Acetylene Black Nanoparticles Research Articles

Highly dispersed NiS2 quantum dots as a promising cocatalyst bridged by acetylene black significantly improved the photocatalytic H2 evolution performance of g-C3N4 nanosheets.

In this work, ternary nanocomposite (CNs–AB/NiS2) as a novel efficient H2 evolution photocatalyst without the use of noble metals was successfully synthesized by depositing acetylene black (AB) and ultra-fine NiS2 nanoparticles on the surface of CNs (g-C3N4) through ultrasonic dispersion and chemical vapor deposition methods, respectively. It was revealed that the loaded AB and NiS2 nanoparticles have significantly improved the photocatalytic H2 evolution efficiency of the CNs by improving the photogenerated electron–hole pair separation, visible light absorption and hydrogen evolution kinetics. Besides acting as a cocatalyst, AB served as a conductive electron bridge between CNs and NiS2, which accelerated the effective transfer of electrons from CNs to NiS2 and improved the H2 evolution kinetics of the NiS2 cocatalyst. The H2 evolution experiments revealed that the ternary photocatalyst CNs–AB/NiS210 displayed a H2 evolution rate of up to 2434.85 μmoL g−1 h−1, which was a 1.41 times enhancement compared to that of the binary composite CNs–NiS210 and was 12.43 times higher than that of the pure CNs. Moreover, the ternary photocatalyst CNs–AB/NiS210 not only exhibited excellent photocatalytic activity and stability in the tests, but provided a novel idea for the development of high-efficiency catalysts free of noble metals as well.

Effect of carbon-based nanoparticles on the ignition, combustion and flame characteristics of crude oil droplets

The use of in-situ burning (ISB) as a clean-up response in the event of an oil spill has generated controversy because of unburned hydrocarbons and products of incomplete combustion left behind on an ISB site. These substances threaten marine life, both in the ocean and on the ocean floor. Treating crude oil as a multicomponent liquid fuel, this manuscript investigates the effect of carbon-based nanomaterials, acetylene black (AB) and multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWNT), on the combustion and flame characteristics of crude sourced from the Bakken formation (ND, USA). Sub-millimeter droplets of colloidal suspensions of Bakken crude and nanomaterials at various particle loadings were burned, and the process was captured with CMOS and CCD cameras. The resulting images were post-processed to generate burning rate, ignition delay, total combustion time, and flame stand-off (FSR) ratio data for the various crude suspensions. A maximum combustion rate enhancement of 39.5% and 31.1% was observed at a particle loading of 0.5% w/w acetylene black nanoparticles and 0.5% w/w multi-walled carbon nanotubes, respectively. Generally, FSR for pure Bakken was noted as larger than for Bakken with nanoparticle additives. These results are expected to spur further investigations into the use of nanomaterials for ISB crude oil clean-ups.

A novel volumetric absorber integrated with low-cost D-Mannitol and acetylene-black nanoparticles for solar-thermal-electricity generation

Low-medium temperature phase change materials (PCMs) act as a predominant role in one-sun solar thermal energy conversion and storage, attracting increasing attention in recent years. However, highly thermal conductive PCMs relying on the doping of a high dose of thermally conductive particles would limit the light absorption just at its top surface and decrease its bulk thermal storage density. In this work, we designed a volumetric solar absorber integrated with a D-Mannitol (DM) based PCM loaded with a low concentration (0.05 wt%) of acetylene black nanoparticles other than a high concentration of over 5 wt%. Such a method maintains a high phase change enthalpy of DM (295.2 kJ/kg) while achieving an enhanced heat transfer and hence a uniform temperature distribution. Compared to conventional surface absorbers with PCM, the volumetric absorber significantly reduces the temperature difference inside the bulk materials, from 103.1 °C of the surface absorber to 62.7 °C of the volumetric absorber with a thickness of 10 mm. Their photo to thermal charge and discharge performance was investigated for the first time in their based solar thermoelectric generator (STEG) system, which show that the volumetric absorber could reach 198.2 °C on bottom of the PCM and the corresponding open circuit voltage is 0.65 V. Such performance data are significantly better than the corresponding results from the surface absorber of 135.1 °C and 0.45 V, respectively, demonstrating successfully the significant performance enhancement by our volumetric absorber. This paper definitely deepens our understanding of volumetric absorbers and their based device design and applications in solar-thermal-electricity systems.

The effect of acetylene black on droplet combustion and flame regime of petrodiesel and soy biodiesel

The addition of nanomaterials to base liquid fuels for the enhancement of combustion properties has long generated interest, since it is linked to improvement in combustion properties in petroleum-derived fuels. This work investigates the effect of acetylene black nanoparticles on soy-based biodiesel and petrodiesel. These nanoparticles were added in various proportions to base fuels to make suspensions. Sub-millimeter-sized spherical droplets of such suspensions were ignited using hot wire loops, and the combustion process was recorded using a high-speed camera. An infrared imaging camera was also used to record the droplet combustion process. Properties such as ignition delay, combustion rate, total combustion time, flame stand-off ratio, and droplet temperature were measured with post-processing of the resulting images. The results showed an increase in ignition delay of up to 10% in biodiesel and up to 8% in petrodiesel. An up to 13% decrease in biodiesel combustion rate and 1.5% decrease in diesel combustion rate was also observed. Moreover, a maximum of 14% decrease in the total combustion time of biodiesel was observed, compared to a 13% decrease in that of petrodiesel. The results are expected to spark further interest in the exploration of acetylene black as an additive for other liquid fuels.

P-type NiO nanoparticles enhanced acetylene black as efficient counter electrode for dye-sensitized solar cells

P-type nickel oxide acetylene black nanoparticles composite (NiO/AB) enables facile low cost counter electrode for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs), prepared by simple chemical process and doctor-blading method. Nanocrystalline p-type NiO contributes in the improvement of holes conduction at the acetylene black surface and escalates the electrocatalytic activity, confirmed by our cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy measurements. Owing to the improvement of electrocatalytic activity, the mutual porous acetylene black surface with p-type NiO nanoparticles counter electrode and dye-sensitized TiO2 photoanodes yielded significantly enhanced power conversion efficiency of 7.75%, which is superior to that of 6.51% and 6.96% of AB and expensive Pt in our experiment respectively.

Highly sensitive electrochemical sensor for toxic ractopamine based on the enhancement effect of acetylene black nanoparticles

A highly sensitive electrochemical sensor for toxic ractopamine was developed using an acetylene black nanoparticle-modified glassy carbon electrode, exhibiting a large active surface area and enhanced electron transfer capacity.

Facile synthesis and electrochemical performances of binder-free flexible graphene/acetylene black sandwich film

Graphene/acetylene black sandwich film was fabricated by a simple vacuum filtration procedure using a stable complex suspension of graphene oxide (GO) and acetylene black followed by a hydroiodic acid (HI) immersion process to fully reduce the GO to graphene sheets. The self-restacking of individual graphene sheets were greatly alleviated and electric conductivity was obviously improved using the acetylene black nanoparticles as both effective spacers to expand the inter-layer interval of the individual graphene sheets during the film assembly course and highly conducting bridges to facilitate the electron/ion transfer between the upper and lower graphene sheets. The flexible graphene/acetylene black film was utilized as supercapacitor electrode without additional conductive additives, binders and current collectors, which achieved an obviously higher specific capacitance (ca. 136.6Fg−1 at 0.5Ag−1) and much better specific capacitance retention at high current densities than that of the pure graphene film electrode, indicating that such a novel sandwich film structure allows for a higher charge storage capability. More importantly, the assembled symmetric supercapacitor device displayed a satisfactory specific capacitance of 59.2Fg−1 at 0.1Ag−1, 47.6Fg−1 at 0.5Ag−1 and 42.8Fg−1 at 1Ag−1, and only negligible 4.05% capacitance degradation have been found after 1000 continuous charge-discharge cycles at 0.5Ag−1, revealing outstanding rate capability, excellent electrochemical reversibility and long-term cyclability. These results proved that such a flexible and highly conductive graphene/acetylene black film can be promising electroactive materials in the development of advanced electrochemical energy storage devices.

An ultrasensitive electrochemical sensor for xanthine and hypoxanthine based on the enhancement effect of acetylene black

Insoluble acetylene black (AB) nanoparticles were readily dispersed into N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF), and then used to modify the surface of a glassy carbon electrode (GCE) by solvent evaporation. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) characterization indicates that the GCE surface was covered with a uniform AB film composed of a porous structure. The fabricated AB sensing film exhibits remarkably enhanced current signals for the oxidation of xanthine (XA) and hypoxanthine (HXA) compared to the bare glassy carbon electrode (GCE). The influences of pH value, the amount of AB, accumulation potential and the time on the signal enhancement of XA and HXA were studied. Based on the significant enhancement effect of acetylene black nanoparticles, a simple electrochemical sensing platform with high sensitivity was developed for the simultaneous detection of XA and HXA. Under the optimal conditions, the detection limits (S/N = 3) of XA and HXA were estimated to be as low as 2.5 nM and 5 nM, respectively. Moreover, the proposed electrochemical method was successfully used to detect a real blood sample.

Preparing ACB/UHMWPE Composite by PCS Process and its Electric Resistance-Temperature Behavior

Composite particles with ultra-high molecular polyethylene (UHMWPE) matrix core and acetylene black (ACB) shell were produced by particle composite system (PCS), and molded into conductive polymer composites. Morphology of these composite particles was investigated by SEM. Matrix particles were coated by ACB nanoparticles very well. Conductive networks of ACB in polymer composites were seen by SEM. The results of electrical behavior study show that the polymer composites exhibit low percolation threshold and its electric conductivity is less affected by temperature due to unusual ACB distribution. Related mechanism is discussed.

Electrochemical determination of chrysophanol based on the enhancement effect of acetylene black nanoparticles

Acetylene black (AB) nanoparticles were readily dispersed into water in the presence of dihexadecyl hydrogen phosphate. After evaporation of water, the surface of glassy carbon electrode (GCE) was coated with AB nanoparticles as confirmed from the scanning electron microscopy measurements. The transmission electron microscopy images indicated that AB nanoparticles possessed porous structure. Electrochemical behavior of chrysophanol was studied, and a sensitive oxidation peak was observed in pH 3.6 acetate buffer solution. Compared with the bare GCE, the AB nanoparticles-modified GCE greatly increased the oxidation peak current of chrysophanol, showing remarkable signal enhancement effect. The influences of pH value, amount of AB, accumulation potential and time on the signal enhancement of chrysophanol were studied. As a result, a novel electrochemical method was developed for the determination of chrysophanol. The linear range was from 1.5 to 200μgL−1, and the detection limit was 0.51μgL−1 (2.01×10−9M) after 2-min accumulation. Finally, this method was used in traditional Chinese medicines, and the results consisted with the values that obtained by high-performance liquid chromatography.

In vivo study on the monoamine neurotransmitters and their metabolites change in the striatum of Parkinsonian rats by liquid chromatography with an acetylene black nanoparticles modified electrode

The variation in the concentration of monoamine neurotransmitters and their metabolites in an experimental Parkinsonian animal model established by unilateral 6-hydroxydopamine administration was studied. For the purpose of detecting monoamine neurotransmitters and their metabolites more sensitively, an acetylene black nanoparticles modified electrode was fabricated and used as the working electrode for an electrochemical detector in HPLC. The results indicated that the modified electrode exhibited efficiently electrocatalytic oxidation for monoamine neurotransmitters and their metabolites with relatively high sensitivity, long life, and stability. The linear ranges spanned four orders of magnitude (r>0.998) and the detectability was on the level of 0.1nmolL−1. The percent relative standard deviation (%RSD) for each compound at all concentration levels was lower than 2.57% and 1.94% for intra-day and inter-day precision, respectively. The mean recovery values were between 98.75% and 105.25%, and the %RSD was found to be less than 1.02%. Coupled with in vivo microdialysis sampling, the validated method was successfully applied to measure monoamine neurotransmitters and their metabolites in both sides of the striatum of conscious and freely moving Parkinsonian rats, and the extracellular monoamine neurotransmitters and their metabolites in the lesioned-side striatum of unilateral 6-hydroxydopamine-lesioned rats were lower than that in the intact side striatum or in the striatum of control rats.

Electrochemical oxidation and detection of paeonol on modified electrode with acetylene black nanoparticles

With an aim to construct a sensing platform for the electrochemical detection of paeonol, we modified the glassy carbon electrode with acetylene black nanoparticle (AB). A sensitive oxidation peak of paeonol was observed with remarkably increased peak current on the modified electrode because the electrode has a big surface area due to three dimensional structure of AB nanoparticles. The optimization of detection conditions was performed, including pH value of the buffer, the amount of AB nanoparticles on the electrode surface, the accumulation potential and time of paeonol. Under the optimized conditions, the oxidation peak current of paeonol increased linearly with its concentration over the range from 5×10(-7) to 1×10(-4) M. The detection limit was calculated to be 1×10(-7) M. The modified electrode was successfully applied to detect the content of paeonol in cortex moutan, a common traditional Chinese medicine. The method is new, sensitive, rapid and convenient for the detection of paeonol.

Acetylene black nanoparticle-modified electrode as an electrochemical sensor for rapid determination of rutin

Acetylene black nanoparticles were homogeneously dispersed into water in the presence of hydrophobic surfactant and then used to modify the surface of a glassy carbon electrode. An examination of the electrochemistry of rutin showed that this modification of the electrodes resulted in a considerable enhancement of the surface, thus remarkably increasing the signal for rutin. As a result, a sensitive and convenient electrochemical method was developed for the determination of rutin. The linear range is from 20 μg L-1 to 5 mg L-1, and the limit of detection is 10 μg L-1. The method was successfully employed to the determination of rutin in traditional Chinese medicines.

Enhanced electrochemical detection of erythromycin based on acetylene black nanoparticles

Acetylene black nanoparticles (AB) were dispersed into water in the presence of dihexadecyl hydrogen phosphate (DHP), and used to modify the surface of glassy carbon electrode (GCE) via solvent evaporation. Due to the high sorption ability, large surface area and numerous active sites, the AB-modified GCE showed a strong enhancement effect on the oxidation of erythromycin, and greatly increased the peak current. The oxidation mechanism was investigated at the surface of AB-modified GCE, and two oxidation peaks were observed for erythromycin. The first oxidation peak is attributed to the removal of one electron from the nitrogen atom to form an aminium cation radical, and the second peak is due to the oxidation of the chemical product of aminium cation radical. The influence of pH value, amount of AB, accumulation potential and time was also studied, and a novel electrochemical method was developed for the determination of erythromycin. The linear range is from 2 × 10 −7 to 1 × 10 −5 M, and the limit of detection is 8 × 10 −8 M (58.72 μg L −1).

97/04722 On undervoltage load shedding in power systems: Arnborg, S. et al. Electrical Power and Energy Systems, 1997, 19, (2), 141–149

Graphene/acetylene black sandwich film was fabricated by a simple vacuum filtration procedure using a stable complex suspension of graphene oxide (GO) and acetylene black followed by a hydroiodic acid (HI) immersion process to fully reduce the GO to graphene sheets. The self-restacking of individual graphene sheets were greatly alleviated and electric conductivity was obviously improved using the acetylene black nanoparticles as both effective spacers to expand the inter-layer interval of the individual graphene sheets during the film assembly course and highly conducting bridges to facilitate the electron/ion transfer between the upper and lower graphene sheets. The flexible graphene/acetylene black film was utilized as supercapacitor electrode without additional conductive additives, binders and current collectors, which achieved an obviously higher specific capacitance (ca. 136.6 F g−1 at 0.5 A g−1) and much better specific capacitance retention at high current densities than that of the pure graphene film electrode, indicating that such a novel sandwich film structure allows for a higher charge storage capability. More importantly, the assembled symmetric supercapacitor device displayed a satisfactory specific capacitance of 59.2 F g−1 at 0.1 A g−1, 47.6 F g−1 at 0.5 A g−1 and 42.8 F g−1 at 1 A g−1, and only negligible 4.05% capacitance degradation have been found after 1000 continuous charge-discharge cycles at 0.5 A g−1, revealing outstanding rate capability, excellent electrochemical reversibility and long-term cyclability. These results proved that such a flexible and highly conductive graphene/acetylene black film can be promising electroactive materials in the development of advanced electrochemical energy storage devices.