On the mixed problem for the semilinear Darcy‐Forchheimer‐Brinkman PDE system in Besov spaces on creased Lipschitz domains

The purpose of this paper is to study the mixed Dirichlet‐Neumann boundary value problem for the semilinear Darcy‐Forchheimer‐Brinkman system in L _p ‐based Besov spaces on a bounded Lipschitz domain in ${\mathbb{R}}^3$, with p in a neighborhood of 2. This system is obtained by adding the semilinear term | u | u to the linear Brinkman equation. First, we provide some results about equivalence between the Gagliardo and nontangential traces, as well as between the weak canonical conormal derivatives and the nontangential conormal derivatives. Various mapping and invertibility properties of some integral operators of potential theory for the linear Brinkman system, and well‐posedness results for the Dirichlet and Neumann problems in L _p ‐based Besov spaces on bounded Lipschitz domains in ${\mathbb{R}}^n$(n ≥3) are also presented. Then, using integral potential operators, we show the well‐posedness in L ₂‐based Sobolev spaces for the mixed problem of Dirichlet‐Neumann type for the linear Brinkman system on a bounded Lipschitz domain in ${\mathbb{R}}^n$(n ≥3). Further, by using some stability results of Fredholm and invertibility properties and exploring invertibility of the associated Neumann‐to‐Dirichlet operator, we extend the well‐posedness property to some L _p ‐based Sobolev spaces. Next, we use the well‐posedness result in the linear case combined with a fixed point theorem to show the existence and uniqueness for a mixed boundary value problem of Dirichlet and Neumann type for the semilinear Darcy‐Forchheimer‐Brinkman system in L _p ‐based Besov spaces, with p ∈(2?ε ,2+ε ) and some parameter ε >0.     

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%).     

Facile Surfactant-, Reductant-, and Ag Salt-free Growth of Ag Nanoparticles with Controllable Size from 35 to 660 nm on Bulk Ag Materials

Morphologically and dimensionally controlled growth of Ag nanocrystals has long been plagued by surfactants or capping agents that complicate downstream applications, unstable Ag salts that impaired the reproducibility, and multistep seed injection that is troublesome and time-consuming. Here, we report a one-pot electro-chemical method to fast (∼2 min) produce Ag nanoparticles from commercial bulk Ag materials in a nitric acid solution, eliminating any need for surfactants or capping agents. Their size can be easily manipulated in an unprecedentedly wide range from 35 to 660 nm. Furthermore, the Ag nanoparticles are directly grown on the Ag substrate, highly desirable for promising applications such as catalysis and plasmonics. The mechanistic studies reveal that the concentration of Ag⁺ in the diffusion layer nearby the surface, controlled by the magnitude and duration of voltage, is critical in governing the nanoparticle formation (<1.3 mM) and its dimensional adjustability.     

Predicting Dinitrogen Activation via Transition-Metal-Involved [4+2] Cycloaddition Reaction

As the strongest triple bond in nature, the N≡N triple bond activation has always been a challenging project in chemistry. On the other hand, since the award of the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1950, the Diels-Alder reaction has served as a powerful and widely applied tool in the synthesis of natural products and new materials. However, the application of the Diels-Alder reaction to dinitrogen activation remains less developed. Here we first demonstrate that a transition-metal-involved [4+2] Diels-Alder cycloaddition reaction could be used to activate dinitrogen without an additional reductant by density functional theory calculations. Further study reveals that such a dinitrogen activation by 1-metalla-1,3-dienes screened out from a series of transition metal complexes (38 species) according to the effects of metal center, ligand, and substituents can become favorable both thermodynamically (with an exergonicity of 28.2 kcal mol⁻¹) and kinetically (with an activation energy as low as 13.8 kcal mol⁻¹). Our findings highlight an important application of the Diels-Alder reaction in dinitrogen activation, inviting experimental chemists’ verification.     

Toward efficient catalysts for electrochemical CO2 conversion to C2 products

With impressive progress in carbon capture and renewable energy, carbon dioxide (CO₂) conversion into useful chemicals has become a potential tool against climate change. Electrochemical CO₂ conversion into C₂ products (ethylene and ethanol) is an especially economically promising approach and an active research area. Nonetheless, catalyst layer design for CO₂ conversion is challenging because of the complex CO₂-to-C₂ reaction pathways. In this review, we highlight key ideas in catalyst layer design for CO₂ conversion to C₂ in the past few years. We identify three fundamental principles to control catalyst selectivity—local CO₂ and CO concentration, local pH, and intermediate–catalyst interaction. To achieve these goals, we introduce design strategies for both catalytic materials and overall catalyst layer morphology.     

Mathematical model of electromigration allowing the deviation from electroneutrality

The structure of the double layer on the boundary between solid and liquid phases is described by various models, of which the Stern–Gouy–Chapman model is still commonly accepted. Generally, the solid phase is charged, which also causes the distribution of the electric charge in the adjacent diffuse layer in the liquid phase. We propose a new mathematical model of electromigration considering the high deviation from electroneutrality in the diffuse layer of the double layer when the liquid phase is composed of solution of weak multivalent electrolytes of any valence and of any complexity. The mathematical model joins together the Poisson equation, the continuity equation for electric charge, the mass continuity equations, and the modified G-function. The model is able to calculate the volume charge density, electric potential, and concentration profiles of all ionic forms of all electrolytes in the diffuse part of the double layer, which consequently enables to calculate conductivity, pH, and deviation from electroneutrality. The model can easily be implemented into the numerical simulation software such as Comsol. Its outcome is demonstrated by the numerical simulation of the double layer composed of a charged silica surface and an adjacent liquid solution composed of weak multivalent electrolytes. The validity of the model is not limited only to the diffuse part of the double layer but is valid for electromigration of electrolytes in general.     

二维过渡金属硫属化合物的大面积制备与应用研究进展

二维过渡金属硫属化合物(TMDs)因具有可调带隙、 谷电子学性质和高催化活性等优点, 在电子学、 光电子学和能源相关领域受到广泛关注. 为了实现以上应用, 实现大面积、 厚度均匀TMDs薄膜的批量制备至关重要. 化学气相沉积法(CVD)是制备大面积均匀、 高质量二维材料普遍使用的方法. 本文从前驱体的供给和衬底的设计两个角度, 总结了目前合成大面积TMDs薄膜的CVD方法, 并讨论了高质量TMDs的生长机制和参数优化方法; 介绍了高质量TMDs在电子学、 光电子学和电/光催化等方面的应用; 讨论了目前合成大面积均匀、 高质量TMDs所面临的挑战, 并对该领域的发展方向进行了展望.     

二维过渡金属硫族化合物在超级电容器中的研究进展

近年来, 过渡金属硫族化合物(TMDs)作为一种新兴的二维材料, 因其独特的层状结构及电学特性成为超级电容器电极材料的理想候选者之一. 本文介绍了二维TMDs的常用合成方法, 阐述了钼基、 钨基和钒基等TMDs在超级电容器中的研究进展, 分析了形貌、 尺寸和改性方法等因素对TMDs材料电化学性能的影响, 并对TMDs在超级电容器领域的工业化应用和挑战进行了总结与展望.     

Sc,Ti,V修饰B/N掺杂单缺陷石墨烯的储氢研究

3d过渡金属修饰是改善石墨烯储氢性能的最有效途径, 但仍存在金属团聚和H₂解离导致难以脱附的问题. 提出了B/N掺杂单缺陷石墨烯(BMG/NMG)的策略来避免以上两个问题. 密度泛函理论计算结果表明, N掺杂可以使Sc, Ti, V与石墨烯的结合能提高3~4倍, B掺杂可以将Sc与石墨烯的结合能提高3倍. Sc/BMG和Sc/NMG吸附的第一个H₂不会解离. Sc/BMG中Sc吸附5个H₂, 平均氢分子结合能为-0.18～-0.43 eV, 并且可以通过在同侧锚定多个Sc原子形成Sc/C₃B₂五元环增加H₂吸附位点. Sc/NMG中每个Sc吸附6个H₂, 平均氢分子结合能为-0.17～-0.29 eV, 还可以通过在异侧修饰形成Sc/N₃/Sc单元进一步提高储氢能力. 研究结果将为设计基于3d过渡金属修饰碳材料的储氢材料提供理论基础.