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Non-linear rheological behaviours of high fluorine content fluoroelastomer (HF-FKM) mixtures with varied carbon black (CB) filling amounts were investigated. Non-linear viscoelastic characteristics of HF-FKM mixture are characterised by large amplitude oscillatory shear (LAOS) tests, correlations between rheological behaviour and CB content were then discussed. Each non-linear viscoelastic parameter of HF-FKM mixture presents a three-stage characteristic with increasing CB content, corresponding to ranges of 0–20 phr, 25–30 phr, and 35–45 phr. Three stages of viscoelasticity characteristics for HF-FKM mixtures were considered to depend on the alteration of CB-elastomer network structure with increasing CB content, corresponding to the states where continuous phase of gum, CB-elastomer mesophase and excessive CB agglomerates predominate in mixture compound, respectively. After vulcanisation, samples with 30 phr CB content show the best resilience performance against thermal ageing, contributing to the existence of CB-elastomer mesophase. Samples with 25 phr CB content possess the second lowest compression sets at 225 and 250 °C ageing conditions but perform no better than those with 35 phr at 275 °C. The reason is presumed to be that the presence of excessive CB agglomerates in HF-FKM vulcanisate reduced irreversible deformation of the CB-elastomer network under compression at elevated temperatures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Semi-IPN composites of natural rubber (NR), hydrophilic sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) and carbon black (CB) with different compositions have been created by solution casting process in an attempt to develop a novel adsorbent under various pH ranges for the cationic dye methylene blue (MB). The produced NR/CMC film can be employed as an adsorbent of MB dye, according to the results, which demonstrate that composites with 2% CMC and 0.2 g CB displayed a maximum adsorption capacity of 1.72 mg/g and a dye removal efficiency of 85.22% at pH 9. The semi-IPNs were characterised using X-ray diffraction, Thermogravimetry, FTIR, and SEM methods. The NR/CMC semi-IPN composites' SEM micrographs showed a continuous, homogenous and porous structure. The films' equilibrium swelling characteristics were examined. For the NR98%CMC2% polymeric composition, containing 2% glutaraldehyde (GA) and 0.02 g CB loading, a maximum tensile strength of 3.3 MPa was achieved. In a 12-month period with 2% CMC, the NR/CMC semi-IPN showed a 70% biodegradation rate, while the pure NR showed only a 20% degradation rate. X-ray diffraction analysis shows that the addition of CMC reduces the crystallinity of natural rubber. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanocomposite nanozeolite/acetylene carbon black was prepared by combining a type A zeolite with acetylene carbon black (AcB) and used to modify glassy carbon electrode (GCE) without polymer. The zeolite was prepared by hydrothermal method using natural kaolin. The physicochemical characterization of the composite showed a well-integrated composite in which the cubic crystal of the zeolite A and the graphitic aggregate of the carbon black were maintained. The electrochemical impedance spectroscopy study revealed that the composite film GCE (ZA-AcB/GCE) prepared by drop coating displayed a higher kinetic charge transfer compared to pristine zeolite modified GCE (ZA/GCE) and bare GCE. ZA-AcB/GCE, ZA/GCE and GCE were subsequently used to investigate the electrochemical behaviour of acetaminophen (AC) in acidic, neutral and alkaline pHs. The results demonstrate a good electrocatalytic property toward AC at composite film GCE in all these electrolytes compared to bare GCE and confirm the dependence of the electrochemical reaction mechanism of AC on the electrolyte's pHs. Under optimal conditions, ZA-AcB/GCE exhibited higher sensitivity and selectivity toward both analytes taken individually or simultaneously within large concentration range: 0.5–89 µM for AC and 5–99 µM for caffeine (CAF) with the respective limit of detection of 0.38 and 0.82 µM. The developed sensors were applied successfully in the quantification of the both analytes in pharmaceutical tablets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a porous zirconium‐based metal–organic framework (NH2‐UiO‐66) and functionalized carbon black (FCB) composite was prepared through a one‐pot hydrothermal method, and a novel electrochemical sensor based on NH2‐UiO‐66@FCB modified glassy carbon electrode (NH2‐UIO‐66@FCB/GCE) was developed for the simultaneous sensoring of butylhydroxyanisole (BHA) and tert‐butylhydroquinone (TBHQ). The morphology and structure of NH2‐UiO‐66@FCB were characterized through scanning electron microscopy, X‐ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and X‐ray photoelectron spectrum. The electrochemical behaviors of the NH2‐UiO‐66@FCB/GCE were investigated using cyclic voltammetry, differential pulse voltammetry, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. Under optimized experimental conditions, the linear ranges for TBHQ and BHA detection were determined to be 0.12–460 μM and 0.7–420 μM, respectively, with their corresponding detection limits of 0.072 μM and 0.29 μM. Furthermore, the sensor exhibited excellent selectivity, repeatability and stability, and successfully used for the simultaneous detection of TBHQ and BHA in food samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged, and safe method was developed for the multi‐residue analysis of pesticides and antibiotics in aquaculture sediment using high‐performance liquid chromatography‐tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC‐MS/MS). The developed method is based on ultrasonic extraction with acetonitrile and phosphate buffer, salting with sodium chloride, and cleaning with dispersive solid‐phase extraction adsorbent using primary secondary amine, C18, and graphitized carbon black, followed by HPLC‐MS/MS detection. We optimized different extraction methods and the ratio of the cleanup adsorbents to achieve good recoveries at three spiking levels that ranged from 60.4% to 114% with a relative standard deviation below 15% (n = 6). For all analytes, except for flufenoxuron, the limits of quantification were between 1 and 5 µg/kg (dry weight). The validated method was successfully applied to real samples collected from 20 aquacultural ponds, confirming the feasibility of the proposed method. The concentrations of the target analytes in the sediments (dry weight) were in the ranges of 2.2–35.0 µg/kg for sulfonamides, 0–409.1 µg/kg for quinolones, 0–6.56 µg/kg for macrolides, and 0–4.9 µg/kg for pesticides. Moreover, the co‐occurrence of pesticides and antibiotics may potentially pose a high risk to sediment‐dwelling organisms in nine out of the 20 investigated locations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solid waste utilization in synthesizing porous carbon materials for supercapacitor electrodes has been a fast‐progressing research domain in past decades. Different types of agricultural and industrial waste have the potential to act as a precursor supply for carbon with porous structures. In this study, the waste generated from a furnace‐grade conductive carbon black manufacturing industry was utilized to synthesize porous carbon through pyrolysis at 400°C for 2 hours, followed by chemical activation at 800°C for 1 hour. Different activating agents, precisely, potassium hydroxide, orthophosphoric acid, and zinc chloride, were used. Similar activation conditions as well as the mass ratio of activating agent to sample (4:1), were maintained to make a comparative study. All three samples were then tested in a three‐electrode set‐up through cyclic voltammetry, galvanostatic charge/discharge, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy for their performance as electrode material for supercapacitors with a mass loading of 4.0 mg/cm2 in 1 M Na2SO4 electrolyte. The largest specific capacitance was obtained for the KOH‐activated sample, that is, 21.3 F/g, followed by 17.9 F/g for H3PO4 activated sample and 13.7 F/g for the ZnCl2‐activated sample, at a scan rate of 50 mV/s. Though the obtained capacitance is much smaller for its practical application, the study acts as a base for further modifications and upgrades to utilize this high carbon‐containing waste in energy storage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In near-road neighborhoods, residents are more frequently exposed to traffic-related air pollution (TRAP), and they are increasingly aware of pollution levels. Given this consideration, this study adopted portable air pollutant sensors to conduct a mobile monitoring campaign in two near-road neighborhoods, one in an urban area and one in a suburban area of Shanghai, China. The campaign characterized spatiotemporal distributions of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and black carbon (BC) to help identify appropriate mitigation measures in these near-road micro-environments. The study identified higher mean TRAP concentrations (up to 4.7-fold and 1.7-fold higher for PM2.5 and BC, respectively), lower spatial variability, and a stronger inter-pollutant correlation in winter compared to summer. The temporal variations of TRAP between peak hour and off-peak hour were also investigated. It was identified that district-level PM2.5 increments occurred from off-peak to peak hours, with BC concentrations attributed more to traffic emissions. In addition, the spatiotemporal distribution of TRAP inside neighborhoods revealed that PM2.5 concentrations presented great temporal variability but almost remained invariant in space, while the BC concentrations showed notable spatiotemporal variability. These findings provide valuable insights into the unique spatiotemporal distributions of TRAP in different near-road neighborhoods, highlighting the important role of hyperlocal monitoring in urban micro-environments to support tailored designing and implementing appropriate mitigation measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the surface of pyrolysis carbon black (CBp) is modified by integrating the ball milling process with plasma treatment. High‐energy mechanical ball milling enabled more uniform contact and sufficient reaction temperature for the silane coupling agent and CBp. In addition, the impact of plasma activated the ash and surface deposits of CBp, reducing its inertness. Herein, the filler dispersion grade, Payne effect, vulcanization characteristics, and mechanical and dynamic mechanical properties are investigated by considering modified CBp/natural rubber (NR) composites. The ball milling plasma process can reduce the polarity of CBp. Compared with untreated CBp/NR composites, the plasma‐treated SCA‐CBp/NR composites exhibited increased CBp dispersion grades, higher processing safety, better processing fluidity, and improved mechanical properties. The reduced Payne effect ensured more filler‐rubber network structure, resulting in a reduction in rolling resistance. Highlights: The coupling agent and CBp are treated by low‐temperature plasma and ball milling. The process promotes the formation of the filler‐rubber network. The dispersion grade of composites increased by 26.29%. The tensile strength increased by 5.57%, and the rolling resistance decreased by 19.44%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An electrochemical sensing platform based on in-situ acetylene black (AB) template growth ZIF-8 for trace catechin detection in green tea was proposed. Here, the ZIF-8/AB/carbon paper (CP) electrode was constructed by two-step in-situ growth method and hydrothermal method. The characterization showed that AB molecule was well distributed in ZIF-8 pore with large surface area. ZIF-8/AB/CP electrode showed good electrochemical performance for catechin detection, which benefited from the ZIF-8 with larger surface and AB with excellent conductivity. The results showed that ZIF-8/AB/CP electrode was linear in the range of 0.01–200 µM, and the low detection limit for catechin detection was 43.7 nM. ZIF-8/AB/CP also had good reproducibility, anti-interference ability and stability. In addition, the sensor achieved hight-recovery and accuracy in detecting catechin in green tea. As far as we know, our work first reported that ZIF-8/AB composite was synthesized by in-situ growth method as an electrochemical sensing material for the detection of catechin in green tea, which will provide some theoretical analysis and experimental experience for designing and developing electrochemical sensor for the analysis of trace catechin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Surface properties and adsorption performance of carbon materials play a crucial role in the electrochemical two‐electron oxygen reduction to produce H2O2. However, there is still a lack of in‐depth research on commercial carbon blacks in this area. Herein, four typical commercial carbon blacks (Acetylene black (AB), Ketjen black EC 600JD, Vulcan XC 72 and Black Pearls 2000) were used as cathode catalysts to generate H2O2. Surface chemistry and pore structure of electrodes of the four carbon blacks were systematically characterized, and their effects on H2O2 adsorption, electrochemical generation and degradation were investigated. RESULTS: Among the four carbon blacks, AB has the highest content of C–O–C/COOH and CO, which are active groups catalyzing the two‐electron oxygen reduction reaction to generate H2O2. AB has the lowest level of defects and highest degree of graphitization, and AB‐modified graphite felt electrode (AB‐Ele) has the largest average pore diameter, smallest specific surface area and smaller charge transfer resistance. H2O2 production using AB‐Ele is the largest and reaches 567.7 mg L−1 at 180 min under a current density of 5 mA cm−2, and only decreases by 17.6% after 10 repeated uses. CONCLUSION: Overall, rich oxygen‐containing functional groups such as C–O–C, COOH and CO, high degree of graphitization, suitable surface area and porosity as well as weak H2O2 adsorption performance are beneficial for the two‐electron oxygen reduction reaction to generate H2O2. AB‐modified graphite felt electrode exhibits good catalytic activity and reusability in H2O2 electrosynthesis, demonstrating promising application prospects. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry (SCI). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon-based conductive polymer composites have attracted wide attention as candidates for high-performance flexible electric heaters. Herein, a poly(m-phenylene isophthalamide) (PMIA)/carbon black (CB) composite is proposed as electric heating films that can successfully realize stable and safe operation at high temperatures of > 200°C under a safe voltage as low as 20 V. The conductive filler content has a significant effect on the microstructure and electrical properties of the PMIA/CB composites. An optimized CB content of 20 wt.% in the PMIA polymer matrix not only guarantees uniform spatial dispersion, but also provides sufficient and stable conductive networks. As a result, the PMIA/CB composites present high heating temperature, rapid heating ability, good heating uniformity, and excellent heating reliability. Meanwhile, taking advantage of the high thermal stability, superior mechanical strength, and excellent flame retardancy of the PMIA polymer matrix, the PMIA/CB composites exhibit superior thermal endurance and self-extinguishing capabilities, leading to significantly enhanced operating safety. This study will open new avenues for the development of high-performance electrothermal composite films for medium- to high-temperature applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Airborne carbonaceous substances in the school classroom cause an adverse effect on young children. This study attempted to find a correlation between carbons and fine particulate matters in 24 urban schools, focusing on class hours during which students can be exposed. Sampling and measurement of particulate pollutants were carried out without intentional control of classroom conditions to assess general indoor air quality. Statistical evaluation of the entire dataset showed that the average PM2.5 and PM10 concentrations in classrooms (22.7 μg/m³ and 43.3 μg/m3) were lower than outdoors (34.0 μg/m³ and 54.3 μg/m³) on a gravimetric basis. Organic carbons in the classroom were 13.7 times higher than elemental carbons. Indoor black carbon (mainly introduced from outside), of which mean concentration monitored in real-time was1.04 μg/m³, showed a high correlation coefficient (0.755) with 0.6 μm. Schools adjacent to large roads with high traffic were more vulnerable to black carbon exposure (1.3 to 2.2 μg/m³) than residential areas (0.3 to 0.8 μg/m³). Thus, careful environmental considerations are needed when managing indoor pollution and building new schools, particularly in developing and populated countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon‐based materials are extensively used in fuel cell applications due to their crucial role in maintaining high performance. Particularly, carbon black (CB) stands out as a preferred electrode material for fuel cells, owing to its high electrical conductivity and large surface area. This review focuses on the functionalization of CB and its use as a support for Pt‐based catalysts in proton exchange membrane fuel cells. Functionalization strategies include oxidation, covalent functionalization, as well as polymer grafting or impregnation. Various approaches to functionalize the CB surface are discussed that effectively tailor the surface properties of electrodes, leading to improved fuel cell performance. The improvements are seen in enhanced dispersibility of catalyst particles, better ionomer distribution, increased catalyst stability, and reduced carbon corrosion. This review provides an overview of various modifications applied to CB to enhance their structural and electrochemical properties, thereby boosting fuel cell performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Incorporating passive heating structures into personal thermal management technologies could effectively mitigate the escalating energy crisis. However, current passive heating materials struggle to balance thickness and insulating capability, resulting in compromised comfort, space efficiency, and limited thermoregulatory performance. Here, a dual air-gelation strategy, is developed to directly synthesize ultrathin and self-sustainable heating metafabric with 3D dual-network structure during electrospinning. Controlling the interactions among polymer, solvent, and water enables the microphase separation of charged jets, while adjusting the distribution of carbon black nanoparticles within charged fluids to form fibrous networks composed of interlaced aerogel micro/nanofibers with heat storage capabilities. With a low thickness of 0.18 mm, the integrated metafabric exhibits exceptional thermal insulation performance (15.8 mW m−1K−1), superhydrophobicity, enhanced mechanical properties, and high breathability while maintaining self-sustainable radiative heating ability (long-lasting warming of 8.8 °C). This strategy provides rich possibilities to develop advanced fibrous materials for smart textiles and thermal management. Aerogels have limited application in textiles due to their fragility and poor processability. Here, authors synthesize an ultrathin aerogel-structured micro/nanofiber metafabric for self-sustained heating by developing a dual air-gelation strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the context of China's "dual carbon" goal, emissions of air pollutants are expected to significantly decrease in the future. Thus, the direct climate effects of black carbon (BC) aerosols in East Asia are investigated under this goal using an updated regional climate and chemistry model. The simulated annual average BC concentration over East Asia is approximately 1.29 μg/m3 in the last decade. Compared to those in 2010–2020, both the BC column burden and instantaneous direct radiative forcing in East Asia decrease by more than 55% and 80%, respectively, in the carbon peak year (2030s) and the carbon neutrality year (2060s). Conversely, the BC effective radiative forcing (ERF) and regional climate responses to BC exhibit substantial nonlinearity to emission reduction, possibly resulting from different adjustments of thermal‐dynamic fields and clouds from BC‐radiation interactions. The regional mean BC ERF at the tropopause over East Asia is approximately +1.11 W/m2 in 2010–2020 while negative in the 2060s. BC‐radiation interactions in the present‐day impose a significant annual mean cooling of −0.2 to −0.5 K in central China but warming +0.3 K in the Tibetan Plateau. As China's BC emissions decline, surface temperature responses show a mixed picture compared to 2010–2020, with more cooling in eastern China and Tibet of −0.2 to −0.3 K in the 2030s, but more warming in central China of approximately +0.3 K by the 2060s. The Indian BC might play a more important role in East Asian climate with reduction of BC emissions in China. Plain Language Summary: Black carbon (BC) aerosols, which are among the air pollutants that will be reduced in China under the "dual carbon" goal, can have an impact on the regional climate by absorbing solar radiation. We use a regional climate model to simulate the climate effect of BC over East Asia under the "dual carbon" goal of China. The results showed that the BC concentration and column burden in East Asia, as well as the instantaneous direct radiative forcing, will decrease significantly under future regional emission reduction policies. However, the effective radiative forcing of BC and regional climate responses do not exhibit simple linear relationships with emissions. The BC‐induced atmospheric thermal‐dynamic anomalies are the main drivers of this nonlinearity. Similarly, BC emissions from India might also influence the East Asian climate. Key Points: The East Asian black carbon (BC) loadings and instantaneous direct radiative forcings significantly decrease under the "dual carbon" goal of ChinaThe BC induced regional climate changes show nonlinear responses to the BC emission reductionThe Indian BC might play an increasingly important role in East Asian climate with decreasing BC emissions in China [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Black carbon in snow (BCS) is a crucial parameter in Earth System modeling, as it influences global radiative balance. Here, simulated BCS from Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 5 and 6 (CMIP5 and CMIP6) that provided BCS as a model output were evaluated. In comparison with global BCS observations, CMIP5/6 models successfully reproduced long‐term historical trends linked to human activities, but struggled capturing decadal variability caused by natural climate variability. CMIP6 models NorESM2‐MM, NorESM2‐LM, and TaiESM1 yielded the most accurate simulations of BCS concentration with modest overestimation of <50%, while the four CESM2 models underestimated concentrations by up to ∼80%. These errors effectively balanced for the CMIP6 multi‐model ensemble mean (MME), which had a relative error (RE) of −37%. However, the CMIP5 MME was less reliable due to extreme overestimation by up to 8,000% in the three MIROC models. The significant BCS concentration errors in the MIROC and CESM2 models were linked mainly to errors in handling of BC in snow processes. Conversely, marked improvements in NorESM, the only common to both CMIP5 and CMIP6, were due to improved simulation of black carbon deposition. BCS errors significantly impacted radiative forcing estimates, particularly at the poles, where model errors reached several thousandfold. CMIP6 exhibited superior results compared to CMIP5, achieving global MME RE of −33% in radiative forcing estimates. However, it's worth noting BCS output is currently limited, with only seven models available for each of CMIP5 and CMIP6 here. Additional models simulating BCS are desirable in the next CMIP generations. Plain Language Summary: Black carbon in snow (BCS) has important implications for snow albedo reduction, solar radiation absorption, and snow melt acceleration on the Earth. However, model performance in BCS simulation remains unclear in the widely used Coupled Model Intercomparison Project phases 5 and 6 (CMIP5/6). In this study, CMIP5 and CMIP6 models providing BCS information were evaluated against a global data set of BCS observations from ice cores and snow samples. Results indicate that both CMIP generations successfully reproduce long‐term trends in BCS but fail to capture the decadal variability. Marked differences exist in modeled BCS concentrations, with the best‐performing models (NorESM2‐LM, NorESM2‐MM, and TaiESM1) overestimating concentrations by <50%, while the three worst‐performing MIROC models yield extreme overestimation. Such discrepancies stem primarily from the post‐depositional treatment of black carbon in snow, which influences the estimation of climate‐warming effects of BCS. Key Points: The global pattern of black carbon in snow (BCS) is effectively simulated by CMIP5/6 models, but large errors remainPost‐depositional snow processes contribute most to the large simulated‐BCS errorsBCS‐induced radiative forcing in Antarctica is poorly simulated by CMIP5/6 models with an overestimation of ∼200,000% and 144%, respectively [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pyrocumulonimbus (pyroCb) firestorm systems have been shown to inject significant amounts of black carbon (BC) to the stratosphere with a residence time of several months. Injected BC warms the local stratospheric air, consequently perturbing transport and hence spatial distributions of ozone and water vapor. A distinguishing feature of BC-containing particles residing within pyroCb smoke is their thick surface coatings made of condensed organic matter. When coated with non-refractory materials, BC's absorption is enhanced, yet the absorption enhancement factor (Eabs) for pyroCb BC is not well constrained. Here, we perform particle-scale measurements of BC mass, morphology, and coating thickness from inside a pyroCb cloud and quantify Eabs using an established particle-resolved BC optics model. We find that the population-averaged Eabs for BC asymptotes to 2.0 with increasing coating thickness. This value denotes the upper limit of Eabs for thickly coated BC in the atmosphere. Our results provide observationally constrained parameterizations of BC absorption for improved radiative transfer calculations of pyroCb events. In situ particle-scale measurements show that black carbon absorption enhancement asymptotes to 2.0 inside a pyrocumulonimbus cloud. This value denotes the upper limit of absorption enhancement for thickly coated black carbon in the atmosphere. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Globally, the COVID-19 outbreak has had a devastating impact on both health and economy. In contrast, the reduction in anthropogenic emissions has resulted in a major improvement in air quality. In this study, US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) satellite datasets and related reanalysis model data were used with validation using ground-based data to evaluate the effects of aviation-based emissions on aerosol optical depth (AOD) and black carbon (BC). The contributions from five airports in Bangladesh were assessed during the pre-lockdown (01 Jan to 22 March), lockdown (23 March to 30 May), and post-lockdown (31 May to 30 Aug) periods in 2019 and 2020. The study's findings show that during the 2020 lockdown, AOD and BC concentrations significantly decreased at all five airports. The overall decline of AOD was ~ 18.5% (13.1% to 22.8%) and BC was ~ 18.1% (16.6% to 22.2%) in 2020 compared to 2019. The three international airports that were examined—Dhaka, Chattagram, and Sylhet—showed an average reduction of about ~ 9.7%, while Jashore and Barisal—two domestic airports—saw a minor increase in AOD of ~ 0.8% over the same period. However, the average BC concentration at both international and domestic airports dropped by ~ 9.8% and ~ 10.2%, respectively. This is the first study to use reanalysis datasets in Bangladesh to evaluate air pollution levels and aviation-based emissions. The results highlight the significant impact of reduced aviation activity on air quality and provide valuable insights for future air pollution management strategies. Highlights: • Impact of COVID-19 lockdown on AOD and BC over five airports in Bangladesh • Substantial decline in AOD and BC at all airports during lockdown and post-lockdown • Change in flight number was significantly correlated to AOD decline during lockdown • MERRA-2 has a higher propensity of AOD representation than the MODIS Aqua dataset • Weak positive correlation between aviation-based AOD and BC during lockdown [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Development of efficient, low‐cost, robust, and structure tunability electrocatalysts for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) is one of the main subjects of present study in renewable energies. In this work, two new cuprous iodide coordination polymers (Cu‐CPs) containing bisbenzimidazole‐derived ligand, namely, {[Cu2(L1)(μ2‐I)2]·DMF}n (1) and {[Cu(L2)0.5(μ2‐I)]·DMF} (2) (L1 = (2,2′‐(1,3‐propanediyl)‐6,6′‐bis(3‐methylpyridine)bis‐1,3‐benzimidazole); L2 = (2,2′‐(1,4‐butanediyl)‐7,7′‐bis(3‐methylpyridine)bis‐1,3‐benzimidazole); DMF = dimethyl formamide), were prepared under solvothermal conditions and structurally characterized. Single‐crystal structural analysis showed that although two Cu‐CPs have a one‐dimensional (1D) chain backbone structure, the coordination environment of cuprous is different. It is found that different coordination modes of ligands L1 and L2 lead to different coordination environments of central ions in two cuprous CPs. Electrocatalytic HER of modified electrodes (CP‐1~2/glassy carbon electrode [GCE]) prepared by coating the mixed solution of acetylene black, CPs 1–2, and Nafion on the surface of GCE was investigated in 0.5 M H2SO4 electrolyte. The HER measurements show that the overpotential η10293K of CP‐1~2/GCE positively shifted 113 and 74 mV compared with bare GCE (blank electrode, −930 mV), and the Tafel slope of bare/GCE and CP‐1~2/GCE were 298, 101, and 138 mV dec−1, respectively. The results indicate that CP‐1~2/GCE could effectively catalyze and accelerate the HER behavior, with electrocatalytic activity order being CP‐1/GCE > CP‐2/GCE > bare/GCE. The higher HER activity of the CP‐1/GCE can be attributed to that the coordination deformability of cuprous ion in CP 1 is greater. Furthermore, the recognition performance of CP‐1~2/GCE for glucose was further studied by chronoamperometry in 0.1 M NaOH. The two sensors can detect glucose in a linear range from 1 μM to 4 mM with sensitivities of 13.736 and 18.945 μA mM−1, and also revealed long‐term stability and good selectivity. These results indicate that cuprous CPs deserve further investigation as potential electrocatalyst candidates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pt2Ca nanoparticles with a mean size diameter of 6 nm can be prepared by heating K2PtCl6, CaH2, carbon black and KCl at 400–500 °C. A mechanism study suggests that the formation of the Pt2Ca phase at moderate temperature is enabled by the fast ion transport via the vacancies in the KCl–CaH2 solid solution. The Pt2Ca nanoparticles exhibit high performance for the oxygen reduction reaction in acid due to optimal adsorption energy of the oxygen intermediate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the efficiency of already developed surface‐modified carbon black (CB), both independently and in conjunction with nano‐silica, as a hybrid filler, to the properties of natural rubber (NR) compounds. The modification process, followed by coupling agent treatment, enhanced cross‐link density and curing characteristics, though the inclusion of nano‐silica alone negatively affected curing due to its inherent polarity and tendency to agglomerate. The filled compounds with modified CB exhibited significant improvements in mechanical properties, notably tear resistance. Moreover, the combination of nano‐silica with modified CB yielded compounds with superior tear resistance, attributed to synergistic effects. CB surface modification exhibited varying effects on the glass transition temperature, with enhancements observed in tan δ at lower temperatures, indicating improved ice and wet grip potential. Also, it reduced rolling resistance after treatment with a coupling agent. While thermal stability remained consistent across the studied compounds, swelling resistance varies with filler type and ratio. Thermodynamic analysis confirmed the positive impact of CB surface modification on the elasticity and chain mobility of the investigated rubber compounds. It was concluded that the strategic selection of fillers and modification approaches were essential for achieving optimal results in the rubber compound's performance and application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractBlack carbon was widely researched due to its significant role on the global carbon cycle and contaminant transport, and most people were concerned about the property of the dissolved black carbon from black carbon. In this work, we focused on the research of the residual those of black carbon. Two kinds of black carbon originated from peanut shell and bamboo were prepared and the corresponding residual black carbons were also obtained by the ultrasonic dissolution process. It was found the chemical and structure properties of residual black carbon changed a lot compared to black carbon. Using methylene blue as a target contaminant, the adsorption capacity of methylene blue by the residual black carbon was greater than that of black carbon. The adsorption capacity of black carbon-bamboo for methylene blue increased from 11.1 mg/g to 16 mg/g after the dissolution process, and the adsorption capacity of black carbon-peanut shell for methylene blue increased from 14 mg/g to 23 mg/g. The various influencing factors, such as the pH, initial concentration, temperature and adsorbent dosage, were systematically studied. The black carbons derived from peanut shell before and after the ultrasonic dissolution process both showed greater adsorption capacities for methylene blue. To further elucidate the methylene blue adsorption process, different kinds of isotherm and kinetics models were applied to simulate the experimental data. The results indicated that the Langmuir isotherm model was suitable to all the carbons before and after the ultrasonic dissolution process, and the pseudo-second-order model showed great simulation for the adsorption of methylene blue. In addition, the analysis of the thermodynamic study revealed that the adsorption processes of methylene blue were endothermic and spontaneous. Overall, results obtained from this work revealed the black carbon after been dissolved showed better adsorption capacity for contaminant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the effects of polypropylene (PP) composites produced by adding 10% old newspaper fibers (ONP), 5% microcrystalline cellulose (MCC), 3% polypropylene carbonate (PPC), and waste toner from 1% to 4% on the mechanical properties, physical properties, morphological, and thermal properties were investigated. According to the FTIR‐ATR and SEM‐EDS analysis results, it was determined that a significant part of the waste toner used in the study consisted of polystyrene co‐acrylate, and the remaining part consisted of carbon black and trace amounts of silicate. In the research, it was determined that the flexural and tensile strengths of MCC/ONP/PP composites containing 1% waste toner and 3% PPC increased by 13% and 46%, respectively, compared to the control sample. Additionally, the samples with the lowest water absorption values were measured in composites containing 1% waste toner and 3% PPC. The highest crystallinity value (50.75%) was obtained with the use of 1% waste toner and 3% PPC in MCC/ONP/PP composites. However, with waste toner usage above 1%, the mechanical, thermal properties, and water absorption rate have slightly decreased. As a result of the study, it was concluded that up to 1% waste toner with 3% PPC can be used successfully in MCC/ONP/PP composites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polyurethane foam compositions derived from bioderived polyester polyols with various additives were evaluated for disintegration under composting conditions using the ISO 20200 standard and were characterized by thermogravimetric analysis, microscopy, infrared spectroscopy, and imaging to provide additional insight. Compared to polyether polyol-based polyurethanes, the bioderived polyurethanes were found to display increased disintegration with an average mass loss of 25.4 ± 3.6 weight percent when subjected to composting conditions for 45 days, suggesting that these materials are less likely to persist in the environment when compared to other types of commodity plastics. Additives such as carbon black and lignin added within the foam composition did not accelerate the disintegration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Additives, such as antioxidants (AOs), carbon black (CB) and compatibilizers (COs), are used in recycled polymer blends for different reasons. AOs slow thermal degradation, CB gives blends a black color and protect them against ultraviolet (UV) light, and compatibilizers improve compatibility between the different phases of the mixture and consequently enhance the mechanical properties of the final blend. In this paper, the three additives were added to recycled polyethylene (PE) blends to study their effect on the final properties and to determine the best formulations that help improve the mechanical properties of recycled PE blends. Stress Crack Resistance (SCR) was accessed by performing Notched Crack Ligament Stress (NCLS) and Un-notched Crack Ligament Stress (UCLS). On the other hand, Oxidative Induction Time (OIT) was used to determine the oxidation time of the blends and the effect of each additive on this property. Based on the results of this study, it was proven that adding carbon black and antioxidants delay the thermal degradation of recycled PE blends and consequently improve the OIT. Otherwise, resistance to stress cracking is improved only by adding a compatibilizer to the reference blend. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon black particles possess dimensions on the nanometer or sub-nanometer scale. When utilized, these particles have a tendency to aggregate, which compromises their stability under storage conditions. To address this issue, a dispersant was prepared using cotton short fibers as raw materials through etherification and graft polymerization with acrylamide (AM) and 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropane sulfonic acid (AMPS) as raw materials. The dispersant was then used to disperse carbon black to test its dispersing performance. A response surface optimization test was utilized to ascertain the influence of AMPS monomer mass, AM monomer mass, and potassium persulfate (KPS) initiator mass on the dispersibility of carbon black during dispersant preparation, and a set of optimal preparation conditions were obtained. The dispersion stability of carbon black in water was assessed using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), elemental analysis (EA), thermogravimetric analysis (TG), zeta potential analysis, high magnification scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and contact angle measurements. Results revealed that the optimum mass ratio of carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) to AMPS to AM was 1:0.69:1.67, with the KPS initiator comprising 1.56% of the total monomer mass. By incorporating the dispersant at a concentration of 37.50%, the particle size of carbon black particles was observed to decrease from 5.350 μm to 0.255 μm, and no agglomeration of carbon black particles occurred even after 3 weeks of storage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The most crucial goal is the improvement of Ultra High Temperature Ceramic (UHTC) fracture toughness without negatively impacting the ceramic high-temperature properties. Carbon nanostructures in UHTCs appear to be one of the most promising ways forward. The influence of reduced graphene oxide vs. carbon black on microstructure and properties of TiB 2 -SiC ceramics is studied. The composite ceramic samples with additive contents up to 7.4 wt% were manufactured via the reactive hot pressing of B 4 C-TiC-Si-reduced graphene oxide/carbon black precursors at 1850 °С and 30 MPa for 4 min. The sintered materials composition and structure were analysed with Raman spectroscopy, XRD, SEM, and TEM. Reduced graphene oxide (rGO) survives the hot-pressing procedure and, at lower concentrations, distributes inside the TiB 2 -SiC matrix in the form of separate sheets. However, at 7.4 wt%, the rGO was shown to agglomerate. The rGO improved the hardness, fracture toughness, and thermal conductivity of the TiB 2 -SiC by up to 16%, 20%, and 53%, respectively. The composite characteristics reached the values of H V = 26.1 GPa, K 1 C = 7.4 MPa∙m1/2, and k = 69 W/m∙K. Carbon black additive formed roughly equiaxial two micrometre inclusions and was not observed to impact the investigated properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For the first‐time, analysis of a decade long measurement of Black Carbon mass concentration (BC) was carried out at a representative central Indo‐Gangetic Plain (IGP) location, Varanasi (25.30°N, 83.03°E, 79 m asl), from 2009 to 2021 to understand its physical, optical, and radiative impacts. During the 13‐year study period, the daily BC mass concentration was found to vary between 0.07 and 46.23 μg m−3 (mean 9.18 ± 6.53 μg m−3) and showed a strong inter‐annual and intra‐annual variations. The inter‐annual variability of BC showed a significant decreasing trend (−0.47 μg m−3 yr−1), with a maximum during the post‐monsoon (−1.86 μg m−3 yr−1) and minimum during the pre‐monsoon season (−0.31 μg m−3 yr−1). The Black Carbon Aerosol Radiative Forcing (BC‐ARF) at the top of the atmosphere (BC‐ARFT), surface (BC‐ARFS), and within the atmosphere (BC‐ARFA) was found to be 10.3 ± 6.4, −30.1 ± 18.9, and 40.5 ± 25.2 W m−2, respectively. BC‐ARF also showed a strong inter‐annual variability with a decreasing trend for BC‐ARFT (−0.47 W m−2 yr−1) and BC‐ARFA (−1.94 W m−2 yr−1), while it showed an increasing trend for BC‐ARFS (1.33 W m−2 yr−1). Concentrated weighted trajectories (CWT) and potential source contribution function (PSCF) analyses were performed at the station to determine the potential source sectors and transport routes of BC aerosols. These analyses revealed that the long‐range source of BC at Varanasi originates from the upper and lower IGP, central highlands, southern peninsular region, Pakistan, and even from the Central East Asia region. Plain Language Summary: Long‐term measurement of Black Carbon aerosol was done at a representative Central Indo‐Gangetic Plain (IGP) location, Varanasi, India, from 2009 to 2021. Analysis suggests significant interannual and intra‐annual variation of BC mass for the location. The important finding shows a significant decreasing trend in BC mass: the maximum for the post‐monsoon season and the minimum for the pre‐monsoon. Black Carbon‐Aerosol Radiative Forcing at the top of the atmosphere, at the surface, and within the atmosphere was found to be 10.3 ± 6.4, −30.1 ± 18.9, 40.5 ± 25.2 W m−2, respectively. Black Carbon Aerosol Radiative Forcing also showed a decreasing trend and implies an induced deceasing trend in the atmospheric heating rate. According to the concentrated weighted trajectory and potential source contribution function analyses, the upper and lower IGP, central highlands, southern peninsular region, Pakistan, and even the Central East Asia region are potential long‐range sources of BC at the Varanasi. Key Points: Black Carbon is decreasing over the central Indo‐Gangetic Plain (IGP) since 2009: maximum for post‐monsoon and minimum for pre‐monsoon seasonThe Black Carbon‐Aerosol Radiative Forcing (BC‐ARF) shows a decreasing trend over the central IGP on yearly scale since 2009Decreasing trend in BC‐ARF within the atmosphere relates to a decrease in BC mass concentration and suggests reduced atmospheric warming [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper delves to improve the upper‐limit temperature of hydrogenated nitrile rubber (HNBR) through regulation of the vulcanization process, filler system and cross‐linking additive. The tensile test and scanning electron microscope images showed that the aging at 180°C significantly accelerated the deterioration in the property of HNBR compared with 150°C aging. The results showed that a higher dosage of bis(1‐(tert‐butylperoxy)‐1‐methylethyl)‐benzene curing agent reduced the compression set of HNBR without sacrificing its tensile strength. Carbon black N539‐filled HNBR exhibited high tensile strength, while carbon black N774‐filled HNBR showed high heat resistance and low compression set. When the HNBR sample was reinforced with 20 phr of N539 and 20 phr of N774 carbon black, it achieved low compression set, high tensile strength, and heat resistance simultaneously. Then, N,N′‐bismaleimide‐4,4′‐diphenylmethane (BMI) was introduced into the HNBR composite as a cross‐linking assistant agent. The residual strength of BMI‐modified HNBR was 20.3 MPa (the retention rate of 92.3%), and its compression set was as low as 19.2% after aging at 180°C for 72 h. Even after aging the composite at 180°C for 168 h, its strength retention rate remained at 83.2% (18.3 MPa). The approach provided here increased the upper‐limit temperature range of HNBR to 180°C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) is a widely utilized cathode material in lithium‐ion batteries, prized for its safety, low cost, and extensive cycling lifespan. However, its low compaction density limits its application in batteries requiring high volumetric energy density. The inclusion of conductive carbon black in electrodes, while increasing porosity, also exacerbates side reactions due to its high specific surface area. In this study, the use of liquid metal (GaIn) nanoparticles is explored as a substitute for carbon black in electrode formulations. GaIn nanoparticles' stable oxide film prevents oxidation at cathode potential. Additionally, liquid metal improves the particle interface to a solid‐liquid interface, reducing particle friction and providing a lubricating effect, resulting in a denser electrode structure. As a result, the porosity of LiFePO4 electrodes prepared with liquid metal is reduced, leading to a 20.7% increase in volumetric energy density. Moreover, GaIn‐containing batteries exhibit fewer side reactions, especially at elevated temperatures in both liquid and solid battery configurations. Solid‐state batteries employing GaIn nanoparticles demonstrate a specific capacity of 144 mAh g−1 at 0.5C, showcasing superior cycling performance compared to traditional formulations. This underscores the potential of GaIn to elevate the performance of LiFePO4 batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Elemental doping is a promising way for enhancing the electrocatalytic activity of metal oxides. Herein, we fabricate Ti/ Ti4O7-CB-Ce anode materials by the modification means of carbon black and cerium co-doped Ti4O7, and this shift effectively improves the interfacial charge transfer rate of Ti4O7 and •OH yield in the electrocatalytic process. Remarkably, the Ti4O7-CB-Ce anode exhibits excellent efficiency of minocycline (MNC) wastewater treatment (100% removal within 20 min), and the removal rate reduces from 100 to 98.5% after five cycles, which is comparable to BDD electrode. •OH and 1O2 are identified as the active species in the reaction. Meanwhile, it is discovered that Ti/ Ti4O7-CB-Ce anodes can effectively improve the biochemical properties of the non-biodegradable pharmaceutical wastewater (B/C values from 0.25 to 0.44) and significantly reduce the toxicity of the wastewater (luminescent bacteria inhibition rate from 100 to 26.6%). This work paves an effective strategy for designing superior metal oxides electrocatalysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new screen-printed electrode (SPE) modified with carbon black and ternary oxide (SiO2/TiO2/Nb2O5), denominated SPE/CB/SiTiNb and was developed for the direct detection of triclosan in tap water and mouthwash samples. The morphological characterization and electrochemical behavior of the sensors were performed by scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive spectroscopy, and cyclic voltammetry. Differential pulse voltammetry was used to evaluate the proposed sensor in Britton–Robinson buffer 0.1 mol L−1 and showed a limit detection of 1.23 nmol L−1 in a linear range from 0.025 to 57.01 µmol L−1. Studies with possible interferents were performed demonstrating a significant selectivity of the sensor to the triclosan oxidation reaction. The sensor was applied in tap water and mouthwash real sample analyses, whose recoveries ranged from 93.4 to 98.8%, demonstrating that the sensor shows promise in the detection of triclosan in different matrices allied to high sensitivity, selectivity, low-cost, portability, disposability, and low sample volume, without pre-treatment, per analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study provides a development of polymer electrolytes with an emphasis on their use in electrochemical devices. In present study we develop a new conducting carbon black (CB) powder dispersed into polyethylene oxide (PEO) polymer electrolyte using solution cast method. Various characterization techniques such as Impedance spectroscopy technique (EIS), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and Window stability (LSV) Linear sweep voltammetry has been studied in detail. The maximum ionic conductivity polymer electrolyte was at 0.05 wt%. of CB with σ value 1.20×10−5 S/cm. Finally the prepared CB dispersed polymer electrolyte using maximum conductivity sample is sandwiched between electrodes to fabricate an Electric double layer capacitor and Dye‐sensitized solar cell which show highest electrical capacity value of 68.5 F/gm at 5 mV/s respectively and 2.97 % efficiency shown by solar cell at 1 sun condition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Size-resolved Effective density of submicron atmospheric particles in Shenzhen were measured online using DMA-CPMA-CPC combined system. • Bimodal distribution feature of particle effective density was identified, including a main density mode and a sub density mode, by bimodal Gaussian fitting. • Particle effective density exhibited a high occurrence frequency of bimodal distribution, and two density modes exhibited opposite size distribution trends. • Effective density variation was highly correlated with the proportion of OA, sulfates and BC. Effective density (ρ eff) is one of the most important physical properties of atmospheric particles, providing important references in exploring the emissions and aging processes of fresh particles. In this study, a combined system of differential mobility analyzer, centrifugal particle mass analyzer, and condensation particle counter was used to periodically measure the ρ eff of atmospheric particles in Shenzhen from Oct. 2021 to Jan. 2022. Results showed that the ρ eff of particles with various size presented a bimodal distribution, which could be divided into main density (ρ m , main peak, corresponding to relatively dense particles after aging) and sub density (ρ s , sub peak, corresponding to fresh particles). The occurrence frequencies of ρ s of particles with diameters of 50 and 80 nm were less than 20%, but were as high as about 40% of that with diameters from 120 to 350 nm. The ρ m showed increasing trend with the size of particles, while ρ s decreased as the increasing of the size of particles. The ρ eff on pollution day varied significantly with chemical compositions. The increasing of the proportion of sulfate could promote the increasing of ρ eff , while black carbon and organic matter caused opposite effects, which may be related to various factors, including the difference of the material density and morphology of various chemical components. The ρ eff of 50, 80 and 120 nm particles decreased considerably during the new particle formation event, indicating that organic condensation was an important contributor to new particle growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the last several decades, there has been significant growth in research and development activities in nanomaterials. Nanotech has been used to improve the quality of several materials, including wood and polymer composites, for their application in various fields. Nanofillers, including metal particles, nano oxides, pyrogenic silica, and carbon black, have been employed as polymer additives. However, the value of natural, low-cost, and plentiful clay materials such as nanoclay becomes more apparent as environmental regulations and consumer awareness become more rigorous. This literature outlines the role of nanoclay on polymer composites, especially in the case of thermosetting resins, including epoxy, polyester, urea-formaldehyde, and phenol-formaldehyde resins. The current article is intended to provide a comprehensive source of recent studies and literature on nanoclay as filler, its classification, polymer modification processes using nanoclay, and comparing the performance of different thermosetting polymers based on their fabrication methods through physical and mechanical properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increased usage of selective laser sintering (SLS) for the production of end-use functional components has generated a requirement of developing new materials and process improvements to improve the applicability of this technique. This article discusses a novel process wherein carbon black was applied to the surface of TPU powder to reduce the laser reflectivity during the SLS process. The printing was carried out with a preheating temperature of 75 °C, laser energy density of 0.028 J/mm2, incorporating a 0.4 wt % addition of carbon black to the TPU powder, and controlling the powder layer thickness at 125 μm. The mixed powder, after printing, shows a reflectivity of 13.81%, accompanied by the highest average density of 1.09 g/cm3, hardness of 78 A, tensile strength of 7.9 MPa, and elongation at break was 364.9%. Compared to commercial TPU powder, which lacks the carbon black coating, the reflectance decreased by 1.78%, mechanical properties improved by 33.9%, and there was a notable reduction in the porosity of the sintered product. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to delineate the characteristics of black carbon (BC) in the atmosphere over the urban background environment in Vilnius (Lithuania) from 1 June 2021 to 31 May 2022 using aethalometer (Magee Scientific) measurements. The annual mean concentrations of BC originating from fossil fuels (BCff) and from biomass burning (BCbb) were found to be 0.63 μg m−3 with a standard deviation (SD) of 0.67 μg m−3 and 0.27 µg m−3 (0.35 μg m−3). The further findings highlight the dominance of fossil-fuel-related BC throughout the study period (71%) and the seasonal variability of BC pollution, with biomass-burning-related BC making the largest contribution during the summer season (41%) and the smallest contribution during autumn (23%). This information provides valuable insights into the sources and dynamics of BC pollution in the region. The sources and composition of BC on the days with the highest pollution levels were influenced by a combination of local and regional factors in every season. Additionally, this study employs an advanced approach to understanding urban BC pollution by focusing on high-pollution days (18), identified based on a daily mean BC mass concentration exceeding the 95th percentile, alongside an analysis of overall seasonal and diurnal variations. This methodology surpasses many those of previous urban BC studies, offering a comprehensive examination of the sources and composition of BC pollution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mobile monitoring is used as an additional tool to collect air quality data at a high spatial resolution and to complement data from fixed air quality stations. Citizens are interested in contributing to air quality monitoring, and while the availability of low-cost air quality sensors can create opportunities to measure the air quality at a high spatial resolution, the data are often of lower quality, and sensors that measure combustion-related aerosols (like black carbon) are not commonly available. Mobile monitoring using a mid-range instrument can fill this gap. We present the results of a mobile BC (black carbon) monitoring campaign performed by citizens in Mechelen as part of a local citizen observatory (CO), Meet Mee Mechelen, initiated as part of the European H2020 project, Ground Truth 2.0. The goal of the study was two-fold: (1) to propose and evaluate a mobile monitoring method (data collection and data processing) to construct pollution maps of BC concentrations and (2) to demonstrate how to organize community-based air quality monitoring to measure both the spatial and temporal variations in air pollution levels. Measurements were taken during peak hours in four campaigns characterized by different meteorological conditions: October–November 2017, February–March 2018, June–July 2018 and September 2018. The results show large spatial and temporal variabilities. Spatial variability is influenced by traffic volume, stop-and-go traffic and also the building environment and the distance of biking paths from road traffic. The four different campaigns show similar spatial patterns, but due to background and meteorological influences, the absolute concentrations differ between seasons. A rescaling method using data from fixed stations in the air quality monitoring network (AQMN) was presented to construct maps representative of longer periods. This paper shows that mobile measurements can be used by CO to assess the spatial variability of air quality in a city. The data can be used to evaluate mobility plans, carry out hot spot detection, evaluate the exposure of cyclists as a function of cycling infrastructure and perform model validation. However, it is important to use high-quality instruments and apply the correct measurement methodology (number of repetitions, season) to obtain meaningful data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Black carbon (BC) is one of the most important climate forcers with severe health effects. Large uncertainties in radiative forcing estimation and health impact assessment arise from the fact that there is no standardized method to measure BC mass concentration. This study presents a 2-year comparison of three state-of-the-art BC measurement techniques at the high-altitude research station Pic du Midi (PDM) located in the French Pyrenees at an altitude of 2877 m above sea level. A recently upgraded Aethalometer AE33, a thermal-optical analyser Sunset and a single-particle soot photometer SP2 were deployed to measure simultaneously the mass concentration of equivalent black carbon (MeBC), elemental carbon (MEC) and refractory black carbon (MrBC), respectively. Significant deviations in the response of the instruments were observed. All techniques responded to seasonal variations in the atmospheric changes in BC levels and exhibited good correlation during the whole study period. This indicates that the different instruments quantified the same particle type despite the fact that they are based on different physical principles. However the slopes and correlation coefficients varied between instrument pairs. The largest biases were observed for the AE33 with MeBC values that were around 2 times greater than MrBC and MEC values. The principal reasons of such large discrepancy were explained by the mass absorption cross section (MAC) that was too low and C values recommended by the AE33 manufacturer and applied to the absorption coefficients measured by the AE33. In addition, the long-range transport of dust particles at PDM in spring caused significant increases in the bias between AE33 and SP2 by up to a factor 8. The Sunset MEC measurements agreed within around 17 % with the SP2 MrBC values. The largest overestimations of MEC were observed when the total carbon concentrations were below 25 µgCcm-2 , which is probably linked to the incorrect determination of the organic carbon (OC)–EC split point. Another cause of the discrepancy between instruments was found to be the limited detection range of the SP2, which did not allow for the total detection of fine rBC particles. The procedure used to estimate the missing mass fraction of rBC not covered by the measurement range of the SP2 was found to be critical. We found that a time-dependent correction based on fitting the observed rBC size distribution with a multimodal lognormal distribution is needed to accurately estimate MrBC over a larger size range. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An hydrophobized gas-diffusion electrode with a tin catalyst deposited onto acetylene black A437E is tested with the aim of elucidation of its potential in intensifying the CO2 electroreduction to formate in acidic and alkaline aqueous solutions. Porous electrodes with the fluoroplastic content of 40 wt %, a thickness of 0.5 mm, porosity of 60 vol %, and the tin content ≈0.7 mg/cm2 of the total electrode surface are studied. It is shown that this type of electrodes can be used in electroreduction of CO2 at a current density of up to 900 mA/cm2, a temperature of 25–55°C with the current efficiency from 74 to 96% with respect to formate. The 4 h electrolysis at a current density of 190 mA/cm2 produces a solution with the potassium formate concentration of 1.58 M. This is accompanied by the increase in the capacitance of the electric double layer from 7 to 17 mF/cm2 and the decrease in the current efficiency from 96 to 58%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: Metal dusting affords a way to generate metal catalysts in situ from cheap metal sources and a high density of catalyst particles is created, anchored to a metal support. The metal dusting-catalyzed carbon magnifies the second-stage TCD rate and yield by virtue of its greater active surface area. Complementary microscopic, spectroscopic, and thermo-gravimetric characterizations highlight the structural differences between the first (TCD)-stage metal-catalyzed carbon and the second (TCD)-stage carbon-catalyzed carbon. Using model carbons, the TCD carbon's nanostructure did not appear to depend on the nanostructure of the nascent carbon catalyst. In this study, metal dusting is utilized to initiate a two-stage thermo-catalytic decomposition (TCD) process. Stage 1 starts with metal-catalyzed TCD, and in stage 2 the metal-catalyzed carbon catalyzes additional TCD. TEM is presented of the early- versus late-stage TCD to qualitatively illustrate the second-stage TCD by the metal-catalyzed carbons. Corresponding SEM illustrates differences in growth type and surface density between early versus late reaction times, with backscattered imaging differentiating the first- versus second-stage TCD. TGA supports the microscopic inference of a second carbon phase by the presence of an early (low-temperature) reaction peak, characteristic of low-structure or disordered carbon as the second-stage TCD carbon. Raman analysis confirms that the second-stage carbon deposit is more disordered and unstructured, especially at 1000 °C, supported by the ID/IG and La value changes from 0.068 to 0.936 and 65 nm to 4.7 nm, respectively. To further confirm second-stage TCD occurrence upon pre-catalyzed carbons, two carbon blacks are tested. Exposing a combination of edge and basal or exclusively basal sites for the graphitized form, they afford a direct comparison of TCD carbon nanostructure dependence upon the initial carbon catalyst nanostructure. Pre-oxidation of the stainless-steel wool (SSW) prior to TCD is advantageous, accelerating TCD rates and increasing carbon yield relative to the nascent SSW for an equivalent reaction duration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rubber–metal parts inside the car require rubber compounds capable of ensuring optimal function and maximum service life without interface delamination. From this perspective, the strength of the bond which is created by the chemical interaction of rubber and metal by an adhesive is decisive for ensuring the functionality of the entire compound. It is dependent not only on the choice of the right adhesive but also on the rubber compound ingredients and their amount. Here, the influence of different types of carbon blacks as well as different curing systems in combination with a commonly used adhesive is described. The durability of the metal–adhesive–rubber bond is characterized by a specially designed shear strength analysis under quasi-static loading, whereas a significant influence of the structure of the carbon black has shown. It has also been observed that the presence of monosulphidic bonds has a positive effect on the shear strength. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The production, optimisation, physicochemical, and electroanalytical characterisation of a low-cost electrically conductive additive manufacturing filament made with recycled poly(lactic acid) (rPLA), castor oil, carbon black, and graphite (CB-G/PLA) is reported. Through optimising the carbon black and graphite loading, the best ratio for conductivity, low material cost, and printability was found to be 60% carbon black to 40% graphite. The maximum composition within the rPLA with 10 wt% castor oil was found to be an overall nanocarbon loading of 35 wt% which produced a price of less than £0.01 per electrode whilst still offering excellent low-temperature flexibility and reproducible printing. The additive manufactured electrodes produced from this filament offered excellent electrochemical performance, with a heterogeneous electron (charge) transfer rate constant, k0 calculated to be (2.6 ± 0.1) × 10−3 cm s−1 compared to (0.46 ± 0.03) × 10−3 cm s−1 for the commercial PLA benchmark. The additive manufactured electrodes were applied to the determination of β-estradiol, achieving a sensitivity of 400 nA µM−1, a limit of quantification of 70 nM, and a limit of detection of 21 nM, which compared excellently to other reports in the literature. The system was then applied to the detection of ß-estradiol within four real water samples, including tap, bottled, river, and lake water, where recoveries between 95 and 109% were obtained. Due to the ability to create high-performance filament at a low material cost (£0.06 per gram) and through the use of more sustainable materials such as recycled polymers, bio-based plasticisers, and naturally occurring graphite, additive manufacturing will have a permanent place within the electroanalysis arsenal in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microwave-assisted carbothermal reduction has been innovatively developed for the low-temperature synthesis of high-purity submicron TiB 2 powders. The thermodynamic research of TiO 2 -B 4 C-C system and relevant reactions showed that suitable excess addition of B 4 C was required to compensate for the boron source evaporation loss. The effect of excess addition of B 4 C (0 −15 wt%) and synthesis temperature (1350 −1550 °C) on the phase composition, purity, and morphology of the products have been investigated. Submicron TiB 2 powders (0.75 µm) with high-purity (0.36% residual C and 0.53% O) were successfully synthesized at 1450 °C for 20 min under microwave assistance with TiO 2 , excess 5 wt% B 4 C, and carbon black. Additionally, the as-synthesized TiB 2 powders after spark plasma sintering at 2000 °C for 15 min showed a relatively higher sinterability, namely increased at 7.7% relative density of sintered ceramic when compared with the commercially available powders owing to the lower O content and submicron-scale size. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon black (CB) is the most frequently applied conductive additive in rubber and polymer composites. This project aims to investigate the electrical/dielectric properties of a hybrid composite based on butadiene rubber and N-234 type of low-cost CB prepared via an oxidative chlorophosphorylation reaction. The properties are described by conductivity (σ) and dielectric constant (έ) frequency dependence at ambient temperature. The conductivity mechanism is explored based on the structure of CB and composite measured by X-ray powder diffraction analysis. Graphite-like structure and semi-crystalline intercalate phase were observed in the X-ray powder diffraction patterns of CB and composite, respectively. The σ and έ obtained values show the positive contribution of CB filler in the electrical/dielectric properties of the modified polymer through enhancing the crystallinity, providing a new conductive pathway with a higher probability of charge carriers tunneling and founding a higher polarized system based on the microscopic structure of obtained composite. A low-cost conductive/polarized composite of higher permittivity in comparison to a modified polymer was obtained. The composite is suggested for use in energy storage and electric devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The optimization of composite electrodes based on a silicon/graphite mixture is essential for battery performance, but is complex due to the multiplicity of parameters that come into play. In this direction, we propose to adjust the amount of surface area developed by all the graphitic carbons, including the conductive additive to that of the silicon phase. This concept, introduced here as graphite and carbon‐to‐silicon contact ratio, is based on the importance of contacts on the mechanical, electrical and electrochemical properties of composite electrodes. The validity of this new formulation parameter is studied here for SiOx/Graphite composite electrodes, which differ in the proportions of two types of graphite (spherical or platelet form) and for different types of conductive additives (carbon black and carbon nanotubes). An optimal contact ratio is determined, allowing at the same time the best gravimetric and volumetric capacities, the best cyclability, and the best power performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work aims to present the results of evaluating the coloristic properties of polylactic acid (PLA) fibers. PLA is common nowadays in much research, as it is a biodegradable plastic from renewable sources. However, little research is devoted to PLA fibers, and even less to applied research of colored fibers. The prepared color masterbatches, created using inorganic pigments, such as titanium dioxide and carbon black, were subsequently used to prepare dyed PLA fibers in mass. The fibers were drawn to the maximum drawn ratio. The properties of the pure and dyed fibers were investigated before and after accelerated light aging using Q-SUN equipment. The changes were recorded by Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and colorimetric properties were recorded using a device spectrometer from TECHKON SpectroDens. We also evaluated thermal properties from the first heating via differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The measurements were taken before and after the aging of the PLA fibers, in order to see the effect of aging on the supermolecular structure, excluding the influence of the preparation process and the influence of the kind of PLA. Using inorganic pigments showed sufficient color stability even after accelerated light aging, which is beneficial for using colored fibers in practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we prepared and characterized lampblack of olive oil for application in supercapacitors. The lampblack was prepared by the simple technique of flame-soot method. The lampblack samples characterized by using X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), N2 adsorption-desorption isotherms, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), and Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDS) revealed that they contain mostly amorphous nanosized carbon particles with oxygenated functional groups and the carbon content in the lampblack was 92.6%. The surface area of the lampblack carbon calculated from the Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) method was found to be about 302.7 m²g-1 with an average pore size of 1.69 nm obtained from the Density Functional Theory (DFT) analysis. Lampblack carbon samples were used to prepare supercapacitor electrodes. Electrochemical properties of the electrodes were investigated in 6M aqueous KOH by Cyclic Voltammetry (CV), Galvanostatic Charge Discharge (GCD), and Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) techniques. The specific capacitance of the electrode obtained from the GCD test was 70.36 Fg-1 at the current density of 1 Ag-1 with a low Equivalent Series Resistance (ESR) value of 0.81 Ω. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High production rates and the constant expansion of production capacities for lithium-ion batteries will lead to large quantities of production waste in the future. The desired achievement of a circular economy presupposes that such rejects could be recovered. This paper presents a two-staged process route that allows one to recover graphite and conductive carbon black from already coated negative electrode foils in a water-based and function-preserving manner, and it makes it directly usable as a particle suspension for coating new negative electrodes. In a first step, coating residues, which accumulate in production (as offcuts or rejects for example), are decoated in an aqueous ultrasonic bath. The ultrasonic bath also serves as a pre-thickener. As a result, high mass concentrations of active material can already be achieved in the water after the first process step. Water is then removed from the negative electrode suspension in a subsequent step by applying dynamic cross-flow filtration. With this unit operation, it is possible to concentrate the slurry residue to a solid content similar to that of the new electrode slurries used for coatings. An important criterion for the direct utilization of production waste is that the particle properties are affected as little as possible so that the suspension can be used directly for coating new films. This work presents the individual recycling process steps and their influence on the particle and slurry properties. The aim is to assess whether the recyclate is suitable for a coating of new negative electrodes and thus also for manufacturing batteries from 100% recycled material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anthropogenic aerosols play a major role in the Earth–atmosphere system by influencing the Earth's radiative budget and precipitation and consequently the climate. The perturbation induced by changes in anthropogenic aerosols on the Earth's energy balance is quantified in terms of the effective radiative forcing (ERF). In this work, the present-day shortwave (SW), longwave (LW), and total (i.e., SW plus LW) ERF of anthropogenic aerosols is quantified using two different sets of experiments with prescribed sea surface temperatures (SSTs) from Earth system models (ESMs) participating in the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6 (CMIP6): (a) time-slice pre-industrial perturbation simulations with fixed SSTs (piClim) and (b) transient historical simulations with time-evolving SSTs (histSST) over the historical period (1850–2014). ERF is decomposed into three components for both piClim and histSST experiments: (a) ERFARI , representing aerosol–radiation interactions; (b) ERFACI , accounting for aerosol–cloud interactions (including the semi-direct effect); and (c) ERFALB , which is due to temperature, humidity, and surface albedo changes caused by anthropogenic aerosols. We present spatial patterns at the top-of-atmosphere (TOA) and global weighted field means along with inter-model variability (1 standard deviation) for all SW, LW, and total ERF components (ERFARI , ERFACI , and ERFALB) and for every experiment used in this study. Moreover, the inter-model agreement and the robustness of our results are assessed using a comprehensive method as utilized in the IPCC Sixth Assessment Report. Based on piClim experiments, the total present-day (2014) ERF from anthropogenic aerosol and precursor emissions is estimated to be - 1.11 ± 0.26 Wm-2 , mostly due to the large contribution of ERFACI to the global mean and to the inter-model variability. Based on the histSST experiments for the present-day period (1995–2014), similar results are derived, with a global mean total aerosol ERF of - 1.28 ± 0.37 Wm-2 and dominating contributions from ERFACI. The spatial patterns for total ERF and its components are similar in both the piClim and histSST experiments. Furthermore, implementing a novel approach to determine geographically the driving factor of ERF, we show that ERFACI dominates over the largest part of the Earth and that ERFALB dominates mainly over the poles, while ERFARI dominates over certain reflective surfaces. Analysis of the inter-model variability in total aerosol ERF shows that SW ERFACI is the main source of uncertainty predominantly over land regions with significant changes in aerosol optical depth (AOD), with eastern Asia contributing mostly to the inter-model spread of both ERFARI and ERFACI. The global spatial patterns of total ERF and its components from individual aerosol species, such as sulfates, organic carbon (OC), and black carbon (BC), are also calculated based on piClim experiments. The total ERF caused by sulfates (piClim- SO2) is estimated at - 1.11 ± 0.31 Wm-2 , and the OC ERF (piClim-OC) is - 0.35 ± 0.21 Wm-2 , while the ERF due to BC (piClim-BC) is 0.19 ± 0.18 Wm-2. For sulfates and OC perturbation experiments, ERFACI dominates over the globe, whereas for BC perturbation experiments ERFARI dominates over land in the Northern Hemisphere and especially in the Arctic. Generally, sulfates dominate ERF spatial patterns, exerting a strongly negative ERF especially over industrialized regions of the Northern Hemisphere (NH), such as North America, Europe, and eastern and southern Asia. Our analysis of the temporal evolution of ERF over the historical period (1850–2014) reveals that ERFACI clearly dominates over ERFARI and ERFALB for driving the total ERF temporal evolution. Moreover, since the mid-1980s, total ERF has become less negative over eastern North America and western and central Europe, while over eastern and southern Asia there is a steady increase in ERF magnitude towards more negative values until 2014. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]