Highly Efficient Decomposition of Perfluorocarbons for over 1000 Hours via Active Site Regeneration

Tetrafluoromethane (CF₄), the simplest perfluorocarbon (PFC), has the potential to exacerbate global warming. Catalytic hydrolysis is a viable method to degrade CF₄, but fluorine poisoning severely restricts both the catalytic performance and catalyst lifetime. In this study, Ga is introduced to effectively assists the defluorination of poisoned Al active sites, leading to highly efficient CF₄ decomposition at 600 °C with a catalytic lifetime exceeding 1,000 hours. ²⁷Al and ⁷¹Ga magic-angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MAS NMR) showed that the introduced Ga exists as tetracoordinated Ga sites (Ga_IV), which readily dissociate water to form Ga−OH. In situ diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy (DRIFTS) and density function theory (DFT) calculations confirmed that Ga−OH assists the defluorination of poisoned Al active sites via a dehydration-like process. As a result, the Ga/Al₂O₃ catalyst achieved 100 % CF₄ decomposition keeping an ultra-long catalytic lifetime and outperforming reported results. This work proposes a new approach for efficient and long-term CF₄ decomposition by promoting the regeneration of active sites.     

Graft and characterization of 9-vinylcarbazole conjugated molecule on hydrogen-terminated silicon surface

Using wet chemical reaction between N-vinylcarbazole and hydrogen-terminated silicon surface, we present a new and simple route to directly bond π-conjugated organic molecule on silicon surface. The Si can be in the form of single crystal Si including heavily doped p-type Si, intrinsic Si, heavily doped n-type Si, on Si(1 1 1) and Si(1 0 0), and on n-type polycrystalline Si. The covalent bond between 9-vinylcarbazole and silicon surface was confirmed by reflectance FTIR, XPS and contact angle measurement, respectively. A data-encompassing explanation for the mechanism discusses the possible route of the reaction. This simple and low-costly reaction offers an attractive route to attach functional conjugated molecules onto the semiconductor surface which aims to create some unique molecular device in the future.     

Mechanisms of hydrophobization of polymeric composites etched in CF4 plasma

Achieving optimal hydrophobicity of polymer materials especially polymer–matrix composites is important for many material applications. Herein the interplay of factors determining hydrophobic surface is presented during CF₄ plasma treatments which lead to functionalization as well as selective polymer–matrix etching. The continuous exposure to plasma reactive species induces functionalization and etching on the surface, which decides the surface morphology and surface chemistry. Consequently, exothermic processes during the plasma–surface interactions are another important factor which influences the surface chemistry and etching rate of the material. The results demonstrate that despite etching and increasing surface roughness, the major contribution to hydrophobic character is dependent on the number of carbon atoms populated with fluorine, whereas the temperature is a deciding factor for type of created bonds. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The interlaminar shear strength and tribological properties of PA 6 composites filled with graphene oxide‐treated carbon fiber

The objective of this work is to improve the interlaminar shear strength and tribological properties of the PA 6 composites by graphene oxide‐treated carbon fiber (CF) and ultraviolet irradiation of PA 6. The morphologies of untreated and treated CFs were characterized by X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Surface analysis showed that after treatment, the surface of CFs chemisorbed oxygen‐containing groups; active carbon atom, the surface roughness, and wetting ability were increased. The results show that the treated CF composites can possess excellent interfacial properties and tribological properties accordingly after treatment. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

CH3CF2O2与HO2自由基反应机理的理论研究

用密度泛函理论(DFT)的B3LYP方法，在6-311G、6-311+G(d)、6-311++G(d, p) 基组水平上研究了CH₃CF₂O₂与HO₂自由基反应机理. 结果表明, CH3CF₂O₂与HO₂自由基反应存在两条可行的通道. 通道CH3CF₂O₂＋HO₂→IM1→TS1→CH₃CF₂OOH＋O₂的活化能为77.21 kJ•mol^－1，活化能较低，为主要反应通道，其产物是O₂和CH₃CF₂OOH. 这与实验结果是一致的；而通道CH₃CF₂O₂＋HO₂→IM2→TS2→IM3→TS3→IM4＋IM5→IM4＋TS4→IM4＋OH＋O₂→TS5＋OH＋O₂→CH₃＋CF₂O＋OH＋O₂→CH₃OH＋CF₂O＋O₂的控制步骤活化能为93.42 kJ•mol^－1，其产物是CH₃OH、CF₂O和O₂. 结果表明这条通道也能发生，这与前人的实验结果一致.     

Surface molecular degradation of selected high performance polymer composites under low earth orbit environmental conditions

Carbon fibre (CF), carbon nanotube (CNT), nano-clay (NanoC), and 3D-glass (3DG) reinforced polymer composites were selected to undergo treatment with an accelerated Low Earth Orbit (LEO) simulated space environment. Surface degradation mechanisms of the selected polymer composites with different types of reinforcements are discussed. The extent of the oxidation reaction at the surface as a result of LEO exposure was linked to the increase in the intensity of the oxygen-containing ions, as revealed by time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS). X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) indicated that an increasing duration of surface treatment correlates with increasing oxygen concentration and decreasing carbon concentration. The degraded CF composite showed the least amount of oxygen (15.6%) and nitrogen (2.5%) on the surface, likely indicating less surface degradation. Further, XPS high resolution region scans showed decreases in the overall carbon concentration accompanied increases in oxygen-containing carbon species C-O, CO and O-CO; functional groups which are attributed to the LEO treatment of the composite materials. All the sample surfaces were eroded upon exposure to LEO conditions with erosion mostly confined to encapsulating epoxy resin.     

Laboratorial diagnosis of paracoccidioidomycosis and new insights for the future of fungal diagnosis

Paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM) is the most prevalent mycosis in Latin-America. As for other mycosis, its importance of has been largely underestimated, partially due to the limited geographical distribution of the etiologic fungal agent (Paracoccidioides brasiliensis). However, the advent of AIDS and other immune suppressing conditions is creating an emergent need for improved diagnostic tests envisaging simpler, cheaper, faster and more sensitive and accurate detection of pathogenic fungi, especially those causing systemic and opportunistic diseases. Routine laboratorial diagnosis of PCM disease relies mainly on direct observation of the fungus. However, culture growing is slow and, too often, definite diagnosis can only be obtained at later growing stages. Immunodiagnosis is also widely employed, although usually cumbersome and complex. Enzyme-based immunoassays are more amenable to automation for high-throughput testing, but may lead to cross-reactivity with other fungi. Plus, molecular diagnosis relying on polymerase-chain reaction (PCR) and nucleic-acid hybridization, although still at early stages of application to routine diagnosis of P. brasiliensis, has triggered the development of techniques for its improved specific detection, thus contributing for epidemiological studies as well. In the future, microarrays and newer biosensing technologies, coupled to new bionanotechnological tools, will certainly improve diagnosis of PCM and other mycosis through very specific and sensitive pathogen biomolecular detection.     

Quantitative evaluation of interfacial adhesion between fiber and resin in carbon fiber/epoxy composite cured by semiconductor microwave device

Interfacial adhesion between carbon fiber (CF) and epoxy resin in carbon fiber-reinforced epoxy composite, which was prepared by different heating process such as semiconductor microwave (MW) device and conventional electric oven, has been evaluated quantitatively. The interfacial shear strength (IFSS) between CF and epoxy resin, which was an indicator of adhesion on the interface, was measured by a single fiber fragmentation test. The single fiber fragmentation test showed that the IFSSs of the prepared specimens were different by heating methods. In the case of MW process, the curing reaction of epoxy resin on the CF interface would be progressed preferentially due to the selective heating of CF, resulting that the IFSSs of specimens prepared by MW irradiation were increased by enhancing the output power of MW. However, the IFSSs of the specimens were decreased by excessively high output power because the matrix resin on the CF interface was thermally degraded. As results, by optimizing the MW conditions of output power and irradiation time, the IFSS of the sample cured by MW was increased by 21% as compared to oven-heated one. It was found that the interfacial adhesion between CF and epoxy resin would be improved by the MW-assisted curing reaction on the surface of CF.     

Investigation of outer valence orbital of CF2Cl2 by a new type of electron momentum spectrometer

Electronic states of CF2Cl2 （dichlorodifluoromethane, Freon 12） have been studied using a new type of electron momentum spectrometer with a very high efficiency at an impact energy of 1200 eV plus binding energy. The experimental electron momentum profiles are compared with the density functional theory （DFT） and Hartree-Fock （HF） calculations. The relationship between orbital assignments in different coordinate systems is discussed. A new method of difference analysis based on the new type of electron momentum spectrometer is used to clarify the ambiguities regarding the orbital ordering.     

Carbon fiber/epoxy composite materials cured thermally and with microwave irradiation

In this paper, composite materials of short carbon fibers (CFs) and a thermosetting epoxy were prepared in three different ways: without curing, thermal curing, and thermal curing followed by microwave irradiation. Mechanical properties of the three kinds of CF reinforced plastic (CFRP) composites were studied to explore the effect of microwave irradiation. Microscopic study with the aid of a scanning electron microscope (SEM) was performed on fractured composite surfaces to identify the principle features of failure. Degree of polymerization of the epoxy resin in the three CFRP composites was evaluated by infrared (IR) spectroscopy. The microwave irradiated CFRP exhibited mechanically ductile behavior even though its highest degree of polymerization. Use of microwaves and resultant stronger physico-chemical linkage at the interface between CF and epoxy resin are the main feature of this study.