Thermally Conductive Molten Salt for Thermal Energy Storage: Synergistic Effect of a Hybrid Graphite-Graphene Nanoplatelet Filler.

Renewable energy technologies depend, to a large extent, on the efficiency of thermal energy storage (TES) devices. In such storage applications, molten salts constitute an attractive platform due to their thermal and environmentally friendly properties. However, the low thermal conductivity (TC) of these salts (<1 W m K) downgrades the storage kinetics.

Exploring the Redox Properties of CeUO ( ≤ 0.5) Oxides for Energy Applications.

The Ce-U-O system, forming a solid solution in the fluorite structure, has gained much attention due to its unique properties. Mixed fluorite oxide powders of CeUO compositions were found to be particularly active for H production through thermochemical water splitting. In the present work, we explore the reduction-oxidation properties of the mixed oxides with = 0.

Real-time monitoring of phase transitions in π-SnS nanoparticles.

While the new cubic phase of tin monosulfide, π-SnS, shows potential for various applications, not much work was focused on the phase transitions, thermal stability, and thermal properties of π-SnS. In this work, we addressed these issues using temperature-resolved X-ray diffraction combined with thermo-gravimetric differential scanning calorimetry and thermo-gravimetric infrared spectroscopy. The cubic π-SnS phase nanoparticles capped with polyvinylpyrrolidone were proven stable for 12 hours at 400 °C, pointing out the possible utilization of this new cubic phase at elevated temperatures.

Sample preparation induced phase transitions in solution deposited copper selenide thin films.

Thin films of CuSe were deposited onto GaAs substrate. XRD showed that the as-deposited films were of the Klockmannite (CuSe - 6/ 194) phase with lattice parameters = = 0.3939 nm, = 1.

Aluminum Matrix Composites with Weak Particle Matrix Interfaces: Effective Elastic Properties Investigated Using Micromechanical Modeling.

The impact of weak particle-matrix interfaces in aluminum matrix composites (AMCs) on effective elastic properties was studied using micromechanical finite-element analysis. Both simplified unit cell representations (i.e.

Special Issue: Thermal Analysis of Materials.

The measurement of any physical property as a function of temperature brings the method used into the realm of thermal analysis [...

Cold Forming of Al-TiB Composites Fabricated by SPS: A Computational Experimental Study.

The mechanical response and failure of Al-TiB composites fabricated by Spark Plasma Sintering (SPS) were investigated. The effective flow stress at room temperature for different TiB particle volume fractions between 0% and 15% was determined using compression experiments on cylindrical specimens in conjunction with an iterative computational methodology. A different set of experiments on tapered specimens was used to validate the effective flow curves by comparing experimental force-displacement curves and deformation patterns to the ones obtained from the computations.

Effect of Structure and Composition of Non-Stoichiometry Magnesium Aluminate Spinel on Water Adsorption.

MgAlO is used in humidity sensing and measurement, and as a catalyst or catalyst support in a wide variety of applications. For such applications, a detailed understanding of the surface properties and defect structure of the spinel, and, in particular, of the gas interactions at the spinel surface is essential. However, to the best of our knowledge, very limited experimental data regarding this subject is currently available.

Thermal Analysis of High-Entropy Rare Earth Oxides.

Phase transformations in multicomponent rare earth sesquioxides were studied by splat quenching from the melt, high-temperature differential thermal analysis and synchrotron X-ray diffraction on laser-heated samples. Three compositions were prepared by the solution combustion method: (La,Sm,Dy,Er,RE)O, where all oxides are in equimolar ratios and RE is Nd or Gd or Y. After annealing at 800 °C, all powders contained mainly a phase of C-type bixbyite structure.

Defect Chemistry of Oxides for Energy Applications.

Oxides are widely used for energy applications, as solid electrolytes in various solid oxide fuel cell devices or as catalysts (often associated with noble metal particles) for numerous reactions involving oxidation or reduction. Defects are the major factors governing the efficiency of a given oxide for the above applications. In this paper, the common defects in oxide systems and external factors influencing the defect concentration and distribution are presented, with special emphasis on ceria (CeO ) based materials.

The Effect of Lithium Doping on the Sintering and Grain Growth of SPS-Processed, Non-Stoichiometric Magnesium Aluminate Spinel.

The effects of lithium doping on the sintering and grain growth of non-stoichiometric nano-sized magnesium aluminate spinel were studied using a spark plasma sintering (SPS) apparatus. Li-doped nano-MgO·Al₂O₃ spinel ( = 1.06 and 1.