The is a comprehensive review on the needs and potential storage technologies for electrical grid that is expected to integrate significant levels of renewables. This review offers details of the technologies, in terms of needs, status, challenges and future R&d directions.

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Electrochemical Energy Storage for Green Grid

There have been a number of review papers on layered silicate and carbon nanotube reinforced polymer nanocomposites, in which the fillers have high aspect ratios. Particulate–polymer nanocomposites containing fillers with small aspect ratios are also an important class of polymer composites. However, they have been apparently overlooked. Thus, in this paper, detailed discussions on the effects of particle size, particle/matrix interface adhesion and particle loading on the stiffness, strength and toughness of such particulate–polymer composites are reviewed. To develop high performance particulate composites, it is necessary to have some basic understanding of the stiffening, strengthening and toughening mechanisms of these composites. A critical evaluation of published experimental results in comparison with theoretical models is given.

/pdf/effects-of-particle-size-particle-matrix-interface-adhesion-yv055zq7xi.pdf

Effects of particle size, particle/matrix interface adhesion and particle loading on mechanical properties of particulate–polymer composites

https://zirconia.typepad.com/files/zirconia-as-a-ceramic-biomaterial---piconi---biomaterials-1999.pdf

Zirconia as a ceramic biomaterial

In this review the phenomenon of proton conductivity in materials and the elements of proton conduction mechanismsproton transfer, structural reorganization and diffusional motion of extended moietiesare discussed with special emphasis on proton chemistry. This is characterized by a strong proton localization within the valence electron density of electronegative species (e.g., oxygen, nitrogen) and self-localization effects due to solvent interactions which allows for significant proton diffusivities only when assisted by the dynamics of the proton environment in Grotthuss and vehicle type mechanisms. In systems with high proton density, proton/proton interactions lead to proton ordering below first-order phase transition rather than to coherent proton transfers along extended hydrogen-bond chains as is frequently suggested in textbooks of physical chemistry. There is no indication for significant proton tunneling in fast proton conduction phenomena for which almost barrierless proton transfer is suggest...

Proton Conductivity: Materials and Applications

http://fcbt.mse.gatech.edu/PDF/Bersra2007.pdf

A review on fundamentals and applications of electrophoretic deposition (EPD)

The heterocoagulation behavior of oxide-mixture/ethanol suspension systems has been examined using well-characterized systems. All the dispersions consist of large, monodispersed, spherical silica and small alumina (or magnesia) particles. It is demonstrated that the design of heterocoagulates of controlled architecture can be achieved by the control of the colloidal stability of the constituent particles.

Heterocoagulation in Ionically Stabilized Mixed‐Oxide Colloidal Dispersions in Ethanol

The microstructures of 3 zirconias partially stabilized with CaO were investigated using scanning electron microscopy and qualitative and quantitative X-ray analysis. The structure was closely related to the heat treatments involved in fabrication. A bimodal structure with small grains of pure ZrO2 dispersed along the grain boundaries of larger cubic solid-solution grains developed during slow cooling from 1850° to 1300°C. The presence of a liquid phase greatly enhances the growth of the pure ZrO2 phase. An anneal at 1300°C induces precipitation of fine ZrO2 particles within the solid-solution grains. The relative mechanical strengths of the materials are explained in terms of the weakening of the grain boundaries associated with the transformation of the grain-boundary phase on cooling.

Microstructural Development in Partially Stabilized ZrO2 in the System CaO-ZrO2

ac Conductivity and conductivity relaxation studies in the CeO2−Y2O3 system

The technique of ultrasonic fractography has been used to study crack interactions in a porous glass Observations indicate the initial attraction of a crack to the porosity, the change of crack shape as the crack segments to bypass the pores and the production of fracture surface steps as the crack breaks away This technique has great potential for the study of local changes in crack shape and velocity in brittle composite systems

Crack shape studies in brittle porous materials

ZrO2-Naβ″-Al2O3 composites were prepared by a conventional method using two different powder routes and different milling liquids. The retained tetragonal-phase ZrO2 was 85 to 90% for composites with 2.4 to 15 vol% ZrO2. The fracture toughness (Klc) and strength increased with increasing ZrO2 content. At 20 vol % ZrO2,Klc and bend strength were 4.35 M Pa m1/2 and 390 MPa, respectively. Stress-induced transformation toughening is the predominant toughening mechanism. Dispersion toughening also contributes to the increase ofKlc. Surface strengthening was found to be an effective strengthening method for low ZrO2 levels. The critical tetragonal ZrO2 grain size was found to increase from 0.86 to 1.02gmm as the ZrO2 content increased from 2.5 to 15 vol %. A detailed study of the ionic conductivity of the 15 vol % ZrO2 dispersed sample was conducted by an a.c. technique between −124° C and ∼ 300° C. The bulk and total conductivities were calculated via complex-plane analysis. The total (grain and grain-boundary) ionic specific resistivity was ∼ 9 Ω cm at 300° C. The activation enthalpies of the bulk and total conductivity processes were 0.30 and 0.32 eV, respectively.

Patrick S. Nicholson

Papers

Heterocoagulation in Ionically Stabilized Mixed‐Oxide Colloidal Dispersions in Ethanol

Microstructural Development in Partially Stabilized ZrO2 in the System CaO-ZrO2

ac Conductivity and conductivity relaxation studies in the CeO2−Y2O3 system

Crack shape studies in brittle porous materials

The mechanical and electrical properties of ZrO2-Naβ″-Al2O3 composites