Anode surface engineering of zinc-ion batteries using tellurium nanobelt as a protective layer for enhancing energy storage performance

Over the years,zinc-ion batteries(ZIBs)have attracted attention as a promising next-generation energy storage technology because of their excellent safety,long cycling performance,eco-friendliness,and high-power density.However,issues,such as the corrosion and dissolution of the Zn anode,limited wet-tability,and lack of sufficient nucleation sites for Zn plating,have limited their practical application.The introduction of a protective layer comprising of tellurium(Te)nanobelts onto the surface of Zn anode has emerged as a promising approach to overcome these limitations and improve the electrochemical behav-ior by enhancing the safety and wettability of ZIBs,as well as providing numerous nucleation sites for Zn plating.In the presence of a Te-based protective layer,the energy power density of the surface-engineered Zn anode improved significantly(ranging from 310 to 144 W h kg^(-1),over a power density range of 270 to 1,800 W kg^(-1)),and the lifespan capability was extended.These results demonstrate that the proposed strategy of employing Te nanobelts as a protective layer holds great promise for enhancing the energy storage performance of zIBs,making them even more attractive as a viable energy storage solution forthefuture.

Dynamics and vibration reduction performance of asymmetric tristable nonlinear energy sink

With its complex nonlinear dynamic behavior,the tristable system has shown excellent performance in areas such as energy harvesting and vibration suppression,and has attracted a lot of attention.In this paper,an asymmetric tristable design is proposed to improve the vibration suppression efficiency of nonlinear energy sinks(NESs)for the first time.The proposed asymmetric tristable NES(ATNES)is composed of a pair of oblique springs and a vertical spring.Then,the three stable states,symmetric and asymmetric,can be achieved by the adjustment of the distance and stiffness asymmetry of the oblique springs.The governing equations of a linear oscillator(LO)coupled with the ATNES are derived.The approximate analytical solution to the coupled system is obtained by the harmonic balance method(HBM)and verified numerically.The vibration suppression efficiency of three types of ATNES is compared.The results show that the asymmetric design can improve the efficiency of vibration reduction through comparing the chaotic motion of the NES oscillator between asymmetric steady states.In addition,compared with the symmetrical tristable NES(TNES),the ATNES can effectively control smaller structural vibrations.In other words,the ATNES can effectively solve the threshold problem of TNES failure to weak excitation.Therefore,this paper reveals the vibration reduction mechanism of the ATNES,and provides a pathway to expand the effective excitation amplitude range of the NES.

Multilevel carbon architecture of subnanoscopic silicon for fast‐charging high‐energy‐density lithium‐ion batteries

Silicon(Si)is widely used as a lithium‐ion‐battery anode owing to its high capacity and abundant crustal reserves.However,large volume change upon cycling and poor conductivity of Si cause rapid capacity decay and poor fast‐charging capability limiting its commercial applications.Here,we propose a multilevel carbon architecture with vertical graphene sheets(VGSs)grown on surfaces of subnanoscopically and homogeneously dispersed Si–C composite nanospheres,which are subsequently embedded into a carbon matrix(C/VGSs@Si–C).Subnanoscopic C in the Si–C nanospheres,VGSs,and carbon matrix form a three‐dimensional conductive and robust network,which significantly improves the conductivity and suppresses the volume expansion of Si,thereby boosting charge transport and improving electrode stability.The VGSs with vast exposed edges considerably increase the contact area with the carbon matrix and supply directional transport channels through the entire material,which boosts charge transport.The carbon matrix encapsulates VGSs@Si–C to decrease the specific surface area and increase tap density,thus yielding high first Coulombic efficiency and electrode compaction density.Consequently,C/VGSs@Si–C delivers excellent Li‐ion storage performances under industrial electrode conditions.In particular,the full cells show high energy densities of 603.5 Wh kg^(−1)and 1685.5 Wh L^(−1)at 0.1 C and maintain 80.7%of the energy density at 3 C.

Insights into Nano-and Micro-Structured Scaffolds for Advanced Electrochemical Energy Storage

Adopting a nano-and micro-structuring approach to fully unleashing the genuine potential of electrode active material benefits in-depth understandings and research progress toward higher energy density electrochemical energy stor-age devices at all technology readiness levels.Due to various challenging issues,especially limited stability,nano-and micro-structured(NMS)electrodes undergo fast electrochemical performance degradation.The emerging NMS scaffold design is a pivotal aspect of many electrodes as it endows them with both robustness and electrochemical performance enhancement,even though it only occupies comple-mentary and facilitating components for the main mechanism.However,extensive efforts are urgently needed toward optimizing the stereoscopic geometrical design of NMS scaffolds to minimize the volume ratio and maximize their functionality to fulfill the ever-increasing dependency and desire for energy power source supplies.This review will aim at highlighting these NMS scaffold design strategies,summariz-ing their corresponding strengths and challenges,and thereby outlining the potential solutions to resolve these challenges,design principles,and key perspectives for future research in this field.Therefore,this review will be one of the earliest reviews from this viewpoint.

Theoretical and experimental study of a bi-stable piezoelectric energy harvester under hybrid galloping and band-limited random excitations

In the practical environment,it is very common for the simultaneous occurrence of base excitation and crosswind.Scavenging the combined energy of vibration and wind with a single energy harvesting structure is fascinating.For this purpose,the effects of the wind speed and random excitation level are investigated with the stochastic averaging method(SAM)based on the energy envelope.The results of the analytical prediction are verified with the Monte-Carlo method(MCM).The numerical simulation shows that the introduction of wind can reduce the critical excitation level for triggering an inter-well jump and make a bi-stable energy harvester(BEH)realize the performance enhancement for a weak base excitation.However,as the strength of the wind increases to a particular level,the influence of the random base excitation on the dynamic responses is weakened,and the system exhibits a periodic galloping response.A comparison between a BEH and a linear energy harvester(LEH)indicates that the BEH demonstrates inferior performance for high-speed wind.Relevant experiments are conducted to investigate the validity of the theoretical prediction and numerical simulation.The experimental findings also show that strong random excitation is favorable for the BEH in the range of low wind speeds.However,as the speed of the incoming wind is up to a particular level,the disadvantage of the BEH becomes clear and evident.

Surface engineering of ZnO electrocatalyst by N doping towards electrochemical CO_(2) reduction

The discovery of efficient,selective,and stable electrocatalysts can be a key point to produce the largescale chemical fuels via electrochemical CO_(2) reduction(ECR).In this study,an earth-abundant and nontoxic ZnO-based electrocatalyst was developed for use in gas-diffusion electrodes(GDE),and the effect of nitrogen(N)doping on the ECR activity of ZnO electrocatalysts was investigated.Initially,a ZnO nanosheet was prepared via the hydrothermal method,and nitridation was performed at different times to control the N-doping content.With an increase in the N-doping content,the morphological properties of the nanosheet changed significantly,namely,the 2D nanosheets transformed into irregularly shaped nanoparticles.Furthermore,the ECR performance of Zn O electrocatalysts with different N-doping content was assessed in 1.0 M KHCO_(3) electrolyte using a gas-diffusion electrode-based ECR cell.While the ECR activity increased after a small amount of N doping,it decreased for higher N doping content.Among them,the N:ZnO-1 h electrocatalysts showed the best CO selectivity,with a faradaic efficiency(FE_(CO))of 92.7%at-0.73 V vs.reversible hydrogen electrode(RHE),which was greater than that of an undoped Zn O electrocatalyst(FE_(CO)of 63.4%at-0.78 V_(RHE)).Also,the N:ZnO-1 h electrocatalyst exhibited outstanding durability for 16 h,with a partial current density of-92.1 mA cm^(-2).This improvement of N:ZnO-1 h electrocatalyst can be explained by density functional theory calculations,demonstrating that this improvement of N:ZnO-1 h electrocatalyst comes from(ⅰ)the optimized active sites lowering the free energy barrier for the rate-determining step(RDS),and(ⅱ)the modification of electronic structure enhancing the electron transfer rate by N doping.

A vertical track nonlinear energy sink

Eliminating the effects of gravity and designing nonlinear energy sinks(NESs)that suppress vibration in the vertical direction is a challenging task with numerous damping requirements.In this paper,the dynamic design of a vertical track nonlinear energy sink(VTNES)with zero linear stiffness in the vertical direction is proposed and realized for the first time.The motion differential equations of the VTNES coupled with a linear oscillator(LO)are established.With the strong nonlinearity considered of the VTNES,the steady-state response of the system is analyzed with the harmonic balance method(HBM),and the accuracy of the HBM is verified numerically.On this basis,the VTNES prototype is manufactured,and its nonlinear stiffness is identified.The damping effect and dynamic characteristics of the VTNES are studied theoretically and experimentally.The results show that the VTNES has better damping effects when strong modulation responses(SMRs)occur.Moreover,even for small-amplitude vibration,the VTNES also has a good vibration suppression effect.To sum up,in order to suppress the vertical vibration,an NES is designed and developed,which can suppress the vertical vibration within certain ranges of the resonance frequency and the vibration intensity.

A viscoelastic metamaterial beam for integrated vibration isolation and energy harvesting

Locally resonant metamaterials have low-frequency band gaps and the capability of converging vibratory energy in the band gaps at resonant cells.It has been demonstrated by several researchers that the dissipatioin of vibratory energy within the band gap can be improved by using viscoelastic materials.This paper designs an integrated viscoelastic metamaterial for energy harvesting and vibration isolation.The viscoelastic metamaterial is achieved by a viscoelastic beam periodically arrayed with spatial ball-pendulum nonlinear energy harvesters.The nonlinear resonator with an energy harvesting function is achieved by placing a free-rolling magnetic ball in a spherical cavity with an additional induction coil.The dynamic equations of viscoelastic metamaterials under transverse excitation are established,and the energy harvesting and vibration isolation characteristics within the dispersion relation of viscoelastic metamaterials are analyzed.The results show that the vibrations of the main body of the viscoelastic metamaterial beam are significantly suppressed in the frequency range of the local resonance band gap.At the same time,the elastic waves are limited in the nonlinear resonator with an energy harvesting function,which improves the energy output.Finally,an experimental platform of viscoelastic metamaterial vibration is established for validation purposes.

Defect Engineering in Earth-Abundant Cu_(2)ZnSnSe_(4) Absorber Using Efficient Alkali Doping for Flexible and Tandem Solar Cell Applications

To demonstrate flexible and tandem device applications,a low-temperature Cu_(2)ZnSnSe_(4)(CZTSe)deposition process,combined with efficient alkali doping,was developed.First,high-quality CZTSe films were grown at 480℃by a single co-evaporation,which is applicable to polyimide(PI)substrate.Because of the alkali-free substrate,Na and K alkali doping were systematically studied and optimized to precisely control the alkali distribution in CZTSe.The bulk defect density was significantly reduced by suppression of deep acceptor states after the(NaF+KF)PDTs.Through the low-temperature deposition with(NaF+KF)PDTs,the CZTSe device on glass yields the best efficiency of 8.1%with an improved Voc deficit of 646 mV.The developed deposition technologies have been applied to PI.For the first time,we report the highest efficiency of 6.92%for flexible CZTSe solar cells on PI.Additionally,CZTSe devices were utilized as bottom cells to fabricate four-terminal CZTSe/perovskite tandem cells because of a low bandgap of CZTSe(~1.0 eV)so that the tandem cell yielded an efficiency of 20%.The obtained results show that CZTSe solar cells prepared by a low-temperature process with in-situ alkali doping can be utilized for flexible thin-film solar cells as well as tandem device applications.

Structural and electrochemical stabilization enabling high-energy P3-type Cr-based layered oxide cathode for K-ion batteries

Layered-type transition metal(TM)oxides are considered as one of the most promising cathodes for K-ion batteries because of the large theoretical gravimetric capacity by low molar mass.However,they suffer from severe structural change by de/intercalation and diffusion of K^(+)ions with large ionic size,which results in not only much lower reversible capacity than the theoretical capacity but also poor power capability.Thus,it is important to enhance the structural stability of the layered-type TM oxides for outstanding electrochemical behaviors under the K-ion battery system.Herein,it is investigated that the substitution of the appropriate Ti^(4+)contents enables a highly enlarged reversible capacity of P3-type KxCrO_(2) using combined studies of first-principles calculation and various experiments.Whereas the pristine P3-type KxCrO_(2) just exhibits the reversible capacity of∼120 mAh g^(−1) in the voltage range of 1.5-4.0 V(vs.K^(+)/K),the∼0.61 mol K^(+)corresponding to∼150 mAh g^(−1) can be reversible de/intercalated at the structure of P3-type K0.71[Cr_(0.75)Ti_(0.25)]O_(2) under the same conditions.Furthermore,even at the high current density of 788 mA g^(−1),the specific capacity of P3-type K0.71[Cr_(0.75)Ti_(0.25)]O_(2) is∼120 mAh g^(−1),which is∼81 times larger than that of the pristine P3-type KxCrO_(2).It is believed that this research can provide an effective strategy to improve the electrochemical performances of the cathode materials suffered by severe structural change that occurred during charge/discharge under not only K-ion battery system but also other rechargeable battery systems.

Dynamic performance and parameter optimization of a half-vehicle system coupled with an inerter-based X-structure nonlinear energy sink

Inspired by the demand of improving the riding comfort and meeting the lightweight design of the vehicle, an inerter-based X-structure nonlinear energy sink(IXNES) is proposed and applied in the half-vehicle system to enhance the dynamic performance. The X-structure is used as a mechanism to realize the nonlinear stiffness characteristic of the NES, which can realize the flexibility, adjustability, high efficiency, and easy operation of nonlinear stiffness, and is convenient to apply in the vehicle suspension, and the inerter is applied to replacing the mass of the NES based on the mass amplification characteristic. The dynamic model of the half-vehicle system coupled with the IX-NES is established with the Lagrange theory, and the harmonic balance method(HBM) and the pseudo-arc-length method(PALM) are used to obtain the dynamic response under road harmonic excitation. The corresponding dynamic performance under road harmonic and random excitation is evaluated by six performance indices, and compared with that of the original half-vehicle system to show the benefits of the IX-NES. Furthermore, the structural parameters of the IX-NES are optimized with the genetic algorithm. The results show that for road harmonic and random excitation, using the IX-NES can greatly reduce the resonance peaks and root mean square(RMS) values of the front and rear suspension deflections and the front and rear dynamic tire loads, while the resonance peaks and RMS values of the vehicle body vertical and pitching accelerations are slightly larger.When the structural parameters of the IX-NES are optimized, the vehicle body vertical and pitching accelerations of the half-vehicle system could reduce by 2.41% and 1.16%,respectively, and the other dynamic performance indices are within the reasonable ranges.Thus, the IX-NES combines the advantages of the inerter, X-structure, and NES, which improves the dynamic performance of the half-vehicle system and provides an effective option for vibration attenuation in the vehicle engineering.

Shaping the Future of Energy:A Path toward Zero-Emission and Sustainable Solutions

In the age of rapidly growing global population and escalating energy demands,the pursuit of sustainable,zero-emission energy sources has become critical.This article explores the interplay between environmental concerns,such as global warming and the greenhouse effect,and the need for innovative energy solutions.The melting polar ice caps exemplify the urgent need for reducing carbon emissions.ARCs(advanced reactor concepts)in both fission and fusion technologies offer promising paths to zero-emission energy.Advanced fission reactors,including SMRs(small modular reactors)and Generation IV reactors,provide improved safety,efficiency,and waste management.Fusion energy,despite being in the experimental stage,holds potential as a nearly limitless clean energy source.AI(artificial intelligence)significantly enhances these technologies by optimizing design,operations,maintenance,safety,and grid integration.AI-driven innovations are pivotal in accelerating the development and deployment of ARC technologies,ensuring they are safe,reliable,and efficient.The article underscores the vital role of policy support,global cooperation,and strategic investments in shaping a sustainable energy future that can mitigate the effects of climate change,support economic growth,and protect our planet.

Heterointerface engineering of rhombic Rh nanosheets confined on MXene for efficient methanol oxidation

Although metallic rhodium(Rh)is regarded as a promising platinum-alternative anode catalyst of direct methanol fuel cell(DMFC),the conventional"particle-to-face"contact model between Rh and matrix largely limits the overall electrocatalytic performance due to their insufficient cooperative effects.Herein,we report a controllable and robust heterointerface engineering strategy for the bottom-up fabrication of rhombic Rh nanosheets in situ confined on Ti_3C_(2)T_x MXene nanolamellas(Rh NS/MXene)via a convenient stereoassembly process.This unique design concept gives the resulting 2D/2D Rh NS/MXene heterostructure intriguing textural features,including large accessible surface areas,strong"face-toface"interfacial interactions,homogeneous Rh nanosheet distribution,ameliorative electronic structure,and high electronic conductivity.As a consequence,the as-prepared Rh NS/MXene nanoarchitectures exhibit exceptional electrocatalytic methanol oxidation properties in terms of a large electrochemically active surface area of 126.2 m~2 g_(Rh)~(-1),a high mass activity of 1056.9 mA mg_(Rh)-~1,and a long service life,which significantly outperform those of conventional particle-shaped Rh catalysts supported by carbon black,carbon nanotubes,reduced graphene oxide,and MXene matrixes as well as the commercial Pt nanoparticle/carbon black and Pd nanoparticle/carbon black catalysts with the same noble metal loading amount.Density functional theory calculations further demonstrate that the direct electronic interaction at the well-contacted 2D/2D heterointerfaces effectively enhances the adsorption energy of Rh nanosheets and induces a left shift of the d-band center,thereby making the Rh NS/MXene configuration suffer less from CO poisoning.This work highlights the importance of rational heterointerface design in the construction of advanced noble metal/MXene electrocatalysts,which may provide new avenues for developing the next-generation DMFC devices.

Advantageous properties of halide perovskite quantum dots towards energy-efficient sustainable applications

As lead halide perovskite(LHP)semiconductors have shown tremendous promise in many application fields,and particularly made strong impact in the solar photovoltaic area,low dimensional quantum dot forms of these perovskites are showing the potential to make distinct marks in the fields of electronics,optoelectronics and photonics.The so-called perovskite quantum dots(PQDs)not only possess the most important features of LHP materials,i.e.,the unusual high defect tolerance,but also demonstrate clear quantum size effects,along with exhibiting desirable optoelectronic properties such as near perfect photoluminescent quantum yield,multiple exciton generation and slow hot-carrier cooling.Here,we review the advantageous properties of these nanoscale perovskites and survey the prospects for diverse applications which include lightemitting devices,solar cells,photocatalysts,lasers,detectors and memristors,emphasizing the distinct superiorities as well as the challenges.

Application of Bioengineering in Construction

Bio-cement and bio-concrete are innovative solutions for sustainable construction, aiming to reduce environmental impact while maintaining the durability and versatility of building materials. Bio-cement is an eco-friendly alternative to traditional cement, produced through Microbially Induced Calcium Carbonate Precipitation (MICP), which mimics natural biomineralization processes. This method reduces CO2 emissions and enhances the strength and durability of construction materials. Bio-concrete incorporates bio-cement into concrete, creating a self-healing material. When cracks form in bio-concrete, dormant bacteria within the material become active in the presence of water, producing limestone to fill the cracks, extending the material’s lifespan and reducing the need for repairs. The environmental impact of traditional cement production is significant, with cement generation accounting for up to 8% of global carbon emissions. Creative solutions are needed to develop more sustainable construction materials, with some efforts using modern innovations to make concrete ultra-durable and others turning to science to create affordable bio-cement. The research demonstrates the potential of bio-cement to revolutionize sustainable building practices by offering a low-energy, low-emission alternative to traditional cement while also addressing environmental concerns. The findings suggest promising applications in various construction scenarios, including earthquake-prone areas, by enhancing material durability and longevity through self-repair mechanisms.

Harvesting Environment Mechanical Energy by Direct Current Triboelectric Nanogenerators

As hundreds of millions of distributed devices appear in every corner of our lives for information collection and transmission in big data era,the biggest challenge is the energy supply for these devices and the signal transmission of sensors.Triboelectric nanogenerator(TENG)as a new energy technology meets the increasing demand of today’s distributed energy supply due to its ability to convert the ambient mechanical energy into electric energy.Meanwhile,TENG can also be used as a sensing system.Direct current triboelectric nanogenerator(DC-TENG)can directly supply power to electronic devices without additional rectification.It has been one of the most important developments of TENG in recent years.Herein,we review recent progress in the novel structure designs,working mechanism and corresponding method to improve the output performance for DC-TENGs from the aspect of mechanical rectifier,tribovoltaic effect,phase control,mechanical delay switch and air-discharge.The basic theory of each mode,key merits and potential development are discussed in detail.At last,we provide a guideline for future challenges of DC-TENGs,and a strategy for improving the output performance for commercial applications.

Vacancies and interfaces engineering of core-shell heterostuctured NiCoP/NiO as trifunctional electrocatalysts for overall water splitting and zinc-air batteries

The electronic structures and properties of electrocatalysts,which depend on the physicochemical structure and metallic element components,could significantly affect their electrocatalytic performance and their future applications in Zn-air battery(ZAB)and overall water splitting(OWS).Here,by combining vacancies and heterogeneous interfacial engineering,three-dimensional(3D)core-shell NiCoP/NiO heterostructures with dominated oxygen vacancies have been controllably in-situ grown on carbon cloth for using as highly efficient electrocatalysts toward hydrogen and oxygen electrochemical reactions.Theoretical calculation and electrochemical results manifest that the hybridization of NiCoP core with NiO shell produces a strong synergistic electronic coupling effect.The oxygen vacancy can enable the emergence of new electronic states within the band gap,crossing the Fermi levels of the two spin components and optimizing the local electronic structure.Besides,the hierarchical core-shell NiCoP/NiO nanoarrays also endow the catalysts with multiple exposed active sites,faster mass transfer behavior,optimized electronic strutures and improved electrochemical performance during ZAB and OWS applications.

Bottom-up holistic carrier management strategy induced synergistically by multiple chemical bonds to minimize energy losses for efficient and stable perovskite solar cells

The defects from electron transport layer,perovskite layer and their interface would result in carrier nonradiative recombination losses.Poor buried interfacial contact is detrimental to charge extraction and device stability.Here,we report a bottom-up holistic carrier management strategy induced synergistically by multiple chemical bonds to minimize bulk and interfacial energy losses for high-performance perovskite photovoltaics.4-trifluoromethyl-benzamidine hydrochloride(TBHCl)containing–CF_(3),amidine cation and Cl^(-)is in advance incorporated into SnO_(2)colloid solution to realize bottom-up modification.The synergistic effect of multiple functional groups and multiple-bond-induced chemical interaction are revealed theoretically and experimentally.F and Cl^(-)can passivate oxygen vacancy and/or undercoordinated Sn^(4+)defects by coordinating with Sn^(4+).The F can suppress cation migration and modulate crystallization via hydrogen bond with FA^(+),and can passivate lead defects by coordinating with Pb^(2+).The–NH_(2)–C=NH^(+)_(2)and Cl^(-)can passivate cation and anion vacancy defects through ionic bonds with perovskites,respectively.Through TBHCl modification,the suppression of agglomeration of SnO_(2)nanoparticles,bulk and interfacial defect passivation,and release of tensile strains of perovskite films are demonstrated,which resulted in a PCE enhancement from 21.28%to 23.40%and improved stability.With post-treatment,the efficiency is further improved to 23.63%.

Fractional nonlinear energy sinks

The cubic or third-power(TP)nonlinear energy sink(NES)has been proven to be an effective method for vibration suppression,owing to the occurrence of targeted energy transfer(TET).However,TET is unable to be triggered by the low initial energy input,and thus the TP NES would get failed under low-amplitude vibration.To resolve this issue,a new type of NES with fractional nonlinearity,e.g.,one-third-power(OTP)nonlinearity,is proposed.The dynamic behaviors of a linear oscillator(LO)with an OTP NES are investigated numerically,and then both the TET feature and the vibration attenuation performance are evaluated.Moreover,an analogy circuit is established,and the circuit simulations are carried out to verify the design concept of the OTP NES.It is found that the threshold for TET of the OTP NES is two orders of magnitude smaller than that of the TP NES.The parametric analysis shows that a heavier mass or a lower stiffness coefficient of the NES is beneficial to the occurrence of TET in the OTP NES system.Additionally,significant energy transfer is usually accompanied with efficient energy dissipation.Consequently,the OTP NES can realize TET under low initial input energy,which should be a promising approach for micro-vibration suppression.

Investigation of Particle Breakdown in the Production of Composite Magnesium Chloride and Zeolite Based Thermochemical Energy Storage Materials

Composite thermochemical energy storage(TCES)represents an exciting field of thermal energy storage which could address the issue of seasonal variance in renewable energy supply.However,there are open questions about their performance and the root cause of some observed phenomena.Some researchers have observed the breakdown of particles in their production phase,and in their use.This study seeks to investigate the underlying cause of this breakdown.SEM and EDX analysis have been conducted on MgCl2 impregnated 13X zeolite composites of differing diameters,as well as LiX zeolite.This was done in order to study the level of impregnation of salt into the zeolite matrix,as well as the effect this impregnation process has on the morphology of the zeolite.Analysis was conducted using ImageJ software to study the effect of the impregnation process on the diameter of the particles.It has been found that a by weight impregnation concentration of magnesium chloride of 11.90%for the LiX zeolite,and 7.59%and 5.26%for the large diameter 13X zeolite and the small diameter 13X zeolite respectively has been achieved.It has been found that the impregnation process significantly affects themorphology of 13X zeolite particles,causing large fissures to form,and eventually resulting in the previously found breakdown of these particles.It has been verified that a primary factor influencing the breakdown of the 13X zeolite particles is the efflorescence and sub-fluorescence phenomena,which leads to a build-up of crystals in the zeolite pores.It has also been found that prolonged impregnation times and the use of high concentration salt solutions in the soaking process can induce significant crystal growth which also leads to the breakdown of these particles.Results demonstrate that LiX zeolite is the optimum host matrix choice in these conditions.These results will allow for the design of more resilient composite TCES particles.