Near-zero-adhesion-enabled intact wafer-scale resist-transfer printing for high-fidelity nanofabrication on arbitrary substrates

There is an urgent need for novel processes that can integrate different functional nanostructures onto specific substrates,so as to meet the fast-growing need for broad applications in nanoelectronics,nanophotonics,and fexible optoelectronics.Existing direct-lithography methods are difficult to use on fexible,nonplanar,and biocompatible surfaces.Therefore,this fabrication is usually accomplished by nanotransfer printing.However,large-scale integration of multiscale nanostructures with unconventional substrates remains challenging because fabrication yields and quality are often limited by the resolution,uniformity,adhesivity,and integrity of the nanostructures formed by direct transfer.Here,we proposed a resist-based transfer strategy enabled by near-zero adhesion,which was achieved by molecular modification to attain a critical surface energy interval.This approach enabled the intact transfer of wafer-scale,ultrathin-resist nanofilms onto arbitrary substrates with mitigated cracking and wrinkling,thereby facilitating the in situ fabrication of nanostructures for functional devices.Applying this approach,fabrication of three-dimensional-stacked multilayer structures with enhanced functionalities,nanoplasmonic structures with~10 nm resolution,and MoS2-based devices with excellent performance was demonstrated on specific substrates.These results collectively demonstrated the high stability,reliability,and throughput of our strategy for optical and electronic device applications.

Near-Zero Air Pollutant Emission Technologies and Applications for Clean Coal-Fired Power

Coal is the dominant energy source in China,and coal-fired power accounts for about half of coal consumption.However,air pollutant emissions from coal-fired power plants cause severe ecological and environmental problems.This paper focuses on near-zero emission technologies and applications for clean coal-fired power.The long-term operation states of near-zero emission units were evaluated,and synergistic and special mercury(Hg)control technologies were researched.The results show that the principle technical route of near-zero emission,which was applied to 101 of China’s coal-fired units,has good adaptability to coal properties.The emission concentrations of particulate matter(PM),SO2,and NOx were below the emission limits of gas-fired power plants and the compliance rates of the hourly average emission concentrations reaching near-zero emission in long-term operation exceeded 99%.With the application of near-zero emission technologies,the generating costs increased by about 0.01 CNY∙(kW∙h)-1.However,the total emissions of air pollutants decreased by about 90%,resulting in effective improvement of the ambient air quality.Furthermore,while the Hg emission concentrations of the near-zero emission units ranged from 0.51 to 2.89μg∙m^-3,after the modified fly ash(MFA)special Hg removal system was applied,Hg emission concentration reached as low as 0.29μg∙m^-3.The operating cost of this system was only 10%-15%of the cost of mainstream Hg removal technology using activated carbon injection.Based on experimental studies carried out in a 50000 m^3∙h^-1 coal-fired flue gas pollutant control pilot platform,the interaction relationships of multi-pollutant removal were obtained and solutions were developed for emissions reaching different limits.A combined demonstration application for clean coal-fired power,with the new“1123”eco-friendly emission limits of 1,10,20 mg∙m^-3,and 3μg∙m^-3,respectively,for PM,SO2,NOx,and Hg from near-zero emission coal-fired power were put forward and realized,providing engineering and technical support for the national enhanced pollution emission standards.

Effect of a near-zero magnetic field on development and flight of oriental armyworm(Mythimna separata)

The geomagnetic field affects all living organisms on the Earth.In this study we investigated the developmental and behavioral effects of rearing Mythimna separata in a near-zero magnetic field(<500 n T)compared to the local geomagnetic field(approximately 50μT).The near-zero magnetic field produced by a Helmholtz coil system significantly lengthened larval and pupal development durations,increased male longevity,and reduced pupal weight,female reproduction,and the relative expression level of the vitellogenin(Vg)gene in newly emerged females.Moreover,the near-zero magnetic field had a considerable negative effect on the mating ratio of M.separata adults.In addition,the moths in the near-zero magnetic field displayed less flight activity late in the night than those in the Earth's normal geomagnetic field,indicating that the flight rhythm of M.separata may be affected by the near-zero magnetic field.Reduction in magnetic field intensity may have negative effects on the development and flight of oriental armyworm,with consequent additional effects on its migration.

Phase transition and near-zero thermal expansion of Zr_(0.5)Hf_(0.5)VPO_7

The Zr（0.5）Hf（0.5）VPO7 is successfully synthesized by the solid-state method with near-zero thermal expansion. Powder x-ray diffraction（XRD）, Raman spectroscopy, thermal dilatometry, and scanning electron microscopy（SEM） are used to investigate the structure, the phase transition, and the coefficient of thermal expansion（CTE） of Zr（0.5）Hf（0.5）VPO7. The investigation results show that the samples are of the single cubic type with a space group of Pa3ˉ at room temperature（RT）.It can be inferred that the superstructure is transformed from the 3 × 3 × 3 superstructure to the 1 × 1 × 1 ideal crystal in a temperature range between 310 K and 323 K. The CTE is measured by a dilatometer to be 0.59 × 10^（-6） K^（-1）（310 K–673 K）. The values of intrinsic（XRD） and extrinsic（dilatometric） thermal expansion are both near zero. The results show that Zr（0.5）Hf（0.5）VPO7 has near-zero thermal expansion behavior over a wide temperature range.

Current status of national integrated gasification fuel cell projects in China

Coal has been the main energy source in China for a long period.Therefore,the energy industry must improve coal power generation efficiency and achieve near-zero CO_(2) emissions.Integrated gasification fuel cell(IGFC)systems that combine coal gasification and high-temperature fuel cells,such as solid oxide fuel cells or molten carbonate fuel cells(MCFCs),are proving to be promising for efficient and clean power generation,compared with traditional coal-fired power plants.In 2017,with the support of National Key R&D Program of China,a consortium led by the China Energy Group and including 12 institutions was formed to develop the advanced IGFC technology with near-zero CO_(2) emissions.The objectives of this project include understanding the performance of an IGFC power generation system under different operating conditions,designing master system principles for engineering optimization,developing key technologies and intellectual property portfolios,setting up supply chains for key materials and equipment,and operating the first megawatt IGFC demonstration system with near-zero CO_(2) emission,in early 2022.In this paper,the main developments and projections pertaining to the IGFC project are highlighted.

Numerical analysis of grinding power consumption of a vertical planetary mill

Planetary wheel rolling on a coal-bed was simplified as rigid wheel rolling on the coal-bed with a rigid base when a Ver- tical planetary mill(VPM)is running.Based on our analysis,we conclude that the Bekker formulation for computing rolling resis- tance is not applicable to calculate directly the rolling resistance of the wheel.According to the principle of the Bekker apparatus,pressure-sinkage curves were obtained by tests on a piece of mono-axial consolidation apparatus used in soil-mechanics.The de- formation modulus of the coal-bed was calculated using elastic mechanics.A finite element model of the planetary wheel coal-bed was built up by the use of a rigid and a Drucker-Prager material model in LS-DYNA.According to the simulation results,the wheel rolling resistance,the grinding power consumption and the motor power of the mill were calculated and the mistake in the initial design of the mill was modified.The simulation results agree well with the results of the semi-industrial tests.

Bilateral Coupled Epsilon Negative Metamaterial for Dual Band Wireless Communications

This work presents a dual band epsilon negative(ENG)metamaterial with a bilateral coupled split ring resonator(SRR)for use in C and X band wireless communication systems.The traditional split-ring resonator(SRR)has been amended with this engineered structure.The proposed metamaterial unit cell is realized on the 1.6 mm thick FR-4 printed media with a dimension of 10×10 mm2.The resonating patch built with a square split outer ring.Two interlinked inner rings are coupled vertically to the outer ring to extend its electrical length as well as to tune the resonance frequency.Numerical simulation is performed using CST studio suite 2019 to design and performance analysis.The transmission coefficient(S21)of the proposed unit cell and array configuration exhibits two resonances at 6.7 and 10.5 GHz with wide bandwidth extended from 4.86 to 8.06 GHz and 10.1 to 11.2 GHz,respectively.Negative permittivity is noted at frequencies between 6.76–9.5 GHz and 10.5–12 GHz,consecutively,with near-zero refractive index and permeability.The optimal EMR value depicts the compactness of the proposed structure.The 1×2,2×2 and 4×4 arrays are analyzed that shows similar response compared to the unit cell.Measured results of the 2×2 array shows the close similarity of S21 response as compared to simulation.The observed properties of the proposed unit cell ascertain its suitability for wireless communications by enhancing the gain and directivity of the antenna system.

Technology portfolio assessment for near-zero emission iron and steel industry in China

China aims to peak CO_(2)emissions before 2030 and to achieve carbon neutrality before 2060;hence,industrial sectors in China are keen to figure out appropriate pathways to support the national target of carbon neutrality.The objective of this study is to explore near-zero emission pathways for the steel industry of China through a detailed technology assessment.The innovative technology development has been simulated using the AIM-China/steel model,developed by including material-based technologies and optimal cost analysis.Six scenarios have been given in terms of different levels of production output,emission reduction and carbon tax.Near-zero emission and carbon tax scenarios have shown that China's steel industry can achieve near-zero emission using electric furnaces and hydrogen-based direct reduction iron technologies with policy support.Based on these technologies,minimised production costs have been calculated,revealing that the steel produced by these technologies is cost-effective.Moreover,the feedstock cost can play a key role in these technology portfolios,especially the cost of scrap,iron ore and hydrogen.In addition,the feedstock supply can have strong regional effects and can subsequently impact the allocation of steelmaking in the future.Therefore,China can achieve near-zero emissions in the steel industry,and electric furnace and hydrogen-based direct reduction iron technologies are crucial to achieving them.

Study on the Path of “Near-zero Emission” Coal-based Clean Energy Ecosystem Development

Developing a 'near-zero emission' coal-based clean energy ecosystem bears great significance for the sustainable development of clean energy in China and the world at large. This article delves into the development strategy, implementation pathways and key priorities of China’s 'near-zero emission' coal-based clean energy ecosystem, and in turn proposes specific measures to underpin the development and implementation of such system.

A MODEL OF A NEAR-ZERO ENERGY HOME(NZEH)USING PASSIVE DESIGN STRATEGIES AND PV TECHNOLOGY IN HOT CLIMATES

INTRODUCTION Recent development has seen a drastic increase in energy use trends in Saudi Arabian buildings leading to a demand for an effective course of action for energy conservation and production.A case study-based research initiative explor-ing near-zero energy potential in Saudi Arabia was undertaken.A 4-bedroom detached single-family faculty residence at King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals(KFUPM)representing common regional housing design trends was utilized.A base case simulation model of the house was developed and val-idated using short-term and real-time energy consumption data.Three sets of strategies:passive design strategies,representative codes and standards,and renewable technology were employed in the new design of the house.Passive strategies com-prised a green roof,a ventilated wall system,a sloped roof,and insulation for thermal bridges.These alternatives helped reduce the annual energy consumption of the house by 17.2%.The most recent version of the International Energy Conserva-tion Code(IECC 2012)was also incorporated along with ASHRAE Standard 62.2 for ventilation.The code and standard together reduced the annual energy consumption by 31.1%.Solar PV was then utilized to reduce grid utilization for the remainder of the house energy loads.This strategy provided 24.7%of the total energy consumed annually.A combination of strategies showed a 70.7%energy consumption reduction,thereby decreasing the energy index of the house from 162.9 to 47.7 kWh/m^(2)/yr.The Zero Energy Building(ZEB)concepts and strategies utilized in this study demonstrate a socially responsible approach to achieving near-zero energy performance for an existing house.

Suggestion on further strengthening ultra-low emission standards for PM emission from coal-fired power plants in China

China has established the largest clean coal-fired power generation system in the world by accomplishing the technological transformation of coal-fired power plants(CFPPs)to achieve ultra-low emission.The potential for further particulate matter(PM)emission reduction to achieve near-zero emission for CFPPs has become a hotspot issue.In this study,PM emission from some ultra-low emission CFPPs adopting advanced air pollutant control technologies in China was reviewed.The results revealed that the average filterable particulate matter(FPM)concentration,measured as the total particulate matter(TPM)according to the current national monitoring standard,was(1.67±0.86)mg/m^(3),which could fully achieve the ultra-low emission standard for key regions(5 mg/m^(3)),but that achieving the near-zero emission standard was difficult(1 mg/m^(3)).However,the condensable particulate matter(CPM),with an average concentration of(1.06±1.28)mg/m^(3),was generally ignored during monitoring,which led to about 38.7%underestimation of the TPM.Even considering both FPM and CPM,the TPM emission from current CFPPs would contribute to less than 5%of atmospheric PM_(2.5) concentrations in the key cities and regions in China.Therefore,further reduction in FPM emission proposed by the near-zero emission plan of CFPPs may have less environmental benefit than emission control of other anthropogenic sources.However,it is suggested that the management of CPM emission should be strengthened,and a national standard for CPM emission monitoring based on the indirect dilution method should be established for CFPPs.Those measurements are helpful for optimal operation of air pollutant control devices and continuously promoting further emission reduction.

Mn_(3)Ag_((1-x))Cu_((x))N antiperovskite thin films with ultra-low temperature coefficient of resistance

We demonstrate the first successful attempt to partially substitute Cu into the Mn_(3)AgN-antiperovskite system to form Mn_(3)Ag_((1-x))Cu_((x))N thin films with an ultra-low temperature coefficient of resistance(TCR)for fabrication of ultra-precise passive components.Films were grown by reactive magnetron sputtering on alumina and glass substrates and were found to be amorphous in nature with highly negative TCR of-233 to-351 ppm/℃in their as-grown state.Increasing Cu alloying from x=0 to 1,resulted in increased sheet resistance,a negative shift of TCR and a change of grain morphology from spherical to elongated.Post-deposition heat treatment at 300-375℃,resulted in a positive shift of TCR and an ultra-low TCR of-4.66 ppm/℃for films with x=0.6.The heat treatment induces grain growth,surface roughness and the formation of a manganese oxide upper surface layer up until temperatures of 350℃,after which surface oxidation begins to dominate.The growth rate of the surface layer is controlled by the Cu concentration and heat treatment temperature,which both play a central role in the development of these novel ultralow TCR Mn_(3)Ag_((1-x))Cu_((x))N thin film structures.