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Cu2CdSn(S,Se)(4) is an important candidate material for thin film solar cell absorber layers. In this work, low-cost Cu2CdSnS4 nanocrytal thin film with a stannite structure has been successfully fabricated by a butyldithiocarbamate-based ethanol solution approach. The selenized Cu2CdSn(S,Se)(4) thin film shows large densely packed grains and has a suitable band gap value of 1.01 eV. The Cu2CdSn(S,Se)(4) thin film solar cell with a proof-of-concept power conversion efficiency of 3.1% was fabricated. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Here, it is discovered that titanate (H2Ti3O7) nanotubes can confine the merger of erythrosin B (ErB) photocatalysis and TEMPO catalysis for highly selective aerobic oxidation of sulfides under irradiation of green light-emitting diodes (LEDs).

Ultrafast laser-annealing technique for the fabrication of large-grain perovskite films and efficient perovskite solar cells at room temperature.

AbstractA bioreactor system composed of a stirred tank and three tubular bioreactors in series was established, and continuous ethanol fermentation was carried out using a general Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain and a very high gravity medium containing 280 g L−1 glucose, supplemented with 5 g L−1 yeast extract and 3 g L−1 peptone. Sustainable oscillations of glucose, ethanol, and biomass were observed when the tank was operated at the dilution rate of 0.027 h−1, which significantly affected ethanol fermentation performance of the system. After the tubular bioreactors were packed with 1/2″ Intalox ceramic saddles, the oscillations were attenuated and quasi‐steady states were achieved. Residence time distributions were studied for the packed bioreactors by the step input response technique using xylose as a tracer, which was added into the medium at a concentration of 20 g L−1, indicating that the backmixing alleviation assumed for the packed tubular bioreactors could not be established, and its contribution to the oscillation attenuation could not be verified. Furthermore, the role of the packing's yeast cell immobilization in the oscillation attenuation was investigated by packing the tubular bioreactors with packings with significant difference in yeast cell immobilization effects, and the experimental results revealed that only the Intalox ceramic saddles and wood chips with moderate yeast cell immobilization effects could attenuate the oscillations, and correspondingly, improved the ethanol fermentation performance of the system, while the porous polyurethane particles with good yeast cell immobilization effect could not. And the viability analysis for the immobilized yeast cells illustrated that the extremely lower yeast cell viability within the tubular bioreactors packed with the porous polyurethane particles could be the reason for their inefficiency, while the yeast cells loosely immobilized onto the surfaces of the Intalox ceramic saddles and wood chips could be renewed during the fermentation, guaranteeing their viability and making them more efficient in attenuating the oscillations. The packing Raschig rings without yeast cell immobilization effect did not affect the oscillatory behavior of the tubular bioreactors, further supporting the role of the yeast cell immobilization in the oscillation attenuation. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2009;102: 113–121. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

In order to enhance the efficiency and benefits of the sludge anaerobic digestion process, K2FeO4 was added to a sludge anaerobic digestion system, and its effects on the system were comprehensively investigated. Results showed that sludge anaerobic digestion was greatly improved by adding 500 mg/L K2FeO4. Biogas and methane productions were increased by 26.6 and 28.4%, respectively. Sludge reduction, protein removal, and the conversion efficiency of dissolved organics were all improved. The mechanism revealed that the disintegration of sludge flocs, enhancement of protease activity, and decrease of soluble sulfide toxicity on microorganisms contributed to biogas production and sludge reduction. Biogas quality was improved, benefitting from the decreasing H2S content in biogas; as additionally, the cost of biogas desulfuration was reduced. In the biogas slurry treatment, the PO43--P concentrations were decreased by 39%, which also reduced the cost of the dephosphorization processes at certain extent.

Lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries with the merits of high theoretical capacity and high energy density have gained significant attention as the next-generation energy storage devices. Unfortunately, the main pressing issues of sluggish reaction kinetics and severe shuttling of polysulfides hampered their practical application. To overcome these obstacles, various strategies adopting high-efficient electrocatalysts have been explored to enable the rapid polysulfide conversions and thereby suppressing the polysulfide shuttling. This review first summarizes the recent progress on electrocatalysts involved in hosts, interlayers, and protective layers. Then, these electrocatalysts in Li-S batteries are analyzed by listing representative works, from the viewpoints of design concepts, engineering strategies, working principles, and electrochemical performance. Finally, the remaining issues/challenges and future perspectives facing electrocatalysts are given and discussed. This review may provide new guidance for the future construction of electrocatalysts and their further utilizations in high-performance Li-S batteries. [Figure not available: see fulltext.]. © 2022, Tsinghua University Press.

Coal fire is a global catastrophe. Xinjiang suffers the most severe coal fire in China and even in the world. Coal firefighting work has been being conducted for decades in Xinjiang. In this paper, coal fire detection, extinguishing, and monitoring approaches that were derived from coal firefighting experience are introduced in detail by taking the Fifth Fire Area (FFA) of the Heshituoluogai coal fire for instance. We first introduce the geology and fire situation in the FFA. Before developing efficient strategies to extinguish it, magnetic and self-potential methods are adopted to delineate the extent of the fire. A composite index is proposed to better indicate the fire. The comprehensive coal firefighting method is illustrated in detail, which consists of surface cooling, excavation and leveling, borehole drilling, borehole water injection and grouting, and loess backfill. The subsequent temperature and CO monitoring records show that the fire is extinguished successfully without burnback. The methodology presented here provides guidance and reference for putting out other coal fires around the world.

Abstract The aim of this study was to explore the utilization of Pennisetum sinese as cellulose source for the preparation of cellulose nanocrystals (CNC). The cellulose was extracted from P. sinese by chemical treatment and bleaching, and obtained cellulose nanocrystals by acid hydrolysis. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) showed that CNC were rod-like with the diameter of 20–30 nm and the length of 200–300 nm. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) showed that chemical treatment removed most of the lignin and hemicellulose from P. sinese , and CNC had similar structure to that of native cellulose. The crystallinity indexes calculated from X-ray diffraction (XRD) for P. sinese and CNC were 40.6% and 77.3%, respectively. The zeta-potential analysis showed that CNC had higher stability than P. sinese had. The thermal stability was investigated by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and the result showed that P. sinese had higher thermal stability than that of prepared CNC.