Circumventing the OCl versus OOH scaling relation in the chlorine evolution reaction: Beyond dimensionally stable anodes

The development of selective electrocatalysts for the chlorine evolution reaction (CER) is majorly restrained by a scaling relation between the OCl and OOH adsorbates, rendering that active CER catalysts are also reasonably active in the competing oxygen evolution reaction (OER). While theory predicts that the OCl versus OOH scaling relation can be circumvented as soon as the elementary reaction steps in the CER comprise the Cl rather than the OCl adsorbate, it was demonstrated recently that PtN₄ sites embedded in a carbon nanotube follow this theoretical prediction. Advanced experimental analyses illustrate that the PtN₄ sites also reveal a different reaction kinetics compared to the industrial benchmark of dimensionally stable anodes (DSA). A reverse Volmer–Heyrovsky mechanism was identified, in which the rate-determining Volmer step for small overpotentials is followed by the kinetically limiting Heyrovsky step for larger overpotentials. Since the PtN₄ sites excel DSA in terms of activity and chlorine selectivity, we suggest the Cl intermediate as well as the reverse Volmer–Heyrovsky mechanism as the design criteria for the development of next-generation electrode materials beyond DSA.     

Studies of Coumarin Derivatives for Constitutive Androstane Receptor (CAR) Activation

Constitutive androstane receptor (CAR) activation has found to ameliorate diabetes in animal models. However, no CAR agonists are available clinically. Therefore, a safe and effective CAR activator would be an alternative option. In this study, sixty courmarin derivatives either synthesized or purified from Artemisia capillaris were screened for CAR activation activity. Chemical modifications were on position 5,6,7,8 with mono-, di-, tri-, or tetra-substitutions. Among all the compounds subjected for in vitro CAR activation screening, 6,7-diprenoxycoumarin was the most effective and was selected for further preclinical studies. Chemical modification on the 6 position and unsaturated chains were generally beneficial. Electron-withdrawn groups as well as long unsaturated chains were hazardous to the activity. Mechanism of action studies showed that CAR activation of 6,7-diprenoxycoumarin might be through the inhibition of EGFR signaling and upregulating PP2Ac methylation. To sum up, modification mimicking natural occurring coumarins shed light on CAR studies and the established screening system provides a rapid method for the discovery and development of CAR activators. In addition, one CAR activator, scoparone, did showed anti-diabetes effect in db/db mice without elevation of insulin levels.     

Grey relational analysis for optimization of wear parameters and surface roughness on nano composite coating

The higher wear resistance of Ni based nano composite coatings makes them potential replacement in protecting the substrate materials. The role of surface roughness of the coating along with wear parameters on the specific wear rate, pin temperature, and COF are addressed in the present study. The use of hard nano Al₂O₃ particles found significant role in increasing the resistance to wear for Ni matrix coatings on Al6061 material. The resistance to dislocation offered by these nano Al₂O₃ particles and smear out of debris with plastic deformation indicated abrasive and adhesive nature of wear mechanism in combination. The optimization of wear parameters are carried out by surface response method based grey relation analysis. The normal load applied onto the pin has significant influence on the specific wear rate and temperature rise in the pin. The surface roughness of the coating has also found instrumental in the higher pin temperature and friction coefficient.     

A new high frequency dynamic mechanical analysis system: An approach to direct high frequency testing of tire tread rubber

Dynamic Mechanical Analysis (DMA) systems are measurement devices for obtaining master curves and complex modules of viscoelastic materials, such as rubbers. The conventional DMAs measurement systems in market have several limitations, which restrict their ability for operating at high frequencies. Thus, Williams, Landel and Ferry (WLF) relation is used to produce master curves and predict the material properties at high frequencies. In conventional DMAs, experiments are done in a range of temperatures, and then a master curve is made for a chosen reference temperature by shifting the measurements data to high frequencies. Therefore, the obtained results, which are not based on direct measurements, can be inaccurate. In order to overcome this problem a new simple shear high-frequency DMA (HFDMA) system is designed and built to directly measure the dynamic mechanical properties of viscoelastic material at high frequencies and the strain levels sufficient for tire manufacturers. The new HFDMA can be used to test any viscoelastic materials which have glass transmission temperature (Tg) lower than room temperature (about 23 °C) such as the Styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR). The SBR is the base material for tire tread. The designing process of this new HFDMA is presented in this paper. The rubber specimen shape is chosen by taking into account the shear elastic wave effect, bending, buckling effect and heat generation in the specimen. The repeatability test is accomplished to ensure that the results obtained from the new HFDMA are repeatable and the repeatability uncertainty is about 0.04%. The new HFDMA is validated by comparing to the direct test results of conventional DMA at 100 Hz. The direct high frequency (5 kHz) complex shear modulus and damping factor are compared with the master curve of the conventional DMA developed by the use of WLF relation for SBR. This comparison revealed that the complex shear modulus and damping factor of the SBR obtained from the HFDMA at 5 kHz and 0.05% strain amplitude are about 7% and 6.5% higher than those obtained from the conventional DMA, respectively.     

Effect of working temperature on the interfacial behavior of overmolded hybrid fiber reinforced polypropylene composites

In the present study, the interfacial behavior of overmolded hybrid fiber reinforced polypropylene composites (hybrid composites) in the working temperature range from 23 °C to 90 °C was studied by experimental and constitutive methods. Monotonic and cycle loading-unloading single-lap-shear tests were employed to determine the interfacial properties of hybrid composites. The experimental results show that both interfacial shear strength and shear stiffness decrease with increasing working temperature. A regression function was adopted to evaluate the decaying degree of interfacial properties with increasing working temperature. The shear stress-displacement relationship under monotonic loading exhibits nonlinear behavior after an initial elastic region. The envelope lines of shear stress-displacement of hybrid composites under cyclic loading indicate that the nonlinearity in the curve is caused by the plastic deformation of polypropylene in the interphase region. A constitutive model was built to describe the nonlinear shear stress-displacement relation of hybrid composites at different working temperatures. A full suite of temperature-dependent plastic parameters in the model was obtained from cyclic loading-unloading tensile tests. The predicted shear stress–displacement curves agreed well with experimental results from different working temperatures. In addition, the failure mode of hybrid composites varied with working temperature.     

碳纤维复合材料冲击模型率相关修正方法与试验研究

目前先进航空发动机的风扇叶片均采用复合材料结构,为了研究其在工作过程中可能受到的冲击损伤,即碳纤维增强树脂基复合材料受到高速冲击后的损伤与破坏过程,对其准静态下的正交各向异性本构模型和失效准则进行修正,建立了应变率相关的三维动态本构及损伤模型．该模型考虑了材料模量、强度和断裂韧性与应变率的相关性,并采用基于断裂韧性的渐进损伤模式对刚度进行折减来控制破坏过程．开展了不同应变率下的动态试验,得到基体方向拉伸与剪切的动态响应数据,拟合得到相应的动态修正因子．将该模型结合修正因子植入数值软件进行仿真计算,分析结果表明,所建立的率相关本构及损伤模型能够更准确地模拟层合板受冲击过程的损伤和破坏,与试验吻合较好．     

变温场中具损伤粘弹性矩形板的非线性动力响应分析

基于热粘弹性理论、Von Karman板理论和连续损伤力学,导出了二维状态下各向同性材料的变温粘弹性本构方程,建立了含损伤效应的各向同性粘弹性矩形板在变温场中的非线性运动控制方程,且应用有限差分法对问题进行求解.算例中,讨论了损伤演化及温度场等因素对粘弹性矩形板非线性动力学行为的影响,得出一些有意义的结论.     

粘弹性地基上含孔隙的石墨烯增强功能梯度板的振动

为分析粘弹性地基上含孔隙的石墨烯增强功能梯度板的自由和强迫振动特性,基于三参数粘弹性地基模型及复合材料薄板理论,建立了粘弹性地基上含孔隙石墨烯增强功能梯度板的运动方程,用伽辽金法求解其固有频率和动力响应,并通过数值算例分析了粘弹性地基参数、孔隙率、孔隙类型及石墨烯纳米片分布模式、含量等因素对自由振动和动力响应的影响．结果表明,固有频率随着孔隙率的增大非单调变化,孔隙率对固有频率的影响随着地基参数、孔隙类型的不同而不同．另外,在三种孔隙类型中,上下表面层含有最少孔隙数量的板的动挠度最小,且其动挠度随着孔隙率的增大而微弱提高．     

Unidimensional continuous-variable quantum key distribution with discrete modulation

In this paper, we proposed an unidimensional continuous-variable quantum key distribution (CV-QKD) protocol with discrete modulation, which waives the necessity in one of the quadrature modulations and further simplified the implementation of the CV-QKD protocol. On the basis of the Heisenberg uncertainty relation, we analyze the boundary between the unphysical and physical region. Besides, we utilize a novel proof approach to achieve a lower bound valid of transmission distance. This scheme shows an available method to further simplified the implementation of the QKD.     

基于八面体理论的岩石循环加-卸载本构模型及修正

探究岩石的受力特点及破坏特性是研究岩石地下工程安全性的关键,诸多学者都期望能在岩石本构模型的研究上取得突破性进展。在此背景下,提出了一种能够描述循环加-卸载条件下岩石的本构模型。首先,假设岩石的微元强度服从八面体剪应力理论并且微元破坏服从Weibull概率公式,将岩石本构中的损伤变量以及岩石微元强度表达式里包含的损伤因子进行本构变换,得到关于应力、应变等其他表现加-卸载下岩石损伤本构模型的参数,表示出岩石微元强度和损伤变量,再将得到的岩石微元强度和损伤变量代入所提出的岩石本构模型中,并进行等式变换得到一个函数表达式。通过将其与实验数据进行拟合对比分析,得出修正后的拟合参数,将其代入函数式中,得到损伤本构模型的修正式。最后将拟合参数进行必要的敏感性分析,得出各拟合参数的实际物理意义。