Effects of Metal Oxide Modifications on Photoelectrochemical Properties of Mesoporous TiO2 Nanoparticles Electrodes for Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells

Mesoporous TiO2 （m-TiO2） nanoparticles were used to prepare the porous film electrodes for dye-sensitized solar cells, and a second metal oxide （MgO, ZnO, A1203, or NiO） modifi- cation was carried out by dipping the m-TiO2 electrode into their respective nitrate solution followed by annealing at 500 ℃. Experimental results indicated that the above second metal oxide modifications on m-TiO2 electrode are shown in all cases to act as barrier layer for the interracial charge transfer processes, but film electron transport and interfacial charge recombination characteristics under applied bias voltage were dependent significantly on the existing states and kinds of these second metal oxides. Those changes based on sec- ond metal oxide modifications showed good correlation with the current-voltage analyses of dye-sensitized solar cell, and all modifications were found to increase the open-circuit photo- voltage in various degrees, while the MgO, ZnO, and NiO modifications result in 23%, 13%, and 6% improvement in cell conversion efficiency, respectively. The above observations indi- cate that controlling the charge transport and recombination is very important to improve the photovoltaic performance of TiO2-based solar cell.

Ceramics Surface Modification by Excimer Laser Metal Coating

Thin metallic layers (~ 2 μm) of Ni were deposited on polycrystalline Al2O3. ZrO2 and (Ce-TZP)+Al2O3 ceramic substrates. and further irradiated with pulsed excimer (Xeno chloride) laser pulses. The laser energy density was varied from 0.21 to 0.81 J / cm2 to optimize bending strength. For ZrO2 ceramic, it was found that the strength increases from 530 to 753 MPa at 0.51 J / cm2 irradiation. For Al2O3 and (Ce-TZP)+ Al2O3 the fracture strength also increases in varying degree. The causes of strength increment were discussed.

Removal of Organochlorine from Model Oil Using Mg-Modified ZSM-5 Zeolite:Dechlorination Performance,Regeneration,and Thermodynamics

Various metal-modified ZSM-5 zeolite adsorbents prepared by the impregnation method were applied to the removal of organic chlorides from model naphtha.The adsorption performance and regeneration stability were investigated by static adsorption experiments.The morphologies,structural features,and physicochemical properties of the adsorbents were characterized by X-ray diffraction,Brunauer-Emmett-Teller analysis,NH3 temperature-programmed desorption,scanning electron microscopy,transmission electron microscopy,and pyridine adsorption infrared spectroscopy.The Mg/ZSM-5 zeolite adsorbent possessed a relatively high specific surface area and good metal dispersion and exhibited the best dechlorination and regeneration performance.The characterization results revealed that introduction of the metal exerted a significant influence on the acidic properties of the catalyst surface.A decrease in the ratio of Brønsted acidic sites to Lewis acidic sites and an increase in the amount of moderately acidic sites were confirmed to be responsible for the excellent adsorption performance of the Mg-modified ZSM-5 zeolite.Furthermore,the Langmuir adsorption isotherm model was applied to study the adsorption equilibrium and thermodynamics of the Mg/ZSM-5 adsorbent under mild conditions.The results revealed that the removal of 1,2-dichloroethane by the Mg/ZSM-5 adsorbent was endothermic,spontaneous,disordered,and primarily involved physical adsorption.

Enhancing ethylene selectivity in MTO reaction by incorporating metal species in the cavity of SAPO-34 catalysts

The SAPO‐34 catalysts were modified with metal cations by different processes(conventional ion exchange(CIE),template‐assisted ion incorporation(TII)and alcoholic ion exchange(AIE)),systematically characterized by XRD,XRF,N2 adsorption‐desorption,UV‐VIS,H2‐TPR,EPR,SEM,EDX,XPS,NH3‐TPD,1H NMR and IGA,and applied in MTO reaction.The metal cations incorporation introduces extra diffusion hindrance by metallic species located in the cavity of SAPO‐34.In particular,the Zn cations‐modified SAPO‐34 catalysts exhibit core‐shell like structure,with Si‐rich and Zn‐rich sublayer near the external surface,which favors the coke deposition at the beginning of MTO reaction,exerts marked impact on the diffusion of the generated products with relatively large molecular size(e.g.propylene),and significantly increases the selectivity to ethylene and the ratio of ethylene to propene in the MTO reaction.

Selective preparation of light aromatic hydrocarbons from catalytic fast pyrolysis vapors of coal tar asphaltene over transition metal ion modified zeolites

The catalytic cracking of coal tar asphaltene(CTA)pyrolysis vapors was carried out over transition metalion modified zeolites to promote the generation of light aromatic hydrocarbons(L-ArHs)in a pyrolysisgas chromatography/mass spectrometry(Py-GC/MS)micro-reactor system.The effects of ultra stable Y(USY),Co/USY and Mo/USY on the selectivity and yield of L-ArHs products and the extent of deoxygenation(Edeoxygenation),lightweight(Elightweight)from CTA pyrolysis volatiles were investigated.Results showed that the yields of L-ArHs are mainly controlled by the acid sites and specific surface area of the catalysts,while the deoxygenation effect is determined by theirs pore size.The Eligltweight of CTA pyrolysis volatiles over USY is 9.65%,while the Edeoxygenation of CTA pyrolysis volatiles over Mo/USY reaches 20.85%.Additionally,the modified zeolites(Mo/USY and Co/USY)exhibit better performance than USY on L-ArHs production,owing to the synergistic effect of metal ions(Mo,Co)and acid sites of USY.Compared with the non-catalytic fast pyrolysis of CTA,the total yield of L-ArHs obtained over USY(4032 mg·kg^(-1)),Co/USY(4363 mg·kg^(-1))and Mo/USY(4953 mg·kg^(-1))were increased by 27.03%,38.19%and 54.78%,respectively.Furthermore,the possible catalytic conversion mechanism of transition metal ion(Co and Mo)modified zeolites was proposed based on the distribution of products and the characterizations of catalysts.

Study on Aromatization of C_6 Aliphatic Hydrocarbons on ZRP Zeolite Catalyst

The performance of ZRP zeolite catalysts for aromatization of C6 aliphatic hydrocarbons was investigated in a pulsed microreactor. The influence of metal modified ZRP zeolites on aromatization reaction was also studied, coupled with comparison of aromatization tendencies of olefins, paraffins and paraffins with different degrees of chain branching. Test results had shown that the lower the silicon/aluminum ratio in the ZRP zeolite, the higher the aromatization reactivity of aliphatic hydrocarbons. Modification of ZRP zeolite by zinc and its zinc content had apparent impact on the yield and distribution of aromatics. The aromatization tendency of olefins was apparently better than paraffins, while the aromatization tendency of monomethyl paraffins was better than that of straight-chain paraffins with the exception of dimethyl paraffins, which had worse aromatization tendency because of their steric hindrance.

Enhanced thermal performance from liquid metal in copper/graphite filled elastomer

With the increasing integration level of modern electronics,thermal management becomes an urgent issue for guaranteeing the work efficiency and lifespan of electronics.On the basis of intrinsic high thermal conductivity nature,highly ordered graphite and copper stripes are densely aligned in the silicone gel pads in vertical(VCuGr)and oblique(@15°CuGr)directions to couple the high thermal conductivity and mechanical softness.The wetting nature of liquid metal(LM)on the chemically treated Cu surface is utilized to form a LM layer on the two surfaces of thermal pads.The obtained LM-pad TIMs possessed ultrahigh through-plane thermal conductivity(VCuGr:71.4 W/(m K),@15°CuGr:62.5 W/(m K))under the normal packaging pressure.The thermal resistance decreased from 0.69 cm^(2) K/W to 0.25 cm^(2) K/W with the surface modification with LM.Theoretical simulation and practical thermal dissipation test results further demonstrate the excellent thermal management capability of these composites in high-power electronics.

Interfacial engineering of printable bottom back metal electrodes for full-solution processed flexible organic solar cells

Printing of metal bottom back electrodes of flexible organic solar cells（FOSCs） at low temperature is of great significance to realize the full-solution fabrication technology. However, this has been difficult to achieve because often the interfacial properties of those printed electrodes, including conductivity, roughness, work function,optical and mechanical flexibility, cannot meet the device requirement at the same time. In this work, we fabricate printed Ag and Cu bottom back cathodes by a low-temperature solution technique named polymer-assisted metal deposition（PAMD） on flexible PET substrates. Branched polyethylenimine（PEI） and ZnO thin films are used as the interface modification layers（IMLs） of these cathodes. Detailed experimental studies on the electrical, mechanical, and morphological properties, and simulation study on the optical properties of these IMLs are carried out to understand and optimize the interface of printed cathodes. We demonstrate that the highest power conversion efficiency over 3.0% can be achieved from a full-solution processed OFSC with the device structure being PAMDAg/PEI/P3 HT：PC61BM/PH1000. This device also acquires remarkable stability upon repeating bending tests.

Plasticityimprovement of a Zr-based bulk metallic glass by micro-arc oxidation

Mciro-arc oxidation（MAO）was used to coat porous films on the surface of a Zr-based bulk metallic glass sample.The compressive test results indicated that,compared with the as-cast sample,the MAO treated one exhibited higher deformation capacity,associated with multiple shear bands with higher density on the side surface and well-developed vein patterns with smaller size on the fractured surface.The pore in the MAOed film and the matrix/coating interface initiated the shear bands and impeded the rapid propagation of shear bands,thus favoring the enhanced plasticity of the MAO treated sample.The obtained results demonstrated that MAO can be considered as an effective method to finely tune the mechanical performance of monolithic bulk metallic glasses.