Materials Science and Engineering Commons^™

Fe Nanoparticles Encapsulated In N-Doped Porous Carbon For Efficient Oxygen Reduction In Alkaline Media, Chun-Yan Li, Rui Zhang, Xiao-Jie Ba, Xiao-Le Jiang, Yao-Yue Yang

Journal of Electrochemistry

Rational design and synthesis of non-precious-metal catalyst plays an important role in improving the activity and stability for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) but remains a major challenge. In this work, we used a facile approach to synthesize iron nanoparticles encapsulated in nitrogen-doped porous carbon materials (Fe@N-C) from functionalized metal-organic frameworks (MOFs, MET-6). Embedding Fe nanoparticles into the carbon skeleton increases the graphitization degree and the proportion of graphitic N as well as promotes the formation of mesopores in the catalyst. The Fe@N-C-30 catalyst showed the excellent ORR activity in alkaline solutions (E₀ = 0.97 V vs. RHE, E_{1/2 …}

Integrating Steel Slag Aggregates Into Asphalt Paving By Harmonizing Availability, Quality, Economics, And The Environment, Timothy R. Murphy

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis provides guidance on how to balance matters related to the environmental stewardship, market sources, origin and uses, material properties, performance, and economic impact of using slag materials in pavements. The literature on this topic provides numerous references on the use of slag materials for specific applications, and this thesis aims to make use of those references along with other data from the author to describe slag materials from a holistic perspective and provide some suggestions for balancing several factors that impact optimal use of this resource within pavement structures. Discussion is given to the increased importance of recycling …

Soil Respiration Measurements Reveal High Retention Of Organic Carbon From Corn Residue Derived High-Lignin Fermentation Byproduct Enabling Sustainable Lignocellulosic Biofuel Production, Michelle Sun Wang

Dartmouth College Master’s Theses

While 2G biofuel production can utilize non-edible, lignocellulosic feedstocks such as agricultural residues to produce liquid fuel, harvesting crop residues is unsustainable without careful management of the soil underneath. By harvesting a fraction of the crop residues left in the field after harvest, soil health can diminish and critically, the soil organic carbon (SOC) stored in agricultural fields can decrease. Currently, in the most popular 2G process models published, the issue of soil degradation remains unresolved with residue harvest strategies receiving considerable attention in the literature and other SOC management strategies receiving far less. Specifically, the strategy of returning the …

Exploring Methods For Recycling Filament Waste In 3d Printing, Max Rios Carballo

Publications and Research

The goal of the current study is to investigate cutting-edge techniques for recycling filament waste from 3D printing procedures. Appropriate waste management techniques are required to reduce this trash's harmful environmental consequences. The goal of the project is to look at new methods for recycling filament waste in order to minimize disposal and encourage reuse. To acquire data from pertinent papers and research, a thorough literature review methodology was used. The findings show that this issue may be resolved utilizing a variety of recycling techniques, including shredding, melting, and re-extrusion. The type of filament waste and the intended goal will …

Machinability Of High Mn Steel Using Tool Life Criteria, Dika Handayani, Victor F. Okhuysen, Nicole Wagner

Engineering Faculty Articles and Research

High Mn steel alloys have shown to provide both high strength and ductility. However, current literature offers limited guidance on the machinability of these steel alloys. Therefore, this work provides turning recommendations for high Mn steel that is based on tool life data. Several indexable carbide inserts with various rake angles were used to machine cast billets of high Mn steel. Turning characteristics from various feed rates, cutting speeds, and depths of cut were analyzed. Through a design of experiments, it was determined that the feed rate was the most significant factor affecting tool life and that a tool with …

Enhancing Compatibility And Mechanical Properties Of Natural Rubber Composites, Krisma Yessi Sianturi, Adam Febriyanto Nugraha, Belle Kristaura, Mochamad Chalid

Journal of Materials Exploration and Findings

Pure natural rubber (NR) exhibits low mechanical properties, necessitating the incorporation of additives like vulcanizing agents and fillers. Carbon black and silica, conventional fillers, are relatively expensive and not environmentally friendly. This study explores using Oil Palm Empty Fruit Bunch (OPEFB) fiber as an affordable, abundant, and biodegradable alternative filler for NR. However, compatibility issues arise between the nonpolar NR and the polar OPEFB fiber. A latex-starch hybrid coupling agent (CA (NR-St)) was added to the composite formulation to address this. NR, OPEFB fiber, and the coupling agent were mixed using an open roll mill with a 10 phr OPEFB …

Mesoscale Modeling And Machine Learning Studies Of Grain Boundary Segregation In Metallic Alloys, Malek Alkayyali

All Dissertations

Nearly all structural and functional materials are polycrystalline alloys; they are composed of differently oriented crystalline grains that are joined at internal interfaces termed grain boundaries (GBs). It is well accepted that GB dynamics play a critical role in many phenomena during materials processing or under operating environments. Of particular interest are GB migration and grain growth processes, as they influence many crystal-size dependent properties, such as mechanical strength and electrical conductivity.

In metallic alloys, GBs offer a plethora of preferential atomic sites for alloying elements to occupy. Indeed, recent experimental studies employing in-situ microscopy revealed strong GB solute segregation …

Assessment Of Bridge Pier Response To Fire, Vehicle Impact, And Air Blast, Chen Fang, Qusai Alomari, Daniel G. Linzell

Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Highway bridges exposed to intentional or unintentional fire followed by combined vehicle impact and air blast are at risk of significant damage and, possibly, collapse. Limited studies examining the complex effects of these extreme demands on bridge support elements and parametrizing their response and damage are found in the open literature. Research that is presented is part of an ongoing numerical investigation examining round, multi-column, reinforced concrete (RC), bridge pier behavior subject to multi-hazard scenarios involving fire, vehicle impact, and air blast. Detailed nonlinear finite element analysis models of single columns and multi-column piers supported by a pile foundation system …

Machine Learning-Based Data And Model Driven Bayesian Uncertanity Quantification Of Inverse Problems For Suspended Non-Structural System, Zhiyuan Qin

All Dissertations

Inverse problems involve extracting the internal structure of a physical system from noisy measurement data. In many fields, the Bayesian inference is used to address the ill-conditioned nature of the inverse problem by incorporating prior information through an initial distribution. In the nonparametric Bayesian framework, surrogate models such as Gaussian Processes or Deep Neural Networks are used as flexible and effective probabilistic modeling tools to overcome the high-dimensional curse and reduce computational costs. In practical systems and computer models, uncertainties can be addressed through parameter calibration, sensitivity analysis, and uncertainty quantification, leading to improved reliability and robustness of decision and …

The Study Of Corrosion On Additive-Manufactured Metals., Braydan Daniels

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to investigate and compare the corrosion mechanisms between wrought and additive-manufactured (3D-printed) copper and stainless steel. The experimental procedure consisted of measuring the open circuit potential, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, linear sweep voltammetry, Tafel analysis, surface topology, and scanning electron microscopy for each metal within salt water, tap water, sulfuric acid, and synthetic body fluid (excluding copper in synthetic body fluid).

Overall, printed stainless steel was more corrosion-resistant than wrought stainless steel in tap water and synthetic body fluid based on OCP, LSV, and surface topology results. Additionally, printed copper was more corrosion-resistant than wrought …

Spectroscopic Studies On Silicon And Chalcopyrite Materials For Solar Energy Applications, Amandee Hua

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

In this dissertation, silicon-based materials for photovoltaics and chalcopyrite-based materials for photoelectrochemical water splitting are investigated using various spectroscopic and microscopic techniques. Although silicon dominates the photovoltaic market, further improvement can be made by using an alternative low temperature passivation approach. Currently, thermally grown SiO2 passivation is commonly used for silicon solar cells. However, this technique requires high processing temperatures (>800 °C), which increases the thermal budget, potentially decreases the bulk quality of Si, and can lead to difficulties in implementing in production lines. Here, a S-based passivation approach is studied that require lower processing temperatures of ~550 °C. …

High-Yield Bioinspired Atmospheric Water Capture Through Hydrogels, Yiwei Gao

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Water scarcity is a global issue affecting billions of people, and atmospheric water harvesting (AWH) technology has been identified as a potential solution. However, existing single-material AWH approaches have limited water harvesting yields due to alternated water capture, storage, and release stages, and only function within a high relative humidity range. In my doctoral research project, we developed a bio-inspired, hydrogel-based multi-layer AWH approach that allows for segregated capture, storage, and release stages, and is envisioned to have higher daily water harvesting efficiency even in low-humidity areas. My research began with understanding the relations between hydrogel mechanical stiffness, hydraulic permeability, …

Metastability And Degradation In Cu(In,Ga)Se2 Thin-Film Solar Cells, Mohsen Jahandardoost

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Cu(In,Ga)(S,Se)2 or CIGS is a thin-film semiconductor that has shown a device efficiency of 23.35% and 24.2% for single-junction and perovskite/CIGS tandem solar cells, respectively. CIGS offers promising properties such as tunable bandgap and ease of processing making them great candidates for thin-film tandem devices. However, knowledge of the effect of material defects, buffer materials, and post-deposition treatment (PDT) on degradation and metastability behavior in these devices is not well understood.In this dissertation, metastability and long-term degradation of CIGS thin-film solar cells have been investigated under combinatorial stress factors of heat, light, and voltage bias to systematically understand the effect …

Classification Of Electrical Current Used In Electroplastic Forming, Tyler Grimm

All Dissertations

Electrically assisted manufacturing (EAM) is the direct application of an electric current to a workpiece during manufacturing. This advanced manufacturing process has been shown to produce anomalous effects which extend beyond the current state of modeling of thermal influences. These purported non-thermal effects have collectively been termed electroplastic effects (EPEs).

While there is a distinct difference in results between steady-state (ideal DC) testing and pulsed current testing, the very definition of these two EAM methods has not been well established. A "long" pulse may be considered DC current; a "short" pulse may produce electroplastic effects; and even "steady-state" current shapes …

Ultraviolet-Initiated In-Situ Cross-Linking Of Multifunctional Binder Backbones Enables Robust Lithium-Sulfur Batteries, Sha Li, Xiao Zhan, Gu-Lian Wang, Hui-Qun Wang, Wei-Ming Xiong, Li Zhang

Journal of Electrochemistry

Lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries show attractive prospects owing to their high theoretical energy density, but their commercialization still faces such challenges as lithium polysulfides shuttling, severe volume change and considerable polarization. These stubborn issues place higher demands on each component in the battery, such as the development of multifunctional binders with superior mechanical properties. Herein, ethoxylated trimethylolpropane triacrylate was firstly introduced into sulfur cathodes, and in-situ cross-linked by ultraviolet (UV) curing combined with traditional polyvinylidene difluoride binder (i.e., forming a binary binder, denoted as c-ETPTA/PVDF) to construct high-loading and durable Li-S batteries. The covalently cross-linked ETPTA framework not only significantly enhances …

Preface To The Special Issue On Lithium-Sulfur Batteries, Jia-Jia Chen, Ren-Jie Chen, Zhong Jin

Journal of Electrochemistry

No abstract provided.

Cobalt/Carbon Composites As Sulfur Hosts For High-Performance Lithium-Sulfur Batteries, Yun-Rui Yang, Huan-Huan Dong, Zhi-Qiang Hao, Xiang-Xi He, Zhuo Yang, Lin Li, Shu-Lei Chou

Journal of Electrochemistry

Lithium-sulfur (Li-S) battery is one of the promising energy storage devices because of its high energy density. However, the sulfur cathode suffers from sluggish electrochemical reaction kinetics, slow charge transfer, large volume expansion and severe shuttle effect of lithium polysulfides inevitably resulting in low reversible capacity, poor rate performance and short cycle life, limiting its practical applications. Herein, the recent progress of cobalt/carbon composites, including cobalt nanoparticles and cobalt single atoms, as the sulfur host materials in Li-S batteries is overviewed. In general, cobalt plays the role of electrocatalyst, which inhibits the shuttle effect of lithium polysulfides, accelerates the electrochemical …

Recent Advances Of Functional Electrolyte Additives For Lithium-Sulfur Batteries, Xiu-Qing Zhang, Shuai Tang, Yong-Zhu Fu

Journal of Electrochemistry

Lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries have become one of the most promising next-generation battery systems due to their high energy density and low cost. However, the application of Li-S batteries still faces critical challenges, such as the low conductivities of S and Li₂S, shuttle effect of polysulfides and dendrite growth of Li, etc. The optimization of the electrolyte can ameliorate the electrolyte|electrode interphase, conveniently regulating the parasitic reaction and improving the performance of the resultant batteries. The functional additives in electrolytes provide chances to tune the interphase and even the redox mechanism to improve the performance of the batteries. In …

Metals And Alloys As Catalytic Hosts Of Sulfur Cathode For Lithium-Sulfur Batteries, Zhen-Yu Wang, Xue-Ping Gao

Journal of Electrochemistry

Lithium-sulfur batteries are recognized as one of the most promising next-generation energy storage devices, owing to the high theoretical energy density of 2600 Wh·kg^–1. However, their application has been seriously hindered by the sluggish electrochemical reaction kinetics of elemental sulfur and discharged products (Li₂S₂/Li₂S), and the notorious “shuttle effect” of soluble intermediate lithium polysulfide species, leading to poor cycle stability, low sulfur utilization and inferior coulombic efficiency. Introducing catalytic hosts into sulfur cathode is an efficient path to propel the conversion of sulfur-contained species, thus preventing the dissolution and loss of active-sulfur …

Shape Memory Polymer-Based Multifunctional Syntactic Foams, Siavash Sarrafan

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

With the increase in popularity of shape memory polymers (SMPs), especially in applications such as aerospace, textile, biomedical engineering, and even structures, the weight of the material and the devices made with it has always been a crucial factor. Using the shape memory polymer as a matrix to make a syntactic foam is one of the best and most affordable approaches to creating a lighter material that still has the shape memory effect. The addition of particles of different stiffness, strength, and size, with variable fractions, creates a composite that enables engineering the mechanical, as well as other physical and …

A High-Strength Precipitation Hardened Cobalt-Free High-Entropy Alloy, Matthew Luebbe, Jiaqi Duan, Fan Zhang, Jonathan Poplawsky, Hans Pommeranke, Maalavan Arivu, Andrew Hoffman, Mario Buchely, Haiming Wen

Materials Science and Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Recent studies on precipitation-hardened high-entropy alloys (HEAs) demonstrate their high strength and thermal stability, making them promising materials for high-temperature structural applications such as nuclear reactors. However, many existing HEAs contain cobalt (Co), which is unsuitable for nuclear applications because of the long-term activation issue of Co. Co is also expensive and considered a critical material for other applications. Therefore, it is desired to exclude Co from the composition. a Co-free (Fe0.3Ni0.3Mn0.3Cr0.1)88Ti4Al8 HEA was developed and studied in this work. in contrast to previous Co-free HEAs, this alloy is close to Equi atomic in its composition and promises a more …

Development Of Novel Electrodes And Electrolytes For Safer Aqueous Ammonium Ion Batteries With Enhanced Performance., Shelton Farai Kuchena

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

The Lithium-ion battery (LIBs) system has dominated the battery market because of its superior energy and power density. Problems related to LIBs such as safety, scarcity of cobalt and lithium have led researchers to explore alternative battery systems. NH₄⁺ ion is a nonmetal charge carrier with lower molar mass (18 mol g^-1) and smaller hydrated ionic size (3.31 Å) which results in excellent electrochemical properties. Furthermore, NH₄⁺ ion has a tetrahedral structure that has no preferred orientation as compared to spherical metal ions giving a different intercalation chemistry based on hydrogen bonding. These properties …

Beirut Arab University - Faculty Of Engineering - Newsletter Issue 0, Faculty Of Engineering, Beirut Arab University

Engineering Newsletters

No abstract provided.

Physics-Based Crystal Plasticity Model For Predicting Microstructure Evolution And Dislocation Densities, Juyoung Jeong

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

This work presents three different studies investigating plastic deformation mechanisms in metals and alloys using crystal plasticity finite element (CPFE) modeling. The first study presents a new nonlocal crystal plasticity model for face-centered cubic single crystals under heterogeneous inelastic deformation. The model incorporates generalized constitutive relations that incorporate the thermally activated and drag mechanisms to cover different kinetics of viscoplastic flow in metals and describes the plastic flow and yielding of single-crystals using dislocation densities. The model is compared to micropillar compression experiments for copper single crystals and clarifies the complex microstructural evolution of dislocation densities in metals. The second …

Recent Research Progresses Of Solid-State Lithium-Sulfur Batteries, Yu Luo, Ru-Qin Ma, Zheng-Liang Gong, Yong Yang

Journal of Electrochemistry

All solid-state lithium-sulfur batteries (ASSLSBs) are considered to be one of the most promising next-generation energy storage systems, due to the promises of high energy density and safety. Although the use of solid-state electrolytes could effectively suppress the "shuttle effect" and self-discharge of the conventional liquid lithium-sulfur (Li-S) battery, the commercialization of ASSLSBs has been seriously hampered by the electrolyte degradation, electrode/electrolyte interfacial deterioration, electrochemo-mechanical failure, lithium dendrite growth and electrode pulverization, etc. This paper provides a comprehensive review of recent research progresses on the solid-state electrolytes, sulfur-containing composite cathodes, lithium metal and lithium alloy anodes, and electrode/electrolyte interfaces in …

A Review On Solid-State Li-S Battery: From The Conversion Mechanism Of Sulfur To Engineering Design, Huan-Huan Jia, Chen-Ji Hu, Yi-Xiao Zhang, Li-Wei Chen

Journal of Electrochemistry

Lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries attract sustained attention because of their ultrahigh theoretical energy density of 2567 Wh·kg^–1 and the actual value over 600 Wh·kg^–1. Solid-state Li-S batteries (SSLSBs) emerge in the recent two decades because of the enhanced safety when compared to the liquid system. As for the SSLSBs, except for the difference in the conversion mechanism induced by the cathode materials themselves, the physical-chemical property of solid electrolytes (SEs) also significantly affects their electrochemical behaviors. On account of various reported Li-S batteries, the advantages and disadvantages in performance and the failure mechanism are discussed in this review. …

Bimetallic Compound Catalysts With Multiple Active Centers For Accelerated Polysulfide Conversion In Li-S Batteries, Wu-Xing Hua, Jing-Yi Xia, Zhong-Hao Hu, Huan Li, Wei Lv, Quan-Hong Yang

Journal of Electrochemistry

Practical applications of lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries are hindered mainly by the low sulfur utilization and severe capacity fading derived from the polysulfide shuttling. Catalysis is an effective remedy to those problems by promoting the conversion of polysulfides to reduce their accumulation in the electrolyte, which needs the catalyst to have efficient adsorption ability to soluble polysulfides and high activity for their conversion. In this work, we have proposed a bimetallic compound of NiCo₂S₄ anchored onto sulfur-doped graphene (NCS@SG) to fabricate a catalytic interlayer for Li-S batteries. Compared to CoS, the NiCo₂S₄ demonstrated much higher …

Coni-Based Bimetal-Organic Framework Derived Carbon Composites Multifunctionally Modified Separators For Lithium-Sulfur Batteries, Yan-Jie Wang, Hong-Yu Cheng, Ji-Yue Hou, Wen-Hao Yang, Rong-Wei Huang, Zhi-Cong Ni, Zi-Yi Zhu, Ying Wang, Ke-Yi Wei, Yi-Yong Zhang, Xue Li

Journal of Electrochemistry

The commercial application of lithium-sulfur batteries (LSB) is still limited by the irreversible capacity fading caused by the shuttle of lithium polysulfides (LIPS). To address this issue, a bimetal (nickel, cobalt)-organic framework (MOF) derived carbon, (Ni, Co)/C, was prepared to modify the separator. The multifunctionally modified separator effectively captures LIPS, ensuring the stability and reversibility of sulfur fixation, while providing catalytic activity and improving ionic conductivity. The cobalt metal has a larger coordination number, more pore structure distribution, larger specific surface area, more surface C=O, and smaller particle size to achieve a large and rapid chemical sulfur fixation. The high …

Preface To The Special Issue On Lithium-Sulfur Batteries, Jia-Jia Chen, Ren-Jie Chen, Zhong Jin

Journal of Electrochemistry

No abstract provided.

Oh, My Darling Clementine: A Detailed History And Data Repository Of The Los Alamos Plutonium Fast Reactor, Hannah K. Patenaude, Franz J. Freibert

College of Sciences Graduate Student Research

The Los Alamos Plutonium Fast Reactor, Clementine, provided the first fast neutron spectrum using a metallic plutonium fuel system and liquid mercury coolant. Clementine is often mentioned in the history of fast, metal-fueled, or metal-cooled designs, with little public information regarding the specifications or timeline. This paper contains a synopsis of each report regarding the development, operation, experimental results, failures, and subsequent disassembly of Clementine to explore this unique reactor within the context of modern advanced reactor development.