Green synthesis and characterization of metal ions-mixed titania for application in dye-sensitized solar cells

Abstract

The objective of the present study is to synthesize various metal ions mixed TiO₂ nanoparticles using a continuous hydrothermal synthesis pilot reactor for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs). In the pilot plant, aqueous solutions of the metal salts are mixed with a flow of supercritical water (450?°C and 24.1?MPa) in a confined jet mixer for continuous synthesis of metal ions-mixed nano-titania. Characterization of the particles was made using Brunauer–Emmett–Teller technique for specific surface area, powder X-ray diffraction analysis and transmission electron microscopy for identification and crystallite size, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy for surface analysis and infrared spectroscopy for distinct group identification. Following the already existing procedures and using the titanates synthesized, dye-sensitized cells of 1?cm² area were assembled and their photovoltaic parameters were evaluated under standard test conditions. The power conversion efficiencies (η %) for 40?mol % Zn²⁺, 5?mol % Zr⁴⁺ and 10?mol % Zn⁴⁺ titania were obtained to be 4.8, 4.95 and 4.9, respectively. The promising efficiency results from a greener and large-scale production of nano-titania is a step forward towards commercializing DSC technology.     

Continuous nitrifying granular sludge bioreactor: Influence of aeration and ammonium loading rate

Granulation of nitrifying bacteria was investigated in a continuous bubble column bioreactor. Then, the combined effect of aeration and ammonium loading rates on dissolved oxygen (DO) concentration as well as nitrification process was evaluated in the system using an experimental design technique. After 120 days, stable nitrifying granules with average diameter of 1.4 mm and settling velocities of 55 m/h were obtained. The influence of increasing ammonium loading rate (ALR) was found to be more significant than decreasing aeration rate on the reduction of DO concentration inside the nitrifying bioreactor. The system could handle the ALR values of 0.48–1.92 gNH₄⁺-N/L d with the ammonium removal efficiency from 65% to nearly 100% at the tested airflow rates of 2.5 and 4.5 L/min. At the low aeration, the complete ammonium conversion to nitrate was replaced with nitrite when the ALR increased to 1.44 gNH₄⁺-N/L d. At the high aeration, however, almost complete nitrification was achieved except the high ALR in which the nitrite accumulation was observed up to 38%. The study demonstrated that the continuous bioreactor had a considerable performance for obtaining stable nitrifying granules to have nitrite accumulation under control with changing the ratio of aeration rate and ALR.     

SKALAR连续流动分析仪测定地表水中的挥发酚

本文通过连续流动分析仪(荷兰SKALAR San++)对地表水中的挥发酚的测定,对校准曲线、加标回收率、相对误差、准确度和精确度等方面进行探究。实验结果表明在浓度范围为20~100 ug/L,挥发酚线性良好,相关系数为r=0.9998,样品加标回收率范围为93.0%~102.0%,当浓度为20.0,60.0 ug/L时,相对误差范围分别为-1.0%~5.5%,-2.3%~3.8%。得到连续流动分析法测定地表水中挥发酚结果是令人满意的,能满足大批量的环境样品快速分析。     

Effects of dissolved inorganic carbon and nutrient levels on carbon fixation and properties of Thermosynechococcus sp. in a continuous system

The concept of CO₂ chemo-absorption by sodium hydroxide in a wet scrubber followed by microalgae cultivation was used as a means to reduce the major greenhouse gas. A thermophilic and alkaline tolerable cyanobacterium named Thermosynechococcus CL-1 (TCL-1) was cultivated in continuous system, with a carbonate-bicarbonate buffer as carbon source. The effects of dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC_in) and nutrient levels in influent on cell mass productivity, DIC removal efficiency, and alkaline solution regeneration by TCL-1 were investigated. The results show the highest cell mass productivity reaches 1.7 g L⁻¹ d⁻¹ under the highest DIC and nutrients level. Conversely, the best regeneration of alkaline solution proceeds from pH 9.5 to 11.3 under the lowest level. In addition, the highest ΔDIC (DIC consumption) and DIC removal efficiency are 42 mM and 43% at 113.2 and 57 mM DIC_in, respectively.     

低浓度SO2和NOx自动监测系统性能评价方法

通过对7种废气自动监测系统的比较研究和现场测试,提出了非分散红外法、紫外差分法、紫外荧光法、化学发光法等多种SO2和NO x自动监测技术在低浓度范围实现准确定量监测的性能评价方法,定义了CEMS的系统检出限及其主要影响因素。建议采用系统检出限、线性误差等关键参数作为低浓度CEMS的性能评价方法,提出将全系统多点标准气体校准或加标回收率作为验收和质控监督的基本方法。     

连续流动-固相微萃取方法富集水中多环芳烃的探讨

建立了连续流动-固相微萃取富集、气相色谱测定水中多环芳烃的方法,探讨了流量和溶液体积对萃取效果的影响。方法在0μg／L-40μg／L范围内线性良好,8种多环芳烃的检出限为0．05μg／L-0．5μg／L,样品测定的相对标准偏差〈7％,加标回收率为87．0％～112％。     

小风和静风状态下连续体源大气扩散模式的理论推导

以小风和静风状态下连续点源的大气扩散模式为基础,采用与体源烟团的初始分布尺度相当的初始时间修正其扩散参数公式中的运行时间,从理论上导出了小风和静风状态下连续体源的大气扩散模式。该模式与现有的大气扩散模式体系完全相容,可以方便地应用于小风和静风状态下连续体源引起的地面浓度的预测计算。     

软水作为连铸机净环水水质稳定研究

本文对软水作为连铸机净环水的循环冷却水系统水质稳定问题进行研究和探讨。     

味精废水连续发酵处理工艺研究

对味精废水的酵母菌连续发酵工艺进行了研究。探讨了影响菌体产率与COD_(cr)去除率的因素。实际运行结果表明,发酵温度为28～32℃,pH为4.0～5.0,塔内DO大于0.8mg/l时,系统的COD_(cr)去除率可达65％以上,并可同时生产饲料酵母,其蛋白质含量大于65％。效果良好,工艺可行。     

Risk-sensitive foraging behaviour of the round-eared elephant shrew (Macroscelides proboscideus)

We examined the risk-sensitive foraging behaviour of the round-eared elephant shrew by open-economy choice experiments, in which animals were deprived of food immediately prior to experiments but given food ad libitum afterwards, to test the energy budget rule. The energy budget rule states that if an animal's (daily) energy budget is negative it should behave in a risk-prone manner. A risk-prone elephant shrew should select food from a more variable rather than a constant feeding station, although both feeding stations yield the same average return. The choice of a variable station can indicate the degree to which an animal is an energy-shortfall minimizer. Elephant shrews running below energy requirement did not choose feeding stations in accordance with the rule. Under laboratory conditions, approximating either average summer or winter temperatures, elephant shrews showed risk-averse behaviour. A polycyclic activity profile, the ability to switch the diet, and greater than expected physiological control over energy balance, may favour a continuously foraging animal such that short-term energy deficits are minimized. We argue that, under these conditions, a risk-averse response to reward-size variance is expected, because an elephant-shrew may not reliably perceive those circumstances under which risk-prone behaviour should be adopted.