Engineering Science and Materials Commons^™

Atomic Force Microscopic Characterization Of Solid Electrolyte Interphase In Lithium Ion Batteries, Qing-Yu Dong, Yan-Li Chu, Yan-Bin Shen, Li-Wei Chen

Journal of Electrochemistry

In recent years, the rapid growing in the electric vehicle market has raised higher requirement on the lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) performance towards energy density and safety. However, considering the successful development of LIBs techniques in the past 30 years, there is little room left for improving the LIBs performance on the aspects related to the electrode materials, battery structure design and production processes. It is important to pursue more comprehensive fundamental understanding in the entire system and working principle of LIBs. Solid electrolyte interphase (SEI), existing between the electrode material and the electrolyte, has been proved to be an important …

Influences Of Morphology And Nitrogen Doping On The Electrocatalytic Characteristics For Oxygen Reduction Reaction Of Nio/Rgo, Dong Liang, Heng-Yi Fang, Shuo Yao, Jie-Mei Yu, Zhao-Liang Zhang, Zhan-Kun Jiang, Xue-Ping Gao, Tai-Zhong Huang

Journal of Electrochemistry

In this research, the reduced graphene oxide (rGO) supported sheet-like NiO (NiO/rGO) and spherical-like NiO (NiO/N-rGO) catalysts for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) were prepared. The structures, morphologies and chemical states of the two catalysts were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The electrochemical catalytic performance of the two catalysts for ORR were investigated by cyclic voltammetry (CV), Tafel, linear sweeping voltammetry (LSV), rotating disc electrode (RDE) and rotating ring disc electrode (RRDE) tests. Electrochemical results showed that the current density and onset potential (about 0.89 V) …

Deposition Of Nanoparticles Or Thin Films Via Magnetron Sputtering Towards Graphene Surface Functionalization And Device Fabrication, Bridget Jul Larson

Browse all Theses and Dissertations

Graphene, a 2-dimensional single layer of carbon, has high carrier mobility, strength and electrical conductivity. Due to the absence of a band gap and chemical reactivity, pristine graphene has less competitiveness in semiconductors and sensors. Functionalizing graphene is imperative in the development of advanced applications. Among various wet chemical or physical vapor deposition, magnetron sputtering is cost-effective, minimum maintenance, user-friendly, and can be used to rapidly deposit nano-particulates or thin films with less contaminations on any substrates surface. This study is to investigate the morphology evolution of the deposited films using magnetron sputtering and to find appropriate conditions for nanoparticulate …

Morphological And Energy Transport Optimization Of Spectrally-Selective Solar Absorber Coatings At Mesoscale, Dale Karas

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

A special class of cuprous-based inorganic oxide materials, synthesized as nanoparticles via hydrothermal and co-precipitation methods, are portable to spectrally-selective absorber coatings with high solar-thermal energy conversion efficiency. Operating reliably at elevated temperatures when used in tandem with solar concentrators, these materials enable cost-competitive solar energy conversion technology that can be incorporated with thermal energy storage systems, supporting the viability of novel renewable power generation; notably, optimizing absorptive performance while mitigating thermal losses through re-radiated waste heat motivates sustainable energy production particular to desert climates, where water conservation and ecological sensitivity needs are paramount.

This work targets the chemical synthesis …

Structure And Morphology Of Sulfonated Polysulfone And Perfluorosulfonic Acid Ionomers, Chen Wang

Doctoral Dissertations

The limitations of conventional perfluorosulfonic acid (PFSA) based membrane materials have provoked the search for alternative materials which can function as the electrolyte in PEM fuel cells operated at higher temperatures (> 100 °C) and without humidification. A novel class of sulfonated poly(phenylene) sulfone (sPSO2) ionomers have shown much higher proton conductivity than typical PFSA membranes at elevated temperatures. In this dissertation, both computational and experimental methods were used to investigate proton transfer, morphological and structural properties of sPSO2 and PFSA ionomers. We have undertaken ab initio electronic structure calculations to understand the primary hydration and the transfer of protons …