Grafting modification and structural degradation of multi-walled carbon nanotubes under the effect of ultrasonics sonochemistry

Optimal Design of Multi-Scale Fibre-Reinforced Cement-Matrix Composites Based on an Orthogonal Experimental Design

Cement-matrix composite are typical multi-scale composite materials, the failure process has the characteristics of gradual, multi-scale and multi-stage damage. In order to delay the multi-stage damage process of cement-matrix composites, the defects of different scales are suppressed by using different scales of fibres and fly ash (FA), and the overall performance of cement-matrix composites is improved, a new multi-scale fibre-reinforced cement-based composite composed of millimetre-scale polyvinyl alcohol fibre (PVA), micron-scale calcium carbonate whisker (CW), and nano-scale carbon nanotubes (CNTs) was designed in this study. The compressive strength, flexural strength, splitting tensile strength, and chloride ion permeability coefficient were used as assessment indices by the orthogonal test design. The impacts of the three fibre scales and fly ash on each individual index were examined, and the overall performance of the multi-scale fibre-reinforced cementitious materials (MSFRCC) was then optimized using grey correlation analysis. The optimized mix ratio for overall performance was PVA: 1.5%, CW: 2%, CNTs: 0.1%, FA: 40%. Compared with the optimal results for each group, the compressive strength of the final optimized MSFRCC group decreased by 8.9%, the flexural strength increased by 28.4%, the splitting tensile strength increased by 10%, and the chloride ion permeability coefficient decreased by 5.7%. The results show that the compressive performance and resistance to chloride ion penetration of the optimized group are slightly worse than those of the optimal group in the orthogonal test, but its flexural performance and splitting tensile performance are significantly improved.

Preparation of a SiO2 @Carbon Sphere/SiO2 -CNF Multilayer Self-standing Anode Prepared via an Alternate Electrospraying - Electrospinning Technique

The development of flexible lithium-ion batteries (FLIBs) is restrained by traditional rigidity anodes. Carbon nanofiber (CNF) is a promising anode material owing to its high specific surface and superior ion transportation capability. However, the low amount of active material loaded on the CNFs and the poor stability during long cycling restrain their applications. Herein, a SiO₂ @carbon sphere/SiO₂ -CNF self-standing anode was prepared via alternate electrospraying-electrospinning. The SiO₂ content of the anode was increased through the electrospraying SiO₂ @carbon spheres layers, and the electrospun SiO₂ -CNFs as robust layers enhanced the stability of the anode. The self-standing anode exhibited 633 mA h g^-1 in the initial cycle and maintained a 70% Coulomb efficiency for 1000 cycles at a current density of 100 mA g^-1 , which could be applied in FLIB and other electrochemical storage devices.

Optimization of highly concentrated dispersions of multi-walled carbon nanotubes with emphasis on surfactant content and carbon nanotubes quality

Optimized multi-wall carbon nanotubes (MWNT) suspensions in aqueous solution have been obtained by joint use of ultrasonification and surfactant. A simple experimental procedure has been established to efficiently evaluate the dependence of the surfactant concentration on the MWNT concentration stable in suspension. The study of three different surfactants and MWNT provided by three suppliers showed that a threshold surfactant concentration exists above which the MWNT concentration is maximum. Furthermore, it is demonstrated that the maximum MWNT concentration achievable varies from 0.50 to 7.5 g l^-1 depending mainly on quality of the MWNT determined by raman spectroscopy analysis.

Simultaneous adsorption and dechlorination of 2,4-dichlorophenol by Pd/Fe nanoparticles with multi-walled carbon nanotube support

Nanoscale Pd/Fe particles were combined with multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) to prepare supported particles (MWNT-stabilized Pd/Fe), which were used to remove 2,4-dichlorophenol (2,4-DCP). The adsorption capacity of MWNTs was found to be increased with the increasing amount of chlorine atoms, and the removal rates of phenol (P), 2-chlorophenol (2-CP), 4-chlorophenol (4-CP) and 2,4-DCP reached 19.7%, 60.5%, 72.0% and 95.1% respectively, in 1min by MWNTs due to π-π interaction. The adsorption kinetics and adsorption isotherm were also discussed. MWNTs as a supporter, was effective for avoiding the agglomeration of nZVI. Furthermore, the speedy removal efficiency of the initial substances (2,4-DCP) reached about 50% in 1min, and over the time continued to rise to 100%, remaining low concentrations (<1mg L(-1)) of the intermediate substances (o-CP, p-CP), and gradual release of the final substance (P) from MWNT-stabilized Pd/Fe composites during the whole process, proposed a novel method for in situ remediation technology.

Effect of Ultrasonic Treatment on Physical Properties of Tapioca Starch

A new processing method for the production of modified starch, high power ultrasonic treatment (400 W), was applied to native tapioca starch. The effect of processing parameters such as ultrasound amplitude (50 and 100%) and sonication time (10, 20 and 30 minutes) on the properties of the modified starches was investigated. Starch granule morphology observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), swelling power, solubility and powder x-ray diffractometry (PXRD) of the obtained ultrasonically treated tapioca starch were determined and compared with native as well as heat-treated tapioca starches. The results from SEM and PXRD showed that the ultrasonic treatment of tapioca starch distorted the crystalline region in starch granules, especially at higher amplitude or sonication time. The swelling power of the tapioca starch increased after treatment with both heat and ultrasound, in which the swelling power of ultrasonically treated starch was higher than that of heat-treated starch. It was found that tapioca starch treated by ultrasound for a certain period of time has an increase in solubility. The increase in the swelling power is associated with water absorption capacity and starch granules solubility.

One-pot sonochemical fabrication of hierarchical hollow CuO submicrospheres

Hierarchical hollow CuO submicrospheres have been fabricated on a large scale by a facile one-pot sonochemical process in the absence of surfactants and additives. The as-prepared products were investigated by XRD, FESEM, EDX, TEM, SAED, HRTEM and BET nitrogen adsorption-desorption isotherms. The results reveal that hollow pumpkin-shaped structures possess a monoclinic phase CuO with the diameters ranging from 400 to 500 nm, and their walls with around 45 nm in thickness are composed of numerous single crystalline CuO nanoribbons with a width of about 8 nm. The BET specific surface area of the as-synthesized CuO hollow structures was measured to be 59.60 m(2)/g, and the single point adsorption total pore volume was measured to be 0.1036 cm(3)/g. A possible growth mechanism for the formation of hierarchical hollow CuO structures was proposed, which is considered to be a sonohydrolysis - oriented aggregation - Ostwald ripening process. The novel hollow CuO spherical structures may utilize applications in biosensors, photonics, electronics, and catalysts.