Multifunctional MXene/C Aerogels for Enhanced Microwave Absorption and Thermal Insulation

Two-dimensional transition metal carbides and nitrides(MXene)have emerged as promising candidates for microwave absorption(MA)materials.However,they also have some drawbacks,such as poor impedance matching,high self-stacking tendency,and high density.To tackle these challenges,MXene nanosheets were incorporated into polyacrylonitrile(PAN)nanofibers and subsequently assembled into a three-dimensional(3D)network structure through PAN carbonization,yielding MXene/C aerogels.The 3D network effectively extends the path of microcurrent transmission,leading to enhanced conductive loss of electromagnetic(EM)waves.Moreover,the aerogel’s rich pore structure significantly improves the impedance matching while effectively reducing the density of the MXenebased absorbers.EM parameter analysis shows that the MXene/C aerogels exhibit a minimum reflection loss(RL_(min))value of−53.02 dB(f=4.44 GHz,t=3.8 mm),and an effective absorption bandwidth(EAB)of 5.3 GHz(t=2.4 mm,7.44–12.72 GHz).Radar cross-sectional(RCS)simulations were employed to assess the radar stealth effect of the aerogels,revealing that the maximum RCS reduction value of the perfect electric conductor covered by the MXene/C aerogel reaches 12.02 dB m^(2).In addition to the MA performance,the MXene/C aerogel also demonstrates good thermal insulation performance,and a 5-mm-thick aerogel can generate a temperature gradient of over 30℃ at 82℃.This study provides a feasible design approach for creating lightweight,efficient,and multifunctional MXene-based MA materials.

Reduced graphene oxide aerogel decorated with Mo_(2)C nanoparticles toward multifunctional properties of hydrophobicity,thermal insulation and microwave absorption

Reduced graphene oxide(rGO)aerogels are emerging as very attractive scaffolds for high-performance electromagnetic wave absorption materials(EWAMs)due to their intrinsic conductive networks and intricate interior microstructure,as well as good compatibility with other electromagnetic(EM)components.Herein,we realized the decoration of rGO aerogel with Mo_(2)C nanoparticles by sequential hydrothermal assembly,freeze-drying,and high-temperature pyrolysis.Results show that Mo_(2)C nanoparticle loading can be easily controlled by the ammonium molybdate to glucose molar ratio.The hydrophobicity and thermal insulation of the rGO aerogel are effectively improved upon the introduction of Mo_(2)C nanoparticles,and more importantly,these nanoparticles regulate the EM properties of the rGO aerogel to a large extent.Although more Mo_(2)C nanoparticles may decrease the overall attenuation ability of the rGO aerogel,they bring much better impedance matching.At a molar ratio of 1:1,a desirable balance between attenuation ability and impedance matching is observed.In this context,the Mo_(2)C/r GO aerogel displays strong reflection loss and broad response bandwidth,even with a small applied thickness(1.7 mm)and low filler loading(9.0wt%).The positive effects of Mo_(2)C nanoparticles on multifunctional properties may render Mo_(2)C/r GO aerogels promising candidates for high-performance EWAMs under harsh conditions.

Electromagnetic and Thermal Characteristics of Molybdenite Concentrate in Microwave Field

In modern metallurgical industry,microwave thermal technique has many advantages as one efficient energy treatment in an electromagnetic form,such as internal self-generated heat,easy access to control a volumetric heating process,and consensus on cleanliness,convenience and high efficiency of energy use.Both permittivity and permeability of molybdenite concentrate were measured for a further discussion about its electromagnetic heating coupling.A bidirectional coupling physics field in numerical modeling was undertaken to evaluate the microwave absorption potential and dielectric heating performance of molybdenite concentrate by the multi-physics finite element method.The electromagnetic morphology and the field distribution strength were described in the microwave reaction cavity.The electromagnetic field strength and the dissipation coefficient induced by temperature variation were represented throughout the whole heat chamber and at key parts of interest.Dependent temperature distribution was compared with that being obtained from a scenario by thermal conduction with a stable heat source.The molybdenite concentrate would be heated at surrounding temperature up to 593℃for 10 min by microwave energy that was transmitted by a rectangular waveguide.Scanning electron microscopy(SEM)patterns suggested that the polished and neat crystalline molybdenum trioxide(MoO_(3))products were achieved by the microwave heating process.The superiority via utilizing microwave thermal technique is expounded in the preparation strategy for molybdenum oxide or molybdenum metal.

Revisiting “Non-Thermal” Batch Microwave Oven Inactivation of Microorganisms

Over the last few decades there has been active discussion concerning the mechanisms involved in “non-thermal” microwave-assisted inactivation of microorganisms. This work presents a novel non-invasive acoustic measurement of a domestic microwave oven cavity-magnetron operating at fo = 2.45 ± 0.05 GHz (λo ~ 12.2 cm) that is modulated in the time-domain (0 to 2 minutes). The measurements reveal the cavity-magnetron cathode filament cold-start warm-up period and the pulse width modulation periods (time-on time-off and base-time period, where time-on minus base-time = duty cycle). The waveform information is used to reconstruct historical microwave “non-thermal” homogeneous microorganism inactivation experiments: where tap-water is used to mimic the microorganism suspension;and ice, crushed ice, and ice slurry mixture are used as the cooling media. The experiments are described using text, diagrams, and photographs. Four key experimental parameters are indentified that influence the suspension time-dependent temperature profile. First, where the selected process time > the time-base, the cavity-magnetron continuous wave rated power should be used for each second of microwave illumination. Second, external crushed ice and ice slurry baths induce different cooling profiles due to difference in their heat absorption rates. In addition external baths may shield the suspension resulting in a retarding of the time-dependent heating profile. Third, internal cooling systems dictate that the suspension is directly exposed to microwave illumination due to the absence of surrounding ice volume. Fourth, four separated water dummy-loads isolate and control thermal heat transfer (conduction) to and from the suspension, thereby diverting a portion of the microwave power away from the suspension. Energy phase-space projections were used to compare the “non-thermal” energy densities of 0.03 to 0.1 kJ·m-1 at 800 W with reported thermal microwave-assisted microorganism inactivation energy densities of 0.5 to 5 kJ·m-1 at 1050 ± 50 W. Estimations of the “non-thermal” microwave-assisted root mean square of the electric field strength are found to be in the range of 22 to 41.2 V·m-1 for 800 W.

Microwave absorption and thermal properties of coral-like SiC aerogel composites prepared by water glass as a silicon source

As a heat-resistant wave-absorbing material,silicon carbide(SiC)aerogel has become a research hotspot at present.However,the most common silicon sources are organosilanes,which are costly and toxic.In this work,SiC aerogels were successfully prepared by using water glass as the silicon source.Specifically,the microstructure and chemical composition of SiC aerogels were controlled by adjusting the Si to C molar ratio during the sol–gel process,and the effect on SiC aerogel microwave absorption properties was investigated.The SiC aerogels prepared with Si:C molar ratio of 1:1 have an effective electromagnetic wave absorption capacity,with a minimum reflection loss value of-46.30 dB at 12.88 GHz and an effective frequency bandwidth of 4.02 GHz.They also have good physical properties,such as the density of0.0444 g/cm^(3),the thermal conductivity of 0.0621 W/(m·K),and the specific surface area of 1099 m^(2)/g.These lightweight composites with microwave-absorbing properties and low thermal conductivity can be used as thermal protection materials for space shuttles and reusable carriers.

Integrating thermal energy storage and microwave absorption in phase change material-encapsulated core-sheath MoS_(2)@CNTs

Developing advanced nanocomposite integrating solar-driven thermal energy storage and thermal management functional microwave absorption can facilitate the cutting-edge application of phase change materials(PCMs).To conquer this goal,herein,two-dimensional MoS_(2) nanosheets are grown in situ on the surface of one-dimensional CNTs to prepare core-sheath MoS_(2)@CNTs for the encapsulation of paraffin wax(PW).Benefiting from the synergistic enhancement photothermal effect of MoS_(2) and CNTs,MoS_(2)@CNTs is capable of efficiently trapping photons and quickly transporting phonons,thus yielding a high solar-thermal energy conversion and storage efficiency of 94.97%.Meanwhile,PW/MoS_(2)@CNTs composite PCMs exhibit a high phase change enthalpy of 101.60 J/g and excellent lo ng-term thermal storage durability after undergoing multiple heating-cooling cycles.More attractively,PW/MoS_(2)@CNTs composite PCMs realize thermal management functional microwave absorption in heat-related electronic application scenarios,which is superior to the single microwave absorption of traditional materials.The minimum reflection loss(RL) for PW/MoS_(2)@CNTs is-28 dB at 12.91 GHz with a 2.0 mm thickness.This functional integration design provides some insightful references on developing advanced microwave absorbing composite PCMs,holding great potential towards high-efficiency solar energy utilization and thermally managed microwave absorption fields.

Storage stability of vitamin C fortified purple mashed potatoes processed with microwave-assisted thermal sterilization system

Quality changes in ready-to-eat,shelf-stable foods,during storage can be influenced by many factors,such as processing,storage conditions,and the barrier properties of the packaging.This research investigated retention of vitamin C and anthocyanin in purple mashed potatoes as influenced by packaging barrier properties and encapsulation during storage after microwave assisted thermal sterilization.Purple mashed potatoes fortified with encapsulated(EVC)or non-encapsulated vitamin C(NVC)were packaged in two high-barrier polymer pouches(TLMO and PAA),processed with a pilot-scale microwave assisted thermal sterilization(MATS)system(F0=10.7 min),and stored at 37.8°C for 7 months.MATS processing caused a significant increase(P<0.05)in the oxygen transmission rates(OTRs)of PAA pouches but did not affect the barrier properties of TLMO pouches.PAA film also had a significantly higher(P<0.05)water vapor transmission rate(WVTRs)than TLMO films,which resulted in a significantly higher(P<0.05)weight loss in the samples packaged in PAA pouches than TLMO pouches.Purple mashed potatoes containing encapsulated vitamin C in both TLMO and PAA pouches showed the highest retention over 2 months of storage at 37.8°C than non-encapsulated vitamin C.Additionally,purple mashed potatoes exposed to 700 lumens light showed a significantly higher(P<0.05)deterioration in the anthocyanin,total phenolic content,color,and vitamin C.Overall,MATS processed purple mashed potatoes in high barrier polymeric packaging can minimize the quality changes when stored in dark conditions during storage and have an extended shelf life.

Preparation and Characterization of Palladium Colloidal Nanoparticles by Thermal Decomposition of Palladium Acetate with Microwave Irradiation

A series of solvent-stabilized palladium colloidal nanoparticles were prepared via thermal decomposition of palladium acetate methylisobutylketone (MIBK) solution in the presence of alkali and alcohol with microwave irradiation. The colloidal nanoparticles were characterized with TEM, XPS and XRD. The average diameters of nanoparticles increase from 30 to 40 nm with the increase in concentration of palladium acetate. TEM and XRD observation demonstrated that the palladium colloidal nanoparticles were clusters agglomerated from hundreds of smaller palladium crystallines with size of 3-4 nm. The influence of the concentrations of alkali and alcohol to the particle size was also discussed.

Environmentally Friendly and Multifunctional Shaddock Peel-Based Carbon Aerogel for Thermal-Insulation and Microwave Absorption

Eco-friendly electromagnetic wave absorbing materials with excellent thermal infrared stealth property,heat-insulating ability and compression resistance are highly attractive in practical applications.Meeting the aforesaid requirements simultaneously is a formidable challenge.Herein,ultra-light carbon aerogels were fabricated via fresh shaddock peel by facile freeze-drying method and calcination process,forming porous network architecture.With the heating platform temperature of 70℃,the upper surface temperatures of the as-prepared carbon aerogel present a slow upward trend.The color of the sample surface in thermal infrared images is similar to that of the surroundings.With the maximum compressive stress of 2.435 kPa,the carbon aerogels can provide favorable endurance.The shaddock peel-based carbon aerogels possess the minimum reflection loss value(RLmin)of−29.50 dB in X band.Meanwhile,the effective absorption bandwidth covers 5.80 GHz at a relatively thin thickness of only 1.7 mm.With the detection theta of 0°,the maximum radar cross-sectional(RCS)reduction values of 16.28 dB m^(2) can be achieved.Theoretical simulations of RCS have aroused extensive interest owing to their ingenious design and time-saving feature.This work paves the way for preparing multi-functional microwave absorbers derived from biomass raw materials under the guidance of RCS simulations.

COMPARISON OF THE E44 EPOXY RESINS IN DIFFERENT CONTENTS OF CURING AGENT BY MICROWAVE AND THERMAL CURING METHODS

This paper discusses the fundamental principle of microwave heating, and based on the advantages of microwave heating, use maleic anhydride as curing agent. The technology of microwave curing E44 epoxy resins is investigated, the mechanical properties of cured epoxy resin samples in different contents of curing agent by microwave and thermal curing methods are measured respectively, and then some experimental results for which are obtained. At last, this paper analyses why microwave curing can improve mechanical property of epoxy resin.

Microwave assisted synthesis, spectroscopic, thermal, and antifungal studies of some lanthanide(Ⅲ) complexes with a heterocyclic bishydrazone

A bishydrazone formed by the condensation of isatinmonohydrazone and salicylaldehyde reacted with lanthanide（Ⅲ） chloride to form complexes of the type [Ln（HISA）2Cl3], where, Ln=La（Ⅲ）, Ce（Ⅲ）, Pr（Ⅲ）, Nd（Ⅲ）, Sm（Ⅲ）, Eu（Ⅲ）, or Gd（Ⅲ） and HISA= [（2-hydroxybenzaldehyde）-3-isatin]bishydrazone. Both reactions were carried out under microwave conditions. The ligand and the metal complexes were characterized on the basis of elemental analysis, molar conductance, magnetic susceptibility measurements, UV visible, infrared, far infrared, and proton NMR spectral data. The ligand acted as neutral tridentate, coordinating through the carbonyl oxygen, azomethine nitrogen, and phenolic oxygen without deprotonation. The ligand and lanthanum（Ⅲ） complex were subjected to X-ray diffraction studies. The X-ray diffraction pattern of ligand exhibited its crystalline nature and that of the lanthanum（Ⅲ） complex indicated its amorphous character. The thermal decomposition behaviour of the complex, [La（HISA）2Cl3], was examined in the temperature range of 40-800 ℃ using TG, DTG, and DTA. The ligand and the metal complexes were screened for their antifungal activities.

Growth of 4＂ diameter polycrystailine diamond wafers with high thermal conductivity by 915 MHz microwave plasma chemical vapor deposition

Polycrystalline diamond（PCD） films 100 mm in diameter are grown by 915 MHz microwave plasma chemical vapor deposition（MPCVD） at different process parameters,and their thermal conductivity（TC） is evaluated by a laser flash technique（LFT） in the temperature range of230-380 K.The phase purity and quality of the films are assessed by micro-Raman spectroscopy based on the diamond Raman peak width and the amorphous carbon（a-C） presence in the spectra.Decreasing and increasing dependencies for TC with temperature are found for high and low quality samples,respectively.TC,as high as 1950 ± 230 W m-1 K-1 at room temperature,is measured for the most perfect material.A linear correlation between the TC at room temperature and the fraction of the diamond component in the Raman spectrum for the films is established.

New Activated Carbon with High Thermal Conductivity and Its Microwave Regeneration Performance

Using a walnut shellas a carbon source and ZnCl_2 as an activating agent,we resolved the temperature gradient problems of activated carbon in the microwave desorption process.An appropriate amount of silicon carbide was added to prepare the composite activated carbon with high thermalconductivity while developing VOC adsorption-microwave regeneration technology.The experimentalresults show that the coefficient of thermalconductivity of SiC-AC is three times as much as those of AC and SY-6.When microwave power was 480 W in its microwave desorption,the temperature of the bed thermaldesorption was 10 ℃ to 30 ℃ below that of normalactivated carbon prepared in our laboratory.The toluene desorption activation energy was 16.05 k J·mol^（-1）,which was 15% less than the desorption activation energy of commercialactivated carbon.This study testified that the process could maintain its high adsorption and regeneration desorption performances.

Synthesis of Y_2O_2S：Eu^（3＋） Phosphor by Microwave Thermal Effectand Its Luminescent Properties

The phosphor Y2O2S:Eu3+ powder crystal has been synthesized by using the microwave thermal method.The data of X-ray powder diffraction showed that the phosphor structure belongs to hexagonal system with lattice parameters a=0.3785 nm,c=0.6590nm.The excitation spectrum of the phosphor is a broad band with peak at λ(ex)= 261 nm.The main emission peak at λ(em)=626nm and the other emission lines peak at 595,617 and 706 nm are assigned to transitions of the Eu3+ respectively.Under 254 nm excitation,the chromatic coordinates of phosphor are x=0.665, y=0.330.The relative luminescent intensity is about 62% compared with the standard phosphor Y2O3:Eu3+.Under 365nm excitation this phosphor gives rise to an intense red light.The phosphor particle size has a medium diameter of 7.3μm.

Enhanced thermal conductivity and microwave dielectric properties by mesostructural design of multiphase nanocomposite

Next-generation packaging materials are expected to have higher thermal conductivity,because the heat accumulated in high-performance electronic equipment should be removed to increase the service life of the equipment.At the same time,the dielectric loss of the material needs to be reduced to lessen signal delay and attenuation,especially for the applications under high frequency.In this work,we introduce nano-silicon carbide(SiC)and carbon nanotubes(CNTs)into the polystyrene(PS)and poly(methyl methacrylate)(PMMA)blends system.The design of two-way migration at the interface of CNTs and SiC nanoparticles is realized through the masterbatch method and processing technology control.As a result,the thermal conductivity is successfully increased up to 75%.Meanwhile,compared to the CNTs single-phase migration system,it effectively reduces the dielectric loss of the nanocomposite and optimizes the electrical insulation.This work has significant practical application value in the design of electronic device substrates and packaging materials,and provides an innovative methodology for the mesostructure design of multiphase nanocomposites.

Microwave Synthesis, Spectral, Thermal and Antimicrobial Studies of Some Ni(II) and Cu(II) Schiff Base Complexes

Schiff bases have been synthesized by condensing nicotinamide with methyl isobutyl ketone (MKN) and 2-hydroxy acetophenone (HAN). Metal complexes have been prepared by interacting these Schiff bases with metal ions viz. Ni(II), Cu(II) 1:2 (metal:ligand) ratio. These compounds have been synthesized by conventional as well as microwave methods and characterized by elemental analysis, FT-IR, UV-Vis, FAB-mass, ESR, molar conductance, and thermal analysis. FAB mass and thermal data show degradation pattern of the complexes. The complexes are colored and stable in air at room temperature. The structure of the ligands were elucidated by spectral studies which indicate the presence of two or three coordinating groups in ligands which may be oxygen atom of the phenolic -OH group, the nitrogen atom of the azomethine (C=N) group and the oxygen atom of the carbonyl group. The thermal behavior of metal complexes shows that the hydrated complexes loses water molecules of hydration in the first step;followed by decomposition of ligand molecules in the subsequent steps. The solid state electrical conductivity of the metal complexes has also been measured. Solid state electrical conductivity studies reflect semiconducting nature of the complexes. The Schiff bases and metal complexes show good activity against the Gram-positive bacteria;Staphylococcus aureus and Gram-negative bacteria;Escherichia coli and fungi Aspergillus nigerand Candida albicans. The antimicrobial results also indicate that the metal complexes are better antimicrobial agents as compared to the Schiff bases.

Microwave/Thermal Analyses for Human Bone Characterization

A novel imaging approach utilizing microwave scattering was proposed in order to analyze various properties of bone. Microwave frequencies of 900 MHz, 1 GHz, and 2.4 GHz were used during this study. This investigation’s objectives were to emphasize characteristics of abnormalities in human bones and to detect fine fractures through contrasts in bone density. The finite element method (FEM) presented here is generated from COMSOL software at different frequencies. The study identified the optimum transmission directed at the interface layers from an external microwave source. It was found that approximately 900 MHz microwave power was ideal for this application. This can be attributed to the penetration depth where the power dissipation is analyzed based on bone condition. The microwave energy was generated from an exterior antenna that was interfaced, via catheter, to skeletal bone. The power transmitted to bone was converted into thermal energy, and has led to a visible temperature distribution pattern, which reflects the bone density level, and accordingly, the type of bone under investigation. The electrical and thermal properties, including the dielectric permittivity, thermal conductivity, and heat flux absorption through the bone substance, have great implications on the FEM distribution. The boundary conditions using tangential matching of field components at the tissue-bone interface were incorporated into the finite element method. The average power from the electromagnetic fields (estimated from the Poynting’s vector, P = E*H), was assumed to be fully absorbed as heat due to the conductivity of the bone material. Furthermore, microwave energy was applied as a delta function and the thermal distributions have been analyzed in order to distinguish between normal healthy bone and bones with structural or metabolic abnormalities. The latter was emulated by different bone density to contrast normal bone anatomy. The FEM simulation suggests that thermography microwave imaging could be a good tool for bone characterization in order to detect skeletal abnormalities. This approach could be advantageous over other existing methods such as X-ray imaging.

Microwave ablation of hepatocellular carcinoma

Although surgical resection is still the optimal treatment option for early-stage hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) in patients with well compensated cirrhosis,thermal ablation techniques provide a valid nonsurgical treatment alternative,thanks to their minimal invasiveness,excellent tolerability and safety profile,proven efficacy in local disease control,virtually unlimited repeatability and cost-effectiveness.Different energy sources are currently employed in clinics as physical agents for percutaneous or intra-surgical thermal ablation of HCC nodules.Among them,radiofrequency(RF) currents are the most used,while microwave ablations(MWA) are becoming increasingly popular.Starting from the 90s',RF ablation(RFA) rapidly became the standard of care in ablation,especially in the treatment of small HCC nodules;however,RFA exhibits substantial performance limitations in the treatment of large lesions and/or tumors located near major heat sinks.MWA,first introduced in the Far Eastern clinical practice in the 80s',showing promising results but also severe limitations in the controllability of the emitted field and in the high amount of power employed for the ablation of large tumors,resulting in a poor coagulative performance and a relatively high complication rate,nowadays shows better results both in terms of treatment controllability and of overall coagulative performance,thanks to the improvement of technology.In this review we provide an extensive and detailed overview of the key physical and technical aspects of MWA and of the currently available systems,and we want to discuss the most relevant published data on MWA treatments of HCC nodules in regard to clinical results and to the type and rate of complications,both in absolute terms and in comparison with RFA.

Multifunctional cellular carbon foams derived from chitosan toward self-cleaning, thermal insulation, and highly efficient microwave absorption properties

To adapt the practical demand,designing and constructing the multifunctional microwave absorbers(MAs)is the key future direction of research and development.However,effective integrating the multiple functions into a single material remains a huge challenge.Herein,cellular carbon foams(CCFs)with different porous structures were elaborately designed and fabricated in high efficiency through a facile continuous freeze-drying and carbonization processes using a sustainable biomass chitosan as the precursor.The obtained results revealed that the thermal treated temperature and g-C_(3)N_(4) amount played a great impact on the carbonization degrees,pore sizes,and morphologies of CCFs,which led to their tunable electromagnetic(EM)parameters,improved conduction loss,and polarization loss abilities.Owing to the special cellular structure,the designed CCFs samples simultaneously displayed the strong absorption capabilities,broad absorption bandwidths,and thin matching thicknesses.Meanwhile,the as-prepared CCFs exhibited the strong hydrophobicity and good thermal insulation,endowing its attractive functions of self-cleaning and thermal insulation.Therefore,our findings not only presented a facile approach to produce different porous structures of CCFs,but also provided an effective strategy to develop multifunctional high-performance MAs on basis of three-dimensional CCFs.

Simulation of microwave’s heating effect on coal seam permeability enhancement

As hydraulic fracturing was forbidden in some countries due to possible negative environmental impacts and enhanced coalbed methane(ECBM)was restricted by in-situ conditions,microwave heating was proposed to enhance coalbed permeability.One of the mechanisms of improving coal permeability with microwave irradiation is that thermal expansion caused by microwave heating.To study the influence of microwave’s heating effect of coal samples,the simulations were conducted using a coupled electromagnetic,thermal and mechanical model in this paper.The temperature,Von-Mises stress and strain distribution of coal sample are recorded every 10 s.The permeability distribution is also obtained based on the relationship between strain and permeability from articles.It was found that volume average temperature,stress,strain and permeability increase almost linearly with time.The average permeability increased from 1.65 10×16 m^2 to 3.63 10×16 m^2 under 2.45 GHz and 500Wmicrowave radiation after 300 s.The significant increase proved microwave to be effective in coal seam permeability enhancement.