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Rechargeable zinc–air batteries (ZABs) have emerged as promising alternatives for conventional Li-ion batteries due to their high energy density and low manufacturing cost. However, Pt/C and RuO2-based conventional rechargeable ZABs are mainly constrained by the sluggish kinetics of oxygen reduction/oxygen evolution reactions (ORR/OER), limiting commercialization possibilities. Herein, a new type of oxygen vacancies enriched cobalt-doped molybdenum oxynitride quantum dot-anchored N-doped carbon nanosheets (VO-CMON@NCNs) was demonstrated as an advanced air-cathode for long-life rechargeable ZABs. Such VO-CMON@NCN catalyst has an exceptional ORR performance with a high half-wave potential of 0.857 V and tremendous OER performance with an ultrasmall overpotential of 240 mV at a current density of 10 mA cm−2, outperforming conventional Pt/C and RuO2 catalysts. As proof of concept, rechargeable ZABs with an optimal VO-CMON@NCN-800 air-cathode showed an ultrahigh specific capacity of 721.2 mA h gZn−1 at a current density of 5 mA cm−2, a tremendous peak power density of 143.7 mW cm−2, and ultralong cycling life of 500 h. These consequences suggest that the oxygen vacancies enriched VO-CMON@NCN can serve as promising bifunctional catalysts for next-generation metal–air batteries and other energy-related applications.

At the heart of Covid-19 responses, the transition from fossil sources to green energy is an urgent issue for nations to address the crisis and secure sustainable economies. As a country in a seismically active zone that relies heavily on imported fossil fuels, Taiwan is vigorously taking the next step in renewable energy development, which is pivotal to securing its position in global supply chains. Solar energy is today the most suitable renewable energy source for Taiwan. However, land prices and policies, and challenges of scale still hinder its development. In this context, identifying optimal sites for solar photovoltaic (PV) construction is a crucial task for major energy stakeholders. In this paper, a two-stage approach, combining the data envelopment analysis (DEA) models and the analytic hierarchy process (AHP), has been done for the first time to identify the most suitable locations among 20 potential cities and counties of Taiwan for constructing solar PV farms. DEA models were applied to filter out the areas with the most potential by measuring their efficiency indices with temperature, wind speed, humidity, precipitation, and air pressure, as inputs, and sunshine hours and insolation, as outputs. The locations with perfect efficiency scores were then ranked with the AHP method. Five selected evaluation criteria (site characteristics, technical, economic, social, and environmental) and sub-criteria of each were utilized to prioritize the locations with solar energy potential. AHP was used to determine the relative weights of the criteria and sub-criteria and the final weights of the areas. For criteria weighting results, “support mechanisms,” “electric power transmission cost,” and “electricity consumption demand” with weights of 0.332, 0.122, and 0.086, respectively, were found as the most significant sub-criteria. The final ranking suggests Tainan, Changhua, and Kaohsiung as the top three most suitable cities for constructing solar PV energy systems.

The present study investigates the effects of a low partial pressure of hydrogen in a mixture with methane gas on the mechanical properties of welded API X70 pipeline steel using a series of smooth tensile and notched tensile, testing approaches. The microstructures and mechanical property performances of the weld metal are compared to the results obtained for the base metal. The weld metal was found to be more vulnerable to hydrogen-induced crack initiation than the base metal. A significant loss of ductility occurred in the weld metal, even when tested under 10 MPa of a gas mixture with 1% H2 using the smooth tensile specimen. The notched reduction in the area (RA) decreased markedly under 10 MPa gas mixtures with 1% H2. The microstructural inhomogeneity in the metal matrix was associated with a more severe hydrogen-assisted fracture in the weld metal. The hydrogen-induced crack initiation primarily occurred at the interface between the dendritic pro-eutectoid ferrite and bainitic ferrite and propagated with the dendritic ferrite in which the diffusion of hydrogen was promoted by the stress/strain incompatibility and localized deformations.

Ionic liquids have emerged in hydrometallurgy as potential extractants for metals. In this work, the interactions of ALiCY (R4N+A-) synthesized by Aliquat336 and Cyanex272, and a mixture of ALiCY and TBP, were analyzed using extraction data and FT-IR spectroscopy. Co(II) and Ni(II) were extracted from two HCl concentrations (1.0×10-4 and 6.8 mol·L-1) using ALiCY and its mixture with TBP. The extraction results indicated that ALiCY has a dual function, as a cationic extractant at low HCl concentration and an anionic extractant at high HCl concentration depending on the types of metal complexes. The addition of TBP to ALiCY had a negative effect on the extraction of Co(II) from the 6.8 mol·L-1 HCl, while the effect was negligible from the 1.010-4 mol·L-1 HCl. The solvation of R4N+ by TBP significantly affected the extraction behavior of ALiCY for metal ions. The formation of hydrogen bonding between TBP and Cyanex272 was verified. These findings shed light on the behavior and interaction occurring between bif-ILs and solvating extractants for the extraction of metals in acidic media.

In this study, the effect of a low partial hydrogen in a mixture with natural gas on the tensile, notched tensile properties, and fracture toughness of pipeline steel X70 is investigated. An artificial HE aging is simulated by exposing the tested sample to the mixture gas condition for 720 h. In addition, a series of tests is conducted in ambient air and 10 MPa of 100% He and H2. Overall, 10 MPa of 100% H2 significantly degrades the mechanical properties of an X70 pipeline steel. However, it is observed that the 10 MPa gas mixture with 1% H2 does not affect the mechanical properties when tested with a smooth tensile specimen. In the notched tensile test, a significant reduction in loss in the area is observed when tested with a notched specimen with a notch radius of 0.083 mm. It is also confirmed that a 10-MPa gas mixture with 1% H2 causes a remarkable reduction in the toughness. The influence of the exposure time to 1% hydrogen in a mixture with natural gas was found to be minor.

Fe(III) can be easily extracted from weak acidic solutions by organophosphorus extractants, but stripping a large amount of Fe(III) from the loaded extractants is very difficult. The extraction and stripping of Fe(III) from 2 pH chloride and sulfate solutions was performed with ionic liquids(ILs) and organophosphorus acidic extractants, and the behaviors compared. As ionic liquids, two succinimides ([N88SA][C4min] and ([N88SA][C4Py]) were used, and bi-functional ionic liquids (Bif-ILs) synthesized from Aliquat336 and the organophosphorus acids Cyanex272, D2EHPA, and PC88A were employed. The extraction of Fe(III) by the ILs and extractants employed in this work was in the following order: organophosphorus extractants > Bif-ILs > succinimide ILs. The extraction of Fe(III) by succinimide ILs and Bif-ILs was higher from the chloride solution than from the sulfate one, while the nature of the medium had little effect on the extraction of Fe(III) by the organophosphorus extractants. FT-IR spectra confirmed the ion exchange mechanism of Fe(III) by the succinimide ILs. There was little difference in the stripping of Fe(III) by H2SO4 from the loaded Bif-ILs and the organophosphorus acids. However, stripping of Fe(III) from the loaded Bif- ILs using HCl did not readily occur. Fe(III) was readily stripped from the loaded [N88SA][C4min] and [N88SA][C4Py], and the HCl solution was more effective for stripping than H2SO4. [N88SA][C4min] is considered a promising new extractant for the recovery of Fe(III) based on its Fe(III) extraction and stripping behavior from weak acidic solution. (Received September 18, 2019; Accepted October 29, 2019)

The susceptibility of low nickel content type 316L austenitic stainless steel to hydrogen was quantified using low strain rate tensile tests and strain-controlled low-cycle fatigue life measurements. Both tests were performed under air condition after charging with high-pressure 10-MPa hydrogen gas at 300 °C for eight days. No significant influence of hydrogen was recognized in 0.2% proof stress, but the strain at fracture and reduction area was decreased significantly in both hydrogen pre-charged and in gaseous hydrogen conditions compared to companion tests conducted in air. The decrease of fatigue life in the high strain amplitude region was related to a significant decrease in the plastic component while the effect of hydrogen on the elastic component was negligible. Highly localized deformation and a pronounced martensite transformation occurred near the site of the fracture surface in the high strain amplitude regime, resulting in the early formation of abundant micro-surface cracks in this regime of the hydrogen pre-charged samples.

In this paper, we present a novel design and an optical simulation of a flat concentrator photovoltaic (CPV) system for electric vehicle application. The sunlight concentration component is comprised of a planar waveguide integrated dichroic mirror-coated cone prisms and a mirror-coated lens array. Sunlight reflects firstly at the mirror-coated lens array and then strikes the cone prism of the planar waveguide. The prisms are coated by the dichroic mirrors to divide the solar spectrum into two bands. The low-energy band is transmitted and reaches the GaInAsP/GaInAs dual-junction solar cells. The mid-energy band is reflected at the prism surface and coupled inside the waveguide. The exit port of the waveguide is attached with GaInP/GaAs dual-junction solar cells. The simulation results demonstrated a maximum electricity conversion efficiency of 32.88% at the high concentration ratio. The system thickness is 35 mm, which is as thin as the conventional flat photovoltaic panel and system allow for a lateral sun-tracking mechanism. This is suitable for installation on the vehicle's roof. The results showed that the presented flat CPV system is a new approach for a highly efficient application of solar energy to the electrical vehicle.

This paper is concerned with the propagation of Rayleigh waves in a compressible orthotropic half-space coated by a compressible orthotropic layer. The main purpose of the paper is to establish an explicit exact formula for the H/V ratio (the horizontal-to-vertical displacement ratio) of the Rayleigh wave. This formula is derived by using the transfer matrix for an orthotropic elastic layer and by the effective boundary condition technique. The formula recovers the H/V formula by Malischewsky and Scherbaum [(2004). Wave Motion 40, 57-67] for the compressible isotropic case and the H/V formula by Love [(1911). Some Problems of Geodynamics (Cambridge University Press, Cambridge)] for the incompressible isotropic case. The effect of anisotropy on the H/V ratio's properties is examined and it is numerically shown that the anisotropy strongly affects the peak and zero frequency of the H/V ratio and its prograde domain as well. As the H/V ratio is a dimensionless quantity and it is easily experimentally measured, the obtained formula will be a useful tool for the nondestructive evaluation of mechanical properties of thin films deposited onto half-spaces. Two numerical examples are performed to show how the obtained formula can be used to extract the material properties of deposited layers from measured values of the H/V ratio.

Because of the demand for sustainable energy storage devices, investigating high energy density and cost-effective electrodes for flexible supercapacitors (SCs) is essential; however, the emergence...

Highly flexible quasi solid-state batteries are promising in next-generation energy storage sectors due to their high energy density, power density, and low manufacturing cost. However, poor cycle life seriously limits their application in industrial sectors. Herein, a novel strategy is established to design the oxygenated cobalt vanadium selenide (O-Cox V1-x Se2 ) nanostructures for high-performance quasi solid-state (QSS) zinc-cobalt batteries (ZCBs) and zinc-air batteries (ZABs). Density functional theory (DFT) calculation reveals that the doping effect of Co2+ into O-VSe2 nanostructure could increase the density of states near the edge of the conduction band, demonstrating ultrafast electron transport kinetics. Most interestingly, the optimal O-Co0.33 V0.67 Se2 cathode-based QSS-ZCB exhibits an ultrahigh specific capacity of 422.7 mAh g-1 at a current density of 1 A g-1 , excellent energy density of 186.4 Wh kg-1 , tremendous power density of 5.65 kW kg-1 , and ultralong cycle life (86.9% capacity retention after 3000 cycles). Furthermore, O-Co0.33 V0.67 Se2 air-cathode based QSS-ZAB delivers a peak power density of 162 mW cm-2 and ultralong cycle life over 100 h. These experimental and theoretical studies indicate that the electrochemically induced, cobalt stabilizes the vanadium is essential to boost the energy storage properties and cycle life of both ZCBs and ZABs.

A new type of electrodes with attractive nanostructures is garnering extensive attention for application in energy storage technologies owing to the ultrahigh charge storage properties of these electrodes. Transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs), especially ternary metal selenide-based TMDs, exhibit excellent electrical conductivity and a lower band gap. However, to date, only few studies have been reported on the application of Se-based nanostructures. To achieve high electrochemical performance, herein, we established a novel flexible electrode consisting of tin nickel selenide (SnxNi1−xSe2) vertically grown on carbon fiber cloth (CFC) with tunable composition and attractive nanostructures, which enhanced the electrical conductivity, provided more electroactive surface area, and shortened the electron/ion transport pathways. Due to the hierarchical nanostructures and superior electrical conductivity, the optimal Sn0.33Ni0.67Se2 electrode showed significantly improved electrochemical performance, which included an ultrahigh specific capacity of ∼346 mA h g−1 at a current density of 1.0 mA cm−2, extraordinary rate capability, and outstanding durability. Remarkably, a flexible supercapacitor was assembled using Sn0.33Ni0.67Se2 as the positive electrode and Fe2O3@NG as the negative electrode, resulting in an ultrahigh energy density (∼90.3 W h kg−1 at 0.631 kW kg−1), tremendous power density (20.14 kW kg−1 at 67.2 W h kg−1), and super-high cycling life (∼96.41% capacity retention after 10 000 charge–discharge cycles at a high current density of 30 mA cm−2). These results clearly indicate that the hierarchical Sn0.33Ni0.67Se2 nanosheets have substantial potential for next-generation energy conversion and storage technologies.

International audience; A series of twelve dyes have been designed using 2-(3-oxo-2,3-dihydro-1H-cyclopenta[b]naphthalen-1-yli-dene)malononitrile as the electron acceptor. While using piperidine as a classical base for the Knoevenagel reaction , a nucleophilic attack of the amine on the formed push-pull chromophore occurred, producing an azaflu-orenone derivative. By varying the amine, a series of azafluorenones could be obtained. By using an aldehyde of extended conjugation, a spontaneous aromatization following the cyclization reaction could also be demonstrated. The optical, electrochemical properties of the different dyes were examined. Theoretical calculations were also carried out to support the experimental results.

In this paper, the propagation of Stoneley waves along the interface between two orthotropic elastic half-spaces is investigated. The half-spaces are compressible or incompressible and they are in spring contact with each other. The main aim of the paper is to derive secular equations and formulas for the ratios of displacement components at the interface and to show that Stoneley waves are a good tool for evaluating the quality of imperfect bonds modeled as spring contacts. First, the secular equation and the formulas for the displacement-component ratios for the compressible case (two half-spaces are compressible) are derived. Then, those for the incompressible cases (one or both half-spaces are incompressible) are obtained by using the incompressible limit method. The obtained secular equations reveal that, while Stoneley waves are non-dispersive for the welded contact and the sliding contact, they are dispersive for the spring contact. Employing the obtained secular equations and formulas for the displacement-component ratios, two particular examples are carried out for determining the spring constants from the measured values of the displacement-component ratios and the wave velocity. It is shown that the ratios of displacement components at two sides of the interface are the best choice for evaluating the quality of imperfect bonds.

In this paper, we have employed the facile one-pot process to synthesize superparamagnetic iron oxide@carbon (Fe3O4@C) core–shell nanoparticles by using ferrocene and acetone as a precursor. The Fe3O4@C nanoparticles were successfully produced by using a solvothermal reaction at 200 °C for 24 h. Effects of synthetic conditions such as amount of ferrocene, solvothermal temperature, and reaction time on the microstructure and formation of Fe3O4@C nanoparticles were optimized. The adsorption activity of arsenic(V) ions on the Fe3O4@C nanoparticles was evaluated and compared with pure Fe3O4 nanoparticles. The adsorption kinetics process of Fe3O4@C nanoparticles was fit well with the Langmuir isotherm model. The adsorption efficiency of the Fe3O4@C core–shell nanoparticles showed better performance of 2.3 times than that of pure Fe3O4 nanoparticles. The adsorption mechanism studies suggest that the enhancement of removal efficiency of Fe3O4@C core–shell nanoparticles was due to improved electrostatic interactions between functional groups presented in outer carbon shell and arsenic(V) ions and therefore increasing adsorption efficiency. With exhibited advantages of low-cost, high-purity, and large-specific surface, the solvothermal-synthesized Fe3O4@C core–shell nanoparticles can be a promising candidate as magnetically separable adsorbent for advanced wastewater treatment applications.

The octadecylamine (ODA) modified graphene oxide (mGO-ODA)/maleic anhydride grafted polypropylene (MAPP) composites (mGO-ODA/MAPP) were prepared and applied successfully as gas barrier and corrosion protection coating materials for the first time. The hydrophobic mGO-ODA sheets showed improved solubility in non-polar solvents with molar absorptivity was found to be 36 mL mg−1 cm−1 in ethylcyclohexane. FTIR analysis confirmed that mGO-ODA chemically interacts with MAPP. The mGO-ODA nanosheets were well exfoliated and dispersed in the MAPP matrix as confirmed by XRD analysis. The mGO-ODA/MAPP composites were coated on modified nylon sheets by a spray coating method, and the gas transmission rates (GTRs) of H2 and O2 were tested for these coated films. Cross-sectional FESEM showed the excellent attachment of these composite with the nylon film. The 60% mGO-ODA/MAPP-coated nylon film exhibited 93% and 112% improvement in elastic modulus values than the MAPP-coated and pure nylon films, respectively. Besides, 60% mGO-ODA/MAPP exhibited 94.1% and 95.0% reduction for H2GTR and O2GTR, respectively, compared to the pure nylon film. In addition, mGO-ODA/MAPP coated steel substrate exhibited excellent anticorrosion performance. The corrosion inhibition efficiency and corrosion rate were calculated to be 99.15% and 2.26 × 10−3 mm/year, respectively, for 60% mGO-ODA/MAPP.

In this study, a novel 4,4′-diaminostilbene-2,2′-disulfonic acid (DASDSA)-functionalized reduced graphene oxide (DASDSA-rGO) was prepared via simple refluxing method involving GO and DASDSA in the presence of ammonia solution followed by reduction with hydrazine hydrate. FTIR spectroscopy, Raman scattering, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and XRD analyses confirmed the successful functionalization and reduction of GO in DASDSA-rGO. The FTIR and XPS analyses also confirmed covalent bond formation between DASDSA and graphene. The DASDSA spacer successfully minimized the restacking of rGO sheets as observed from FESEM analysis. Several redox transition states and SO 3 H groups of grafted DASDSA moieties provided excellent pseudocapacitance performance of the DASDSA-rGO electrode. The DASDSA-rGO electrode showed high specific capacitance ( C ) value of 1042 F g −1 at a current density of 1 A g −1 , good cycling stability (95% capacitance retention after 3000 cycles), and excellent rate capability in a three-electrode setup. The DASDSA-rGO (positive electrode) and rGO (negative electrode) were assembled to prepare an asymmetric supercapacitor (ASC) device. The power density values of the ASC device were calculated to be 650 and 7800 W kg −1 at energy density values of 37.37 and 23.78 W h kg −1 , respectively. The ASC device exhibited C value of 159 F g −1 at 1 A g −1 and displayed 86% retention in C after 8500 cycles. The EIS data of the three-electrode system and ASC device were fitted with Z-views to determine the different resistance components after a different number of charge–discharge cycles in a cycling stability test.

High-performance all-solid-state supercapacitors (SCs) have potential applications in modern electronics, such as portable and flexible electronics; however, their low specific capacity and operating voltage window limit their industrial applications. Herein, we developed a new type of zinc nickel phosphide nanosheet (Zn–Ni–P NS) arrays via a simple, scalable, and cost-effective hydrothermal and subsequent effective phosphorization technique to enhance the electrochemical performance of SCs. The hierarchical Zn–Ni–P NS array electrode exhibits an ultra-high specific capacity of ∼384 mA h g−1 at a current density of 2 mA cm−2 with excellent rate capability (79.43% of capacity retention at 50 mA cm−2), and outstanding cycling stability (∼96.45% of capacity retention after 10 000 cycles). Furthermore, the Zn–Ni–P NS//Fe2O3@NG all-solid-state asymmetric SC (ASC) delivers an ultra-high volumetric capacity of ∼1.99 mA h cm−3, excellent energy density of ∼90.12 W h kg−1 at a power density of 611 W kg−1, and extraordinary cycling stability (93.05% of initial capacity after 20 000 cycles at a high current density of 15 mA cm−2). Such enhanced electrochemical performances are ascribed to the 3D hierarchical nanostructures, porous nanonetworks, improved conductivity, and synergistic interaction between the active components of Zn–Ni–P NS arrays.

In this research, we designed a novel heterostructure of porous amorphous-crystalline nickel selenide incorporated with copper (Cu-(a-NiSex/c-NiSe2)) and shelled over one-dimensional TiO2 nanorods (NRs) to simultaneously accelerate both the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) kinetics in alkaline environment. The Cu-(a-NiSex/c-NiSe2)/TiO2 NRs supported by carbon cloth displayed as an effective bifunctional catalyst, which required low overpotentials of 156.9 mV for HER and 339 mV for OER to achieve a current response of 10 mA cm−2 in 1.0 M KOH medium. An electrolyzer derived from the Cu-(a-NiSex/c-NiSe2)/TiO2 NRs material allowed an operation voltage of 1.62 V at 10 mA cm−2 along with good long-term stability after 21.5 h operation towards water splitting in alkaline medium. This achievement was resulted from the fine-tuned 3D porous architecture of the amorphous NiSex-crystalline NiSe2 heterostructures doped by copper, which led to significant modulation of electronic properties as well as large surface of exposed electroactive site/types, thereby effectively promoting the catalytic performance. This study suggested a rational approach of structure and shape engineering to design a potential catalyst for producing green hydrogen via water spitting.

In this study, the organo-soluble dodecylamine amine (DDA)-modified reduced graphene oxide (DDA-rGO) was synthesized using two different grafting methods. DDA was covalently bonded with GO sheets by direct amidation processes in the presence of N,N′-Dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCC), followed by reduction with hydrazine hydrate to prepare the DDA-modified reduced GO (DDA-rGO1). Analogous DDA-modified rGO (DDA-rGO2) was prepared by modifying GO with DDA in the absence of DCC. The ultraviolet−visible spectra showed that the DMF dispersion of DDA-rGO1 and DDA-rGO2 followed Beer's law and their molar extinction coefficient values were calculated to be 64 and 44 mL mg −1 cm −1 , respectively. The AFM, TEM, and TGA confirm the higher amount of DDA attached in DDA-rGO1. These fillers with various loading amounts were successfully used to synthesize several composite films using polyurethane (PU) as matrix. All nanocomposites showed excellent improvement in mechanical and gas barrier properties than PU. DDA-rGO1-4/PU with 4 wt% DDA-rGO1 improved the tensile modulus ( E ) by 204% and reduced O 2 permeability ( P ) to 84% compared to PU. On other hand, DDA-rGO2-4/PU enhanced the E by 122% and declined P to 80% compared to PU. The DDA-rGO1 demonstrated a better reinforcing efficiency to improve the mechanical and gas barrier properties.

Commercial austenitic stainless steel SUS304H with small amount of vanadium addition was used in this study. Small punch (SP) creep and uniaxial tensile creep tests were conducted at 650, 700, and ...

We report the simultaneous reduction, surface modification, and stitching of graphene oxide (GO) by ethylenediamine (EDA) and triethylenetetramine (TET) to boost the hydrogen gas barrier performance of polyurethane (PU) composite-coated nylon films. TEM and XRD analyses confirmed the formation of stitched EDA-modified GO (EDA-mGO) and TET-modified GO (TET-mGO) while FT-IR spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric analyses revealed the functionalization and reduction of GO by EDA and TET. EDA-mGO/PU and TET-mGO/PU composites were synthesized using different amounts of EDA-mGO and TET-mGO, respectively, and composites were deposited onto surface modified nylon films by spray coating to prepare hydrogen barrier films. FTIR, XRD, and FESEM analyses showed that both EDA-mGO and TET-mGO were uniformly dispersed into PU matrix. Cross-sectional FESEM showed strong adhesion between the nylon and composites. Coated films exhibited dramatic reduction in hydrogen gas transmission rate (H2GTR) and TET-mGO/PU with 22 wt% TET-mGO exhibited 93% decrease in H2GTR than bare nylon film.

A novel hierarchical nanoporous thin film of AuPt alloy embedded in graphene (AuPt@GR) was successfully synthesized through the self-assembly of ultrafine AuPt nanoparticles (~3 nm) within GR sheets by means of a facile chemical vapor deposition (CVD) procedure without the use of any external organic capping agent and reducing agent. A binder-free sensor based on the AuPt@GR hybrid material was fabricated and its electrocatalytic activity was evaluated by using it to determine epinephrine (EP) in PBS solution (pH=7.4) and in human serum spiked PBS solution. Amperometric measurements of the sensor response showed an extremely low limit of detection (0.9 nM at a signal-to-noise ratio of 3), high sensitivity (1628 µA m M −1 cm −2 ), wide linear detection range (1.5×10 −9 –9.6×10 −6 M), and negligible response to interferents. At the same time, the sensor also exhibited very long-term amperometric stability (4000 s), cyclic voltammetric stability (500 cycles), good reproducibility, and highly accurate detection of EP in real samples. The excellent electrochemical performance was attributed to synergistic effects of Au, Pt, and GR as well as to the formation of a unique nanoporous structure that provided enhanced electrocatalytic activity, a highly electroactive surface, and fast mass transport. These results suggest strong potential of the AuPt@GR hybrids for use in biosensors and bioelectronic devices.

Corrosion mapping of fuel tank walls plays an important role in determining corrosion level for periodical maintenance plan or repairing plan, thus increasing life and maintaining stability in operating. Currently, the corrosion mapping based on ultrasonic testing using Phased Array technology is still being done manually, depending on the features of the used equipment, therefore the accuracy is timely and depends on the skill or inspector. This paper represents a new approach to corrosion mapping of fuel tanks from collected corrosion images using Phased Array technique with overlapping edges of 5 mm. The technique of identifying the edge of two adjacent images apply to merge them together to thank to the direction and dimensions of the scan plan. A program for corrosion mapping based on the above approach has been developed. Experimental results showed that, the corrosion mapping are built with high accuracy and performed quickly. Thereby, this allows rapid mapping with high accuracy without dependence of technician skills, thus increasing economic efficiency and safe inspection for the fuel tank.

Highly efficient and durable multifunctional catalysts with attractive nanoarchitectures remain challenging for next-generation rechargeable metal-air batteries and water splitting devices. Herein, for the first time, a novel copper molybdenum oxynitride anchored nitrogen-doped graphene (CuMo2ON@NG) is synthesized by a simple, scalable, and cost-effective pyrolysis method. The rational design of CuMo2ON encased in NC shells anchored onto the NG matrix to enhance the electroactive sites and boost the electron-transport behaviors for oxygen reduction/evolution reactions (ORR/OER) and hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). The optimal CuMo2ON@NG reveals tremendous trifunctional activities, outperform benchmark Pt/C and IrO2. First-principles calculations demonstrate that the excellent catalytic activity of CuMo2ON@NG is owing to the synergistic electron transfer between the active CuMo2ON nanoparticles, doped N species, and graphitic carbon. Formation of the O* intermediates on CuMo2ON lattice in the core-shell CuMo2ON@NG nanohybrid is an energetic rate-determining step to attain ORR and OER activities. The CuMo2ON@NG air-cathode based rechargeable quasi solid-state zinc-air battery delivers an ultra-high specific capacity of 736 mAh gzn−1, an exceptional energy density of 800.75 Wh kg−1, a record power density of 176.3 mW cm−2, and excellent reversibility (330 h at 10 mA cm−2). Furthermore, the CuMo2ON@NG-based water splitting device achieves a cell voltage of 1.49 V at a current density of 10 mA cm−2 and excellent reversibility of 120 h at a high current density of 100 mA cm−2, outperforming the benchmark Pt/C||IrO2 (~1.53 V at 10 mA cm−2) and reported state-of-the-art catalysts.

Rational design of 3D nickel molybdenum oxyselenide (Ni1-xMoxOSe) nanoarchitectures with numerous oxygen vacancies is developed through facile and low-cost hydrothermal and followed by selenium ion modulation approach. The experimental and theoretical studies reveal that the optimal Ni0.5Mo0.5OSe possesses ultrafast charge-transfer kinetics, which would boost the catalytic activities, enhance the accessibility of electroactive sites, and increase the diffusion networks for oxygen species. Most impressively, the optimal Ni0.5Mo0.5OSe affords superior trifunctional activities, outperforming benchmark Pt/C and IrO2 catalysts. When employed as an air-cathode in flexible Zn-air batteries, it achieves a peak power density of 166.7 mW cm−2 and outstanding durability for 300 h in ambient air. Furthermore, the water electrolyzer realizes a current density of 10 mA cm−2 at a cell voltage of 1.51 V, outperforming benchmark Pt/C||IrO2 couple and reported state-of-the-art catalysts. This consequence provides a general strategy to explore highly efficient multifunctional catalysts with enhanced durability.

We present the flat-top supercontinuum source with high repetition rate over a broad bandwidth. The flatness and high repetition rate are achieved by iterative optical line-by-line spectrum shaping on electro-optic optical frequency combs. By applying Gaussian apodized pulse train to a highly nonlinear medium with optimized Gaussian coefficient and nonlinear polarization rotation techniques, we implemented here a flat-top supercontinuum with a 47.7 nm bandwidth at 3 dB and 30 GHz repetition rate. The generation of high repetition rate supercontinuum sources with smooth and coherent spectrum is the critical challenging task for many applications such as optical communications and the optical arbitrary waveform generation. This work leads us to new possibilities for generating hundreds or thousands of flattened coherent optical carriers with a simple configuration.

Sulfonated polyaniline (SPANI) functionalized reduced graphene oxide (SPANI/G-1) was prepared by aniline initiated polymerization of m -aminobenzene sulfonic acid in presence of graphene oxide (GO), followed by reduction with hydrazine hydrate. Fourier transform infrared, Raman, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analyses confirmed successful surface modification of graphene using SPANI. The presence of sulfonic acid groups in SPANI accelerated the redox reaction and provided pseudocapacitance. SPANI/G-1 based electrode showed high specific capacitance of 1107 F g −1 at a current density of 1 A g −1 in a three electrode set up. An asymmetric supercapacitor (ASC) device was fabricated using SPANI/G-1 as positive electrode and chemically reduced GO (RGO) as a negative electrode. ASC showed specific capacitance of 157 F g −1 at a current density of 1.5 A g −1 and 94% retention in specific capacitance after 5000 charge-discharge cycles at a current density of 3.8 A g −1 . The ASC exhibited maximum energy density of 31.4 W h kg −1 and a large power density of 14,764 W kg −1 . Nyquist data of the device was fitted with Z-view and different components (solution resistance, charge-transfer resistance and Warburg elements) were calculated from the fitted curve.

A novel hybrid of 2D Ni–Mo–S nanosheet integrated nitrogen doped graphene (NG) is successfully developed via a simple, scalable, and cost-effective hydrothermal process, and its application towards energy conversion devices is explored. The presence of exclusive mesoporous structures combined with an excellent conducting NG network in the Ni–Mo–S/NG hybrid exhibits superior electrocatalytic activities as a counter electrode (CE) for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) and the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in alkaline electrolytes. SEM and TEM studies demonstrate the uniform anchoring of ultra-thin Ni–Mo–S nanosheets on NG networks. The hierarchical Ni–Mo–S/NG hybrid outperformed Ni–Mo–S, NG, and Pt when used as a CE in DSSCs and showed excellent ORR activity. The power conversion efficiency (PCE) of DSSCs with the Ni–Mo–S/NG hybrid as the CE achieved 9.89%, outperforming conventional Pt CEs (8.73%). Furthermore, Ni–Mo–S/NG showed high catalytic activity for the ORR with an onset of 0.98 VRHE and outstanding durability compared to commercial Pt/C. The present study demonstrates the unique role of integrated Ni–Mo–S nanosheets anchored NG towards I3− reduction and the ORR, and demonstrates an efficient strategy for designing highly catalytically active and cost-effective electrocatalysts for DSSC and fuel cell applications.

Fabrication of high-performance graphene-based polymeric composites is challenging due to poor dispersion of graphene caused by restacking, weak interfacial bonding, and incompatibility of graphene with polymers. Herein, reduced graphene oxide (rGO)-based polyethyleneimine (PEI) composite (rGO/PEI) was synthesized by utilizing the unique roles of PEI as reducing agent and surface modifier to overcome the above-mentioned drawbacks of graphene. Composites with different graphene oxide (GO):HPEI ratios were used to prepare rGO-high molecular weight PEI (rGO/HPEI). For potential application as hydrogen gas barrier material, rGO/HPEI composites were coated onto the polyethylene terephthalate (PET) substrates through spray coating technique to prepare gas barrier films. Analogous rGO/LPEI (low molecular weight PEI) coated PET film was also prepared. The rGO/HPEI composite-coated films showed dramatic enhancement in hydrogen gas barrier properties and excellent tensile strength with high elongation at break as compared to PET and rGO/LPEI coated PET films.

The high-temperature creep fracture behaviour and creep strength of SUS 304H containing a minor addition of V were investigated in this study. A series of small punch (SP) creep and uniaxial creep tests were performed at 700 °C. The load and punch displacement rates obtained from the SP creep tests were used to derive conversion equations to determine the equivalent stress and creep strain rates. A converting equation is suggested in this study so that Norton’s secondary power law creep constants obtained from the SP creep testing can be in agreement with those obtained from the uniaxial tensile creep tests. The creep strength of the modified SUS 304H steel containing V was shown to be superior to that without V based on the current results and other available results for type 304H steel.

Battery diagnosis is vital to battery-based applications because it ensures system reliability by avoiding battery failure. This paper presents a novel intelligent battery charger with an online diagnosis function to circumvent interruptions in system operation. The charger operates in normal charging and diagnosing modes. The diagnosis function is performed with the impedance spectroscopy technique, which is achieved by injecting a sinusoidal voltage excitation signal to the battery terminals without the need for additional hardware. The impedance spectrum of the battery is calculated based on voltage excitation and current response with the aid of an embedded digital lock in amplifier in a digital signal processor. The measured impedance data are utilized in the application of the complex nonlinear least squares method to extract the battery parameters of the equivalent circuit. These parameters are then compared with the reference values to reach a diagnosis. A prototype of the proposed charger is applied to four valve-regulated lead–acid batteries to measure AC impedance. The results are discussed.

A fuel cell power conditioning system for online diagnosis and load leveling under the condition of varying load is developed in this study. The proposed system comprises a unidirectional boost converter and a bidirectional buck–boost converter with a battery. The system operates in two different modes. In normal mode, the bidirectional converter is utilized for load leveling; in diagnostic mode, it is utilized to control load voltage while the boost converter generates perturbation current to implement the online diagnosis function through in-situ electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The proposed method can perform EIS for a fuel cell under varying-load conditions with no influence on the load. The validity and feasibility of the proposed system are verified by experiments, and the design procedure of the proposed system is detailed.

In this paper, the secular equation of Rayleigh surface waves propagating in an orthotropic layered half-space is derived by the matrix method. All the layers and the half-space are assumed to have identical principle axes. The explicit form of the matrizant for each layer is obtained by the Sylvester's theorem. The derived secular equation takes only real values and depends only on the dimensionless variables and dimensionless material parameters. Hence, it is convenient in numerical calculation.

Nonaqueous solutions were employed to investigate the selective recovery of vanadium and molybdenum from the spent petroleum catalysts. In this work, commercial extractants such as D2EHPA, Alamine336 and Aliquat336, and an ionic liquid synthesized from Aliquat336 and D2EHPA, ALi-D2, were employed as a lixiviant and extractant for the target metal ions in the presence of oxidizing agent, H2O2. Among the 4 nonaqueous systems, ALi-D2 showed the best performance for the selective and effective leaching of vanadium and molybdenum over alumina, nickel and iron. The effect of several parameters on the leaching efficiency was also studied. Under the optimum conditions, the leaching percentage of vanadium and molybdenum was 74.6 and 89.6% in the first stage and 26.0 and 66.9% in the second stage by ALi-D2 system. Vanadium and molybdenum from the ALi-D2 loaded phase can be sequentially precipitated by NH4Cl and BaCl2 solutions in alkaline media. Precipitation percentage of vanadium were 94.2% and its purity was 99.5%, whereas that of molybdenum was 99.4% with 84.1% purity. A process was proposed for recovery of vanadium and molybdenum from the spent petroleum catalysts. Pure vanadium and molybdenum compounds can be recovered by this process with less burden to the environment.

The recovery of metals from spent petroleum catalysts has been attracting much attention owing to an increase in the metal demand. In this work, bi-functional ionic liquid, ALi-D2, in kerosene synthesized by Aliquat336 and D2EHPA was employed for the separation of Mo(VI), V(V), Ni(II) and Al(III) from the synthetic HCl leaching solution of spent petroleum catalyst. The metal ions were efficiently separated by adjusting the concentration of ALi-D2 and acidity of the leaching solution. First, Mo(VI) was selectively extracted into ALi-D2 together with a small amount of V(V). The co-extracted V(V) was removed from the loaded ALi-D2 by selective stripping with H2SO4 solution. Then the Mo(VI) was stripped from the stripped ALi-D2 with NH4OH solution. Second, the V(V) in the raffinate was selectively extracted by ALi-D2 over Al(III) and Ni(II). Al(III) was selectively extracted over Ni(II) from the raffinate by extraction with ALi-D2 after adjusting the pH at 2. The solvent extraction reaction of metal ions by ALi-D2 was identified by applying slope analysis method. The interaction between extractant and metal complexes was analyzed by FT-IR spectra. A process was proposed to separate the four metal ions in the leaching solution based on the results.

Hierarchical nanoarchitectures with large void space, unique porous networks, and numerous active sites for advanced supercapacitor (SC) electrodes has attracted great attention in modern electronics. Herein, a novel strategy is established to rational design of hierarchical iron cobalt selenide (FexCo3-xSe4) with tunable nanostructure and morphology by adjusting the stoichiometric ration of Fe: Co in order to enhance the energy density of SCs. The optimal FeCo2Se4 nanosheet arrays (NAs) enhances the electrical conductivity, electroactive sites, and intrinsic reactivity, achieving an ultra-high specific capacity of ~398.5 mA h g−1 at a current density of 1 mA cm−2 with an exceptional rate capability (~304.2 mA h g−1 at a current density of 50 mA cm−2), and ultra-long cycle life (~98.2% retention after 10,000 cycles). Taking advantage of FeCo2Se4 NAs positive electrode, we have successfully assembled solid-state asymmetric SC (ASC) with Fe2O3@NG hydrogel as the negative electrode. Impressively, the solid-state ASC achieves high operating voltage window upto 1.6 V, and thus delivers ultrahigh energy density of ~84.1 Wh kg−1 at a power density of 0.69 kW kg−1, and exceptional cycling stability (5.5% of capacity decay after 10,000 cycles), which outperform the recently reported metal selenide-based ASCs. These consequences clearly designate FeCo2Se4 NAs as an advanced electrode for next-generation energy storage technologies.

Two new succinimide compounds such as 3-butyl-1-methyl-1H-imidazol-3-ium 4-(dioctylamino)-4-oxobutanoate ([N88SA]−[C4min]+) and 1-butylpyridin-1-ium 4-(dioctylamino)-4-oxobutanoate ([N88SA]−[C4Py]+) were synthesized as task-specific ionic liquids (TSILs) for the extraction of metal ions. The extraction behavior of Co(II) and Ni(II) from chloride solution was compared between these TSILs and Bif-ILs synthesized from Aliquat336 and organophosphorus acids such as Cyanex 272, PC 88A and D2EHPA. The extraction percentage of Co(II) and Ni(II) by TSILs was eight times higher than that by Bif-ILs at the initial pH of 4.0. Moreover, the extraction percentage of Ni(II) by the TSILs was slightly higher than that of Co(II). However, Bif-ILs extracted more hydrogen ions than TSILs. The extraction of Co(II) and Ni(II) by [N88SA]−[C4min]+ was higher than that by [N88SA]−[C4Py]+. The addition of TBP to TSILs reduced the extraction of metals but the loss of TSILs into the aqueous was significantly decreased. Succinimide ionic liquids can be employed for the extraction of metals from weak acidic solutions.

A series of small punch (SP) tests was conducted to investigate the effect of natural/hydrogen gas mixture conditions on the mechanical properties of X70 pipeline steel. The various gas mixture conditions included 0.1, 0.5, 1, 3, and 5 vol% hydrogen blends and three typical pipeline pressure levels (5, 7, and 10 MPa). The hydrogen embrittlement (HE) susceptibility grades depend on the hydrogen concentration and tend to increase with hydrogen concentration. The hydrogen gas mixture conditions have an insignificant effect on the yield load of the elastic bending region, whereas the maximal load decreases significantly when the hydrogen concentrations increase. Moreover, the quantitative parameters obtained from the SP load displacement curves and fracture morphologies were analyzed to characterize the HE behavior. By evaluating the SP absorption energy as a function of the hydrogen pressure, the ductile–brittle transition and saturated hydrogen pressures of the HE were determined. According to the results, the strength degradation grades of the mechanical properties of X70 pipeline steel in the gaseous hydrogen environment were not affected by the exposure time.

The development of highly active and durable non-precious electrocatalysts with hierarchical nanostructures remains a key challenge in industrial applications for overall water splitting process. Herein, for the first time, a new strategy is established to fabricate hierarchical 3D nickel manganese oxyphosphide nanosheets (NiMnOP NSs) with high electroactive sites, numerous nanoporous networks, and plentiful oxygen vacancies for highly reversible water splitting application. When serving as the catalyst for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER), the hierarchical 3D NiMnOP catalyst entails the low overpotentials of about 195 and 290 mV, respectively, at a current density of 500 mA cm−2 with long-term durability. Impressively, HER and OER performances of NiMnOP catalyst are highly reversible because of their interconversion characteristics of both catalytic active sites. The assembled NiMnOP||NiMnOP water splitting cell delivers a current density of 10 and 500 mA cm−2 at cell voltages of 1.51 and 1.72 V, respectively, which is superior to state-of-art Pt-C||RuO2 (~1.53 V at a current density of 10 mA cm−2). Most importantly, the water splitting cell reveals excellent reversibility of both half-reactions in water splitting process at a high current density of 100 mA cm−2. This process can successfully overcome the electrochemical stability problems initiated by electrode depolarization throughout repeated power disconnection, where frequency fetching is expected to occur by the utilization of irregular renewable energy distributions.

WOS:000434245500081; Photoinitiators exhibiting efficient thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) are investigated. Known TADF metal complexes (copper-based structures) and purely organic molecules (carbazole/sulfone based organic structures) are used, for the first time, in the FRP of methacrylates, the CP of diepoxides and the synthesis of acrylate/diepoxide interpenetrated polymer networks, in thick films (1.4 mm), under air, under soft conditions using violet light delivered by a LED emitting at 405 nm. They are incorporated into two-component systems in combination with an iodonium salt and/or into three-component systems with iodonium salt/amine or N-vinylcarbazole or 9H-carbazole-9-ethanol (CARET) systems. A comparison with non-TADF analogues highlights the benefits of the TADF process. Using the copper complexes, the performances are better than those achieved with a conventional reference photoinitiator (bis acylphosphineoxide); the organic structures are noticeab ly less efficient. These systems exhibit a photoredox catalyst behavior. The involved chemical mechanism has been investigated using steady state photolysis, cyclic voltammetry, fluorescence spectroscopy, laser flash photolysis and electron spin resonance spin trapping techniques. The TADF property is found to be very important in increasing the excited state lifetime of the photoredox catalyst for better interactions with additives (i.e. a longer excited state lifetime is important to increase the yields of bimolecular reactions).

We present a linear Fresnel lens design for light-emitting diode (LED) uniform illumination applications. The LED source is an array of LEDs. An array of collimating lens is applied to collimate output from the LED array. Two linear Fresnel lenses are used to redistribute the collimated beam along two dimensions in the illumination area. Collimating lens and linear Fresnel lens surfaces are calculated by geometrical optics and nonimaging optics. The collimated beam output from the collimating lens array is divided into many fragments. Each fragment is refracted by a segment of Fresnel lens and distributed over the illumination area, so that the total beam can be distributed to the illumination target uniformly. The simulation results show that this design has a compact structure, high optical efficiency of 82% and good uniformity of 76.9%. Some consideration of the energy savings and optical performance are discussed by comparison with other typical light sources. The results show that our proposed LED lighting system can reduce energy consumption five-times in comparison to using a conventional fluorescent lamp. Our research is a strong candidate for low cost, energy savings for indoor and outdoor lighting applications.

International audience; Radical chemistry is a very convenient way to produce polymer materials. Here, an application of a particular photoinduced radical chemistry is illustrated. Seven new carbazole derivatives Cd1-Cd7 are incorporated and proposed as high performance near-UV photoinitiators for both the free radical polymerization (FRP) of (meth)acrylates and the cationic polymerization (CP) of epoxides utilizing Light Emitting Diodes LEDs @405 nm. Excellent polymerization-initiating abilities are found and high final reactive function conversions are obtained. Interestingly, these new derivatives display much better near-UV polymerization-initiating abilities compared to a reference UV absorbing carbazole (CARET 9H-carbazole-9-ethanol) demonstrating that the new substituents have good ability to red shift the absorption of the proposed photoinitiators. All the more strikingly, in combination with iodonium salt, Cd1-Cd7 are likewise preferred as cationic photoinitiators over the notable photoinitiator bis(2,4,6-trimethylbenzoyl)phenylphosphine oxide (BAPO) for mild irradiation conditions featuring their remarkable reactivity. In particular their utilization in the preparation of new cationic resins for LED projector 3D printing is envisioned. A full picture of the included photochemical mechanisms is given.

This paper is devoted to the effect of a thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) property in new photoinitiators/photoredox catalysts. Four carbazole derivatives A1–A4 exhibiting a TADF character are synthesized and proposed for the first time as high performance visible light photoinitiators/metal-free photoredox catalysts, in the presence of an amine or/and an iodonium salt, for both the free radical polymerization (FRP) of (meth)acrylates and the cationic polymerization (CP) of epoxides upon visible light exposure using light-emitting diodes (LEDs) at 405, 455, and 477 nm. Interestingly, the impact of the substituent effect on the excited state lifetimes and therefore on the photoinitiating ability of a series of substituted carbazoles was clearly evidenced and examined. Upon bromination of the carbazole core, clear effects on the excited state lifetimes and light absorption were demonstrated, enabling to tune the initiator performance. Excellent polymerization initiating abilities are found, a...

The design of three-dimensional (3D) nanoarchitectures on a flexible substrate has emerged as a novel strategy for fabricating cutting-edge wearable and portable power sources. Herein, we propose a simple and versatile approach towards the fabrication of hierarchical nanoporous manganese nickel selenide (MnxNi1-xSe2) and manganese iron selenide (MnxFe1-xSe2) nanosheets as positive and negative electrodes for flexible charge storage devices to achieve ultra-high energy density. The Mn substitution into Ni/Fe-selenide results in hierarchical architecture with highly altered electronic structure, offering enhanced electrical conductivity, increased catalytic activity, and improved stability of Ni/Fe phases upon cycling. Under optimized conditions, the Mn0.33Ni0.67Se2 and Mn0.33Fe0.67Se2 electrodes showed high specific capacities of ∼333 and 251 mAh g−1 at a current density of 1 mA cm−2, superior rate capabilities of 81.4 and 80.9% capacity retention at 50 mA cm−2, respectively, and outstanding cycling stability. Most importantly, in flexible solid-state assembly, the Mn0.33Ni0.67Se2//Mn0.33Fe0.67Se2 based SC delivers the excellent energy density of 87.2 Wh kg−1 at a power density of 0.672 kW kg−1, along with ultra-long durability of 96.2% capacity retention after 10,000 cycles at 30 mA cm−2. Thus, it would be believed this new fabrication strategy certainly promising for flexible electronics devices in the near future.

In this paper, we present a design and optical simulation of a novel linear Fresnel lens. The lens can be applied to a concentrator photovoltaic (CPV) system as a primary optical element (POE) to increase the concentration ratio and improve the uniformity of irradiance distribution over the receiver. In addition, the CPV system can use the proposed lens as a concentrator without involving a secondary optical element (SOE). The designed lens, which is a combination of two linear Fresnel lenses placed perpendicular to each other, can collect and distribute the direct sunlight on two dimensions. The lens is first designed in the MATLAB program, based on the edge ray theorem, Snell’s law, and the conservation of the optical path length, and then drawn in three dimensions (3D) by using LightToolsTM. Furthermore, in order to optimize the structure and investigate the performance of the lens, the ray tracing and the simulation are also performed in LightToolsTM. The results show that the newly designed lens can achieve a high concentration ratio of 576 times, a high optical efficiency of 82.4%, an acceptable tolerance of 0.84°, and high uniform irradiance of around 77% for both horizontal and vertical investigation lines over the receiver.

0020-1669; The ligand-exchange reaction has been investigated to synthesize nickel bis(dithiolene) complexes bearing one hydroxyl functional group aimed at being grafted thereafter onto polymer materials. This reaction leads easily to heteroleptic complexes with the ethylene-1,2-dithiolato core substituted by either alkyl or aryl moieties. Details on synthetic parameters are given. A direct link between the electronic properties of the obtained molecules and those of the parent complexes involved in the ligand-exchange reaction is highlighted and also demonstrates that this reaction is a powerful method for preparing nickel complexes with tailor-made frontier orbital energies.

A polymeric ionic liquid issued from an ionic liquid monomer composed of a methacrylate polymerizable group, a polar tri(ethylene oxide) spacer, a trifluoromethane sulfonic anion and a free imidazolium cation was employed as a solid electrolyte for dye-sensitized solar cells. The simple device configuration based on dip-coated nanoporous TiO2 electrode sensitized by N3 ruthenium-based dye gave the conversion efficiency of up to 1.74% under AM 1.5 simulated solar light illumination. Effect of TiO2 porous film thickness on overall energy conversion efficiency was discussed. It has been found that the most appropriate thickness for the polymeric ionic liquid based electrolyte dye sensitized solar cell is around 7 µm.