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Shrestha P, LaManna JM, Fahy KF, Kim P, Lee C, Lee JK, Baltic E, Jacobson DL, Hussey DS, Bazylak A. Simultaneous multimaterial operando tomography of electrochemical devices. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2023; 9:eadg8634. [PMID: 37939178 PMCID: PMC10631724 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adg8634] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2023] [Accepted: 10/06/2023] [Indexed: 11/10/2023]
Abstract
The performance of electrochemical energy devices, such as fuel cells and batteries, is dictated by intricate physiochemical processes within. To better understand and rationally engineer these processes, we need robust operando characterization tools that detect and distinguish multiple interacting components/interfaces in high contrast. Here, we uniquely combine dual-modality tomography (simultaneous neutron and x-ray tomography) and advanced image processing (iterative reconstruction and metal artifact reduction) for high-contrast multimaterial imaging, with signal and contrast enhancements of up to 10 and 48 times, respectively, compared to conventional single-modality imaging. Targeted development and application of these methods to electrochemical devices allow us to resolve operando distributions of six interacting fuel cell components (including void space) with the highest reported pairwise contrast for simultaneous yet decoupled spatiotemporal characterization of component morphology and hydration. Such high-contrast tomography ushers in key gold standards for operando electrochemical characterization, with broader applicability to numerous multimaterial systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pranay Shrestha
- Bazylak Group, Department of Mechanical & Industrial Engineering, Faculty of Applied Science and Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Jacob M. LaManna
- Physical Measurement Laboratory, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD, USA
| | - Kieran F. Fahy
- Bazylak Group, Department of Mechanical & Industrial Engineering, Faculty of Applied Science and Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Pascal Kim
- Bazylak Group, Department of Mechanical & Industrial Engineering, Faculty of Applied Science and Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - ChungHyuk Lee
- Bazylak Group, Department of Mechanical & Industrial Engineering, Faculty of Applied Science and Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Toronto Metropolitan University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Jason K. Lee
- Bazylak Group, Department of Mechanical & Industrial Engineering, Faculty of Applied Science and Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Elias Baltic
- Physical Measurement Laboratory, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD, USA
| | - David L. Jacobson
- Physical Measurement Laboratory, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD, USA
| | - Daniel S. Hussey
- Physical Measurement Laboratory, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD, USA
| | - Aimy Bazylak
- Bazylak Group, Department of Mechanical & Industrial Engineering, Faculty of Applied Science and Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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Tang B, Yin W, Wang Q, Chen L, Huo H, Wu Y, Yang H, Sun C, Zhou S. High Quantum Efficiency Rare-Earth-Doped Gd 2O 2S:Tb, F Scintillators for Cold Neutron Imaging. Molecules 2023; 28:molecules28041815. [PMID: 36838803 PMCID: PMC9959274 DOI: 10.3390/molecules28041815] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2022] [Revised: 01/31/2023] [Accepted: 02/02/2023] [Indexed: 02/17/2023] Open
Abstract
High-resolution neutron radiography provides novel and stirring opportunities to investigate the structures of light elements encased by heavy elements. For this study, a series of Gd2O2S:Tb, F particles were prepared using a high-temperature solid phase method and then used as a scintillation screen. Upon reaching 293 nm excitation, a bright green emission originated from the Tb3+ luminescence center. The level of F doping affected the fluorescence intensity. When the F doping level was 8 mol%, the fluorescence intensity was at its highest. The absolute quantum yield of the synthesized particles reached as high as 77.21%. Gd2O2S:Tb, F particles were applied to the scintillation screen, showing a resolution on the neutron radiograph as high as 12 μm. These results suggest that the highly efficient Gd2O2S:Tb, F particles are promising scintillators for the purposes of cold neutron radiography.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bin Tang
- Institute of Nuclear Physics and Chemistry, China Academy of Engineering Physics, Mianyang 621000, China
| | - Wei Yin
- Institute of Nuclear Physics and Chemistry, China Academy of Engineering Physics, Mianyang 621000, China
| | - Qibiao Wang
- Institute of Nuclear Physics and Chemistry, China Academy of Engineering Physics, Mianyang 621000, China
- School of Computer Science and Engineering, Sichuan University of Science & Engineering, Zigong 643000, China
- Correspondence: (Q.W.); (L.C.); (C.S.)
| | - Long Chen
- Key Laboratory of Photochemical Conversion and Optoelectronic Materials, Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China
- Correspondence: (Q.W.); (L.C.); (C.S.)
| | - Heyong Huo
- Institute of Nuclear Physics and Chemistry, China Academy of Engineering Physics, Mianyang 621000, China
| | - Yang Wu
- Institute of Nuclear Physics and Chemistry, China Academy of Engineering Physics, Mianyang 621000, China
| | - Hongchao Yang
- School of Computer Science and Engineering, Sichuan University of Science & Engineering, Zigong 643000, China
| | - Chenghua Sun
- Key Laboratory of Photochemical Conversion and Optoelectronic Materials, Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China
- Correspondence: (Q.W.); (L.C.); (C.S.)
| | - Shuyun Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Photochemical Conversion and Optoelectronic Materials, Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China
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Cai G, Tötzke C, Kaestner A, Ahmed MA. Quantification of root water uptake and redistribution using neutron imaging: a review and future directions. THE PLANT JOURNAL : FOR CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2022; 111:348-359. [PMID: 35603461 DOI: 10.1111/tpj.15839] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2021] [Revised: 05/12/2022] [Accepted: 05/19/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Quantifying root water uptake is essential to understanding plant water use and responses to different environmental conditions. However, non-destructive measurement of water transport and related hydraulics in the soil-root system remains a challenge. Neutron imaging, with its high sensitivity to hydrogen, has become an unparalleled tool to visualize and quantify root water uptake in vivo. In combination with isotopes (e.g., deuterated water) and a diffusion-convection model, root water uptake and hydraulic redistribution in root and soil can be quantified. Here, we review recent advances in utilizing neutron imaging to visualize and quantify root water uptake, hydraulic redistribution in roots and soil, and root hydraulic properties of different plant species. Under uniform soil moisture distributions, neutron radiographic studies have shown that water uptake was not uniform along the root and depended on both root type and age. For both tap (e.g., lupine [Lupinus albus L.]) and fibrous (e.g., maize [Zea mays L.]) root systems, water was mainly taken up through lateral roots. In mature maize, the location of water uptake shifted from seminal roots and their laterals to crown/nodal roots and their laterals. Under non-uniform soil moisture distributions, part of the water taken up during the daytime maintained the growth of crown/nodal roots in the upper, drier soil layers. Ultra-fast neutron tomography provides new insights into 3D water movement in soil and roots. We discuss the limitations of using neutron imaging and propose future directions to utilize neutron imaging to advance our understanding of root water uptake and soil-root interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gaochao Cai
- Chair of Soil Physics, Bayreuth Center of Ecology and Environmental Research (BayCEER), University of Bayreuth, Universitätsstraße 30, 95447, Bayreuth, Germany
| | - Christian Tötzke
- Institute of Environmental Science and Geography, University of Potsdam, Karl-Liebknecht-Str. 24-25, 14476, Potsdam, Germany
| | - Anders Kaestner
- Laboratory for Neutron Scattering and Imaging, Paul Scherrer Institute, Forschungsstrasse 111, 5232, Villigen, Switzerland
| | - Mutez Ali Ahmed
- Chair of Soil Physics, Bayreuth Center of Ecology and Environmental Research (BayCEER), University of Bayreuth, Universitätsstraße 30, 95447, Bayreuth, Germany
- Department of Land, Air and Water Resources, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
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