scholarly journals Performance-tuning of PVA-based gel electrolytes by acid/PVA ratio and PVA molecular weight

2021 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Saeideh Alipoori ◽  
M. M. Torkzadeh ◽  
Saeedeh Mazinani ◽  
Seyed Hamed Aboutalebi ◽  
Farhad Sharif
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Weight ◽  
Ionic Conductivity ◽  
Charge Carrier Concentration ◽  
Fine Tuning ◽  
Performance Tuning ◽  
Practical Applications ◽  
High Performing ◽  
Flexible Devices ◽  
Gel Electrolytes ◽  
Ion Conducting

AbstractThe significant breakthroughs of flexible gel electrolytes have attracted extensive attention in modern wearable electronic gadgets. The lack of all-around high-performing gels limits the advantages of such devices for practical applications. To this end, developing a multi-functional gel architecture with superior ionic conductivity while enjoying good mechanical flexibility is a bottleneck to overcome. Herein, an architecturally engineered gel, based on PVA and H3PO4 with different molecular weights of PVA for various PVA/H3PO4 ratios, was developed. The results show the dependence of ionic conductivity on molecular weight and also charge carrier concentration. Consequently, fine-tuning of PVA-based gels through a simple yet systematic and well-regulated strategy to achieve highly ion-conducting gels, with the highest ionic conductivity of 14.75 ± 1.39 mS cm-1 have been made to fulfill the requirement of flexible devices. More importantly, gel electrolytes possess good mechanical robustness while exhibiting high-elasticity (%766.66 ± 59.73), making it an appropriate candidate for flexible devices.

scholarly journals Nanocrystalline Surface Layer of WO3 for Enhanced Proton Transport during Fuel Cell Operation

Crystals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (12) ◽  
pp. 1595
Author(s):  
Xiang Song ◽  
Weiqing Guo ◽  
Yuhong Guo ◽  
Naveed Mushtaq ◽  
M. A. K. Yousaf Shah ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Surface Layer ◽  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Ionic Conductivity ◽  
Ionic Transport ◽  
High Ionic Conductivity ◽  
Energy Storage And Conversion ◽  
Practical Applications ◽  
Fuel Cell Performance ◽  
Energy Devices ◽  
Ion Conducting

High ionic conductivity in low-cost semiconductor oxides is essential to develop electrochemical energy devices for practical applications. These materials exhibit fast protonic or oxygen-ion transport in oxide materials by structural doping, but their application to solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) has remained a significant challenge. In this work, we have successfully synthesized nanostructured monoclinic WO3 through three steps: co-precipitation, hydrothermal, and dry freezing methods. The resulting WO3 exhibited good ionic conductivity of 6.12 × 10−2 S cm−1 and reached an excellent power density of 418 mW cm−2 at 550 °C using as an electrolyte in SOFC. To achieve such a high ionic conductivity and fuel cell performance without any doping contents was surprising, as there should not be any possibility of oxygen vacancies through the bulk structure for the ionic transport. Therefore, laterally we found that the surface layer of WO3 is reduced to oxygen-deficient when exposed to a reducing atmosphere and form WO3−δ/WO3 heterostructure, which reveals a unique ionic transport mechanism. Different microscopic and spectroscopic methods such as HR-TEM, SEM, EIS, Raman, UV-visible, XPS, and ESR spectroscopy were applied to investigate the structural, morphological, and electrochemical properties of WO3 electrolyte. The structural stability of the WO3 is explained by less dispersion between the valence and conduction bands of WO3−δ/WO3, which in turn could prevent current leakage in the fuel cell that is essential to reach high performance. This work provides some new insights for designing high-ion conducting electrolyte materials for energy storage and conversion devices.

Defect-Mediated Conductivity Enhancements in Na3-xPn1-xWxS4 (Pn = P, Sb) using Aliovalent Substitutions

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Till Fuchs ◽  
Sean Culver ◽  
Paul Till ◽  
Wolfgang Zeier
Keyword(s):  
Ionic Conductivity ◽  
Vacancy Concentration ◽  
Sodium Ion ◽  
High Ionic Conductivity ◽  
Ionic Conductors ◽  
X Ray Diffraction ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Solid State Batteries ◽  
Ion Conducting ◽  
Very High

<p>The sodium-ion conducting family of Na<sub>3</sub><i>Pn</i>S<sub>4</sub>, with <i>Pn</i> = P, Sb, have gained interest for the use in solid-state batteries due to their high ionic conductivity. However, significant improvements to the conductivity have been hampered by the lack of aliovalent dopants that can introduce vacancies into the structure. Inspired by the need for vacancy introduction into Na<sub>3</sub><i>Pn</i>S<sub>4</sub>, the solid solutions with WS<sub>4</sub><sup>2-</sup> introduction are explored. The influence of the substitution with WS<sub>4</sub><sup>2-</sup> for PS<sub>4</sub><sup>3-</sup> and SbS<sub>4</sub><sup>3-</sup>, respectively, is monitored using a combination of X-ray diffraction, Raman and impedance spectroscopy. With increasing vacancy concentration improvements resulting in a very high ionic conductivity of 13 ± 3 mS·cm<sup>-1</sup> for Na<sub>2.9</sub>P<sub>0.9</sub>W<sub>0.1</sub>S<sub>4</sub> and 41 ± 8 mS·cm<sup>-1</sup> for Na<sub>2.9</sub>Sb<sub>0.9</sub>W<sub>0.1</sub>S<sub>4</sub> can be observed. This work acts as a stepping-stone towards further engineering of ionic conductors using vacancy-injection via aliovalent substituents.</p>

Defect-Mediated Conductivity Enhancements in Na3-xPn1-xWxS4 (Pn = P, Sb) using Aliovalent Substitutions

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Till Fuchs ◽  
Sean Culver ◽  
Paul Till ◽  
Wolfgang Zeier
Keyword(s):  
Ionic Conductivity ◽  
Vacancy Concentration ◽  
Sodium Ion ◽  
High Ionic Conductivity ◽  
Ionic Conductors ◽  
X Ray Diffraction ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Solid State Batteries ◽  
Ion Conducting ◽  
Very High

<p>The sodium-ion conducting family of Na<sub>3</sub><i>Pn</i>S<sub>4</sub>, with <i>Pn</i> = P, Sb, have gained interest for the use in solid-state batteries due to their high ionic conductivity. However, significant improvements to the conductivity have been hampered by the lack of aliovalent dopants that can introduce vacancies into the structure. Inspired by the need for vacancy introduction into Na<sub>3</sub><i>Pn</i>S<sub>4</sub>, the solid solutions with WS<sub>4</sub><sup>2-</sup> introduction are explored. The influence of the substitution with WS<sub>4</sub><sup>2-</sup> for PS<sub>4</sub><sup>3-</sup> and SbS<sub>4</sub><sup>3-</sup>, respectively, is monitored using a combination of X-ray diffraction, Raman and impedance spectroscopy. With increasing vacancy concentration improvements resulting in a very high ionic conductivity of 13 ± 3 mS·cm<sup>-1</sup> for Na<sub>2.9</sub>P<sub>0.9</sub>W<sub>0.1</sub>S<sub>4</sub> and 41 ± 8 mS·cm<sup>-1</sup> for Na<sub>2.9</sub>Sb<sub>0.9</sub>W<sub>0.1</sub>S<sub>4</sub> can be observed. This work acts as a stepping-stone towards further engineering of ionic conductors using vacancy-injection via aliovalent substituents.</p>

scholarly journals Poly(lactic Acid): A Versatile Biobased Polymer for the Future with Multifunctional Properties—From Monomer Synthesis, Polymerization Techniques and Molecular Weight Increase to PLA Applications

Polymers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (11) ◽  
pp. 1822
Author(s):  
Evangelia Balla ◽  
Vasileios Daniilidis ◽  
Georgia Karlioti ◽  
Theocharis Kalamas ◽  
Myrika Stefanidou ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Weight ◽  
Lactic Acid ◽  
Chain Extension ◽  
Poly Lactic Acid ◽  
Plastic Pollution ◽  
Practical Applications ◽  
Decomposition Reactions ◽  
Melt Polycondensation ◽  
Polymerization Conditions ◽  
Molecular Weight Increase

Environmental problems, such as global warming and plastic pollution have forced researchers to investigate alternatives for conventional plastics. Poly(lactic acid) (PLA), one of the well-known eco-friendly biodegradables and biobased polyesters, has been studied extensively and is considered to be a promising substitute to petroleum-based polymers. This review gives an inclusive overview of the current research of lactic acid and lactide dimer techniques along with the production of PLA from its monomers. Melt polycondensation as well as ring opening polymerization techniques are discussed, and the effect of various catalysts and polymerization conditions is thoroughly presented. Reaction mechanisms are also reviewed. However, due to the competitive decomposition reactions, in the most cases low or medium molecular weight (MW) of PLA, not exceeding 20,000–50,000 g/mol, are prepared. For this reason, additional procedures such as solid state polycondensation (SSP) and chain extension (CE) reaching MW ranging from 80,000 up to 250,000 g/mol are extensively investigated here. Lastly, numerous practical applications of PLA in various fields of industry, technical challenges and limitations of PLA use as well as its future perspectives are also reported in this review.

The effect of methyl and methoxy substituents on dianilines for a thermosetting polyimide system

2020 ◽  
Vol 32 (7) ◽  
pp. 801-822 ◽  
Author(s):  
John J La Scala ◽  
Greg Yandek ◽  
Jason Lamb ◽  
Craig M Paquette ◽  
William S Eck ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Thermal Stability ◽  
Molecular Weight ◽  
Glass Transition ◽  
Elevated Temperature ◽  
Methyl Substituent ◽  
Glass Transition Temperatures ◽  
High Performing ◽  
Methoxy Substituent ◽  
Acidic Conditions ◽  
Thermal Stability Of

4,4′-Methylenedianiline (MDA) is widely used in high-temperature polyimide resins, including polymerization of monomer reactants-15. The toxicity of MDA significantly limits the manufacturability using this resin. Modifying the substitution and electronics of MDA could allow for the reduction of toxicity while maintaining the high-performing properties of the materials derived from the modified MDA. The addition of a single methyl substituent, methoxy substituent, location of these substituents, and location of the amine relative to the phenolic bridge were modified as were other non-aniline diamines. Various anilines were condensed with paraformaldehyde under acidic conditions to yield dianilines. These dianilines and diamines were reacted with nadic anhydride and 3,3′,4,4′-benzophenonetetracarboxylic dianhydride in methanol to form the polyamic acid oligomers and heated at elevated temperature to form polyimide oligomers. It was found that the molecular weight of the oligomers derived from MDA alternatives was generally lower than that of MDA oligomers resulting in lower glass transition temperatures ( T gs) and degradation temperatures. Additionally, methoxy substituents further reduce the T g of the polymers versus methyl substituents and reduce the thermal stability of the resin. Methyl-substituted alternatives produced polyimides with similar T gs and degradation temperatures. The toxicity of the MDA alternatives was examined. Although a few were identified with reduced toxicities, the alternatives with properties similar to that of MDA also had high toxicities.

scholarly journals PEO Infiltration of Porous Garnet-Type Lithium-Conducting Solid Electrolyte Thin Films

Ceramics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
pp. 421-436
Author(s):  
Aamir Iqbal Waidha ◽  
Vanita Vanita ◽  
Oliver Clemens
Keyword(s):  
Thin Films ◽  
Solid State ◽  
Ionic Conductivity ◽  
Electrochemical Impedance ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Lithium Ion ◽  
Interfacial Resistance ◽  
Composite Electrolytes ◽  
Ion Conducting ◽  
Polymer Infiltration

Composite electrolytes containing lithium ion conducting polymer matrix and ceramic filler are promising solid-state electrolytes for all solid-state lithium ion batteries due to their wide electrochemical stability window, high lithium ion conductivity and low electrode/electrolyte interfacial resistance. In this study, we report on the polymer infiltration of porous thin films of aluminum-doped cubic garnet fabricated via a combination of nebulized spray pyrolysis and spin coating with subsequent post annealing at 1173 K. This method offers a simple and easy route for the fabrication of a three-dimensional porous garnet network with a thickness in the range of 50 to 100 µm, which could be used as the ceramic backbone providing a continuous pathway for lithium ion transport in composite electrolytes. The porous microstructure of the fabricated thin films is confirmed via scanning electron microscopy. Ionic conductivity of the pristine films is determined via electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. We show that annealing times have a significant impact on the ionic conductivity of the films. The subsequent polymer infiltration of the porous garnet films shows a maximum ionic conductivity of 5.3 × 10−7 S cm−1 at 298 K, which is six orders of magnitude higher than the pristine porous garnet film.

scholarly journals Computational insights into human perceptual expertise for familiar and unfamiliar face recognition

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicholas Blauch ◽  
Marlene Behrmann ◽  
David C. Plaut
Keyword(s):  
Face Recognition ◽  
Theoretical Work ◽  
Fine Tuning ◽  
Identity Verification ◽  
High Performing ◽  
Face Identity ◽  
Unfamiliar Face ◽  
Perceptual Representations ◽  
Expert Networks ◽  
Identity Perception

Humans are generally thought to be experts at face recognition, and yet identity perception for unfamiliar faces is surprisingly poor compared to that for familiar faces. Prior theoretical work has argued that unfamiliar face identity perception suffers because the majority of identity-invariant visual variability is idiosyncratic to each identity, and thus, each face identity must be learned essentially from scratch. Using a high-performing deep convolutional neural network, we evaluate this claim by examining the effects of visual experience in untrained, object-expert and face-expert networks. We found that only face training led to substantial generalization in an identity verification task of novel unfamiliar identities. Moreover, generalization increased with the number of previously learned identities, highlighting the generality of identity-invariant information in face images. To better understand how familiarity builds upon generic face representations, we simulated familiarization with face identities by fine-tuning the network on images of the previously unfamiliar identities. Familiarization produced a sharp boost in verification, but only approached ceiling performance in the networks that were highly trained on faces. Moreover, in these face-expert networks, the sharp familiarity benefit was seen only at the identity-based output layer, and did not depend on changes to perceptual representations; rather, familiarity effects required learning only at the level of identity readout from a fixed expert representation. Our results thus reconcile the existence of a large familiar face advantage with claims that both familiar and unfamiliar face identity processing depend on shared expert perceptual representations.

Diaminomalenonitrile-decorated cholesterol-based supramolecular gelator: aggregation, multiple analyte (hydrazine, Hg2+ and Cu2+) detection and dye adsorption

2018 ◽  
Vol 42 (16) ◽  
pp. 13718-13725 ◽  
Author(s):  
Atanu Panja ◽  
Kumaresh Ghosh
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Weight ◽  
Functional Group ◽  
Dye Adsorption ◽  
Low Molecular Weight ◽  
Practical Applications ◽  
Supramolecular Gels ◽  
Low Molecular Weight Gelator

A low molecular weight gelator (LMWG) containing a diaminomalenonitrile functional group 1 forms supramolecular gels from DMF–H2O and 1,2-dichlorobenzene. The DMF/H2O gel is multi-analyte responsive (Hg2+, Cu2+ and hydrazine) with practical applications in dye adsorption from water.

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