High mechanical strength Si anode synthesis with interlayer bonded expanded graphite structure for lithium-ion batteries

Despite advancements in silicon-based anodes for high-capacity lithium-ion batteries,their widespread commercial adoption is still hindered by significant volume expansion during cycling,especially at high active mass loadings crucial for practical use.The root of these challenges lies in the mechanical instability of the material,which subsequently leads to the structural failure of the electrode.Here,we present a novel synthesis of a composite combining expanded graphite and silicon nanoparticles.This composite features a unique interlayer-bonded graphite structure,achieved through the application of a modified spark plasma sintering method.Notably,this innovative structure not only facilitates efficient ion and electron transport but also provides exceptional mechanical strength(Vickers hardness:up to658 MPa,Young's modulus:11.6 GPa).This strength effectively accommodates silicon expansion,resulting in an impressive areal capacity of 2.9 mA h cm^(-2)(736 mA h g^(-1)) and a steady cycle life(93% after 100cycles).Such outsta nding performance is paired with features appropriate for large-scale industrial production of silicon batteries,such as active mass loading of at least 3.9 mg cm^(-2),a high-tap density electrode material of 1.68 g cm^(-3)(secondary clusters:1.12 g cm^(-3)),and a production yield of up to 1 kg per day.

Enhancing the Interaction of Carbon Nanotubes by Metal-Organic Decomposition with Improved Mechanical Strength and Ultra-Broadband EMI Shielding Performance

The remarkable properties of carbon nanotubes(CNTs)have led to promising applications in the field of electromagnetic inter-ference(EMI)shielding.However,for macroscopic CNT assemblies,such as CNT film,achieving high electrical and mechanical properties remains challenging,which heavily depends on the tube-tube interac-tions of CNTs.Herein,we develop a novel strategy based on metal-organic decomposition(MOD)to fabricate a flexible silver-carbon nanotube(Ag-CNT)film.The Ag particles are introduced in situ into the CNT film through annealing of MOD,leading to enhanced tube-tube interactions.As a result,the electrical conductivity of Ag-CNT film is up to 6.82×10^(5) S m^(-1),and the EMI shielding effectiveness of Ag-CNT film with a thickness of~7.8μm exceeds 66 dB in the ultra-broad frequency range(3-40 GHz).The tensile strength and Young’s modulus of Ag-CNT film increase from 30.09±3.14 to 76.06±6.20 MPa(~253%)and from 1.12±0.33 to 8.90±0.97 GPa(~795%),respectively.Moreover,the Ag-CNT film exhibits excellent near-field shield-ing performance,which can effectively block wireless transmission.This innovative approach provides an effective route to further apply macroscopic CNT assemblies to future portable and wearable electronic devices.

The effect of al particle size on thermal decomposition,mechanical strength and sensitivity of Al/ZrH_(2)/PTFE composite

To study the thermal decomposition of Al/Zr H_(2)/PTFE with different Al particle size as well as mechanical strength and impact sensitivity under medium and low strain rates,molding-vacuum sintering was adopted to prepare four groups of power materials and cylindrical specimens with different Al particle size.The active decomposition temperature of Zr H_(2) was obtained by TG-DSC,and the quasi-static mechanics/reaction characteristics as well as the impact sensitivity of the specimen were studied respectively by quasi-static compression and drop-hammer test.The results show that the yield strength of the material decreased with the increase of the Al particle size,while the compressive strength,failure strain and toughness increased first and then decreased,which reached the maximum values of 116.61 MPa,191%,and 119.9 MJ/m respectively when the Al particle size is 12-14 mm because of particle size grading.The specimens with the highest strength and toughness formed circumferential open cracks and reacted partly when pressed.Those with developmental cracks formed inside did not react.It is considered that fracture of specimens first triggered initial reaction between Al and PTFE to release an amount of heat.Then ZrH_(2) was activated and decomposed,and participated in subsequent reaction to generate Zr C.The impact sensitivity of the specimens decreased with the increase of Al particle size.

Effects of Cure Pressure Induced Voids on the Mechanical Strength of Carbon/Epoxy Laminates

This work aims at designing a set of curing pressure routes to produce laminates with various void contents. The effects of various consolidation pressures resulting in different void contents on mechanical strength of carbon/epoxy laminates have been examined. Characterization of the voids, in terms of void volume fraction, void distribution, size, and shape, was performed by standard test, ultrasonic inspection and metallographic analysis. The interlaminar shear strength was measured by the short-beam method. An empirical model was used to predict the strength vs porosity. The predicted strengths conform well with the experimental data and voids were found to be uniformly distributed throughout the laminate.

Investigation on Thermal Insulation and Mechanical Strength of Lightweight Aggregate Concrete and Porous Mortar in Cold Regions

Thermal insulation is an important indicator to evaluate the construction material in cold region engineering.As we know,adding the industrial waste as lightweight aggregate or creating the pore inside the cement-based composite could make the texture loose,and the thermal insulating capacity of the material would be improved with this texture.Using these methods,the industrial by-product and engineering waste could be cycled in an efficient way.Moreover,after service the fragmented cement composites paste could be used as aggregate in the thermal insulating concrete again.While the porous texture is not favorable for the mechanical strength and long-term durability in a cold environment.To balance the above three requirements from two opposite directions,different processing methods were applied to create the thermal insulation concrete/mortar.Firstly,the organic/inorganic lightweight aggregate,including the Expanded Polystyrene(EPS),Expanded Perlite(EP),and Ceramsite(CRMST)particles,were applied to create the Lightweight Aggregate Concrete(LWAC).As the comparative tests,the expanded Superabsorbent Polymer(SAP)hydrogel and Air-Entraining Agent(AEA)were also introduced to create the porous mortar.The above concrete/mortar was tested in the normal state and under the Freeze-Thaw cycle to explore the engineering performance in cold regions.During the experimenting process,the thermal insulation,mechanical strength,and frost resistance of these cement-based composites were investigated,and an optimal thermal insulation concrete/mortar was determined.

Simultaneously realizing good volumetric entropy change and mechanical strength of La_(0.8)Ce_(0.2)Fe_(11.51)Mn_(0.19)Si_(1.3)H_(y) plates

It is hard to get a high-strength La(Fe,Si)_(13)-based hydrides owing to the brittle feature of hydrides.In this work,we fabricated the La_(0.8)Ce_(0.2)Fe_(11.51)Mn_(0.19)Si_(1.3)plates through hot pressing at 1323 K for various time.Subsequently,the saturated hydrogenization is achieved at 593 K in H_2 atmosphere of 0.13 MPa for 210 min.The microstructure and magnetocaloric properties were investigated by an X-ray diffractometer,a scanning electron microscope and the Versa-Lab.Under magnetic fields of 0-2 T,the maximal volumetric entropy change is 91.4 mJ/(cm^(3)·K)at 297 K for the hydride plates.The hydride plate simultaneously has excellent mechanical properties with the maximum bending strength of 213 MPa,which suggest that the hot pressing followed by hydrogenation could be an effective route of fabricating La(Fe,Si)_(13)-based hydrides for the potential application in the magnetic refrigerator.

Ultra-lightweight ceramic scaffolds with simultaneous improvement of pore interconnectivity and mechanical strength

The high porosity and interconnectivity of scaffolds are critical for nutrient transmission in bone tis-sue engineering but usually lead to poor mechanical properties.Herein,a novel method that combines acid etching(AE)with selective laser sintering(SLS)and reaction bonding(RB)of Al particles is pro-posed to realize highly improved porosity,interconnectivity,mechanical strength,and in vitro bioactivity in 3D Al_(2)O_(3) scaffolds.By controlling the oxidation and etching behaviors of Al particles,a tunable hol-low spherical feature can be obtained,which brings about the distinction in compressive response and fracture path.The prevention of microcrack propagation on the in situ formed hollow spheres results in unique near elastic buckling rather than traditional brittle fracture,allowing an unparalleled compressive strength of 3.72±0.17 MPa at a high porosity of 87.7%±0.4%and pore interconnectivity of 94.7%±0.4%.Furthermore,scaffolds with an optimized pore structure and superhydrophilic surface show excellent cell proliferation and adhesion properties.Our findings offer a promising strategy for the coexistence of out-standing mechanical and biological properties,with great potential for tissue engineering applications.

Construction of PMIA@PAN/PVDF-HFP/TiO_(2) coaxial fibrous separator with enhanced mechanical strength and electrolyte affinity for lithium-ion batteries

Poly(m-phthaloyl-m-phenylenediamine)(PMIA)is promising as the separator in lithium-ion batteries(LIBs)for its excellent thermostability,insulation and self-extinguishing properties.However,its low mechanical strength and poor electrolyte affinity limit its application in LIBs.In this work,a new PMIA@polyacrylonitrile-polyvinylidene fluoride hexafluoropropylene-titanium dioxide(PMIA@PAN/PVDFHFP/TiO_(2))composite fibrous separator with a coaxial core-shell structure was developed by combining coaxial electrospinning,hot pressing,and heat treatment techniques.This separator not only inherits the exceptional thermostability of PMIA,showing no evident thermal shrinkage at 220 ℃,but also reveals improved mechanical strength(29.7 MPa)due to the formation of firm connections between fibers with the melted PVDF-HFP.Meanwhile,the massive polar groups in PVDF-HFP play a vital role in improving the electrolyte affinity,which renders the separator a high ionic conductivity of 1.36×10^(-3)s/cm.Therefore,the LIBs with PMIA@PAN/PVDF-HFP/TiO_(2)separators exhibited excellent cycling and rate performance at 25℃,and a high capacity retention rate(76.2%)at 80℃for 200 cycles at 1 C.Besides,the lithium metal symmetric battery assembled by the separator showed a small overpotential,indicating that the separator had a role in inhibiting lithium dendrites.In short,the PMIA@PAN/PVDF-HFP/TiO_(2) separator possesses a wide application prospect in the domain of LIBs.

Comparative analysis of microstructure,mechanical,and corrosion properties of biodegradable Mg-3Y alloy prepared by selective laser melting and spark plasma sintering

This work explored possibilities of biodegradable magnesium alloy Mg-3Y preparation by two modern powder metallurgy techniques–spark plasma sintering(SPS)and selective laser melting(SLM).The powder material was consolidated by both methods utilising optimised parameters,which led to very low porosity(∼0.3%)in the SLM material and unmeasurably low porosity in the SPS material.The main aim of the study was the thorough microstructure characterisation and interrelation between the microstructure and the functional properties,such as mechanical strength,deformability,and corrosion resistance.Both materials showed comparable strength of∼110 MPa in tension and compression and relatively good deformability of∼9%and∼21%for the SLM and SPS materials,respectively.The corrosion resistance of the SPS material in 0.1 M NaCl solution was superior to the SLM one and comparable to the conventional extruded material.The digital image correlation during loading and the cross-section analysis of the corrosion layers revealed that the residual porosity and large strained grains have the dominant negative effect on the functional properties of the SLM material.On the other hand,one of the primary outcomes of this study is that the SPS consolidation method is very effective in the preparation of the W3 biodegradable alloy,resulting in material with convenient mechanical and degradation properties that might find practical applications.

Influence of Mass Ratio of Resin and Stabilizer on Mechanical Properties of Mo Fiber-reinforced Granite Polymer Composite

Because inferior mechanical strength of granite polymer composite(GPC)has become the main drawback limiting its application and popularization,Mo fibers were added into(GPC)to improve its mechanical strength.Mechanical properties of matrix materials with different mass ratio of resin and stabilizer(MRRS)were investigated systematically.The influences of MRRS on interface bonding strength of Mo fiber-matrix,wettability and mechanical strength of GPC were discussed,respectively,and the theoretical calculation result of MRRS k was obtained,with the optimal value of k=4.When k=4,tensile strength,tensile strain and fracture stress of the cured resin achieve the maximum values.But for k=7,the corresponding values reach the minimum.With the increase of MRRS k,surface free energy of the cured resin first increases and then decreases,while contact angles between Mo sample and matrix have displayed the opposite trend.Wettability of resin to Mo fiber is the best at k=4.Pulling load of Mo fiber and interface bonding strength appear the maximum at k=4,followed by k=5,k=3 the third,and k=7 the minimum.When k=4,mechanical properties of Mo fiber-reinforced GPC are optimal,which is consistent with the result of theoretical calculation.This study is of great significance to get better component formulas of Mo fiber reinforced GPC and to improve its application in machine tools.

The Influence of CO_(2) Cured Manganese Slag on the Performance andMechanical Properties of Ultra-High Performance Concrete

The presence of toxic elements in manganese slag(MSG)poses a threat to the environment due to potential pollution.Utilizing CO_(2) curing on MS offers a promising approach to immobilize toxic substances within this material,thereby mitigating their release into the natural surroundings.This study investigates the impact of CO_(2) cured MS on various rheological parameters,including slump flow,plastic viscosity(η),and yield shear stress(τ).Additionally,it assesses flexural and compressive strengths(f_(t) and f_(cu)),drying shrinkage rates(DSR),durability indicators(chloride ion migration coefficient(CMC),carbonization depth(CD)),and the leaching behavior of heavy metal elements.Microscopic examination via scanning electron microscopy(SEM)is employed to elucidate the underlying mechanisms.The results indicate that CO_(2) curing significantly enhances the slump flow of ultra-high performance concrete(UHPC)by up to 51.2%.Moreover,it reduces UHPC’sηandτby rates ranging from 0%to 52.7%and 0%to 40.2%,respectively.The DSR exhibits a linear increase corresponding to the mass ratio of CO_(2) cured MS.Furthermore,CO_(2) curing enhances both f_(t) and f_(cu) of UHPC by up to 28.7%and 17.6%,respectively.The electrical resistance is also improved,showing an increase of up to 53.7%.The relationship between mechanical strengths and electrical resistance follows a cubic relationship.The CO_(2) cured MS demonstrates a notable decrease in the CMC and CD by rates ranging from 0%to 52.6%and 0%to 26.1%,respectively.The reductions of leached chromium(Cr)and manganese(Mn)are up to 576.3%and 1312.7%,respectively.Overall,CO_(2) curing also enhances the compactness of UHPC,thereby demonstrating its potential to improve both mechanical and durability properties.

Substitution of Aggregates in Concrete and Mortar with Coltan Mining Waste: Mechanical, Environmental, and Economic Impact Case Study

The mining process involves drilling and excavation, resulting in the production of waste rock and tailings. The waste materials are then removed and stored in designated areas. This study aims to evaluate the mechanical strength and the environmental and economic impact of using Coltan Mining Waste (CMW) as a substitute for aggregates in concrete and mortar production. To achieve this, the CMW needs to be characterised. The Dreux Gorisse method was primarily used to produce concrete with a strength of 20 MPa at 28 days. The mortars, on the other hand, were formulated according to the NF P 18-452 standard. The environmental impact of using CMW as substitutes for natural aggregates in the production of concrete and mortar was analysed using SimaPro software. The results showed that mortars and concrete made with CMW have comparable compressive strengths to the reference mortar and concrete;reduce the negative impact on ecosystem quality, human health, resources, and climate change. It has also been shown that the substitution of aggregates by CMW reduces the cost of concrete and mortar as a function of the distance from the aggregate footprint.

Synthesis of monolithic carbon aerogels with high mechanical strength via ambient pressure drying without solvent exchange

A simple,fast and cost-effective method for monolithic carbon aerogels(CAs) preparation was proposed through sol-gel polycondensation of resorcinol with fo rmaldehyde in a basic aqueous solution followed by ambient pressure drying without solvent exchange,and carbonization.The microstructure and network strength of CAs were tailored by adju sting the catalyst concentration([resorcinol]/[sodium carbonate] in the range of 300-2000),water content([deionized water]/[resorcinol] equals to 17 and 24,respectively),and gelation temperature(Tgel in the range of 30-90℃).Resultantly,the CAs with a wide range of density(0.30-1.13 g/cm3),high specific surface area(465-616 m2/g),high compressive strength(6.5-147.4 MPa)and low thermal conductivity(0.065-0.120 W·m-1 K-1) were obtained in this work.Moreover,the largesized CAs(100×100×20 mm3) can also be prepared by this method since the formed robust skeleton network can resist shrinkage/collapse of pore structure and prevent cracking during drying.The improved mechanical strength and monolithic forming abilities could be mainly attributed to the uniform arrangement of carbon particles and pores,fine particle size,abundant network structure and enhanced particle neck.

Poly(m-phenylene isophthalamide)-reinforced polyethylene oxide composite electrolyte with high mechanical strength and thermostability for all-solid-state lithium metal batteries

Polyethylene oxide(PEO)-based solid polymer electrolytes(SPEs)with flexibility,easy processability,low cost and especially strong ability to dissolve lithium salts have been regarded as promising alternatives to traditional flammable liquid electrolytes in next-generation highsafety and high-energy-density lithium metal batteries.However,the inferior mechanical strength and thermostability of PEO-based SPEs will raise the lithium dendritic penetration issue,further leading to the short circuit in batteries.In this work,aiming at enhancing the interfacial stability against Li dendrites of PEO-based SPEs,poly(mphenylene isophthalamide)(PMIA)is introduced as a reinforcing phase for the rational design of PEO/PMIA composite electrolyte.Impressively,PMIA chain with meta-type benzene-amide linkages significantly improves the mechanical strength(1.60 MPa),thermal stability(260℃)and ability to inhibit the growth of lithium dendrites(>300 h at 0.1 mA·cm^(-2))of SPEs.Meanwhile,allsolid-state LiFePO_(4)‖PEO/PMlA‖Li cell demonstrates superior electrochemical performance in terms of high specific capacity(159.1 mAh·g^(-1)),remarkable capacity retention(82.2%after 200 cycles at 0.5 C)and excellent safety characteristics.No burning or explosion occurs under pressing,bending and cutting conditions.This work opens a new door in developing high-performance PEObased electrolytes for advanced all-solid-state lithium metal batteries.

MECHANICAL STRENGTH AND RELIABILITY OF SOLID CATALYSTS

The mechanical strength of solid catalysts is one of the key parameters for reliable and efficient perform-ance of a fixed bed reactor. Some recent developments and their basic mechanics within this context are reviewed. The main concepts discussed are brittle fracture which leads to the mechanical failure of the catalyst pellets, measurement and statistical properties of the catalyst strength data, and mechanical reliability of the catalyst pellets and their packed bed. The scientific basis for the issues on the catalyst mechanical properties calls yet for further elucidation and ad-vancement.

Interaction between Weibull parameters and mechanical strength reliability of industrial-scale water gas shift catalysts

A fundamental step in the production of an industrial catalyst is its crushing strength assessment. Limited literature exists in which the strength reliability of supported catalysts is investigated from production to their application in a reactor. In this work, cylindrical supports were prepared by pelletizing high poros- ity γ-alumina powder, and Cu-Znf/γ-Al2O3 catalysts were prepared by impregnation of the pelletized γ-alumina supports with an aqueous solution of copper and zinc nitrates. The support-forming variables, such as binder concentration, compaction pressure, calcination temperature, and drying procedure were investigated. The Weibull method was used to analyze the crushing strength data of the supports, and the fresh and used catalysts before and after the low-temperature water gas shift reaction. Support formation at a 50 wt% binder concentration, 1148 MPa compaction pressure, 500 ℃ calcination temperature, and rapid drying （100 ℃, 8 h） led to the maximum support mechanical reliability. The most reliable catalyst with respect to simultaneous appropriate catalytic performance and mechanical strength was prepared from a support with the lowest mean crushing strength （26.25 MPa）. This work illustrates the impor- tance of the Weibull modulus as a useful mechanical reliability index in manufacturing a supported solid catalyst.

IMPROVED OXYGEN PERMEABILITY AND MECHANICAL STRENGTH OF SILICONE HYDROGELS WITH INTERPENETRATING NETWORK STRUCTURE

The interpenetrating polymer network(IPN) silicone hydrogels with improved oxygen permeability and mechanical strength were prepared by UV-initiated polymerization of monomers including methacryloxypropyl tris(trimethylsiloxy)silane(TRIS),2-hydroxyethylmethacrylate(HEMA) and N-vinyl pyrrolidone(NVP) in the presence of free radical photoinitiator and cationic photoinitiator.The polymerization mechanism was investigated by the formation of gel network.The structure of IPN hydrogels was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy(FTIR), differential scanning calorimetry(DSC) and transmission electron microscopy(TEM).The results showed that the IPN hydrogels exhibited a heterogeneous morphology.The mechanical properties,surface wettability and oxygen permeability were examined by using a tensile tester,a contact angle goniometer and an oxygen transmission tester,respectively.The equilibrium water content of the hydrogels was measured by the gravimetric method.The results revealed that the IPN hydrogels possessed hydrophilic surface and high water content.They exhibited improved oxygen permeability and mechanical strength because of the incorporation of TRIS.

Hybrid Hydrogels Assembled from Phenylalanine Derivatives and Agarose with Enhanced Mechanical Strength

A roadblock for supramolecular hydrogels is their poor mechanical properties. Herein, to enhance the mechanical strength of supramolecular hydrogels, agarose（AG） was incorporated into the low molecular weight hy- drogelator（G1）. The results of scanning electron microscopy（SEM）, circular dichroism（CD） and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy（FTIR） prove that G1 gelators can self-assemble into cross-linked network together with AG. The mechanical properties of the gels are characterized by a rotary rheometer and the mechanical properties of the hybrid hydrogels（Hgel） can be significantly improved and may be further tuned by changing the ratio of the two components. For example, the elastic modulus of Hgel II[m（G1）：m（AG）=7：3] is about 2 times higher than that of G1 hydrogel. The results demonstrate that the mechanical property of hybrid supramolecular hydrogels can be adjusted through the formation of a cross-linked network.

Mechanical strength of soda-lime glass sandblasted by gravitation

Damage to a glass surface by sandblasting has a remarkable effect on its mechanical properties and strength.In this study,we analyze the superficial deterioration of soda-lime glass and its influence on the mechanical strength.Sandblasting by gravitation from a fixed height causes damages by the free fall of different quantities of sand,which we performed for a selected grain size and at different angles of inclination.To characterize the surface state,we used different roughness measures(the arithmetic mean value of the roughness Ra,the root mean square roughness Rq,and the maximum roughness Rmax)and measured the optical transmission(transmittance)at different points on the specimen surface using a profilometer.To determine the mechanical strength,we proceeded by two methods:first,by a shock ball(falling ball),and then by biaxial bending using circular supports.The effects of the surface damage on the optical transmission and the mechanical strength of the glass are graphically presented and discussed in this paper.

Individual effect of Y and Nd on the microstructure formation of Mg-Y-Nd alloys processed by severe plastic deformation and their effect on the subsequent mechanical and corrosion properties

This work investigated the effect of sole yttrium and neodymium alloying on the microstructure formation during severe plastic deformation by equal channel angular pressing(ECAP) and an impact on the mechanical strength and corrosion resistance of binary Mg-3Y and Mg-3Nd alloys.The results are compared with a ternary Mg-4Y-3Nd alloy,which represents a simplified version of the commercially successful WE43 alloy.The extensive study comprises a thorough microstructural analysis performed by scanning and transmission electron microscopy,including electron backscatter diffraction and texture analysis performed by X-ray diffraction.It is shown that the presence of Nd primarily caused precipitation during the processing of the Mg-3Nd alloy,while Y remained dissolved in the magnesium matrix in the Mg-3Y alloy.This difference resulted in a significantly smaller average grain size in the Mg-3Y alloy(~0.77 nm) than in the Mg-3Nd alloy(~1.3 μm) after the final step of the processing and formation of a slightly different texture.Consequently,the composition and the processing affected the mechanical and corrosion properties of the investigated materials,measured by compression deformation tests,microhardness measurement,and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy.This study shows that the ECAP-processed W3 sample exhibits a surprisingly good combination of ultrafine-grain structure,weak crystallographic texture,high strength,and high corrosion resistance compared with the other investigated samples.These attributes make this material very interesting for utilisation in the industry and/or medicine.