[en] Highlights: • Zn[B_1_2O_1_4(OH)_1_0] has been synthesized and characterized. • Enthalpies of solution of Zn[B_1_2O_1_4(OH)_1_0] and ZnO were measured, respectively. • Δ_fH_m"θ for Zn[B_1_2O_1_4(OH)_1_0] was obtained by a thermochemical cycle. • Δ_fH_m"θ of a series of M[B_1_2O_1_4(OH)_1_0] have also been estimated. • Δ_fH_m"θ has been used to compare the stability of this series of compounds. - Abstract: A pure zinc borate, Zn[B_1_2O_1_4(OH)_1_0], has been synthesized and characterized by XRD, FT-IR, simultaneous TG-DTA techniques, and chemical analysis. The molar enthalpy of solution of Zn[B_1_2O_1_4(OH)_1_0] (s) in 1 mol·dm"−"3 HCl(aq) was measured by microcalorimeter at T = 298.15 K. The molar enthalpy of solution of ZnO(s) in the mixture solvent of 2.00 cm"3 of 1 mol·dm"−"3 HCl(aq) and calculated amount of H_3BO_3 was also measured. With the incorporation of the previously determined enthalpy of solution of H_3BO_3(s) in 1 mol·dm"−"3 HCl(aq), together with the use of the standard molar enthalpies of formation for ZnO(s), H_3BO_3(s), and H_2O(l), the standard molar enthalpy of formation of −(9646.6 ± 9.6) kJ·mol"−"1 at T = 298.15 K was obtained on the basis of an appropriate thermochemical cycle. In addition, the molar enthalpy of formation of −9492.7 kJ·mol"−"1 for [B_1_2O_1_4(OH)_1_0]"2"− has also been estimated by a group contribution method, which has been used to predict the Δ_fH_m"θ of a series of transition metal borates of M[B_1_2O_1_4(OH)_1_0] (M"I"I = Mn, Zn, Fe, Co, Ni). These estimated data have been used to further compare the stability of this series of transition metal borates.

[en] Graphical abstract: Four kinds of morphologies of Eu³⁺ doped indium borate of InBO₃ phosphors have been prepared via a facile flux method only by adjusting the kinds of reaction boron source materials[(a)B₂O₃, (b)NH₄B₅O₈·4H₂O, (c)Li₂B₄O₇, (d)K₂B₄O₇·4H₂O], in which the monodisperse octahedral sample prepared with K₂B₄O₇·4H₂O as the boron source and Eu³⁺ doping concentration being 5% possesses the higher PL intensity and color purity, which can be used as a potential orange luminescent material. - Highlights: • InBO₃:Eu³⁺ phosphor with four morphologies were prepared by adjusting the boron source. • The doping concentration also has a great influence on the morphology. • The fluorescence performance is strongly correlated with morphology. • The smooth octahedral sample possesses the higher PL intensity and color purity. • InBO₃:Eu³⁺ smooth octahedra can be used as a potential orange luminescent material. - Abstract: Four kinds of morphologies of Eu³⁺ doped indium borate of the InBO₃ phosphors have been prepared via a facile flux method only by adjusting the kinds of reaction boron source materials, which have been characterized by XRD, EDS and SEM. In addition, the doping concentration also has a great influence on the morphology of samples. Furthermore, the luminescence properties of the prepared InBO₃:Eu³⁺ samples have been investigated by photoluminescence (PL) spectra. The results show that the fluorescence performance is strongly correlated with morphologies. The prepared InBO₃:Eu³⁺ phosphors show strong orange emissions under ultraviolet excitation at 237 nm, in which the monodisperse octahedra sample prepared with K₂B₄O₇·4H₂O as the boron source and Eu³⁺ doping concentration being 5% possesses the higher PL intensity and color purity, which can be used as a potential orange luminescent material.

[en] Cyclic voltammogram (CV) and differential voltage analysis (DVA) are two effective techniques to analyze the aging mechanism and estimate the aging state of a battery. However, the effectiveness of the two methods reported previously is based on single battery cells. In this paper, a comparison of the two methods is stated, and the equivalent relation is further derived. Besides, a local data symmetry method is introduced to calculate the differential voltage (DV) curve. The DV curves calculated by the proposed method are much smoother than that by the numerical-derivative method. Based on the location interval of two inflection points in the DV curve, a new method is inferred for lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO₄) battery cells, and is applied to estimate the state of health (SOH) of battery modules. The applicability of the method is further verified via battery module simulation and experimental data. The results show that the DV curves fluctuate and do not overlap in the voltage plateau region due to the uneven currents flowing through each in-parallel battery cells. There is also a good linear regression of the two inflection point location interval versus battery module capacity within 2% error bounds, suggesting that the DVA method inferred from battery cells can be directly applied to battery modules.

[en] Highlights: • Rb[ZnBP₂O₈] and Cs[ZnBP₂O₈] samples were synthesized and characterized. • Three kinds of molar enthalpies of solution were measured, respectively. • Δ_fH_m^θ for M[ZnBP₂O₈] (M = Rb, Cs) were obtained by a thermochemical cycle. • Δ_fH_m^θ of a series of M[ZnBP₂O₈] (M = Na, K, Rb, Cs) were estimated. • The thermodynamic stability of this series of borophosphates was compared. - Abstract: Two pure microporous materials, Rb[ZnBP₂O₈] and Cs[ZnBP₂O₈], have been synthesized and characterized by XRD, FT-IR, DTA-TG techniques and chemical analysis. The molar enthalpies of solution of Rb[ZnBP₂O₈] and Cs[ZnBP₂O₈] (s) in 3 mol · dm⁻³ HCl (aq), of Zn(PO₃)₂ (s) in (HCl + H₃BO₃) (aq), and of RbCl (s)/CsCl (s) in [Zn(PO₃)₂ + HCl + H₃BO₃] (aq) were measured by microcalorimeter at T = 298.15 K, respectively. With the incorporation of the previously determined enthalpy of solution of H₃BO₃ (s) in 3 mol · dm⁻³ HCl (aq), together with the use of the standard molar enthalpies of formation for Zn(PO₃)₂ (s), RbCl (s)/CsCl (s), H₃BO₃ (s), HCl (aq) and H₂O (l), the standard molar enthalpies of formation of −(3198.5 ± 1.2) kJ · mol⁻¹ for Rb[ZnBP₂O₈] and −(3212.7 ± 1.2) kJ · mol⁻¹ for Cs[ZnBP₂O₈] at T = 298.15 K were obtained on the basis of the appropriate thermochemical cycle. In addition, the molar enthalpy of formation of −(2944.4 ± 1.2) kJ · mol⁻¹ for [ZnBP₂O₈]⁻ has also been estimated by a group contribution method, which can be used to predict the Δ_fH_m^θ of the other similar borophosphates. Moreover, these data have been further used to compare the thermodynamic stability of this series of borophosphates

[en] Graphical abstract: LaB₃O₆:Eu³⁺ phosphor was obtained by calcining the precursor which was synthesized by boric acid melting method. It (a) exhibits much stronger PL intensity than that (b) prepared by conventional solid state reaction method. - Highlights: • A calcining precursor method was used for preparation of LaB₃O₆:Eu³⁺ phosphor. • Precursor was prepared by boric acid melting method. • The luminescence intensity of LaB₃O₆:Eu³⁺ was enhanced by the present method. - Abstract: The LaB₃O₆:Eu³⁺ phosphors were prepared by calcining the precursors which were synthesized by boric acid melting method using rare earth oxide and boric acid as raw materials, and they were characterized by EDS, XRD, IR, SEM and PL. The influences of reaction temperature for the preparation of precursor and subsequent calcination temperature and time of precursor on the luminescence properties of LaB₃O₆:Eu³⁺ phosphor were investigated. The results showed that the LaB₃O₆:Eu³⁺ phosphors with maximum luminescent intensity were obtained by calcining precursor at 1000 °C for 6 h, in which the precursor was prepared at 200 °C for 72 h. Compared with the conventional high temperature solid-state reaction method, the pure LaB₃O₆:Eu³⁺ phosphor can be obtained at relatively lower calcination temperature by the precursor method and exhibits much stronger emission intensity

[en] Highlights: • The graphitized nanodiamond (GND) showed a higher oxidation-resistance than XC-72. • The PtNi/GND electrocatalytic exhibited greater stability than PtNi/XC-72. • The PtNi/GND had a better catalytic activity for MOR and ORR than Pt/GND. -- Abstract: Surface graphitized nanodiamond (GND) with a diamond core covered by a graphitic carbon shell was prepared by annealing ND at the temperature of 1300 °C in a vacuum of 10⁻³ Pa. PtNi electrocatalysts were prepared by a microwave heating polyol method using the prepared GND as a support. The composition and morphology of the PtNi electrocatalysts supported on GND (PtNi/GND) were characterized by X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy and energy dispersion spectra. The results showed that nano-scaled PtNi alloy particles with an atomic ratio of approximately 1:1 were uniformly deposited on the GND through co-reduction process. The electrocatalytic activities of the PtNi/GND electrocatalysts for methanol oxidation reaction (MOR) and oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) were investigated by cyclic voltammetry, chronoamperometry and linear sweep voltammetry. The PtNi/GND exhibited better electrocatalytic activities than the Pt/GND either for MOR and ORR. In comparison with traditional carbon support Vulcan XC-72, GND showed higher oxidation-resistance, and consequently led to greater stability for the PtNi/GND than PtNi/XC-72

[en] In order to verify the criticality safety analysis results of CEFR-MOX fuel assembly transport container, this paper conducts independent check analysis and calculation for the criticality safety calculation model, scenario assumptions under normal and accident condition, and criticality safety analysis. The results of the check indicate that the change trend of the K_eff value is basically consistent with the original design under normal and accident conditions. The relative deviation between the maximum K_eff value and the original design K_eff value does not exceed 1%. (authors)

[en] By a different way, the authors particularized the action of the diffeomorphism constraint (D-constraint) on the abstract wave function in the extended loop representation to the action in the loop representation. Using the two-point propagator of Chern-Simons theory as the basic blocks of quantum gravity states, the authors constructed the extended knot invariant gravity states (*φ_G)ⁿ that which satisfied with the homogeneous D-constraint. For the states of n = 1,2, the authors demonstrated a detailed proof. To the states of n > 2 , the authors gave a general identification

[en] Highlights: • 2ZnO·2B₂O₃·3H₂O and ZnB₄O₇ have been synthesized and characterized. • Enthalpies of solution of 2ZnO·2B₂O₃·3H₂O and ZnB₄O₇ have been measured. • Δ_fH_m^θ for 2ZnO·2B₂O₃·3H₂O and ZnB₄O₇ were obtained using a thermochemical cycle. -- Abstract: The standard mole enthalpy of formation is an essential feature of chemical compounds, which is critical for assessing the thermal effects of chemical reactions with their participation. In this paper, two pure phases of zinc borates, 2ZnO·2B₂O₃·3H₂O and ZnB₄O₇, have been synthesized by hydrothermal and boric acid flux methods, respectively. They were characterized by XRD, FT-IR and TGA. The molar enthalpies of solution of 2ZnO·2B₂O₃·3H₂O (s) and ZnB₄O₇ (s) in 1 mol·dm⁻³ HCl (aq) were measured at T = 298.15 K, respectively, by the use of an isothermal microcalorimeter. In accordance with Hess’ law, the standard molar enthalpies of formation of the two zinc borates 2ZnO·2B₂O₃·3H₂O (s) and ZnB₄O₇ (s) were calculated to be −(4177.02 ± 3.3) kJ·mol⁻¹ and −(2971.1 ± 3.3) kJ·mol⁻¹, respectively, by the use of standard molar enthalpies of formation for ZnO (s), H₃BO₃ (s) and H₂O (l) based on the two designed thermochemical cycles.

[en] Microporous materials have adsorptive property because of their pore structures. In this paper, the adsorption heat of two boron-containing microporous materials for M₂[Ga(B₅O₁₀)]·4H₂O (M = K, Rb) in some organic solvents was measured at 298.15 K by using microcalorimeter. The results indicate that the larger the pore size, the higher is the heat of adsorption and the higher is the adsorption capacity. In addition, the thermokinetics of adsorption process of K₂[Ga(B₅O₁₀)]·4H₂O in methanol was also studied. Applying thermokinetic model, thermokinetic parameters including rate constants k, reaction order n, activation energy E_a, and pre-exponential factor A for the adsorption process were simultaneously acquired.