V2O5 as magnesium cathode material with extended cyclic stability

In this work, the electrochemical performance of aerosol-assisted chemical vapour deposited vanadium pentoxide cathodes at 600 °C, is presented. The as-grown oxides indicate specific discharge capacity of 300 mA h g-1 with capacity retention of 92 % after 10000 scans, coulombic efficiency of 100 %, noble structural stability and high reversibility. The present study shows the possibility to grow large-area magnesium cathode material with extended cycle stability via utilization of an aqueous electrolyte under a corrosive environment. This enhanced performance may be a combination of electrode morphology and adherence, when compared to previous work employing electrode growth temperature at 500 °C.

Outflow dynamics in a French system of vertical wetlands operating with an extended feeding cycle

The possibility of using the first stage of the French System (FS) of vertical wetlands composed of only two units in parallel requires hydraulic investigations to allow a better understanding of its operation under tropical climatic environments. This study evaluated the pattern of the outflow hydrograph along an extended cycle of operation (seven days of feeding) and the influence of the sludge deposit, rainfall occurrence and duration of pulse application on the outflow hydrograph in a modified full-scale FS in Brazil. The results indicated that, as the feeding cycle days increased, there was an increase in the time of filtration and the internal storage of the liquid volume, probably due to a reduction in the filter permeability. Greater hydraulic gradient favoured the infiltration velocity, decreased the amount of liquid stored within the system, and delayed the loss of permeability. The sludge layer contributed to a momentary liquid retention, and also allowed greater evapotranspiration, reducing the liquid volume to be treated. The sludge deposit seemed to hinder the liquid percolation, especially at the end of the cycle, modifying the hydraulic conductivity of the filter as a whole. Intense rainfall events demonstrated that precipitation could modify the flow dynamics within the system.