Microwave-induced high-energy sites and targeted energy transition promising for efficient energy deployment

Abstract

Diverse interactions between microwaves and irradiated media provide a solid foundation for identifying novel organization pathways for energy flow. In this study, a high-energy-site phenomenon and targeted-energy transition mechanism were identified in a particular microwave heating (MH) process. Intense discharges were observed when microwaves were imposed on irregularly sized SiC particles, producing tremendous heat that was 8-fold the amount generated in the discharge-free case. Energy efficiency was thereby greatly improved in the electricity-microwaves-effective heat transition. Meanwhile, the dispersed microwave field energy concentrated in small sites, where local temperatures could reach 2000°C– 4000°C, with the energy density reaching up to 4.0 × 10⁵ W/kg. This can be called a high-energy site phenomenon which could induce further processes or reactions enhancement by coupling effects of heat, light, and plasma. The whole process, including microwave energy concentration and intense site-energy release, shapes a targeted-energy transition mechanism that can be optimized in a controlled manner through morphology design. In particular, the discharge intensity, frequency, and high-energy sites were strengthened through the fabrication of sharp nano/microstructures, conferring twice the energy efficiency of untreated metal wires. The microwave-induced high-energy sites and targeted energy transition provide an important pathway for high-efficiency energy deployment and may lead to promising applications.

Graphical abstract

Keywords

microwave discharge / high-energy sites / targeted-energy transition / morphology design / energy efficiency

References

[1] Sun J, Wang W, Yue Q. Review on microwave-matter interaction fundamentals and efficient microwave-associated heating strategies. Materials (Basel), 2016, 9(4): 231

[2] Horikoshi S, Watanabe T, Narita A, The electromagnetic wave energy effect(s) in microwave-assisted organic syntheses (MAOS). Scientific Reports, 2018, 8(1): 5151

[3] Sun J, Jiang Z, Wang K, Experimental study on microwave-SiC-assisted catalytic hydrogenation of phenol. Energy & Fuels, 2019, 33(11): 11092–11100

[4] Li J, Tao J, Yan B, Microwave reforming with char-supported Nickel-Cerium catalysts: a potential approach for thorough conversion of biomass tar model compound. Applied Energy, 2020, 261: 114375

[5] Ellison C R, Hoff R, Mărculescu C, Investigation of microwave-assisted pyrolysis of biomass with char in a rectangular waveguide applicator with built-in phase-shifting. Applied Energy, 2020, 259: 114217

[6] Chen Y. Microwave pyrolysis of oily sludge with activated carbon. Environmental Technology, 2016, 37(24): 3139–3145

[7] Garcia-Costa A L, Zazo J A, Rodriguez J J, Intensification of catalytic wet peroxide oxidation with microwave radiation: activity and stability of carbon materials. Separation and Purification Technology, 2019, 209: 301–306

[8] Qian H, Zhu G, Xu H, Preparation of tetragonal Barium titanate nanopowders by microwave solid-state synthesis. applied Physics A, Materials Science & Processing, 2020, 126(4): 294

[9] Hrycak B. Hydrogen production by dry reforming of kerosene using microwave plasma. Przegląd Elektrotechniczny, 2016, 1(8): 42–45

[10] Chun S M, Shin D H, Ma S H, CO₂ microwave plasma—catalytic reactor for efficient reforming of methane to syngas. Catalysts, 2019, 9(3): 292

[11] Uhm H S, Choi C H, Lee J Y, Production of hydrogen-rich syngas from dimethyl ether by using a microwave steam plasma. Journal of the Korean Physical Society, 2019, 75(6): 460–465

[12] Sergeichev K F, Lukina N A, Arutyunyan N R. Atmospheric-pressure microwave plasma torch for CVD technology of diamond synthesis. Plasma Physics Reports, 2019, 45(6): 551–560

[13] Bogdanov S A, Gorbachev A M, Radishev D B, Contraction of microwave discharge in the reactor for chemical vapor deposition of diamond. Technical Physics Letters, 2019, 45(2): 89–92

[14] Wang S, Wang J, Ma Z, Growth of aligned carbon nanotubes through microwave plasma chemical vapor deposition. Plasma Science & Technology, 2005, 7(1): 2681–2683 (in Chinese)

[15] Fujita T, Hayashi Y, Tokunaga T, Encapsulation of segmented Pd-Co nanocomposites into vertically aligned carbon nanotubes by plasma-hydrogen-induced demixing. Applied Physics Letters, 2007, 90(13): 133116

[16] Liu Z, Zhang W, Tao J, A microwave-induced room-temperature atmospheric-pressure plasma jet. IEEE Transactions on Plasma Science, 2019, 47(4): 1749–1753

[17] Lee M U, Lee J K, Yun G S. Generation of energetic electrons in pulsed microwave plasmas. Plasma Processes and Polymers, 2018, 15(1): 1700124

[18] Barnes B K, Ouro-Koura H, Derickson J, Plasma generation by household microwave oven for surface modification and other emerging applications. American Journal of Physics, 2021, 89(4): 372–382

[19] Polaki S R, Kumar N, Krishna N G, Microwave plasma induced surface modification of diamond-like carbon films. Surface Topography: Metrology and Properties, 2017, 5(4): 045005

[20] D’Isa F A, Carbone E D, Hecimovic A, Performance analysis of a 2.45 GHz microwave plasma torch for CO₂ decomposition in gas swirl configuration. Plasma Sources Science & Technology, 2020, 29(10): 105009

[21] Chen W, Gutmann B, Kappe C O. Characterization of microwave-induced electric discharge phenomena in metal-solvent mixtures. ChemistryOpen, 2012, 1(1): 39–48

[22] Zhou Y, Wang W, Sun J, Direct caloirmetry study of metal discharge heating effects induced by microwave irradiation. Applied Thermal Engineering, 2017, 125: 386–393

[23] Sun J, Wang Q, Wang W, Exploiting the photocatalytic effect of microwave-metal discharges for the destruction of a tar model compound. Energy & Fuels, 2018, 32(1): 241–245

[24] Sun J, Wang Q, Wang W, Study on the synergism of steam reforming and photocatalysis for the degradation of Toluene as a tar model compound under microwave-metal discharges. Energy, 2018, 155: 815–823

[25] Wang W, Liu Z, Sun J, Experimental study on the heating effects of microwave discharge caused by metals. AIChE Journal, 2012, 58(12): 3852–3857

[26] Sun J, Wang W, Liu Z, Kinetic study of the pyrolysis of waste printed circuit boards subject to conventional and microwave heating. Energies, 2012, 5(9): 3295–3306

[27] Sun J, Wang W, Liu Z, Recycling of waste printed circuit boards by microwave-induced pyrolysis and featured mechanical processing. Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research, 2011, 50(20): 11763–11769

[28] Sun J, Wang W, Yue Q, Review on microwave-metal discharges and their applications in energy and industrial processes. Applied Energy, 2016, 175: 141–157

[29] Lee S W, Lee S S, Yang E H. A study on field emission characteristics of planar graphene layers obtained from a highly oriented pyrolyzed graphite block. Nanoscale Research Letters, 2009, 4(10): 1218–1221

[30] Xiao Z, She J, Deng S, Field electron emission characteristics and physical mechanism of individual single-layer graphene. ACS Nano, 2010, 4(11): 6332–6336

[31] Wu Z, Pei S, Ren W, Field emission of single-layer graphene films prepared by electrophoretic deposition. Advanced Materials, 2009, 21(17): 1756–1760

[32] Agrawal Y, Kedawat G, Kumar P, High-performance stable field emission with ultralow turn on voltage from rGO conformal coated TiO₂ nanotubes 3D arrays. Scientific Reports, 2015, 5(1): 11612

[33] Zhang K, Wu S, Yang X, Enhanced field emission properties of aligned sharp graphene emitter arrays prepared by freeze-drying and hydrothermal reduction. Materials Research Express, 2019, 6(7): 075608

[34] Gupta B K, Haranath D, Chawla S, Self-catalytic synthesis, structure and properties of ultra-fine luminescent ZnO nanostructures for field emission applications. Nanotechnology, 2010, 21(22): 225709

[35] Feng J, Pang Y, Qin Z, Why condensate drops can spontaneously move away on some superhydrophobic surfaces but not on others. ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, 2012, 4(12): 6618–6625

[36] Wang S, Feng L, Jiang L. One-step solution-immersion process for the fabrication of stable bionic superhydrophobic surfaces. Advanced Materials, 2006, 18(6): 767–770

[37] Sun J, Wang Y, Wang W, Application of featured microwave-metal discharge for the fabrication of well-graphitized carbon-encapsulated Fe nanoparticles for enhancing microwave absorption efficiency. Fuel, 2018, 233: 669–676

[38] Lebedev Y A. Microwave discharges: generation and diagnostics. Journal of Physics: Conference Series, 2010, 257: 012016

[39] Song B M, Hammer D A, Golkowski C, Initiation of microwave-induced electrical breakdown of high-pressure gases. IEEE Transactions on Plasma Science, 2003, 31(1): 146–156

[40] van der Schans M, Platier B, Koelman P, Decay of the electron density and the electron collision frequency between successive discharges of a pulsed plasma jet in N₂. Plasma Sources Science & Technology, 2019, 28(3): 035020

RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS

Higher Education Press