X. Bai

From salmon pink to blue natural sensitizers for solar cells: Canna indica L., Salvia splendens, cowberry and Solanum nigrum L.

Study on dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) with extracts of Canna indica L., Salvia splendens, Solanum nigrum L. as sensitizers is firstly reported in this paper. DSSCs were assembled by using natural dyes extracted from C. indica L., S. splendens, cowberry and S. nigrum L. as sensitizers. The energy conversion efficiency of the cells sensitized with dyes of C. indica L., S. splendens, cowberry and S. nigrum L. was 0.29%, 0.26%, 0.13% and 0.31%, respectively. A novel technique was taken to fabricate TiO(2) electrode films by electrophoresis. We present FTIR and UV-vis spectroscopy studies of structures and light absorption of these four kinds of natural dyes. The electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) was used to analyze the interface resistance of cells. The result indicated that high resistance existed in the interfaces of cell with cowberry extract as sensitizer.

The influence of acid treatment on multi‐walled carbon nanotubes

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate in detail the effects of acid treatment on multi‐walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs), which could find a variety of applications in coatings and composites.Design/methodology/approach – A number of analytical techniques, including Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT‐IR), X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Raman spectroscopy (Raman), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), were employed to assess the effects of acid treatment on MWNTs.Findings – It was found that desirable modifications to MWNTs occurred after acid treatment. Thus, carboxylic acid groups were introducing on to the surface of MWNTs. It was also found that both chemical and physical properties of MWNTs could be modified/altered.Practical implications – The investigation established a method to modify MWNTs via acid treatment and the effects of such a treatment on MWNTs in detail. The modified MWNTs can be used for various applications and further modifications. The acid treated a...

FTIR and XPS study of the reaction of phenyl isocyanate and cellulose with different moisture contents

Purpose – To evaluate the competing reaction of isocyanate with cellulose and water which can provide direction for further studies on bonding and curing reactions of isocyanate with wood.Design/methodology/approach – Two modern analytical techniques, Fourier transform infra‐red (FTIR) and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), were used. The FTIR was used to identify the products of the reaction of phenyl isocyanate (PI) with alcohol, water, and cellulose; while the XPS was used to evaluate the proportions of isocyanate that reacted with water or cellulose when PI reacted with cellulose at different moisture contents (MCs), respectively.Findings – Methods for the IR identifications of reaction results of PI with n‐propanol, water, and cellulose, in which the reactions of PI with water and PI with cellulose resulted in N,N′‐diphenylurea and carbamate, respectively, were developed. It was discovered that the extent of reaction of isocyanate and cellulose decreased with increasing cellulose MC, and 92.98 p...

Melt process and performance of multi‐walled carbon nanotubes reinforced LDPE composites

Purpose – To develop a method for the preparation of multi‐walled carbon nanotube reinforced low density polyethylene (LDPE) composites (MWNTs/LDPE), based on ultrasonic vibration, solution casting and melt mixing.Design/methodology/approach – The preparation for MWNTs/LDPE composites was carried out by vibration of carbon nanotubes (CNT), solution casting and melt mixing for MWNTs and LDPE. The physical chemical properties of the composites were characterised using a variety of techniques including scanning electron microscopy, resistance and tensile measurement.Findings – It was found that the preparation method reported had significantly improved the dispersion of multi‐walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) in LDPE matrix, resulting in the improvement of tensile strength of the composite. The percolation of MWNTs in LDPE matrix was between 10 and 15u2009wt% (1016‐108u2009Ωu2009cm).Practical implications – The preparation method reported addressed a problem concerning the dispersion of CNT in polymer matrix. The method d...

The improvement of dyeability of flax fibre by microwave treatment

Purpose – To develop a method based on urea/microwave treatment for improving the dyeability of the flax fibre.Design/methodology/approach – The treatment was carried out under a variety of conditions in terms of the power of the microwave, the time of microwave treatment and the use of urea in the treatment solution. The physical chemical properties of the treated flax fibres were characterised using a variety of techniques including scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X‐ray diffractometry, spectrophotometric measurement and tensile measurement.Findings – It was found that the treated flax fibres had significantly improved dyeability. The causes to the improvement of the dyeability of the flax fibre were found to be the increased absorption of dye on the fibre and the increased reaction probability between the dye and the fibre. The procedure for optimum modification appeared to be soaking the flax fabrics in 10 per cent urea solution; treating the fabrics with microwave at 350u2009W for 2.5u2009minutes; and tre...

Reaction kinetics of toluene diisocynate and propanol by in situ FTIR

Purpose – To evaluate the effect of the concentrations of isocyanate group and hydroxyl group and hydroxyl group species on the rate constants of isocyanate‐propanol reaction, and to reveal the kinetics of isocyanate‐hydroxyl reaction.Design/methodology/approach – The in situ FTIR technique was employed to measure the group concentration evolutions, by which the rate constants were determined. Besides, the FTIR was used to detect the OH absorbance shifts during reaction and the OH absorbance at different concentrations. The kinetic mechanism of isocyanate‐propanol reaction was discussed with the combination of rate constants and FTIR spectra.Findings – A new reaction mechanism, alcohol association mechanism, was proposed that could explain many phenomena. It was revealed that the rate constant was independent of the isocyanate concentration, while the concentration and species of hydroxyl groups had apparent effects on the rate constants. It was possible to calculate the number averaged degree of associat...

Ink‐jet technology: status quo and future – relevance to surface coatings

Recent years have seen a rapid development of ink‐jet printing technology. This paper reviews the state‐of‐the‐art in ink‐jet printing technology and gives an overview of ink‐jet printing into the immediate future. The focus is placed on various applications of jet printing technology. The potential of applying jetting technology in the conventionally surface coating dominated applications will also be explored.

Synthesis and characterisation of one‐part ambient temperature curing polyurethane adhesives for wood bonding

The effects of polyol types, polyol molecular weights, NCO/OH molar ratio, solvent types, and resin solid contents of the one‐part ambient temperature curing adhesives were studied. The results showed that the one‐part ambient temperature curing polyurethane prepared had fast rate of setting and good bonding, meeting the requirements of a typical structural adhesive.

Naphthalene-containing polyimides: Synthesis, characterization and photovoltaic properties of novel donor-acceptor dyes used in solar cell

Abstract Novel linear and star branched triphenylamine-containing aromatic imides were designed and synthesized by the condensation between amine-substituted triphenylamine and naphthalene-1, 4, 5, 8-tetra-carboxylic dianhydride in order to investigate the influence of topological structure on the photophysical performance. The polyimides were characterized by elementary analysis and FTIR measurements. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) shows that the onset temperatures of decomposition ( T d ) for 5% mass loss range from 371 to 445 °C. UV-Vis spectrum, quantum chemical calculation and cyclic voltammetry (CV) were used to obtain the dependence of energy levels on the function of structures. The introduction of triphenylamine group changes the energy level of the entire dye system. The dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) prepared by using the dyes have a strong photoelectric current response in visible light region of 400–600 nm.

Investigation on the modification to solvent-containing two-component polyurethane coating by carbon nanotubes

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effects of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) on the mechanical, thermal and colour properties of solvent-containing two-component polyurethane (PU) coating. Design/methodology/approach – Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and observation of dispersion stability were used to assess the effects of acid treatment on CNTs. The CNTs and PU composite coating was synthesised by in situ polymerisation and bending polymerisation, and the mechanical, thermal and colour appearance properties of coating were characterised. Findings – It was found that desirable modifications to CNTs occurred after acid treatment; thus, mainly carboxylic acid groups were introduced onto the surface of CNTs. And the acid-treated CNTs could improve the mechanical and thermal properties of PU coating, and the properties of composite coating was improved more successfully by in situ polymerisation than by blending polymerisation. Practical implications – The investigation established a ...