ALBERT

Description: In this article, we propose an aspiration-based coevolution of link weight, and explore how this set-up affects the evolution of cooperation in the spatial prisoner's dilemma game. In particular, an individual will increase the weight of its link to its neighbours only if the payoff received via this interaction exceeds a pre-defined aspiration. Conversely, if the received payoff is below this aspiration, the link weight with the corresponding neighbour will decrease. Our results show that an appropriate aspiration level leads to a high-cooperation plateau, whereas too high or too low aspiration will impede the evolution of cooperation. We explain these findings with a comprehensive analysis of transition points and with a systematic analysis of typical configuration patterns. The presented results provide further theoretical insights with regards to the impact of different aspiration levels on cooperation in human societies.

Description: In general, exploitation of rock materials, such as limestone or granite exploitation, can cause serious damage to the environment near a mine area. With economic development and the ever-increasing demand for ore resources, mining activities have induced very serious environmental issues in China. Therefore, environmental restoration work around mines in China is urgently required. This study explores the Chuankou open-pit limestone quarry in Tongchuan City, Shaanxi Province, Northwest China, as the engineering case. The environmental issues caused by over 40 years of limestone exploitation, including land degradation, land occupation, dust pollution and potential geological disasters, were investigated. Combining the characteristics of this quarry with a summary of previous studies on environmental restoration work, this paper proposes a novel and systematic method that was comprehensively carried out through engineering and revegetation measures. The engineering measure, that is, the construction of an artificial slope by using local abandoned construction materials, solved the environmental problems in this quarry and provided site conditions favourable for revegetation. The revegetation measure restored the local ecosystem. This method provides both a new idea for the sustainable development of a mining area and a useful reference for analogous engineering cases.

Description: This paper reports a new route to synthesize calcium carbonate (CaCO 3 )-based nanoscale ionic materials (NIMs) via an in situ formation method to form the CaCO 3 nanoparticles with a polysiloxane quaternary ammonium salt (PQAC) corona (PQAC-CaCO 3 nanoparticles), followed by an ionic exchange reaction to fabricate a poly(ethylene glycol)-tailed sulfonate anion (NPEP) canopy. The chemical compositions and structures of the CaCO 3 -based NIMs synthesized in this work were confirmed by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and solid-state 13 C NMR spectroscopy. Transmission electron microscopic observation indicated that the CaCO 3 -based NIMs presented a rhombohedral shape with a well-defined core-shell structure, and they also obtained an NPEP canopy with a thickness of 4–6 nm. X-ray powder diffraction investigation confirmed that the CaCO 3 inner core had a calcite crystalline structure, whereas the NPEP canopy was amorphous. The NPEP canopy was found to show a characteristic crystallization–melting behaviour in the presence of the ion bonding with PQAC-CaCO 3 nanoparticles according to the characterization of differential scanning calorimetry. Thermogravimetric analysis indicated that the CaCO 3 -based NIMs achieved a high content of NPEP canopy as well as an improvement in thermal stability owing to the ion-bonding effect. Most of all, the CaCO 3 -based NIMs demonstrated a liquid-like behaviour above the critical temperature in the absence of solvent. Moreover, the CaCO 3 -based NIMs also showed a relatively high electrical conductivity with a temperature dependency due to the ionic conductive effect. This work will provide a more feasible and energy-saving methodology for the preparation of CaCO 3 -based NIMs to promote their industrialization and extensive applications.

Description: Owing to the unique microporous structure and high specific surface area, porous carbon could act as a good carrier for functional materials. In this paper, polyacrylonitrile (PAN)-based porous carbon materials (PPC-0.6-600, PPC-0.8-600, PPC-0.6-800 and PPC-0.8-800) were prepared by heating KOH at 600°C and 800 o C for the removal of Cr(VI) from aqueous solution. The adsorbent was characterized by the techniques of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), elementary analysis, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and N 2 adsorption techniques. The results showed that the adsorption capacity increased with decreasing pH value of the initial solution. The adsorption capacity of Cr(VI) on PPC-0.8-800 was much greater than that on other materials, and maximum adsorption capacity were calculated to be 374.90 mg g –1 . Moreover, PPC-0.8-800 had superior recyclability for the removal of Cr(VI) from wastewater, about 82% of its initial adsorption capacity was retained even after five cycles. The result of kinetic simulation showed that the adsorption of Cr(VI) on the PAN-based porous carbon could be described by pseudo-second-order kinetics. The adsorption process was the ionic interaction between protonated amine groups of PPC and HCrO 4 - ions.

Description: Nano energetic materials have attracted great attention recently owing to their potential applications for both civilian and military purposes. By introducing silicon microchannel plates (Si-MCPs) three-dimensional (3D)-ordered structures, monocrystalline MnMoO 4 with a size of tens of micrometres and polycrystalline MnMoO 4 nanoflakes are produced on the surface and sidewall of nickel-coated Si-MCP, respectively. The MnMoO 4 crystals ripen controllably forming polycrystalline nanoflakes with lattice fringes of 0.542 nm corresponding to the (1{macron}11) plane on the sidewall. And these MnMoO 4 nanoflakes show apparent thermite performance which is rarely reported and represents MnMoO 4 becoming a new category of energetic materials after nanocrystallization. Additionally, the nanocrystallization mechanism is interpreted by ionic diffusion caused by 3D structure. The results indicate that the Si-MCP is a promising substrate for nanocrystallization of energetic materials such as MnMoO 4 .