Electrochemical Hydrodimerization of Lignocellulose-Derived Carbonyls in Aqueous Electrolytes for Biobased Polymer and Long-chained Synfuel Production: A Review.

The transformation from fossil resources, crude oil and natural gas to biomass-derived feedstocks is an urgent and major challenge for the chemical industry. The valorization of lignocellulose as renewable resource is a promising pathway offering access to a wide range of platform chemicals, such as vanillin, furfural and 5-HMF. The subsequent conversion of such platform chemicals is one crucial step in the value-added chain.

Characterization and Simulation of the Interface between a Continuous and Discontinuous Carbon Fiber Reinforced Thermoplastic by Using the Climbing Drum Peel Test Considering Humidity.

The objective of this paper is to investigate the debonding behavior of the interface between continuously and discontinuously fiber reinforced thermoplastics using the climbing drum peel test. The study emphasizes on the importance of considering different climatic boundary conditions on the properties of thermoplastics. Specimens with varying moisture contents, from 0m.

A Novel LIBS Sensor for Sample Examinations on a Crime Scene.

In this work, we present a compact LIBS sensor developed for characterization of samples on a crime scene following requirements of law enforcement agencies involved in the project. The sensor operates both in a tabletop mode, for aside measurements of swabbed materials or taken fragments, and in handheld mode where the sensor head is pointed directly on targets at the scene. The sensor head is connected via an umbilical to an instrument box that could be battery-powered and contains also a color camera for sample visualization, illumination LEDs, and pointing system for placing the target in focus.

Electroreduction of divanillin to polyvanillin in an electrochemical flow reactor.

The electrochemical conversion of biobased intermediates offers an attractive and sustainable process for the production of green chemicals. One promising synthesis route is the production of the total vanillin-based polymer polyvanillin, which can be produced by electrochemical pinacolization of divanillin (5-5´bisvanillyl). Divanillin can be easily enzymatically generated from vanillin, a renewable intermediate accessible from lignin on an industrial scale.

Influence of Temperature on the Performance of Carbon- and ATO-supported Oxygen Evolution Reaction Catalysts in a Gas Diffusion Electrode Setup.

State-of-the-art industrial electrocatalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) under acidic conditions are Ir-based. Considering the scarce supply of Ir, it is imperative to use the precious metal as efficiently as possible. In this work, we immobilized ultrasmall Ir and IrRu nanoparticles on two different supports to maximize their dispersion.

Approaching Polycarbonate as an LFT-D Material: Processing and Mechanical Properties.

Long-fiber thermoplastic (LFT) materials compounded via the direct LFT (LFT-D) process are very versatile composites in which polymers and continuous reinforcement fiber can be combined in almost any way. Polycarbonate (PC) as an amorphous thermoplastic matrix system reinforced with glass fibers (GFs) is a promising addition regarding the current development needs, for example battery enclosures for electromobility. Two approaches to the processing and compression molding of PC GF LFT-D materials with various parameter combinations of screw speed and fiber rovings are presented.

Tribological performance of electrically conductive and self-lubricating polypropylene-ionic-liquid composites.

In this work, self-lubricating and electrically conductive polymers on a polypropylene (PP) matrix were prepared and investigated. These properties were obtained by additivating PP with carbon black (CB) and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs), in combination with a surface active ionic liquid (IL, trihexyltetradecylphosphonium docusate [P][DOC]). These polymeric composites are expected to achieve coefficients of friction (COFs) comparable to lubricated systems.

Development of an Injection Molding Process for Long Glass Fiber-Reinforced Phenolic Resins.

Glass fiber-reinforced phenolic resins are well suited to substitute aluminum die-cast materials. They meet the high thermomechanical and chemical demands that are typically found in combustion engine and electric drive train applications. An injection molding process development for further improving their mechanical properties by increasing the glass fiber length in the molded part was conducted.

Electrochemical synthesis of biobased polymers and polymer building blocks from vanillin.

Vanillin, one of the few biobased aromatic compounds available on an industrial level, is an attractive candidate for the synthesis of biobased polymers and polymer building blocks. This study presents a detailed investigation of the reductive electrochemical coupling process by pinacolization of vanillin and divanillin in an electrochemical H-type cell setup to the polymer building block hydrovanilloin and to polyvanillin, respectively. Therein, different cathode materials are screened by linear sweep voltammetry for their capability and activity of hydrodimerization of phenolic aromatic aldehydes in alkaline aqueous media.

Development of High Temperature Resistant Stereocomplex PLA for Injection Moulding.

In this study, the production of stereocomplex PLA formulations (sc-PLA) by compounding and subsequent injection moulding at different mould temperatures was investigated. Several selective nucleating agents were identified and compounded with different poly(L-lactide)/poly(D-lactide) (PLLA/PDLA) ratios on a co-rotating twin screw extruder. The effect of nucleating agents (NA) on the crystallisation behaviour of the compound was systematically investigated by DSC analysis.

Properties of Bromine Fused Salts Based on Quaternary Ammonium Molecules and Their Relevance for Use in a Hydrogen Bromine Redox Flow Battery.

Bromine complexing agents (BCA) in aqueous electrolytes for hydrogen bromine flow batteries are used to reduce bromine's vapour pressure, while an insoluble and liquid fused salt is formed. The properties (concentrations, composition, conductivity and viscosity) of this fused salt are investigated in this study systematically ex situ by using 7 BCAs at different state of charge in HBr/Br /H O electrolytes with a theoretical capacity of 179.6 Ah L .

Composite Anion Exchange Membranes Fabricated by Coating and UV Crosslinking of Low-Cost Precursors Tested in a Redox Flow Battery.

This paper presents a novel, cost-effective approach to the fabrication of composite anion exchange membranes (AEMs) Hierarchical AEMs have been fabricated by coating a porous substrate with an interpenetrating polymer network (IPN) layer where poly(vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP) is immobilized in a crosslinked matrix. The IPN matrix was formed by UV initiated radical crosslinking of a mixture of acrylamide-based monomers and acrylic resins. The fabricated membranes have been compared with a commercial material (Fumatech FAP 450) in terms of ionic transport properties and performance in a vanadium redox flow battery (VRFB).

Designing Shape Morphing Behavior through Local Programming of Mechanical Metamaterials.

Shape morphing implicates that a specific condition leads to a morphing reaction. The material thus transforms from one shape to another in a predefined manner. In this paper, not only the target shape but rather the evolution of the material's shape as a function of the applied strain is programmed.

Electrochemical Lithiation/Delithiation of ZnO in 3D-Structured Electrodes: Elucidating the Mechanism and the Solid Electrolyte Interphase Formation.

Conversion/alloy active materials, such as ZnO, are one of the most promising candidates to replace graphite anodes in lithium-ion batteries. Besides a high specific capacity ( = 987 mAh g), ZnO offers a high lithium-ion diffusion and fast reaction kinetics, leading to a high-rate capability, which is required for the intended fast charging of battery electric vehicles. However, lithium-ion storage in ZnO is accompanied by the formation of lithium-rich solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) layers, immense volume expansion, and a large voltage hysteresis.

Pristine and Modified Porous Membranes for Zinc Slurry-Air Flow Battery.

The membrane is a crucial component of Zn slurry-air flow battery since it provides ionic conductivity between the electrodes while avoiding the mixing of the two compartments. Herein, six commercial membranes (Cellophane™ 350PØØ, Zirfon, Fumatech PBI, Celgard 3501, 3401 and 5550) were first characterized in terms of electrolyte uptake, ion conductivity and zincate ion crossover, and tested in Zn slurry-air flow battery. The peak power density of the battery employing the membranes was found to depend on the in-situ cell resistance.

Composite Anion-Exchange Membrane Fabricated by UV Cross-Linking Vinyl Imidazolium Poly(Phenylene Oxide) with Polyacrylamides and Their Testing for Use in Redox Flow Batteries.

Composite anion-exchange membranes (AEMs) consisting of a porous substrate and a vinyl imidazolium poly(phenylene oxide) (VIMPPO)/acrylamide copolymer layer were fabricated in a straightforward process, for use in redox flow batteries. The porous substrate was coated with a mixture of VIMPPO and acrylamide monomers, then subsequently exposed to UV irradiation, in order to obtain a radically cured ion-exchange coating. Combining VIMPPO with low-value reagents allowed to significantly reduce the amount of synthesized ionomer used to fabricate the mem- brane down to 15%.

Supercritical CO Extraction of Palladium Oxide from an Aluminosilicate-Supported Catalyst Enhanced by a Combination of Complexing Polymers and Piperidine.

Precious metals, in particular Pd, have a wide range of applications in industry. Due to their scarcity, precious metals have to be recycled, preferably with green and energy-saving recycling processes. In this article, palladium extraction from an aluminosilicate-supported catalyst, containing about 2 wt% (weight%) of Pd (100% PdO), with supercritical CO (scCO) assisted by complexing polymers is described.

High energy density electrolytes for H/Br redox flow batteries, their polybromide composition and influence on battery cycling limits.

Hydrogen-bromine redox flow batteries (H/Br-RFB) are a promising stationary energy storage solution, offering energy storage densities up to 200 W h L. In this study, high energy density electrolytes of concentrated hydrobromic acid of up to 7.7 M are investigated.

Performance Parameters of Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometry and Graphite Furnace Atomic Absorption Spectrometry Techniques for Pd and Pt Determination in Automotive Catalysts.

Palladium (Pd) and platinum (Pt) are extensively used as catalysts in the petrochemical and automotive industries, and due to high demand for them on the market, their recycling from spent supported catalysts is clearly needed. To assess the content of Pd and Pt in catalysts in order to establish their commercial value or to evaluate the recovery efficiency of technologies used for recycling, reliable analytical methods for determination of these elements are required. Spectrometric methods, such as inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) and graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (GFAAS) are powerful tools that can be employed for the determination of Pd and Pt in various sample matrices.

Towards programmable friction: control of lubrication with ionic liquid mixtures by automated electrical regulation.

For mechanical systems in relative motion it would be fascinating if a non-mechanical stimulus could be used to directly control friction conditions. Therefore, different combinations of lubricants and external triggers for tribological influence have already been investigated. We show that when two metallic friction partners are lubricated with ionic liquid mixtures (ILM), consisting of long-chain cation and two different high charge/mass ratio anion containing ILs, the application of an electric impulse induces a permanent change of the frictional response.

Shape Memory Polymer Foam with Programmable Apertures.

In this work, a novel type of polyester urethane urea (PEUU) foam is introduced. The foam was produced by reactive foaming using a mixture of poly(1,10-decamethylene adipate) diol and poly(1,4-butylene adipate) diol, 4,4'-diphenylmethane diisocyanate, 1,4-butanediol, diethanolamine and water as blowing agent. As determined by differential scanning calorimetry, the melting of the ester-based phases occurred at temperatures in between 25 °C and 61 °C, while the crystallization transition spread from 48 °C to 20 °C.

Strategies to Enhance Carbon Dioxide Capture in Metal-Organic Frameworks.

The dramatic increase of atmospheric CO concentration is responsible for a fast and potentially unpredictable global climate change. Therefore, the implementation of negative carbon technologies such as direct air capture (DAC) is needed. Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have the potential to perform CO DAC and achieve unprecedented performances.

Implications of Testing a Zinc-Oxygen Battery with Zinc Foil Anode Revealed by Operando Gas Analysis.

Zinc-oxygen batteries are seen as promising energy storage devices for future mobile and stationary applications. Introducing them as secondary battery is hindered by issues at both the anode and cathode. Research efforts were intensified during the past two decades, mainly focusing on catalyst materials for the cathode.

A brain-spine interface alleviating gait deficits after spinal cord injury in primates.

Spinal cord injury disrupts the communication between the brain and the spinal circuits that orchestrate movement. To bypass the lesion, brain-computer interfaces have directly linked cortical activity to electrical stimulation of muscles, and have thus restored grasping abilities after hand paralysis. Theoretically, this strategy could also restore control over leg muscle activity for walking.