Materials Chemistry Commons^™

Method Development To Quantify The Reinforcing Properties Of Silica Fillers, Hamid Reza Givehchi

Electronic Theses & Dissertations

Polysiloxane polymers are widely used as a high-temperature resistant materials with the ability to maintain flexibility at extremely low temperatures. Unfortunately, polysiloxane elastomers generally exhibit low strength and poor mechanical properties and have no practical use unless they are reinforced. These elastomers can be mechanically improved through the use of reinforcing silica-based fillers. It is known that silanol groups on the surface of silica filler particles can interact with the polysiloxane backbone. Interactions of silanol groups on the fillers’ surfaces with the polysiloxane backbone through hydrogen bonding may hinder the mobility of the polymer chain and can improve thermal, physical, …

Fracture Toughness And Fatigue Crack Growth Rate Characterization Of Inconel 718 Formed By Laser Powder Bed Fusion, Charles C. Hohnbaum

Theses and Dissertations

Continuing improvement in the field of AM of metals provides the opportunity for direct fabrication of aerospace parts. AM was once used in large part for rapid prototyping but improvements in technology and increases in the knowledge base of AM materials has provided the opportunity for manufacture of AM parts for operational use. The ability to create low numbers of unique parts without having to invest in expensive tooling provides great economic incentive to utilize this technique. IN718 is the most common high temperature alloy used in the aerospace industry and lends itself readily to formation by LPBF. The superior …

Creep Of Nextel 720/Alumina Ceramic Matrix Composite With Diamond-Drilled Effusion Holes At 1200°C In Air And In Steam, Megan L. Harkins

Theses and Dissertations

A recent study evaluated tensile stress-strain and tensile creep behavior of an oxide-oxide composite (Nextel™720/alumina) with laser-drilled effusion holes at 1200°C. It was determined that the presence of laser-drilled holes degraded the mechanical properties and performance of the CMC as a result of damage caused to the composite microstructure by the laser drilling process. Based on these results, the present effort sought to assess the effects of diamond-drilled holes on the mechanical behavior of this CMC. Tensile properties of the N720/A composite at 1200°C in laboratory air were unaffected by the presence of an array of 17 diamond-drilled effusion holes. …

Process Parameter Development Of Additively Manufactured Af9628 Weapons Steel, Erin M. Hager

Theses and Dissertations

The manufacture of components in Additive Manufacturing processes is limited by the range of materials available. Qualification of materials for Additive Manufacturing is time intensive, and is often specific to a single type of machine. In this study, an approach to selecting power, speed, and hatch spacing values for a newly powderized material, AF9628 weapons steel, is described that results in highly dense (>99.9%) parts on an MLab 200R Cusing. Initial power and speed values used in a weld track study were selected based on a survey of parameters used on similar materials, with a focus on the energy …

Annihilator Dimers Enhance Triplet Fusion Upconversion, Andrew B. Pun, Samuel N. Sanders, Matthew Y. Sfeir, Luis M. Campos, Daniel N. Congreve

Publications and Research

Optical upconversion is a net process by which two low energy photons are converted into one higher energy photon. There is vast potential to exploit upconversion in applications ranging from solar energy and biological imaging to data storage and photocatalysis. Here, we link two upconverting chromophores together to synthesize a series of novel tetracene dimers for use as annihilators. When compared with the monomer annihilator, TIPS–tetracene, the dimers yield a strong enhancement in the triplet fusion process, also known as triplet–triplet annihilation, as demonstrated via a large increase in upconversion efficiency and an order of magnitude reduction of the threshold …

Self-Assembled Bismuth Selenide (Bi2se3) Quantum Dots Grown By Molecular Beam Epitaxy, Marcel S. Claro, Ido Levy, Abhinandan Gangopadhyay, David J. Smith, Maria C. Tamargo

Publications and Research

We report the growth of self-assembled Bi2se3 quantum dots (QDs) by molecular beam epitaxy on GaAs substrates using the droplet epitaxy technique. The QD formation occurs after anneal of Bismuth droplets under Selenium flux. Characterization by atomic force microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy and X-ray reflectance spectroscopy is presented. Raman spectra confirm the QD quality. The quantum dots are crystalline, with hexagonal shape, and have average dimensions of 12-nm height (12 quintuple layers) and 46-nm width, and a density of 8.5 × 109 cm−2. this droplet growth technique provides a means to produce topological insulator …

Current Status And Prospect Of Battery Configuration In Li-S System, Jia-Hang Chen, Hui-Jun Yang, Cheng Guo, Jiu-Lin Wang

Journal of Electrochemistry

Commercial lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) are incapable of satisfying the increasing demand for emerging electronic devices due to their limited energy density. Among the next-generation batteries, lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries are becoming a promising energy-storage system due to their high theoretical energy density and natural abundance of sulfur. However, the shuttle of soluble polysulfide intermediates between two electrodes, as well as the problem on Li metal anode,lower the utilization of active material and lead to the loss of specific capacity and rapid capacity fading. All the above challenges limit the further application of Li-S batteries. Recently, various novel battery configurations have been …

Recent Progress On Tio2-Based Anode Materials For Sodium-Ion Batteries, Si-Tian Lian, Jian-Shuai Lv, Qiang Yu, Guang-Wu Hu, Zhuo Chen, Liang Zhou, Li-Qiang Mai

Journal of Electrochemistry

Titanium dioxide (TiO₂) represents a stable, low-cost, and nontoxic anode material for sodium-ion batteries (SIBs). However, the low electrical conductivity limits its electrochemical activity (specific capacity) and rate capability, hindering its widespread applications. In this article, we show that different crystal forms of TiO₂ have different pore structures, resulting in the distinct sodium storage capacities. Accordingly, the article introduces how TiO₂ microstructures influence sodium storage. The nanoparticle structure can improve the rate performance of the material due to its short ion diffusion distance, and the internal cavity of the hollow structure is beneficial to cycle stability. …

Recent Progress In Key Materials For Room-Temperature Sodium-Ion Batteries, Fan-Fan Wang, Xiao-Bin Liu, Long Chen, Cheng-Cheng Chen, Yong-Chang Liu, Li-Zhen Fan

Journal of Electrochemistry

Sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) have attracted tremendous attention in large-scale energy storage applications due to their resource advantages. However, Na+ is larger and heavier than Li+, which will limit its reversible reaction with the electrode materials and result in poor electrochemical performance. Thus, developing stable and high-efficiency electrode materials is the key to promoting the practical application of SIBs. Furthermore, the optimization of electrolyte is essential for the construction of high-safety and long-lifespan SIBs. In this review, we mainly summarize the recent advancements of electrode materials and electrolytes for room-temperature SIBs and discuss their challenges and possible resolution strategies. We hope …

Recent Developments In Surface/Interface Modulation And Structure-Performance Relationship Of Cathode Catalysts For Li-Air Batteries, Rui Gao, Jun-Kai Wang, Zhong-Bo Hu, Xiang-Feng Liu

Journal of Electrochemistry

Lithium-air battery has been considered to be one of the most promising secondary battery systems because of its high energy density. However, the sluggish kinetics of the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) on the cathode, and the high overpotential, poor cycle stability and low rate capacity have severely blocked the development and application of Li-air battery. One of the effective strategies to alleviate these issues is to develop cathode catalysts for Li-air batteries. The design and development of bifunctional cathode catalysts with high activity and efficiency on both ORR and OER is highly desired for Li-air …

A Comparative Study Of Pre-Lithiated Hard Carbon And Soft Carbon As Anodes For Lithium-Ion Capacitors, Zhao Li, Xian-Zhong Sun, Wen-Jie Liu, Xiong Zhang, Kai Wang, Yan-Wei Ma

Journal of Electrochemistry

Lithium-ion capacitor (LIC) has emerged to be one of the most promising electrochemical energy storage devices. Presently, activated carbon (AC) is the mostly used cathode material for LIC. Nevertheless, various carbonaceous materials can be used as anode materials, such as hard carbon (HC) and soft carbon (SC). Therefore, HC and SC with different structural and electrochemical characteristics have been investigated as the anode materials of LICs in this work. Compared with the HC electrode, the SC electrode showed higher electronic conductivity and reversible capacity. The rate capabilities of the two carbonaceous materials as a function of coating thickness have been …

Cvd Preparation And Application Of 3d Graphene In Electrochemical Energy Storage, Yong-Kang Xia, Ming-Yuan Gu, Hong-Guan Yang, Xin-Zhi Yu, Bing-An Lu

Journal of Electrochemistry

Three-dimensional (3D) graphene combinations with the excellent intrinsic properties of graphene and the 3D micro/nano porous structures provide a graphene foam with high specific surface area, excellent mechanical strength and fast electron and mass transports. The 3D graphene foam and its composite nanomaterials are widely used in the fields of nano-electronics, energy storage, chemical and biological sensing. The 3D graphene foam prepared by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) method is of high purity and crystallinity.  In this review, a brief overview in the CVD preparations of 3D graphene and properties of CVD prepared 3D graphene based nanomaterials in electrochemical energy storage …

Applications Of Advanced Imaging Technologies For Critical Issues Of All-Solid-State Lithium Battery Studies, Yi-Bo Zhao, Hui-Hui Liu, Song-Liang Chen, Shou-Hang Bo

Journal of Electrochemistry

All-solid-state lithium batteries have attracted much attention for their high energy density and good safety. To increase their efficiency and prolong their service life, it is necessary to achieve high ion conductivity at the electrode/electrolyte interface and in the electrolyte, as well as to eliminate dendrites growth in the battery. Based on the critical requirements outlined above, this paper discusses the applications of advanced imaging technologies in relevant studies. Recent progresses in investigations of all-solid-state lithium batteries by imaging techniques including electron microscopy, scanning probe microscopy, X-ray tomography, magnetic resonance imaging and optical microscopy are summarized.

Synthesis Of Flower-Like Vanadium Disulfide For Lithium Storage Application, Pan Li, Jian Liu, Wei-Yi Sun, Hai-Xia Li, Zhan-Liang Tao

Journal of Electrochemistry

In order to improve the electrochemical properties of vanadium disulfide (VS₂) as an electrode material in Li-ion battery, the flower-like VS₂ was prepared by a one-step hydrothermal method with the addition of polyethylene glycol 400. The phase and morphology of the product were characterized by using X-ray diffraction and field emission scanning electron microscopy. During the growth process, it was observed that the flower-like VS₂ was interspersed with several hexagonal vanadium disulfide nanosheets, which had a high specific surface area and excellent structural stability. The flower-like VS₂ was used for the cathode material test in …

Ni/Mn3O4/Nimn2O4 Double-Shelled Hollow Spheres Embedded Into Reduced Graphene Oxide As Advanced Anodes For Sodium-Ion Batteries, Chong Yan, Hua-Ri Kou, Bo Yan, Xiao-Jing Liu, De-Jun Li, Xi-Fei Li

Journal of Electrochemistry

Delicately building the unique nanocomposite with the combination of hollow structure and reduced graphene oxide (rGO) is highly desirable and still remains a great challenge in the field of energy conversion and storage. In this work, Ni/Mn₃O₄/NiMn₂O₄ double-shelled hollow spheres coated by rGO (denoted as R-NMN) have been successfully synthetized via one-step rapid solvothermal treatment followed by subsequent annealing for the first time. Served as anodes for sodium ion batteries (SIBs), the R-NMN composite containing 25wt% rGO exhibits a high discharge capacity of 187.8 mAh·g^-1 after 100 cycles at 50 mA·g^{-1 …}

Preface On Special Issue Of Next-Generation Secondary Batteries, Zhen Zhou, Quan-Feng Dong

Journal of Electrochemistry

No abstract provided.

Recent Progress In Vanadium-Based Electrode Materials, Meng-Lei Sun, Da-Qi Zhang, Jin-Kui Feng, Jiang-Feng Ni

Journal of Electrochemistry

It is an important solution to solve energy storage problems by developing inexpensive and safe lithium-ion and sodium-ion batteries with superior performance. Vanadium-based electrode materials are promising electrode materials because of diversified chemical valences, open structures and high theoretical capacities. In the past few years, vanadium-based electrode materials such as oxides, sulfides, and phosphates have achieved a considerable development in the battery field, It is,  therefore, necessary to summarize their recent research progress. In this review, we particularly highlight the key challenges that are facing in the application of vanadium materials, such as low ion diffusion coefficient and poor structural …

Slips-Teng: Robust Triboelectric Nanogenerator With Optical And Charge Transparency Using A Slippery Interface, Wanghuai Xu, Xiaofeng Zhou, Chonglei Hao, Huanxi Zheng, Yuan Liu, Xiantong Yan, Zhengbao Yang, Michael Leung, Xiao Cheng Zeng, Ronald X. Xu, Zuankai Wang

Xiao Cheng Zeng Publications

Energy harvesting devices that prosper in harsh environments are highly demanded in a wide range of applications ranging from wearable and biomedical devices to self-powered and intelligent systems. Particularly, over the past several years, the innovation of triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) that efficiently convert ambient kinetic energy of water droplets or wave power to electricity has received growing attention. One of the main bottlenecks for the practical implications of such devices originates from the fast degradation of the physiochemical properties of interfacial materials under harsh environments. To overcome these challenges, here we report the design of a novel slippery lubricant-impregnated porous …

Toward Unraveling The Mechanisms Of “Green” Mechanochemical Reactions, Richard Chen, Mehmet Kerem Gokus

Undergraduate Research Symposium

The mechanical processing of solids, such as milling or grinding powders, often leads to mechanochemical reactions. Mechanochemistry affords “green” synthetic routes avoiding or reducing the use of solvents, thus providing environmentally friendly and cost-effective synthetic alternatives for many materials. The solid-state reactants are usually ground together with small quantities of organic solvents, called “liquid assisted grinding” (LAG). LAG increases the reaction rates, it can yield products from otherwise unreactive mixtures, it increases the products crystallinity, and it selectively leads to crystal structures (polymorphs) of the products, depending on the quantities and physicochemical properties of the liquids used in LAG.

Mechanochemistry …

Effect Of Dissolved Salts On The Physiochemical Properties Of Deep Eutectic Solvents, Eleanor Haeska, Megan Radtke

The Journal of Undergraduate Research

Green chemistry seeks to make chemical procedures safer, improve reaction efficiency, and utilize environmentally safe reagents. Deep eutectic solvents (DES) have recently become of great interest due to their eco-friendly nature and functionality as solvent for various chemical processes. One key characteristic of DES is their conductive nature and depressed melting point. This project sought to determine the effect of the addition of aqueous solutions of halides on the conductivity of two selected types of DES. Also assessed were the polarity and viscosity of the DES. It can be concluded that aqueous halides had no measureable effect on the conductivity …