Effect of carbon nanotubes on the anode performance of natural graphite for lithium ion batteries

A comparative investigation was carried out on carbon black and multiwalled carbon nanotubes as conductive additives in spherical natural graphite for lithium ion batteries. Scanning electron microscopy images showed that carbon nanotubes interlaced graphite particles in series to form a three-dimensional network. The constant current charge-discharge experiments showed that carbon nanotubes were more effective in improving reversible capacity and cycle stability. The reversible capacity was improved to 366 mAh/g and the cycle stability was improved effectively when carbon nanotubes were used. The research is of potential interest to the application of carbon nanotubes as conductive additives in anode materials for high-power lithium ion batteries.     

非晶粉/硅橡胶复合薄膜应力阻抗性能

选用硅橡胶为基材,Fe73.5Cu1Nb3Si13.5B9非晶纳米晶软磁合金粉体为磁性功能填料,采用机械共混的方法制备非晶粉/硅橡胶力敏复合材料。采用自制测试夹具测试非晶粉/硅橡胶复合材料的阻抗值,采用扫描电镜分析非晶粉颗粒形貌及其在硅橡胶基材中分散情况,在此基础上研究了复合材料界面绝缘性、单层与多层叠加复合薄膜、加入导电层及其层数对复合应力阻抗性能的影响。研究结果表明:铜箔作为界面强化导电层的加入是提高复合薄膜力敏特性的有效途径之一,设计实验中的复合薄膜/铜箔/复合薄膜结构相当于聚合物/金属/聚合物三明治多层膜结构,对敏感性具有增强效应。     

Effect of mesoporous carbon containing binary conductive additives in lithium ion batteries on the electrochemical performance of the LiCoO2 composite cathodes

Binary conductive additives (BCA), formed by sonication of mesoporous carbon (MC) and acetylene black (AB), were used as conductive additives to improve the electrochemical performance of a LiCoO₂ composite cathode. The electrochemical performance of the LiCoO₂ composite cathode dispersed with BCA was investigated. The results showed that the electrochemical performance (including the discharge capacity, the discharge voltage and the total internal resistance) of a BCA loaded LiCoO₂ composite cathode was better than that of a cathode loaded with AB. The possible mechanism is that the MC in BCA can adsorb and retain electrolyte solution, which allows an intimate contact between the lithium ions and the cathode active material LiCoO₂ due to its large mesopore specific surface area. A simplified model was also proposed.     

导电炭黑微观结构及其应用性能

以乙炔炭黑、副产炭黑和炉法导电炭黑为研究对象,较为系统地分析了与导电炭黑应用性能密切相关的微晶结构、表面性质、颗粒形貌和粒度分布特征,探讨了导电炭黑微观结构对应用性能的影响。研究结果表明,导电炭黑的微观结构决定了其应用性能,而决定应用性能的关键在于其与基体材料的匹配性。副产炭黑在橡胶和塑料中导电性能较好,乙炔炭黑在锂离子电极材料中的导电性能较好。     

Fullerenes as nuclei of carbon black particles

The existing models for the structure and inception processes of carbon black particles are analyzed taking into account the experimental data on the cluster formation. A new model of the formation of carbon black particles is proposed. The inference is made that single-layer fullerenes being the minimum possible closed carbon black particles serve as nuclei of large-sized carbon black particles. These particles grow via the deposition of carbon layers on the surface of fullerenes with defects. The defects fulfill the role of seeds that give rise to the front of the layer growth. The defect-free fullerenes do not take part in the carbon black formation due to the thermodynamic stability as a result of structural perfection. The primary carbon black particles—globules—are many-layer formations with a hole in the center whose size and configuration match the size and configuration of the initial fullerene nucleus. The layers in the form of concentric spheroids inserted into each other are composed of distorted and defect carbon networks. The flatest parts of several outer layers of carbon black particles are the regions of the coherent X-ray scattering.     

Temperature‐Triggered Capture of Dispersed Particles Using a Laponite‐Poly(NIPAM) Temperature‐Responsive Surface

In this study a new method is investigated that enables a conductive surface to be modified so as to capture dispersed particles when the temperature is increased. Poly(NIPAM) (NIPAM is N‐isopropylacrylamide) was grafted from electrodeposited Laponite RD particles using surface‐initiated atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) to give a temperature‐responsive surface. This was used to capture dispersed polystyrene particles. In the first part of the study the conditions used to electrodeposit Laponite onto a carbon foam electrode were determined. The ability of the temperature‐responsive surface to capture dispersed polystyrene particles was investigated between 20 and 50°C. Temperature‐triggered particle capture was reversible or irreversible depending on the conditions used during ATRP. A high surface concentration of poly(NIPAM) on the particle electrodes is believed to increase the extent of polystyrene particle capture and also reversibility. A theoretical analysis in terms of interaction energy–distance curves is presented for the capture behavior. It is concluded that the temperature‐responsive surface has both electrostatic and steric contributions to the total interaction energy. The steric component (which originates from poly(NIPAM)) is temperature‐dependent and provides the basis for temperature‐triggered particle capture.     

The impact of carbon shell on a Sn–C composite anode for lithium-ion batteries

Spherical Sn–carbon core-shell powders (CSCM/Sn) were synthesized through a resorcinol–formaldehyde microemulsion polymerization performed in the presence of SnO₂ powders, followed by carbonization in an inert atmosphere. Scanning electron microscope and X-ray diffractometry analyses showed that the Sn powders were thoroughly encapsulated within the carbon microspheres. The CSCM/Sn presented much better cyclability than the conventional Sn–carbon microsphere composite. In core-shell-structured composite, most of the Sn particles were encased inside carbon microspheres and not easy to aggregate or fall off from the microspheres. The carbon shell suppressed the aggregation of tin particles and alleviated the volume change of tin, and the conductive carbon shell effectively decreased the polarization during cycling, giving rise to better high rate performance and excellent capacity retention ability. It is shown that surface structure plays an important role in alloy/C composite anode materials for lithium-ion battery.     

PTCR effect in carbon black/copolymer composites

Some materials show an abrupt increase in resistivity when the temperature changes only over a few degrees. This phenomenon, known as PTCR effect (positive temperature coefficient of resistivity), has been largely studied in the last few years, due to its potential applications in industry. Particularly, it can be used in auto controlled heaters, temperature sensors, protection circuits and in security systems for power electronic circuits.In this work we present the study of the electrical properties of the percolating system carbon black particles filled with ethylene butylacrylate copolymer composite (EBA), in the temperature range from −100 to 100 °C and in frequencies between 10 Hz and 100 kHz. The PTCR effect was observed at temperatures slightly above the room temperature, for concentrations higher than that of the percolation critical concentration.The mechanism responsible for the change in resistivity, at this stage, is predominantly tunnelling, wherein the conductive filler particles are not in physical contact, and the electrons tunnel through the insulating gap between them. At low temperatures, such as below and close to the glass transition temperature, the DC conductivity obeys the Arrhenius law. The calculated activation energy values are independent of carbon black contents inside the copolymer matrix, suggesting that these particles do not interact significantly with the chain segments of the macromolecules in the EBA copolymer.     

Elevated performances of SnS anodes with MWNTs as conductive agent for rechargeable lithium-ion batteries

SnS nanoparticles were mechanochemically synthesized and fabricated into electrodes with two kinds of conductive agents, acetylene black and multi-wall carbon nanotubes (MWNTs), respectively. The morphology and structure of as-synthesized SnS powder were characterized by scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction. The electrochemical properties of as-prepared electrodes were investigated by discharge–charge test, cyclic voltammogram, and electrochemical impedance spectrum. By comparing the variation of the charge-transfer impedance R _ct at different discharge states, it was found that the value of R _ct of the electrode with MWNTs as conductive agent was less than that of the electrode with acetylene black as conductive agent. The electrode with MWNTs as conductive agent had preferable cycling performances, which was believed to be attributed to the tenacity and good conductivity of MWNTs.     

Phase identification of microfeatures using EPMA methods,especially high-resolution X-ray spectroscopy

Methods of electron-probe microanalysis (EPMA), with some input from scanning and transmission electron microscopy (SEM/TEM), are applied for the identification of micro-scale constituents in a solid matrix. The subject of the study is a magnesium alloy composite, which contains silicon carbide-based fibres made by a liquid metal infiltration process. Backscattered electron imaging of the composite in the SEM showed that during composite manufacture, fibres were chemically attacked by the metal, many of the fibres exhibiting three distinct grey levels, indicative of different reaction zones, and others appearing uniformly black. EPMA measurements showed that each region contained ∼12 wt.% oxygen and that penetration of the fibre by magnesium was accompanied by a reduction in the concentration of silicon and carbon. From studying the position and shape of specific X-ray lines it was shown that magnesium penetration involved a chemical reaction with silicon oxycarbide, established in earlier EPMA studies as one of the fibre constituents. Also, in the outermost region, aluminium in the alloy reacted with free carbon in the fibre to form aluminium carbide and with magnesium to produce a Mg–Al intermetallic. The composition of black fibres was quite different from the grey ones, with negligible silicon and only a small amount of aluminium. Oxygen levels in black fibres were consistent with complete oxidation, indicating these fibres were subjected, locally, to severe oxidising conditions during composite manufacture. In the metal matrix itself, particles of a mixed magnesium/aluminium oxide, silicon carbide and magnesium silicide were observed, the latter two phases forming as silicon and carbon were ejected from fibres.     

工业SO2及碳黑颗粒紫外成像遥感监测技术

为了准确有效监测工业烟囱排放,基于SO2及碳黑颗粒物的光学特性,设计并研制出一套双通道紫外成像遥感监测系统.该成像系统的两个光谱通道的中心波长分别定于310 nm和330 nm,利用两个通道的光学厚度之差反演SO2浓度图像,颗粒物浓度图像由330 nm通道获取,根据浓度图像结合光流法获取烟羽运动速度,进而计算得出SO2和碳黑颗粒物的排放速率.结果表明,该工业烟囱的SO2及碳黑颗粒物排放速率分别为72.48±3.16 kg/h和6.33±1.18 kg/h.实验采用紫外相机同时对工业烟囱排放的SO2及碳黑颗粒物进行监测,实验表明双通道紫外成像遥感监测兼具高时间分辨率与高空间分辨率,测量结果准确直观,在工业废气污染、船舶尾气污染以及火山喷发污染排放遥感监测中具有非常明显的技术优势及巨大的应用前景.     

黑碳团簇气溶胶混合生长的红外吸收特性及长波辐射效应

黑碳气溶胶是当前气溶胶辐射强迫评估中最不确定的因子.本文通过构建黑碳的微物理模型,分别模拟了新鲜状态的黑碳气溶胶和混合生长(老化)后被硫酸盐包裹的黑碳气溶胶,利用叠加T矩阵方法计算获得了具有团簇形态和多成分混合的黑碳气溶胶红外吸收特性,通过大气辐射传输模型模拟了黑碳气溶胶的长波辐射强迫,分析了典型理化参数的敏感性.发现黑碳混合生长可以显著增强其大气层顶的长波辐射强迫,最高可达3倍.而且,包裹黑碳的硫酸盐半径越大,将明显增强大气层顶的黑碳长波辐射强迫.这些发现将有助于降低黑碳气溶胶气候效应评估的不确定性.     

Investigation of filtration capability of conductive composite membrane in separation of protein from water

In this study, composite membrane was prepared by chemical polymerization of pyrrole on the surface of the ultrafiltration membrane using ferric ions. The performance of the prepared membrane was characterized by filtration of bovine serum albumin (BSA) solution through the membrane in various conditions. For conductive membrane, higher rejection was obtained compared with non-conductive membrane. This effect can be attributed to the conductivity of the membrane. The negatively charged membrane surface acts as a barrier against BSA. Moreover, the protein is pushed back due to the electrostatic effect. This results in higher rejection. For conductive membrane, lower fluxes were obtained for the same condition. It can be attributed to the partial blocking of the membrane pores with polypyrrole. The pH effects were complex. Around isoelectric point, the protein particles lose their charge and produce larger particles, which settle on the membrane surface resulting in lower flux and higher rejection. At the pHs far from the isoelectric point, rejection was decreased.     

Novel synthesis and electrophoretic response of low density TiO-TiO2-carbon black composite

Novel low density TiO-TiO₂-carbon black composite was synthesized, which involved the deposition of inorganic coating on the surface of core-shell latex particles and subsequent removal of latex particles by calcination in high-purity nitrogen. The morphology and interior structure were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The images exhibited the composite had spherical shape and smooth surface, and the interior structure was hollow or porous. X-ray diffraction peaks (XRD) were mostly in agreement with the standard diffraction patterns of rutile TiO₂. In addition, the observed peaks at 2θ of 43.5°, 50.6° and 74.4° can be indexed to (1 1 1), (2 0 0) and (2 2 0) planes of cubic phase TiO. The X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) results indicated that composite consisted of carbon black, TiO and TiO₂. The apparent density of the composite was suitable to 1.62 g cm⁻³, due to density matching with suspending media. Glutin-arabic gum microcapsules containing TiO-TiO₂-carbon black composite electrophoretic liquid were prepared via complex coacervation. The particles in the microcapsules showed excellent electrophoretic mobility under a DC field.     

Carbon-coated Non-magnetic Iron Oxide Particles for the Substrate of Multi-layered Magnetic Recording Media

Non-magnetic particles with finer size (less than 200 nm), higher dispersibility, higher blackness and lower electrical resistance are required to produce better multi-layered magnetic tape media which have non-magnetic substrate using non-magnetic sub-layer materials. A special method to prepare acicular hematite particles, whose cross-sectional diameter is about 150 nm, coated with carbon black using a surface modification agent is reported in this paper. Transmission electron microscopy photographs of carbon-coated hematite particles indicate that all of the carbon black is firmly bound to the surface in a distinct layer. The thickness of carbon-coating layer was about 1 to 2 nm if 15% by weight of carbon black is coated onto the particle surface.Non-magnetic substrates for multi-layered magnetic recording media prepared using the carbon-coated particles exhibit improvements in both light transparency and electrical resistance. A decrease in transparency of about 30% as well as a reduction in the electrical resistance of about 1.5 orders of magnitude relative to conventionally prepared substrates was achieved. The surface smoothness and the viscosity were also improved because the dispersibility of these particles in non-magnetic lacquer became better than that of the physical mixture of uncoated hematite particles and carbon black.     

微乳液聚合制备纳米银/聚苯乙烯复合材料

采用柠檬酸钠为稳定剂、聚乙烯吡咯烷酮为分散剂,以水合肼还原银氨络离子制备出稳定的单分散胶态纳米银。以制得的纳米银溶胶,通过正相微乳液聚合,制备纳米银/聚苯乙烯复合材料。利用紫外-可见光(UV-Vis)吸收光谱研究了纳米银的光吸收特性,采用X射线衍射(XRD)和透射电镜(TEM)对产物的晶体结构、形貌及尺寸进行了分析。结果表明:所制得的银纳米颗粒属立方晶系,平均粒径约10 nm,且无团聚及氧化现象;聚合过程中,纳米银的晶体结构、形貌及尺寸未发生明显变化。凝胶渗透色谱(GPC)分析表明聚苯乙烯基体重均分子量达4.03106,分子量分布指数为1.21;热重-示差扫描量热(TG-DSC)分析表明所制备的复合材料具有优异的热稳定性。     

A simple synthesis method to produce metal oxide loaded carbon paper using bacterial cellulose gel and characterization of its electrochemical behavior in an aqueous electrolyte

A simple synthetic chemical process to produce metal oxide loaded carbon papers was developed using bacterial cellulose gel, which consisted of nanometer-sized fibrous cellulose and water. Metal ions were successfully impregnated into the gel via aqueous solution media before drying and carbonization methods resulting in metal oxide contents that were easy to control through variations in the concentration of aqueous solutions. The papers loaded by molybdenum oxides were characterized as pseudocapacitor electrodes preliminary, and the large redox capacitance of the oxides was followed by a conductive fibrous carbon substrate, suggesting that a binder and carbon black additive-free electrode consisting of metal oxides and carbon paper was formed.     

Enhanced electrochemical performance of porous activated carbon by forming composite with graphene as high-performance supercapacitor electrode material

In this work, a novel activated carbon containing graphene composite was developed using a fast, simple, and green ultrasonic-assisted method. Graphene is more likely a framework which provides support for activated carbon (AC) particles to form hierarchical microstructure of carbon composite. Scanning electron microscope (SEM), transmission electron microscope (TEM), Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) surface area measurement, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), Raman spectra analysis, XRD, and XPS were used to analyze the morphology and surface structure of the composite. The electrochemical properties of the supercapacitor electrode based on the as-prepared carbon composite were investigated by cyclic voltammetry (CV), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), charge/discharge, and cycling performance measurements. It exhibited better electrochemical performance including higher specific capacitance (284 F g^?1 at a current density of 0.5 A g^?1), better rate behavior (70.7% retention), and more stable cycling performance (no capacitance fading even after 2000 cycles). It is easier for us to find that the composite produced by our method was superior to pristine AC in terms of electrochemical performance due to the unique conductive network between graphene and AC.     

Ignition of fuel/air mixtures by radiatively heated particles

The current work examines the ignition of fuel/air mixtures by particles which have been heated up rapidly by intense electromagnetic radiation from an infrared laser source. Experiments have been conducted at relatively large beam sizes, where ignition times are a function of the irradiance. Particles in the form of fine powders were placed into a chamber filled with ignitable butane/air mixtures. Possible ignition is shown for a range of carbon based materials including different carbon blacks, graphite, the C₆₀ fullerene and diamond powder, as well as for non-reactive powders such as silicon carbide, iron-, copper- and silicon oxides. The irradiance was varied independently and results are shown to become independent of the size of the irradiated area if a sufficiently large area is illuminated. The particle size was found to have a significant impact on the time to ignition. Specifically, finer particles lead to shorter ignition times due to the higher surface area to volume ratio which reduces both particle and gas heating times. Ignition could be achieved across the whole flammability range of butane/air using carbon black and silicon carbide particles, although, near the rich flammability no ignition could be obtained with carbon black.     

PS/Ag核壳结构复合微球的制备与性能

以乳液聚合法制备的平均粒径1.2~1.5μm单分散聚苯乙烯(PS)微球为核,经过超声敏化、化学镀、还原等过程制备了PS/Ag核壳结构复合微球。采用透射电镜、X射线衍射、红外光谱、紫外可见光谱对其形貌、物相、结构与光学性质进行了表征与分析。结果表明:PS/Ag复合微球粒径相对均一;通过多次敏化、控制二次银氨溶液浓度(0.002~0.006 mol/L),可实现对纳米银壳层厚度的调控;纳米银壳层沉积生长过程中,随着PS微球表面银粒子的增多、增大,复合微球的光学等离子体共振吸收峰产生显著的展宽与红移。