Wuhan University of Technology

About: Wuhan University of Technology is a education organization based out in Wuhan, China. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Microstructure & Photocatalysis. The organization has 40384 authors who have published 36724 publications receiving 575695 citations. The organization is also known as: WUT.

Enhanced Photocatalytic Hydrogen‐Production Performance of Graphene–ZnxCd1−xS Composites by Using an Organic S Source

Abstract: In response to the increasing concerns over energy and environmental sustainability, photocatalytic water-splitting technology has attracted broad attention for its application in directly converting solar energy to valuable hydrogen (H2) energy. In this study, high-efficiency visible-light-driven photocatalytic H2 production without the assistance of precious-metal cocatalysts was achieved on graphene–ZnxCd1−xS composites with controlled compositions. The graphene-ZnxCd1−xS composites were for the first time fabricated by a one-step hydrothermal method with thiourea as an organic S source. It was found that thiourea facilitates heterogeneous nucleation of ZnxCd1−xS and in situ growth of ZnxCd1−xS nanoparticles on graphene nanosheets. Such a scenario results in abundant and intimate interfacial contact between graphene and ZnxCd1−xS nanoparticles, efficient transfer of the photogenerated charge carriers, and enhanced photocatalytic activity for H2 production. The highest H2-production rate of 1.06 mmol h−1 g−1 was achieved on a graphene–Zn0.5Cd0.5S composite photocatalyst with a graphene content of 0.5 wt %, and the apparent quantum efficiency was 19.8 % at 420 nm. In comparison, the graphene–ZnxCd1−xS composite photocatalyst prepared by using an inorganic S source such as Na2S exhibited much lower activity for photocatalytic H2 production. In this case, homogeneous nucleation of ZnxCd1−xS becomes predominant and results in insufficient and loose contact with the graphene backbone through weak van der Waals forces and a large particle size. This study highlights the significance of the choice of S source in the design and fabrication of advanced graphene-based sulfide photocatalytic materials with enhanced activity for photocatalytic H2 production.

Broadband patterned magnetic microwave absorber

Abstract: It is a tough task to greatly improve the working bandwidth for the traditional flat microwave absorbers because of the restriction of available material parameters. In this work, a simple patterning method is proposed to drastically broaden the absorption bandwidth of a conventional magnetic absorber. As a demonstration, an ultra-broadband microwave absorber with more than 90% absorption in the frequency range of 4–40 GHz is designed and experimentally realized, which has a thin thickness of 3.7 mm and a light weight equivalent to a 2-mm-thick flat absorber. In such a patterned absorber, the broadband strong absorption is mainly originated from the simultaneous incorporation of multiple λ/4 resonances and edge diffraction effects. This work provides a facile route to greatly extend the microwave absorption bandwidth for the currently available absorbing materials.

Optical fiber magnetic field sensors with TbDyFe magnetostrictive thin films as sensing materials

Abstract: Different from usually-used bulk magnetostrictive materials, magnetostrictive TbDyFe thin films were firstly proposed as sensing materials for fiber-optic magnetic field sensing characterization. By magnetron sputtering process, TbDyFe thin films were deposited on etched side circle of a fiber Bragg Grating (FBG) as sensing element. There exists more than 45pm change of FBG wavelength when magnet field increase up to 50 mT. The response to magnetic field is reversible, and could be applicable for magnetic and current sensing.