Composite Polybenzimidazole Membrane with High Capacity Retention for Vanadium Redox Flow Batteries

Currently, energy storage technologies are becoming essential in the transition of replacing fossil fuels with more renewable electricity production means. Among storage technologies, redox flow batteries (RFBs) can represent a valid option due to their unique characteristic of decoupling energy storage from power output. To push RFBs further into the market, it is essential to include low-cost materials such as new generation membranes with low ohmic resistance, high transport selectivity, and long durability. This work proposes a composite membrane for vanadium RFBs and a method of preparation. The membrane was prepared starting from two polymers, meta-polybenzimidazole (6 μm) and porous polypropylene (30 μm), through a gluing approach by hot-pressing. In a vanadium RFB, the composite membrane exhibited a high energy efficiency (~84%) and discharge capacity (~90%) with a 99% capacity retention over 90 cycles at 120 mA·cm⁻², exceeding commercial Nafion^® NR212 (~82% efficiency, capacity drop from 90% to 40%) and Fumasep^® FAP-450 (~76% efficiency, capacity drop from 80 to 65%).     

Water Formation in Non-Hydrolytic Sol–Gel Routes: Selective Synthesis of Tetragonal and Monoclinic Mesoporous Zirconia as a Case Study

Several non-hydrolytic sol–gel syntheses involving different precursors, oxygen donors, and conditions have been screened aiming to selectively produce mesoporous t-ZrO₂ or m-ZrO₂ with significant specific surface areas. The in situ water formation was systematically investigated by Karl Fisher titration of the syneresis liquids. XRD and nitrogen physisorption were employed to characterize the structure and texture of the ZrO₂ samples. Significant amounts of water were found in several cases, notably in the reactions of Zr(OnPr)₄ with ketones (acetone, 2-pentanone, acetophenone), and of ZrCl₄ with alcohols (benzyl alcohol, ethanol) or acetone. Conversely, the reactions of Zr(OnPr)₄ with acetic anhydride or benzyl alcohol at moderate temperature (200 °C) and of ZrCl₄ with diisopropyl ether appear strictly non-hydrolytic. Although reaction time and reaction temperature were also important parameters, the presence of water played a crucial role on the structure of the final zirconia: t-ZrO₂ is favored in strictly non-hydrolytic routes, while m-ZrO₂ is favored in the presence of significant amounts of water. ¹H and ¹³C NMR analysis of the syneresis liquids allowed us to identify the main reactions responsible for the formation of water and of the oxide network. The morphology of the most interesting ZrO₂ samples was further investigated by electron microscopy (SEM, TEM).     

Atomically Dispersed Pd Atoms on a Simple MgO Support with an Ultralow Loading for Selective Hydrogenation of Acetylene to Ethylene

We report a simple and efficient Pd/MgO catalyst loaded with ppm level of Pd (7.8 ppm) for semi-hydrogenation of acetylene to ethylene. The catalyst showed excellent performance with high acetylene conversion (97%), high ethylene selectivity (89%) and good stability. Moreover, the atomically dispersed Pd atoms are inactive for ethylene hydrogenation. Isotopic and FTIR results suggest that H₂ dissociates at isolated Pd atoms in a heterolytic manner forming O−H bond, which may account for the high selectivity.     

Coumarine–imino–C2-glucosyl conjugate as receptor for Cu in blood serum milieu,on silica gel sheet and in Hep G2 cells and the characterization of the species of recognition

A coumarine–imino–C2-glucosyl conjugate (L) was synthesized and characterized. The conjugate L is found to recognize Cu²⁺ in aqueous HEPES buffer by exhibiting a 95% fluorescence quenching in pH range 7–10 even in the presence of several biologically and ecologically relevant metal ions. Fluorescence on–off behavior has been clearly demonstrated on the basis of the binding variability of Cu²⁺ to L. The binding has been elicited through the changes observed in fluorescence, absorption, ESI-MS and ¹H NMR titrations. All the other thirteen metal ions studied did not show any change in the fluorescence emission. These ions do not interfere with the recognition of Cu²⁺ by L. The structural features of [CuL]₂ complex in both the isomeric forms were established by DFT computational calculations. The utility of L has been demonstrated by showing its sensitivity toward Cu²⁺ on a thin layer of silica gel. The L gives sensitive fluorescence signals for Cu²⁺ even in blood serum and exhibits appropriate fluorescence responses in living cells.     

Development of models for prediction of the antioxidant activity of derivatives of natural compounds

Antioxidants are important for maintaining the appropriate balance between oxidizing and reducing species in the body and thus preventing oxidative stress. Many natural compounds are being screened for their possible antioxidant activity. It was found that a mushroom pigment Norbadione A, which is a pulvinic acid derivative, shows an antioxidant activity; the same was found for other pulvinic acid derivatives and structurally related coumarines. Based on the results of in vitro studies performed on these compounds as a part of this study quantitative structure–activity relationship (QSAR) predictive models were constructed using multiple linear regression, counter-propagation artificial neural networks and support vector regression (SVR). The models have been developed in accordance with current QSAR guidelines, including the assessment of the models applicability domains. A new approach for the graphical evaluation of the applicability domain for SVR models is suggested. The developed models show sufficient predictive abilities for the screening of virtual libraries for new potential antioxidants.     

低温燃料电池的纳米电催化材料:综述(英文)

Low temperature fuel cells are an attractive technology for transportation and residential applica‐tions due to their quick start up and shut down capabilities. This review analyzed the current status of nanocatalysts for proton exchange membrane fuel cells and alkaline membrane fuel cells. The preparation process influences the performance of the nanocatalyst. Several synthesis methods are covered for noble and non‐noble metal catalysts on various catalyst supports including carbon nanotubes, carbon nanofibers, nanowires, and graphenes. Ex situ and in situ characterization methods like scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy and fuel cell testing of the nanocatalysts on various supports for both proton exchange and alkaline membrane fuel cells are discussed. The accelerated durability estimate of the nanocat‐alysts, predicted by measuring changes in the electrochemically active surface area using a voltage cycling method, is considered one of the most reliable and valuable method for establishing durabil‐ity.     

载体表面酸碱性质对无碱水溶液中Au催化的甘油氧化反应产物选择性的调控作用

甘油(GL)是一种重要的生物平台分子,通过催化选择氧化反应将其转化为具有高附加值化学品是可持续发展化学化工的重要课题之一.以Au为催化剂的GL水相选择氧化反应可以生成甘油酸(GLA)、二羟基丙酮(DHA)、羟基丙二酸(TTA)、羟基乙酸(GCA)和乳酸(LA)等多种产物.通常,该反应需要碱(NaOH)存在时才能进行,产物往往以GLA为主(选择性40%-70%),副产物主要有GCA, TTA和草酸(OA).一般认为,可溶性碱(OH-)是通过夺取GL分子中羟基上的质子而诱发反应的.尽管在Au催化的反应体系中从未检测到有甘油醛(GLD)生成, GLD和/或DHA被认为是该反应的中间物种.本课题组前期工作表明,氧化物(TiO2, Al2O3, ZrO2, CuO等)负载的纳米Au催化剂能够在无碱(无外加OH-)水溶液中选择性催化GL氧化生成DHA(而不是GLA).因此, OH-的存在与否很可能会改变水溶液中Au催化剂上GL氧化反应的途径.本文试图回答当GL的水溶液中不存在NaOH时, Au催化剂载体的表面酸碱性质是否也会对GL氧化反应的选择性产生调控作用.我们选用Mg/Al比(x)不同的MgO-Al2O3样品为Au催化剂的载体,以尿素为沉淀剂,采用沉积沉淀法制备了相应的Au/MgO-Al2O3(x)催化剂样品.采用X射线衍射、电感耦合等离子体-原子发射光谱仪、透射电镜以及N2吸附-脱附等温线等对MgO-Al2O3(x)和/或Au/MgO-Al2O3样品的物相、元素组成、Au颗粒大小以及比表面积等进行了表征分析;采用NH3和CO2程序升温脱附(TPD)分别对MgO-Al2O3(x)载体表面的酸、碱性进行了测定. NH3-TPD和CO2-TPD结果表明,随着Mg/Al比x从0增加至4.8, MgO-Al2O3(x)的表面酸量从0.94降到0.20μmol/m2,而其表面碱量却从0.05剧增至0.80μmol/m2.因此,载体中MgO含量越多或Mg/Al比越大,其酸性越弱而碱性越强.在无碱水溶液中的催化反应结果表明, Au/MgO-Al2O3(x)上GL氧化反应的主要产物为DHA, GLA以及GCA等.随着x值(催化剂表面碱性)不断增大,产物DHA的选择性从约80%下降到10%左右,而GLA的选择性却从约4%增加至约50%.当载体为酸性最强的Al2O3(x =0)时,产物DHA的选择性为最高(80%).由此可见,载体表面的酸碱性质决定了无碱水溶液中Au催化剂上的GL氧化产物的分布. 此外,当保持Au粒子的尺寸基本不变(如3.1或6.6 nm左右),而改变载体的酸碱性质时, Au/MgO-Al2O3催化GL氧化反应的活性(TOF)可相差8-9倍.本文还通过改变Au/MgO-Al2O3样品焙烧温度,制备了表面酸碱性质相同而颗粒大小不同的三个Au/MgO-Al2O3(0.2)催化剂,考察了Au粒径对GL氧化反应选择性的影响.在这三个催化剂上, Au颗粒的平均尺寸分别为2.8,3.2和6.6 nm, GL氧化反应的产物选择性近乎相同(DHA和GLA的选择性分别为65%和15%左右),但平均尺寸为6.6 nm Au粒子的催化活性(TOF)是3.2 nm Au粒子的1.6倍,2.8 nm Au粒子的2.7倍.因此,本文建立了载体表面酸碱性质与无碱水溶液中GL氧化产物选择性之间的关系,通过改变载体表面酸碱性质实现了对无碱水溶液中Au催化剂上GL氧化反应选择性的调控.尽管载体酸碱性质和Au粒子尺寸都对Au/MgO-Al2O3催化剂的本征活性有重要影响,但载体酸碱性质的影响更显著.     

载体材料对单Pd三效催化剂性能及催化活性的影响

采用共沉淀法制备了耐高温高比表面的La₂O₃-Al₂O₃(LA)以及铈含量分别为15%、33%和47%的储氧材料CeO₂-ZrO₂-La₂O₃-Al₂O₃(CZLA)、CeO₂-ZrO₂-La₂O₃+La₂O₃-Al₂O₃(CZL+LA)和CeO₂-ZrO₂-La₂O₃(CZL)₄类载体材料,并用浸渍法制备了整体式Pd/LA、Pd/CZLA、Pd/CZL+LA和Pd/CZL汽油车尾气净化三效催化剂,考察了载体材料对单Pd三效催化剂的影响。采用低温N₂吸附-脱附、H₂-程序升温还原(H₂-TPR)以及X射线光电子能谱(XPS)对载体材料及催化剂进行了表征,并考察了催化剂的空燃比性能和三效催化性能。结果表明,CZLA有效地结合了铈基和铝基载体材料的优点,表现出了优异的织构性能、热稳定性及还原性能。老化前后,其负载的单Pd三效催化剂在低温还原率、表面元素含量及Pd的电子结合能等性能方面表现出了最小的差异。催化剂活性测试结果表明,Pd/CZLA的三效窗口明显较宽,且拥有最低的起燃温度,尤其经1000℃老化处理后,其催化活性最高,C₃H₈、NO_x和CO的起燃温度分别为370、257和223℃。可见,相较于其他3种载体材料,CZLA更适合于负载单Pd三效催化剂,从而满足更高标准的三效催化剂的性能要求。     

Dynamic Stability of a Fluid-Coveying Cantilevered Pipe on an Additional Combined Support

Based on an analytical study, a numerical analysis is made of the dynamic stability of a cantilevered steel pipe conveying a fluid. The pipe is modeled by a beam restrained at the left end and supported by a special device (a rotational elastic restraint plus a Q-apparatus) at the right end. The numerical analysis reveals that the critical velocity of the fluid depends on the governing parameters of the problem such as the ratio of the fluid mass to the pipe mass per unit length and the rotational elastic constant at the right end     

具有弹性支座杆件的动力稳定性研究

研究了杆件具有弹性支座时直杆的动力稳定性问题，推导出了杆件的临界频率和动力不稳定边界，分析了弹簧刚度和阻尼对杆件动力稳定性的影响，研究表明杆件的侧向刚度愈大其结构的动力稳定性愈好，阻尼对杆的振动起有利作用，并提出了在实际工程中减小杆件振动的一些措施．