On the Al-AlCe Eutectic Transformation in Aluminum-Cerium Binary Alloys.

The L ↔ Al + AlCe technologically important eutectic transformation in Al-Ce binary alloys, containing from 5 to 20 wt.% Ce and ranging from hypo- to hypereutectic compositions, was examined along with the microstructure and properties of its solidified product. A combination of thermal analysis and metallography determined the coordinates of the eutectic point at 644.

Generating C4 Alkenes in Solid Oxide Fuel Cells via Cofeeding H and -Butane Using a Selective Anode Electrocatalyst.

Solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) offer opportunities for the application as both power sources and chemical reactors. Yet, it remains a grand challenge to simultaneously achieve high efficiency of transforming higher hydrocarbons to value-added products and of generating electricity. To address it, we here present an ingenious approach of nanoengineering the triple-phase boundary of an SOFC anode, featuring abundant CoW@WO core-shell nanoparticles dispersed on the surface of black LaSrTiO.

New Opportunity for in Situ Exsolution of Metallic Nanoparticles on Perovskite Parent.

One of the main challenges for advanced metallic nanoparticles (NPs) supported functional perovskite catalysts is the simultaneous achievement of a high population of NPs with uniform distribution as well as long-lasting high performance. These are also the essential requirements for optimal electrode catalysts used in solid oxide fuel cells and electrolysis cells (SOFCs and SOECs). Herein, we report a facile operando manufacture way that the crystal reconstruction of double perovskite under reducing atmosphere can spontaneously lead to the formation of ordered layered oxygen deficiency and yield segregation of massively and finely dispersed NPs.

Thermodynamically destabilized hydride formation in "bulk" Mg-AlTi multilayers for hydrogen storage.

Thermodynamic destabilization of MgH2 formation through interfacial interactions in free-standing Mg-AlTi multilayers of overall "bulk" (0.5 μm) dimensions with a hydrogen capacity of up to 5.5 wt% is demonstrated.

Electrochemical Supercapacitor Electrodes from Sponge-like Graphene Nanoarchitectures with Ultrahigh Power Density.

We employed a microwave synthesis process of cobalt phthalocyanine molecules templated by acid-functionalized multiwalled carbon nanotubes to create three-dimensional sponge-like graphene nanoarchitectures suited for ionic liquid-based electrochemical capacitor electrodes that operate at very high scan rates. The sequential "bottom-up" molecular synthesis and subsequent carbonization process took less than 20 min to complete. The 3D nanoarchitectures are able to deliver an energy density of 7.

The influence of SWCNT-metallic nanoparticle mixtures on the desorption properties of milled MgH2 powders.

We have examined the effect of single-walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT)-metallic nanoparticle additions on the hydrogen desorption behavior of MgH(2) after high-energy co-milling. The metallic nanoparticles were the catalysts used for the SWCNT growth. The co-milling consisted of high-energy planetary milling in an inert argon environment of the hydride powder mixed with the SWCNTs.