Polymer Binder Research Articles

(Invited) Improving Our Understanding of Conducting Polymer Binders

As lithium-ion batteries reach their intrinsic performance limits, next-generation battery technology arises that relies much more strongly on the electrode matrix. Traditional compositions of binders and conductive additives with non-polar surfaces face intrinsic obstacles in these developments. In many next-generation electrode formulations, this incompatibility reveals itself through particle disconnection, increased electrode inhomogeneity1, and conductive additive agglomeration2. Conducting polymers are an apparent solution to such problems. Conducting polymers and their composites can be designed to exhibit increased adhesion, stronger interactions with active material surfaces and electrolytes, and favorable mechanical properties, while providing electronic connectivity at the adhesive contact with the active material3. Many examples have been presented in the literature that demonstrate improved electrode performance using such composites4–6.A common form of conducting polymer composites combines an intrinsically conductive polymer (e.g. polypyrrole, polythiophene, polyaniline) with a polyelectrolyte (e.g. polacrylate, polystyrene sulfonate, carboxymethyl cellulose). This presentation discusses an exploration of some of the fundamental properties of composites of polypyrrole with carboxymethyl cellulose. The work shows intrinsically favorable properties of the composite for application in batteries7. Among those properties are that it can be easily processed in water and N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone, exhibits better adhesion to the current collector, shows competitive conductivity and distributes evenly across active materials. However, it will also be shown that the native structure of this composite is not ideal for long-range conduction and that improvement can be made to the material’s conductivity and capacitance8.Our work is targeting a more complete understanding of the properties of these composites as they are employed in battery environments. It demonstrates enormous promise for the use of conducting polymers as binders, but also gaps in our understanding of their interactions with electrolytes and active materials that need to be addressed to advance their impact on the development of next-generation batteries.

Towards a novel pullulan and pullulan-enteric hard capsules: Study of drug release and crucial capsule features

Pullulan, a natural polymer, is often used as a plant-based alternative polymer for gelatin to produce hard capsules. To the best of our knowledge, there have been negligible studies on the performance of enteric pullulan capsules. Hence, this paper describes a new formulation for enteric pullulan hard capsules that can resist the acidic environment of the stomach and release the drug in the small intestine without the need for an exterior coating. This formulation consists of three polymers, including pullulan, Eudragit L100, and κ-carrageenan, which are used to develop resistance against acid and facilitate gelation to form capsules. With regards to the humidity assessment of target hard capsules, it is estimated that the prepared capsules possess an appropriate potential for target utilizations. The capsules were tested using esomeprazole as a model drug for dissolution testing. The results demonstrated that the enteric hard-shell capsules remained stable for 2 h in 0.1 N HCl at a pH of 1.2 and then ruptured upon entering a phosphate buffer (simulated small intestine) medium at a pH of 6.8. The FESEM and cross-sectional analysis revealed that no drug was released due to the absence of pores on the surface. Rheological examinations also revealed that the prepared solution have a desirable property. It is certified that the NMR spectrum proposes the existence of crosslinking and polymerization of pullulan which signifies appropriate existing interactions polymeric binders and gelling agent. TGA and DSC evaluations are in well accordance with the strong cross-linked structure generated by comprising pullulan polymer with the Eudragit pH-sensitive Polymer. Overall. this new formulation has potential feature for utilization in drug delivery systems where controlled release is desired, especially for drugs that are sensitive to acidic environments in the stomach.

Sustainable production of copper components using concentrated solar energy in material extrusion additive manufacturing (MEX-CSE)

Material extrusion is a suitable technology for the additive manufacturing of complex components from any family of materials. The processing of metallic parts involves a three-stage methodology known as PDS (Printing-Debinding-Sintering). In the printing stage, filaments made of metallic powder and a polymeric binder system are used. After printing, the binder must be removed, and the parts sintered to obtain densified metal components with the final properties. These last two stages, in particular sintering, require high temperatures, and are thus high-energy demanding processes. The use of the Concentrated Solar Energy (CSE) is increasingly the focus of research in materials science as it is a clean, non-polluting, renewable energy resource, which is highly efficient for high temperature materials processing. This is the first study to analyse the feasibility of using CSE in the thermal debinding and sintering stages in the production of metallic components via Printing-Debinding-Solar Sintering (PDSS) technology. The objective is to develop a new sustainable process for producing metallic components by combining additive manufacturing and solar energy. In this study, pure copper cylindrical parts were produced and sintered in a low-cost Fresnel lens. The results revealed that solar sintering occurred at lower temperature (975 °C) and much shorter time (∼1 h) than in the conventional process, enhancing the economic and environmental efficiency of the conventional manufacturing process.

Confining SnSe particles in nitrogen-doped carbon nanofibers: A free-standing, binder-free anode for potassium-ion batteries

SnSe alloy has garnered attention as a promising anode material for potassium-ion batteries due to its high theoretical capacity of 847 mAh g−1. However, its practical application is limited by significant volume change during cycling, which leads to rapid capacity degradation. To address this challenge, we’ve introduced an innovative method using electrospinning and subsequent heat treatment to produce SnSe particles confined within nitrogen-doped carbon nanofibers (SnSe@NCNF). This design not only mitigates the volume expansion of SnSe particles but also provides a continuous 1D conduction network. Notably, SnSe@NCNF functions as an anode material without necessitating polymer binders or current collectors. Our optimized SnSe@NCNF-2 anode has shown commendable electrochemical performance, retaining a discharge capacity of 154.61 mAh g−1 after 1000 cycles at a substantial specific current of 500 mA g−1.

In-situ regulation of solid electrolyte interface formation by molecular designing of polymer binders for high-performance silicon/graphite anode

A new acrylic acid copolymer is prepared by free radical copolymerization with acrylic acid (AA) and hexafluoro butyl acrylate (HFA). The product is used as a polymer binder for Silicon/Graphite (Si/Gr) anode in a lithium-ion battery. The molecular structure of the copolymer and the electrochemical performance of binders are carefully investigated. The results show that the Si/Gr anode based on AA-HFA copolymers binders has good rate performance and excellent cycle stability after adjusting the amount of HFA. The initial charge/discharge capacity reachs about 771/914 mAh g−1 during the first charge-discharge cycle. Its Initial Coulomb Efficiencie (ICE) is higher than 84 %. The reversible specific capacity can be maintained to 504 mAh g−1 with in 350 cycles at 1 C, while it can reach 220 mAh g−1 at 5 C. The in-depth analysis further show that this kind of AA-HFA copolymer binder can effectively inhibit electrolyte decomposition since solid electrolyte interphases (SEI) can be constructed at a molecular level. This stable interphases can be attributed to the successful combination of the flexible molecular structure of AA-HFA copolymer with the rigid SEI layer formed between the active material and electrolyte. The success of this work provides a promising way to pursue lithium-ion batteries with long cycle life by molecular designing with polymer binders.

Polymer of Intrinsic Microporosity as Binders for both Acidic and Alkaline Oxygen Reduction Electrocatalysis

AbstractIn this work, a new polymeric binder (polymer of intrinsic microporosity, PIM‐1) has been investigated and discussed to prepare and characterize composite materials for the cathodic oxygen reduction reaction. The new binder is a polymer of intrinsic microporosity, a family of organic compounds with molecularly rigid (glassy) structure, good mechanical and chemical stability. Their influence on the electrocatalytic behaviour of a commercial electrocatalyst during the oxygen reduction reaction in acidic and alkaline media has been investigated, discussed and compared to the behaviour of common cationic and anionic polymer binders, using rotating disk electrode (RDE) techniques. Polymers of intrinsic microporosity perform similarly well, and sometimes better (due to rigidity and gas permeation) when compared to commercial binders. Thus, herein, we showed that PIMs do represent a very promising and versatile alternative as binders in electrocatalysis.

Effect of Moisture on the Mechanical Properties of Wood-Plastic Composites Hybridized with Metal Grid Layers.

Wood-plastic composites (WPCs) are some of the most common modern composite materials for interior and exterior design that combine natural waste wood properties and the molding possibility of a thermoplastic polymer binder. The addition of reinforcing elements, binding agents, pigments, and coatings, as well as changes to the microstructure and composition, can all affect the quality of WPCs for particular purposes. To improve the properties, hybrid composite panels of WPCs with 30 wt. % and 40 wt. % of wood content and reinforced with one or three metal grid layers were prepared sequentially by extrusion and hot pressure molding. The results show an average 20% higher moisture absorption for composites with higher wood content. A high impact test (HIT) revealed that the absorbed energy of deformation increased with the number of metal grid layers, regardless of the wood content, around two times for all samples before water immersion and around ten times after water absorption. Also, absorbed energy increases with raised wood content, which is most pronounced in three-metal-grid samples, from 21 J to 26 J (before swelling) and from 15 J to 24 J (after swelling). Flexural tests follow the trends observed by HIT, indicating around 65% higher strength for samples with three metal grid layers vs. samples without a metal grid before water immersion and around 80% higher strength for samples with three metal grid layers vs. samples without a grid after water absorption. The synthesis route, double reinforcing (wood and metal), applied methods of characterization, and optimization according to the obtained results provide a WPC with improved mechanical properties ready for an outdoor purpose.

Dual-functional trisiloxane as binder additive for high volume expansion Li-ion battery electrodes

Silicon-based anodes for lithium-ion batteries have the inherent advantage of higher capacity. However, the inherent expansion of Si within the anodes during cycling, causing low battery life, has limited its application. Various approaches are being investigated to mitigate the adverse effects, ranging from the patterned deposition of Si, blending silicon materials with graphite active materials, and using modified polymeric binders. Inspired by the super spreading capabilities of siloxane compounds and with an aim to optimize the graphite-SiO composite electrode, this work focuses on tweaking the binder formulation with a trisiloxane-based additive which enables uniform dispersion of active material within the electrode and enhances the wetting of the electrolyte within the electrode. In this work, graphite with 15 wt% silicon monoxide was used as an electrode with trisiloxane-modified binder showing much improved electrochemical performance with better mechanical integrity compared to the benchmark electrode. The cell with modified binder exhibited remarkable cycling stability up to 400 cycles at 0.2 C-rate. A detailed study on the role of the trisiloxane additives on the physicochemical properties of electrode materials has also been elucidated. The prospects of employing these additives for similar high-volume expansion electrodes are also discussed.

Conductive composite binder for recyclable LiFePO4 cathode

In order to solve the problem of poor conductivity of traditional LiFePO4 cathode binders, we developed sodium alginate-Congo red copolymers (SA-CR) as water-soluble electrically conductive and mechanically robust composite binder. Unlike most other electrically conductive polymer binders, the procedure is straightforward and low-cost to prepare SA-CR binder. Various SA -CR copolymers were prepared with different degree of compounding of CR to investigate the effect of CR on the electrochemical and physical properties of the prepared electrodes. The copolymer whose composition was filled with a mixture of SA and CR at a 3:1 mass ratio showed the best cell performance, due to the well-balanced electrical conductivity and mechanical properties. It exhibited a specific capacity of 118.8 mAh/g at the 100th cycle with 92.1 % capacity retention, significantly better than the 108.5 mAh/g of conventional acetylene black electrodes. CR as a conduction-promoting agent in water-soluble composite binder favors the formation of continuous and homogenous conducting bridges throughout the electrode and increases the compaction density of electrode by reducing the conducting agent content of acetylene black and thus the improvement of electrode performance is realized.

A synergetic poring strategy to prepare high porosity SiC ceramic foam with good mechanical strength

AbstractMicrostructure‐tailored high porosity silicon carbide (SiC) ceramic foams were successfully fabricated using polymeric precursor slurry through a synergetic pore‐forming strategy that combines direct foaming and sacrificial template method together. The slurry is composed of a vinyl‐containing liquid polycarbosilane, poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) microspheres, and composite inorganic fillers. The expandable PMMA served a dual role as both foaming agent and sacrificial template, while the liquid polycarbosilane was used as both binder and preceramic polymer. The green bodies foamed from precursor slurry were pyrolyzed at 1150, 1400, and 1600°C, respectively, to produce corresponding SiC ceramic foams. The pyrolysis behavior of the green body foams and the crystallization behavior of the SiC ceramic foams were studied. Notably, the SiC ceramic foam derived from the slurry containing 65 wt% filler exhibited low density (0.26 g/cm3), high porosity (90.3%), high compressive strength (3.87 MPa), and low thermal conductivity (0.34 W/mK). The SiC ceramic foams displayed attractive oxidation resistance, and the foams with a porosity of 90.3% can retain 75.2% of their initial compressive strength after oxidation for 10 h at 1400°C.

Chitosan grafted alginate and polyvinylpyrrolidone as the binder for porous silicon nanoparticles from coal fly ash in lithium-ion batteries

Polymer binders are also important to overcome silicon as an anode in lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). Binder polymers with carboxylate or hydroxyl groups are used because they can bond with silicon through covalent or hydrogen bonding and reduce the formation of large volume changes during charging and discharging. The 1H NMR spectra show a new peak at 2.19 ppm, indicating the formation of cyclic compounds derived from PVP. FTIR spectra show peak adsorption at 3297 cm−1, indicating hydroxyl and amino group stretching. Adsorption at 1413 cm−1 shows COO symmetric stretching vibration. Adsorption at 1323 cm−1 shows stretching vibration in the C-N group. The adsorption at 1024 cm−1 shows C-O stretching. Adsorption at 443 cm−1 shows CH2 bond and also N-CO bending. The electrochemical performance of lithium-ion shows high capacity. The CV curve shows that the reduction peak is around 0.16 V, and the oxidation peak is around 0.38 V and 0.56 V. Nyquist plots show a small half circle indicating that the solid-electrolyte interphase layer is low on the electrode. The cycling performance shows a high initial capacity of 2912 mAh/g. It can maintain a high and good capacity until 400 cycles at 1374 mAh/g.

Utilization of polymeric binders to agglomerate oxidized copper ore

Permeability reduction is a major challenge in heap leaching, primarily caused by the accumulation of fines that move with the leaching agent, leading to the formation of dead zones and channeling within the heap. In the Aria copper beneficiation plant, the 0–2 mm fraction with a copper grade of 1.4% undergoes pre-separation prior to heap loading without further processing. This study investigated the potential of using the agglomeration method to improve permeability in the case of using the 0–2 mm fraction of ore. Mineral compounds, such as sodium silicate and calcium sulfate, and non-ionic, cationic, and anionic polymer compounds, were used in the agglomeration process. The strength of interparticle bonding was evaluated by measuring the fine migration percentage (FMP) in the soak test. The results revealed that agglomerates produced using non-ionic compounds had the highest bonding strength, with an FMP of 3.89%, the lowest of all the compounds tested. This enhanced bonding strength was attributed to the combined influence of hydrogen bonding forces and van der Waals forces.

РАЦІОНАЛЬНЕ ПРОЕКТУВАННЯ КОМПОЗИТНОГО КУЛЯБАЛОНУ З ПОЛІМЕРНИМ ЛЕЙНЕРОМ

The analysis of existing composite cylinders made by winding reinforcing materials on a polymer binder is carried out. The analysis showed that the design methods and manufacturing technology of cylindrical metal composite and composite cylinders are well developed, and the design and manufacturing technology of spherical balloon is based on an empirical approach. This is due to the fact that such cylinders are wound with a multiple family of layers in which reinforcing materials are laid at different angles to the axis of the cylinder. At the same time, the composite layer being created represents a statically indeterminate system, and it is impossible to design the thickness values of the reinforcing material in the layers without involving deformation equations.The paper presents a method of designing a composite balloon with a polyethylene liner on the example of a specific design. The method consists in preliminary calculation of the thickness values of the reinforcing material of the spiral and annular layers for a cylindrical cylinder with a cylindrical part of zero length. Since it is impossible to wind a cylindrical layer on the surface of the ball, we distribute the resulting thickness of the annular layer evenly into multi-zone layers. At the next stage, we calculate the relative deformation of the reinforcing material in each layer in the direction of reinforcement and compare it with the permissible one, taking into account the safety factor. In those layers where the deformation is greater than the permissible one, we increase the thickness, and again we find the relative deformation. The calculation is repeated until the permissible relative deformation is reached in all layers. It should be noted that this technique makes it possible to obtain a design of a cylinder of minimal mass and can be used for the design of cylindrical metal-composite and composite cylinders with multi-zone winding of spiral layers

Sustainable Ketjenblack‐Based Carbon Ink for 3D Extrusion Micro‐Printing to Fabricate Flexible Supercapacitors

Abstract3D printing has attracted much attention in industry and academia because it offers simple, low‐cost, versatile and environmentally‐friendly manufacturing technologies and has been utilized to fabricate flexible electronics like supercapacitors, batteries and sensors. Finding a suitable printable ink is the most challenging task for 3D printing. Carbon materials have been widely used in 3D printing of flexible electronics due to their high electrical conductivity, chemical stability, non‐toxicity, and high surface area with versatile pore structure. However, mostly toxic solvents like NMP and DMF as well as non‐biodegradable polymer binders such as PVDF and PTFE were used to fabricate printable inks. Herein, a sustainable carbon ink highly suitable for 3D extrusion printing for well‐defined, flexible in‐plane all‐solid‐state micro‐supercapacitors (MSC) using only non‐toxic and biodegradable ingredients is presented. The MSCs show high areal capacitances of up to 13.41 mF cm−2 and 35.10 F cm−3 for 5 mV s−1 as well as excellent cycle stability even when mechanically stressed. Various suspension additives are explored for tuning the rheological behavior, conductivity, and electrochemical performance of MSCs.

In‐situ Polymerized Single Lithium‐ion Conducting Binder as an Integrated Strategy for High Voltage LNMO Electrodes

AbstractHigh voltage spinel LiNi0.5 Mn1.5O4 (LNMO) is a promising material for next generation lithium‐Ion batteries. However, its reactivity near 5 V possess stability and cycling challenges. In this study, a novel integrated approach is employed using a single lithium‐ion conducting polymer binder (SLICPB) to prevent interactions with reactive anions and create a protective layer against electrolyte decomposition. The proposed SLICPB in‐situ polymerization in the LNMO electrodes simplifies the preparation process, reducing costs. SLICPB properties effectively decrease polarization by concentration. For instance, at a discharge capacity of 68 mAh g−1, the voltage hysteresis difference is 0.31 V, enabling higher capacity at 1 C (a 38 % increase) compared to traditional binder electrodes. Notably, this integrated strategy completely replaces the traditional binder without any need for additives, thus avoiding any extra weight in the electrode preparation. Furthermore, SLICPB properties successfully decreasereactivity and diminish the leaching of Mn2+, as evaluated through differential electrochemical mass spectrometry and electron paramagnetic resonance, respectively.

Impact of polymer additives on crack mitigation of rod-coated fuel cell cathode catalyst layers

Cracks in catalyst layers (CLs) are a potential source of long-term failure in a fuel cell membrane electrode assembly (MEA). While modifications to the CL ink formulation can affect the degree of cracking, these changes may lead to lower initial performance than their cracked analogues due to the established link between formulation and performance. In this work, we explored the use of polymeric additives to mitigate CL cracks. Small quantities of poly (acrylic acid), poly (ethylene oxide), poly (methyl methacrylate), or poly (vinyl alcohol) – 5 wt% relative to ionomer mass – were added to the ink prior to its final mixing. Poly (vinyl alcohol) resulted in crack–free CLs, whereas the other polymers resulted in CLs with similar crack percentages as the control CL. Through a combination of transmission electron microscopy, X-ray computed tomography, and infrared spectroscopy, we ascribed the crack–mitigating mechanism of poly (vinyl alcohol) to its ability to hydrogen–bond with Nafion, the ion conducting polymer binder in the catalyst ink. Initial performance of this non–cracked electrode exhibited nearly identical electrochemical behavior to its cracked counterpart, demonstrating that PVA additives successfully reduce cracks while maintaining cell initial performance.

Facile shaping of flexible MIL-53(Al) for effective separation of propylene over propane

A facile granulation approach using polyvinyl butyral (PVB) as a polymer binder was developed to control the textural properties of the flexible metal–organic framework MIL-53(Al). The large pore (LP) structure of MIL-53(Al) contracted after granulation due to a strong interaction between MOF and polymer binder. This contraction enhances propylene's selectivity over propane at saturation pressure (region II), as confirmed by single-component adsorption isotherms. The adsorption kinetics showed faster adsorption of C3H6 compared to C3H8 over time in the case of the granules, while no difference was observed for the powder sample. Breakthrough experiments successfully separated C3H6 over C3H8 using MIL-53(Al)-B10% granules, whereas the pristine MIL-53(Al) powder did not separate the C3H8-C3H6 gas mixture. The breakthrough finding reaffirms that the observed gate-opening effect in MIL-53(Al) within pressure region I is ineffective for separating a mixed gas system containing propane and propylene. The constrained pores of the shaped granules could facilitate strong π-π stacking interactions with C3H6 and decrease the diffusion rate for C3H8 molecules. These findings indicate that the simple granulation approach can modulate the textural properties of flexible MIL-53(Al) and improve its selectivity for C3H6/C3H8 separation resulting from increased MOF-propylene affinity and kinetic factors.

Compatibility and Thermal Decomposition Kinetics of Hexahydro-1,3,5- trinitro-1,3,5-triazine with Different Polyester-based Polyurethanes

Backround: The compatibility study is an important aspect before pre-formulation of the energetic composites. Any sort of the incompatibility between the ingredients of the energetic composites greatly affects the safety and functionality of the energetic composites. Therefore, to develope safer energetic composites, the compatibility between the different ingredients of the energetic formulations and their thermal decomposition kinetics is important study as it is directly linked with the safety and functionality of the energetic composites. Methods: The compatibility of hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine (RDX) with different polyester-based polyurethanes (PUs) were studied by using vacuum stability tester (VST) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) methods as outlined by North Atlantic Treaty Organisation Standardisation Agreement (STANAG 4147). The mixture of RDX with polyester-based PUs was cured with MDI (4,4’-methylene diphenyl diisocyanate), IPDI (isophorone diisocyanate) and TMDI (2,2,4- trimethylhexamethylene diisocyanate) as curatives to get polyester-based PUs. The VST measurements were carried out at isothermal temperature of 100℃ for 40 h. For kinetic study, all the samples were subjected to heat from 25-600℃ at different heating rates under flow rate of nitrogen gas of 40 mL/min Results: The VST results revealed that energetic RDX was compatible with all polyester-based PUs and was chemically stable. The thermal decomposition behaviour was studied by employing thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and DSC. The DSC results indicated that peak temperature difference (∆Tp) between pure RDX and binary mixture of RDX and polyester-based PUs i.e., RDX/PE/MDI, RDX/PE/IPDI and RDX/PE/TMDI were found to be greater than 4℃, indicating that RDX was not compatible with all types polyester-based PUs. The thermal stability in terms of Tmax values of RDX/PE/MDI, RDX/PE/IPDI and RDX/PE/TMDI was found to be significantly reduced as compared to pure RDX. The activation energy obtained by the Kissinger method for RDX/PE/MDI, RDX/PE/IPDI and RDX/PE/TMDI samples was found to be 220.2, 271.5 and 210.4 kJ/mol, respectively. The experimental results showed that the values are comparable and in good agreement with the values obtained by Ozawa method. Conclusion: This study provides useful information for selecting polyester -based PUs as polymeric binder for the preparation of RDX-based energetic composites.

Screen-printed counter-electrodes based on biochar derived from wood-corn silage and titanium isopropoxide binder as a more efficient and renewable alternative to Pt-CE for dye-sensitized solar cells

Current research of counter-electrodes (CEs) for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) focuses mainly on searching for low-cost and mass-production suitable materials as an alternative to standardly used platinum. One of the most studied groups is carbon allotropes, while carbon-enriched materials such as biochar prepared from renewable sources (biomass) show tremendous potential. Structural properties of biochar, electrical conductivity and large specific area predict the possibility of its use as a catalytic material of CE. To ensure printability and efficient contact between the printed catalytic layer and substrate of CE, non-conductive polymer binders, reducing electrical and electrochemical properties of CEs, are standardly used. This work introduces the preparation of screen-printed CEs based on titanium isopropoxide (TTIP) binder and biochar microparticles obtained by pyrolysis of wood and corn silage, which were investigated as an alternative to platinum CE. TTIP was examined as a substitute for the polymer binder ethylcellulose (EC) and as the precursor for TiO2 nanoparticle synthesis in biochar/TTIP hybrid CEs. Formation of polymer matrix from TTIP ensured the required rheological properties of biochar/TTIP inks and improved interparticle contact and mechanical stability of screen-printed catalytic layers of CEs. Raman spectroscopy indicated the presence of TiO2 anatase nanoparticles with a size of 5 nm after CEs sintering at 500 °C under an argon atmosphere. The sintering process raised catalytic activity and decreased sheet resistance of CEs in the presence of I3−/I− electrolyte, resulting in enhanced photovoltaic parameters of DSSCs. Screen-printed composite CEs consisting of 30 wt% biochar and 20 wt% TTIP reached the best catalytic activity and higher conversion efficiency of DSSCs (6.43 %) than DSSCs with Pt CEs (6.19 %). Based on the results, combining biochar and TTIP offers new possibilities for developing more ecological and low-cost mass-producible materials for CEs.

EVALUATION OF CEMENT POLYMER COMPOSITES USING SPSS ANALYSIS

Cement Polymer Mixtures are made of Cement, sand, or bulk polymers are made using polymers added to improve their compressive strength, fatigue resistance, impact, and durability. Hydraulic cement polymer composites, created with modern polymer technology, are well-known for enhancing the development of composite materials and new products. This technology aims to improve both polymer cement for new construction and its use in repairing old cement. The adhesive properties of polymer cement allow for correction and bonding of both polymer-based and conventional cement. Cement-based composite materials, such as hardened cement paste, are formed by the combination of cement, water hydration, various minerals, metals, and polymeric materials. Different combinations of these materials can result in cement binders that are used for construction. Cement, a chemical substance used as a binder, sets and hardens to bind things together. It is rarely used alone and is typically combined with sand and gravel. Polymer cement is a type of cement-polymer composite where conventional cement hydrates are replaced by polymer binders or liquid resins. It is prepared by completely replacing the hydrate binders of cement with the polymer binders or liquid resins. This mixture forms a cement-polymer composite. Cement-polymer composites are durable materials that exhibit long service life and can withstand harsh environmental conditions. They are not affected by extreme temperatures, whether hot or cold, as dry concrete has a low coefficient of expansion and can accommodate moderate movements in the design. Evaluation parameters for cement include calcium oxide, magnesium oxide, silicon dioxide, aluminum oxide, sodium oxide, potassium oxide, and sulfur trioxide.