计算从原子尺度对金刚石形核生长过程展开了系列探究。研究结果如下:C原子在Ir衬底表面位点吸附比在体相位点吸附更稳定,表明无偏压条件下金刚石形核只能在衬底表面发生;离子轰击作用下非晶氢化碳层中sp3杂化C原子个数随着离子动能的增加呈现先增大后减小的变化规律,证实了金刚石高密度形核存在一定的离子动能与偏压大小窗口;金刚石沿着Ir衬底外延生长时界面结合能最低(约为–0.58 eV/C),意味着界面结合能是决定外延形核生长的主要热力学因素。本研究阐明了偏压辅助离子轰击促进金刚石单晶外延生长的热力学机制,对于指导金刚石及其他碳基半导体生长具有重要意义。

Biomineralization and mineralization using microfluidics:A comparison study

Biomineralization through microbial process has attracted great attention in the field of geotechnical engineering due to its ability to bind granular materials,clog pores,and seal fractures.Although minerals formed by biomineralization are generally the same as that by mineralization,their mechanical behaviors show a significant discrepancy.This study aims to figure out the differences between biomineralization and mineralization processes by visualizing and tracking the formation of minerals using microfluidics.Both biomineralization and mineralization processes occurred in the Y-shaped sandcontaining microchip that mimics the underground sand layers.Images from different areas in the reaction microchannel of microchips were captured to directly compare the distribution of minerals.Crystal size and numbers from different reaction times were measured to quantify the differences between biomineralization and mineralization processes in terms of crystal kinetics.Results showed that the crystals were precipitated in a faster and more uncontrollable manner in the mineralization process than that in the biomineralization process,given that those two processes presented similar precipitation stages.In addition,a more heterogeneous distribution of crystals was observed during the biomineralization process.The precipitation behaviors were further explained by the classical nucleation crystal growth theory.The present microfluidic tests could advance the understanding of biomineralization and provide new insight into the optimization of biocementation technology.

石墨烯对环氧树脂泡沫炭石墨化、电导率和力学性能的影响

环氧树脂基泡沫炭是一种具有三维海绵状结构的新型炭材料,独特的网状泡孔结构使其具有高孔隙率、耐高温、耐腐蚀、导电/导热可调等性能,应用前景广阔。但是环氧树脂的石墨化困难,本工作以石墨烯为异质成核改性剂,用以提高环氧树脂泡沫炭的石墨化程度、电导率和力学性能。采用简单的发泡、炭化和石墨化工艺制备了石墨烯改性环氧树脂泡沫炭。石墨烯异质成核剂诱导了泡沫炭碳微晶生长,增加了碳晶格条纹长度,减少了碳晶体混乱。研究表明,不含或含质量分数0.05%石墨烯改性泡沫炭的晶面间距、晶粒堆垛高度、石墨化度分别为0.343nm、3.35nm、8.42%和0.342nm、10.22nm、23.2%。此外,石墨烯作为晶胞成核位点会影响泡沫炭的平均晶胞尺寸,随着石墨烯含量的增加,泡沫炭平均晶胞尺寸先减小后增大。同时,石墨烯改性增大了泡沫炭的有序结构,提高了其导电性,当石墨烯的质量分数为0.05%时,泡沫炭电导率为53.8 S·m^(–1)。相对于纯泡沫炭(压缩应变为0.0096%),质量分数0.01%、0.02%、0.05%和0.10%的石墨烯改性泡沫炭压缩应变增加至0.208%、0.228%、0.187%和0.1146%。本研究为碳纳米材料/泡沫炭制备、碳结构和性能调控提供了新的研究方法。