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Abstract: Though free standing graphene has excellent physical, chemical and electrical properties, its tendency to restack is a major hurdle in realizing its full potential especially in applications such as lithium ion batteries and super capacitors. In this manuscript, we report synthesis of graphene-based three dimensional (3D) shell-plate nanostructures composed of ‘nano-cup arrays’ anchored on few-layered graphene (FLG) substrates. The synthesis was carried out by a simple process using eco-friendly ionic liquids and microwave irradiation as the energy source. Morphological studies by scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy showed vertically anchored graphene nano-cups on graphene substrate. Super capacitor electrodes fabricated with FLG/gCup nano-hybrids and its electrochemical properties are studied by cyclic voltammetry (CV) and galvanostatic charge/discharge (DC) methods. FLG/gCup electrodes showed good electrochemical performance, with a maximum specific capacitance of 421Fg−1 at the charge/discharge current density of 100mAg−1 in 1M KOH electrolyte, which is four times higher than pristine graphene sheets. The utility of our developed technique in synthesis of graphene nano-cup arrays on arbitrary surfaces (glass substrate) is also reported. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Thermal and hydraulic performance of a sinusoidal corrugated plate heat exchanger (PHX) was investigated for the application of a low temperature lift heat pump (LTLHP), which requires unique operating conditions. The water-side heat transfer coefficient and pressure drop of the PHX were obtained through the experimental test. The refrigerant-side heat transfer performance was investigated by varying several parameters. The PHX performance was poor due to low refrigerant mass flux. The PHX needs better balance in two fluids for the LTLHP application. From the current study, it is concluded that the conventional PHX applied for the LTLHP application is limited by two main factors: a large pressure drop on the water-side due to corrugated shape, and a low heat transfer performance due to the low refrigerant-side heat transfer performance. In order to address these drawbacks, heat exchanger designs must be improved by optimizing its geometry and flow area asymmetrically for each fluid. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: In this paper, the thermal and hydraulic performance of a novel low temperature lift heat exchanger (LTLHX) was experimentally investigated. The novel LTLHX was developed to improve the performance of the conventional plate type heat exchanger (PHX) under low temperature lift operating conditions. The optimized novel LTLHX was fabricated and investigated experimentally with various operating conditions. The heat transfer coefficient correlation and friction factor correlation of the water-side in the novel LTLHX were formulated from the experimental data. The overall heat transfer coefficient of the novel LTLHX with ammonia ranged from 1300 to 2000 W K−1 m−2, and the pressure drop per length of the water-side ranged from 4 to 10 kPa m−1. The refrigerant-side heat transfer coefficient ranged from 2900 to 5000 W K−1 m−2, and water-side heat transfer coefficient ranged from 3900 to 5100 W K−1 m−2. The overall heat transfer performance of the novel LTLHX was more than double that of the PHX at the same operating conditions. Moreover, the water-side pressure drop of the novel heat exchanger was drastically lower than that of the PHX. It was due to the balanced thermal and hydraulic performance of the novel heat exchanger. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: This paper reviews the recent development of available cold storage materials for subzero applications. According to the type of a storage medium and the way of the storage medium is used, phase change material (PCM) storage and sorption storage are introduced separately. Eutectic water–salt solutions and non-eutectic water–salt solution PCMs are discussed from thermal and physicochemical properties such as fusion heat, thermal conductivity, phase separation, supercooling, corrosion, flammability, etc. Related solutions for issues of such PCMs are offered. Microencapsulated PCMs are introduced as they have an excellent heat transfer performance to the surroundings because of the large surface per volume of the capsules and the excellent cycling stability due to the restricted phase separation in microscopic distances. PCMs with nanoparticle additives are also discussed as they have higher thermal conductivity for better storage process. Absorption and adsorption storages are mainly discussed for their working pairs, heat transfer enhancement and system performance improvement aspects. Relevant perspective technologies are discussed for further work. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The shape and structure of electrocatalysts at the nanoscale level have a decisive effect on their activity and durability in low-temperature fuel cells. Herein, we report the discovery of unexpected structural phenomena in exotic nanostructures: the anomalous compressive strain and superior electron retention properties of highly porous Pt (HP-Pt) nanoparticles synthesized using a weakly interacting organic capping agent, tetradecyl trimethyl ammonium bromide. Even though the particle size of the HP-Pt nanoparticles was much larger than those of commercial electrocatalysts, bond length shortening occurred anomalously, and the downshifted d-band center eventually led to increased oxygen reduction reaction activity. This is because the HP-Pt nanoparticles had a highly porous urchin-like dendritic structure, interestingly in the single-crystalline phase, despite the large particle size. In addition, their electron retention properties were superior to those of commercial samples, which led to drastically enhanced stability against Pt dissolution at high potentials. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The effects of CeO2 addition on the catalytic activity and the SO2 resistance of CeO2-doped MnO(x)-TiO2 catalysts were investigated for the low-temperature selective catalytic reduction (SCR) with NH3 of NO(x) emissions in marine applications. The most active catalyst was obtained from 30 wt% CeO2-MnO(x)-TiO2 catalyst in the whole temperature range of 100-300 degrees C at a low gas hourly space velocity (GHSV) of 10,000 h(-)1, and its de-NO(x) efficiency was higher than 90% over 250 degrees C. The enhanced catalytic activity may contribute to the dispersion state and catalytic acidity on the catalyst surface, and the highly dispersed Mn and Ce on the nano-scaled TiO2 catalyst affects the increase of Lewis and Brønsted acid sites. A CeO2-rich additive on MnO(x)-TiO2 could provide stronger catalytic acid sites, associated with NH3 adsorption and the SCR performance. As the results of sulfur resistance in flue gas that contains SO2, the de-NO(x) efficiency of MnO(x)-TiO2 decreased by 15% over 200 degrees C, whereas that of 30 wt% ceria-doped catalyst increased by 14-21% over 150 degrees C. The high SO2 resistance of CeO2-MnO(x)-TiO2 catalysts that resulted from the addition of ceria suppressed the formation of Mn sulfate species, which led to deactivation on the surface of nano-catalyst.

In this study, a N-, C-, and S-doped titania (NCS-TiO2) composite was prepared by combining the titanium precursor with a single dopant source, and the photocatalytic activity of this system for the decomposition of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) at indoor-concentration levels, under exposure to visible light, was examined. The NCS-TiO2 composite and the pure TiO2 photocatalyst, used as a reference, were characterized via X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, ultraviolet-visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The average efficiencies of benzene, toluene, ethyl benzene, and o-xylene decomposition using NCS-TiO2 for were 70, 87, -100, and -100%, respectively, whereas the values obtained using the pure TiO2 powder were -0, 18, 49, and 51%, respectively. These results suggested that, for the photocatalytic decomposition of toxic VOCs under visible-light exposure conditions, NCS-TiO2 was superior to the reference photocatalyst. The decomposition efficiencies of the target VOCs were inversely related to the initial concentration and relative humidity as well as to the air-flow rate. The decomposition efficiencies of the target chemicals achieved with a conventional lamp/NCS-TiO2 system were higher than those achieved with a light emitting diode/NCS-TiO2 system. Overall, NCS-TiO2 can be used for the efficient decomposition of VOCs under visible-light exposure, if the operational conditions are optimized.

Very smooth ultrananocrystalline diamond (UNCD) film growth on SiC substrate was achieved by a novel pretreatment technique consisted of SiC surface texturing and deaggregation of nanodiamond (ND) seed particles. Texturing of SiC surfaces in Ar and SF6/02 plasmas was found to be able to provide normalized roughness values of 0.5-7.0 compared to the untreated surface. SiC surface plasma-textured and seeded with H2 heat-treated ND particles at 600 degrees C showed the highest nucleation density of ~44.2 x 10(11) cm(-2) and a highly uniform coverage of surface with very fine ND seeds. The UNCD film grown with this new pretreatment technique showed a very smooth surface morphology consisted of small and uniformly distributed grains.

Poly(glycidyl methadrylate-block-styrene) (PGMA-b-PS), a block copolymer consisting of glycidyl methacrylate and styrene, was synthesized via reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer living polymerization. The synthesized PGMA-b-PS was then grafted with low-molecular-weight polyethylene glycol (PEG) via epoxy ring opening to give PGMA-g-PEG-b-PS, which was evaluated as an anti-biofouling coating material. As a preliminary test for the anti-biofouling effect, a protein adsorption experiment was performed on the synthesized block copolymer surface. The block copolymers were spin-coated onto silicon wafers, and protein adsorption experiments were carried out using fluorescein isothiocyanate conjugate-labeled bovine serum albumin. The fluorescence intensity of the protein adsorbed on the block copolymer surface was compared with that of a polystyrene film as a reference. The synthesized PGMA-g-PEG-b-PS film showed much lower fluorescence intensity than that of the PS film.

This study was investigated the role of magnesium (Mg2+) ion substituted biphasic calcium phosphate (Mg-BCP) spherical micro-scaffolds in osteogenic differentiation of human adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hAT-MSCs). Mg-BCP micro-scaffolds with spherical morphology were successfully prepared using in situ co-precipitation and spray drying atomization process. The in vitro cell proliferation and differentiation of hAT-MSCs were determined up to day 14. After in vitro biological tests, Mg-BCP micro-scaffolds with hAT-MSCs showed more enhanced osteogenicity than pure hAT-MSCs as control group by unique biodegradation of TCP phase and influence of substituted Mg2+ ion in biphasic nanostructure. Therefore, these results suggest that Mg-BCP micro-scaffolds promote osteogenic differentiation of hAT-MSCs.

The multi-year characteristics of ambient volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and their source contribution in a selected metropolitan (Seoul) and rural (Seokmolee) areas in Korea were investigated to provide the framework for development and implementation of ambient VOC control strategies. For Seoul, none of the three VOC groups exhibited any significant trend in their ambient concentrations, whereas for Seokmolee, they all showed a generally decreasing trend between 2005 and 2008 and an increasing trend after 2008. Two paraffinic (ethane and propane) and two olefin (ethylene and propylene) hydrocarbons displayed higher concentrations during the cold season than warm season, while the other target VOCs did not exhibit any significant trends. Ethylene and toluene were the first and second largest contributors to ozone formation, respectively, whereas several other VOCs displayed photochemical ozone formation potential values less than 0.01 ppb. For both areas, there was a significant negative correlation between ambient temperature and the selected VOC group concentrations. In contrast, a significant positive correlation was observed between relative humidity and the three VOC group concentrations, while no significant correlation was observed between wind speed and VOC group concentrations. For Seoul, the combination of vehicle exhaust and gasoline/solvent evaporation was the greatest source of VOCs, followed by liquid natural gas (LNG) and liquid petroleum gas (LPG). However, combination of LNG and LPG was the greatest source of VOCs at Seokmolee, followed by the combination of vehicle exhaust and gasoline evaporation, and then biogenic sources.