24 research outputs found

    Thermally Regenerable Redox Flow Battery for Exploiting Low-Temperature Heat Sources

    Get PDF
    Harvesting energy from low-temperature heat sources (<100°C) would enable the exploitation of currently untapped renewable sources. Recently proposed techniques fail to reach suitable efficiencies. We propose here a redox flow battery that can be recharged by a thermal process, distillation. The electrochemical cell produces electrical energy from the mixing free energy of two sodium iodide aqueous solutions at different concentrations. The electrochemical cell is based on the technology of sodium ion-conducting ceramics and is coupled with a liquid-liquid extraction process, performed by an unconventional device, the "through-liquid-exchanger." Our technique bypasses the bottleneck of other similar techniques by working with solutions at very high concentrations. Our initial experiments prove an unprecedented energy efficiency (ratio between the electrical work produced and the incoming heat necessary to restore the initial solutions concentrations) of 3% from a heat source <100°C and a power density of 10 W/m2, with the possibility of further improvements. © 2020 The Author(s) The flow battery described by Facchinetti et al. can be recharged by distillation with heat sources <100°C. It enables the efficient exploitation of currently untapped clean and renewable heat sources (e.g., low-concentration solar heat collectors). The design is based on a solid-state ion conductor and includes an unconventional device based on liquid-liquid exchange

    New Roll‐to‐Roll Processable PEDOT‐Based Polymer with Colorless Bleached State for Flexible Electrochromic Devices

    Get PDF
    Conjugated electrochromic (EC) polymers for flexible EC devices (ECDs) generally lack a fully colorless bleached state. A strategy to overcome this drawback is the implementation of a new sidechain-modified poly(3,4-ethylene dioxythiophene) derivative that can be deposited in thin-film form in a customized high-throughput and large-area roll-to-roll polymerization process. The sidechain modification provides enhanced EC properties in terms of visible light transmittance change, Δτv = 59% (ΔL* = 54.1), contrast ratio (CR = 15.8), coloration efficiency (η = 530 cmÂČ C−1), and color neutrality (L* = 83.8, a* = −4.3, b* = −4.1) in the bleached state. The intense blue-colored polymer thin films exhibit high cycle stability (10 000 cycles) and fast response times. The design, synthesis, and polymerization of the modified 3,4-ethylene dioxythiophene derivative are discussed along with a detailed optical, electrochemical, and spectroelectrochemical characterization of the resulting EC thin films. Finally, a flexible see-through ECD with a visible light transmittance change of Δτv = 47% (ΔL* = 51.9) and a neutral-colored bleached state is developed

    MOON HABITAT MODULE: NEW WAYS OF LIVING IN EXTREME SPACES

    Get PDF
    Will humans be able to keep their habits even in extreme conditions such as on the Moon? Or will their habits change to adjust to new spaces? In order to answer these questions, we decided to analyze the primary needs of humans to design to new living spaces. In extreme contexts or confined spaces, it is very hard to preserve one’s emotional and psychological balance. Therefore, man becomes an actor within the space, adjusting to make it his own and changing his habits. This is why we chose to use the philosophy of User Centered Design for our design: humans are the source of our inspiration. We aim to design a living space employing a standard container that can be used as a research station for working and living on both the Moon and Mars, or in emergency contexts on Earth. This project is divided into three equally important parts: analysis, meta-design, and technical design. We started by researching confined spaces under extreme conditions, such as military shelters, submarines, emergency housing after natural or chemical disasters, etc. Moreover, we studied space perception, proxemics, and human needs. Second, we analyzed the given space we have to design and the people who will be living there, including their work activities and hobbies. The third phase consisted of the actual designing of the space. Our goal is to create a familiar but innovative, functional, and emotional environment to guarantee effective standards both for living and working. The design took into account every relevant piece of information found in our research. The space is multifunctional and convertible; the different areas (working station, kitchen, and lounge area) are mostly open and common, but guarantee privacy when convenient. Shapes, colors, materials, scents, and sounds are an essential part of the project. In summary, this paper focuses on the design of a minimum habitat on the Moon characterized by: applicability of the design to extreme contexts on Earth (e.g., disasters); study of existing habits and human interaction in extreme contexts; proposal of a new way of living; User Centered Design; familiar spaces; sensorial interaction through materials, shapes and colors, flexible and organized spaces; and zoning

    GIS Fuzzy Expert System for the assessment of ecosystems vulnerability to fire in managing Mediterranean natural protected areas

    No full text
    A significant threat to the natural and cultural heritage of Mediterranean natural protected areas (NPAs) is related to uncontrolled fires that can cause potential damages related to the loss or a reduction of ecosystems. The assessment and mapping of the vulnerability to fire can be useful to reduce landscape damages and to establish priority areas where it is necessary to plan measures to reduce the fire vulnerability. To this aim, a methodology based on an interactive computer-based system has been proposed in order to support NPA's management authority for the identification of vulnerable hotspots to fire through the selection of suitable indicators that allow discriminating different levels of sensitivity (e.g. Habitat relevance, Fragmentation, Fire behavior, Ecosystem Services, Vegetation recovery after fire) and stresses (agriculture, tourism, urbanization). In particular, a multi-criteria analysis based on Fuzzy Expert System (FES) integrated in a GIS environment has been developed in order to identify and map potential “hotspots” of fire vulnerability, where fire protection measures can be undertaken in advance. In order to test the effectiveness of this approach, this approach has been applied to the NPA of Torre Guaceto (Apulia Region, southern Italy). The most fire vulnerable areas are the patch of century-old forest characterized by high sensitivity and stress, and the wetlands and century-old olive groves due to their high sensitivity. The GIS fuzzy expert system provides evidence of its potential usefulness for the effective management of natural protected areas and can help conservation managers to plan and intervene in order to mitigate the fire vulnerability in accordance with conservation goals

    GIS Fuzzy Expert System for the assessment of ecosystems vulnerability to fire in managing Mediterranean natural protected areas

    Get PDF
    A significant threat to the natural and cultural heritage of Mediterranean natural protected areas (NPAs) is related to uncontrolled fires that can cause potential damages related to the loss or a reduction of ecosystems. The assessment and mapping of the vulnerability to fire can be useful to reduce landscape damages and to establish priority areas where it is necessary to plan measures to reduce the fire vulnerability. To this aim, a methodology based on an interactive computer-based system has been proposed in order to support NPA's management authority for the identification of vulnerable hotspots to fire through the selection of suitable indicators that allow discriminating different levels of sensitivity (e.g. Habitat relevance, Fragmentation, Fire behavior, Ecosystem Services, Vegetation recovery after fire) and stresses (agriculture, tourism, urbanization). In particular, a multi-criteria analysis based on Fuzzy Expert System (FES) integrated in a GIS environment has been developed in order to identify and map potential “hotspots” of fire vulnerability, where fire protection measures can be undertaken in advance. In order to test the effectiveness of this approach, this approach has been applied to the NPA of Torre Guaceto (Apulia Region, southern Italy). The most fire vulnerable areas are the patch of century-old forest characterized by high sensitivity and stress, and the wetlands and century-old olive groves due to their high sensitivity. The GIS fuzzy expert system provides evidence of its potential usefulness for the effective management of natural protected areas and can help conservation managers to plan and intervene in order to mitigate the fire vulnerability in accordance with conservation goals

    Sustainable Access to π-Conjugated Molecular Materials via Direct (Hetero)Arylation Reactions in Water and under Air

    No full text
    Direct (hetero)arylation (DHA) is playing a key role in improving the efficiency and atom economy of C&ndash;C cross coupling reactions, so has impacts in pharmaceutical and materials chemistry. Current research focuses on further improving the generality, efficiency and selectivity of the method through careful tuning of the reaction conditions and the catalytic system. Comparatively fewer studies are dedicated to the replacement of the high-boiling-point organic solvents dominating the field and affecting the overall sustainability of the method. We show herein that the use of a 9:1 v/v emulsion of an aqueous Kolliphor 2 wt% solution while having toluene as the reaction medium enables the preparation of relevant examples of thiophene-containing &pi;-conjugated building blocks in high yield and purity

    From Small Metal Clusters to Molecular Nanoarchitectures with a Core-Shell Structure: The Synthesis, Redox Fingerprint, Theoretical Analysis, and Solid-State Structure of [Co38As12(CO)50]4

    No full text
    The cluster [Co38As12(CO)50]4- was obtained by pyrolysis of [Co6As(CO)16]-. The metal cage features a closed-packed core inside a Co/As shell that progressively deforms from a cubic face-centered symmetry. The redox and acid-base reactivities were determined by cyclic voltammetry and spectrophotometric titrations. The calculated electron density revealed the shell-constrained distribution of the atomic charges, induced by the presence of arsenic
    corecore