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Pool boiling in porous media has been applied in various thermal management systems by using latent heat and increasing the heat transfer area and thermal conduction path to improve the heat transfer performance. In mechanical equipment, vibration is an inevitable problem due to reasons such as engine operation and high-speed relative motion between transmission system components, which causes the system components to be affected by vibration forces or vibration accelerations. This study focuses on a review of published articles about the effects of mechanical vibration on the characteristics of boiling process in porous media by two aspects: heat transfer performance and bubble dynamics. Heat transfer coefficient (HTC) and critical heat flux are two main parameters used to measure the boiling heat transfer characteristics of porous media. For bubble dynamics investigations, properties such as migration, fragment, coalescence, departure diameter and frequency are the focus of research attention. Different mechanical vibration parameters, i.e., direction, frequency, and amplitude, will have different effects on the above characteristics. It is worth mentioning that the greatest influence occurs under resonance conditions, and this has been verified through experimental and simulation calculations. This review highlights the importance of considering mechanical vibrations in the design and optimization of porous media systems for efficient heat transfer applications. Further research is warranted to explore the detailed mechanisms and optimize the vibration parameters for enhanced heat transfer performance in thermal management systems using porous media.

This study introduces novel phenothiazine-based organic dyes, 2-LBH-100, 2-LBH-44, and 2-Ryu-4, specifically designed for quasi-solid-state dye-sensitized solar cells (QsDSSCs). Employing a donor-π-acceptor architecture, these dyes incorporate varying electron-donating moieties, including bis(3-(hexyloxy)phenyl)amine and diphenylamino, coupled with a cyanoacrylic acid acceptor. Alkoxy substitutions in 2-LBH-100 and 2-LBH-44 enhanced solubility and dye loading on TiO2, leading to improved performance in QsDSSCs. 2-LBH-100 exhibited a power conversion efficiency (PCE) exceeding 5% with excellent stability, while 2-LBH-44 demonstrated a PCE of over 3%, increasing to 4% over time. 2-Ryu-4, with its diphenylamino donor, achieved an initial PCE of over 6%. This research highlights the crucial role of donor–acceptor interactions in optimizing organic dye design for high-performance QsDSSCs, paving the way for efficient and stable next-generation solar energy technologies.

Abstract. Flooding in the Amazon basin is frequently attributed to modes of large-scale climate variability, but little attention is paid to how these modes influence the timing and duration of floods despite their importance to early warning systems and the significant impacts that these flood characteristics can have on communities. In this study, river discharge data from the Global Flood Awareness System (GloFAS 2.1) and observed data at 58 gauging stations are used to examine whether positive or negative phases of several Pacific and Atlantic indices significantly alter the characteristics of river flows throughout the Amazon basin (1979–2015). Results show significant changes in both flood magnitude and duration, particularly in the north-eastern Amazon for negative El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) phases when the sea surface temperature (SST) anomaly is positioned in the central tropical Pacific. This response is not identified for the eastern Pacific index, highlighting how the response can differ between ENSO types. Although flood magnitude and duration were found to be highly correlated, the impacts of large-scale climate variability on these characteristics are non-linear; some increases in annual flood maxima coincide with decreases in flood duration. The impact of flood timing, however, does not follow any notable pattern for all indices analysed. Finally, observed and simulated changes are found to be much more highly correlated for negative ENSO phases compared to the positive phase, meaning that GloFAS struggles to accurately simulate the differences in flood characteristics between El Niño and neutral years. These results have important implications for both the social and physical sectors working towards the improvement of early warning action systems for floods.

Facile sol–gel synthesis of Mo:BiVO4 thin films with optimized morphology results in reduced surface recombination and enhanced hole transfer efficiency.

Bromine and chlorine are almost ubiquitous in waste of electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) and the knowledge of their content in the plastic fraction is an essential step for proper end of life management. The aim of this study is to compare the following analytical methods: energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (ED-XRF), ion chromatography (IC), ion-selective electrodes (ISEs), and elemental analysis for the quantitative determination of chlorine and bromine in four real samples taken from different WEEE treatment plants, identifying the best analytical technique for waste management workers. Home-made plastic standard materials with known concentrations of chlorine or bromine have been used for calibration of ED-XRF and to test the techniques before the sample analysis. Results showed that IC and ISEs, based upon dissolution of the products of the sample combustion, have not always achieved a quantitative absorption of the analytes in the basic solutions and that bromine could be underestimated since several oxidation states occur after combustion. Elemental analysis designed for chlorine determination is subjected to strong interference from bromine and required frequent regeneration and recalibration of the measurement cell. The most reliable method seemed to be the non-destructive ED-XRF. Calibration with home-made standards, having a similar plastic matrix of the samples, enabled us to carry out quantitative determinations, which have been revealed to be satisfactorily accurate and precise. In all the analyzed samples a total concentration of chlorine and/or bromine between 0.6 and 4 w/w% was detected, compromising the feasibility of a mechanical recycling and suggesting the exploration of an alternative route for managing these plastic wastes.

The use of hydrogen gas as a means of decoupling supply from demand is crucial for the transition to carbon-neutral energy sources and a greener, more distributed energy landscape. This work shows how simple commercially available titanium nitride coatings can be used to extend the lifetime of 316 grade stainless-steel electrodes for use as the cathode in an alkaline electrolysis cell. The material was subjected to accelerated ageing, with the specific aim of assessing the coating’s suitability for use with intermittent renewable energy sources. Over 2000 cycles lasting 5.5 days, an electrolytic cell featuring the coating outperformed a control cell by 250 mV, and a reduction of overpotential at the cathode of 400 mV was observed. This work also confirms that the coating is solely suitable for cathodic use and presents an analysis of the surface changes that occur if it is used anodically.

Since the invention of fluorescent light sources, there is strong interest in Eu3+ activated phosphors as they are able to provide a high color rendering index (CRI) and luminous efficacy, which will also hold for phosphor converted light emitting diodes. Due to an efficient U6+ to Eu3+ energy transfer in Gd3Li3Te2O12:U6+,Eu3+, this inorganic composition shows red photoluminescence peaking at 611 nm. That means Eu3+ photoluminescence can be nicely sensitized via excitation into the U6+ excitation bands. Therefore, photoluminescence properties, such as temperature dependent emission and emission lifetime measurements, are presented. Charge transfer bands were investigated in detail. Additionally, density functional theory calculations reveal the band structure of the pure, i.e., non-doped host material. Obtained theoretical results were evaluated experimentally by the aid of diffuse UV reflectance spectroscopy.