Improving piezoelectric and pyroelectric properties of electrospun PVDF nanofibers using nanofillers for energy harvesting application

In this study, it was aimed to increase the piezoelectric and pyroelectric properties of electrospun polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) nanofibers simultaneously by using specific nanofillers. Graphene oxide (GO), graphene, and halloysite nanotubes with different concentrations (0, 0.05, 0.4, and 1.6% wt/wt) were combined with PVDF solution and were fabricated in the form of nanofibers through electrospinning. Pyroelectric properties of samples were measured by submerging sealed samples in hot water (360°K) and ice (270°K). The piezoelectric properties of the samples were evaluated through bending tests. The microstructural, mechanical, and thermal properties of the electrospun PVDF nanocomposite were investigated using scanning electron microscope, Instron instrument, and thermogravimetric analysis, respectively. To further support the experimental observations for generating electric voltage in the bended nanogenerator, the PVDF nanogenerator (PNG) was also modeled by a finite element analysis based on the theory of linear piezoelectricity using COMSOL Multiphysics simulation software. Experimental results showed that adding nanofillers could improve the piezoelectric and pyroelectric properties of all samples, associated with the increment of β‐phase in the nanofibers. It was concluded that adding nanofillers could increase pyroelectricity about 50% more than piezoelectricity in pristine PVDF nanofiber web. The PNG containing 1.6 wt% GO showed the highest efficiency in terms of piezoelectricity and pyroelectricity. In addition, the results showed that the ratio of piezoelectric to pyroelectric coefficients was constant (~1.5) and it was independent of the nanofiller type and content. The effect of external force and vibration frequency on the output voltage was also investigated. Increasing the compressive force and vibration frequency caused a greater output voltage. Finally, the fabricated nanogenerator was integrated on insole and elbow to investigate its energy harvesting capabilities from body movement.     

First and second laws of thermodynamics analysis of nanofluid flow inside a heat exchanger duct with wavy walls and a porous insert

This paper investigates the combined effects of using nanofluid, a porous insert and corrugated walls on heat transfer, pressure drop and entropy generation inside a heat exchanger duct. A series of numerical simulations are conducted for a number of pertinent parameters. It is shown that the waviness of the wall destructively affects the heat transfer process at low wave amplitudes and that it can improve heat convection only after exceeding a certain amplitude. Further, the pressure drop in the duct is found to be strongly influenced by the wave amplitude in a highly non-uniform way. The results, also, show that the second law and heat transfer performances of the system improve considerably by thickening the porous insert and decreasing its permeability. Yet, this is associated with higher pressure drops. It is argued that the hydraulic, thermal and entropic behaviours of the system are closely related to the interactions between a vortex formation near the wavy walls and nanofluid flow through the porous insert. Viscous irreversibilities are shown to be dominant in the core region of duct where the porous insert is placed. However, in the regions closer to the wavy walls, thermal entropy generation is the main source of irreversibility. A number of design recommendations are made on the basis of the findings of this study.

     

ZnS nanoparticles immobilized on graphitic carbon nitride as a recyclable and environmentally friendly catalyst for synthesis of 3-cinnamoyl coumarins

Research on Chemical Intermediates - Zinc oxide nanoparticles immobilized on a graphitic carbon nitride (ZnS NPs/g-C3N4) nanocomposite were applied as an organometallic recyclable catalyst in the...     

State‐of‐the‐Art and Trends in Synthesis,Properties, and Application of Quantum Dots‐Based Nanomaterials

Quantum dots (QDs) with a nanoscale size range have attracted significant attention in various areas of nanotechnology due to their unique properties. Different strategies for the synthesis of QD nanoparticles are reported in which various factors, such as size, impurities, shape, and crystallinity, affect the QDs fundamental properties. Consequently, to obtain QDs with appropriate physical properties, it is required to select a synthesis method which allows enough control over the surface chemistry of QDs through fine‐tuning of the synthesis parameters. Moreover, QDs nanocrystals are recently used in multidisciplinary research integrated with biological interfaces. The state‐of‐the‐art methods for synthesizing QDs and bioconjugation strategies to provide insight into various applications of these nanomaterials are discussed herein.     

Natural Convection Heat Transfer in 2D and 3D Trapezoidal Enclosures Filled with Nanofluid

The purpose of the present study is to investigate the heat transfer performance due to free convection of nanofluids with variable properties inside 2D and 3D channels with trapezoidal cross sections. The governing equations are solved numerically using the finite volume method and the SIMPLER algorithm. In this study, the effect of the nanoparticle volume fraction, Rayleigh number, side wall angles of the trapezoidal section, and axial slope of the 3D channel are examined. The presented results include the average Nusselt number, flow circulation streamlines, and isothermal contours. The heat transfer rate (i.e., Nusselt number) is seen to increase in both 2D and 3D channels with an increase in the Rayleigh number. In 2D trapezoidal enclosures, the Nusselt number decreases with an increase in the nanoparticle volume fraction from zero to 2% and increases if the nanoparticle volume fraction is greater than 2%. In 3D channels, an increase in the axial slope of the channel leads to an increase in the Nusselt number.     

From nickel oxalate dihydrate microcubes to NiS<Subscript>2</Subscript> nanocubes for high performance supercapacitors

In this study, NiS₂ nanocubes were successfully synthesized by a novel facile solvothermal method using NiC₂O₄·2H₂O microstructures and used as an electrode for high-performance supercapacitors. The electrochemical properties of the prepared NiS₂ electrode were studied using galvanostatic charge–discharge analysis, cyclic voltammetry (CV), and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) studies. Its maximum specific capacitance was 2077 F g^?1 at a constant current density of about 0.65 A g^?1. Further, the EIS results confirmed the pseudocapacitive nature of the NiS₂ electrode. The experimental results suggested that the NiS₂ electro-active material demonstrates excellent electrochemical performance with high specific capacitance, low resistance, and excellent cycling stability.     

Durable titania films for solar treatment of biomethanated spent wash

The use of TiO₂ films for treatment of biomethanated spent wash is reported. The films of TiO₂ were formed and photocatalytic performance of the prepared films in degradation of methylene blue and biomethanated spent wash were studied. Photocatalytic use of these films was found to be effective for degradation of biomethanated spent wash. The photocatalyst was used up for 20 cycles without significant reduction in activities showing long life of the catalyst.     

The Topology of Isoenergetic Surfaces for the Borisov–Mamaev–Sokolov Integrable Case on the Lie Algebra so(3, 1)

Theoretical and Mathematical Physics - We describe the topology of isoenergetic surfaces for an integrable system on the Lie algebra so(3, 1) and the critical points of the Hamiltonian for...     

Diastereoselective synthesis of chloro‐ and fluoro‐aniline containing phosphonate esters in a three‐component condensation

New phosphonate ester derivatives were obtained by in situ stereo‐specific reaction between triphenyl phosphite and dialkyl acetylenedicarboxylates in the presence of a series of halogenated anilines. Spectroscopic data and X‐ray crystallography analysis are in agreement with the gauche arrangement for the two vicinal protons in the structures. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Heteroatom Chem 21:222–227, 2010; Published online in Wiley InterScience ( www.interscience.wiley.com ). DOI 10.1002/hc.20600