Journal of the Taiwan Institute of Chemical Engineers最新文献

{"title":"Employing economic model predictive control for improving efficiency of the batch reactor carrying out decomposition of the Di-Cumyl-Peroxide","authors":"Atanu Panda ,&nbsp;Subhasish Mahapatra ,&nbsp;Achu Govind K.R. ,&nbsp;Rames C. Panda","doi":"10.1016/j.jtice.2024.105864","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jtice.2024.105864","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background:</h3><div>Batch reactors are used to produce agro-herbicides, often operating under metastable conditions. Exothermic reactions within these reactors can rapidly release large amounts of chemical energy, increasing the reaction rate and risking a runaway excursion. To prevent excessive heat dissipation, the reactor must operate within a lower mesophilic temperature range. The decomposition of dicumyl-peroxide is a notable example of a runaway reaction, characterized by multi-order thermo-kinetics with an Arrhenius temperature dependency. This decomposition rate is highly sensitive to factors such as Damkohler’s number, exothermic enthalpy, oxygen presence, substrate concentration, and initial temperature variations. Many kinetic parameters are not directly measurable in real-time applications.</div></div><div><h3>Method:</h3><div>(i) An economic stage cost is derived and integrated into a model-predictive-control (MPC) law to regulate coolant flow and manage exothermic heat dissipation, mitigating unmeasured disturbances and faults. (ii) For estimating unmeasured reactor states and uncertainties, a cubature Kalman filter with a singular-value-decomposition approach has been utilized. (iii) Event-triggered scheduling combined with cubature Kalman filter, reduced communication resource usage.</div></div><div><h3>Significant findings</h3><div>: The economics MPC controller tested on the dicumyl-peroxide system is compared with a standard nonlinear MPC rule, considering factors like cooling period, decomposition rate, and observer accuracy which ensures the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":381,"journal":{"name":"Journal of the Taiwan Institute of Chemical Engineers","volume":"167 ","pages":"Article 105864"},"PeriodicalIF":5.5,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143132355","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Dynamic optimization for SP of control loops using adaptive APC techniques","authors":"Zhu Wang ,&nbsp;Hehui Zhang ,&nbsp;Donghui Liu","doi":"10.1016/j.jtice.2024.105858","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jtice.2024.105858","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Advanced Process Control (APC) is widely applied in the industrial chemical sector. Dynamic Matrix Control (DMC) is favored for its ability to handle complex optimization control problems involving multiple variables and constraints. However, changes in working conditions over long periods of industrial operation can lead to a mismatch between the predictive model and the actual system. To achieve adaptivity to working conditions, this paper proposes a setpoint (SP) dynamic optimization method for control loops based on adaptive APC techniques.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Firstly, an identification algorithm with Nussbaum gain is employed to update the system model in real-time. Secondly, the predictive model is adaptively updated through digital testing after changes in working conditions. Subsequently, the weight coefficients and constraints of the performance index are adaptively adjusted. Finally, this paper employs the Memory-GA-PSO (MGAPSO) algorithm to solve the performance index with varying constraints and dimensions with the goal of optimizing the SP trajectory efficiently.</div></div><div><h3>Significant findings</h3><div>The experimental results validated the accuracy of the identification algorithm and the effectiveness of the adaptive APC techniques. The adaptive APC techniques proposed in this paper achieve self-adaptation to working conditions, ensuring the long-term effectiveness of advanced control schemes and effectively avoiding model mismatch.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":381,"journal":{"name":"Journal of the Taiwan Institute of Chemical Engineers","volume":"167 ","pages":"Article 105858"},"PeriodicalIF":5.5,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143132356","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Enhanced mixing in a novel microchannel equipped with a helical micromixer: Investigation on the hydrodynamic characteristics of water/butanol two-phase system","authors":"Sobhan Farahani,&nbsp;Salman Movahedirad,&nbsp;Mohammad Amin Sobati","doi":"10.1016/j.jtice.2025.105985","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jtice.2025.105985","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Passive mixers within microchannels are fascinating because they do not require external energy or complicated parts; instead, they utilize the natural dynamics of fluids within microchannels to achieve effective mixing and increase the interfacial area in two-phase flow.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Water-butanol system, known for partial miscibility, is used to investigate the efficacy of the proposed microchannel. The dimensions of the employed microchannel was 800 μm diameter and 20 cm length, incorporates a stainless-steel helical wire (250 μm diameter) with different step lengths. Both fluids are introduced at equal flow rates (ranging from 0.1 to 0.8 mL/min) under standard conditions, generating different flow patterns. Image processing techniques is used to demonstrate the effectiveness of the helical wire within microchannel system.</div></div><div><h3>Significant findings</h3><div>The study reveals a significant reduction in droplet average diameter from 950 µm to 400 µm within a flow range of 0.3–0.4 mL/min, indicating improved mixing efficiency. The passive mixer plays a crucial role in reducing mixing time (t₉₅) and the distance for complete mixing, achieving full mixing at 12.4 mm from the microchannel entrance compared to 62.7 mm without the mixer. These findings suggest substantial advancements in microchannel technologies, particularly for applications such as liquid-liquid extraction, by enhancing efficiency and functionality.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":381,"journal":{"name":"Journal of the Taiwan Institute of Chemical Engineers","volume":"170 ","pages":"Article 105985"},"PeriodicalIF":5.5,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143145147","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"pH-responsive poly(acrylic acid) coated mesoporous silica nanoparticles for controlled abamectin release: Synthesis, characterization, and agricultural application","authors":"Peng Xu ,&nbsp;Jiawei Bao ,&nbsp;Qun Li ,&nbsp;Weishan Shi ,&nbsp;Gang Xing ,&nbsp;Zhaogang Teng","doi":"10.1016/j.jtice.2024.105861","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jtice.2024.105861","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Smart pesticides, capable of responding to environmental stimuli, hold promise for achieving precise and on-demand release of pesticides, thereby reducing environmental risks and optimizing pesticide utilization.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Herein, we prepared a novel composite nanoparticle with a core-shell structure of poly(acrylic acid)-coated mesoporous silica by distillation precipitation polymerization method, which is simple and efficient. Then, abamectin was successfully loaded by impregnation adsorption, and a novel pH-responsive controlled-release pesticide formulation, Abamectin-MSN@PAA, was prepared.</div></div><div><h3>Significant</h3><div>Findings In this work, Abamectin-MSN@PAA exhibited a loading content of 23.79 % and an average particle size of approximately 272.1 nm. Notably, the formulation demonstrated acid-responsive release kinetics, with cumulative release percentages of 85.91 %, 69.03 %, and 53.44 % observed at pH values of 5, 7, and 9, respectively, after 96 h. Moreover, Abamectin-MSN@PAA effectively preserved abamectin from degradation under UV light exposure. In comparison with abamectin suspension, Abamectin-MSN@PAA exhibited superior adhesion to radish leaves and demonstrated increased aphid mortality in bioassay experiments. Following 7 days of drug spraying, the aphid survival rate was 26.67 % for Abamectin (40 mg <em>L</em>⁻¹) and only 18.3 % for Abamectin-MSN@PAA (40 mg <em>L</em>⁻¹). These findings underscore the potential of pH-responsive poly(acrylic acid)-coated mesoporous silica nanoparticles as a versatile platform for controlled pesticide delivery, thereby enhancing pesticide bioavailability and efficacy in agriculture.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":381,"journal":{"name":"Journal of the Taiwan Institute of Chemical Engineers","volume":"167 ","pages":"Article 105861"},"PeriodicalIF":5.5,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143131213","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A novel binary bismuth molybdate-perovskite type Strontium Niobate for efficient photocatalytic degradation of ciprofloxacin","authors":"Osamah Alduhaish ,&nbsp;Govindasamy Suganya ,&nbsp;Abdalrahman Alajmi ,&nbsp;Abdellatif M. Sadeq ,&nbsp;Pandiyan Praveen ,&nbsp;Karuppaiah Selvakumar ,&nbsp;Chandra Prasad Khatiwada","doi":"10.1016/j.jtice.2024.105856","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jtice.2024.105856","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>One effective strategy and popular topic to preserve ecosystems and prevent water contamination is the direct use of green solar energy to transform organic contaminants in industrial effluent into hazardous substances. Treatment of waste from pharmaceuticals is challenging due to its complexity and wide range of pollutants.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>This study used a unique hydrothermal method to create a Bi₂MoO₆-Sr₂Nb₂O₇ nanocatalyst. The photodegradation of Ciprofloxacin (CIP) in the presence of visible light was used to examine the photocatalytic performance of these materials. The obtained bare, composite photocatalysts were extensively characterized using a variety of physicochemical approaches. The structural and phase characteristics of the Bi₂MoO₆-Sr₂Nb₂O₇nanohybrids were identified by XRD and FT-IR spectra. The binding and distribution of the produced catalyst's rod- and plate-like structure were visible in FESEM and HR-TEM images. The presence of Bi₂MoO₆ decreased the composite's optical absorbance and bandgap energy, which was examined using UV-DRS spectroscopy. The band gap value is reduced and shifted to the visible area by adding Bi₂MoO₆.</div></div><div><h3>Significant Findings</h3><div>The photodegradation of CIP, the Bi₂MoO₆-Sr₂Nb₂O₇ catalyst demonstrated better photocatalytic activity; 96.3% of CIP was broken down under visible light. The Photoluminescence (PL) and transient photocurrent tests support the Bi₂MoO₆-Sr₂Nb₂O₇ catalyst's improved photo-induced charge separation efficiency. According to the results of the scavenger test, h⁺ and •O₂ were the key factors in the CIP degradation. Additionally, the Bi₂MoO₆-Sr₂Nb₂O₇ catalyst showed exceptional reusability and durability in four sequential cycles. The Bi₂MoO₆-Sr₂Nb₂O₇nanohybrids are expected to be used as photocatalysts for restoring the environment and converting light energy. This study presents an innovative method for creating a potent photocatalyst for pollutant degradation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":381,"journal":{"name":"Journal of the Taiwan Institute of Chemical Engineers","volume":"167 ","pages":"Article 105856"},"PeriodicalIF":5.5,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143131321","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Dual functional Ag2MoO4/thickness-controlled g-C3N4 composites for enhanced photocatalytic and adsorption activity","authors":"Xuanbo Zhou ,&nbsp;Xu Guo ,&nbsp;Lihong Dong ,&nbsp;Wanli Zhou ,&nbsp;Xiumei Li","doi":"10.1016/j.jtice.2024.105863","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jtice.2024.105863","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Nanocomposites have a wide range of applications in the field of energy and environment, especially in the treatment of organic pollutants and radioactive materials in water, so the development of new nanocomposites for the treatment of environmental pollution is urgent.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>The morphology of g-C₃N₄ has a significant impact on its properties. The g-C₃N₄ with different thicknesses were prepared by thermal oxidation exfoliation and etching of bulk g-C₃N₄ (CNB) under air atmosphere, and separately combined with Ag₂MoO₄. The samples were characterized with X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), UV–vis diffuse reflectance spectra, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy.</div></div><div><h3>Significant findings</h3><div>The results showed that the composite of Ag₂MoO₄ formed of g-C₃N₄ with a thickness of 24.7 nm exhibited excellent photocatalytic degradation property. The photo-degradation rate of methylene blue (MB), rhodamine B (RhB) and methyl orange (MO) were 97.9 % (30 min), 94.2 % (40 min) and 91.3 % (40 min), respectively. Differently, when Ag₂MoO₄ is combined with g-C₃N₄ with a thickness of 10.0 nm, which show excellent adsorption performance. The adsorption amount of I₂ can reach 4.487 g/g under 75 °C of saturated I₂ vapor. And the nanocomposite manifested splendid adsorption efficiency of MB (95.8 %, 6 min), RhB (93.2 %, 6 min) and MO (94.3 %, 6 min), respectively. The nanocomposite achieved the bifunctional characteristics of degradation of organic pollutants and efficient adsorption.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":381,"journal":{"name":"Journal of the Taiwan Institute of Chemical Engineers","volume":"167 ","pages":"Article 105863"},"PeriodicalIF":5.5,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143131838","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A novel high durability ZnCl2-NH4Cl threshold-WIS (water-in-salt) electrolyte for rechargeable zinc-air battery","authors":"Yu-Xuan Liu ,&nbsp;Ting-Yun Kan ,&nbsp;Yi-Hsiang Hsieh ,&nbsp;Yuan-Yu Ho ,&nbsp;Yu-Hao Chang ,&nbsp;Ya-Mei Weng ,&nbsp;Cheng-Hao Yang ,&nbsp;Cheng-Xin Yu ,&nbsp;Tzu-Chien Hsu ,&nbsp;Yu-Hsiang Huang ,&nbsp;Yi-Ting Tsai ,&nbsp;Chia-Chi Hsu ,&nbsp;Chi-Chung Hua ,&nbsp;Yuan-Yao Li ,&nbsp;Huang-Wei Chang ,&nbsp;Yu-Chun Fu","doi":"10.1016/j.jtice.2024.105909","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jtice.2024.105909","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>For rechargeable zinc-air battery (ZAB), KOH electrolyte exhibits poor zinc reversibility, carbonate formation, hydrogen evolution, ZnO passivation, dendrite formation, and high corrosion. Recently, 23.8M ZnCl₂ hydrate melt electrolyte was reported to be without these problems but suffers from high viscosity, low conductivity, and pure oxygen requirement. The authors realized that acidic environment enables all the durability advantages with the exception of anti-dendrite formation, which is due to the elimination of the concentration gradient at sufficiently high salt concentration.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>As durability advantages of concentrated ZnCl₂ electrolyte has often been associated with the water-in-salt (WIS) condition, 10m ZnCl₂ at the threshold-WIS concentration was thought to be the minimum concentration to enable the durability benefits and was selected to be tested with NH₄Cl added for pH stability. 10 m ZnCl₂ was tested with varying NH₄Cl for changes in viscosity, conductivity, acidity, and density. Then Raman spectroscopy, chronoamperometry, linear sweep voltammetry, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, and galvanostatic charge-and-discharge cycling were done to compare the ZnCl₂-NH₄Cl mixture to 6M KOH.</div></div><div><h3>Significant findings</h3><div>Results show 10 m ZnCl₂ w/wo 5 m NH₄Cl gave superior performance with ZAB cycling for &gt;6000 cycles/&gt;60 days at 1 mA/cm² and &gt; 89% voltage efficiency without the durability problems associated with KOH.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":381,"journal":{"name":"Journal of the Taiwan Institute of Chemical Engineers","volume":"167 ","pages":"Article 105909"},"PeriodicalIF":5.5,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143131215","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Experimental Investigation of Carbon-Based Nano-Enhanced Phase Change Materials Assimilated Photovoltaic Thermal System: Energy, Exergy and Environmental Assessment","authors":"Reji Kumar Rajamony ,&nbsp;A.K. Pandey ,&nbsp;A.G.N. Sofiah ,&nbsp;Johnny Koh Siaw Paw ,&nbsp;Subbarama Kousik Suraparaju ,&nbsp;Amanullah Fatehmulla ,&nbsp;K. Chopra ,&nbsp;M. Samykano ,&nbsp;Rizwan A. Farade","doi":"10.1016/j.jtice.2024.105835","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jtice.2024.105835","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Photovoltaic thermal systems (PVT) are advanced systems designed to simultaneously generate heat and electricity. However, their commercial performance has not yet reached optimal levels, with efficient thermal regulation being a major challenge that directly affects energy production and efficiency.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>This research introduces an innovative approach to enhancing PVT system performance by integrating active water cooling with passive functionalized carbon-based nano-enhanced phase change materials (NePHACMs) as a cooling medium. Four configurations were studied: PV, PVT, PVT-PHACM, and PVT-NePHACM, with fluid flow rates of 0.4-0.8 L/min. Indoor experiments were conducted for PV and PVT systems, while TRNSYS simulations assessed PVT-PHACM and PVT-NePHACM systems. The exergy approach was used to evaluate the energy available for productive use and exergy loss and entropy generation have been analyzed to enhance the electrical energy and thermal storage of the system. Additionally, carbon mitigation and carbon credit gain for all configurations were discussed.</div></div><div><h3>Significant Findings</h3><div>The NePHACM formulation significantly enhanced the system's thermal conductivity by 104%, reduced PV temperature, and improved both electrical and thermal energy production. The system achieved an overall energy efficiency of 85.02% and an exergy efficiency of 12.37%. Additionally, the hybrid system demonstrated exceptional effectiveness in reducing CO₂ emissions, highlighting NePHACM's potential to improve PVT system commercialization, especially for nocturnal applications.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":381,"journal":{"name":"Journal of the Taiwan Institute of Chemical Engineers","volume":"167 ","pages":"Article 105835"},"PeriodicalIF":5.5,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143132354","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Metabolic engineering of Escherichia coli for improved cofactor regeneration in lactate to acetoin via whole-cell conversion","authors":"Chan-Hsiang Hsu,&nbsp;Sefli Sri Wahyu Effendi,&nbsp;Wan-Wen Ting,&nbsp;Yu-Hsiu Li,&nbsp;I-Son Ng","doi":"10.1016/j.jtice.2024.105895","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jtice.2024.105895","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Acetoin is a crucial intermediate in asymmetric syntheses of high-value chemicals and pharmaceuticals. However, its production still relies on traditional fossil-based processes. Developing efficient microbial cell factories for green and low-cost acetoin production is urgently needed.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Acetoin was produced from inexpensive and shortcut lactate substrate using whole-cell <em>Escherichia coli</em> through overexpression of highly active α-acetolactate synthetase and decarboxylase from <em>Bacillus subtilis</em> (annotated as SD). Precise stepwise optimization of pathway and enzymatic reaction was executed by (1) harboring the most efficient cofactor-regenerating system, (2) tuning expression design, (3) disrupting byproduct pathway, and (4) optimizing a series of biotransformation parameters.</div></div><div><h3>Significant Findings</h3><div>The recombinant <em>E. coli</em> successfully produced acetoin. The titer was gradually increased by expressing a pyruvate-producing gene from NAD⁺ dependent or independent system and its cofactor regeneration systems. Co-expressing lactate oxidase (<em>lox</em>) and catalase (<em>cat</em>) achieved a conversion efficiency of 50 % and eliminated NAD⁺ usage. The conversion efficiency was further pulled by knocking out acetate-generating genes (<em>pta</em> and <em>pox</em>B), thus boosting acetoin conversion to 92.4 %. Under optimized whole-cell biotransformation parameters, the highest acetoin titer reached 20.6 g/L within 30 h. This work provides an economical biomanufacturing process for acetoin from lactate via whole-cell bioconversion with remarkable yield.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":381,"journal":{"name":"Journal of the Taiwan Institute of Chemical Engineers","volume":"167 ","pages":"Article 105895"},"PeriodicalIF":5.5,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143132357","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Sulfur- layered porous carbon nanostructured matrix - Co3O4 composites: An enhancement of cycling performance in sodium-sulfur battery","authors":"Premnahth Jeyaraj Janshirani ,&nbsp;Suba Devi Rengapillai ,&nbsp;Soundarrajan Elumalai ,&nbsp;Raghu Subashchandrabose ,&nbsp;Wei-Ren Liu ,&nbsp;Sivakumar Marimuthu","doi":"10.1016/j.jtice.2025.105978","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jtice.2025.105978","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>For future applications in electric vehicles, power tools, portable devices, and other areas, developing effective cathode materials for sodium-sulfur batteries is crucial. Sulfur is a promising low-cost cathode material due to its high energy density, environmental friendliness, and natural abundance. Sodium-sulfur batteries, with a theoretical capacity of 1672 mAh g^-1, offer a higher capacity compared to conventional sodium-ion batteries. However, their use has been limited by the dissolution of intermediate polysulfides, which can impact performance.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>In this study, sulfur was blended with various carbon matrices, including hard carbon (HC), reduced graphene oxide (rGO), and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs), along with Co₃O₄, through a solid-state reaction and melt diffusion process to prepare sulfur/ Co₃O₄/carbon template composites. These composites were then used as cathodes in sodium-sulfur (Na-S) batteries. The physical and electrochemical characteristics of the prepared composites were investigated using various characterization techniques. Raman analysis was employed to confirm the presence of carbon, while X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns indicated that sulfur is in an orthorhombic structure.</div></div><div><h3>Significant findings</h3><div>The sulfur/ Co₃O₄/carbon template composite with 60% sulfur (SCR composite) demonstrated significantly enhanced cycling performance, achieving 925 mAh g^-1 at 0.2 C for the initial cycle. The incorporation of Co₃O₄ effectively suppressed the polysulfide shuttle effect, thereby sustaining the electrode's capacity. Additionally, the carbon matrix played a crucial role in confining the sulfur within its pores, which helped to limit the loss of active material.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":381,"journal":{"name":"Journal of the Taiwan Institute of Chemical Engineers","volume":"170 ","pages":"Article 105978"},"PeriodicalIF":5.5,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143144523","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}