Advanced Materials Research Vols. 335-336

Abstract: 3-Methylthiopropionaldehyde diethyl acetal was synthesized from the reaction of 3-methylthiopropional with ethanol and triethyl orthoformate. The effecting factors including the kinds of catalyst, the mole ratio of raw materials, the amount of catalyst and the reaction time were optimized. The structure of product was characterized by gas chromatography, infrared spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, and nuclear magnetic resonance. Additionally, the mechanism of the reaction was speculated; the odor characteristics were evaluated.

Abstract: Nanosized ZnO particles were prepared by a facile homogeneous precipitation method. Resorcinol-formaldehyde sol with addition of the ZnO particles was carbonized at 700 °C for 1.5 h to prepare ZnO/carbon-aerogel composite. TEM investigation shows that ZnO particles were em-bedded in 3-dimensional net-like carbon and covered uniformly by amorphous carbon coating. Compared with ZnO, the ZnO/carbon-aerogel composite showed better cycling stability, higher discharge capacity and lower charge-transfer resistance. The discharge capacity delivered by the ZnO/carbon-aerogel composite remained above 550 mAh g^-1 during 40 cycles with little capacity loss. The enhanced electrochemical performances were mainly ascribed to the effects of the net-like structure of amorphous carbon, which uniformly surrounded the ZnO particles to guarantee good contact and acted as a skeleton to alleviate the shape change and dendrite growth of zinc electrode.

Abstract: LiFePO₄/C were successfully synthesized by carbon thermal reduction method at sintering temperature of 650 °C for 12h, using Li₂CO₃, FePO₄ and three organic carbon sources (citric acid, glucose and ascorbic acid) as starting materials. The crystal structure, morphology and electrochemical performances were characterized by X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) and Charge/Discharge Test. The results showed that the sample using glucose as carbon source was shuttle type porous particles with bore diameter from 50 to 100 nm, charge/discharge test showed that the sample had not only high initial discharge capacity of 155.1mAh/g at 0.1C (17mA/g), and 144.8 mAh/g at 1C, but also excellent rate performance. Moreover, the capacities lose which was only 0.97% after 10 cycling number at 1C indicate its good cycling stability.

Abstract: In recent years, Electric Double Layer Capacitors (EDLCs) are gradually accepted by people and used in different areas as storage devices. This paper studied the working mechanism of EDLC and discussed two kinds of models of EDLC. Based on the advantages of EDLC, this paper proposed EDLC-battery combine storage system in stand-alone photovoltaic system and designed Energy Control System (ECS). Test results show that the hybrid storage system can collect more energy generated by solar panels, enhance the power output ability of energy storage system and extend battery’s life.

Abstract: The traditional design method of injector structure cannot meet the demand of farther improved performance,the change of modern environment demand not only the optimization of one performance but also the optimization of various comprehensive performance.iSIGHT is a multidisciplinary design optimization platform that offer a integrated designenvironment and advanced design optimization methods. The optimization design of injector structure based on design of experiment of iSIGHT platform to improve the spray quality of injector is implemented.

Abstract: Harmful algal blooms have long been an issue worldwide owing to their adverse effects on drinking water treatment processes as well as drinking water quality. In this paper, chitosan-bentonite compound material was prepared by the supporting of chitosan on pillared bentonite and used for removal of harmful algae from water. The results showed that the compound material was effective for the removal of cyanobacterial Microcystis aeruginosa.

Abstract: In order to improve the photocatalytic activity, Co was successfully loaded into Ag₃VO₄ by using impregnation process. The samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) and diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS). The XRD and SEM–EDS analyses revealed that Co ion was dispersed on Ag₃VO₄. The DRS results indicated that the absorption edge of the Co–Ag₃VO₄ catalyst shifted to longer wavelength. The enhanced photocatalytic activity of Co–Ag₃VO₄ for Methylene Blue(MB) dye degradation under visible light irradiation was due to its wider absorption edge and higher separation rate of photo-generated electron and holes. In the experimental conditions, it is demonstrated that the MB was effectively degraded by more than 95% within 40 min when the Co–Ag₃VO₄ catalyst was calcined at 300°C with 1 wt.% Co content.

Abstract: In this paper, gelatin-based films were prepared by mixing gelatin with glycerol, and microbial transglutaminase (mTG) which was used as cross linking agent. The result of SEM confirmed that a dense network structure was formed after mTG treatment comparing to the native. The effect of mTG on water barrier property of films was investigated by measuring the water vapor permeability (WVP). The results showed that the concentration of gelatin has a significant influence on the water barrier property of gelatin-based film which was treated with mTG. The WVP value of the films decreased sharply after enzymatic cross-linking when gelatin concentration increased to 8%, while no evident change of the WVP can be found when the gelatin concentrations was lower than 8%.

Abstract: Effects of drying treatments on anthocyanin, fumonisin B₁, aflatoxin B₁ content of anthocyanin extract from purple corn were evaluated based on the harvest of 2008 and 2009 in north China. The anthocyanin content of anthocyanin extract from husk was 62.4 g/kg, being significant higher than that from cob and seed. The fumonisin B₁ and aflatoxin B₁ content of anthocyanin extract from the husk were 4.25 and 5.60 μg/kg, respectively, according with legislative limitation of USFDA. Moreover, the fumonisin B₁ and aflatoxin B₁ content of anthocyanin extract from the husk were lower than the maximum limitation of USFDA even after each drying treatments. Therefore, the husk of the purple corn in north China was feasible for anthocyanin production due to its high anthocyanin content and low fumonisin B₁ and aflatoxin B₁ content.

Abstract: SnS is a promising p-type semiconductor material for low-cost and low-toxic solar cells due to its exciting properties, such as high absorption in the visible range, little toxicity, inexpensiveness, and so on. The CdS nano-layer used as buffer layer of ZnO nanowire arrays/CdS/SnS thin film solar cells was prepared by thermal evaporation method. X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), atomic force microscopy (AFM), UV-Vis spectra, Hall effect measurement system and I-V measurement system were used to characterize the ZnO nanowire arrays/CdS/SnS thin film solar cells. It is found that the CdS nano-layer plays a key role in reducing the leakage current.