Preparation of nitrogen doped hyper-crosslinked polymer-based hard carbon for high performance Li+/Na+ battery anode.

Hyper cross-linked polymers (HCPs), as a key precursor of hard carbon (HC) anode materials, stand out because of their capacity for molecular-scale structural design and comparatively straightforward preparation techniques, which are not seen in other porous materials synthesized procedure. A novel synthesis method of HCPs is developed in this paper, which is through the incorporation of functional macromolecules, the structural control and heteroatom doping of the product has been achieved, thus augmenting its electrochemical performance in batteries. In this work, carbonized tetraphenylporphyrin zinc (TPP-Zn) doped HCP-based hard carbon (CTHCP) with stable structure was prepared by Friedel-Crafts reaction and carbonization by using naphthalene and trace TPP-Zn as monomers, dimethoxybenzene (DMB) as crosslinking agent and FeCl3 as catalyst. The introduction of TPP-Zn, a functional macromolecule with unique two-dimensional structure, realized the pore structure regulation and N doping of the raw carbonized HCP-based hard carbon (CHCP). The results showed that CTHCP had higher mesoporous volume, N content and wider layer spacing than CHCP. In addition, CTHCP anode exhibited excellent Li+/Na+ storage performance, initial reversible capacity, rate performance and long cycle life. More amount of N-containing (N-5) active sites and mesoporous content in CTHCP anode was the main reason for the improvement of Na+ storage effect. While the increased interlayer spacing had a greater effect on the lithium storage capacity. This study uncovered the design rules of HC anode materials suitable for Li+/Na+ batteries and provided a new idea for the preparation of high-performance HC anode materials.

Decomposition of volatile organic compounds using gliding arc discharge plasma.

This work provides a systematic review on the decomposition of volatile organic pollutants in flue gas through the gliding arc (GA) plasma technology. To begin with, the basic mechanisms of GA plasma generation are summarized and three characteristic stages existed during the GA plasma generation process are revealed: gas breakdown stage, equilibrium stage, and non-equilibrium stage. Then, the types of GA reactors are comparatively illustrated. Possible destruction mechanisms of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) by GA plasma are discussed by taking chloroform, benzene, and methanol as examples. Furthermore, the effects of many operating parameters on the VOCs destruction efficiency are comprehensively analyzed. Simultaneously, the product distribution, energy cost, technical and economic during the whole decomposition process are considered. Finally, the advantages and disadvantages of GA plasma and its further development trend are concluded from the academic and industrial application of GA plasma in VOCs decomposition.Implications: This paper comprehensively describes the principle, characteristics, research progress and engineering application examples of the degradation of volatile organics by gliding arc discharge plasma, so that readers can fully understand the degradation of volatile organics by gliding arc discharge plasma and provide theoretical basis for the industrial application of the degradation of volatile organics by gliding arc discharge plasma.

Decomposition of volatile organic compounds using corona discharge plasma technology.

This paper explores the application of corona plasma technology as a tool in treatment of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). The review introduces the principle of corona discharge and describes the characteristics of plasma, especially of various corona plasma reactors. By summarizing the main features of such reactors, this paper provides a brief background to different power sources and reactor configurations and their application to VOC treatment design. Considering chlorinated compounds, benzene series and sulfur compounds, this paper reveals the probable mechanism of corona plasma in VOC degradation. Additionally, the effects of numerous technical parameters - such as reactor structure, shape and materials of electrodes, and humidity - are analyzed comprehensively. Product distribution, energy efficiency and economic benefits are invoked as factors to evaluate the performance of VOC degradation. Finally, the practical application of corona plasma and its advantages are briefly introduced. The review aims to illustrate the enormous potential of corona plasma technology in the treatment of VOCs, and identifies future directions. Implications: This paper comprehensively describes the principle, characteristics, research progress and engineering application examples of the degradation of volatile organics by corona discharge plasma, to provide a theoretical basis for the industrial application of this process.

Plasma methods for metals recovery from metal-containing waste.

Metal-containing waste, a kind of new wastes, has a great potential for recycling and is also difficult to deal with. Many countries pay more and more attention to develop the metal recovery process and equipment of this kind of waste as raw material, so as to solve the environmental pollution and comprehensively utilize the discarded metal resources. Plasma processing is an efficient and environmentally friendly way for metal-containing waste. This review mainly discuss various metal-containing waste types, such as printed circuit boards (PCBs), red mud, galvanic sludge, Zircon, aluminium dross and incinerated ash, and the corresponding plasma methods, which include DC extended transferred arc plasma reactor, DC non-transferred arc plasma torch, RF thermal plasma reactor and argon and argon-hydrogen plasma jets. In addition, the plasma arc melting technology has a better purification effect on the extraction of useful metals from metal-containing wastes, a great capacity of volume reduction of waste materials, and a low leaching toxicity of solid slag, which can also be used to deal with all kinds of metal waste materials, having a wide range of applications.