Energy Materials Research Articles

Experimental investigation on the machining performance of honeycomb seal structures by using electrochemical discharge machining

Aerospace metal honeycomb seal structures are an essential component of aircraft engines, and their manufacturing has been at the forefront of industrial focus. Due to the low structural stiffness and high-strength materials, it has become one of the complex components that are difficult to machine. To achieve precision manufacturing of honeycomb seal structures, this study proposes the use of electrochemical discharge machining (ECDM) for machining honeycomb seal structures, which has the high efficiency of electric discharge machining (EDM) and superior surface quality of electrochemical machining (ECM). The experiment results explored the influence of different experimental variables on surface quality, energy distribution relation and material removal rate (MRR). Moreover, in order to predict the machined depth, the mathematical relation between different variables and machined depth was established, which can be expressed as h = 1.407c0.1135u0.3102v-0.391, and a better machining outcome was achieved at 1 wt%, 15 V, and 22 mm/min with an optimal η2 of 0.36. Finally, this study elucidates the material removal mechanism of honeycomb seal structures in ECDM, which demonstrates that ECDM has a high application value in the manufacturing of honeycomb seal structures.

A novel epoxy-based self-healing robust superhydrophobic coatings for oil/water separation

Low durability greatly limits the practical application of superhydrophobic coating. In this study, we report a method of employing low surface energy materials and chemically reactive epoxy groups that possess strong adhesion on substrates in one system to solve the durability issue. A branched epoxy with dangling long polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) tail was first synthesized through a thiol-Michael addition reaction. After curing, this coating exhibited superhydrophobicity with the contact angles (CAs) of 162.8 ± 1.0° and excellent durability towards strong acid (pH = 1.0), organic solvents as well as thermal treatment (150 °C, 24 h). Notably, the CAs of this coating could maintain above 150° after 80 times of sandpaper abrasions, 100 times of tape-peeling, and 240 min of ultrasonic treatment, respectively. More importantly, the coating could spontaneously revert to a superhydrophobic state at room temperature after being plasma-treated to a superhydrophilic state. The coating fabric was utilized to separate the mixture of oil/water and the efficiencies for blend oil, corn oil, and soybean oil were found to be 97.7 ± 0.4 %, 98.2 ± 0.5 %, and 98.7 ± 0.3 %, respectively. This work provides a novel strategy to create a fluorine-free, self-healing, and robust superhydrophobic coating.

Strategies for the Preparation of Single-Atom Catalysts Using Low-Dimensional Metal-Organic Frameworks.

As single-atom catalysts are important energy materials, their preparation and synthesis methods have become particularly important. The unique structures of low-dimensional metal-organic frameworks and their derivatives provide various strategies for preparing single-atom catalysts. This paper summarizes various strategies for the preparation of single-atom catalysts based on low-dimensional metal-organic frameworks and their derivatives.

Bifunctional energy materials based on cellulose ionic complexes toward low-grade heat and photon energy storage

Discovering energy materials for low-grade heat and photon energy storage would advance the energy utilization from natural resources. Here, the ionic complexes based on cellulose and azobenzene-containing surfactant are presented as a new class of phase change materials for achieving this objective. Such materials could accomplish the energy charging in two different ways. Under UV light, the ionic complexes store photon energy and low-grade heat via the photoisomerization of azobenzene and the induced isothermal phase change at room temperature. While, without light condition, they could be employed for storing low-grade heat through a gradual phase change below 100 °C, by taking advantage of the intermolecular interaction changes. In the two different energy charging ways, the gravimetric energy densities for low-grade heat storage upon heating and photoinduced energy storage are up to 202 J/g and 152 J/g, respectively. The stored energy could be fast released as heat under Vis light irradiation. In addition, the fabrication of gold nanoparticles is proved to be a highly effective method for the fast energy charging under UV light. This work provides a new physicochemical principle for the development of energy storage materials based on biomolecules, which would also advance the economic value of cellulose as biomass resource.

Understanding the origins of reversible and hysteretic pathways of adsorption phase transitions in metal-organic frameworks

Phase behavior of nanoconfined fluids adsorbed in metal–organic frameworks is of paramount importance for the design of advanced materials for energy and gas storage, separations, electrochemical devices, sensors, and drug delivery, as well as for the pore structure characterization. Phase transformations in adsorbed fluids often involve long-lasting metastable states and hysteresis that has been well-documented in gas adsorption–desorption and nonwetting fluid intrusion-extrusion experiments. However, theoretical prediction of the observed nanophase behavior remains a challenging problem. The mesoscopic canonical, or mesocanonical, ensemble (MCE) is devised to study the nanophase behavior under conditions of controlled fluctuations to stabilize metastable and labile states. Here, we implement and apply the MCE Monte Carlo (MCEMC) simulation scheme to predict the origins of reversible and hysteric adsorption phase transitions in a series of practical MOF materials, including IRMOF-1, ZIF-412, UiO-66, Cu-BTC, IRMOF-74-V, VII, and IX. The MCEMC method, called the gauge cell method, allows to produce Van der Waals type isotherms with distinctive swings around the phase transition regions. The constructed isotherms determine the positions of phase equilibrium and spinodals, as well as the nucleation barriers separating metastable states. We demonstrate the unique capabilities of the MCEMC method in quantitative predictions of experimental observations compared with the conventional grand canonical and canonical ensemble simulations. The MCEMC method is implemented in the open-source RASPA and LAMMPS software packages and recommended for studies of adsorption behavior and pore structure characterization of MOFs and other nanoporous materials.

Machine Learning Orchestrating the Materials Discovery and Performance Optimization of Redox Flow Battery

AbstractThis review exploits the crucial role of computational methods in discovering and optimizing materials for redox flow batteries (RFBs). Integration of high‐throughput computational screening (HTCS) and machine learning (ML) accelerates materials discovery, guided by algorithms categorizing RFBs. A collaborative exploration, spanning macroscopic to mesoscopic scales, combines quantum machine learning with reinforcement learning, transfer learning, time series analysis, Bayesian optimization, active learning and various generative models. The collaborative integration of ML with computational techniques and experimental methods, anchored in experimentally validated Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, proves indispensable for cost‐effective RFBs. Data collection and feature engineering are explored, emphasizing the integration of optimization goals and precise data collection within the ML framework. Feature analysis importance is highlighted, utilizing methods such as the filter, embedded, wrapper and deep learning methods for efficient energy materials exploration. Computational perspectives on materials features and operating conditions encompass membrane characteristics, fluid dynamics, temperature dependence and pressure sensitivity. Time‐dependent features and ML‐generated insights are crucial for understanding cycling performance intricacies, providing a comprehensive understanding of RFB materials.

One-step facile fabrication of PDA@MCE for high efficiency seawater desalination

A variety of photothermal materials have been developed and applied in photothermal seawater desalination. As a conjugated polymer, Polydopamine (PDA) has excellent light absorption properties in the UV–visible region, and is widely used as a solar energy material. In this work, Polydopamine-mixed cellulose membrane (PDA@MCE) with Janus structure was prepared by a one-step method for water evaporation at the interface between PDA and mixed cellulose membrane (MCE). PDA@MCE has good thermal stability. When the reaction time is 6 h, the evaporation rate of the composite is twice that of MCE, and the photothermal conversion efficiency is about 62 %. PDA@MCE, as a kind of photothermal material with simple preparation method and friendly to the environment, has excellent application potential in solar driven interfacial water evaporation.

Novel pyrochlore type europium stannate – tungsten disulfide heterostructure for light driven carbon dioxide reduction and nitrogen fixation

The reduction of carbon dioxide (CO2) and nitrogen (N2) to value-added products is a substantial area of research in the fields of sustainable chemistry and renewable energy that aims at reducing greenhouse gas emissions and the production of alternative fuels and chemicals. The current work deals with the synthesis of pyrochlore-type europium stannate (Eu2Sn2O7: EuSnO), tungsten disulfide (WS2:WS), and novel EuSnO/WS heterostructure by a simple and facile co-precipitation-aided hydrothermal method. Using different methods, the morphological and structural analyses of the prepared samples were characterized. It was confirmed that a heterostructure was formed between the cubic EuSnO and the layered WS. Synthesized materials were used for photocatalytic CO2 and N2 reduction under UV and visible light. The amount of CO and CH4 evolved due to CO2 reduction is high in EuSnO/WS (CO = 104, CH4 = 64 μmol h−1 g−1) compared to pure EuSnO (CO = 36, CH4 = 70 μmol h−1 g−1) and WS (CO = 22, CH4 = 1.8 μmol h−1 g−1) under visible light. The same trend was observed even in the N2 fixation reaction under visible light, and the amount of NH4+ produced was found to be 13, 26, and 41 μmol h−1 g−1 in the presence of WS, EuSnO and EuSnO/WS, respectively. Enhanced light-driven activity towards CO2 and N2 reduction reactions in EuSnO/WS is due to the efficient charge separation through the formation of type-II heterostructure, which is in part associated with photocurrent response, photoluminescence, and electrochemical impedence spectroscopic (EIS) results. The EuSnO/WS heterostructure's exceptional stability and reusability may pique the attention of pyrochlore-based composite materials in photocatalytic energy and environmental applications.

Hydrothermal Carbonization of Green Harvesting Residues (GHRs) from Sugar Cane: Effect of Temperature and Water/GHR Ratio on Mass and Energy Yield.

The Valle del Cauca region in Colombia is a significant producer of sugar cane, resulting in large quantities of agricultural residues (green harvesting residues (GHRs)). To ensure sustainable management of these residues, it is crucial to implement proper treatment and disposal technologies while also reusing waste to produce biogas, bioelectricity, or biofuels. The biomass hydrothermal carbonization process offers a means to convert these residues into useful products that serve as fuels or valuable energy materials. This thermal treatment involves the use of water as a solvent and reagent within the biomass's internal structure. In this study, sugar cane cutting residues were collected with relatively high moisture content of 8.5% wt. These residues were subjected to carbonization temperatures ranging from 200 to 300 °C, along with water/GHR ratios between 5/1 and 10/1. The properties of the resulting hydrocarbons were analyzed by using proximate and ultimate analysis. The objective was to produce hydrochar samples with the highest higher heating value (HHV) and energy density compared with the GHRs. The HHV value of the hydrochar showed a significant increase of 69.6% compared with that of the GHRs, reaching 43.5 MJ/kg. Besides, process parameters were optimized for mass yields, energy yields, and ash content. This exploration led us to investigate a new temperature range between 280 and 320 °C, allowing us to establish an optimal value for the hydrochar's properties.

The Effectiveness of SETS Learning Model toward the Misconception Decrease of Tenth Graders on Work and Energy Materials

The Effectiveness of SETS Learning Model toward the Misconception Decrease of Tenth Graders on Work and Energy Materials

Development of Moocs-Assisted Digital Teaching Materials to Increase Student Learning Motivation in the Material of Work and Energy at Bengkulu City High School

Development of Moocs-Assisted Digital Teaching Materials to Increase Student Learning Motivation in the Material of Work and Energy at Bengkulu City High School

Development of PHYVAR (Physics in 3d Virtual Reality) on Solar Energy Material to Support Students’ Spatial Intelligence

Spatial intelligence, as proposed by Howard Gardner's theory of multiple intelligences, is one of eight different intelligences that every individual has. The 9 intelligences include: visual-spatial intelligence, linguistic-verbal intelligence, logical-mathematical intelligence, physical-kinesthetic intelligence, musical intelligence, interpersonal intelligence, intrapersonal intelligence, naturalistic intelligence and existential intelligence. Spatial intelligence includes a person's ability to visualize objects complexly in three dimensions, manipulate an object to make it appear realistic and understand spatial relationships with physical phenomena. This form of intelligence plays an important role in various fields, including but not limited to physics, engineering, architecture, and scientific exploration. In this field, the capacity to conceptualize and work with spatial elements is fundamental to problem solving and innovation. Solar energy, also known as solar power or solar radiation, is a renewable and sustainable energy source that comes from the sun. Its significance is critical in overcoming global challenges related to energy security, climate change mitigation and environmental sustainability. The integration of solar energy topics into the class is critical. In particular, point 7 of the goal emphasizes the ambition to achieve universal access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy services by 2030, making solar energy education an integral part of preparing students for a sustainable future. The main objective of the research discussed is to test the feasibility of PHYVAR (Physics in 3D Virtual Reality) on Solar Energy material to support students' spatial intelligence. This research uses Research and Development (R&D) approach by utilizing the Rowntree development model which includes planning, development and evaluation stages. The software used for development includes: Blender 3D 4.0 and Unity Hub 2022, which is used to create a virtual reality environment, displaying a combination of technological advances in education. The evaluation process for PHYVAR media and solar energy materials is carried out with validation by experts, which include material experts and media experts. Apart from that, input and assessment of media suitability were taken from the responses of 35 Class X students from a high school in Pandeglang. Validation results from both experts and students show a high level of agreement, meeting the criteria for the "very good" category, which shows the potential of PHYVAR media in increasing spatial intelligence and facilitating effective learning experiences. The integration of virtual reality technology and interactive learning materials such as PHYVAR in educational environments offers a transformative learning approach. Not only does it increase students' understanding of complex concepts, but it also fosters creativity, critical thinking, and problem-solving competence. By utilizing innovative educational methods such as virtual reality simulations, educators can create engaging and immersive learning environments tailored to diverse learning preferences and abilities, thereby creating a more engaging and effective educational landscape.

Preface

Abstract The 2023 4th International Conference on Material Chemistry and Composite Materials (MCCM 2023) took place during December 22nd to 24th, 2023 in Sanya, China. MCCM exists as an annual international academic conference which tries to meet the needs for various kinds of material chemistry and composite materials. Bearing the principle of “bringing together global wisdom in scientific innovation to promote high-quality development”, MCCM 2023 encouraged the exchange of information on research frontiers in different fields related to material chemistry and composite materials, connected the most advanced academic resources at home and abroad, and turned research results into industrial solutions. It also promoted the development of related disciplines, expanded the international scientific and academic exchange channels, enhanced scientific innovation on a global scale, and contributed to academic cooperation between China and the international community. The Conference was attended by about 100 participants and hosted 6 keynote speeches, many oral and poster presentations, as well as Questions & Answer part. The topics of the 4th MCCM cover various research fields where material chemistry and composite materials are applied, such as Surface Chemistry, New Energy Materials, Nanotechnology and Materials, Physical and Structural Properties of Materials, Multiferroic Materials and Composites, etc. According to all the attendees, the scientific program was excellent with high level of presentations and the scientific environment was fruitful, thus all of them had a great and creative time. In the keynote speech part, Professor Liguang Wang (Zhejiang University, China) shared his research on Understanding the Degradation Mechanisms in High-Energy Density Cathodes via Synchrotron X-Ray Techniques. To advance the development of the next generation of high-energy-density cathode materials, his research endeavors have systematically unraveled the intricacies of performance degradation mechanisms inherent in layered structure cathodes. This exploration leveraged a sophisticated combination of advanced synchrotron X-ray-based characterization techniques across multiple scales. His investigation has been transformative, shedding light on the intrinsic correlation between stress-strain dynamics and mechanical degradation within layered cathode materials. With rounds of dramatic researches sharing and ideas exchanging, the Conference was made filled with academic atmosphere. We would like to thank Beihang University, China for its support. We would also like to acknowledge the members of the Organizing Committee and Technical Program Committee for their preparation and suggestion on the Conference. Our gratitude also goes to the members of Journal of Physics: Conference Series for their support in publishing this paper volume. The Committee of MCCM 2023 List of Committee Member is available in this pdf.

Enhancing Resource Efficiency and Environmental Protection with Circular Economy and New Energy Materials

Enhancing Resource Efficiency and Environmental Protection with Circular Economy and New Energy Materials

Life Cycle Assessment of New Energy Materials: From Production to Disposal

Life Cycle Assessment of New Energy Materials: From Production to Disposal

Environmental assessment of materials in preparing alkali-activated materials using bauxite residue

Abstract Aluminum is a highly produced metal globally. In the built environments alone, aluminum is known for its light weight and anti-corrosive properties and is a common choice of material in window frames, curtain walls, and light fixtures. The metal is processed from its oxide, alumina, the production of which releases a caustic byproduct known as bauxite residue (BR). BR is stored in massive reservoirs, however, due to the sheer volume of production, industries handling the material are reaching their storage limits. It is of high importance to research methods to valorize BR. Researchers have proposed a multitude of valorization methods, which include metal recovery from the byproduct, and using BR as raw material in production of another material. However, it is counterproductive to expend considerable amounts of energy and use excessive raw materials to manage utilization of BR. This study compared a method of valorization of bauxite residue with clay bricks. The method of preparing alkali-activated materials (AAM) with bauxite residue as a precursor was semi-quantitatively analyzed to compare the raw materials in the AAM with clay bricks. The materials were analyzed for climate change, ozone depletion, human toxicity, and aquatic ecotoxicity using OpenLCA software and the ecoinvent version 3.4 database. While the alkali activators possessed high values of the environmental impact when measured by the kilogram, the impacts were greatly reduced due to their small percentage in weight contained in the AAM. This study is the first stage of analyzing the environmental costs of valorizing bauxite residue. The AAM showed low environmental impact in material use when impacts of toxicity are considered. However, it displayed a higher climate change impact than that of clay bricks. Transport of raw materials to the preparation site played a significant role in the analysis. The next step is to compare the energy used in preparing AAMs.

Preface

Abstract The 2024 3rd International Conference on Energy Utilization and Automation (ICEUA 2024) took place during March 15th to 17th, 2024 in Wuhan, China. It was held in the form of virtual conference, which provided a convenient academic communication platform for experts, scholars, enterprise representatives and researchers from all over the world. ICEUA 2024 attracted more than 150 experts, scholars, business representatives and researchers from all over the world. They come from different countries and regions, with different academic backgrounds and research directions. Meanwhile, the organizing committee of the conference was supported and guided by many well-known experts and scholars at home and abroad, with more than half from abroad. They all have rich academic backgrounds and practical experiences, which provided a strong guarantee for the smooth holding of the conference. The conference agenda covered many parts, including the opening ceremony, keynote speeches, oral presentations, poster presentations, free discussion, and closing ceremony. The Conference General Chair Prof. Mouquan Shen (Nanjing Tech University, China) delivered heartfelt congratulations on the convening of the conference and a sincere welcome to all attending scholars, emphasizing that the key to ensuring the sustainable development of energy in China is to improve the efficiency of energy utilization. Then in the keynote presentation part, participants listened to the brilliant speeches of famous experts from home and abroad, and learned about the latest research results and development trends in the field of energy utilization and automation. They all together carried out in-depth exchanges and discussions around the theme of energy utilization and automation, and jointly explored the future development trends and challenges in this field. The theme of ICEUA 2024 covers a wide range of research areas, including Energy Material, Energy Equipment, Energy Storage System, Transport and Distribution of Electric Energy, Modern Signal Processing and Detection Technology, Automation Instrumentation and Device, Automatic Control Application Theory, and so on. The conference proceedings embraces a large number of excellent research results from researchers and scholars from domestic and foreign universities, scientific research institutes, enterprises and institutions. These papers not only reflect the latest research developments in the field of energy utilization and automation, but also demonstrate the cutting-edge technologies and innovative applications in this field. We would like to express our heartfelt thanks to all the experts, scholars, and staff who worked hard for ICEUA 2024. At the same time, we would like to thank all the contributors and guests for their trust and support, which have contributed to the prosperity of the field of energy utilization and automation. List of Committee Member is available in this pdf.

Ethnoscience Study of Tabuik Pariaman, West Sumatra in Physics Learning

Tabuik is an annual event in Pariaman City, West Sumatra which has become a tourist attraction and icon of Pariaman City. The Tabuik event has many rituals in its implementation, starting from the manufacturing process to the ceremonial procession. This Tabuik event can be studied and found in ethnoscience to be integrated and implemented in Physics and Science learning at school. The research method used is qualitative research based on case studies. Data collection techniques include video observations of the process of making and ceremonial Tabuik Pariaman, and interviews. The results obtained from this research are that the Tabuik Pariaman ceremony process has the value of reconstructing knowledge through ethnoscience which can explain the local wisdom of the community. Tabuik ethnoscience can be implemented in Physics learning in the material of Force, Mechanical and Kinetic Energy, Moment of Inertia, Equilibrium of Rigid Bodies, and Elasticity. Implementation of Tabuik ethnoscience in science learning, namely in Biology learning about the classification of living things. Suggestions for further research include the implementation of Physics and Science learning from the culture and local wisdom of other regions

Study of KOH as alkali for enhancing performance of photo-galvanic cell in transparent cylindrical cell design

Photo-galvanic cells are liquid electrolyte-based dye-sensitized solar cells. Chemically, the dye/pigment photo-sensitizer, reductant, surfactant, and alkali materials are the main fabrication components of these cells. Most dye/pigment materials are more soluble and stable at high pH. The pH of Potassium hydroxide (an alkali of plant nutrient ‘potassium’ element) is very high. Therefore, Potassium hydroxide is supposed to be the best eco-friendly and effective alkali medium for photogalvanics. As far as alkali is concerned, NaOH has been exploited extensively in photo-galvanics. Although, the NaOH-based photo-galvanics show good electrical output, it is plagued with some drawbacks like shorter shelf life, high cost, unsafe for skin, low conductivity, low water solubility, etc. Therefore, in the present research, the KOH has been exploited as an alkali material for harvesting solar energy using the Sunset Yellow FCF dye sensitizer-Ascorbic acid reductant-CTAB surfactant cylindrical cell designed photo-galvanic system.In the present study, the observed optimum cell performance is as follows-open-circuit potential 777 mV, maximum current 25000 μA, short-circuit current 5600 μA, power 733.6 μW, fill factor 0.16, and efficiency is 19.77 % at pH 14.30. The Sunset Yellow FCF dye shows very high photostability and photo-absorption with KOH alkali. The power storage capacity is sufficiently robust, as the cell is capable of supplying power at its ∼36.16 % capacity after a very long time of 24 h. The KOH-Sunset Yellow FCF dye sensitizer-Ascorbic acid reductant-CTAB surfactant photo-galvanics in the present study show improved results over the reported results for the NaOH-Sunset Yellow FCF dye sensitizer-Ascorbic acid reductant-CTAB surfactant photo-galvanics. The reasons for the good photo-galvanics with KOH alkali may be attributed to some peculiar chemical and physical properties of KOH vis-à-vis the chemical and physical properties of NaOH.

INTEGRATION OF APPLIED IPD MODULES INTO THE COMPOSITION OF ORGANISATIONAL AND TECHNOLOGICAL TOOLS FOR CONSTRUCTION

Modern construction projects are characterised by complex multifunctional relationships that require processing a large amount of information. The main task of innovative development of construction development is to create competitive advantages in the strategic perspective, which form a safe and comfortable environment for human life that meets high international quality standards, ensuring sustainable socio-economic development of the country's construction industry. Integrated Project Delivery (IPD) is a completely new idea based on Building Information Modelling (BIM) technology. The main idea is to work closely with the investor, designer and executors of a construction project. Achievement of competitive advantages should be based on innovative re-equipment of the construction industry, development of innovative competences, engineering schemes for life cycle management of construction projects, application of information technologies to increase productivity, reduce energy intensity, material consumption and cost of construction products. The article analyses the benefits of using information modelling and the integrated project implementation method in construction. A mathematical model for choosing the optimal network organisational structure of a project is developed. The main factors affecting the synergistic effect of the construction project implementation (costs of making changes to the project, increasing the implementation time, transaction and operating costs) are identified. An economic and mathematical model for assessing the synergistic effect of the joint implementation of integrated construction project implementation and information modelling has been built and tested in practice. A simulation model has been developed for a comprehensive study and optimisation of the communication network of participants in the implementation of a construction project. The results obtained will allow the top management of contractors to effectively monitor, structure and manoeuvre assets in their operations, substantiate the economic strategy and parameters of the production and business portfolio of construction companies.