Visible light-active TiO2 (m-TiO2) nanoparticles were obtained by an electron beam treatment of commercial TiO2 (p-TiO2) nanoparticles. The m-TiO2 nanoparticles exhibited a distinct red-shift in the UV-visible absorption spectrum and a much narrower band gap (2.85 eV) due to defects as confirmed by diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS), photoluminescence (PL), X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, electron paramagnetic resonance, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and linear scan voltammetry (LSV). The XPS revealed changes in the surface states, composition, Ti4+ to Ti3+ ratio, and oxygen deficiencies in the m-TiO2. The valence band XPS, DRS and PL results were carefully examined to understand the band gap reduction of m-TiO2. The visible light-responsive enhanced photocatalytic activity of m-TiO2 was demonstrated by degrading methylene blue and brilliant blue G. The EIS and LSV in the dark and under visible light irradiation further support the visible light-induced photocatalytic activities of the m-TiO2 due to a decrease in electron transfer resistance and an increase in photocurrent. This study confirms that m-TiO2 can be used effectively as a photocatalyst and photoelectrode material owing to its enhanced visible light-induced photocatalytic activity.

Band gap engineered TiO2 nanoparticles for visible light induced photoelectrochemical and photocatalytic studies

Nanofiber composites of polyvinyl alcohol and cellulose nanocrystals: manufacture and characterization.

With the aim of enhancing the field-effect mobility by promoting surface-mediated two-dimensional molecular ordering in self-aligned regioregular poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) we have controlled the intermolecular interaction at the interface between P3HT and the insulator substrate by using self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) functionalized with various groups (–NH2, –OH, and –CH3). We have found that, depending on the properties of the substrate surface, the P3HT nanocrystals adopt two different orientations—parallel and perpendicular to the insulator substrate—which have field-effect mobilities that differ by more than a factor of 4, and that are as high as 0.28 cm2 V–1 s–1. This surprising increase in field-effect mobility arises in particular for the perpendicular orientation of the nanocrystals with respect to the insulator substrate. Further, the perpendicular orientation of P3HT nanocrystals can be explained by the following factors: the unshared electron pairs of the SAM end groups, the π–H interactions between the thienyl-backbone bearing π-systems and the H (hydrogen) atoms of the SAM end groups, and interdigitation between the alkyl chains of P3HT and the alkyl chains of the SAMs.

Enhancement of Field-Effect Mobility by Surface-Mediated Molecular Ordering in Regioregular Polythiophene Thin Film Transistor

Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), with relatively high energy density and power density, have been considered as a vital energy source in our daily life, especially in electric vehicles. However, energy density and safety related to thermal runaways are the main concerns for their further applications. In order to deeply understand the development of high energy density and safe LIBs, we comprehensively review the safety features of LIBs and the failure mechanisms of cathodes, anodes, separators and electrolyte. The corresponding solutions for designing safer components are systematically proposed. Additionally, the in situ or operando techniques, such as microscopy and spectrum analysis, the fiber Bragg grating sensor and the gas sensor, are summarized to monitor the internal conditions of LIBs in real time. The main purpose of this review is to provide some general guidelines for the design of safe and high energy density batteries from the views of both material and cell levels. Safety of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) with high energy density becomes more and more important in the future for EVs development. The safety issues of the LIBs are complicated, related to both materials and the cell level. To ensure the safety of LIBs, in-depth understanding of the safety features, precise design of the battery materials and real-time monitoring/detection of the cells should be systematically considered. Here, we specifically summarize the safety features of the LIBs from the aspects of their voltage and temperature tolerance, the failure mechanism of the LIB materials and corresponding improved methods. We further review the in situ or operando techniques to real-time monitor the internal conditions of LIBs.

/pdf/building-safe-lithium-ion-batteries-for-electric-vehicles-a-35800kw1rs.pdf

Building Safe Lithium-Ion Batteries for Electric Vehicles: A Review

Current perspective on pretreatment technologies using lignocellulosic biomass: An emerging biorefinery concept

Effects of gamma irradiation on the thermal and mechanical properties of chitosan/PVA nanofibrous mats

Recently, the rapidly expanding use of nanocellulose has been focused on abundant, light-weight, sustainable, biodegradable, and potential materials. This paper presents a summary of the findings of an exploratory study conducted to investigate the facile processing of nanocellulose from a kenaf core using electron beam irradiation. In this study, nanocellulose was produced by first isolating cellulose from a kenaf core, and then conducting electron beam irradiation and acid hydrolysis followed by a TEM analysis to confirm the form of the nanocellulose fibers. As the dose of electron beam irradiation increased, the crystallinity, molecular weight, polydispersity, and decomposition temperature of cellulose decreased. Such results influenced the size distribution and yield in acid hydrolysis; as the absorbed dose and acid hydrolysis reaction time increased, the yield of nanocellulose decreased while the size distribution became narrower.

Preparation of nanocellulose from a kenaf core using E-beam irradiation and acid hydrolysis

The physico-chemical properties of kapok fibers were altered via the combination processes of chlorite-periodate oxidation, in order to assess their efficacy as a heavy metal adsorbent. The chemically-oxidized kapok fibers were found to harbor a certain amount of polysaccharides, together with lowered lignin content. This alteration in lignin characteristics was clearly confirmed via FTIR and NBO yield. Moreover, chemically oxidized kapok fibers retained their hollow tube shape, although some changes were noted. The chemically oxidized kapok fibers evidenced elevated ability to adsorb heavy metal ions with the best fit for the Langmuir adsorption isotherm model. Three cycles of adsorption-desorption were conducted with in-between regeneration steps. Our experimental results indicated that chemically oxidized kapok fibers possessed excellent adsorption characteristics, and the modified kapok fibers could be completely regenerated with almost equimolar diluted sodium hydroxide. Pb, Cu, Cd and Zn ions evidenced adsorption rates of 93.55%, 91.83%, 89.75%, and 92.85% on the chemically oxidized kapok fibers. The regeneration efficiency showed 73.58% of Pb, 71.55% of Cu, 66.87% of Cd, and 75.00% of Zn for 3rd cycle with 0.0125N NaOH.

http://koreascience.or.kr:80/article/JAKO200818259611607.pdf

Adsorption of Heavy Metal Ions onto Chemically Oxidized Ceiba pentandra (L.) Gaertn. (Kapok) Fibers

In this study, a novel polymer electrolyte membrane, poly(vinylbenzyl sulfonic acid)-grafted poly(tetrafluoroethylene-co-hexafluoropropylene) (FEP-g-PVBSA), has been successfully prepared by simultaneous irradiation grafting of vinylbenzyl chloride (VBC) monomer onto a FEP film and taking subsequent chemical modification steps to modify the benzyl chloride moiety to the benzyl sulfonic acid moiety. The chemical reactions for the sulfonation were carried out via the formation of thiouronium salt with thiourea, base-catalyzed hydrolysis for the formation of thiol, and oxidation with hydrogen peroxide. Each chemical conversion process was confirmed by FTIR, elemental analysis, and SEM-EDX. A chemical stability study performed with Fenton's reagent (3% H2O2 solution containing 4 ppm of Fe2+) at 70 °C revealed that FEP-g-PVBSA has a higher chemical stability than the poly(styrene sulfonic acid)-grafted membranes (FEP-g-PSSA). © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 48: 563–569, 2010

Preparation and characterization of a poly(vinylbenzyl sulfonic acid)-grafted FEP membrane

Nanocrytalline cellulose (NCC) was isolated using cellulose extracted from two different precursor materials: Eucalyptus globulus and rice straw. The two ground precursor materials were autoclaved with a 10 % NaOH solution at 120 °C for 3 h. The alkali-treated precursor materials were bleached using sodium chlorite/acetic acid and sodium hypochlorite. The bleached precursor materials were acid-hydrolyzed in 65 % (w/w) sulfuric acid at 45 °C for 30-120 min. The changes in the chemical composition of the two precursor materials were studied before and after bleaching by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy according to the NREL report and TAPPI standards. Hydrolyzates were characterized by X-ray diffractometry, thermogravimetric analysis, Zeta-potential analysis, and transmission electron microscopy. The results revealed that the physical properties of NCC were strongly dependent on the acid-hydrolysis time.

Phil-Hyun Kang

Papers

Effects of gamma irradiation on the thermal and mechanical properties of chitosan/PVA nanofibrous mats

Preparation of nanocellulose from a kenaf core using E-beam irradiation and acid hydrolysis

Adsorption of Heavy Metal Ions onto Chemically Oxidized Ceiba pentandra (L.) Gaertn. (Kapok) Fibers

Preparation and characterization of a poly(vinylbenzyl sulfonic acid)-grafted FEP membrane

Isolation and characterization of nanocrystalline cellulose from different precursor materials