Advanced Composites and Hybrid Materials最新文献

The effects of hollow glass microspheres (HGMs) content, mass ratio of hybrid fibers, and fiber length on the properties of sheet molding compound (SMC) were investigated in this study. An optimized composition is achieved for SMC composite lightweighting and reinforcement improvement. Then, the resistance to acid of the optimized SMC is investigated. Introducing the high-performance fibers, carbon fibers (CFs) or basalt fibers (BFs), into the glass fibers (GFs) reinforced SMC composites can improve the mechanical properties significantly. The CFs incorporated SMC shows lower density and higher bending strength and impact strength than those of the BFs incorporated SMC. It can be concluded the SMC filled with 5 wt% HGMs, reinforced by GFs and CFs (mass ratio of 1:1) with a fiber length of 1.5 in, shows the greatest performance. When comparing with commercially available SMC for chemical resistance, the optimized SMC shows reduced density (22%) and increased bending strength (147%) and impact strength (27%). The mechanical properties of this SMC can be preserved 85.66% for bending strength and 90.22% for impact strength after immersing in 42 wt% H₂SO₄ solution at 100 °C for 28 days, suggesting an excellent resistance to acid. This research paves the way for the manufacture of SMC technology and the design of lightweight and corrosion-resistant SMC materials.

Graphical abstract

Recently, there has been a lot of focus on developing new waste-to-energy technologies because they help us to provide sustainable energy solutions for future generations. This review paper investigates an innovative waste-to-energy technology known as triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs), which uses the electrostatic induction and contact electrification principles of physics. The underlying physics of TENG technology allows for a wide range of material choices for its fabrication; as a result, waste materials are utilized for energy production using TENGs. It comprehensively discusses how various types of waste, including plastic, electronic, medical, household, and biowaste, can be integrated into TENG technology for efficient energy production. Furthermore, various applications of waste-based TENGs are discussed in detail. Finally, we projected challenges and future directions for creating a sustainable, green energy landscape.

Graphical abstract

The review article presents a detailed exploration of triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) as novel waste-to-energy technologies that utilize waste materials.

Zn-MnO₂ batteries are eco-friendly energy storage devices, but their practical application is hindered by challenges such as low conductivity, sluggish Zn²⁺ diffusion kinetics, and instability in the crystal structure of manganese dioxide (MnO₂) cathode materials during Zn²⁺ insertion/extraction. In this work, a composite nanocellulose-based carbon aerogel@MnO₂ (CA@MnO₂) cathode with enhanced Zn²⁺ insertion/de-insertion kinetics and storage capacity was fabricated by bi-directional freezing, carbonization, and following hydrothermal deposition. The nanocellulose-based carbon aerogels with ordered porous structure and high specific surface area served as the substrate, which facilitated the rapid Zn²⁺ migration and efficient electrode contact interface. In the two-electrode system, the CA@MnO₂ can provide a reversible specific capacity of 480 mAh g⁻¹ at 0.5 A g⁻¹ and a high multiplicative capacity of 160 mAh g⁻¹ at 5 A g⁻¹ with outstanding stability of operation over 3000 cycles. The assembled Zn//CA@MnO₂ batteries attained a remarkable specific capacitance of 397 mAh g⁻¹ at a current density of 0.1 A g⁻¹. This study provides a feasible route for the preparation of high-performance Zn-ion batteries.

Auricularia auricula is one of the main edible fungi widely cultivated in China. Aspergillus flavus is the most common class of pathogenic bacteria fungi that produces the high toxicity of the aflatoxins, which is one of the fungal diseases of A. auricula. Morphological observation of A. flavus mycelium and A. auricula mycelium in plate confrontation, mutual inhibition of growth at different germination times, and the interaction of A. flavus liquid culture solution and A. flavus volatiles with A. auricula mycelium were used to investigate the mechanism of the interaction between A. flavus and A. auricula mycelium. Mycelium of A. auricula and A. flavus had a mutual inhibitory effect, but A. auricula mycelia had a stronger inhibitory effect on the growth of A. flavus mycelia. The results of the interaction between A. flavus volatiles and A. auricula volatiles were also the same and the inhibition of A. flavus by volatiles from A. auricula mycelium about 11%. After 240 h, the inhibition rate of A. flavus liquid culture solution on A. auricula mycelium reached up to about 20%. Some antimicrobial substances such as small peptides and organic acids produced in the metabolites of A. flavus liquid culture solution were the main reasons of the growth inhibition of A. auricula mycelium. The main inhibitory substances were 2-butanone, 2-butanone dimer, etc. Further study of AFT B₁ and AFT B₂ revealed that aflatoxins could migrate from the medium to the mycelia and the fruiting body of A. auricula, but the migration rate was basically lower than 10‱. The mycelia of A. auricula had a strong degradation of aflatoxins in the growth process. So, the mechanism of antifungal activity of these substances was studied to provide a theoretical basis for future chemical synthesis.

Graphical Abstract

Herein, we reported photoelectric measurements of the polyaniline decorated with bismuth sulfide (Bi₂S₃/PANI) nanohybrid based metal-semiconductor-metal (MSM) device in the broad electromagnetic (EM) spectrum from ultraviolet (UV) to visible (Vis) range. Bi₂S₃ nanorods decorated with π-conjugated polymer PANI were utilized as photodetection devices has a wide range of applications in imaging and communication. In such a novel structure, the fast electron transfer at the interface of Bi₂S₃ and PANI occurs, which enhances the performance of the photodetectors. Current–voltage (I–V) characteristics of the MSM photodetector device of Bi₂S₃/PANI nanohybrid show good ohmic nature. This photodetector device offers the highest external quantum efficiency (EQE) 10⁴% in the UV and visible regions. It also shows the greatest detectivity of the order 10¹⁴ Jones. The photoresponsivity of the Bi₂S₃/PANI nanohybrid photodetector device shows 270 mAW⁻¹ in UV region and 1270 mAW⁻¹ in visible region at only 1 V with the minimum optical signal of 50 µWcm⁻². The highest photoresponsivity of the Bi₂S₃/PANI nanohybrid photodetector offers 26,760 mAW⁻¹ and 13,250 mAW⁻¹ for the UV and visible spectra, respectively. The higher values of the LDR are 64.31 dB and 58.21 dB in the UV and visible regions, respectively, at 100 V with the lowest illumination intensity. The minimum value of NEP found in the order of 10⁻⁹ W which is the lowest value, suggests that the nanohybrid material is perfect for low-intensity photon signals. This work provides simple and effective method for the preparation of MSM photodetector technology exhibits a magnificent performance in the UV-to-Vis region.

The ever-expanding demand for smart, wearable, and self-powered devices raises concerns regarding desirable power supplies. Again, this growing use of smart electronics continuously increases the burden on electronic waste (e-waste). Thus, a suitable power supply composed of environmentally friendly materials and assisted by adequate power density is quite enviable in today’s world. Herein, the designing and fabrication of an agricultural waste rice husk ash (RHA)/poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF)-based flexible triboelectric energy harvesting device are demonstrated. The silica (SiO₂)-enriched RHA effectively engineered the microstructure of the bio-compatible PVDF and effectively enhanced the electroactive phase fraction. The proof-of-concept of designing the flexible triboelectric energy harvester (TEH) using RHA/PVDF as a functional layer is studied. The fabricated lightweight, wearable TEH can generate a maximum voltage, current, and power density of ~ 463 V, 30 µAmp, and 1.94 mW.cm⁻², respectively, under repetitive finger imparting. This significantly enhanced output performance of the optimized TEH is attributed to the coupling of the piezoelectric effect with the triboelectric phenomenon inside the device under each cycle of operation. Owing to the good dynamic pressure sensitivity, the device is quite capable of sensing and scavenging energy from the fine motions of fingers as well as other body joints. Finally, the device was used to assemble self-powered smart sensors in order to conduct smart home and smart library operations. The smart switches can operate the smart home electronic appliances wirelessly from the interior/exterior of the room of the respective building. In smart library applications, the signal generated from the smart sensors can convey useful information to the librarian or the users regarding occupied and empty positions of a particular book on a bookshelf. With the bio-degradable nature of the filler, easy processing of the device, excellent biomechanical energy harvesting capability, and efficacy towards IoT applications, this sustainable bio-organic device paves the way towards effective, flexible, self-powered electromechanical systems for next-generation smart artificial intelligence (AI) and Internet of Things (IoT) applications.

Graphical Abstract