Harness High-Temperature Thermal Energy via Elastic Thermoelectric Aerogels

Despite notable progress in thermoelectric(TE)materials and devices,developing TE aerogels with high-temperature resistance,superior TE performance and excellent elasticity to enable self-powered high-temperature monitoring/warning in industrial and wearable applications remains a great challenge.Herein,a highly elastic,flame-retardant and high-temperature-resistant TE aerogel,made of poly(3,4-ethylene dioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate)/single-walled carbon nanotube(PEDOT:PSS/SWCNT)composites,has been fabricated,displaying attractive compression-induced power factor enhancement.The as-fabricated sensors with the aerogel can achieve accurately pressure stimuli detection and wide temperature range monitoring.Subsequently,a flexible TE generator is assembled,consisting of 25 aerogels connected in series,capable of delivering a maximum output power of 400μW when subjected to a temperature difference of 300 K.This demonstrates its outstanding high-temperature heat harvesting capability and promising application prospects for real-time temperature monitoring on industrial high-temperature pipelines.Moreover,the designed self-powered wearable sensing glove can realize precise wide-range temperature detection,high-temperature warning and accurate recognition of human hand gestures.The aerogel-based intelligent wearable sensing system developed for firefighters demonstrates the desired self-powered and highly sensitive high-temperature fire warning capability.Benefitting from these desirable properties,the elastic and high-temperature-resistant aerogels present various promising applications including self-powered high-temperature monitoring,industrial overheat warning,waste heat energy recycling and even wearable healthcare.

Enhanced High-Temperature Energy Storage Performance of All-Organic Composite Dielectric via Constructing Fiber-Re in forced Structure

Optimizing the high-temperature energy storage characteristics of energy storage dielectrics is of great significance for the development of pulsed power devices and power control systems.Selecting a polymer with a higher glass transition temperature(T_(g))as the matrix is one of the effective ways to increase the upper limit of the polymer operating temperature.However,current high-T_(g)polymers have limitations,and it is difficult to meet the demand for high-temperature energy storage dielectrics with only one polymer.For example,polyetherimide has high-energy storage efficiency,but low breakdown strength at high temperatures.Polyimide has high corona resistance,but low high-temperature energy storage efficiency.In this work,combining the advantages of two polymer,a novel high-T_(g)polymer fiber-reinforced microstructure is designed.Polyimide is designed as extremely fine fibers distributed in the composite dielectric,which will facilitate the reduction of high-temperature conductivity loss for polyimide.At the same time,due to the high-temperature resistance and corona resistance of polyimide,the high-temperature breakdown strength of the composite dielectric is enhanced.After the polyimide content with the best high-temperature energy storage characteristics is determined,molecular semiconductors(ITIC)are blended into the polyimide fibers to further improve the high-temperature efficiency.Ultimately,excellent high-temperature energy storage properties are obtained.The 0.25 vol%ITIC-polyimide/polyetherimide composite exhibits high-energy density and high discharge efficiency at 150℃(2.9 J cm^(-3),90%)and 180℃(2.16 J cm^(-3),90%).This work provides a scalable design idea for high-performance all-organic high-temperature energy storage dielectrics.

TiN/Fe_(2)N/C composite with stable and broadband high-temperature microwave absorption

Facing the complex variable high-temperature environment,electromagnetic wave(EMW)absorbing materials maintaining high stability and satisfying absorbing properties is essential.This study focused on the synthesis and EMW absorbing performance evaluation of TiN/Fe_(2)N/C composite materials,which were prepared using electrostatic spinning followed by a high-temperature nitridation process.The TiN/Fe_(2)N/C fibers constructed a well-developed conductive network that generates considerable conduction loss.The heterogeneous interfaces between different components generated a significant level of interfacial polarization.Thanks to the synergistic effect of stable dielectric loss and optimized impedance matching,the TiN/Fe_(2)N/C composite materials demonstrated excellent and stable absorption performance across a wide temperature range(293-453 K).Moreover,TiN/Fe_(2)N/C-15 achieved a minimum reflection loss(RL)of−48.01 dB and an effective absorption bandwidth(EAB)of 3.64 GHz at 2.1 mm and 373 K.This work provides new insights into the development of high-efficiency and stabile EMW absorbing materials under complex variable high-temperature conditions.

Synergistic effect of Zr and Mo on precipitation and high-temperature properties of Al-Si-Cu-Mg alloys

This study focuses on finding a solution to the sharp decline in mechanical properties of Al-Si-Cu-Mg alloys due to rapid coarsening of traditional intermediate phases at high temperature.A new type of modified al oy,to be used in automobile engines at high temperatures,was prepared by adding Zr and Mo into Al-Si-Cu-Mg alloy.The synergistic effects of Zr and Mo on the microstructure evolution and high-temperature mechanical properties were studied.Results show that the addition of Zr and Mo generates a series of intermetallic phases dispersed in the alloy.They can improve the strength of the alloy by hindering dislocation movement and crack propagation.In addition,some nano-strengthened phases show coherent interfaces with the matrix and improve grain refinement.The addition of Mo greatly improves the heat resistance of the alloy.The extremely low diffusivity of Mo enables it to improve the thermal stability of the intermetallic phases,inhibit precipitation during aging,reduce the size of the precipitates,and improve the heat resistance of the alloy.

HZSM-5 zeolites undergoing the high-temperature process for boosting the bimolecular reaction in n-heptane catalytic cracking

High-temperature treatment is key to the preparation of zeolite catalysts.Herein,the effects of hightemperature treatment on the property and performance of HZSM-5 zeolites were studied in this work.X-Ray diffraction,N2physisorption,27Al magic angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance(MAS NMR),and temperature-programmed desorption of ammonia results indicated that the hightemperature treatment at 650℃ hardly affected the inherent crystal and texture of HZSM-5zeolites but facilitated the conversion of framework Al to extra-framework Al,reducing the acid site and enhancing the acid strength.Moreover,the high-temperature treatment improved the performance of HZSM-5 zeolites in n-heptane catalytic cracking,promoting the conversion and light olefins yield while inhibiting coke formation.Based on the kinetic and mechanism analysis,the improvement of HZSM-5 performance caused by high-temperature treatment has been attributed to the formation of extra-framework Al,which enhanced the acid strength,facilitated the bimolecular reaction,and promoted the entropy change to overcome a higher energy barrier in n-heptane catalytic cracking.

A review of in-situ high-temperature characterizations for understanding the processes in metallurgical engineering

For the rational manipulation of the production quality of high-temperature metallurgical engineering,there are many challenges in understanding the processes involved because of the black box chemical/electrochemical reactors.To overcome this issue,various in-situ characterization methods have been recently developed to analyze the interactions between the composition,microstructure,and solid-liquid interface of high-temperature electrochemical electrodes and molten salts.In this review,recent progress of in-situ hightemperature characterization techniques is discussed to summarize the advances in understanding the processes in metallurgical engineering.In-situ high-temperature technologies and analytical methods mainly include synchrotron X-ray diffraction(s-XRD),laser scanning confocal microscopy,and X-ray computed microtomography(X-rayμ-CT),which are important platforms for analyzing the structure and morphology of the electrodes to reveal the complexity and variability of their interfaces.In addition,laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy,high-temperature Raman spectroscopy,and ultraviolet-visible absorption spectroscopy provide microscale characterizations of the composition and structure of molten salts.More importantly,the combination of X-rayμ-CT and s-XRD techniques enables the investigation of the chemical reaction mechanisms at the two-phase interface.Therefore,these in-situ methods are essential for analyzing the chemical/electrochemical kinetics of high-temperature reaction processes and establishing the theoretical principles for the efficient and stable operation of chemical/electrochemical metallurgical processes.

Natural Lignin:A Sustainable and Cost-Effective Electrode Material for High-Temperature Na-Ion Battery

Rechargeable sodium-ion batteries usually suffer from accelerated electrode destruction at high temperatures and high synthesis costs of electrode materials.Therefore,it is highly desirable to explore novel organic electrodes considering their cost-effectiveness and large adaptability to volume changes.Herein,natural biomass,pristine lignin,is employed as the sodium-ion battery anodes,and their sodium storage performance is investigated at room temperature and 60℃.The lignin anodes exhibit excellent high-temperature sodium-ion battery performance.This mainly results from the generation of abundant reactive sites(C=O)due to the high temperature-induced homogeneous cleavage of the C_(β)-O bond in the lignin macromolecule.This work can inspire researchers to explore other natural organic materials for large-scale applications and high-value utilization in advanced energy storage devices.

Hybrid 2D/3D Graphitic Carbon Nitride-Based High-Temperature Position-Sensitive Detector

Ultraviolet position-sensitive detectors(PSDs)are expected to undergo harsh environments,such as high temperatures,for a wide variety of applications in military,civilian,and aerospace.However,no report on relevant PSDs operating at high temperatures can be found up to now.Herein,we design a new 2D/3D graphitic carbon nitride(g-C_(3)N_(4))/gallium nitride(GaN)hybrid heterojunction to construct the ultraviolet high-temperature-resistant PSD.The g-C_(3)N_(4)/GaN PSD exhibits a high position sensitivity of 355 mV mm^(-1),a rise/fall response time of 1.7/2.3 ms,and a nonlinearity of 0.5%at room temperature.The ultralow formation energy of-0.917 eV atom^(-1)has been obtained via the thermodynamic phase stability calculations,which endows g-C_(3)N_(4)with robust stability against heat.By merits of the strong built-in electric field of the 2D/3D hybrid heterojunction and robust thermo-stability of g-C_(3)N_(4),the g-C_(3)N_(4)/GaN PSD delivers an excellent position sensitivity and angle detection nonlinearity of 315 mV mm^(-1)and 1.4%,respectively,with high repeatability at a high temperature up to 700 K,outperforming most of the other counterparts and even commercial silicon-based devices.This work unveils the high-temperature PSD,and pioneers a new path to constructing g-C_(3)N_(4)-based harsh-environment-tolerant optoelectronic devices.

A Novel Fracturing Fluid with High-Temperature Resistance for Ultra-Deep Reservoirs

Ultra-deep reservoirs play an important role at present in fossil energy exploitation.Due to the related high temperature,high pressure,and high formation fracture pressure,however,methods for oil well stimulation do not produce satisfactory results when conventional fracturing fluids with a low pumping rate are used.In response to the above problem,a fracturing fluid with a density of 1.2~1.4 g/cm^(3)was developed by using Potassium formatted,hydroxypropyl guanidine gum and zirconium crosslinking agents.The fracturing fluid was tested and its ability to maintain a viscosity of 100 mPa.s over more than 60 min was verified under a shear rate of 1701/s and at a temperature of 175℃.This fluid has good sand-carrying performances,a low viscosity after breaking the rubber,and the residue content is less than 200 mg/L.Compared with ordinary reconstruction fluid,it can increase the density by 30%~40%and reduce the wellhead pressure of 8000 m level reconstruction wells.Moreover,the new fracturing fluid can significantly mitigate safety risks.

Novel Method for Evaluating the Aging of Aviation Turbine Engine Oils via High-Temperature Bearing Deposit Tests

Aviation turbine engine oils require excellent thermal-oxidative stability because of their high-temperature environments.High-temperature bearing deposit testing is a mandatory method for measuring the thermal-oxidative performance of aviation lubricant oils,and the relevant apparatus was improved in the present study.Two different commercial aviation turbine engine oils were tested,one with standard performance(known as the SL oil)and the other with high thermal stability,and their thermal-oxidative stability characteristics were evaluated.After 100 h of high-temperature bearing testing,the SL oil was analyzed by using various analytical techniques to investigate its thermal-oxidative process in the bearing test,with its thermal-oxidative degradation mechanism also being discussed.The results indicate that the developed high-temperature bearing apparatus easily meets the test requirements of method 3410.1 in standard FED-STD-791D.The viscosity and total acid number(TAN)of the SL oil increased with the bearing test time,and various deposits were produced in the bearing test,with the micro-particles of the carbon deposits being sphere-like,rod-like,and sheet-like in appearance.The antioxidant additives in the oil were consumed very rapidly in the first 30 h of the bearing test,with N-phenyl-1-naphthylamine being consumed faster than dioctyldiphenylamine.Overall,the oil thermal-oxidative process involves very complex physical and chemical mechanisms.

High-performance and robust high-temperature polymer electrolyte membranes with moderate microphase separation by implementation of terphenyl-based polymers

Acid loss and plasticization of phosphoric acid(PA)-doped high-temperature polymer electrolyte membranes(HT-PEMs)are critical limitations to their practical application in fuel cells.To overcome these barriers,poly(terphenyl piperidinium)s constructed from the m-and p-isomers of terphenyl were synthesized to regulate the microstructure of the membrane.Highly rigid p-terphenyl units prompt the formation of moderate PA aggregates,where the ion-pair interaction between piperidinium and biphosphate is reinforced,leading to a reduction in the plasticizing effect.As a result,there are trade-offs between the proton conductivity,mechanical strength,and PA retention of the membranes with varied m/p-isomer ratios.The designed PA-doped PTP-20m membrane exhibits superior ionic conductivity,good mechanical strength,and excellent PA retention over a wide range of temperature(80–160°C)as well as satisfactory resistance to harsh accelerated aging tests.As a result,the membrane presents a desirable combination of performance(1.462 W cm^(-2) under the H_(2)/O_(2)condition,which is 1.5 times higher than that of PBI-based membrane)and durability(300 h at 160°C and 0.2 A cm^(-2))in the fuel cell.The results of this study provide new insights that will guide molecular design from the perspective of microstructure to improve the performance and robustness of HT-PEMs.

Integrated multi-scale approach combining global homogenization and local refinement for multi-field analysis of high-temperature superconducting composite magnets

Second-generation high-temperature superconducting(HTS)conductors,specifically rare earth-barium-copper-oxide(REBCO)coated conductor(CC)tapes,are promising candidates for high-energy and high-field superconducting applications.With respect to epoxy-impregnated REBCO composite magnets that comprise multilayer components,the thermomechanical characteristics of each component differ considerably under extremely low temperatures and strong electromagnetic fields.Traditional numerical models include homogenized orthotropic models,which simplify overall field calculation but miss detailed multi-physics aspects,and full refinement(FR)ones that are thorough but computationally demanding.Herein,we propose an extended multi-scale approach for analyzing the multi-field characteristics of an epoxy-impregnated composite magnet assembled by HTS pancake coils.This approach combines a global homogenization(GH)scheme based on the homogenized electromagnetic T-A model,a method for solving Maxwell's equations for superconducting materials based on the current vector potential T and the magnetic field vector potential A,and a homogenized orthotropic thermoelastic model to assess the electromagnetic and thermoelastic properties at the macroscopic scale.We then identify“dangerous regions”at the macroscopic scale and obtain finer details using a local refinement(LR)scheme to capture the responses of each component material in the HTS composite tapes at the mesoscopic scale.The results of the present GH-LR multi-scale approach agree well with those of the FR scheme and the experimental data in the literature,indicating that the present approach is accurate and efficient.The proposed GH-LR multi-scale approach can serve as a valuable tool for evaluating the risk of failure in large-scale HTS composite magnets.

Performance Assessment on Corrosion Resistance of Refractory Materials Based on High-temperature Machine Vision Technology

Refractory materials,as the crucial foundational materials in high-temperature industrial processes such as metallurgy and construction,are inevitably subjected to corrosion and penetration from high-temperature media during their service.Traditionally,observing the in-situ degradation process of refractory materials in complex high-temperature environments has presented challenges.Post-corrosion analysis are commonly employed to assess the slag resistance of refractory materials and understand the corrosion mechanisms.However,these methods often lack information on the process under the conditions of thermal-chemical-mechanical coupling,leading to potential biases in the analysis results.In this work,we developed a non-contact high-temperature machine vision technology by the integrating Digital Image Correlation(DIC)with a high-temperature visualization system to explore the corrosion behavior of Al2O3-SiO2 refractories against molten glass and Al2O3-MgO dry ramming refractories against molten slag at different temperatures.This technology enables realtime monitoring of the 2D or 3D overall strain and average strain curves of the refractory materials and provides continuous feedback on the progressive corrosion of the materials under the coupling conditions of thermal,chemical,and mechanical factors.Therefore,it is an innovative approach for evaluating the service behavior and performance of refractory materials,and is expected to promote the digitization and intelligence of the refractory industry,contributing to the optimization and upgrading of product performance.

Research on the impact of high-temperature aging on the thermal safety of lithium-ion batteries

Understanding the thermal safety evolution of lithium-ion batteries during high-temperature usage conditions bears significant implications for enhancing the safety management of aging batteries.This work investigates the thermal safety evolution mechanism of lithium-ion batteries during high-temperature aging.Similarities arise in the thermal safety evolution and degradation mechanisms for lithium-ion batteries undergoing cyclic aging and calendar aging.Employing multi-angle characterization analysis,the intricate mechanism governing the thermal safety evolution of lithium-ion batteries during high-temperature aging is clarified.Specifically,lithium plating serves as the pivotal factor contributing to the reduction in the self-heating initial temperature.Additionally,the crystal structure of the cathode induced by the dissolution of transition metals and the reductive gas generated during aging attacking the crystal structure of the cathode lead to a decrease in thermal runaway triggering temperature.Furthermore,the loss of active materials and active lithium during aging contributes to a decline in both the maximum temperature and the maximum temperature rise rate,ultimately indicating a decrease in the thermal hazards of aging batteries.

Seasonal Prediction of Extreme High-Temperature Days in Southwestern China Based on the Physical Precursors

Extreme high temperatures frequently occur in southwestern China,significantly impacting the local ecological system and economic development.However,accurate prediction of extreme high-temperature days(EHDs)in this region is still an unresolved challenge.Based on the spatiotemporal characteristics of EHDs over China,a domain-averaged EHD index over southwestern China(SWC-EHDs)during April-May is defined.The simultaneous dynamic and thermodynamic fields associated with the increased SWC-EHDs are a local upper-level anticyclonic(high-pressure)anomaly and wavy geopotential height anomaly patterns over Eurasia.In tracing the origins of the lower boundary anomalies,two physically meaningful precursors are detected for SWC-EHDs.They are the tripolar SST change tendency from December-January to February-March in the northern Atlantic and the February-March mean snow depth in central Asia.Using these two selected predictors,a physics-based empirical model prediction was applied to the training period of 1961–2005 to obtain a skillful prediction of the EHDs index,attaining a correlation coefficient of 0.76 in the independent prediction period(2006–19),suggesting that 58%of the total SWC-EHDs variability is predictable.This study provides an estimate for the lower bound of the seasonal predictability of EHDs as well as for the hydrological drought over southwestern China.

Study on the effect of thermal deformation on the liquid seal of high-temperature molten salt pump in molten salt reactor

The high-temperature molten salt pump is the core equipment in a molten salt reactor that drives the flow of the molten salt coolant.Rotor stability is key to the continuous and reliable operation of the molten salt pump,and the liquid seal at the wear ring can affect the dynamic characteristics of the rotor system.When the molten salt pump is operated in the hightemperature molten salt medium,thermal deformation of the submerged parts inevitably occurs,changing clearance between the stator and rotor,affecting the leakage and dynamic characteristics of the seal.In this study,the seal leakage,seal dynamic characteristics,and rotor system dynamic characteristics are simulated and analyzed using finite element simulation software based on two cases of considering the effect of seal thermal deformation effect or not.The results show a significant difference in the leakage characteristics and dynamic characteristics of the seal obtained by considering the effect of seal thermal deformation and neglecting the effect of thermal deformation.The leakage flow rate decreases,and the first-order critical speed of the seal-bearing-rotor system decrease after considering the seal’s thermal deformation.

High-temperature stress suppresses allene oxide cyclase 2 and causes male sterility in cotton by disrupting jasmonic acid signaling

Cotton(Gossypium spp.) yield is reduced by stress. In this study, high temperature(HT) suppressed the expression of the jasmonic acid(JA) biosynthesis gene allene oxide cyclase 2(GhAOC2), reducing JA content and causing male sterility in the cotton HT-sensitive line H05. Anther sterility was reversed by exogenous application of methyl jasmonate(MeJA) to early buds. To elucidate the role of GhAOC2 in JA biosynthesis and identify its putative contribution to the anther response to HT, we created gene knockout cotton plants using the CRISPR/Cas9 system. Ghaoc2 mutant lines showed male-sterile flowers with reduced JA content in the anthers at the tetrad stage(TS), tapetum degradation stage(TDS), and anther dehiscence stage(ADS). Exogenous application of MeJA to early mutant buds(containing TS or TDS anthers) rescued the sterile pollen and indehiscent anther phenotypes, while ROS signals were reduced in ADS anthers. We propose that HT downregulates the expression of GhAOC2 in anthers, reducing JA biosynthesis and causing excessive ROS accumulation in anthers, leading to male sterility. These findings suggest exogenous JA application as a strategy for increasing male fertility in cotton under HT.

Comparative investigation of microstructure and high-temperature oxidation resistance of high-velocity oxy-fuel sprayed CoNiCrAlY/nano-Al_(2)O_(3) composite coatings using satellited powders

Satellited CoNiCrAlY–Al_(2)O_(3)feedstocks with 2wt%, 4wt%, and 6wt% oxide nanoparticles and pure CoNiCrAlY powder were deposited by the high-velocity oxy fuel process on an Inconel738 superalloy substrate. The oxidation test was performed at 1050℃ for 5, 50, 100,150, 200, and 400 h. The microstructure and phase composition of powders and coatings were characterized by scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction, respectively. The bonding strength of the coatings was also evaluated. The results proved that with the increase in the percentage of nanoparticles(from 2wt% to 6wt%), the amount of porosity(from 1vol% to 4.7vol%), unmelted particles, and roughness of the coatings(from 4.8 to 8.8 μm) increased, and the bonding strength decreased from 71 to 48 MPa. The thicknesses of the thermally grown oxide layer of pure and composite coatings(2wt%, 4wt%, and 6wt%) after 400 h oxidation were measured as 6.5, 5.5, 7.6, and 8.1 μm, respectively.The CoNiCrAlY–2wt% Al_(2)O_(3)coating showed the highest oxidation resistance due to the diffusion barrier effect of well-dispersed nanoparticles. The CoNiCrAlY–6wt% Al_(2)O_(3)coating had the lowest oxidation resistance due to its rough surface morphology and porous microstructure.

A high-temperature resistant and high-density polymeric saturated brine-based drilling fluid

Three high-temperature resistant polymeric additives for water-based drilling fluids are designed and developed:weakly cross-linked zwitterionic polymer fluid loss reducer(WCZ),flexible polymer microsphere nano-plugging agent(FPM)and comb-structure polymeric lubricant(CSP).A high-temperature resistant and high-density polymeric saturated brine-based drilling fluid was developed for deep drilling.The WCZ has a good anti-polyelectrolyte effect and exhibits the API fluid loss less than 8 mL after aging in saturated salt environment at 200°C.The FPM can reduce the fluid loss by improving the quality of the mud cake and has a good plugging effect on nano-scale pores/fractures.The CSP,with a weight average molecular weight of 4804,has multiple polar adsorption sites and exhibits excellent lubricating performance under high temperature and high salt conditions.The developed drilling fluid system with a density of 2.0 g/cm^(3)has good rheological properties.It shows a fluid loss less than 15 mL at 200°C and high pressure,a sedimentation factor(SF)smaller than 0.52 after standing at high temperature for 5 d,and a rolling recovery of hydratable drill cuttings similar to oil-based drilling fluid.Besides,it has good plugging and lubricating performance.

A 3–5μm broadband YBCO high-temperature superconducting photonic crystal

Photonic crystal structures have excellent optical properties,so they are widely studied in conventional optical materials.Recent research shows that high-temperature superconducting periodic structures have natural photonic crystal features and they are favourable candidates for single-photon detection.Considering that superconductors have completely different properties from conventional optical materials,we study the energy level diagram and mid-infrared 3μm–5μm transmission spectrum of two-dimensional superconducting photonic crystals in both superconducting and quenched states with the finite element method.The energy level diagram of the circular crystal column superconducting structure shows that the structure has a large band gap width in both states.At the same fill factor,the circular crystal column superconducting structure has a larger band gap width than the others structures.For lattice structures,the zero transmission point of the square lattice structure is robust to the incident angle and environmental temperature.Our research has guiding significance for the design of new material photonic crystals,photon modulation and detection.