Effects of local nonequilibrium in rapid eutectic solidification: Part 2: analysis of effects and comparison to experiment

The developed model of diffusion‐limited and diffusionless solidification of a eutectic alloy describes the relation “undercooling (Δ T )‐velocity ( V )‐interlamellar spacing (λ)” for two cases. Namely, when the solidification front velocity V is smaller than the solute diffusion speed in bulk liquid V D , V V D , the solidification is mainly controlled by kinetic and thermal undercoolings. New expressions for the solute distribution coefficient and slope of the liquidus lines are supplied. The influence of the model parameters on the growth kinetics during eutectic solidification is discussed. Model predictions are compared with experimental data for the solidification of an Fe–B alloy with eutectic composition. Computational results show that the model agrees well with experimental data especially for low and high undercoolings, extending the undercooling range that can be covered by sharp interface modeling

Rheology, dispersion, and cure kinetics of epoxy filled with amine‐ and non‐functionalized reduced graphene oxide for composite manufacturing

This study evaluates the effect of plasma surface functionalization of reduced graphene oxide particles on the processing characteristics and homogeneity of dispersion of a bisphenol A‐(epichlorhydrin) epoxy matrix and amine‐based hardener with varying weight fractions from 0.00 to 1.50 wt%. It was observed that amine‐functionalized reduced graphene oxide leads to a more drastic viscosity increase of up to 18‐fold of the uncured suspensions and that its presence influences the conversion rates of the curing reaction. Optical microscopy of thin sections and transmission electron microscopy analysis showed that a more homogeneous dispersion of the particles could be achieved especially at higher weight fractions by using an appropriate surface functionalization. This knowledge can be used to define suitable processing conditions for epoxies with amine‐based hardeners depending on the loading and functionalization of graphene‐related particles

Disorder trapping by rapidly moving phase interface in an undercooled liquid

Non-equilibrium phenomena such as the disappearance of solute drag, the origin of solute trapping and evolution of disorder trapping occur during fast transformations with originating metastable phases [D.M. Herlach, P.K. Galenko, D. Holland-Moritz, Metastable solids from undrercooled melts (Elsevier, Amsterdam, 2007)]. In the present work, a theoretical investigation of disorder trapping by a rapidly moving phase interface is presented. Using a model of fast phase transformations, a system of governing equations for the diffusion of atoms, and the evolution of both long-range order parameter and phase field variable is formulated. First numerical solutions are carried out for a congruently melting binary alloy system

Nanostructured Cu2_2O Synthesized via Bipolar Electrochemistry

Cuprous oxide (Cu$_2$O) was synthesized for the first time via an open bipolar electrochemistry (BPE) approach and characterized in parallel with the commercially available material. As compared to the reference, Cu$_2$O formed through a BPE reaction demonstrated a decrease in particle size; an increase in photocurrent; more efficient light scavenging; and structure-correlated changes in the flat band potential and charge carrier concentration. More importantly, as-synthesized oxides were all phase-pure, defect-free, and had an average crystallite size of 20 nm. Ultimately, this study demonstrates the impact of reaction conditions (e.g., applied potential, reaction time) on structure, morphology, surface chemistry, and photo-electrochemical activity of semiconducting oxides, and at the same time, the ability to maintain a green synthetic protocol and potentially create a scalable product. In the proposed BPE synthesis, we introduced a common food supplement (potassium gluconate) as a reducing and complexing agent, and as an electrolyte, allowing us to replace the more harmful reactants that are conventionally used in Cu$_2$O production. In addition, in the BPE process very corrosive reactants, such as hydroxides and metal precursors (required for synthesis of oxides), are generated in situ in stoichiometric quantity, providing an alternative methodology to generate various nanostructured materials in high yields under mild conditions

Rheology, dispersion, and cure kinetics of epoxy filled with amine‐ and non‐functionalized reduced graphene oxide for composite manufacturing

This study evaluates the effect of plasma surface functionalization of reduced graphene oxide particles on the processing characteristics and homogeneity of dispersion of a bisphenol A‐(epichlorhydrin) epoxy matrix and amine‐based hardener with varying weight fractions from 0.00 to 1.50 wt%. It was observed that amine‐functionalized reduced graphene oxide leads to a more drastic viscosity increase of up to 18‐fold of the uncured suspensions and that its presence influences the conversion rates of the curing reaction. Optical microscopy of thin sections and transmission electron microscopy analysis showed that a more homogeneous dispersion of the particles could be achieved especially at higher weight fractions by using an appropriate surface functionalization. This knowledge can be used to define suitable processing conditions for epoxies with amine‐based hardeners depending on the loading and functionalization of graphene‐related particles.Bundesministerium für Bildung und ForschungDeutsche Forschungsgemeinschaf

Copper Thiophosphate (Cu3PS4) as Electrode for Sodium-Ion Batteries with Ether Electrolyte

Sections PDFPDF Tools Share Abstract Lithium and sodium thiophosphates (and related compounds) have recently attracted attention because of their potential use as solid electrolytes in solid‐state batteries. These compounds, however, exhibit only limited stability in practice as they react with the electrodes. The decomposition products partially remain redox active hence leading to excess capacity. The redox activity of thiophosphates is explicitly used to act as electrode for sodium‐ion batteries. Copper thiophosphate (Cu3PS4) is used as a model system. The storage behavior between 0.01 and 2.5 V versus Na+/Na is studied in half cells using different electrolytes with 1 m NaPF6 in diglyme showing the best result. Cu3PS4 shows highly reversible charge storage with capacities of about 580 mAh g−1 for more than 200 cycles @120 mA g−1 and about 450 mAh g−1 for 1400 cycles @1 A g−1. The redox behavior is studied by operando X‐ray diffraction and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy. During initial sodiation, Cu3PS4 undergoes a conversion reaction including the formation of Cu and Na2S. During cycling, the redox activity seems dominated by sulfur. Interestingly, the capacity of Cu3PS4 for lithium storage is smaller, leading to about 170 mAh g−1 after 200 cycles. The results demonstrate that thiophosphates can lead to reversible charge storage over several hundred cycles without any notable capacity decay.Peer Reviewe

Self-Assembled Graphene/MWCNT Bilayers as Platinum- Free Counter Electrode in Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells

We describe the preparation and properties of bilayers of graphene- and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) as an alternative to conventionally used platinum-based counter electrode for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSC). The counter electrodes were prepared by a simple and easy-to-implement double self-assembly process. The preparation allows for controlling the surface roughness of electrode in a layer-by-layer deposition. Annealing under N2 atmosphere improves the electrode's conductivity and the catalytic activity of graphene and MWCNTs to reduce the I3 − species within the electrolyte of the DSSC. The performance of different counter-electrodes is compared for ZnO photoanode-based DSSCs. Bilayer electrodes show higher power conversion efficiencies than monolayer graphene electrodes or monolayer MWCNTs electrodes. The bilayer graphene (bottom)/MWCNTs (top) counter electrode-based DSSC exhibits a maximum power conversion efficiency of 4.1 % exceeding the efficiency of a reference DSSC with a thin film platinum counter electrode (efficiency of 3.4 %). In addition, the double self-assembled counter electrodes are mechanically stable, which enables their recycling for DSSCs fabrication without significant loss of the solar cell performance. © 2019 The Authors. Published by Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA

Theoretical modeling of crystalline symmetry order with dendritic morphology

The stable growth of a crystal with dendritic morphology with n-fold symmetry is modeled. Using the linear stability analysis and solvability theory, a selection criterion for thermally and solutally controlled growth of the dendrite is derived. A complete set of nonlinear equations consisting of the selection criterion and an undercooling balance (which determines the implicit dependencies of the dendrite tip velocity and tip diameter on the total undercooling) is formulated. The growth kinetics of crystals having different lattice symmetry is analyzed. The model predictions are compared with phase field modelling data on ice dendrites grown from pure undercooled water

Single Femtosecond Laser-Pulse-Induced Superficial Amorphization and Re-Crystallization of Silicon

21 pags., 9 figs., 1 tab. -- This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Pulse Laser Machining TechnologySuperficial amorphization and re-crystallization of silicon in and orientation after irradiation by femtosecond laser pulses (790 nm, 30 fs) are studied using optical imaging and transmission electron microscopy. Spectroscopic imaging ellipsometry (SIE) allows fast data acquisition at multiple wavelengths and provides experimental data for calculating nanometric amorphous layer thickness profiles with micrometric lateral resolution based on a thin-film layer model. For a radially Gaussian laser beam and at moderate peak fluences above the melting and below the ablation thresholds, laterally parabolic amorphous layer profiles with maximum thicknesses of several tens of nanometers were quantitatively attained. The accuracy of the calculations is verified experimentally by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (STEM-EDX). Along with topographic information obtained by atomic force microscopy (AFM), a comprehensive picture of the superficial re-solidification of silicon after local melting by femtosecond laser pulses is drawn.C.F. acknowledges the support from the European Commission through the Marie Curie Individual Fellowship—Global grant No. 844977 and funding from the Horizon 2020 CellFreeImplant European project. D.F., M.D., S.S., A.H. and U.B. gratefully acknowledge the funding from the German Central Innovation Program (AiF-ZIM) under grants No. ZF4044219AB7 and ZF4460401AB7. K.F., M.R. and A.U. acknowledge support by the German Research Foundation (grant Nos. UN 341/3-1 and Inst 275/391-1). J.B. acknowledges the projects CellFreeImplant and LaserImplant. These two projects have received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreements No. 800832 (CellFreeImplant) and No. 951730 (LaserImplant).Peer reviewe