Zinc Sheet Research Articles

Trends and Situation of Housing at Athpahariya Community in Dhankuta

Sanitary housing is one of the basic requirements for healthy living, for safety also included as fundamental right. Housing situation of households and structure reflects the socio economic and cultural identity of people. It is also determined by environmental condition. Athpahariya Rai community is a rare community found especially at Dhankuta. A self-administered structured and unstructured questionnaire in Nepali language was used to obtain information from household head, observation, discussion with key informant are used in this study. Most of the traditional households are in insanitary condition with cattle shed. The structure of household has been slightly changed with improving socio economic status and support of Dhankuta municipality but there is not any significant change in living standard of people with low productivity of land, lack of safe drinking water, low level of literacy etc. Roof is changed from straw to zinc sheet and bamboo wall has been changed into stone and mud wall, there are very few household with concrete structure. Modernity towards shelter is just started in terms of shelter in the study area.

Layered magnesium vanadate film electrodes as high-performance cathode materials for thin-film non-aqueous zinc-ion batteries

Thin-film non-aqueous zinc-ion batteries (ZIBs) are recognized as an alternative energy storage technology with large-scale application prospects. The use of organic electrolytes with a wide window of electrochemical stability to construct non-aqueous ZIBs results in high operating voltage and energy density. In this paper, magnesium vanadate (Mg0.01V2O5) films were in situ grown and annealed on indium tin oxide (ITO) conductive glass using low-temperature liquid-phase deposition, and directly assembled into thin-film ZIBs. The battery achieved a stable capacity of 137.5 mA h m−2 after 80 cycles at 167 mA m−2. In addition, it exhibited an initial capacity of 104.1 mA h m−2 at 250 mA m−2 and a capacity retention of 75.6 % after 200 cycles. Good rate performance feedback was also obtained. According to X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), the electrochemical reaction process of the Mg0.01V2O5 film electrode was analyzed and the insertion/extraction mechanism of Zn2+ was investigated. Due to the instability of the V2O5 structure, the pre-inserted layer of Mg2+ plays a role as a pillar between layers during preparation, supporting the vanadium–oxygen layer and improving structural stability and battery life. At the same time, thin-film ZIB directly composed of film, diaphragm, electrolyte and zinc sheet has good diffusion dynamics, simplicity and size controllability, making it more suitable for commercial applications. Therefore, the thin-film non-aqueous ZIBs in this work may provide new ideas for mobile novel micro power sources.

Two-step fabrication of hierarchical Ni(OH)2@NiCo2O4 core-shell nanoneedle array for highly efficient decoupled water splitting

The temporal and spatial segregation of the hydrogen and oxygen evolution reactions (HER and OER) are essential for advancing membrane-free electrolysis technology in H2 production through water splitting. This investigation employed a two-step fabrication approach to craft a three-dimensional self-supporting buffered electrode. This method involved utilizing a Ni(OH)2@NiCo2O4 core-shell nanoneedle array as the active material and nickel foam (NF) as the substrate. Remarkably, the H2 production at the cathode displayed remarkable efficiency, maintaining an uninterrupted operation duration of 1500 s at a current of 100 mA. Simultaneously, the Ni(OH)2@NiCo2O4 mediator on the anodic electrode underwent oxidation during this process, leading to the generation of its respective oxidized state, accompanied by a noteworthy operating voltage of 1.50 V. Afterwards, the second step of the OER involved the recovery of the buffered electrode and the generation of O2 at an operational voltage of 0.46 V, with the O2-production duration being equivalent to that of the first step in the HER process. Interestingly, the revival process of the buffered electrode in the second step can also be coupled with zinc sheets, thereby constructing a battery. During the discharge process of the battery, the regeneration of the buffered electrode was achieved, and this discharge process could also provide a power supply for the first step of H2-evolution. Therefore, this decoupled water electrolysis system presents a promising avenue for facilitating the effective transformation of renewable sources into hydrogen.

Adsorption of single and mixed surfactants consisting of cocoamidopropyl betaine (CAPB) and sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate (SDBS) onto zinc surface

Abstract Aqueous solutions of surfactants exhibit remarkable differences in their adsorption properties on metal surfaces. This study evaluates the adsorption of surfactant mixtures on zinc metal surfaces. The adsorption of single surfactants cocamidopropyl betaine (CAPB) and sodium dodecyl benzenesulfonate (SDBS) and their mixtures from aqueous solution at mole fractions of 0.00, 0.25, 0.50, 0.75 and 1.00 on zinc powder at 25 °C was studied. The surface tension of the single and CAPB/SDBS surfactant mixtures was measured in the presence and absence of 2 % zinc powder to determine the adsorption isotherms. The depletion method was employed to carry out the adsorption investigation. The amount of the surfactant adsorbed was also calculated from the shaded area between the surface tension versus concentration curves of these surfactants in the presence and absence of 2 % zinc powder. The highest adsorbed amounts were found to increase with the SDBS content. Furthermore, scanning electron microscope (SEM) images of zinc sheets in solutions containing single or mixed CAPB/SDBS surfactants were taken in the presence and absence of 0.05 M HCl. The micrographs indicated that the CAPB-SDBS surfactant layers formed by precipitation can protect zinc metal from acid corrosion.

Development and Innovative Application of Main Equipment for Zinc Electrowinning

The latest development and application of zinc electrowinning equipment in China are introduced. The characteristics and innovative applications of main equipment for zinc electrowinning, such as cathode and anode, electrolytic cell, cathode and anode multifunctional crane, zinc stripping and cathode washing machine, zinc sheet conveyor, anode temper mill and solution cooling tower, are analyzed. It is pointed out that the application of advanced equipment characterized by large-scale and automation will dominate the upgrading and transformation of existing zinc electrowinning capacity.

Characterization and performance of organic-inorganic composite zinc phosphate with nano-sheet structure synthesized by a composite reaction of sol-gel with silane modification

Organic-inorganic composite zinc phosphate pigment with nano sheet structure (KH560-SZP, sheet zinc phosphate with γ-(2,3-epoxypropoxy) propytrimethoxysilane) was prepared by a simple composite reaction of silane modification method and solation-gelation method. Then the characteristics of KH560-SZP pigment, interfacial compatibility of KH560-SZP pigment/resin and corrosion inhibition of KH560-SZP coating with defect were studied through Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS), Thermal Gravimetric Analysis (TG), sedimentation experiment, Inductively Coupled Plasma (ICP-OES), electrochemical test, and salt spray test. Result showed that the prepared KH560-SZP pigment had a nanosheet structure with thickness of 25–40 nm, and there were 2.11 % of organic resin functional groups in the pigment, which made the pigment well dispersed in the resin. The dissolution rate of PO43− in the KH560-SZP extracting was faster, and its concentration reached saturation just 2 h (the SZP needed 4 h). Hence, the KH560-SZP coating showed effectively prolong the diffusion path of electrolyte in the scratch-free coating and inhibit the corrosion reaction at the scratch areas.

Strain-induced solid-state coating of TWIP steel sheets with zinc

We propose the strain-induced solid-state coating process of twinning-induced plasticity (TWIP) steel with zinc, achieved through concurrent rolling of TWIP steel and zinc sheets. Our study explores the effects of strain, strain rate, and rolling temperature on the morphology and intermixing at the Zn-TWIP steel interface. We found that two simultaneous mechanisms are responsible for the formation of a joint interface between the sheets in the rolling temperature range of 100–380 °C, namely mechanical intermixing at the interface and accelerated diffusion along moving dislocations and other defects introduced during rolling. Since it is impossible to deconvolute these mechanisms, we introduced the concept of an ‘apparent diffusion coefficient’ to represent the diffusion-like mass transfer resulting from mechanical intermixing and diffusion. These diffusion coefficients were determined by primary electron energy variation method in scanning electron microscope and by energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy in transmission electron microscope. Notably, these diffusion coefficients were found to be higher than the grain boundary diffusion coefficients of Zn in γ-Fe, primarily due to the dynamic nature of interface microstructure formation during rolling.

Facile fabrication of multiple biomimetic patterned superwetting zinc surfaces with enhanced collecting efficiency from water mist

Water shortage has emerged as a significant worldwide issue as a result of the frequency of extreme weather events like storms, droughts and climate warming. One possible way to address the world's freshwater deficit is to effectively extract freshwater from water mist. In this work, a series of biomimetic superhydrophobic-hydrophilic patterned zinc materials for mist collection was designed via mold pressing, anodic oxidation and laser-scanning methods. The fog collector is able to capture droplets efficiently and transport water quickly due to its unique array structure. The patterned superhydrophobic-hydrophilic zinc surface contained the highest water mist collection efficiency of about 10.89 g·m−2·s−1, which is 75 % higher than the original zinc sheet. The surface structure, chemical composition of the superwetting zinc materials were investigated by FT-IR, XPS, FESEM and EDS, respectively. In addition, the mechanical robustness, weather ability and enhancing mechanism of the prepared superwetting zinc surfaces were investigated via UV exposure, multiple thermal/cold cycles and sandpaper abrasion treatment. The good collecting efficiency from water mist of the obtained functional surfaces may provide ideas for the future design of mist collection materials.

Intermittent investigations on attenuation mechanism of rechargeable zinc-air batteries during charge/discharge cycles.

Rechargeable zinc-air batteries (RZABs) are an ideal substitute for energy storage, but the short cycle longevity during long-term charge/discharge operation is one of the bottleneck factors that seriously restrict commercial application. Herein, the FeCo alloy/N, S co-doped carbon aerogel (NSCA/FeCo) were prepared as catalysts of cathode for RZABs. We investigated the polarization and impedance on long-term cycles during the battery operation to explore the attenuation mechanism. The results indicated that the roundtrip efficiency of batteries during charge/discharge cycles reduced fast initially and then slow. Besides, the comparative experiment was tested through the replacement of a new electrolyte and a zinc sheet. It is manifested that the failure of the battery is mainly due to the attenuation of the air cathode performance. Therefore, to further disclose the influencing factors and internal mechanisms of air cathode performance degradation, we conducted a series of characterization and testing, including the hydrophilicity, surface morphology, elemental composition, and electrochemical performance of three-electrode systems at different cycle times. This work not only provides a theoretical basis for deeply comprehending the attenuation mechanism of the cathode but also serves a reference for the material design and operating condition optimization of RZABs.

Shelter preference and behavior of dairy cows managed outdoors during calving in temperate winter conditions

This study aimed to assess the preference and use of an artificial shelter in dairy cows managed outdoors at calving during winter. We also evaluated whether this preference would be influenced by weather conditions (rain, air temperature, or wind) or the time of the day at calving. Two weeks before their expected calving date, 18 cows were paired based on body weight, body condition score, parity, and expected calving date. Each pair was assigned to an open paddock (42 m2/cow) with a bare soil surface, high mud content, and access to an artificial shelter until calving. The shelter consisted of a 6 × 3 m metal structure, with 3 sides covered with zinc sheets, a polycarbonate roof, and a thick layer of dry sawdust covering the ground surface. Shelter use and cow behavior inside it (lying and sleeping) were continuously recorded via video and analyzed using continuous observation. Observations were divided into 2 periods: the day before calving (24 to 48 h before calving) and the day of calving (24 h before calving until calving). Ninety-four percent (15/16) of the cows preferred to calve inside the artificial shelter, and this preference was not affected by the time of day or weather conditions. Regardless of the day of study (the day before calving or the day of calving), cows spent approximately 64% of their daily time inside the shelter, and once inside, they spent most of the time lying down. Our findings indicate dairy cows prefer using an artificial shelter as a calving and lying place, suggesting that opportunities for protection should be provided when they are managed outdoors in muddy paddock conditions.

Ultrathin Fe(OH)3 nanosheets coated NiCo2O4 nanotube arrays as a polymetallic catalyst for oxygen reduction reaction and zinc-air battery

Developing highly efficient, low-cost and superior stable electrocatalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is essential for coping with global energy shortage and environmental crisis. In this article, a polymetallic catalyst of ultrathin Fe(OH)3 nanosheets uniformly embedded in NiCo2O4 porous nanotube arrays (Fe(OH)3-NiCo2O4/NF) was synthesized via a simple hydrothermal-annealing and electrodeposition method. Benefits from the synergistic effect and their unique interactions between Fe(OH)3 and NiCo2O4, the Fe(OH)3-NiCo2O4/NF triggers optimum electronic properties, rich multiple active sites, and favorite free adsorption energy, resulting in excellent OER catalytic activities. Meanwhile, the highly porous of Fe(OH)3 and NiCo2O4 effectively promotes a multichannel architecture for charge transfer and gas/ion diffusion to improve stability. Such core-shell Fe(OH)3-NiCo2O4/NF hybrid was used as a polymetallic catalyst, exhibiting a small overpotential of 268 mV at a current density of 50 mA cm−2 and low Tafel slope of 73.1 mV dec−1 for OER in 1 M KOH. In the battery system with Fe(OH)3-NiCo2O4/NF as the cathode and zinc sheet as the anode, the zinc-air battery (ZAB) exhibits an open-circuit voltage of 1.32 V and an instantaneous current of 0.96 A. This material provides a new idea for the coupling of amorphous materials and transition metal compound, and the application of ZAB.

Elaborate artificial construction of porous biomass carbon interfacial layer on the surface of zinc anode toward high performance aqueous zinc-ion batteries

Aqueous zinc ion batteries (AZIBs) have emerged as one of the most promising candidates for large-scale energy storage and other fields owing to their low cost, high safety and environmental friendliness. However, the dendritic issue and side reactions induced by the zinc anode-electrolyte interface have always been the major obstacles hindering their development. Herein, porous biomass carbon (BCK) is artificially designed via a simple method to act as an ex-situ surface coating on the zinc anode to resolve the above problems. The interface coating effectively reduces the interface area of direct contact between the zinc anode and electrolyte, thereby suppressing dendrite growth and parasitic reactions. Especially, BCK has a rich pore structure and zincophilic oxygen-containing functional groups, providing sufficient active sites, which can adsorb Zn2+ and preferentially nucleate on the surface of BCK, thus eliminating the tip effect and making the surface of the zinc sheet uniform and flat. In addition, the large specific surface area of BCK can promote the transport and nucleation kinetics of Zn2+, guide the formation of a uniform surface electric field on the zinc anode, enhance the deposition rate of Zn2+ at the anode-electrolyte interface, which helps to guide the uniform nucleation, growth, and deposition of Zn2+. Benefiting from these advantages, the assembled symmetric cells have lower voltage hysteresis and longer cycling performance than bare Zn cells, and the full cell delivers a capacity of 166.5 mAh g−1 and the capacity retention rate of 61.5 % after 1000 cycles at 1 A g−1, which is significantly higher than that of bare Zn assembled full cell.

Surface Characterization, Mechanical Properties, and Corrosion Behavior of Zn-Ni Alloy Coated Steel Using Electroplating-Hot-Dip Galvanizing

In this study, the processing of zinc-nickel alloys with an electroplated nickel layer as the first layer followed by hot-dip galvanizing on plain carbon steel (St37) is investigated. The effect of the nickel layer and the effect of the immersion time on the alloy layers of the coating obtained by this method are studied. In addition, some properties of the obtained coating, such as the overall thickness, hardness, surface uniformity, coating adhesion strength, and corrosion resistance, were investigated using the optical microscope, scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive x-ray spectrometer analysis, and potentiostat. The results show that the 16-min immersion time is the optimum galvanizing time at which an alloy with a nickel content of 0.11 wt% is formed and that the overall thickness of the galvanized sheet, especially the alloy layers, decreases compared to the pure zinc sheet. In addition, a more ductile, corrosion-resistant, and smoother surface is obtained.

Origami-like 3D Fog Water Harvestor with Hybrid Wettability for Efficient Fog Harvesting.

Collecting water in fog has also become a breakthrough to solve the hidden danger of water shortage in some arid areas. The three-dimensional (3D) structure fog collection material can increase the surface area in direct contact with the fog flow and reduce the quick flow of fog, which can effectively improve the fog collection efficiency. Imitating the three-dimensional structure of corrugated paper, the 3D fog collecting material with hybrid wettability was prepared by chemical and physical means. We discuss the influence of different wettability combinations on the fog collection efficiency of 3D structures and study the influence of spraying times and illumination times on the surface wettability during the construction of wettability. We also study the influence of the concavity and tip as well as the bending angle on the fog collection in the 3D structure and obtain the most reasonable concavity and convex ratio and bending angle. The superhydrophilic and superhydrophobic 3D structure fog harvesting material prepared by us performs well in the fog harvesting process, and the fog harvesting efficiency reaches 1.442 g cm-2 h-1. The fog collection efficiency is 418% of the original zinc sheet. At the same time, compared with the superhydrophilic and superhydrophobic hybrid two-dimensional (2D) plane, the increase is 168%, and compared with the superhydrophobic 3D structure, the increase is 150%.

Efficient Water Mist Collector with Both a Kirigami Structure and Chemical Modification.

The shortage of freshwater resources is a common problem faced by people all over the world. Water mist collection provides a feasible solution to this problem. In this paper, three kinds of foggers with a kirigami structure and chemical modification were prepared. Their fog collection efficiencies were 3.04, 3.17, and 3.54 g·h-1·cm-2, respectively, which were 1.57, 1.63, and 1.82 times that of the original zinc sheet. Then, the fog collector of sample 3 with the highest fogging efficiency was analyzed and discussed. In order to evaluate the practical application of the sample, durability and ultraviolet (UV) resistance tests of the sample were carried out. The experimental results show that the surface of sample 3 has better durability and excellent UV resistance. In addition, the fog collector design incorporating readily available materials and a straightforward preparation process showcases outstanding efficiency. As such, it presents a novel approach for the development of high-performance fog collection systems in the future.

RETRACTED: Temperature and pH endurable self-assembled camellia-like nanostructure achieved on zinc sheet with superamphiphobicity for fog harvesting

Easy-implement and low-cost fabrication of super-hydrophobic/super-oleophobic materials is vital for efficient fog harvesting. In this study, we introduce a simple two-step procedure based on Cu/1-octadecanethiol (ODT) self-assembled monolayer (SAM) modified zinc plates. Intriguingly, the process emulates the natural blooming of flowers: copper particle deposition and subsequent SAM formation lead to the progressive expansion of the surface, culminating in camellia-like nanostructures. The ensuing materials display water contact angle (WCA) and oil contact angle (OCA) of 160 ± 1° and 159 ± 1°, respectively. The formation of a layered petal structure that effectively traps air is recognized as the crucial factor in achieving superamphiphobicity. In addition to enhanced fog collection, the materials exhibit exceptional performance in acidic and basic environments (1 ≤ pH ≤ 14) as well as artificial seawater conditions. Furthermore, they demonstrate remarkable wear resistance and self-cleaning capabilities. The combination of these attributes ensures the robustness and stability necessary for efficient fog collection.

Revestimiento Anticondensante, Aislante Térmico e Intumescente

A formula of a paint for interior use for roofing sheet zinc was optimized. The properties developed and optimized were thermal insulation, anticondensation capacity and fire-retardant properties. A fire-retardant latex coating was used as the formulation base and three types of fillers were investigated: hollow glass microspheres, hollow ceramic microspheres and expanded perlite. The thermal transfer coefficient of the different coatings, the water absorption capacity and the thermal flame transmission were evaluated. From the results, it was determined that the formulation with the best performance, both in thermal insulation and in water absorption capacity, was the one that contained expanded perlite. Regarding the thermal transmission due to the action of the flame, no significant difference was observed between the different loads used.

Temperature and pH endurable self-assembled camellia-like nanostructure achieved on zinc sheet with superamphiphobicity for fog harvesting

Easy-implement and low-cost fabrication of super-hydrophobic/super-oleophobic materials is of great significance for efficient fog harvesting. Herein, we propose a simple two-step procedure based on Cu/1-octadecanethiol (ODT) self-assembled monolayer (SAM) modified zinc plates. Interestingly, the whole process mimics the blooming process of flowers in nature: the deposition of copper particle and the subsequent formation of SAM drives the surface undergo gradually stretches and finally blooms to camellia-like nanostructures. The water contact angle (WCA) and oil contact angle (OCA) reach 160 ± 1° and 159 ± 1° respectively, as a result of the formation of layered petal structure that traps air effectively, which is attributed as one of the most important factors for the superamphiphobic effect. In addition to much enhanced facility in fog collection, the materials maintain excellent performance in acid/base environments (1 ≤ pH ≤ 14), broad temperature conditions ranging from −18 °C to 240 °C, and the artificial sea environment, and exhibit capable wear resistance as well as self-cleaning property. The cooperation of all these multiple properties ensures the robustness and stability for efficient fog collection.

High stretchable and self-adhesive dual networks ionic gels and flexible devices application

Multifunctional conductive hydrogels with high stretching and adhesion strength have been developed in recent years. However, rapilied formed, high toughness and self-adhesive ionic gels need further study. In this paper, highly tensile and tough ionic gels were prepared in DMAA-AMPS ionic liquid, and PEG600DA was used as a physical cross-linking agent by rapid UV polymerization. Excellent mechanical properties and self-adhesive properties to various substrates were integrated into the ionic gel hydrogels. The addition of PEG600DA contribute to high extension, up to 4100% and high toughness of 3163.0161 kJ/m3. For application, ionic gel is assembled to a cell with one layer of zinc and copper sheet. The output voltage of inonic gel is up to 0.15 V and convert from chemical energy to electrical energy. When ten cells are combined, a maximum voltage of 1.76 V can be achieved, which can provide energy for a stopwatch and can be used as a self-powered strain sensor under harsh conditions. The proposed ion-gel self-powered sensor has potential applications in electronic skin, human-computer interaction, and biomedical fields.

An Efficient Fog Collector Achieved by Optimal Hierarchical Surface Patterns and Wetting Gradient

AbstractWith the decrease in fresh water resources, fog collection has become a promising way to obtain fresh water. This paper presents an efficient fog collector that combines wettability and spokes geometry. Water droplets move along a fixed route on the mist collector and can easily overcome the pinning effect at the end of the structure to detach from the surface and then be collected. Its fog collecting efficiency can be 1.82 times that of a planar zinc sheet, which provides a new idea for the design of subsequent fog collectors.