• Journal of Electrochemical Science and Technology
• /
• 제15권1호
• /
• pp.198-206
• /
• 2024

Given the high theoretical capacity (1,675 mAh g^-1) and the inherent affordability and ubiquity of elemental sulfur, it stands out as a prominent cathode material for advanced lithium metal batteries. Traditionally, sulfur was sequestered within conductive porous carbons, rooted in the understanding that their inherent conductivity could offset sulfur's non-conductive nature. This study, however, pivots toward a transformative approach by utilizing diatom shell (DS, diatomite)-a naturally abundant and economically viable siliceous mineral-as a sulfur host. This approach enabled the development of a sulfurlayered diatomite/S composite (DS/S) for cathodic applications. Even in the face of the insulating nature of both diatomite and sulfur, the DS/S composite displayed vigorous participation in the electrochemical conversion process. Furthermore, this composite substantially curbed the loss of soluble polysulfides and minimized structural wear during cycling. As a testament to its efficacy, our Li-S battery, integrating this composite, exhibited an excellent cycling performance: a specific capacity of 732 mAh g^-1 after 100 cycles and a robust 77% capacity retention. These findings challenge the erstwhile conviction of requiring a conductive host for sulfur. Owing to diatomite's hierarchical porous architecture, eco-friendliness, and accessibility, the DS/S electrode boasts optimal sulfur utilization, elevated specific capacity, enhanced rate capabilities at intensified C rates, and steadfast cycling stability that underscore its vast commercial promise.

• Steel and Composite Structures
• /
• 제44권5호
• /
• pp.651-676
• /
• 2022

Most of the experimental, theoretical, and numerical studies on the stability of functionally graded composites are deterministic, while there are full of complex interactions of variables with an inherently probabilistic nature, this paper presents a non-intrusive framework to investigate the stochastic nonlinear buckling behaviors of porous functionally graded cylindrical shells exposed to inevitable source-uncertainties. Euler-Lagrange equations are theoretically derived based on the three variable refined shear deformation theory. Closed-form solutions for the shell buckling loads are achieved by solving the deterministic eigenvalue problems. The analytical results are verified with numerical results obtained from finite element analyses that are conducted in the commercial software ABAQUS. The non-intrusive framework is completed by integrating the Monte Carlo simulation with the verified closed-form solutions. The convergence studies are performed to determine the effective pseudorandom draws of the simulation. The accuracy and efficiency of the framework are verified with statistical results that are obtained from the first and second-order perturbation techniques. Eleven cases of individual and compound uncertainties are investigated. Sensitivity analyses are conducted to figure out the five cases that have profound perturbative effects on the shell buckling loads. Complete probability distributions of the first three critical buckling loads are completely presented for each profound uncertainty case. The effects of the shell thickness, volume fraction index, and stochasticity degree on the shell buckling load under compound uncertainties are studied. There is a high probability that the shell has non-unique buckling modes in stochastic environments, which should be known for reliable analysis and design of engineering structures.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
• /
• 제32권2호
• /
• pp.605-608
• /
• 2011

Hybrid composite membranes were prepared by coating poly(ethylene oxide) and $SiO_2$ particles onto the porous polypropylene nonwoven matrix. Gel polymer electrolytes prepared by soaking the hybrid composite membranes in an organic electrolyte solution exhibited ionic conductivities higher than $1.1{\times}10^{-3}Scm^{-1}$ at room temperature. Dyesensitized solar cell (DSSC) employing the hybrid composite membrane with PEO and 10 wt % $SiO_2$ exhibited an open circuit voltage of 0.77 V and a short circuit current of 10.78 $mAcm^{-2}$ at an incident light intensity of 100 $mWcm^{-2}$, yielding a conversion efficiency of 5.2%. DSSC employing the hybrid composite membrane showed more stable photovoltaic performance than that of the DSSC assembled with liquid electrolyte.

• Steel and Composite Structures
• /
• 제42권3호
• /
• pp.375-388
• /
• 2022

In this work, limit elastic speed analysis of functionally graded porous rotating disks has been reported. The work proposes an effective approach for modeling the mechanical properties of a porous functionally graded rotating disk. Four different types of porosity models namely: uniform, symmetric, inner maximum, and outer maximum distribution are considered. The approach used is the variational principle, and the solution has been achieved using Galerkin's error minimization theory. The study aims to investigate the effect of grading indices, aspect ratio, porosity volume fraction, and porosity types on limit angular speed for uniform and variable disk geometries of constant mass. To validate the current study, finite element analysis has been used, and there is good agreement between the two methods. The study yielded a decrease in limit speed as grading indices and aspect ratio increase. The porosity volume fraction is found to be more significant than the aspect ratio effect. The research demonstrates a range of operable speeds for porous and non-porous disk profiles that can be used in industries as design data. The results show a significant increase in limit speed for an exponential disk when compared to other disk profiles, and thus, the study demonstrates a range of FG-based structures for applications in industries that will not only save material (lightweight structures) but also improve overall performance.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
• /
• 제47권1호
• /
• pp.51-65
• /
• 2019

A wood-plastic composite (WPC) paver block was manufactured using wood chips waste through an extrusion process, and it was intended to be used for paving in basic rest areas. The first stage in this study covered preliminary tests in terms of flexural strength and dimensional swelling to determine the optimal WPC compounding mix condition, by variation of the WPC ingredients. Next, three different paver blocks including the WPC block, a non-porous cement block, and a porous cement block were tested in terms of various material properties in the laboratory. Finally, two outdoor test sections of the proposed paver blocks were prepared to simulate a basic rest area. Test results indicated that the flexural strength of the WPC paver blocks was about 1.6 times greater than that of the tested cement paver blocks. The WPC block pavement was unaffected by water buoyance as well as volume expansion due to swelling. Results from the impact absorbance test and light falling weight deflectometer (LFWD) test clearly showed that the WPC block paving system marginally satisfied the comfortable and safe hardness range from the pedestrians' perspective, while the results demonstrated that it is structurally sound for application as a road paving block.

• Steel and Composite Structures
• /
• 제6권4호
• /
• pp.319-333
• /
• 2006

A rectangular plate made of a porous material is the subject of the work. Its mechanical properties vary continuously on the thickness of a plate. A mathematical model of this plate, which bases on nonlinear displacement functions taking into account shearing deformations, is presented. The assumed displacement field, linear geometrical and physical relationships permit to describe the total potential energy of a plate. Using the principle of stationarity of the total potential energy the set of five equilibrium equations for transversely and in-plane loaded plates is obtained. The derived equations are used for solving a problem of a bending simply supported plate loaded with transverse pressure. Moreover, the critical load of a bi-axially in-plane compressed plate is found. In both cases influence of parameters on obtained solutions such as a porosity coefficient or thickness ratio is analysed. In order to compare analytical results a finite element model of a porous plate is built using system ANSYS. Obtained numerical results are in agreement with analytical ones.

• 대한화학회지
• /
• 제68권2호
• /
• pp.87-92
• /
• 2024

The commercialization of rechargeable metal-air batteries is extremely desirable but designing stable oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) catalysts with non-noble metal still has faced challenges to replace platinum-based catalysts. The nonnoble metal catalysts for ORR were prepared to improve the catalytic performance and stability by the thermal decomposition of ZIF-8 with optimum cobalt loading. The porous carbon was obtained by the calcination of ZIF-8 and different loading amounts of Co nanoparticles were anchored onto porous carbon forming a Co/PC catalyst. Co/PC composite shows a significant increase in the ORR value of current and stability (500 h) due to the good electronic conductive PCN support and optimum cobalt metal loading. The significantly improved catalytic performance is ascribed to the chemical structure, synergistic effects, porous carbon networks, and rich active sites. This method develops a new pathway for a highly active and advantageous catalyst for electrochemical devices.

• Steel and Composite Structures
• /
• 제47권5호
• /
• pp.633-644
• /
• 2023

Taking a look at the previously published papers, it is revealed that there is a porosity index limitation (around 0.35) for the mechanical behavior analysis of the functionally graded porous (FGP) structures. Over mentioned magnitude of the porosity index, the elastic modulus falls below zero for some parts of the structure thickness. Therefore, the current paper is presented to analyze the vibrational behavior of the FGP Timoshenko beams (FGPTBs) using a novel refined formulation regardless of the porosity index magnitude. The silica aerogel foundation and various hydrothermal loadings are assumed as the source of external forces. To obtain the FGPTB's properties, the power law is hired, and employing Hamilton's principle in conjunction with Navier's solution method, the governing equations are extracted and solved. In the end, the impact of the various variables as different beam materials, elastic foundation parameters, and porosity index is captured and displayed. It is revealed that changing hygrothermal loading from non-linear toward uniform configuration results in non-dimensional frequency and stiffness pushing up. Also, Al - Al2O3 as the material composition of the beam and the porosity presence with the O pattern, provide more rigidity in comparison with using other materials and other types of porosity dispersion. The presented computational model in this paper hopes to help add more accuracy to the structures' analysis in high-tech industries.

• Steel and Composite Structures
• /
• 제49권4호
• /
• pp.431-440
• /
• 2023

The functionally graded (FG) porous plates are usually characterized by the non-symmetric elastic modulus distribution through the thickness so that the plate neutral surface does not coincide with the mid-surface. Nevertheless, the conventional analysis models were mostly based on the plate mid-surface so that the accuracy of resulting numerical results is questionable. In this context, this paper presents the neutral surface-based static and free vibration analysis of FG porous plates and investigates the differences between the mid- and neutral surface-based analysis models. The neutral surface-based numerical method is formulated using the (3,3,2) hierarchical model and approximated by the last introduced natural element method (NEM). The volume fractions of metal and ceramic are expressed by the power-law function and the cosine-type porosity distributions are considered. The proposed numerical method is demonstrated through the benchmark experiment, and the differences between two analysis models are parametrically investigated with respect to the thickness-wise material and porosity distributions. It is found from the numerical results that the difference cannot be negligible when the material and porosity distributions are remarkably biased in the thickness direction.

• Journal of Biosystems Engineering
• /
• 제29권5호
• /
• pp.457-466
• /
• 2004

Novel porous composite ceramic bone scaffolds composed of biodegradable PHBV(polyhydroxybutyrate-co-hydroxyvalerate) and TA(toothapatite) have been fabricated for bone tissue engineering by a modified solvent casting and particulate leach-ing method with salt-contained heat compression technique. The results of this study suggest that the PHBV-TA composite scaffold, especially the scaffold containing 30 weight$\%$ of TA may be a good candidate far bone tissue engineering of non-load bearing area in oral and maxillofacial region.