Dynamically Resettable Electrode-Electrolyte Interface through Supramolecular Sol-Gel Transition Electrolyte for Flexible Zinc Batteries

Flexible batteries based on gel electrolytes with high safety are promising power solutions for wearable electronics but suffer from vulnerable electrode-electrolyte interfaces especially upon complex deformations, leading to irreversible capacity loss or even battery collapse. Here, a supramolecular sol-gel transition electrolyte (SGTE) that can dynamically accommodate deformations and repair electrode-electrolyte interfaces through its controllable rewetting at low temperatures is designed. Mediated by the micellization of polypropylene oxide blocks in Pluronic and host-guest interactions between α-cyclodextrin (α-CD) and polyethylene oxide blocks, the high ionic conductivity and compatibility with various salts of SGTE afford resettable electrode-electrolyte interfaces and thus constructions of a series of highly durable, flexible aqueous zinc batteries. The design of this novel gel electrolyte provides new insights for the development of flexible batteries.     

A Highly Sensitive and Selective Non-enzymatic Hydrogen Peroxide Sensor Based on Nanostructured Co3O4 Thin Films Using the Sol-gel Method

In this work we report an easy and efficient way to fabricate nanostructured cobalt oxide (Co₃O₄) thin films as a non-enzymatic sensor for H₂O₂ detection. Co₃O₄ thin films were grown on ITO glass substrates via the sol-gel method and characterized with several techniques including X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and optical absorbance. The Co₃O₄ thin films’ performance regarding hydrogen peroxide detection was studied in a 0.1 M NaOH solution using two techniques, cyclic voltammetry (CV) and amperometry. The films exhibited a high sensitivity of 1450 μA.mM⁻¹.cm⁻², a wide linear range from 0.05 μM to 1.1 mM, and a very low detection limit of 18 nM. Likewise, the Co₃O₄ thin films produced showed an exceptional stability and a high selectivity.     

Spectroelectrochemical Studies on Silicate Sol‐Gel Matrix‐supported Sub‐10 nm Prussian Blue Nanostructures‐based Electrochromic Device

In this study, spectroelectrochemical (SPE) studies to monitor the electrochromic properties of electrochemically synthesized sub‐10 nm sized Prussian blue (PB) nanostructures (NSs) are employed. At the beginning the dark blue coloured device, shifts reversibly between translucent and dark‐blue while applying an applied bias between +1 to ?1 V with an opposite polarization. Amine functionalized silicate sol‐gel matrix (SSG) is used as a solid support and stabilizer for electrodepositing highly uniform sub‐10 nm PB NSs. The SSG's film thickness is suitably optimized through suitable controlled experiments. It is found that the SPE behaviour of sub‐10 nm sized PB NSs, suitably followed a colour modulation of PB into Prussian white (PW) and vice‐versa. SPE studies are used to investigate the redox switching between the PB and PW and which are responsible for an electrochromic function of a fabricated electrochromic device (ECD). Fabricated ECD has demonstrated an optical modulation at 680 nm with the moderate coloration efficiency of 115.8 cm²/C. Present study validates the SPE feature of sub‐10 nm PB NSs as an active electrochromic nanomaterial and demonstrating the applicability of SPE technique to investigate the variety of electrochromic nanomaterials, with consequences in both spectral and electrochemically active nanomaterials for electrochromic device applications.     

In-vitro hemolytic activity and free radical scavenging by sol-gel synthesized Fe3O4 stabilized ZrO2 nanoparticles

Zirconia ceramics have attained much consideration owing to the amazing mechanical strength and white color. These properties provide an opportunity for the use in biomedical applications. In the present study, an application oriented sol-gel route was adapted for synthesis of zirconia nanoparticles. ZrOCl₂·8H₂O was used as a precursor, iron oxide (Fe₃O₄) nanoparticles (pH 2 & pH 9) as a stabilizer and de-ionized water was used as a solvent. Sol-gel synthesized iron oxide stabilized zirconia nanoparticles were prepared by varying concentrations of iron oxide nanoparticles in the range of 2–10 wt%. X-ray diffraction results showed mixed phases at all wt% with acidic pH value, while pure tetragonal phase of zirconia was observed for stabilization with 6 wt% basic iron oxide. Maximum value of dielectric constant (~80 at log f = 4) and minimum value of tangent loss (~0.66 at log f = 4) were observed for zirconia stabilized with basic 6 wt% iron oxide. Maximum value of hardness (1410 ± 10 HV) along with high fracture toughness were observed with optimized stabilization. Very weak hemolytic activity and maximum scavenging (~76) antioxidant activity was observed under optimized conditions. Thus, it can be suggested that optimized nanoparticles, i.e. tetragonal zirconia stabilized with 6 wt% of basic Fe₃O₄, can be further useful for therapeutical and pharmaceutical applications.     

Composite of SiO2 and Hydrogel Having Microphase Separated Structure: Physical Properties Dependence on pH

Abstract

Organic-inorganic composite gel was prepared by using PEG-modified urethane acrylate (PMUA) gel and tetraethoxysilane (TEOS). PMUA gel was prepared by the phase-inversion emulsion polymerization of PMUA emulsion. The gelation of PMUA emulsion using this method enables PMUA gel to swell with H₂O, TEOS, and ethanol. Hydrolysis and condensation reaction rates of the sol-gel process are strongly influenced by the pH controlled by catalysts such as HCl and NH₄OH. Additionally, the morphology on the cross section of composite and the amount of silica ingredient incorporated into the composite gel were dependent on solvent, the molar ratio of H₂O to TEOS, as well as the pH value.

As the silica content increased, due to hydrogen bonds interacting between PMUA gel and SiO₂, particles, the tensile strength of composites considerably increased, whereas the elongation at break decreased. The incorporation of silica ingredient in PMUA gel/silica composites was verified with FTIR/ATR and SEM. The amount of the silica component in the composite was indirectly investigated by using TGA thermal analysis.     

Pore Modification in Porous Ceramic Membranes With Sol-Gel Process and Determination of Gas Permeability and Selectivity

Summary: The aim of the study was to investigate the variation in total surface area, porosity, pore size, Knudsen and surface diffusion coefficients, gas permeability and selectivity before and after the application of sol-gel process to porous ceramic membrane in order to determine the effect of pore modification. In this study, three different sol-gel process were applied to the ceramic support separately; one was the silica sol-gel process which was applied to increase porosity, others were silica-sol dip coating and silica-sol processing methods which were applied to decrease pore size. As a result of this, total surface area, pore size and porosity of ceramic support and membranes were determined by using BET instrument. In addition to this, Knudsen and surface diffusion coefficients were also calculated. After then, ceramic support and membranes were exposed to gas permeation experiments by using the CO₂ gas with different flow rates. Gas permeability and selectivity of those membranes were measured according to the data obtained. Thus, pore surface area, porosity, pore size and Knudsen diffusion coefficient of membrane treated with silica sol-gel process increased while total surface area was decreasing. Therefore, permeability of ceramic support and membrane treated with silica sol-gel process increased, and selectivity decreased with increasing the gas flow rate. Also, surface area, porosity, pore size, permeability, selectivity, Knudsen and surface diffusion coefficients of membranes treated with silica-sol dip coating and silica-sol processing methods were determined. As a result of this, porosity, pore size, Knudsen and surface diffusion coefficients decreased, total surface area increased in both methods. However, viscous flow and Knudsen flow permeability were detected as a consequence of gas permeability test and Knudsen flow was found to be a dominant transport mechanism in addition to surface diffusive flow owing to the small pore diameter in both methods. It was observed that silica-sol processing method had lower pore diameter and higher surface diffusion coefficient than silica-sol dip coating method.     

两种钛源对钛酸铝溶胶可纺性影响的对比研究

本文分别以钛酸丁酯的冰醋酸溶液和四氯化钛的乙醇溶液为钛源,硝酸铝的乙醇溶液为铝源,采用溶胶-凝胶法制备钛酸铝溶胶,通过分析溶胶的流变学特征和显微结构,研究了两种钛源对钛酸铝溶胶可纺性的影响.结果表明:以钛酸丁酯的冰醋酸溶液为钛源,制备的钛酸铝溶胶,由球形胶粒团聚体组成,呈非牛顿型流体的特性,溶胶不具有可纺性;而以四氯化钛乙醇溶液为钛源制备的溶胶,由线型聚合物构成,粘度为18.1～28 Pa·s,属于牛顿型流体,具有很好的可纺性.     

TiO_2/Sm~(3+)下转换薄膜的制备及其在染料敏化太阳能电池中的应用

采用溶胶-凝胶法制备了TiO2/Sm3+下转换薄膜,利用其下转换特性将紫外光转换为可见光,提高了可见光光照强度。利用X射线衍射和荧光光谱对TiO2/Sm3+粉体进行了表征,并对TiO2/Sm3+下转换薄膜进行了荧光光谱测试和紫外-可见分光光度计测试。荧光光谱显示,TiO2/Sm3+薄膜在受到395 nm紫外光照射时可发射出540~600 nm连续波长的可见光,具有下转换特性。二层TiO2/Sm3+下转换薄膜的可见光透过率与单纯的TiO2薄膜基本相同,利用其下转换特性使电池短路电流提高了13.2%,光电转换率提高了16.2%。     

基于KH560修饰的有机/无机杂化材料电光波导制备

利用溶胶-凝胶法制备了硅烷偶联剂KH560修饰的有机/无机杂化电光材料,分析了KH560的水解缩合的反应机理.对制备好的电光薄膜进行了表面形貌、折射率和电光特性的表征,并用反射法测量得出了该材料的电光系数为3.5pm/V.针对这种材料柔韧的特性,设计了上加载条形电光波导,并利用Opti-BPM软件模拟了二维和三维光场.摸索了其制备的加工工艺,制备了该结构的光波导,最后得到了这种波导的近场输出.     

SiO2-PEG凝胶体系织构特性的研究

采用溶胶－凝胶法,以正硅酸乙酯（ＴＥＯＳ）为前驱体,以不同分子量的聚乙二醇（ＰＥＧ）为改性剂,制备结构可控的多孔ＳiＯ２干凝胶。结果表明：ＰＥＧ好制了ＴＥＯＳ的 水解反应,进而对溶胶粒子的进行修饰,形成“粒子团－ＰＥＧ”聚集体及短程有序的环状网络结构,由此对ＳiＯ２干凝胶的结构性质进行调控。经真空热处理后,ＰＥＧ等有机残 留物被脱除的同时,ＳiＯ２－ＰＥＧ干凝胶柔性骨架得到加强,孔分布更趋集中,干凝胶