A nanoporous carbon material was prepared via high-temperature heat treatment with lignite as raw material and KOH as an activating agent in inertia atmosphere. The results show that nanoporous carbon has massive mesopores and micropores with an average pore size of 2 nm, and the specific surface area can reach 3 135 m²/g. The specific capacitance of the symmetrical capacitor assembled with nanoporous carbon as an electrode is up to 267 F/g. A significant capacity retention of 95% is obtained after 1 000 cycles. The electrosorption capacity of the salt ions can reach 18.9 mg/g with a good adsorption and desorption cycle performance.

A Li_1.167Ni_0.167Co_0.167Mn_0.5O₂ cathode material was synthesized by a co-precipitation method, and then a composite material with a uniform AlPO₄ coating on its particle surfaces was prepared by a pH-controlled chemical deposition process with Al(NO₃)₃·6H₂O, K₂HPO₄ and hexamethylenetetramine as reagents and citric acid-sodium citrate as a buffer solution. The effect of AlPO₄ coating amount on the electrochemical performance of Li_1.167Ni_0.167Co_0.167Mn_0.5O₂ cathode materials was investigated. The results show that 1% (in mass fraction) AlPO₄ coated material exhibits a high initial discharge capacity (i.e., 265.9 mA·h/g at 0.1 C) and an excellent capacity retention (i.e., 88% retention rate after 150 cycles at 0.5 C). The superior electrochemical performance can be attributed to the AlPO₄ coating preventing a direct contact between the electrolyte and the electrode material, accelerating the lithium ion diffusion and reducing the electrochemical resistance. As a result, Li⁺ diffusion rate increases from 3.17×10^-15 cm²/s to 9.07×10^-15 cm²/s, and the electrochemical impedance value decreases from 152.92 Ω to 62.27 Ω.

Recent research work of solid-state thin film batteries mainly focus on the construction of electrode/electrolyte interfaces with a low impedance and the development of solid electrolytes with a high ionic conductivity. In this review, the structure design and ion transport mechanism of solid-state thin film battery were introduced. The research progress of anode film, cathode film and solid electrolyte film were represented. In addition, some problems of electrode/electrolyte interfaces and their improvement strategies were also summarized.

This review summarized recent studies on the structures and thermal behavior of tobermorite, especially the different structures and thermal behaviors of several polymorphs of tobermorite. Also, the influences of raw materials and synthetic condition on the formation of tobermorite polymorphs were represented, and the corresponding mechanism was analyzed. In addition, some future work on tobermorite was also given.

Solid acid materials (A-K) were prepared via calcination of kaolinite (K) and successive acid treatment. The structure of products was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electronic microscopy (SEM). A-K was then introduced into polypropylene (PP) composites to further enhance the flame retardancy. The flammability and mechanical properties were evaluated by limiting oxygen index, vertical burning test, cone calorimetry and universal test. The results show that the peak heat release rate for PP composite with a loading A-K (0.5%-3.0%, in mass fraction] can reduce from 1 474 kW/m² of neat PP to 177 kW/m².

TiO₂ nanosheets (TNS) were prepared on fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) glass via hydrothermal reaction, and triphenylamine complex D2 was used to modify the TNS array. The microstructure and photoelectric conversion performance of hybrid solar cells were characterized by scanning electronic microscopy, X-ray diffraction, ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy, transient photocurrent spectroscopy, photoluminnescence spectroscopy, contact angle measurement, current density-voltage (J-V) test, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The results show that triphenylamine complex D2 improves the chemical compatibility between organic polymers and inorganic materials. According to the results by contact angle measurement, the surface of TiO₂ particles changes from hydrophilic to hydrophobic after modification. The results by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy indicate that the recombination resistance and electronic lifetime of the cell device after modified on the surface of TiO₂ particles increase from 866.8 Ω·cm² and 48.1 μs to 932.2 Ω·cm² and 127.1 μs, respectively. In the TNS-based hybrid solar cell, the photoelectric conversion efficiency of the modified cell improves from 0.20% to 1.52%, compared to that of the unmodified device.

Based on the hexagonal-close-packed polystyrene (PS) template, a monoclinic vanadium dioxide composite film (Ag NPAs/VO₂(M)) embedded with Ag nanoparticle arrays was prepared on a quartz substrate via electronic beam evaporation. The microstructure, phase transition characteristics and light transmittance of composite film were investigated. The results show that VO₂(M) and Ag phases both coexist in the composite film. The phase transition temperature of the composite film is as low as 55 ℃. Based on the analysis by the band model, the embedding of Ag nanoparticles increases the free electron concentration in the composite film and induces the phase transition to occur at a lower temperature. Compared to pure VO₂ film, the transmittance of the composite film in the 590-750 nm band is weakened, which is attributed to the visible absorption of visible light in the 590-750 nm band by Ag NPAs in the composite film, thus weakening the inherent brownish yellow of the VO₂ film.

Hexagonal ZnO with different average particle sizes and crystallinities were synthesized via pyrolysis of metal-organic framework-5 (MOF-5) at various temperatures. ZnO pastes were prepared, and then ZnO photoanodes were obtained by a doctor blade method, thus assembling into dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSC). The phase composition and morphology of MOF-5, ZnO nanoparticles, and ZnO photoanode were characterized by X-ray diffraction and scanning electronic microscopy, and the effects of ZnO nanoparticle morphology and photoanode thickness on the properties of DSSC were investigated. The average particle size and crystallinity of ZnO nanoparticles increase with increasing the calcination temperature for MOF-5. ZnO nanoparticles with a small particle size have a great specific surface area, and the prepared photoanode has a large amount of dye adsorption, which is conducive to obtaining DSSC with a high photoelectric conversion efficiency. However, the crystallinity is low as ZnO nanoparticles are rather small, thus decreasing the efficiency of DSSC. The optimum efficiency of DSSC is obtained at the average size of ZnO nanoparticles of 65.5 nm. The optimum efficiency of DSSC is 3.86% at the optimal thickness of photoanode of 48 μm.

A copper-metalloporphy in metal-organic framework material (Cu-TCPP) was synthesized via a liquid-phase epitaxy approach. Afterward, a transparent Cu₂S@N-doped carbon film was in situ fabricated using Cu-TCPP as a template, and was directly used as a counter electrode for bifacial CdS/CdSe quantum-dot sensitive solar cells (QDSSC). The morphology, construction, and performance of Cu₂S@N-doped carbon film were also investigated. During the sulfidation process, the cupric ions in Cu-TCPP thin film were transformed into Cu₂S nanoparticles, while the nitrogen-rich ligand (TCPP) was in situ carbonized, generating N-doped carbon and leading to the formation of a uniform Cu₂S@N-doped carbon film. After the sulfidation of Cu-TCPP, the original nanosheet morphology is maintained and uniform Cu₂S nanoparticles are embedded on the nanosheet surface. As a result, the transparent Cu₂S@N-doped carbon film exhibits greater power conversion efficiencies (i.e., 4.16% and 3.72%) rather than Pt (i.e., 2.39% and 1.73%) from the front and rear irradiations, respectively. Based on the analysis of the systematic electrochemical data by cyclic voltammetry test, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and Tafel test, a transparent Cu₂S@N-doped carbon film with a low charge-transfer resistance, a fast ion diffusion rate, and an excellent catalytic ability is obtained for S_n^2-/S^2- redox reaction. As a result, the superior photovoltaic performance of bifacial CdS/CdSe QDSSC can be achieved.

Silica fume (SF, containing SiO₂>85%, in mass fraction) collected from emitting soot of silicon-metallurgical workshop was used as a raw material for preparation of pure crystalline silicon. Silicon was prepared via refining pretreatment of pristine SF and ball-milling mixing to make magnesium and SF powder reactant, subsequent magnesiothermic reduction reaction (MRR) process and final purification by two-step acid-etching treatment of HCl-HF acids. The experimental results show that a core-shell structure Mg@SiO₂, i.e., Mg particles coated uniformly by a dense layer of submicron-sized primary particles of silica fume in a desired stoichiometric ratio of reactants Mg:SiO₂ of 0.85∶1.00, is formed via micron-scale diffusion reaction after mixing for 12 h at a rotational speed of 150 r/min. A high-performance route of MRR was proposed based on the wrapping-micron-reactor model. The extent of MRR is as high as 96% and Si species of HCl-etched sample are more than 90% (in mass fraction), and the final prepared product of crystalline silicon achieves a purity of 99.88% (in mass fraction) after HF+CH₃COOH acid-etching.

A nano-sphere material of BiOCl with a high photocatalytic efficiency was prepared by a simple coprecipitation method at room temperature. The addition of organic carboxylic acid can cause BiOCl to form a seriously agglomerated nanosheet structure, and then gradually transform into an irregular nanomicrosphere structure assembled from nanosheets. Also, the micro-mesoporous structures are formed on the surface of BiOCl nanosheets due to the corrosive effect of organic acids, thus increasing the specific surface area of BiOCl materials and providing the more active sites for the adsorption of pollutants and photocatalysis. Among them, the specific surface area of BiOCl modified with tartaric acid (TA) and citric acid (CA) are 469.93 m²/g (BiOCl-TA) and 646.82 m²/g (BiOCl-CA), respectively, compared to that of pure BiOCl (106.90 m²/g). The photocatalytic degradation performance of the materials modified by organic carboxylic acid (i.e., BiOCl-TA and BiOCl-CA) enhances, and the degradation percentage of rhodamine B (RhB) (20 mg/L) in 30 min is 99.74%, which is greater than that of pure BiOCl (i.e., 14.83%).

P₂O₅ was added into (K,Na)₂O-CaO-Al₂O₃-B₂O₃-SiO₂ phase-separated opaque glaze. Effect of P₂O₅ on the glaze properties and structure was investigated by thermal expansion instrument, colorimeter, Vickers hardness tester, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, respectively. The results show that the glaze whiteness and the Vickers hardness improve as P₂O₅ content increases. The whiteness of the glaze increases from 46.58% to 71.79% and the Vickers hardness increases from 737.94 HV to 1153.03 HV. [PO₄] obtains the bridge oxygen of [BO₄] from the matrix glass phase, promoting the phase separation of the glaze melt by changing [BO₄] to [BO₃] when the mole fraction of P₂O₅ is below 0.58%. Also, P₂O₅ mostly appears in the boron-rich phase separation droplets. The interface between the droplets phase and the matrix phase provides conditions for hexagonal prism shape of Ca₃(PO₄)₂ crystal separated from the glaze, the refractive index difference between heterogeneous particles and matrix phase increases, and Ca₃(PO₄)₂ crystal size is in the visible wavelength range when the mole fraction of P₂O₅ is 1.15%-1.72%, which enhances the Mie scattering and improves the glaze whiteness. In addition, the Vickers hardness of the glaze improves because the density of the glass structure increases with increasing [PO₄] content.

Solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) cathode thin layers were fabricated via inkjet printing with a novel water-based lanthanum cobalt strontium ferrite (LSCF) ceramic ink. The prepared inks and thin cathode layers after printing, drying and sintering were characterized by particle size and zeta potential measurements, surface tensiometry, rheometry, X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. The results show that a fine particle size is obtained by wet grinding, and the average particle size is reduced from a few micronmeters to approximately 100 nm. Water-based LSCF inks with superior rheological properties and dispersion stability were prepared with the nanoparticles. The problem of satellite droplets during printing and uneven distribution of the jetted droplets on the substrate were effectively solved by optimizing the voltage waveforms of printing parameters, thus greatly improving the quality of droplet injection and distribution. Thin cathode layers with a good surface morphology and a porous microstructure suitable for SOFC applications could be prepared by reducing the number of printing layers and extending the printing time interval between layers.

Thermal barrier coatings (TBCs) are ceramic coatings with a good thermal barrier effect at high temperatures, and have some important applications in the thermal protection of gas turbines, internal combustion engines, rocket engines and other high-temperature environments. Zirconia stabilized by rare-earth or alkaline earth oxides are used for nearly 60 a, and yttria stabilized zirconia (YSZ) is the mostly used material. Since last two decades, many materials are developed, i.e., nano-YSZ, rare earth zirconates, rare-earth aluminates, rare-earth tantanates, alkaline earth zirconates, etc.. New TBC materials have lower thermal conductivities, better sintering resistances and similar or larger thermal expansion coefficients, but much lower fracture toughness, more complicated compositions and therefore much shorter thermal cycling life rather than YSZ. In order to improve the durability of the TBC materials for high-temperature applications, the coating deposition process should be controlled effectively to keep a stoichiometric composition and the double-ceramic-layer (DCL) coatings could be applied.

A rubber particle anti-abrasive ultrahigh-performance concrete (UHPC) with a high strength, a low shrinkage, a high abrasion resistance, a high impact toughness and a high durability was developed to solve the problems of erosion damage of bridge pier in western mountainous areas with frequent floods. The mechanism of the surface modification of rubber particles to improve the properties of UHPC materials was investigated by scanning electron microscopy, energy spectroscopy and contact angle measurement. The results show that the anti-wearing strength and final crack impact energy are increased by 26% and 72%, respectively, after adding 10% (in volume fraction) NaOH + KH570 modified rubber particles with the sizes of 1-3 mm into UHPC. Also, the shrinkage is reduced by approximately 50% after adding 15% (in volume fraction) saturated pre-wet high-titanium heavy slag sand and 6% (in mass fraction) CaO type expansion agent into UHPC, compared to the reference UHPC. In addition, the modified rubber particles mainly improve the properties of UHPC material due to the improvements of the surface morphology of rubber particles, the surface hydrophilicity, and the interface properties of rubber particle-cementitious materials matrix.

Two kinds of emulsion organic silicon and two types of powder organic silicon, with different contents (0, 0.25%, 0.50%, 1.00%, in mass fraction) were mixed into concrete. The water absorption behavior of hydrophobic concrete internally incorporating organic silicon was investigated by contact angle, compressive strength and capillary absorption measurements. The results show that the effect of emulsion organic silicon on the compressive strength of concrete at the same age is less than that of powder after the addition of organic silicon. The concrete with 0.25% emulsion organic silicon has a little effect on its compressive strength during 28 d curing. The compressive strength is reduced by 0.5% and 7.8% when the water-cement ratio is 0.53 and 0.35, respectively. After a silicon membrane is formed on the concrete surface, the contact angle reaches over 100° and is not affected by further increasing admixture amount of organic silicon. In addition, compared to ordinary concrete, the amount of absorbed water is reduced by 60% at least and the water absorption rate is stabilized for 36 h after the addition of silicon into concrete.

Well-dispersive carbon nanotubes (CNTs)/polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) nano-colloidal emulsions were prepared based on the colloidal stability and interfacial chemistry. The effect of CNTs/PVA nano-colloidal emulsion on the mechanical properties, dry shrinkage and morphology of concrete was investigated. The results show that the 28 d compressive strength and flexural strength of concrete incorporating 0.3% (in mass fraction, the same below) CNTs and 1.0% PVA are increased by 10% and 15%, respectively, and the dry shrinkage rate of concrete containing 0.5% CNTs and 1.0% PVA after 7, 28, 180 d and 360 d curing is reduced by 76%, 34%, 22% and 21%, respectively, compared to the reference concrete. The effect of CNT-OH/PVA latex on the mechanical properties and dry shrinkage rate of concrete is attributed to the formation of CNTs/PVA interpenetrating networks in concrete, which prevents the concrete crack and refines the microstructure.

The effect of curing methods on the mechanical and microscopic properties of ultrahigh-performance concrete (UHPC) was investigated at different curing temperatures (i.e., 20, 40, 60, and 90 ℃) and with thermal insulation. The results show that the compressive strength of UHPC is positively correlated to the early curing temperature, but the difference decreases with the age. The 28 d compressive strength difference of UHPC is less than 4%, and the tensile strength is high after curing with thermal insulation or at 90 ℃ in early stage. The peak value of heat flow of each samples increases with the increase of the ambient temperature and occurs in advance, and the cumulative heat release becomes stable in a shorter time. At 4 d, the intensity of Ca (OH)₂ diffraction peak in UHPC matrix after curing with thermal insulation is reduced, compared to that after curing at 20 ℃, indicating that the admixture is well involved in the hydration. The mean chain length of Si-O chain in the C-S-H gel for UHPC after curing with thermal insulation in early age is similar to that for the samples after curing at 90 ℃, and the matrix density is extremely high.

The bonding performance of steel fibers (i.e., straight and hooked-end steel fibers) in hybrid steel fibers reinforced ultrahigh-performance concrete (UHPC) was investigated through single steel fiber pullout tests. Based on the load-displacement curves of steel fibers, the effects of hybrid steel fibers and their volume fraction on the bonding properties between hybrid steel fibers and UHPC were analyzed, and the correlation between the fiber-UHPC interfacial bonding properties and the compressive strength of UHPC was discussed. The pullout processes of steel fibers in hybrid steel fibers reinforced UHPC were clarified, and the pullout load-slip models of the straight and hooked-end steel fibers during the pullout processes were proposed. It is indicated that the hybrid of steel fibers could achieve an optimum interfacial bond performance between steel fibers and UHPC at the volume fraction of both straight and hooked-end steel fibers embedded in the UHPC matrix of 1%.

A coupled structural response vector (SRV) and support vector machine (SVM) approach was developed for the connection loosening detection of frame supported glass curtain walls. Firstly, a structural simulation model was established, which considered both static and dynamic characteristics for the connection damage due to the loosening effect of frame supported glass walls. Secondly, the structural response vector was then used for damage pattern identification and quantification, which validated the effectiveness and applicability of SRV as damage indicators. Finally, a damage identification sample database containing different SRVs with the first four frequencies of glass panels and the inclination angles at nine points was established. Three SVMs with different kernels functions were used for the sample training and damaged identification. Particle swarm optimization was also utilized to optimize the parameters of radial basis function kernel. The results show that the effectiveness of coupled SRV-SVM approach for the identification and quantification of connection loosening of frame supported glass curtain walls is satisfactory.