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This review presents a comprehensive analysis of the recent formulation of nanoparticle-reinforced solder alloys, focusing on their main properties and improvements in mechanical performance. The introduction provides an overview of solder alloys and the concept of formulating nanoparticle-reinforced solder alloys. The discussion systematically reviews the importance of various properties and critically evaluates the findings from the literature. The review compares and synthesizes the outcomes and insights regarding the impact of nanoparticle addition on the properties and performance of the resulting composite solder alloys. The aim is to identify recent trends, scientific challenges, limitations, and potential breakthroughs in the current formulation of nanoparticle-reinforced solder alloys. The key value of this review lies in the compilation of the latest reports and technical setups, along with the authors' critical analysis and perceptions. This review provides an in-depth understanding and guidance for formulating novel and high-performance nanoparticle-reinforced solder alloys, making it a valuable resource for researchers and engineers in the field of advanced soldering materials.

This paper aims to focus on the current developments of Microwave Hybrid Heating (MHH) as a promising alternative method in soldering, characterization of solder joint properties related to the MHH and comparison with the conventional methods. A brief introduction to conventional heating, microwave heating and the concept of MHH in soldering is described in the earlier topic of this review. Further investigation on wettability, phase, and structural evaluation, interfacial intermetallic compounds (IMC) morphology, and tensile properties are presented and discussed in parallel with previous work (in the last decade) and the current works. The essential value of this review is to provide an in-depth understanding of MHH for an alternative soldering approach by compiling all the most recent research, technical setup, and key discoveries. This helps the electronic packaging sector, which is dealing with difficulties in meeting the growing demands for downsizing and adding multifunctionality in a single electronic device. Hence, any necessary advancement in this sector will help in future efforts to advance the soldering industry.

With the fast growth of supercapacitors, there are growing demands for more flexible, stable, safer and cost-effective devices. One of the significant challenges is introducing polymers binders in supercapacitors electrodes to improve durable, malleable and eco-friendly devices. A comprehensive review of electrode preparation and physical and electrochemical properties is crucial to understand how various types of binders contribute to the performance of supercapacitor electrodes. This review summarises the application and effect of polymer binders on their performance as supercapacitor electrodes. Polymer binders have an essential role to play in improving supercapacitor electrodes. Notably, binders act as a glue among the current collectors and active materials and can also increase supercapacitors’ performance and flexibility.

Operando optical microscopy enables imaging at the interface between the Zn electrode and the electrolyte of 1 M ZnSO4(aq) in the symmetrical Zn/Zn cells assembled as the pouch cells with the mechanical load of 0.8 MPa. The imaging was executed during cycling of Zn plating and stripping at the different current densities of 0.5, 1.0, 2.0, and 4.0 mA cm−2, and the areal capacity of 2 mAh·cm−2. When the current densities are below 4.0 mA cm−2, no intense Zn dendrites are observed. However, at 4.0 mA cm−2, the severe Zn dendrites can penetrate through the separator and cause short-circuiting. From the electrochemical perspective, the voltage profile of such system drops to almost zero volt. Both operando optical and ex-situ synchrotron X-ray imaging further prove the appearance of the Zn dendrites. By Raman spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction, the cycled Zn electrode surface contains passivation species of Zn4(OH)6SO4, ZnO, and Zn(OH)2 that could limit the active surface area for the Zn plating/stripping, accelerating the localized current density and favoring the growth of Zn dendrites. With the SiO2 additive of 0.5% w/v in 1 M ZnSO4(aq), the severe Zn dendrites disappear, as well as the cycled Zn/electrolyte interface becomes close to the pristine state; low degree of the Zn electrode roughness and the Zn surface passivation is noticed. The appearance of the claimed Zn surface morphology was also confirmed by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). In turn, too low or too high SiO2 content in the electrolyte does not generate desirable effects. A high level of Zn dendrites and short circuiting are still recognized. Hence, both the operando and ex-situ characterizations can mutually validate the phenomena at the Zn/electrolyte interface.

Zinc (Zn) is viewed as a promising anode material for large-scale secondary batteries. However, due to parasitic reactions and uneven Zn distribution during repeated stripping/plating cycles, Zn anodes show inferior performance and stability. To overcome such drawbacks, carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) as an artificial solid electrolyte interphase (ASEI) is fabricated on a Zn sheet and Zn-graphite composite anode. The roles of CMC-ASEI are examined using X-ray tomography, X-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) and extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS). Results show that the carboxyl group in CMC can regulate the flux and local concentration of Zn ions at the surface, allowing uniform Zn dissolution/deposition, and can suppress corrosion by reducing water activities on the anode’s surface. At 5 mA cm−2, the Zn-iodine battery having CMC-ASEI can cycle up to 2,000 cycles. This work provides a simple and scalable solution for advanced Zn anodes for Zn-based batteries.

Rechargeable zinc-based batteries having aqueous electrolytes are renowned as promising alternatives for large scale energy storage systems (ESSs). However, in mild acidic electrolytes, zinc anodes pose several issues that have yet to be overcome. For tackling the major difficulties of zinc anodes, electrolyte engineering is the most practical and cost-effective strategy. Notwithstanding the broad variety of mechanisms associated with different electrolyte additives, the function of a single additive is straightforward. Finding combined additives with broader functionalities and greater efficacy is crucial. In this work, the combination of ionic liquid (IL) 1-butyl-1-methylpyrrolidinium dicyanamide ([BMPY][DCN]) and ethylene glycol (EG) as additives in an aqueous electrolyte 3 M ZnSO4 proves to be an effective strategy for simultaneously enhancing both zinc dissolution and deposition. IL significantly enhances zinc (Zn) dissolution and deposition while EG plays an important role in suppressing hydrogen evolution reaction (HER)and corrosion. Thus, 13.50 % improvement in capacity is achieved by the mixed additive EG + IL/ZnSO4 compared with the 3 M ZnSO4 electrolyte. In the Zn//Zn symmetrical system at 2 mA cm−2, the mixed additive greatly augments the cyclability of zinc, reaching over 400 h while maintaining excellent coulombic efficiency (CE). In-situ XAS and FT-EXAFS analyses confirm the high activities of both zinc oxidation/reduction in the mixed additive electrolyte. Results demonstrate that EG + IL/ZnSO4 can be applied to increase the cyclability of aqueous zinc-based batteries while sustaining high performance.

Abstract Flow batteries possess several attractive features including long cycle life, flexible design, ease of scaling up, and high safety. They are considered an excellent choice for large-scale energy storage. Carbon felt (CF) electrodes are commonly used as porous electrodes in flow batteries. In vanadium flow batteries, both active materials and discharge products are in a liquid phase, thus leaving no trace on the electrode surface. However, zinc-based flow batteries involve zinc deposition/dissolution, structure and configuration of the electrode significantly determine stability and performance of the battery. Herein, fabrication of a compressed composite using CF with polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) is investigated in a Zn–Fe flow battery (ZFB). Graphene (G) is successfully introduced in order to improve its electrochemical activity towards zinc reactions on the negative side of the ZFB. A compressed composite CF electrode offers more uniform electric field and lower nucleation overpotential (NOP) of zinc than a pristine CF, resulting in higher zinc plating/stripping efficiency. Batteries with modified electrodes are seen to provide lower overpotential. Particularly, the G-PVDF-CF electrode demonstrates maximum discharge capacity of 39.6 mAh cm−2 with coulombic efficiency and energy efficiency over 96% and 61%, respectively. Finally, results lead to increased efficiency and cycling stability for flow batteries.

Abstract Due to their outstanding power density, long cycle life and low cost, supercapacitors have gained much interest. As for supercapacitor electrodes, molybdenum nitrides show promising potential. Molybdenum nitrides, however, are mainly prepared as nanopowders via a chemical route and require binders for the manufacture of electrodes. Such electrodes can impair the performance of supercapacitors. Herein, binder-free chromium (Cr)-doped molybdenum nitride (Mo2N) TFEs having different Cr concentrations are prepared via a reactive co-sputtering technique. The Cr-doped Mo2N films prepared have a cubic phase structure of γ-Mo2N with a minor shift in the (111) plane. While un-doped Mo2N films exhibit a spherical morphology, Cr-doped Mo2N films demonstrate a clear pyramid-like surface morphology. The developed Cr-doped Mo2N films contain 0–7.9 at.% of Cr in Mo2N lattice. A supercapacitor using a Cr-doped Mo2N electrode having the highest concentration of Cr reveals maximum areal capacity of 2780 mC/cm2, which is much higher than that of an un-doped Mo2N electrode (110 mC/cm2). Furthermore, the Cr-doped Mo2N electrode demonstrates excellent cycling stability, achieving ~ 94.6% capacity retention for about 2000 cycles. The reactive co-sputtering proves to be a suitable technique for fabrication of binder-free TFEs for high-performance energy storage device applications. Graphical Abstract

Microwave hybrid heating (MHH) is a possible approach for soldering; yet, the long-term reliability of solder joints is still unclear. In this work, a comparative study was carried out on the influence of isothermal aging on SAC305/Cu solder joints by conventional reflow and MHH. The conventional reflow oven was set to 260 °C at 60 s holding time, and MHH was carried out at high operating power at 40 s. The reflowed sample was isothermally aged at 150 °C for various aging times (0, 240, 480 and 960 h) in a laboratory oven. The conventional reflow and MHH transformed the IMC structure from scallop-like to a planar-like Cu6Sn5 with a linear increase in thickness and a thin layer of Cu3Sn was observed at 240 h of aging. While Ag3Sn particles grew larger at longer aging time. The MHH shows a thinner Cu6Sn5 layer, and a smaller grain size compared to conventional reflow. The ultimate tensile strength (UTS) for conventional reflow (32.7 MPa) is 26.8% lower compared to MHH (44.7 MPa). The UTS for MHH is greater than conventional reflow as the isothermal aging time increases.

Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) are increasingly employed in designing an active material for various battery systems due to the variety of structures, morphology, and controllable composition at a molecular level. Moreover, their high porosity enables a facile electrolyte penetration and ion transportation. In this work, we focus on the performance and life cycle of aqueous rechargeable zinc-ion batteries (ZIBs) using zirconium (IV) based MOFs, including UiO-66 and MOF-808 modified glass microfiber separators. The results demonstrated that the symmetrical cell using MOF-808 modified separator extended a relatively stable voltage plateau of symmetric Zn battery over 350 h owing to improved uniformity of Zn ion flux during striping/plating processes. For the capacity retention at the current density of 1.0 A g−1, the ZIBs using UiO-66@GFC and MOF-808@GFC exhibited higher specific capacities than that using the pristine separator. In addition, the ZIBs with MOF-808 modified separators could prolong the cycle life to as high as 8000 cycles because the modified separators could inhibit non-uniform dendritic zinc growth on a zinc anode surface according to scanning electron micrographs. Hence, the UiO-66 and MOF-808 modified glass microfibers as separators are promising materials for high-performance aqueous zinc-ion batteries with long-life cycles.

In recent years a renewed interest in developing iron electrode for iron based accumulators has risen, govern by the progress in nano-materials research that could bring iron based accumulators nearer to their theoretical energy density and capacity. In this aspect, Iron-Air battery chemistry is best suited for current energy crisis in combination with the cost effectiveness, eco-friendliness, recyclability, non-toxicity of the iron materials. The possibility of Iron-Air battery to function as a rechargeable battery makes this electrochemical systems for engaging development. However, some challenges related to the performance of iron electrode needs to be addressed such as the passivation of the iron electrode on discharge due to the accumulation of iron hydroxide and the low efficiency due to the parasitic hydrogen evolution that occurs during the charging. So the proper engineering and the formulation of iron electrodes are necessary to attain the maximum efficiency for Iron-Air battery. In this exertion, different Fe2O3/Carbon (Fe/C) composites are tested as electrodes for Iron air battery. In addition to this, the prepared materials were comprehensively characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD). The electrochemical effectiveness of the prepared samples were tested in a three electrode configuration.Fe2O3/MWCNT electrode show the best electrochemical performance exhibits a specific capacity of about 350 mAhg−1 at 10 mA cm−2 compared to the Fe2O3/Graphene of 300 mAhg−1, Fe2O3/Acetylene black of 225 mAhg−1 and Fe2O3/Vulcan carbon of 180 mAhg−1.

Nickel (Ni) current collectors having a three-dimensional and porous structure are considered attractive contestants for high-efficiency supercapacitors. Therefore, Ni current collectors have a unique architecture and outstanding electrochemical properties. This study reports the effect of electrochemical characterizations on the electrochemical behavior and physical properties of Ni mesh and Ni foam. Cyclic voltammetry (CV) and galvanostatic charge discharge (GCD) are used to examine the electrochemical properties and life span of the Ni mesh and Ni foam as a current collector in a supercapacitor application. Structural and microstructural characterizations are performed to verify the formation of an oxide layer after 1000 cycles of CV analysis. Results show that Ni foam can increase the yield electrochemical performance of the supercapacitor. Ni foam present better efficiency (35 F g−1) compared to the Ni mesh (12 F g−1) at 10 mV s−1 scan rate by using 2 mg imaginary mass of active material. This result shows that Ni foam has good electrochemical performance and reversibility, higher pseudocapacitance, weaker polarization, and enhance rotating performance as to Ni mesh. The porous structure of Ni foam is in control for improving of the electrochemical properties, therefore, the electrochemical region was increased and shortened ion diffusion. Structural analysis shows that Ni mesh and Ni foam are oxidized after the electrochemical analysis and transformed to nickel oxide hydroxide (NiOOH). Higher specific surface area between the electrode and electrolyte leads to excellent electrochemical and pseudocapacitive performance of the Ni foam compared to the Ni mesh, even if the materials of current collectors are the same. Hence, the physical structure of the current collectors have a critical part in improving the energy density of the supercapacitor.

Microalgae have garnered widespread attention as a sustainable source of pharmaceuticals and nutraceuticals. As for extracting lipids from microalgae, the combination of microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) and ionic liquids (IL) is shown to be promising. However, such an undertaking usually requires a large consumption of expensive ILs. This study innovatively employs tetramethyl ammonium chloride ([TMAm][Cl]) as an additive in water medium to associate with microwave-assisted ionic liquid extraction (MAILE) in extracting lipids from Nannochloropsis oceanica (N. oceanica) microalgae. In extraction, knowledge of reaction kinetics is crucial since it provides the foundation for developing, controlling, and improving the processes of extraction. Herein, using MAILE, lipids are extracted from N. oceanica microalgae and transesterified to eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA). Mass transfer kinetics are, therefore, investigated using the first and second-order rate law and Patricelli's model. In the development of models, the influence of temperature (60-90°C) and reaction time (1-25 min) on EPA extraction is empirically evaluated. From the thermodynamic study, the positive values of ΔS (+0.10 kJ mol-1K-1) and ΔH (+32.50 kJ mol-1) and the negative value of ΔG (-1.68 to -4.75 kJ mol-1) confirm that this process is endothermic in nature, irreversible and spontaneous. MAILE proves to be a promising approach for the extraction of high-quality EPAs. Due to its low cost, rapid operation, and environmental friendliness, it is seen to be suitable for both pharmaceutical and nutraceutical applications.

This work presents the selective and simultaneous separation of nickel (Ni2+) and gold ([Au(CN)2]−) ions, in trace amounts, from alkaline solution via hollow fiber supported liquid membrane (HFSLM) technique. HFSLM is challengingly carried out in real rinse wastewater generated by the ENIG plating process. The influence of various chemical parameters, including the type of extractant and their concentrations, molar ratios of mixed extractant as well as type of strippant, are also studied. The organophosphorus extractant mixtures of D2EHPA and TBP provide a synergistic effect for target Ni2+ ions but has an antagonistic effect as regards the extraction of non-target [Au(CN)2]− ions. Compared to other inorganic acids, HCl is seen to be the most suitable strippant for the selective stripping. Results demonstrate that percentages of extraction and stripping of Ni2+ ions achieved 85.7 and 83.2%, respectively. In contrast, percentages of extraction and stripping of non-target [Au(CN)2]− ions attained 15.6 and 1.94%.

The morphological changes of SAC305 solder alloy with the addition of 0.07 wt% graphene was investigated using selective electrochemical etching. To evaluate the effect of graphene inclusion, selective electrochemical removal of the β-Sn phase from SAC305 and SAC305/0.07GNP was performed using a standard three-electrode cell approach at specific potentials determined by cyclic voltammetry. The phase, chemical structure and microstructural changes were observed. The texture and the phases of SAC305 solder paste were retained, while the microstructure of β-Sn and Ag3Sn was refined owning to graphene addition. Sufficient removal of β-Sn without affecting other phases was obtained by using etching potential below −350 mV. Due to Van der Waals force attraction, two types of agglomeration of graphene were observed from cross-sectional observation. Large agglomerations seen at the vicinity of solder/substrate interface were found to help in forming diffusion barrier. This contributes to the refinement of microstructure with the presence of graphene. Accurate observation regarding the shape and texture of the intermetallic compound (IMC) phases affected by the addition of graphene provided by selective electrochemical removal helps better insight into understanding the electrochemical dissolution mechanism of SAC alloys.

This study reports the effect of different weight percentages of chitosan binders in the graphene electrode on the distribution or homogeneity and electrochemical behaviour. The homogeneity of the chitosan binder is characterized by microstructural and structural analysis. Cyclic voltammetry and galvanostatic charge-discharge are employed to investigate the electrochemical performance and life cycle of these electrodes for supercapacitor application. The best weight percentage of chitosan binder is 10 wt%, leading to good homogeneity and bonding. The highest specific capacitance of this electrode is 135.65 F g−1, with retention of 87.2% over the repeated charge-discharge cycle. The fabrication of asymmetric supercapacitor (MnO2–graphene–chitosan//graphene–chitosan) has a decent energy density of 80.40 Wh kg−1 at a power density of 2894.61 Wh kg−1. A cycling test revealed it has 74.18% retention of its original capacitance after 1000 cycles at 1.2 A g−1. The fabrication of 10 wt% chitosan binders in the graphene electrode showed excellent properties.

Abstract Herein, the formation and electrochemical performance of a novel binder-free turbostratic stacked/ well-ordered stacked δ-MnO2-carbon fiber composite cathodes in deep eutectic solvent (DES) based zinc-ion battery (ZIB) is reported. Results of morphological, elemental, and structural analyses revealed directly grown and interconnected δ-MnO2 crumpled nanosheets on a carbon fiber substrate. Moreover, an improvement via a simple annealing strategy in the stacking, surface area and conductivity of the δ-MnO2 sheets was observed. Annealing induces the rearrangement of δ-MnO2 sheets resulting in the transformation from turbostratic stacking to a well-ordered stacking of $${\delta }$$ δ -MnO2 sheets, as indicated by the selected area electron diffraction (SAED) hexagonal single crystal pattern. Besides, the formation of the well-ordered stacking of $${\delta }$$ δ -MnO2 sheets exhibited improved electrochemical performance and cyclability, as cathode material for ZIB. The novel strategy described in this study is an essential step for the development of binder-free δ-MnO2-C fiber composite with a well-ordered stacking of δ-MnO2 sheets. This study also demonstrated comparable electrochemical performance between the turbostratic $${\delta }$$ δ -MnO2 sheets and the well-ordered stacked δ-MnO2 sheets.

Abstract The present work describes the effects of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) in KOH aqueous electrolyte on the performance of a zinc-air flow battery. Aqueous electrolytes containing 7 M KOH and (0 to 20)% v/v DMSO were studied revealing a critical role of DMSO on the dissolution and deposition of zinc. The anodic zinc dissolution process was studied via cyclic voltammetry, Tafel polarization and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The presence of DMSO showed improved zinc dissolution performance with the highest peak of zinc dissolution being the electrolyte containing 5% v/v DMSO. Tafel analysis demonstrated a significant decrease in polarization resistance and an increase in corrosion rate due to the introduction of DMSO to the electrolyte. This suggests that DMSO has the ability to suspend zinc oxide in the electrolyte, thus preventing passivation of the zinc surface. EIS results revealed that by adding DMSO to the electrolyte, charge transfer resistance increased. This is attributed to the formation of passive layers having arisen from DMSO adsorption, the formation of zincate ions in the vicinity of the zinc surface, and the deposition of discharged products. A difference in Nyquist plots was observed for 20% v/v DMSO/KOH and 0% v/v DMSO/KOH electrolytes implying non-Debye relaxation behavior taking place due to the surface effects. The electrolytes were implemented in a zinc-air flow battery. Maximum power densities of 130 mW/cm2 (5% v/v DMSO) and 125 mW/cm2 (20% v/v DMSO) were obtained and were observed to be about 43% and 28% higher than that of the DMSO-free electrolyte. Results indicated that when 20% v/v DMSO was added to KOH solution, there was 67% zinc utilization efficiency (550 mAh/g) which provided 20% improvement in discharge capacity. Further, the battery with 20% v/v DMSO demonstrated excellent cyclability. Overall, DMSO shows great promise for enhancement of zinc dissolution/deposition in zinc-air batteries.

Due to the increasing trend of using renewable energy, the development of an energy storage system (ESS) attracts great research interest. A zinc–air battery (ZAB) is a promising ESS due to its high capacity, low cost and high potential to support circular economy principles. However, despite ZABs' technological advancements, a generic dynamic model for a ZAB, which is a key component for effective battery management and monitoring, is still lacking. ZABs show nonlinear behaviour where the steady-state gain is strongly dependent on operating conditions. The present study aims to develop a dynamic model, being capable of predicting the nonlinear dynamic behaviour of a refuellable ZAB, using a linear parameter-varying (LPV) technique. The LPV model is constructed from a family of linear time-invariant models, where the discharge current level is used as a scheduling parameter. The developed LPV model is benchmarked against linear and nonlinear model counterparts. Herein, the LPV model performs remarkably well in capturing the nonlinear behaviour of a ZAB. It significantly outperforms the linear model. Overall, the LPV approach provides a systematic way to construct a robust dynamic model which well represents the nonlinear behaviour of a ZAB.

The aim of this research is an evaluation of polyelectrolytes. In the application of zinc-iodine batteries (ZIBs), polyelectrolytes have high stability, good cationic exchange properties and high ionic conductivity. Polyelectrolytes are also cost-effective. Important component of ZIBs are cation exchange membranes (CEMs). CEMs prevent the crossover of iodine and polyiodide from zinc (Zn) electrodes. However, available CEMs are costly and have limited ionic conductivity at room temperature. CEMs are low-cost, have high stability and good cationic exchange properties. Herein, polyelectrolyte membranes prepared from carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) are examined. It is seen that an increase in the ratio of PVA leads to enhanced ionic conductivity as well as increased iodine and polyiodide crossover. ZIBs using polyelectrolytes having 75:25 wt.% CMC/PVA and 50:50 wt.% CMC/PVA show decent performance and cycling stability. Due to their low-cost and other salient features, CMC/PVA polyelectrolytes prove they have the capacity for use as cation exchange separators in ZIBs.

Aluminum-air batteries (AABs), due to their low cost and high specific capacity, receive much attention nowadays. Nonetheless, a vital problem curbing wide application of AABs is corrosion of the aluminum (Al) anode, which is triggered by hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). Therefore, this work tackles the problem of anode corrosion in an alkaline Al-air flow battery (AAFB) by implementing a dual-electrolyte system. The battery configuration consists of an Al anode | anolyte | anion exchange membrane | catholyte | air cathode. The anolytes in this work are ethylene glycol/ethanol solutions (0, 5, 10, 20, and 30%) v/v containing 3 M potassium hydroxide (KOH). A polymer gel electrolyte (Carbopol® 940) is employed as the catholyte. The corrosion of an Al electrode in the anolytes is duly examined. It is significant that when the ratio of ethylene glycol exceeds 5% v/v, this negatively affects the dissolution process and suppresses Al corrosion. Furthermore, the battery using the anolyte with 5% v/v ethylene glycol, at a discharge current density of 5 mA/cm2, demonstrates peak power of 3.75 mW/cm2. The battery also exhibits the highest specific discharge capacity of 2,100 mAh/gAl (70% utilization of Al) at a discharge current density of 2.5 mA/cm2. In general, the dual-electrolyte system affirms its effectiveness in controlling anodic corrosion, quelling passivation of the Al surface in the alkaline AABs and boosting discharge capacity. KOH in ethylene glycol/ethanol solution is a promising anolyte being more environmentally friendly, less toxic and providing favorable electrochemical performance.

Of late, the demand for new CO2 adsorbents with high adsorption capacity and stability is growing very fast. Nanofibrous adsorbents are potential materials for such application with most attempts made on carbon nanofibers. In this study, a series of electrospun nanofibrous adsorbents containing amines were prepared using a 3-stage promising approach and tested comparatively for CO2 capture. The preparation of adsorbents involved electrospinning of syndiotactic polypropylene (s-PP) solution, radiation-induced grafting (RIG) of glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) onto electrospun nanofibers, and functionalization of poly-GMA grafted s-PP nanofibrous mats with different amines, including ethanolamine (EA) diethylamine (DEA) and triethylamine (TEA). The effect of different amination parameters: namely, amine concentration, reaction time, temperature, and degree of grafting (DG) on the degree of amination (DA), was evaluated. The nanofibrous mats containing amine were tested for CO2 adsorption in a fixed bed column operated under various parameters such as amine density, amine type, initial CO2 concentration and temperature. The adsorbents recorded CO2 adsorption capacities of 2.87, 2.06, and 0.94 mmol/g for EA-, DEA- and TEA-containing adsorbents, respectively, at 30°C using initial CO2 concentration of 15%. This was coupled with the same order of high amine efficiency of 75, 57, and 31%. Results demonstrated that the nanofibrous adsorbent containing amine had strong potential for CO2 capture application.

This work aims at analyzing an integrated system of a zinc-air flow battery with a zinc electrolyzer for energy storage application. For efficient utilization of inherently intermittent renewable energy sources, safe and cost-effective energy storage systems are required. A zinc-air flow battery integrated with a zinc electrolyzer shows great promise as an electricity storage system due to its high specific energy density at low cost. A mathematical model of the system was developed. The model was implemented in MATLAB and validated against experimental results. The validation of the model was verified by the agreement between the simulation and experimental polarization characteristic. The behavior and performance of the system were then examined as a function of different operating parameters: the flow rate of the electrolyte, the initial concentration of potassium hydroxide (KOH) and the initial concentration of zincate ion. These parameters significantly affected the performance of the system. The influence of the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) on the performance of the system was investigated and discussed as it significantly affected the coulombic efficiencies of both the zinc-air flow battery and the zinc electrolyzer. Optimal KOH concentration was found to be about 6–7 M. Whilst increased KOH concentration enhanced the discharge energy of the battery, it also increased HER of both the battery and the electrolyzer. However, higher initial concentration of zincate ion reduced HER and improved the coulombic efficiency of the system. Besides, a higher flow rate of electrolyte enhanced the performance of the system especially at a high charge/discharge current by maintaining the concentration of active species in the cell. Nevertheless, the battery suffered from a higher rate of HER at a high flow rate. It was noted that the model-based analysis provided better insight into the behavioral characteristics of the system leading to an improved design and operation of the integrated system of zinc-air flow battery with the zinc electrolyzer.

Zinc–air batteries (ZABs) offer high specific energy and low-cost production. However, rechargeable ZABs suffer from a limited cycle life. This paper reports that potassium persulfate (KPS) additive in an alkaline electrolyte can effectively enhance the performance and electrochemical characteristics of rechargeable zinc–air flow batteries (ZAFBs). Introducing redox additives into electrolytes is an effective approach to promote battery performance. With the addition of 450 ppm KPS, remarkable improvement in anodic currents corresponding to zinc (Zn) dissolution and limited passivation of the Zn surface is observed, thus indicating its strong effect on the redox reaction of Zn. Besides, the addition of 450 ppm KPS reduces the corrosion rate of Zn, enhances surface reactions and decreases the solution resistance. However, excess KPS (900 and 1350 ppm) has a negative effect on rechargeable ZAFBs, which leads to a shorter cycle life and poor cyclability. The rechargeable ZAFB, using 450 ppm KPS, exhibits a highly stable charge/discharge voltage for 800 cycles. Overall, KPS demonstrates great promise for the enhancement of the charge/discharge performance of rechargeable ZABs.

Membrane separators are one of the critical components in zinc–air batteries (ZABs). In the control of mass transfer, and hence, electrochemical reaction, membrane separators have an important role to play. This work addresses the issue of battery performance in a ZAB via a new composite membrane separator based on polyvinyl alcohol (PVA). To enhance the electrolyte uptake and ionic conductivity, mesoporous Mobil Composition of Matter No. 41 (MCM-41) is incorporated as a filler in the membrane while maintaining its integrity. The presence of MCM-41 is seen to reduce the number of cycles of secondary ZABs due to the uninvited drawbacks of increased zincate crossover and reduced triple phase boundary at the air cathode, which is pivotal for oxygen reduction reaction. Overall, results suggest that the application of the MCM-41/PVA composite has the potential for use as a separator in high-capacity primary ZABs.

An electrochemical nanoflowers manganese oxide (MnO2) catalyst has gained much interest due to its high stability and high specific surface area. However, there are a lack of insightful studies of electrocatalyst performance in nanoflower MnO2. This study assesses the electrocatalytic performances of nanoflower structure MnO2 for both oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) in a zinc–air battery as a bifunctional electrocatalyst. The prepared catalyst was characterized in term of morphology, crystallinity, and total surface area. Cyclic voltammetry and linear sweep voltammetry were used to evaluate the electrochemical behaviors of the as-prepared nanoflower-like MnO2. The discharge performance test for zinc–air battery with a MnO2 catalyst was also conducted. The results show that the MnO2 prepared at dwell times of 2, 4 and 6 h were nanoflowers, nanoflower mixed with nanowires, and nanowires with corresponding specific surface areas of 52.4, 34.9 and 32.4 g/cm2, respectively. The nanoflower-like MnO2 catalyst exhibits a better electrocatalytic performance towards both ORR and OER compared to the nanowires. The number of electrons transferred for the MnO2 with nanoflower, nanoflower mixed with nanowires, and nanowire structures is 3.68, 3.31 and 3.00, respectively. The as-prepared MnO2 nanoflower-like structure exhibits the best discharge performance of 31% higher than the nanowires and reaches up to 30% of the theoretical discharge capacity of the zinc–air battery.

Due to their cost effectiveness, high safety, and eco-friendliness, zinc-ion batteries (ZIBs) are receiving much attention nowadays. In the production of rechargeable ZIBs, the cathode plays an important role. Manganese oxide (MnO2) is considered the most promising and widely investigated intercalation cathode material. Nonetheless, MnO2 cathodes are subjected to challenging issues viz. limited capacity, low rate capability and poor cycling stability. It is seen that the MnO2 heterostructure can enable long-term cycling stability in different types of energy devices. Herein, a versatile chemical method for the preparation of MnO2 heterostructure on multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MNH-CNT) is reported. Besides, the synthesized MNH-CNT is composed of δ-MnO2 and γ-MnO2. A ZIB using the MNH-CNT cathode delivers a high initial discharge capacity of 236 mAh g−1 at 400 mA g−1, 108 mAh g−1 at 1600 mA g−1 and excellent cycling stability. A pseudocapacitive behavior investigation demonstrates fast zinc ion diffusion via a diffusion-controlled process with low capacitive contribution. Overall, the MNH-CNT cathode is seen to exhibit superior electrochemical performance. This work presents new opportunities for improving the discharge capacity and cycling stability of aqueous ZIBs.

Aluminum–air batteries (AABs) have recently received extensive attention because of their high energy density and low cost. Nevertheless, a critical issue limiting their practical application is corrosion of aluminum (Al) anode in an alkaline aqueous electrolyte, which results from hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). To effectively solve the corrosion issue, dissolution of Al anode should be carried out in a nonaqueous electrolyte. However, the main cathodic reaction, known as oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), is sluggish in such a nonaqueous electrolyte. A dual-electrolyte configuration with an anion exchange membrane separator allows AABs to implement a nonaqueous anolyte along with an aqueous catholyte. Thus, this work addresses the issue of anode corrosion in an alkaline Al–air flow battery via a dual-electrolyte system. The battery configuration consisted of an Al anode | anolyte | anion exchange membrane | catholyte | air cathode. The anolytes were methanol solutions containing 3 M potassium hydroxide (KOH) with different ratios of water. An aqueous polymer gel electrolyte was used as the catholyte. The corrosion of Al in the anolytes was duly investigated. The increase of water content in the anolyte reduced overpotential and exhibited faster anodic dissolution kinetics. This led to higher HER, along with a greater corrosion rate. The performance of the battery was also examined. At a discharge current density of 10 mA·cm−2, the battery using the anolyte without water exhibited the highest specific capacity of 2328 mAh/gAl, producing 78% utilization of Al. At a higher content of water, a higher discharge voltage was attained. However, due to greater HER, the specific capacity of the battery decreased. Besides, the circulation rate of the anolyte affected the performance of the battery. For instance, at a higher circulation rate, a higher discharge voltage was attained. Overall, the dual-electrolyte system proved to be an effective approach for suppressing anodic corrosion in an alkaline Al–air flow battery and enhancing discharge capacity.

Recently, rechargeable zinc-ion batteries (ZIBs) have gained a considerable amount of attention due to their high safety, low toxicity, abundance, and low cost. Traditionally, a composite manganese oxide (MnO2) and a conductive carbon having a polymeric binder are used as a positive electrode. In general, a binder is employed to bond all materials together and to prevent detachment and dissolution of the active materials. Herein, the synthesis of α-MnO2 nanowires on carbon cloth via a simple one-step hydrothermal process and its electrochemical performance, as a binder-free cathode in aqueous and nonaqueous-based ZIBs, is duly reported. Morphological and elemental analyses reveal a single crystal α-MnO2 having homogeneous nanowire morphology with preferential growth along {001}. It is significant that analysis of the electrochemical performance of the α-MnO2 nanowires demonstrates more stable capacity and superior cyclability in a dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) electrolyte ZIB than in an aqueous electrolyte system. This is because DMSO can prevent irreversible proton insertion as well as unfavorable dendritic zinc deposition. The application of the binder-free α-MnO2 nanowires cathode in DMSO can promote follow-up research on the high cyclability of ZIBs.

A three-dimensional (3D) fibrous structure with a high active surface and conductive pathway proved to be an excellent anode current collector for rechargeable zinc−air batteries (ZABs). Herein, a cost-effective and highly stable zinc (Zn) electrode, based on Zn electrodeposited on iron fibers (Zn/IF), is duly examined. Electrochemical characteristics of the proposed electrode are seen to compete with a conventional zinc/nickel foam (Zn/NF) electrode, implying that it can be a suitable alternative for use in ZABs. Results show that the Zn/IF electrode exhibits an almost similar trend as Zn/NF in cyclic voltammetry (CV). Moreover, by using a Zn/IF electrode, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) demonstrates lower charge transfer resistance. In the application of a rechargeable ZAB, the fibrous Zn/IF electrode exhibits a high coulombic efficiency (CE) of 78%, close to the conventional Zn/NF (80%), with almost similar capacity and lower charge transfer resistance, after 200 charge/discharge cycles. It is evident that all the positive features of Zn/IF, especially its low cost, shows that it can be a valuable anode for ZABs.

This work aims to provide deep morphological observation on the incorporated TiO _2 nanoparticles within the SAC305 by selective electrochemical etching. Cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry were used to investigate the selective etching performances. The removal of β -Sn matrix was conducted at a fixed potential of −350 mV. Average performances of 2.19 and 2.30 mA were attained from the chronoamperometry. The efficiency of β -Sn removal was approved according to the reduction of the intensities on the phase analysis. Successful observation of the TiO _2 near the Cu _6 Sn _5 layer was attained for an optimum duration of 120 s. Clusters of TiO _2 nanoparticles were entrapped by Cu _6 Sn _5 and Ag _3 Sn intermetallic compound (IMC) layer network and at the solder/substrate interface. The presence of TiO _2 nanoparticles at the solder interface suppresses the growth of the Cu _6 Sn _5 IMC layer. The absence of a β -Sn matrix also allowed in-depth morphological observations to be made of the shape and size of the Cu _6 Sn _5 and Ag _3 Sn. It was found that TiO _2 content facilitates the β -Sn removal, which allows better observation of the IMC phases as well as the TiO _2 reinforcement particles.

The authors would like to make the following corrections to their paper published in the International Journal of Molecular Science [...]

Due to their low cost and very high energy density, zinc−air batteries (ZABs) exhibit high potential for various energy applications. The electrochemical performance of the air-cathode has a decisive impact on the discharge performance of ZABs because the sluggish oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) kinetics increase the overpotential of the air-cathode and hence the performance of ZABs. In this work, reduced graphene oxide decorated with silver nanoparticles (AgNP/rGO) is synthesized using simultaneous reduction of graphene oxide and silver ions. Different amounts of silver loading are examined for the synthesis of AgNP/rGO. The synthesized AgNP/rGO samples are analyzed using a rotating disk electrode in order to investigate ORR activity. Then, the synthesized AgNP/rGO electrocatalyst is applied on a tubular designed zinc−air battery in order to study the performance of the zinc−air battery. Results demonstrate that AgNP/rGO is an efficient and cost-effective ORR electrocatalyst for its practical application in ZABs.

Reliable and low-cost electrical energy storage systems are required for grid integration of various intermittent sources of renewable energy. Zinc-air flow batteries have shown high potential for electricity storage application because of their high energy density at low cost. The flow batteries can reduce significantly the problem associated with the formation of dendritic zinc during recharge and the formation of a passivation film during discharge. The aims of this work include the development of mathematical models of a zinc-air flow battery (ZAFB). The developed model was implemented in MATLAB and validated with experimental data. The models were then used to investigate the behavior of the flow battery. The concentration of potassium hydroxide in the electrolyte, as well as the feed flow rate considerably affected the performance of ZAFB.

A simple and low-cost method to fabricate copper conductive patterns at low temperature is critical for printed electronics. Low-temperature spray-pyrolysis of copper-alkanolamine complex solution shows high potential for this application. However, the produced copper patterns exhibit a granular structure consisting of connected fine copper particles. In this work, low-temperature spray-pyrolysis of copper formate-diethanolamine complex solution under N2 flow at a temperature of 200 °C was investigated. The effects of spraying conditions on microstructure and electrical properties of the patterns were examined. Our results revealed that the spraying rate is a critical parameter determining the degree of sintering and electrical resistivity of the patterns. A low spraying rate facilitates sintering, and hence well-sintered copper patterns with the lowest resistivity of 6.12 μΩ.cm (3.6 times of bulk copper) on a polyimide substrate could be fabricated.

The main scope of this research is for designing and implementing of model predictive control (MPC) on the light naphtha distillation column of gasoline hydrogenation process. This model is designed by using robust multivariable predictive control technology (RMPCT). The performance of MPC controller is better than PID controllers 32.1 % those are comparing by using as the same of objective function and also in the MPC controller can be used for steam optimization that is shown in this research, stream consumption is reduced 6.6 Kg/ m3 of fresh feed.

Rechargeable zinc−air batteries are deemed as the most feasible alternative to replace lithium−ion batteries in various applications. Among battery components, separators play a crucial role in the commercial realization of rechargeable zinc−air batteries, especially from the viewpoint of preventing zincate (Zn(OH)42−) ion crossover from the zinc anode to the air cathode. In this study, a new hydroxide exchange membrane for zinc−air batteries was synthesized using poly (2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene oxide) (PPO) as the base polymer. PPO was quaternized using three tertiary amines, including trimethylamine (TMA), 1-methylpyrolidine (MPY), and 1-methylimidazole (MIM), and casted into separator films. The successful synthesis process was confirmed by proton nuclear magnetic resonance and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, while their thermal stability was examined using thermogravimetric analysis. Besides, their water/electrolyte absorption capacity and dimensional change, induced by the electrolyte uptake, were studied. Ionic conductivity of PPO−TMA, PPO−MPY, and PPO−MIM was determined using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy to be 0.17, 0.16, and 0.003 mS/cm, respectively. Zincate crossover evaluation tests revealed very low zincate diffusion coefficient of 1.13 × 10−8, and 0.28 × 10−8 cm2/min for PPO−TMA, and PPO−MPY, respectively. Moreover, galvanostatic discharge performance of the primary batteries assembled using PPO−TMA and PPO−MPY as initial battery tests showed a high specific discharge capacity and specific power of ~800 mAh/gZn and 1000 mWh/gZn, respectively. Low zincate crossover and high discharge capacity of these separator membranes makes them potential materials to be used in zinc−air batteries.