An operator splitting strategy for fluid–structure interaction problems with thin elastic structures in an incompressible Newtonian flow

We present a computational framework based on the use of the Newton and level set methods to model fluid–structure interaction problems involving elastic membranes freely suspended in an incompressible Newtonian flow. The Mooney–Rivlin constitutive model is used to model the structure. We consider an extension to a more general case of the method described in Laadhari (2017) to model the elasticity of the membrane. We develop a predictor–corrector finite element method where an operator splitting scheme separates different physical phenomena. The method features an affordable computational burden with respect to the fully implicit methods. An exact Newton method is described to solve the problem, and the quadratic convergence is numerically achieved. Sample numerical examples are reported and illustrate the accuracy and robustness of the method.     

Visible‐Light‐Active Elemental Photocatalysts

Seeking visible‐light‐active photocatalysts for efficient solar‐energy conversion has become an intensifying endeavor worldwide. In this concept paper, general requirements for finding new visible‐light‐active photocatalysts are briefly introduced, and recent progress in exploring elemental photocatalysts for clean‐energy generation and environmental remediation are reviewed. Finally, opportunities and challenges facing elemental photocatalysts are discussed.     

近红外量子剪裁研究进展

目前,发光材料在信息、显示、照明、国防等领域得到了极其广泛的应用．随着人们对发光和发光材料基本科学问题的认识及其广阔而不可替代的应用前景的驱动,发光和发光材料领域在过去100年间迅速发展．量子效率大于1的发光及光功能材料有望在高效发光、等离子体平板显示、高效光纤激光器、高效太阳能光电池等领域得到广泛应用．深入研究光子材料的激发与发光、能量传递与转换、敏化发光与光放大等物理和光学基本科学问题,不但有益于揭示光子材料的一些新现象、新规律,而且将为光子材料与器件的设计与研制奠定理论和方法基础．本文概述了近红外量子剪裁的发展及其材料和相关机理的最近研究进展,主要包括稀土离子单掺体系双光子和三光子级联发射近红外量子剪裁、稀土离子对共掺体系近红外量子剪裁下转换．此外,本文还讨论了量子剪裁及其材料体系的应用、面临的挑战和未来的发展方向．     

Computational Study of the Substitution Effect on the Mechanism for the Gold(I)‐Catalyzed Ring Expansions of Unactivated Alkynylcyclopropanes

The ring expansion reactions of unactivated alkynylcyclopropanes X‐C≡C‐C₃H₅ → X‐C=C₄H₅ (X = H, F, Cl, Me, OMe, NMe₂, CMe₃) were examined using the density functional theory calculations. All of the structures were completely optimized at the B3LYP/6‐311++G** level of theory. For clarify the effect of the cationic gold(I), we also added AuPH₃⁺ as the catalyst into the system and the structures for Au were calculated at the B3LYP/LANL2DZ level of theory. The main finding of this work is that the singlet‐triplet splitting of X‐C≡C‐C₃H₅ play an important role in determining the kinetic and thermodynamic stability of the unactivated ring expansion reactions. When X‐C≡C‐C₃H₅ with a smaller singlet‐triplet splitting is utilized, the reaction has a smaller activation energy and a larger exothermicity.     

Pressure Drop and Performance Characteristics of Water-Based Al2O3 and CuO Nanofluids in a Triangular Duct

An experimental study is performed to determine the pressure drop and performance characteristics of Al₂O₃/water and CuO/water nanofluids in a triangular duct under constant heat flux where the flow is laminar. The effects of adding nanoparticles to the base fluid on the pressure drop and friction factor are investigated at different Reynolds numbers. The results show that at a specified Reynolds number, using the nanofluids can lead to an increase in the pressure drop by 35%. It is also found that with increases in the Reynolds number, the rate of increase in the friction factor with the volume fraction of nanoparticles is reduced. Finally, the performance characteristics of the two nanofluids are investigated using the data of pressure drop and convective heat transfer coefficient. The results show that the use of Al₂O₃/water nanofluid with volume fractions of 1.5% and 2% is not helpful in the triangular duct. It is also concluded that at the same volume fraction of nanoparticles, using Al₂O₃ nanoparticles is more beneficial than CuO nanoparticles based on the performance index.     

铁酸镍用于热化学循环反应CO2分解制CO的研究

采用共沉淀法制备了NiFe₂O₄和NiFe₂O₄/ZrO₂催化剂,用TGA考察了其热化学法,CO₂高温分解反应性能。通过对反应前后催化剂的表征发现,反应高温使两种催化剂都发生了明显的烧结,导致在热还原反应中形成的还原态氧化物不能完全被CO₂氧化从而降低了催化剂的反应性能;ZrO₂的加入对于提高催化剂的热稳定性以及循环反应稳定性具有重要的作用。在高温反应炉中考察了NiFe₂O₄/ZrO₂的CO₂分解实验,结果表明,提高热还原温度可以提高CO产量,然而,随着循环次数的增加CO的产量降低得更明显。     

Visible‐Light‐Induced Generation of H2 by Nanocomposites of Few‐Layer TiS2 and TaS2 with CdS Nanoparticles

Graphene analogues of TaS₂ and TiS₂ (3–4 layers), prepared by Li intercalation followed by exfoliation in water, were characterized. Nanocomposites of CdS with few‐layer TiS₂ and TaS₂ were employed for the visible‐light‐induced H₂ evolution reaction (HER). Benzyl alcohol was used as the sacrificial electron donor, which was oxidized to benzaldehyde during the reaction. Few‐layer TiS₂ is a semiconductor with a band gap of 0.7 eV, and its nanocomposite with CdS showed an activity of 1000 μmol h^?1 g^?1_. The nanocomposite of few‐layer TaS₂, in contrast, gave rise to higher activity of 2320 μmol h^?1 g^?1, which was attributed to the metallic nature of few‐layer TaS₂. The amount of hydrogen evolved after 20 and 16 h for the CdS/TiS₂ and CdS/TaS₂ nanocomposites was 14833 and 28132 μmol, respectively, with turnover frequencies of 0.24 and 0.57 h^?1, respectively.     

Facile deposition of cobalt oxide based electrocatalyst on low-cost and tin-free electrode for water splitting

Facile deposition of a water-splitting catalyst on low-cost electrode materials could be attractive for hydrogen production from water and solar energy conversion. Herein we describe fast electrodeposition of cobalt-based water oxidation catalyst(Co-WOC) on simple graphite electrode for water splitting. The deposition process is quite fast, which reaches a plateau in less than 75 min and the final current density is～1.8 mA/cm2under the applied potential of 1.31 V at pH = 7.0. The scanning electron microscopy(SEM) study shows the formation of nanometer-sized particles(10-100 nm) on the surface of the electrode after only 2 min and micrometer-sized particles(2-5 μm) after 90 min of electrolysis. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy(XPS) data demonstrate the as-synthesized ex-situ catalyst mainly contains Co2+and Co3+species incorporating a substantial amount of phosphate anions. These experiments suggest that cost-efficient cobalt oxide materials on graphite exhibit alluring ability for water splitting, which might provide a novel method to fabricate low-cost devices for electrochemical energy storage.     

Raman spectra of proton order of thin ice Ih film

The polarized Raman spectra of the upper part of a thin ice Ih film were obtained in the range of 150 cm⁻¹ to 3800 cm⁻¹. The spectra showed clear polarization dependence; several new peaks were also observed. The longitudinaloptic–tranverseoptic (LO–TO) splitting of the mode near 220 cm⁻¹ in the translational vibration region was experimentally confirmed at 133 K. The Fermi resonance between the bending overtone (around 3270 cm⁻¹) and symmetry stretching fundamental (around 3350 cm⁻¹) in the stretching vibration region appeared at nearly the same temperature. Results showed that ice XI (i.e. proton‐ordered phase of ice Ih) slowly formed in the upper part of a thin ice Ih film without KOH as the temperature gradually decreased below 133 K. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.