Aqueous iron-based redox flow batteries for large-scale energy storage.

The rapid advancement of flow batteries offers a promising pathway to addressing global energy and environmental challenges. Among them, iron-based aqueous redox flow batteries (ARFBs) are a compelling choice for future energy storage systems due to their excellent safety, cost-effectiveness and scalability. However, the advancement of various types of iron-based ARFBs is hindered by several critical challenges, including hydrogen evolution, inferior reversibility of metal deposition and stripping, and undesirable dendrite formation in hybrid flow systems with metal plating/stripping on the negative electrode.

Deposition of Mesoporous Silicon Dioxide Films Using Microwave PECVD.

Mesoporous silicon dioxide films have been shown to be well suited as adhesion-promoting interlayers for generating high-strength polymer-metal interfaces. These films can be fabricated via microwave plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition using the precursor hexamethyldisiloxane and oxygen as working gas. The resulting mesoporous structures enable polymer infiltration during overmolding, which leads to a nanoscale form-locking mechanism after solidification.

Tuning Polyphenols for Thermosetting Wood Adhesives: Class 'A1' Non-Isocyanate Polyurethanes from Condensed Tannins.

This study aimed to develop nonisocyanate polyurethane (NIPU) wood adhesives from Quebracho condensed tannins (CT). Following the carbonation of CTs with dimethyl carbonate, condensation with multifunctional amines delivered two distinct NIPU formulations: TANIPU-DA when hexamethylene diamine (DA) was used and TANIPU-DA-TD when successively using DA and hexamethylenetetramine (TD). For both TANIPUs, urethane formation was confirmed with Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR), viscosity measurements, and size exclusion chromatography (SEC).

Synthesis and characterization of novel nitrofurazanyl ethers as potential energetic plasticizers.

Energetic plasticizers are used to improve the mechanical properties of advanced energetic formulations while increasing the overall energy content. Although nitro-1,2,5-oxadiazoles (nitrofurazans) possess excellent energetic properties such as a favorable oxygen balance and high heat of formation, their use as plasticizers has received little attention in the scientific literature. Four nitrofurazanyl ethers were synthesized by substitution of dinitrofurazan with linear alkoxides.

Investigation of the Influence of Manufacturing on Filament Production and Its Impact on Additive Manufactured Structures.

In this study, the effect of various parameters of a single screw extruder on the rheology and mechanical properties of a polylactic acid (PLA) filament with a 1.75 mm diameter was investigated. The barrel temperature, nozzle and cooling bath temperature, screw speed, nozzle diameter, water bath length, and distance to the nozzle were the process variables.

Electrochemical Hydrodimerization of Lignocellulose-Derived Carbonyls in Aqueous Electrolytes for Biobased Polymer and Long-chained Synfuel Production: A Review.

The transformation from fossil resources, crude oil and natural gas to biomass-derived feedstocks is an urgent and major challenge for the chemical industry. The valorization of lignocellulose as renewable resource is a promising pathway offering access to a wide range of platform chemicals, such as vanillin, furfural and 5-HMF. The subsequent conversion of such platform chemicals is one crucial step in the value-added chain.

Characterization and Simulation of the Interface between a Continuous and Discontinuous Carbon Fiber Reinforced Thermoplastic by Using the Climbing Drum Peel Test Considering Humidity.

The objective of this paper is to investigate the debonding behavior of the interface between continuously and discontinuously fiber reinforced thermoplastics using the climbing drum peel test. The study emphasizes on the importance of considering different climatic boundary conditions on the properties of thermoplastics. Specimens with varying moisture contents, from 0m.

A Novel LIBS Sensor for Sample Examinations on a Crime Scene.

In this work, we present a compact LIBS sensor developed for characterization of samples on a crime scene following requirements of law enforcement agencies involved in the project. The sensor operates both in a tabletop mode, for aside measurements of swabbed materials or taken fragments, and in handheld mode where the sensor head is pointed directly on targets at the scene. The sensor head is connected via an umbilical to an instrument box that could be battery-powered and contains also a color camera for sample visualization, illumination LEDs, and pointing system for placing the target in focus.

Electroreduction of divanillin to polyvanillin in an electrochemical flow reactor.

The electrochemical conversion of biobased intermediates offers an attractive and sustainable process for the production of green chemicals. One promising synthesis route is the production of the total vanillin-based polymer polyvanillin, which can be produced by electrochemical pinacolization of divanillin (5-5´bisvanillyl). Divanillin can be easily enzymatically generated from vanillin, a renewable intermediate accessible from lignin on an industrial scale.

Recovery of Precious Metals: A Promising Process Using Supercritical Carbon Dioxide and CO-Soluble Complexing Polymers for Palladium Extraction from Supported Catalysts.

Precious metals such as palladium (Pd) have many applications, ranging from automotive catalysts to fine chemistry. Platinum group metals are, thus, in massive demand for industrial applications, even though they are relatively rare and belong to the list of critical materials for many countries. The result is an explosion of their price.

Influence of Temperature on the Performance of Carbon- and ATO-supported Oxygen Evolution Reaction Catalysts in a Gas Diffusion Electrode Setup.

State-of-the-art industrial electrocatalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) under acidic conditions are Ir-based. Considering the scarce supply of Ir, it is imperative to use the precious metal as efficiently as possible. In this work, we immobilized ultrasmall Ir and IrRu nanoparticles on two different supports to maximize their dispersion.

Approaching Polycarbonate as an LFT-D Material: Processing and Mechanical Properties.

Long-fiber thermoplastic (LFT) materials compounded via the direct LFT (LFT-D) process are very versatile composites in which polymers and continuous reinforcement fiber can be combined in almost any way. Polycarbonate (PC) as an amorphous thermoplastic matrix system reinforced with glass fibers (GFs) is a promising addition regarding the current development needs, for example battery enclosures for electromobility. Two approaches to the processing and compression molding of PC GF LFT-D materials with various parameter combinations of screw speed and fiber rovings are presented.

Experimental and Simulative Analysis of the Pressure Development in a Closed Injection Pultrusion Process with Multiple Chamber Geometries.

The use of innovative higher-performance highly reactive resin systems requires an enhancement of the established method of fiber impregnation (open bath) towards closed resin-injection pultrusion (CIP), due to the short pot life of the resin systems. The result is that the open bath is developed into a closed injection and impregnation chamber ("ii-chamber"). In this study, three parameters-resin viscosity, opening angle and opening factor at the injection point on the ii-chamber-are varied, each in three stages.

Tribological performance of electrically conductive and self-lubricating polypropylene-ionic-liquid composites.

In this work, self-lubricating and electrically conductive polymers on a polypropylene (PP) matrix were prepared and investigated. These properties were obtained by additivating PP with carbon black (CB) and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs), in combination with a surface active ionic liquid (IL, trihexyltetradecylphosphonium docusate [P][DOC]). These polymeric composites are expected to achieve coefficients of friction (COFs) comparable to lubricated systems.

Effects of salinity and temperature on seawater dissolution rate of initial detonation agent mercury fulminate.

Mercury fulminate (HgFu) was used as an initial detonator for World War I and II munitions. Its presence in previously discarded and dumped munitions could potentially supply mercury pollution into coastal ecosystems where bygone weaponries reside. There is evidence that historical munitions have already contributed mercury pollution in coastal environments, and millions remain embedded in sediments and subjected to further weakening via corrosion under environmental conditions.

Development of an Injection Molding Process for Long Glass Fiber-Reinforced Phenolic Resins.

Glass fiber-reinforced phenolic resins are well suited to substitute aluminum die-cast materials. They meet the high thermomechanical and chemical demands that are typically found in combustion engine and electric drive train applications. An injection molding process development for further improving their mechanical properties by increasing the glass fiber length in the molded part was conducted.

Synthesis and Phase Behavior of a Platform of CO-Soluble Functional Gradient Copolymers Bearing Metal-Complexing Units.

The synthesis and characterization of a platform of novel functional fluorinated gradient copolymers soluble in liquid and supercritical CO is reported. These functional copolymers are bearing different types of complexing units (pyridine, triphenylphosphine, acetylacetate, thioacetate, and thiol) which are well-known ligands for various metals. They have been prepared by reversible addition-fragmentation chain-transfer (RAFT) polymerization in order to obtain well-defined gradient copolymers.

Electrochemical synthesis of biobased polymers and polymer building blocks from vanillin.

Vanillin, one of the few biobased aromatic compounds available on an industrial level, is an attractive candidate for the synthesis of biobased polymers and polymer building blocks. This study presents a detailed investigation of the reductive electrochemical coupling process by pinacolization of vanillin and divanillin in an electrochemical H-type cell setup to the polymer building block hydrovanilloin and to polyvanillin, respectively. Therein, different cathode materials are screened by linear sweep voltammetry for their capability and activity of hydrodimerization of phenolic aromatic aldehydes in alkaline aqueous media.

Development of High Temperature Resistant Stereocomplex PLA for Injection Moulding.

In this study, the production of stereocomplex PLA formulations (sc-PLA) by compounding and subsequent injection moulding at different mould temperatures was investigated. Several selective nucleating agents were identified and compounded with different poly(L-lactide)/poly(D-lactide) (PLLA/PDLA) ratios on a co-rotating twin screw extruder. The effect of nucleating agents (NA) on the crystallisation behaviour of the compound was systematically investigated by DSC analysis.

Properties of Bromine Fused Salts Based on Quaternary Ammonium Molecules and Their Relevance for Use in a Hydrogen Bromine Redox Flow Battery.

Bromine complexing agents (BCA) in aqueous electrolytes for hydrogen bromine flow batteries are used to reduce bromine's vapour pressure, while an insoluble and liquid fused salt is formed. The properties (concentrations, composition, conductivity and viscosity) of this fused salt are investigated in this study systematically ex situ by using 7 BCAs at different state of charge in HBr/Br /H O electrolytes with a theoretical capacity of 179.6 Ah L .

Family Tree for Aqueous Organic Redox Couples for Redox Flow Battery Electrolytes: A Conceptual Review.

Redox flow batteries (RFBs) are an increasingly attractive option for renewable energy storage, thus providing flexibility for the supply of electrical energy. In recent years, research in this type of battery storage has been shifted from metal-ion based electrolytes to soluble organic redox-active compounds. Aqueous-based organic electrolytes are considered as more promising electrolytes to achieve "green", safe, and low-cost energy storage.

Crossing the Valley of Death: From Fundamental to Applied Research in Electrolysis.

The growing societal and political focus on the use of environmentally friendly technologies has led to an ever-increasing interest in electrolysis technologies in the scientific communities. This development is reflected by the plethora of candidate catalysts for the hydrogen and oxygen evolution reactions, as well as the CO reduction reaction, reported in the literature. However, almost none of them entered the stage of application yet.

Composite Anion Exchange Membranes Fabricated by Coating and UV Crosslinking of Low-Cost Precursors Tested in a Redox Flow Battery.

This paper presents a novel, cost-effective approach to the fabrication of composite anion exchange membranes (AEMs) Hierarchical AEMs have been fabricated by coating a porous substrate with an interpenetrating polymer network (IPN) layer where poly(vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP) is immobilized in a crosslinked matrix. The IPN matrix was formed by UV initiated radical crosslinking of a mixture of acrylamide-based monomers and acrylic resins. The fabricated membranes have been compared with a commercial material (Fumatech FAP 450) in terms of ionic transport properties and performance in a vanadium redox flow battery (VRFB).

Designing Shape Morphing Behavior through Local Programming of Mechanical Metamaterials.

Shape morphing implicates that a specific condition leads to a morphing reaction. The material thus transforms from one shape to another in a predefined manner. In this paper, not only the target shape but rather the evolution of the material's shape as a function of the applied strain is programmed.