In previous studies regarding the osseointegration of zirconia (ZrO2) implants, a lack of consistency was observed in the surface topographies of the ZrO2 and Ti samples because of the difficult processability of ZrO2 surfaces. To resolve this problem, we used the molecular precursor method (wet process), which is a surface-modifying technique that can easily change the surface chemistry without changing the surface topography. A roughened Ti surface was prepared using sandblasting (large-grit) and acid treatment. We were able to create ZrO2-coated Ti implants with the same topography as that of roughened Ti substrates using the molecular precursor method, which solution contained a Zr complex. The uniform presence of tetragonal Zr was confirmed, and the apparent zeta potential of the surface of the ZrO2-coated Ti implant was higher than that of Ti. In animal experiments, ZrO2-coated Ti implants showed an equivalent or higher bone-to-implant contact ratio compared to that of the non-coated implants inserted into the femur bone defects of the rats. ZrO2 with the same surface topography as that of roughened Ti exhibits a promotion of osteogenesis equivalent to or better than that of Ti in the early stages of bone formation.

The manufacturing parameters influence the properties of thermo-mechanically processed met-als such as Mg alloys. This paper presents how the mechanical properties, the microstructure and the degradation rate of extruded Mn-containing Mg-Gd-alloys can be modified. Gd as repre-sented REE-element is particularly interesting due to the influence on the texture development in Mg and therefore studied as a base alloy system. The contents of Gd were investigated be-tween 2 to 9 wt.% with Mn-addition of 0.5 and 1.0 wt.%. The grain sizes and the corresponding textures were modified by the extrusion parameters and the alloy content. It was shown that modification by Mn can decrease the grain size, but increase the degree of recrystallization and decrease the degradation rate in the biological medium compared to the binary Mg-Gd system from previous studies. The results suggest that the binary Mg-Gd system can be produced more efficiently by adding Mn and that the resulting properties are more robust.

The use of nanomaterials has been increasing in recent times, and they are widely used in industries such as cosmetics, drug, food, water treatment and agriculture. The rapid development of new nanomaterials demands a set of approaches to evaluate the potential toxicity and risks related to them. In this regard, nanosafety has been using and adapting already existing methods (toxicological approach), but the unique characteristics of nanomaterials demand new approaches (nanotoxicology) to fully understand the potential toxicity, immunotoxicity and (epi)genotoxicity. Also, new technologies, such as organ-on-chip and sophisticated sensors, are under development and/or adaptation. All the information generated is used to develop new in silico approaches trying to predict the potential effects of newly developed materials. The overall evaluation of how from the production to final disposition chain of nanomaterials is evaluated under Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), which is becoming an important element of nanosafety considering sustainability and environmental impact. In this review we give an overview of all these elements of nanosafety.

Silicon nanoparticles (SiNPs) are highly promising for biological and biomedical applications, including bioimaging, due to their unique opltical properties (i.e. strong fluorescence and very high photostability). Their low or negligible in vitro toxicity has been reported, but in vivo toxicity and biological effects of SiNPs are still uncertain. Uncoated SiNPs were dispersed in distilled water via sonication, and their rapid aggregation was observed (319.0 ± 2.4 nm particle size). In vivo toxicity was studied using Danio rerio embryos and larvae. Rapid aggregation in their incubation medium was observed; besides that, SiNPs at 25 mg/L or higher concentration induced swim bladder malformation and/or death of the fish. The estimated LC50 value for 7-day larvae was 180 mg/L. This is the first in vivo toxicity study of uncoated and unfunctionalized SiNPs. To achieve better stability in biological media and lower toxicity, SiNPs should be covered with hydrophilic layers, but their absorption by cellular membranes may be weaker in this case.

The supramolecular aggregation processes occurring on metallic (aluminum and gold) surfaces in aqueous solutions of bovine serum albumin (BSA) during drying were studied using advanced scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The possible mechanism for the formation of amazing intricate fractal structures on metallic surfaces was proposed based on the analysis of SEM images, size distribution diagrams and EDX-scanning elements distribution maps.

One of the areas of research on materials for thin-film solar cells focuses on replacing In and Ga with more earth-abundant elements. In that respect, chalcostibite (CuSbS2) is being considered as a promising environmentally friendly and cost-effective photovoltaic absorber material. In the present work, single CuSbS2 phase have been synthesized directly by a short duration (2 h) mechanochemical synthesis step starting from mixtures of elemental powders. X-ray diffraction analysis of the synthesized CuSbS2 powders revealed a good agreement with the orthorhombic chalcostibite phase, space group Pnma, and a crystallite size of 26 nm. Particle size characterization revealed a multimodal distribution with a median diameter ranging from of 2.93 m to 3.10 m. The thermal stability of the synthesized CuSbS2 powders was evaluated by differential thermal analysis. No phase change was observed by heat treating the mechanochemically synthesized powders at 350 C for 24 h. By UV-VIS-NIR spectroscopy the optical bandgap was determined to be 1.41 eV, suggesting that the mechanochemically synthesized CuSbS2 can be considered suitable to be used as absorber materials. Overall, the results show that the mechanochemical process is a viable route for the synthesis of materials for photovoltaic applications.

This article will briefly review the progress of h-BN based solid-state metal semiconductor metal (MSM) neutron detectors. In the last decade, several groups have been working on hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) based solid-state neutron detectors. Recently, the detection efficiency of 59% has been reported. Efficient, low-cost neutron detectors made from readily available materials are essential for various applications. Neutron detectors are widely used to detect fissile materials and nuclear power plants for security applications. The most common and widely used neutron detectors are 3He based, which are sometimes bulky, difficult to transport, have high absorption length, need relatively high bias voltage (>1000 V), and have low Q-value (0.764 MeV). Also, 3He is not readily available material. Thus, there is a strong need to find an alternative detection material. 10B isotope has a high neutron absorption cross-section, and it has been tested as a coating on the semiconducting materials. Due to the two-step process, neutron capture through 10B, and then electron-hole pair generation in a typical semiconducting material, the efficiency of these devices is not up to the mark. The progress in h-BN based detectors requires a review to envision the further improvement in this technology.

Films prepared from poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-4-hydroxybutyrate) copolymers produced by Aneurinibacillus sp. H1 using an automatic film applicator were homogeneous and had a defined thickness, which allowed a detailed study of physicochemical properties. Their properties were compared with a poly (3-hydroxybutyrate) homopolymer film prepared by the same procedure, which proved to be significantly more crystalline by DSC and XRD. Structural differences between samples had a major impact on their properties. With increasing 4-hydroxybutyrate content, the ductility and release rate of the model hydrophilic active ingredient increased significantly. Other observed properties, such as the release of the hydrophobic active substance, the contact angle with water and ethylene glycol, or the surface morphology and roughness, were also affected by the composition. The identified properties predetermine these copolymers for wide use in areas such as biomedicine or smart biodegradable packaging for food or cosmetics. The big advantage is the possibility of fine-tuning properties simply by changing the fermentation conditions.

Novel model of biodegradable PHA copolymer films preparation was applied to evaluate biodegradability of various PHA copolymers and discuss its biomedical applicability. In this study, we illustrate the potential biomaterial degradation rate affectability by manipulation of monomer composition via controlling biosynthetic strategies. Within the experimental investigation, we have prepared two different copolymers of 3-hydroxybutyrate and 4-hydroxybutyrate – P(3HB-co-36 mol.% 4HB) and P(3HB-co-66 mol.% 4HB), by cultivating thermophilic bacterial strain Aneurinibacillus sp. H1 and further investigated its degradability in simulated body fluids (SBFs). Both copolymers revealed faster weight reduction in synthetic gastric juice (SGJ) and artificial colonic fluid (ACF) than simple homopolymer P3HB. In addition, degradation mechanisms differed across tested polymers, according to SEM micrographs. While incubated in SGJ, samples were fragmented due to fast hydrolysis sourcing from substantially low pH, which suggest abiotic degradation as the major degradation mechanism. On the contrary, ACF incubation indicated obvious enzymatic hydrolysis. Further, no cytotoxicity of the waste fluids was observed on CaCO-2 cell line. Based on these results in combination with high production flexibility, we suggest P(3HB-co-4HB) copolymers produced by Aneurinibacillus sp. H1 as very auspicious polymers for intestinal in vivo treatments.

Many studies discuss carbon-based materials because of the versatility of carbon elements. These studies cover different ideas and discuss them within the scientific scope and application. Depending on the processing conditions of carbon precursors, carbon exists in its various allotropic forms. The electron transfer mechanism is responsible for converting the gaseous carbon atom into the various carbon states named graphite, nanotube, fullerene, diamond, lonsdaleite and graphene. Two pieces of dash-shaped typical energy involve transferring filled state electrons to nearby unfilled states to convert the carbon atom from the existing state to a new state. In an electron transfer mechanism, the carbon atom preserves its equilibrium state. When the pieces of dash-shaped typical energy involve, the electrons of the appropriate filled states instantaneously and simultaneously transfer to the unfilled states. The involved dash-shaped typical energy has its conserved behaviour that is partial. A transferring electron is also under the partially conserved forces. Carbon atoms in graphite, nanotube and fullerene states partially evolve and develop the structures. The structures of one dimension, two dimensions and four dimensions form, respectively. In the formation of such structures, atoms bind under the same pieces of involved dash-shaped typical energy. The graphite structure under the attained dynamics of atoms only is also formed but in two dimensions or amorphous carbon. Here, force and energy, the chemical in nature, together contribute. The structural formations in diamond, lonsdaleite and graphene state atoms involve a different shaped typical energy. Such typical energy controls the orientation of the electron while undertaking its one additional clamp of energy knot. The involved typical energy has a form like a golf stick. To undertake one additional clamp of energy knot, all four electrons of the outer ring in the depositing diamond state atom get aligned along the south pole, and all four unfilled energy knots of the outer ring in the deposited diamond state atom get stretched along the east-west poles. In this way, a depositing diamond state atom binds to the deposited diamond state atom from the ground to the south. Growth is from south to ground, so the structure of diamond is a tetra-electron topological structure. The binding of lonsdaleite state atoms is from the ground to a bit south. However, in glassy carbon, the layers of gaseous, graphite and lonsdaleite state atoms bind simultaneously. The order of these layers repeats in the growth process of glassy carbon. The Mohs hardness in different carbon materials is also sketched.

Misconception in using the terms photon and electron exists in science. When the electron of the outer ring in the silicon atom executes interstate dynamics for only one cycle, it generates force and energy for the unit photon. Interstate electron dynamics for one forward and reverse cycle generate the overt photon having the least measured length. When the photon of suitable length interacts with the side of the laterally orientated electron of an atom, it converts into heat energy. Under the approximate angle of 90º, when a photon interacts with the tip of a laterally orientated electron, it divides into bits of energy having a shape like integral symbols. In the neutral state silicon atom, the centre acts as the reference point for electrons executing interstate dynamics, and the lateral lengths of the electrons remain along the north-south poles. Under the availability of energy and force, the energy wraps around the force shaping along the tracing trajectory of electron dynamics in a silicon atom. A shaping force due to two poles is from those sides of the electron, not dealing with the force of the remaining two poles. In interstate dynamics, the electron of the outer ring first reaches the maximum limit point, where the energy of one bit is shaped. Electron completes the second half cycle dealing with relevant forces from the maximum limit point, where the energy of one bit is shaped. The shape of the unit photon is like Gaussian distribution having turned ends. When there is an uninterrupted supply of heat energy to the silicon atom, electron dynamics generate the photon having a shape-like wave. Path independent but interstate dependent forces take over the control of an electron. That electron executes dynamics nearly at the speed of light. In confined interstate dynamics, naturally viable conservative forces exert on the position-acquiring electron. A photon can be in the unending length if the electron dynamics remain uninterrupted. Having not made contact with states limiting the forces at work, the changing aspect of the electron recalls the auxiliary moment of inertia at each point of turning. By executing electron dynamics, atoms under neutral states generate photons of different shapes, revealing heat and photon energy phenomena.

Pineapple is a highly demanded fruit in international markets, thanks to its unique appearance and flavor, high fiber content, vitamins, folic acid, and minerals. It makes the pineapple production and processing market a significant source of income for producing countries, such as Costa Rica. Nowadays, its processing produces a large amount of waste with negative consequences for the environment. However, pineapple waste is an essential source of cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin, and other high-value products like enzymes (bromelain). These by-products can be obtained by pineapple waste biorefinery, generating an additional source of export goods and foreign currency, framing pineapple processing in the concept of the circular economy. This review discusses how incorporating biorefinery in the pineapple production processes can contribute to the post-COVID 19 economy in Costa Rica. Pineapple production in Costa Rica is explored, and the contamination of generated residues is delineated. Furthermore, the primary processes for by-product extraction via biorefinery, their general characteristics and applications in the medical field, and their contribution to the circular economy are presented.

Novel advanced biomaterials have recently gained great attention, especially in surgical minimally invasive techniques. Applying sophisticated design and engineering methods, various elastomer-hydrogel systems (EHS) with outstanding performance have been developed in last decades. Those systems composed of elastomers and hydrogels are very attractive due to their high biocompatibility, injectability, controlled porosity and often antimicrobial properties. Moreover, elastomeric properties and bioadhesiveness are making them suitable for soft tissue engineering. Herein, we present the advances in current state-of-the-art design principles and strategies for strong interface formation inspired by nature (bio-inspiration), diverse properties and applications of elastomer-hydrogel systems in different medical fields, in particular, in tissue engineering. Functionalities of those systems, including adhesive properties, injectability, antimicrobial properties and degradability applicable to tissue engineering will be discussed in a context of future efforts towards development of advanced biomaterials.

The mechanical properties and stability of hydrophobic surface structures prepared by traditional methods are still the main technical bottlenecks restricting the broad application of hydrophobic systems on workpiece surfaces. In this contribution, we propose a technique called selective laser shock peening (SLSP) to enable large-scale high efficient, low-cost manufacturing of hydrophobic metal surfaces with enhanced mechanical properties for durable applications. Using the method of experimental investigation combined with numerical calculation, the hydrophobic properties, mechanical properties, and tribological properties of the samples prepared under SLSP, all-laser shock peening (ALSP), and non-laser shock peening (NLSP) are studied. The SLSP process could prepare a 3D gradient structure material with surface structures, a two-phase (strong phase, soft phase) distribution on the surface, and a multi-level gradient distribution in the thickness direction. Compared with the 2D gradient structure prepared by the traditional process, 3D gradient structures by SLSP have more significant advantages in improving the wetting behavior and the mechanical properties of the material, which proves SLSP to be a novel method to fabricate functional metal surface structures, with highly high engineering application value.

In this research, Cellulose Nanofibers (NFC) modified with a eutectic of lauric acid (LA) was prepared as a new form-stable phase change material (NFC-LA). Thermal properties of this composite were investigated by Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC). The results revealed that the melting temperature and latent heat of NFC/LA were 21.56 °C and 88.5 J/g, respectively; and the super cooling degree for the NFC-LA composite decreased to 13.99 °C when compared to 20.28 °C of the pure lauric acid. Natural clay was purified and modified with Cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB) to prepare organoclay. Through FTIR spectra, we have confirmed that the clay was successfully modified. The PCM-composite was then added to the organoclay to obtain a new composite denoted NFC-LA-OC. this latter was added to cement and was investigated as a reinforcement material in cement mortars for thermal energy storage application. The prepared material can both solve the leakage problem associated to the phase change material, and reduce or even avoid the use of heating and air conditioning systems, which are energy-intensive systems, and therefore reduce energy consumption.

This review focuses on the therapeutic effects of metallic ions when released in physiological environments. Recent studies have shown that metallic ions like Ag+, Sr2+, Mg2+, Mn2+, Cu2+, Ca2+, P+5, etc., have shown promising results in drug delivery systems and regenerative medicine. These metallic ions can be loaded in nanoparticles, mesoporous bioactive glass nanoparticles (MBGNs), hydroxyapatite (HA), calcium phosphates, polymeric coatings, and salt solutions. The metallic ions can exhibit different functions in the physiological environment such as antibacterial, antiviral, anti-cancer, bioactive, biocompatible, and angiogenic effect. Furthermore, the metallic ions can be loaded in scaffolds to improve osteoblast proliferation, differentiation, bone development, fibroblast growth, and improved wound healing efficacy. Moreover, different metallic ions possess different therapeutic limits. Therefore, further mechanisms need to be developed for the highly controlled and sustained release of these ions. This review paper summarizes the recent progress in the use of metallic ions in regenerative medicine and encourages further study of metallic ions as a solution to cure diseases.

Directed energy deposition (DED) is an efficient method to fabricate functionally graded materials (FGMs) with gradient composition and complex structures, allowing for local tailoring of properties instead of the costly need for extraneous welds and joints. In this study, a FGM from stainless steel to Inconel alloy was successfully fabricated using the powder-based laser DED. A very refined grain structure has been observed in at the composition with 75 wt.% Inconel alloy content, which also exhibits the highest (entropy). For the first time, the post heat treatments, microstructure and aging precipitation behaviors of FGMs were systematically studied via experimental characterization and computation, to elucidate their effects on the gradient smoothing and mechanical properties. The diffusion and segregation of Ni, Nb and Ti elements underly the transformation mechanism between Laves, δ, γ’ and γ’’ phases during precipitation. Homogenization on FGMs not only eliminates the heterogeneity inherited from the AM process, but also provides a practical way to smoothen the gradient on composition and microstructure for the eventual good gradient properties. It has a direct influence on the following precipitation behaviors in the FGM, which highly relies on the diffusion degree of the elements in the matrix and grain boundaries. The high-throughput thermodynamic modeling and kinetic modeling were exploited to evaluate the experimental microstructure and address computational uncertainty using different thermodynamic conditions and databases, which enables an accelerated design through local tailoring of process-structure-property relationships to develop new functional materials.

This work discussed the advantages of reducing copper in molten copper slag with low S content. FactSage calculated the distribution of copper at equilibrium under different sulfur content. The effect of sulfur content on copper recovery under different oxygen partial pressures was pointed out. The effect of sulfur content on copper recovery in the actual reduction process was explored through experimental research. Under the condition of low sulfur, the Recovery of copper and the stability of the experiment have an ideal results.

The electronic structural evolution of LLM-105 crystal and the (101) plane of LLM-105 crystal under different pressures is investigated by the density functional theory (DFT) calculations and the surface properties of seven low-Miller-index planes of LLM-105 crystal were investigated in this study. The result demonstrates that the surface energy of (101) plane of LLM-105 is much smaller when compared with other low-Miller-index planes of LLM-105.In order to further investigate the stability of crystal structure and (101) plane of LLM-105 under different pressures, a series of pressures ranged from 0 GPa to 55 GPa were applied during the DFT calculation, and the result shows that the electronic structures of LLM-105 crystal and the (101) plane changed with the increase of external pressure and the evolution process of (101) plane is different from that of LLM-105 crystal structure.

L-asparaginase (ASNase) is an aminohydrolase currently used in the pharmaceutical and food industries. Enzyme immobilization is an exciting option for both applications, allowing a more straightforward recovery and increased stability. High surface area and customizable porosity make carbon xerogels (CXs) promising materials for ASNase immobilization. This work describes the influence of contact time, pH, and ASNase concentration on the immobilization yield (IY) and relative recovered activity (RRA) using Central Composite Design methodology. The most promising results were obtained using CX with an average pore size of 4 nm (CX-4), reaching IY and RRA of 100%. At the optimal conditions, the ASNase-CXs biocomposite was characterized and evaluated in terms of kinetic properties and operational, thermal and pH stabilities. The immobilized ASNase onto CX-4 retained 71% of its original activity after six continuous reaction cycles, showed a good thermal stability at 37 °C (RRA of 91% after 90 min) and was able to adapt to both acidic and alkaline environments. Finally, the results indicated a 3.9-fold increase in the immobilized ASNase affinity for the substrate, confirming the potential of CXs as a support for ASNase and as a cost-effective tool for subsequent use in the therapeutic and food sectors.

In this paper, the phases in the Mg-Ti-O system using the 1:1 formulation of MgO:TiO2 mixing synthetic brucite of Mexican origin with TiO2 microparticles of high purity and with a heat treatment at 1100°C for 1 h were studied. The raw materials and formulation by XPS and DRX techniques were characterized. The results demonstrate the presence of different oxidation states in titania and the formation of different oxides in the Mg-Ti-O system when mixed and calcined at 1100°C; additionally, the formation of vacancies in the crystal lattice during the transformation from hexagonal brucite to magnesia with a cubic structure centered on the faces is estimated. With the results, its thermal behavior is warned based on the MgO-TiO2 phase diagram.

Multicore magnetic nanoparticles of manganese ferrite were prepared using carboxymethyl-dextran and melamine as agglutinating agents. The nanoparticles prepared using melamine exhibit a flower-shape structure, a saturation magnetization of 6.16 emu/g and good capabilities for magnetic hyperthermia. Magnetoliposome-like structures containing the multicore nanoparticles exhibit sizes in the range 250 – 400 nm. A new antitumor thienopyridine derivative was loaded in these nanocarriers with a high encapsulation efficiency of 98% ± 2.6%. Release profiles in absence and presence of an AMF indicate a transport by diffusion, with a maximum compound release of 31% under the AMF. A sustained and controlled drug release in anticipated from the results, pointing to suitable characteristics of the magnetoliposomes for dual cancer therapy (combined magnetic hyperthermia and chemotherapy).

The system of non-interacting electrically charged core-massless spring-shell mechanical units, demonstrating negative effective mass, is considered, seen as a Drude-Lorentz gas. When such an ideal gas is exposed to the external harmonic field, it demonstrates as the certain conditions the negative frequency-dependent electrical conductivity. The negative value of the electrical conductivity implies that the electrical current will flow against the direction of the electric field and correspondingly the direction of the electrical force. Low- and high-frequency asymptotic behavior of the electrical conductivity is addressed. The same system demonstrates at low frequencies the negative asymptotic refraction. Experimental realization of the introduced model system, based on the exploitation of plasma oscillations of the free electron gas is suggested.

Spent batteries recycling is an important way to obtain low-cost graphite. Nevertheless, the obtaining of crystalline graphite with a rather low density of defects is required for many applications. In the present work, high-quality graphites have been obtained from different kinds of spent batteries. Black masses from spent alkaline batteries (batteries black masses, BBM), and lithium-ion batteries from smartphones (smartphone black masses, SBM) and electric and/or hybrid vehicles (lithium-ion black masses, LBM) were used as starting materials. A hydrometallurgical process was then used to obtain recycled graphites by acidic leaching. Different leaching conditions were used depending on the type of the initial black mass. The final solids were characterized by a wide set of complementary techniques.

We have developed a self-consistent model for predicting velocity of 1/2[111] screw dislocation in binary iron--carbon alloys gliding by a high-temperature Peierls mechanism. The methodology of modelling includes: (i) Kinetic Monte-Carlo (kMC) simulation of carbon segregation in dislocation core and determination the total carbon occupancy of the core binding sites; (ii) Determination of kink-pair formation enthalpy of a screw dislocation in iron---carbon alloy; (iii) KMC simulation of carbon drag and determination of maximal dislocation velocity at which the atmosphere of carbon atoms can follow a moving screw dislocation; (iv) Self consistent calculation of average velocity of screw dislocation in binary iron--carbon alloys gliding by a high-temperature kink-pair mechanism under constant strain rate. We conduct a quantitative analysis of the conditions of stress and temperature at which screw dislocation glide in iron--carbon alloy is accomplished by a high-temperature kink-pair mechanism. We estimate the dislocation's velocity at which screw dislocation brakes away from the carbon cloud and thermally-activated smooth dislocation propagation is interrupted by sporadic bursts controlled by athermal dislocation activity.

The optoelectronic properties of free standing monolayer (ML) hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) is investigated for potential solar energy conversion applications using the Density Functional Theory (DFT) full potential linearized augmented plane wave (FP-LAPW) method. In addition, the bulk optical properties have also been calculated for the sake of comparison. The dielectric functions, optical conductivities and the optical constants are evaluated using the relaxed structures from electronic total energy pseudopotential calculations. The results reinforce previous research on h-BN DUV optoelectronics and demonstrate the suitability of its use as a component in deep ultraviolet (DUV) and energy conversion devices.

Advanced ceramics are recognized as key enabling materials possessing combinations of properties not achievable in other material classes. They are characterized by very high thermal, chemical and mechanical resistance and also usually have a lower density than metals. These properties predestine ceramics for many different applications, especially space applications.In the aerospace sector aerospike nozzles promise performance and application advantages compared to classic bell nozzles but are also inherently more complex to manufacture due to their shape. AM methods drastically simplify or even enable the fabrication of those complex structures while minimising the number of individual parts. The applicability of ceramic AM (“CerAMfacturing”) on rocket engines and especially nozzles is consequently investigated in the frame of the “MACARONIS” project, a cooperation of the Institute of Aerospace Engineering at Technische Universität Dresden and the Fraunhofer Institute for Ceramic Technologies and Systems (IKTS) in Dresden. The goal is to develop novel large size aerospike thrust nozzles including areas of highest resolution and fineness. Finding a suitable AM process that enables the realisation of both aspects is extremely challenging. One possibility could be the hybridization of shaping methods, in that case CerAM VPP (ceramic additive manufacturing via vat photopolymerization) and CerAM FFF (ceramic additive manufacturing via fused filament fabrication) in combination with sinter joining. This contribution focuses on the high resolution CerAM VPP process, in particular the development, characterization and testing of a new photoreactive Al₂O₃ suspension validated by AM of novel aerospike nozzles.

In this paper, a method of direct spinning is proposed for direct spinning of heterogeneous spun wire-blown holes standard parts and the motherboard mounted on the spin board assemblies. The standardization of the spinneret hole was conducive to improving the machining accuracy and efficiency of the pores, and the spinneret holes could be replaced in time when a hole in the spinneret fails. Moreover; on the other hand, according to the needs of the process of spinning, the spinnerets with various cross-sections were combined and installed on the same motherboard for spinning, and the spinning obtained different bionic new functional products. Based on the results, a finite element model of the standard part of the spinneret hole was developed, and the spinnability of the combinable spinnable spinneret board was verified by simulating the melt flow in the spinneret channel through POLYFLOW software. Further, by the processing of the spinneret, the motherboard was installed into a combined spinneret, and the spinneret assembly was installed on the spinning machine for the experiments. Furthermore, the tow section was observed using a microscope, and the results showed the feasibility of the proposed method.

The encapsulation of proteins into core-shell structures is a widely utilised strategy for controlling protein stability, delivery and release. Despite the recognised utility of these microstructures, however, core-shell fabrication routes are often too costly or poorly scalable to allow for industrial translation. Furthermore, many scalable routes rely upon emulsion-techniques implicating denaturing or environmentally harmful organic solvents. Herein, we investigate core-shell protein encapsulation through single-feed, aqueous spray drying: a cheap, industrially ubiquitous particle-formation technology in the absence of organic solvents. We show that an excipient’s preference for the surface of the spray dried particle is well-predicted by its hydrodynamic diameter (Dh) under relevant feed buffer conditions (pH and ionic strength) and that the predictive power of Dh is improved when measured at the spray dryer outlet temperature compared to room temperature (R2 = 0.64 vs. 0.59). Lastly, we leverage these findings to propose an adaptable design framework for fabricating core-shell protein encapsulates by single-feed aqueous spray drying.

Superconducting YBa2Cu3Oy (YBCO) foams were prepared using commercial open-cell, polyurethane foams as starting material to form ceramic Y2BaCuO5 (Y-211) foams which are then converted into superconducting YBCO by using the infiltration growth process. For modelling the superconducting and mechanical properties of the foam samples, a Kelvin-type cell may be employed as a first approach like done in the literature for pure polyurethane foams. However, for a refined model of a superconducting foam sample, the real sample structure must be considered. Thus, a proper description of the specific microstructure of the superconducting YBCO foams is required. A variety of parameters including the cell size and shape, the window size and shape, the length and shape of the foam struts or ligaments and the respective angles of intersection are used to describe the real foam structure. To obtain a set of reliable data, YBCO foam samples were investigated using optical microscopy, SEM and electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD). The detailed investigation of the foam microstructure reveals not only the differences to the polymeric foams used as base material, but also gives insight to details of the infiltration growth process via the increased surface amount in a foam sample.

Interface solar steam generation (ISSG) are charming for its applications in desalination and wastewater treatment. Biomass is an attractive substrate for utilizing solar vapor evaporators because of its natural pore structure and water transportability. Polymers like polydopamine (PDA) and polypyrrole (PPy) with broadband spectrum absorption are fascinating in photothermal materials (PTMs). Herein, PDA coated daikon-based (PDA-DK) and PPy coated daikon-based (PPy-DK) PTMs have been exploited for solar steam generation. When polyethylene foam (PEF) was used as an insulating layer to limit heat loss from the PTMs to bulk water, the evaporation rate of PDA-DK and PPy-DK was raised from 0.82 kg m–2 h–1 and 0.96 kg m–2 h–1 to 1.50 kg m–2 h–1 and 1.60 kg m–2 h–1, respectively. Meanwhile, the corresponding photothermal conversion efficiency was increased to 89.01% and 98.97%, which was increased by nearly 40% under 1-sun irradiation. In addition, PDA-DK and PPy-DK exhibited remarkable stability for the solar steam generation without significant change through 15 cycles. Furthermore, PDA-DK and PPy-DK could effectively desalt seawater and purify dyeing wastewater. All the results indicate that PDA-DK and PPy-DK have great potential in real-world applications for solar steam generation.

The corrosion behavior of Fe-containing directionally solidified (DS) and centrifugally cast (CC) Al-Si-Cu-Zn alloys with either Co or Ni additions has been investigated. Electrochemical and immersion corrosion methods were used to investigate the corrosion behavior in 0.6 M NaCl after short (1-hour) and long (30-day) exposure periods. The employed solidification methods allowed the production of samples with a wide range of secondary dendrite arm spacing (SDAS) while preserving Si and Fe-containing phases. The 0.5 wt.% Ni and Co additions led to the growth of the AlFeSi(Ni) and AlFeSi(Co) phases, but no binary AlNi nor AlCo intermetallic par-ticles have been generated. Potentiodynamic polarization studies at early exposure revealed an increase in the corrosion potential as the Ni was added for either fast or slow solidified samples. The electrochemical impedance spectroscopy at early exposure demonstrated that the Ni-modified alloy, on the other hand, was associated to smaller charge transfer resistances, in-dicating a reduction in corrosion resistance after short elapsed time into the electrolyte. Howev-er, 30-day immersion tests revealed much lower corrosion rate of the Ni-modified alloy than the other alloys, while the corrosion rates of the Co-modified and non-modified alloys were simi-lar. In the Ni-containing alloy, decreased corrosion rate under long-term corrosion process was attributed to the formation of a thick and dense alumina layer, effectively protecting the surface under such conditions. This work contributes to a better knowledge of the corrosion behavior of Ni- and Co-corrected Al industrial scrap compositions.

In the study, ground granulated blast furnace slag was activated with a wide variety of sodium salts to compare the effect of their pH and anion size on the hydration progress and compressive strength development of GGBFS pastes. Research was carried out on samples activated with twelve different sodium salts, cured for one year. Changes in their phase composition (XRD), loss on ignition at different temperatures, expansion and microstructure (SEM+EDS) were examined over the entire curing period. Studies have shown that the presence of sodium ions is more important than the pH of the system, as activation took place even in the case of compounds whose solutions are characterized by low pH, such as sodium tartrate or phosphate. The compressive strength of the pastes ranged from approximately 8 to 65 MPa after one year of curing.

Superconducting YBa2Cu3Oy (YBCO) foams were prepared using commercial open-cell, polyurethane foams as starting material to form ceramic Y2BaCuO5 (Y-211) foams which are then converted into superconducting YBCO by using the infiltration growth process. For modelling the superconducting and mechanical properties of the foam samples, a Kelvin-type cell may be employed as a first approach like done in the literature for pure polyurethane foams. However, for a refined model of a superconducting foam sample, the real sample structure must be considered. Thus, a proper description of the specific microstructure of the superconducting YBCO foams is required. A variety of parameters including the cell size and shape, the window size and shape, the length and shape of the foam struts or ligaments and the respective angles of intersection are used to describe the real foam structure. To obtain a set of reliable data, YBCO foam samples were investigated using optical microscopy, SEM and electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD). The detailed investigation of the foam microstructure reveals not only the differences to the polymeric foams used as base material, but also gives insight to details of the infiltration growth process via the increased surface amount in a foam sample.

The current pandemic is urgently demanding to discover alternative materials capable of inactivate the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) that causes the coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) disease. Calcium alginate is a crosslinked hydrophilic biopolymer with an immense range of biomedical applications due to its excellent chemical, physical and biological properties. In this study, the cytotoxicity and antiviral activity of calcium alginate in the form of films were studied. The results showed that these films are biocompatible in human keratinocytes and are capable of inactivating enveloped viruses such as bacteriophage phi 6 with a 1.43-log reduction (94.92% viral inactivation) and SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant with a 1.64-log reduction (96.94% viral inactivation) in virus titers. The antiviral activity of these calcium alginate films can be attributed to its negative charge density that may bind to viral envelopes inactivating membrane receptors.

This paper deals with investigation of changes in geopolymer wettability with increasing mass fraction of high-carbon fly ash and surface treatment by cold atmospheric plasma (CAP). In this study, multiple samples of geopolymers were prepared, including those with 5% and 10% of high-carbon fly ash from coal-fired power station. Wettability of samples was then measured before and after plasma treatment, both on surface and cut surface. While addition of fly ash only had low effect on the wettability, as in most cases, it only lowered the initial contact angle without speeding up the speed of soaking for compact geopolymer and actually slowed the soaking for foamed geopolymer, plasma treatment had significant impact and made the geopolymer hydrophobic.

The three-phase separator was perforated after four years’ service. The perforation position is at the bottom of the vessel under the baffle plate in an oil transfer station. The cause of perforation was investigated by chemical analysis using a direct-reading spectrometer, microstructure examined by optical microscope(OM), and lab simulated corrosion experiments by electrochemical workstation, and the corrosion products examined with scanning electron microscopy(SEM), energy dispersive spectrometer(EDS) in this paper. The analyses indicated that the coating at the base of the pressure vessel failed and this led to the direct exposure of the carbon steel plate to the corrosive medium. The electrical contact between the carbon steel and the stainless steel, sets up a galvanic cell that accelerated the corrosion of the pressure vessel which eventually led leads to the perforation.

Diarylethene is a prototypical molecular switch that can be reversibly photoisomerized between its open and closed forms. Ligands bpy-DAE-bpy, consisting of a phenyl-diarylethene-phenyl (DAE) central core and bipyridine (bpy) terminal substituents, are able to self-organize. They are investigated by scanning tunneling microscopy at the solid-liquid interface. Upon light irradiation, cooperative photochromic switching of the ligands is recognized down to the sub-molecular level. The closed isomers show different electron density of states (DOS) contrasts, attributed to the HOMO or LUMO molecular orbitals observed. More importantly, the LUMO images show remarkable differences between the open and closed isomers, attributed to combined topographic and electronic contrasts mainly on the DAE moieties. The electronic contrasts from multiple HOMO or LUMO distributions, combined with topographic distortion of the open or closed DAE, are interpreted by density functional theory (DFT) calculations.

A technology for obtaining nanosized aluminum nitride powder by plasma-chemical synthesis is presented. Nitrogen gas (N2), melamine (C3H6N6) and ammonia (NH3) were used as a source of nitrogen. Aluminum powder of different fractions was used as a source of aluminum. The influence of the nitrogen source, the height of the injector, and the input power of the plasma equipment on the synthesized aluminum nitride powder is shown. The resulting aluminum nitride powder has a size d90=60 nm. The parameters of aluminum nitride synthesis did not in any way affect the granulometric composition of the synthesized powder materials. It was found that, due to the high binding energy, the nitrogen molecule (N2) reacts poorly with aluminum powder particles, as a result a mixture of nitrogen and ammonia gases was used in a ratio of 70/30 (mol.%) for aluminum nitride synthesis.

Ceramic samples based on b-calcium pyrophosphate b-Ca2P2O7 were prepared using firing at 900, 1000, and 1100 oC from powders of g-calcium pyrophosphate g-Ca2P2O7 with preset molar ratios Ca/P=1; 0,975 and 0,95. To prepare powders of g-calcium pyrophosphate g-Ca2P2O7 with preset molar ratio Ca/P=1; 0,975 and 0,95 powder mixtures based on calcium lactate pentahydrate Ca(C3H5O3)2⋅5H2O and, monocalcium phosphate monohydrate Ca(H2PO4)2⋅H2O were treated in an aqua medium in mechanical activation conditions, dried, disaggregated in acetone, and heat-treated at 600 oC. The phase composition of powder mixtures after treatment if planetary mill in aqua medium included both brushite CaHPO4⋅2H2O or monetite CaHPO4, and starting salts. The phase composition of all powder mixtures after disaggregation in acetone in planetary mill included monetite CaHPO4 and starting salts. After heat treatment at 600 oC according to the XRD data phase composition of all powder mixtures was presented by g-calcium pyrophosphate g-Ca2P2O7. The grain size of ceramics increased both with the growth of firing temperature and with decreasing of molar ratio Ca/P of powder mixtures. Calcium polyphosphate (t melt =960–968 oC) formed from monocalcium phosphate monohydrate Ca(H2PO4)2⋅H2O acted like a liquid phase sintering additive. It was confirmed by tests in vitro, that prepared ceramic materials with preset molar ratio Ca/P=1; 0,975 and 0,95 and phase composition presented by b-calcium pyrophosphate b-Ca2P2O7 according to XRD data were biocompatible and could maintain bone cells proliferation.

Martensitic steels are used at a wide range of strength levels in environments which expose them to hydrogen or water vapor over a large range of partial pressures and temperatures. Hydrogen can cause catastrophic failures under many seemingly benign conditions. The effect of hydrogen on the dimension stability of high strength martensitic steels under such conditions has been poorly understood, and existing models do not seem to adequately account for it. Experiments were conducted to measure the variation in volume due to the uptake of hydrogen of such steels under near-ambient conditions, and the results were compared to theoretical estimates derived from the density of defects acting as hydrogen traps. Based on these results a new model for hydrogen embrittlement was developed. The hydrogen lattice dilation (HLD) model isolates volume expansion as a primary driver of hydrogen embrittlement. It provides and distinguishes two modes of failure acceleration: the fast, brittle, stress-intensity independent cracking under higher static crack loading, and a slower, highly stress-intensity dependent tearing mode at lower stress intensity. The relationship between the two is explained, as is how hydrogen absorption by defects accounts for the crack threshold and crack velocity of each.

The poor water-solubility and instability of Ru(II) carbonyl complex hamper the therapeutic application as CO releasing materials (CO-RMs). To enhance the hydrophilicity and bio-utility of CO, a robust Ru(I) carbonyl sawhorse skeleton were grafted with water-soluble PEGlyated sidearms. Twelve PEGlyted sawhorse Ru2(CO)4 complexes were prepared with satisfactory yields and characterized by IR and 1H- and 13C- NMR. X-ray diffraction analysis of CO-RM 8, 13 and 14 revealed the featured diruthenium sawhorse skeleton and PEGylated axial ligands. The flask-shaking method measures the hydrophilicity of CO-RMs, indicating that both bridging carboxylate ligand and PEGlyated axial ligands regulate the hydrophilicity of these CO-RMs. Under photolysis conditions, CO-RM 4-13 sustainable released therapeutic amounts of CO in myoglobin assay. The correlation of the CO release kinetics and hydrophilicity of CO-RMs demonstrated that the more hydrophilic CO-RM released CO faster. The biological test found the low cytotoxic CO-RM 4 showed a specific anticancer activity toward HT-29 tumour cells.

Nanoscale structuring/printing is of interest for range of applications in 3D subtractive and additive manufacturing (3D^+/-). Basic principles of light field enhancement and control at the nanoscale are overviewed in this section/chapter for bulk, surface, and localised plasmons (1D, 2D, and 3D localisation, respectively). All these plasmons are resonant phenomena which have common Lorentzian spectral lineshape which relates refractive and absorption properties as well as defining the phase of transmitted and scattered light. Localisation of light at the nanoscale creates the possibility of modification with matching resolution. Harnessing this light enhancement can be demonstrated as a "nano-pen" for direct write nanolithography.

Surface finishing is challenging for additively manufactured components with complex geometries. Magnetic abrasive finishing (MAF) is a promising surface finishing technology that can refine the surface quality of components with complex shapes produced by additive manufacturing. However, there is insufficient study regarding the impact of MAF on microstructure-property relationships for additively manufactured builds, which is critical for evaluating the mechanical performance. Furthermore, although MAF is usually used as the final step of post-processing, it remains unclear whether adjusting the sequence between MAF and other processes, e.g., heat treatment, can potentially improve the mechanical performance. In this work, the effects of MAF on the microstructure and mechanical property evolution of Inconel 718 superalloys made by laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) were studied. The application of MAF was found to significantly reduce the surface roughness of alloys and refine the grain size of aged samples. Moreover, MAF is able to increase the elongation of materials, which can be further influenced by the sequence of MAF and different heat treatments. The highest elongation can be achieved when MAF is performed between homogenization and aging processes. This work demonstrated a promising solution to improving the performance of LPBF Inconel 718 by combining MAF and heat treatment, which provides new perspectives on the post-processing development of additively manufactured alloys for advanced mechanical properties.

Burning woody biomass for energy is gaining attention due to environmental issues associated with fossil fuels and carbon emission. The carbon released from burning wood is absorbed by plants and is carbon neutral. The purpose of this study was to investigate the combustion characteristics (heat calorific values and ash contents) of three timbers: Araucaria cunninghamii, Instia bijuga and Pometia pinnata and recommend for fuelwood. The test samples were sawdust particles (treatment) and solid woods (control) extracted from the heartwoods. The sawdust particles were oven-dried, sieved and pelletized into pellets using a hand-held pelletizing device, thus, forming cylindrical dimension (volume 1178.57 mm3, oven dry density 0.0008 g/mm3). While the solid woods were cubed and oven-dried (volume 1000.00 mm3, oven dry density 0.001 g/mm3). Prior to combustion in a semi-automatic bomb calorimeter, 90 test specimens (15 replicates per treatment and control per species) were conditioned to 14 % moisture content (at temperature 105 ºC) and weighed to a constant (unit) mass (1.0 g). The heat energy outputs and ash residues (of treatments) were analyzed statistically. The results indicated variability in heat energy outputs and ash residues between test specimens of the three species. Comparatively, the treatment specimens of A. cunninghamii produced higher calorific value (18.546 kJ/g) than the control (18.376 kJ/g) whilst the treatment specimens of I. bijuga and P. pinnata generated lower heat calorific values (17.124 kJ/g and 18.822 kJ/g) than the control (18.415 kJ/g and 20.659 kJ/g), respectively. According to ash content analysis, A. cunninghamii generated higher residues (6.3%) followed by P. pinnata (4.5%) and I. bijuga (2.8%). The treatment specimens of the three species could not meet the standard heat energy requirement (20.0 kJ/g) and thus, were unsuitable for fuelwood. However, the control specimens of P. pinnata generated equivalent heat energy (20.659 kJ/g) and could be a potential fuelwood.

This paper is focused on understanding multiscale modelling to obtain a bridge among different time and length scales of simulation techniques. These techniques are vital as it holds the potential to understand and predict the capabilities of polymer nanocomposites (PNCs). However, an appropriate approach in controlling the interfacial interaction between nanoparticle and polymer in nanocomposites structure is still needed to develop. In this review, an initial brief introduction to various trending simulation techniques has been discussed at all three levels of scale (nm, μm, mm). Later, descriptive study on fundamental issues such as thermodynamics, kinetics, mechanical properties, and morphology has been studied deeply. The multiscale modeling bridges the gaps of simulation between the different scales of models from molecular to mesoscale levels working over the broad range of length and timescale. Through the sequential, adaptive, and concurrent approaches, we can develop a system that may comprehend multiscale mode modeling adaptive resolution approach has recently added approach the molecule of the subject can shift their position freely in the domain and through this approach and studied the Brownian motion. Co-The co-current coach is also termed as handshaking path and it is linked aiming at different scale models. Covering the rigid techniques smoothly and linking them at different scales helps in normalizing the statistical behaviour.

The dynamic effects observed in collisions represent a specific area of high-energy interaction located at the boundary of mechanics, hydrodynamics, shock wave physics, and alternating high-pressure regions. The paper shows that in the volume of a solid metal body, as a result of dynamic alloying by a high-speed stream of powder particles in the super-deep penetration mode (SDP), fibre structures of altering material arise, forming the framework of the composite material. The stream of powder particles in the metal obstacle following the path of least resistance and the impact of shock waves on particles results in a volumetric framework from the products of interaction between the injected and matrix materials. When using SDP, defective structural elements (channelled) - germs of reinforcing fibres arise. At the subsequent heat treatment, there is an intensive diffusion. The growth process of reinforcing fibres shifts to higher temperatures (as compared to the standard mode), leading to an increase in the bending strength of the fibre material up to 13 times for high-speed tool W6Mo5Cr4V2 steel. As a result of the completion of the growth of reinforcing fibres in the volume of the W6Mo5Cr4V2 steel, the material's bending strength in 1.2 times is realised. Simultaneously, it provides an increase of wear resistance 1.7-1.8 times.

The application of metal-matrix composite coatings for protecting and improving the service life of sliding components has demonstrated to have the potentials of meeting the requirements of a diverse range of engineering industries. Recently, a significant body of research has been devoted to study the mechanical and tribological performance of dispersion-strengthened MCrAlY coatings. These coatings belong to a class of emerging wear-resistant materials, offering improved properties and being considered as promising candidates for the protection of engineering structural materials exposed to tribological damage, especially at elevated temperature regimes. This paper attempts to comprehensively review the different reinforcements used in the processing of MCrAlY-based alloys and how they influence the mechanical and tribological properties of the corresponding coatings. Further, the major fabrication techniques together with their benefits and challenges are also reviewed. Discussion on the failure mechanisms of these coatings as well as the main determining factors are also included. In addition, a comprehensive survey of studies and investigations in recent times are summarized and elaborated to further substantiate the review.

The present decade has witnessed numerous investigations focussed on the determination of the mechanical properties of Fly ash composites. These composites have attracted attention, especially in the form of reinforcements owing to their excellent tensile and compressive properties coupled with impact and hardness response. A number of techniques viz. in-situ deposition, hand-up lay and compo-casting techniques have been reported to fabricate these composites. However, in the context of these composites, a systematic structure-property correlation has not been established till date. The present review is aimed at highlighting the current state of research in the avenue of Fly ash composites from two different viewpoints, viz. (i) fabrication technique and (ii) mechanical properties of the fabricated composites. Moreover, the necessity of establishing systematic structure-property correlation in these materials has also been briefly discussed from the author’s viewpoint.

Solute decoration at grain boundaries (GB) leads to a number of phenomenon such as changes in interface structure, mobility, cohesion etc. Recent experimental investigations on interfacial segregation in steels are based on microstructural characterisation using two correlative methodologies, namely, Transmission Electron Microscopy-Atom Probe Tomography (APT) and Electron Backscatter Diffraction-APT. Considering the growing interest in this avenue, the present review is aimed at addressing the common adsorption isotherms used for quantifying interfacial segregation and providing an overview of the present state of experimental research in the area of GB segregation in steels. The areas where an understanding of GB segregation may be utilised have also been highlighted with a focus on the experimental challenges associated with understanding GB segregation in steels.

In this study, we propose a solution process for realizing color glass for building integrated pho-tovoltaic (BIPV) systems by spin coating a color solution composed of a pearlescent pigment mixed in a norland optical adhesive (NOA) matrix. Color solutions are made from mixing pearlescent pigments in NOA63. Compared to a physical vapor deposition process, color coatings are achieved by spin coating in a relatively simple and inexpensive process at room temperature. The optical properties can be easily controlled by adjusting the spin coating speed and the concentra-tion of the pearlescent pigments. The produced color glasses achieved a high transmittance of 85% or more in the visible wavelength range, except the wavelength spectrum exhibiting the maxi-mum reflectance. In addition, we propose a one-step lamination process of color glass on a solar cell by leveraging on the adhesive property of the NOA matrix. This eliminates the cost and pro-cess of additional ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) layer or other materials used in the conventional lamination process. The color glass produced through this study has stability that does not change its properties over time. Therefore, it is expected to be applied to the BIPV solar module market where aesthetics and energy efficiency are required.

The high Nb-containing TiAl-based alloy ingot beyond laboratory scale with a composition of Ti-46Al-8Nb (at. %) was prepared by a vacuum induction melting process based on BaZrO3 refractory. An ingot without macroscopic casting defects (such as pipe shrinkage and center line porosity) was finally obtained, and the chemical composition, solidification path, microstructure and tensile properties of the ingots were investigated. The results show that the deviations of Al and Nb content along a 430 mm long central part of the ingot are approximately \mathrm{\pm}0.39 at. % and \mathrm{\pm}0.14 at. %, and the oxygen content in the ingot can be controlled at around 1000 ppm. During the solidification process, the alloy suffered from peritectic reaction and formed columnar grains with anisotropy. In addition to Al segregation and Nb segregation, β-phase particles associated with γ phase at the triple junction of the colonies were observed. Moreover, the mechanical properties of the ingot in the transverse direction are significantly better than those in the longitudinal direction, with a tensile strength of up to high as 700 MPa and a corresponding fracture elongation of 1.1 %.

Powder mixture with given molar ratio Ca/P = 1.67 consisting of brushite (calcium hydrophosphate dihydrate) CaHPO4·2H2O, calcium oxalate monohydrate CaC2O4·H2O in form of whewellite and weddellite and some quantity of quasi-amorphous phase was obtained as a result of the interaction of hydroxyapatite powder Ca10(PO4)6(OH)2 with an aqueous solution of oxalic acid H2C2O4 at a molar ratio of Ca10(PO4)6(OH)2/H2C2O4 = 1:4 under mechanical activation conditions. This powder mixture was used to produce microporous monophase ceramics based on hydroxyapatite Ca10(PO4)6(OH)2 with aperient density of 1.25 g/cm3 after firing at 1200 oC. Microporosity of sintered ceramics was formed due to presence of particles with plate-like morphology, restraining shrinkage during sintering. Microporous ceramics based on hydroxyapatite Ca10(PO4)6(OH)2 with roughness of the surface as a consequence of the created microporosity can be recommended as a biocompatible material for the bone defects treatment and as a substrate for bone cell cultivation.

Among the various methods for collecting oil spills and oil products, including from the water surface, one of the most effective is the use of sorbents. In this work, three-component bio-based composite granular adsorbents were produced and studied for oil products pollution collection. A bio-based binder made of peat, devulcanised crumb rubber from used tyres, and part fly ash as cenospheres were used for absorbent production. The structure, surface morphology, porosity, mechanical properties, and sorption kinetics of the obtained samples were studied. Composite hydrophobicity and sorption capacity to oil products such as diesel fuel (DF) and motor oil (MO) were determined. The obtained pellets are characterised by a sufficiently pronounced ability to absorb oil products such as DF. As the amount of CR in the granules increases, the diesel absorption capacity increases significantly. The case of 30-70-0 is almost 3 times higher than the granules from homogenised peat. The increase in q is due to two factors: pronounced surface hydrophobicity of the samples (Θ = 152°) and a heterogeneous porous granule structure. The presence of the cenosphere in the biocomposite reduces its surface hydrophobicity while increasing the diesel absorption capacity. Relatively rapid realisation of the maximum saturation by the MO was noted. In common, the designed absorbent shows up to 0.7 g·g^-1 sorption capacity for MO and up to 1.55 g·g^-1 sorption capacity for diesel. A possible mechanism of DF absorption and the limiting stages of the process approximated for different kinetic models are discussed. The Weber-Morris diffusion model is used to primarily distinguish the limiting effect of external and internal diffusion of adsorbate on the absorption process

Selected glasses with 10 Na₂O + (90-x) P₂O₅ + x BCD where bypass cement dust (BCD) x value =10, 20, 30 in mol% were synthesized by recognizable melting annealing technique. Cooperative characterization of the prepared glasses were carried out through FTIR and SEM analysis before and after immersed in simulated body fluid (SBF) solution for 13 and 23 days at 37 ^oC. After immersion in SBF, apatite layer is produced on the glass surface after 13 day and increase after 23 day, showing good bioactivity after immersion in the SBF especially for bioglass sample with 30% BCD. A porous hydroxy apatite layer produced on the surface of SBF-glass composite and this layer became denser after more soaking time, periods were extended from 13 to 23 days. Atomic absorption spectroscopy explained the early period of soaking that cause release of both Si and Ca ions through the glass beside decreasing of phosphrous ions. Bioglass (BCD-30) is studied as shielding for gamma, protons and alphas by using Phy-X software, SRIM Monte Carlo simulation code and its subroutine TRIM. The gamma shielding parameters, mass stopping power (MSP), range for both proton (H- ions) and alpha (He- ions) in bioglass- BCD-30 and human bone tissue have estimated. Also, comparison between them is calculated in predicting the radiation damage and atomic displacements per atom (dpa).

In this review, we provide an overview of the most common majority and minority charge carrier traps in n-type 4H-SiC material. We focus on the results obtained by different applications of junction spectroscopy techniques. The basic principles behind the most common junction spectroscopy techniques are given. These techniques, namely, deep level transient spectroscopy (DLTS), Laplace DLTS (L-DLTS) and minority carrier transient spectroscopy (MCTS) have led to recent progress in identifying and better understanding of the charge carrier traps in n-type 4H-SiC material.

The interband transitions of urania (UO2) are validated independently through cathode luminescence of UO2. A picture emerges consistent with density functional theory. While theory is generally consistent with experiment, it is evident that the choice of functional can significantly alter the band gap and some details of the band structure, in particular at the conduction band minimum. Strictly ab initio predictions of the optical properties of the actinide compounds, based on density functional theory alone continues to be somewhat elusive.

The formation and propagation of cracks occurs through irreversible dislocation movements at notches, material defects and grain boundaries. Since this process is partly thermally controlled, the resistance to dislocation movements at low temperatures increases. This slows both fatigue initiation and fatigue crack propagation. From recent experimental data, it can be seen that fatigue crack growth is accelerated below the fatigue transition temperature (FTT) that correlates with the ductile-brittle transition temperature (DBTT) found by well-known fracture mechanics tests, i.e., Charpy impact, fracture toughness, and CTOD. Hence, this study investigates the relation between FTT and DBTT in S500 high-strength steel base material and welded joints at low temperatures using fatigue crack growth, fracture toughness tests as well as scanning electron microscopy. From the tests, an almost constant decrease in fatigue crack propagation rate is determined with decreasing test temperature even below the DBTT.

This article deals with the possibility of partial replacement of blast furnace slag with fly ash after denitrification by the Selective Non-Catalytic Reduction (SNCR) method in alkali-activated materials. In the experiment, the basic physical-mechanical properties and durability properties were tested, the hydration reaction was monitored in a calorimeter and infrared spectroscopy was performed. Results were compared between mixtures prepared with fly ash without denitrification and also with reference mixture based only on alkali-activated blast furnace slag. The basic result is the finding, that hybrid alkali-systems with fly ash after denitrification show similar trends as hybrid alkali-systems with fly ash without denitrification. The significant effect of fly ash is manifested especially in terms of resistance to freeze-thaw. The reactions in the calorimeter show a slower development of reactions with increasing replacement of slag by fly ash. In the case of testing resistance to leaching in demineralised water, a decrease of flexural strength was found, which corresponds to the conclusions of strength testing, that long-term deposition of bodies in water causes deterioration of mechanical properties.

Among the thermophysical properties, the surface / interfacial tension, viscosity and density / molar volume of liquid alloys are the key properties for the modelling of microstructural evolution during solidification. Therefore, only reliable input data can yield accurate predictions preventing the error propagation in numerical simulations of solidification related processes. Due to experimental difficulties related to reactivity of metallic melts at high temperatures, the measured data are often unreliable or even lacking. The application of containerless processing techniques either leads to a significant improvement of the accuracy or makes the measurement possible at all. On the other side, accurate model predicted property values could be used to compensate the missing data; otherwise, the experimental data are useful for the validation of theoretical models. The choice of models is particularly important for the surface, transport and structural properties of liquid alloys representing the two limiting cases of mixing, i.e. ordered and phase separating alloy systems. To this aim, the thermophysical properties of the Fe-Si and Cu-Pb systems were analysed and the connections with the peculiarities of their mixing behaviours are highlighted.

A Weyl semimetal is a novel crystal with low-energy electronic excitations that behave as Weyl fermions. It has received worldwide interest and was believed to have opened the next era of condensed matter physics after graphene and three-dimensional topological insulators. Howev-er, it is not easy to obtain a single large-size crystal because there are many nucleations in the preparation process. Here, a bottom-seed CVT growth method is proposed in this paper, and we acquired the large-size, high-quality NbAs single crystals up to 5x4x4 mm3 finally. X-ray diffrac-tion and STEM confirmed that they are tetragonal NbAs, which the key is to use seed crystal in vertical growth furnace. Notably, the photoelectric properties of the crystal are obtained under the existing conditions, which paves the way for the follow-up work.

Self-healing is the capability of materials to repair themselves after damage has occurred, usually by interaction between molecules or chains. Physical and chemical processes are applied for the preparation of self-healing systems. There are different approaches for these systems such as heterogeneous systems, shape memory effects, hydrogen bonding or covalent-bond interaction, diffusion and flow dynamics. Self-healing mechanisms can occur in particular by heat and light exposure or by reconnection without direct effect. The applications of these systems display an increasing trend in both R&D and industry sectors. Moreover, self-healing systems and their energy storage applications are currently getting great importance. This review aims to provide general information on recent developments in self-healing materials and their energy applications in view of the critical importance of self-healing systems for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). In the first part of the review, an introduction about self-healing mechanisms and design strategies of self-healing materials is given. Then, selected important healing materials in the literature for the anodes of LIBs are mentioned in the second part. The results and future perspectives are stated in the conclusion section.

The research and development of non-viral gene therapy has been extensive over the past decade and has received a big push thanks to the successful approval of non-viral gene therapy products in recent times. Despite these developments, gene therapy applications in cancer have been limited. One of the main causes of this has been the imbalance in development of delivery vectors as compared to nucleic acid payloads. This paper reviews non-viral vectors that can be used to deliver nucleic acids for cancer treatment. It discusses various types of vectors and highlights their current applications. Additionally, it also discusses perspective on regulatory landscape to facilitate commercial translation of gene therapy.

Solidification cracking is a major obstacle when joining dissimilar alloys using additive manufacturing. In this work, location-specific solidification cracking susceptibility has been investigated using an integrated computational materials engineering (ICME) approach for a graded alloy formed by mixing P91 steel and Inconel 740H superalloy. An alloy derived from a mixture of 26 wt.% P91 steel and 74 wt.% Inconel 740H, with high configurational and total entropy, was fabricated using wire-arc additive manufacturing. Microstructure characterization revealed intergranular solidification cracks, which increased in length along with the build height. With inputs from experiments, such as secondary dendrite arm spacing, the DICTRA (diffusion-controlled transformations) module within the Thermo-Calc software was used to model location-specific solidification cracking susceptibility. The top region, with the highest cooling rate, has the highest solidification cracking susceptibility and is in good agreement with the experimentally observed crack length. From Scheil simulations, it was deduced that pronounced segregation of Nb and Cu within the cracks increased the solidification range by suppressing the solidus temperature. The overall solidification cracking susceptibility and freezing range was highest for the 26 wt.% P91 alloy amongst the mixed compositions between P91 steel and 740H superalloy, proving that solidification characteristics play a major role in alloy design for additive manufacturing.

Long-term changes in nanoparticles of copper-silver bimetallic systems on natural clinoptilolite obtained by ion exchange of Cu2+ and Ag+, and then reduced at different temperatures, have been studied. Even after storage under ambient conditions, XRD and UV-Vis diffuse reflectance spectra indicate the presence of nanospecies of reduced copper and silver. Scanning Electron Microscopy of aged bimetallic samples, reduced at the highest temperature (450oC) and the primary samples for their preparation, also aged, showed the presence of silver nanoparticles with a size of about 100 nm. They are formed in the initial ion-exchanged sample (without reduction) due to the degradation of Ag+ ions. The nanoparticles in the reduced sample are larger; in both samples they are evenly distributed over the surface. The presence of silver affects the stability and the mechanism of decomposition/oxidation of reduced copper nanospecies, and this stability is higher in bimetallic systems. The decomposition pattern of recently reduced species includes the formation of smaller nanoparticles and few-atomic clusters. This can occur, preceding the complete oxidation of Cu to ions. Quasi-colloidal silver, which is present in fresh bimetallic samples reduced at lower temperatures, transforms after aging into Ag8 clusters, which indicates the stability of these nanospecies on natural clinoptilolite.

Influence of Joule heating on magnetic properties, giant magnetoimpedance (GMI) effect and domain wall (DW) dynamics of Fe75B9Si12C4 glass-coated microwires was studied. A remarkable increase in GMI ratio is observed in Joule heated samples. The hysteresis loops of Joule heated samples maintain a rectangular shape, while a slight decrease in coercivity after Joule heating is observed. On the other hand, a modification of MOKE hysteresis loops is observed upon Joule heating. Additionally, DW dynamics improvement after Joule heating is observed. The observed GMI ratio improvement along with the change in MOKE loops and DW dynamics improvement has been discussed considering magnetic anisotropy induced by Oersted magnetic field in the surface layer during Joule heating and the internal stress relaxation. A remarkable GMI ratio im-provement observed in Fe-rich Joule-heated microwires with a rectangular hysteresis loop and fast DW propagation, together with the fact that Fe is a more common and less expensive metal than Co, makes them suitable for use in magnetic sensors.

In this review paper, an overview of the application of n-type 4H-SiC Schottky barrier diodes (SBDs) as radiation detectors is given. We have chosen 4H-SiC SBDs among other semiconductor devices such as PiN diodes or metal-oxide-semiconductor (MOS) structures, as significant progress has been achieved in radiation detection applications of SBDs in the last decade. Here, we present the recent advances at all key stages in the application of 4H-SiC SBDs as radiation detectors, namely: SBDs fabrication, electrical characterization of SBDs, and their radiation response. Main achievements are highlighted, and main challenges are discussed.

Although the dry ice method used to synthesize exfoliated graphite/graphene is little known and used, it has significant advantages over others: it is low cost, simple, and a large quantity of material can be obtained using some inorganic and highly available acids (which can be reused). Despite the above advantages, the main reason for its incipient development is the resulting presence of magnesium oxide in the final product. In the present work, three different treat-ments were tested to remove this remnant using some acid chemical leaching processes, making use of hydrochloric acid, aqua regia, and piranha solution. Based on the experimental evidence, it was found that using aqua regia and combining the leaching process with mechanical milling was the most efficient way of removing such a remnant, the residue being only 0.9 wt.%. This value is low when compared to that obtained with the other acid leaching solutions and purifi-cation process (2.8 - 29.6 wt.%). A mandatory high-energy mechanical milling stage was neces-sary during this treatment, in order to expose and dissolve the highly insoluble oxide without secondary chemical reactions on the graphenes. High-energy mechanical milling is an effective route to exfoliate graphite/graphene, which allows the magnesium oxide to be more susceptible to acid treatment. The obtained surface area was 504 m2g-1; this high value resulting from the in-tense exfoliation can potentiate the use of this material for a wide variety of applications.

Ion-exchange membranes (IEMs) are widely used in desalination, waste water treatment, food, energy production and other applications. There is a strong demand for cost-effective IEMs characterized by high selective transport of ions of a certain sign of charge. In this paper, we simulate the experimental results of V. Sarapulova et al. (IJMS 2021) on the modification of an inexpensive anion-exchange membrane (CJMA-7, Hefei Chemjoy Polymer Materials Co. Ltd., China) with a perfluorosulfonated ionomer (PFSI). The modification was made in several stages including keeping the membrane at a low temperature, applying a PFSI solution on its surface, and subsequent drying it at an elevated temperature. We apply the known microheterogeneous model with some new amendments to simulate each stage of the membrane modification. It has been shown that the PFSI film formed on the membrane-substrate does not affect significantly its properties due to the small thickness of the film (4 m) and similar properties of the film and substrate. The main effect is caused by the fact that PFSI material “clogs” the macropores of the CJMA-7 membrane, thereby blocking the transport of coions through the membrane. In this case, the membrane microporous gel phase, which has a high selectivity to counterions, remains the primary pathway for both counterions and coions. Due to the above modification of the CJMA-7 membrane, the coion (Na+) transport number in the membrane equilibrated with 1 M NaCl solution decreased from 0.11 to 0.03. Thus, the modified membrane becomes comparable in its transport characteristics with more expensive IEMs available on the market.

Lung cancer (LC) is one of the leading causes of cancer occurrence and mortality worldwide. Treatment of patients with advanced and metastatic LC presents a significant challenge as malignant cells use different mechanisms to resist chemotherapy. Drug resistance (DR) is a complex process that occurs due to a variety of genetic and acquired factors. Identifying the mechanisms underlying DR in LC patients and possible therapeutic alternatives for more efficient therapy is a central goal of LC research. Advances in nanotechnology resulted in the development of targeted and multifunctional nanoscale drug constructs. The possible modulation of the components of nanomedicine, their surface functionalization, and encapsulation of various active therapeutics provide promising tools to bypass crucial biological barriers. These attributes enhance the delivery of multiple therapeutic agents directly to the tumor microenvironment (TME), resulting in reversal of LC resistance to anticancer treatment. This review provides a broad framework for understanding the different molecular mechanisms of DR in lung cancer; presents novel nanomedicine therapeutics aimed to improve the efficacy of treatment of various forms of resistant LC; outlines current challenges in using nanotechnology for reversing DR; and discusses the future directions for clinical application of nanomedicine in management of LC resistance.

Currently, old-style personal medicare techniques rely mostly on traditional methods, such as cumbersome tools and complicated processes, which can be time-consuming and inconvenient in some circumstances. Furthermore, such old methods need the use of heavy equipment, blood draws, and traditional bench-top testing procedures. Invasive ways of acquiring test samples can potentially cause patients discomfort and anguish. Wearable sensors, on the other hand, may be attached to numerous body areas to capture diverse biochemical and physiological characteristics as a developing analytical tool. Physical, chemical, and biological data transferred via the skin is used to monitor health in various circumstances. Wearable sensors can assess the aberrant conditions of the physical or chemical components of the human body in real-time, exposing the body state in time, thanks to unintrusive sampling and high accuracy. Most commercially available wearable gadgets are mechanically hard components attached to bands and worn on the wrist, with form factors ultimately constrained by the size and weight of the batteries required for the power supply. Wearable gadgets with “skin-like” qualities are a new type of automation that is only starting to make its way out of research labs and into pre-commercial prototypes. In this paper, we studied the recent advancement in battery-powered wearable sensors established on optical phenomena and skin-like battery-free sensors which brings a breakthrough in wearable sensing automation.

Recently, electrocatalysts for oxygen reduction reactions (ORRs) as well as oxygen evolution reactions (OERs) hinged on electrospun nanofiber composites have attracted wide research attention. Transition metal elements and heteroatomic doping are important methods used to enhance their catalytic performances. Lately, the construction of electrocatalysts based on metal-organic framework (MOF) electrospun nanofibers has become a research hotspot. In this work, bimetallic NixCoy-ZIF nanocrystals were synthesized in an aqueous solution, followed by NixCoy-ZIF/PAN electrospun nanofiber precursors, which were prepared by a simple electrospinning method. Bimetal (Ni-Co) porous carbon nanofiber catalysts doped with nitrogen, oxygen, and sulfur elements were obtained at high-temperature carbonization treatment in different atmospheres (Ar, Air, and H2S), respectively. The morphological properties, structures, and composition were characterized by SEM, TEM, SAED, XRD, and XPS. Also, the specific surface area of materials and their pore size distribution was characterized by BET. Linear sweep voltammetry curves investigated catalyst performances towards oxygen reduction and evolution reactions. Importantly, Ni1Co2-ZIFs/PAN-Ar yielded the best ORR activity, whereas Ni1Co1-ZIFs/PAN-Air exhibited the best OER performance. This work provides significant guidance for the preparation and characterization of multi-doped porous carbon nanofibers carbonized in different atmospheres.

We present a simple strategy to generate a family of carbon dot/iron oxide nanoparticles (C/Fe-NPs) that relies on the thermal decomposition of iron (III) acetylacetonate in the presence of a highly fluorescent carbon-rich precursor, while polyethylene glycol serves as the passivation agent. By varying the molar ratio of the reactants, a series of C/Fe-NPs have been synthesized with tuneable elemental composition in terms of C, H, O, N, Fe. The quantum yield is enhanced from 6% to 9% as the carbon content increases from 27% to 36%, while the room temperature saturation magnetization is improved from 4.1 emu/g to 17.7 emu/g as the iron content is enriched from 17 to 31%. In addition, the C/Fe-NPs show excellent antimicrobial properties, minimal cytotoxicity and demonstrate promising bioimaging capabilities, thus showing great potential for the development of advanced diagnostic tools.

The dependence of the critical temperature $T_c$ of high-temperature superconductors of various families on their composition and structure is proposed. A clear dependence of the critical temperature of high-temperature superconductors (hydrides, Hg- and Y-based cuprates) on the serial number of the constituent elements, their valence and crystal lattice structure has been revealed. For cuprates, it is shown that it is possible to obtain even higher temperatures of superconducting transitions at normal pressure by implanting mercury atoms into the crystal lattice of cuprate.

A quantitative method is proposed to determine of Stone-Wales defects for carbon nanostructures with sp2 hybridization of carbon atoms. The technique is based on the diene synthesis reaction (Diels-Alder reaction). The proposed method was used to determine Stone-Wales defects in the few-layer graphene (FLG) nanostructures synthesized by the self-propagating high-temperature synthesis (SHS) process, in reduced graphene oxide (rGO) synthesized based on the method of Hammers and in the single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNT) TUBAL trademark, Russia. Our research has shown that the structure of FLG is free of Stone-Wales defects, while the surface concentration of Stone-Wales defects in TUBAL carbon nanotubes is 1.1×10-5 mol/m2 and 3.6×10-5 mol/m2 for rGO.

Calcium dihydrogen phosphate monohydrate [Ca(H2PO4)2·H2O] (a fertilizer) was successfully synthesized by the recrystallization process by using a prepared triple superphosphate (TSP) that derived from oyster shell waste as starting material. This bio-green, eco-friendly process to produce an important fertilizer can promote a sustainable society. The shell-waste-derived TSP was dissolved in distilled water and kept at 30, 50, and 80 °C. Non-soluble powder and TSP solution were obtained. The TSP solution fraction were then dried and the recrystallized products (RCP30, RCP50, and RCP80) were obtained and confirmed as Ca(H2PO4)2·H2O. Whereas the non-soluble products (NSP30, NSP50, and NSP80) were observed as calcium hydrogen phosphate dihydrate (CaHPO4·2H2O). The recrystallized yields of RCP30, RCP50, and RCP80 were found to be 51.0%, 49.6%, and 46.3%, whereas the soluble percentages were 98.72%, 99.16%, and 96.63%, respectively. RCP30 shows different morphological plate sizes, while RCP50 and RCP80 present the coagulate crystal plates. X-ray diffractograms confirm the formation of both the NSP and RCP. The infrared adsorption spectra confirmed the vibrational characteristics of HPO42‒, H2PO4‒ and H2O existed in CaHPO4·2H2O and Ca(H2PO4)2·H2O. Three thermal dehydration steps of Ca(H2PO4)2·H2O (physisorbed water, polycondensation, and re-polycondensation) were observed. Ca(H2PO4)2 and CaH2P2O7 are the thermodecomposed products from the first and second steps, whereas the final product is CaP2O6.

For the first time, few-layer graphene (FLG) nanosheets were synthesized by the method of self-propagating high-temperature synthesis (SHS) from biopolymers (starch and lignin). We suggested that biopolymers (lignin, tree bark) and polysaccharides, in particular starch, could be an acceptable source of native cycles for the SHS process. The carbonization of biopolymers under the conditions of the SHS process was chosen as the basic method of synthesis. Chemical reactions, under the conditions of the SHS process, proceed according to a specific mechanism of nonsothermal branched-chain processes, which are characterized by the joint action of two fundamentally different process-accelerating factors - avalanche reproduction of active intermediate particles and self-heating. The method of obtaining FLG nanosheets included the thermal destruction of hydrocarbons in a mixture with an oxidizing agent. We used biopolymers as hydrocarbons and ammonium nitrate as an oxidizing agent. Thermal destruction was carried out in the mode of SHS, heating the mixture in a vessel at a speed of 20–30 oC/min to 150-200 oC and keeping at this temperature for 15–20 min with the discharge of excess gases into atmosphere. A combination of spectrometric research methods, supplemented by electron microscopy data, has shown that the particles of the carbonated product powder in their morphometric and physical parameters correspond to FLG nanosheets. An X-ray diffraction analysis of the indicated FLG nanosheets was carried out, which showed the absence of formations with a graphite crystal structure in the final material. The surface morphology was also studied and the features of the IR absorption of FLG nanosheets were analyzed. It is shown that the developed SHS method makes it possible to obtain FLG nanosheets with linear dimensions of tens of microns and a thickness of not more than 1-5 graphene layers (several graphene layers).

In this work, a novel heterojunction based on ZnSnO3/ZnO nanofibers was prepared using electrospinning method. The crystal, structural and surface compositional properties of sample based on ZnSnO3 and ZnSnO3/ZnO composite nanofibers were investigated by X-ray diffractometer (XRD), Scanning electron microscope (SEM), X-ray photoelectron spectrometer (XPS) and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET). Compared to pure ZnSnO3 nanofibers, the ZnSnO3/ZnO heterostructure nanofibers display high sensitivity and selectivity response with fast response towards ethanol gas at low operational temperature. The sensitivity response of sensor based on ZnSnO3/ZnO composite nanofibers were 19.6 towards 50 ppm ethanol gas at 225°C, which was about 1.5 times superior than that of pure ZnSnO3 nanofibers, which can be owed mainly to the presence of oxygen vacancies and the synergistic effect between ZnSnO3 and ZnO.

This study provides a novel method to prepare metal-ceramic composites from magnetically selected iron ore using microwave heating. By introducing three different microwave susceptors (Activated Carbon, SiC, and a mixture of Activated Carbon and SiC) during the microwave process, effective control of the ratio of metallic and ceramic phases has been achieved easily. The effects of the three susceptors on the microstructure of the metal-ceramics and the related reaction mechanisms were also investigated in detail. The results show that the metal phase (Fe) and ceramic phase (Fe2SiO4, FeAl2O4) can be maintained, but the metal phase to ceramic phase changed significantly. In particular, the microstructures appeared as well-distributed nanosheet structures with diameters of ~400 nm and thicknesses of ~20 nm when SiC was used as the microwave susceptor.

There are various biomaterials in nature, but none fulfills all the requirements. Cellulose, eco-friendly material-based biopolymers, have been advanced biomedicine to satisfy most market demand and circumvent many ecological concerns. This review aims to present an overview of the state of the art in cellulose's knowledge and technical biomedical applications. It included an extensive bibliography of recent research findings for fundamental and applied investigations. The chemical structure of cellulose allows modifications and simple conjugation with several materials, including nanoparticles, without tedious efforts. Cellulose-based materials were used for biomedicine applications such as antibacterial agents, antifouling, wound healing, drug delivery, tissue engineering, and bone regeneration. They advanced the applications to be cheap, biocompatible, biodegradable, easy for shaping and processing into different forms, with suitable chemical, mechanical and physical properties.

The Laser Thermal-Joule Heating Composite Process was studied by orthogonal tests based on an analysis of fabrication parameters such as the laser power, wire feeding speed, and electric current. Temperature profiles and the geometric morphology of deposited layers under different process parameters were analyzed, and the overlaps between the layers and the substrate were observed. Results show that when the temperature at the bottom layer of the additive manufacturing is higher than the melting point of the substrate, and the highest temperature at the top layer does not exceed the over-firing temperature, good morphology and close bonding with the substrate can be obtained. Finally, appropriate process parameters were identified and verified to print multiple layers continuously.

Controlling the ratio of capacitance and power of supercapacitors by changing the composition of the electrodes will allow to create optimal power systems for specific applications. For the formation of such electrodes, a method is required that combines the possibilities of creating a multicomponent composite with a high degree of uniformity of composition and morphology over the layer thickness. An example of such a method can be the eco-friendly method of electrophoretic deposition used in this work, which makes it possible to locally deposit a composite material from multicomponent suspensions at room temperature. We present an approach related to electrophoretic deposition from a suspension of composite material SuperC-RuO 2 , in which the ratio of the components can be changed to vary the proportion of electrochemical and electrical double layer storage. Nanocarbon, which has a large surface area, and ruthenium oxide with a significant electrochemical capacity, in combination, will allow combining high power and capacity in one device, and their ratio will determine the proportion of electrochemical and electrical double layer storage. In this work, approaches are investigated and recommendations are given for increasing the stability of suspensions, the effect of the composition of the suspension on the composition of composite electrodes and their capacitive and power characteristics is determined.

For many decades, X-ray diffraction (XRD) has been used for material characterization. With the recent development in material science understanding and technology, various new materials are being developed, which requires upgrading the existing analytical techniques such that intricate problems can be solved. Although, XRD is a well-established non-destructive technique, it still requires further improvements in its characterization capabilities, especially when dealing with complex mineral structures. The present review conducts comprehensive discussions on atomic crystal structure, XRD principle, its applications, uncertainty during XRD analysis, and required safety precautions, all in one place. It further discusses the future research directions, especially the use of artificial intelligence and machine learning tools for improving the effectiveness and accuracy of XRD technique for mineral characterization. It has been focused that how XRD patterns can be utilized for a thorough understanding of the crystalline structure, size, and orientation, dislocation density, phase identification, quantification, and transformation, information about lattice parameters, residual stress, and strain, and thermal expansion coefficient of materials. All these important discussions on XRD for mineral characterization are compiled in this short yet comprehensive review that would benefit specialists and engineers in the chemical, mining, iron, metallurgy, and steel industries.

The interfacial mechanics and electrical properties of the SiC reinforced copper matrix composites were studied via the first principles method. The work of adhesion (Wad) and the interfacial energies were calculated to evaluate the stabilities of the SiC/Cu interfacial models. The carbon terminated (CT)-SiC/Cu interfaces were predicted more stable than those of the silicon terminated (ST)-SiC/Cu from the results of the Wad and interfacial energies. The interfacial electron properties of SiC/Cu were studied via the charge density distribution, charge density difference, electron localized functions and partial density of the state. The covalent C-Cu bonds were formed based on the results of the electron properties, which further explained the fact that the interfaces of the CT-SiC/Cu are stable than those of the ST-SiC/Cu. The interfacial mechanics of the SiC/Cu were investigated via the interfacial fracture toughness and ultimate tensile stress, and the results indicate that both CT- and ST-SiC/Cu interfaces are hard to fracture. The ultimate tensile stress of the CT-SiC/Cu is nearly 23GPa, which is smaller than those of the ST-SiC/Cu of 25 GPa. The strains corresponding to their ultimate tensile stresses of the CT- and ST-SiC/Cu are about 0.28 and 0.26, respectively. The higher strains of CT-SiC/Cu indicate their stronger plastic properties on the interfaces of the composites.

Excitation of the acoustic field leading to the Blaha effect affects the plasticity of the material significantly in ultrasonic vibration-assisted forming. In a micro-forming field, the effects are more significant in the deformation in surface of materials [1]-[3], in which reduction of the surface roughness based on the increasing of plastic deformation of surface asperity was effective [4]. On the other hand, the effect on deformation behavior of the bulk region indicted reduction in the yield stress of materials, and not only acoustic effect [5], but also impact effect is found to generate a large amount of dislocation and produce plastic deformation [6][7]. However, the effect on the bulk is more significant as that on the surface. Differences in the effect on the surface and the bulk are not clarified. In this study, the mechanism of the deformation in the surface of the material with ultrasonic vibration assistance is investigated and compared with that in the bulk. Forging tests using a newly developed ultrasonic vibrator were carried out on pure Cu foils with various process conditions. The longitudinal vibration frequency of the ultrasonic transducer is 60∓2kHz, and the vibration amplitude is in an adjustable range of 0~10μm. Forging test was carried out at different initial stress, specimen size and amplitude. The difference in acoustic softening and impact effects on the surface and the bulk was discussed.

Various efforts have been made to detect minimum value of glucose in any medium like water or body buffer solutions with high-sensitivity, accurate, and low-cost sensors in order to enhance life style. Therefore, the present study was done to investigate reliability of two-dimensional plasmonic structure by circular dichroism (CD) and ellipsometry tools in different concentrations of glucose. Our results confirmed a dependency of the CD signal on glucose concentrations and also a very good sensitivity based on the phase difference between each polarization in ellipsometry parameters with the help of an achiral plasmonic structure.

Titanium dioxide nanoparticles have risen concerns about their possible toxicity and the European Food Safety Authority recently banned the use of TiO2 nano-additive in food products. Following the intent of relating nanomaterials atomic structure with their toxicity without having to conduct large scale experiments on living organisms, we investigate the aggregation of titanium dioxide nanoparticles using a multi-scale technique: starting from ab initio Density Functional Theory to get an accurate determination of the energetics and electronic structure, we switch to classical Molecular Dynamics simulations to calculate the Potential of Mean Force for the connection of two identical nanoparticles in water; the fitting of the latter by a set of mathematical equations is the key for the upscale. Lastly, we perform Brownian Dynamics simulations where each nanoparticle is a spherical bead. This coarsening strategy allows studying the aggregation of a few thousand nanoparticles. Applying this novel procedure, we find three new molecular descriptors, namely, the aggregation free energy and two numerical parameters used to correct the observed deviation from the aggregation kinetic described by the Smoluchowski theory. Molecular descriptors can be fed into QSAR models to predict the toxicity of a material knowing its physicochemical properties, without having to conduct large scale experiments on living organisms.

Electrostatic interactions have a determining role in conformational and dynamic behavior of polyelectrolyte molecules [1]. In this study, anionic polyelectrolyte molecules, poly(glutamic acid) (PGA) and poly(aspartic acid) (PASA), in water solution with the most commonly used K+ or Na+ counterions were investigated using atomistic molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. Seven common force fields, AMBER99SB-ILDN, AMBER14SB, AMBER-FB15, CHARMM22*, CHARMM27, CHARMM36m and OPLS-AA/L, both with their native parameters and with the non-bonded fix (NBFIX) and electronic continuum corrections (ECC) to were studied. These corrections have bene introduced to correct for the problem of overbinding of ions to the charged groups of polyelectrolytes. Physical properties, such as molecular sizes, local structure and dynamics, were studied using two types of common counterions, potassium and sodium. The results show that in some cases, the macroion size and dynamics depend strongly on the models (parameters) for the counterions due to strong overbinding of ions and charged side chain groups. The local structures and dynamics are more sensitive on dihedral angle parameterization resulting in a preference for defined monomer conformations amd the type of correction used.

In this study, a new method for synthesizing Au-NaYF4:Yb3+/Er3+-DSPE-PEG2K nanocomposites was introduced. Using a hydrothermal method, the synthesized Yb3+- and Er3+-codoped NaYF4 upconversion luminescent materials and Au nanoparticles were doped into upconversion nanomaterials and modified with DSPE-PEG2k up-conversion nanomaterials. This material is known as Ag-UCNPs-DSPE-PEG2k, it improves both the luminous intensity because of the doped Au nanoparticles and has low cytotoxicity because of the DSPE-PEG2k modified. Exciting UCNPs with a wavelength of 980nm near-infrared light will emit light with a wavelength of 520nm to further excite gold nanoparticles to convert light energy into heat. Successful synthesized gold nanoparticles was confirmed using transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The morphology of UCNPs was observed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and the mapping confirmed the successful doping of Au nanoparticles. Fluorescence spectra were used to compare changes in luminescence intensity before and after doping Au nanoparticles. The cytotoxicity of Au-UCNPs-DSPE-PEG2K was tested via the cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) method, and its imaging ability was characterized using the Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and Computed Tomography (CT) method.

The work is devoted to the study of the mechanisms of damage accumulation in a polymer composite material (PCM) during fatigue loading. Mechanical testing of a fiberglass sample was carried out by cyclic tension accompanied by registration of acoustic emission (AE). For the recorded AE signals, the Fourier spectra were calculated and used for clustering with Kohonen self-organizing map. Relations between clusters and types of damage in the PCM structure were established. The analysis of the peak frequencies of the Daubechies D14-wavelet components of AE signals was carried out. Obtained results has allows one to describe the processes of destruction in the PCM sample. It has been established that, on the base of local formation of microdamages in the matrix and the fracture of the fibers detected during recording of the AE data, it is possible to predict the destruction of the polymer composite material, while the beginning of a material destruction can be registered if the damage identified as an adhesion failure is observed. Perspectives of application of adaptive fiber-optic AE sensors for structural monitoring of PCMs on the base of preliminary experimental results are considered and discussed.

Li₇La₃Zr₂O₁₂Solid-state reaction was used for Li₇La₃Zr₂O₁₂ material synthesis from Li₂CO₃, La₂O₃ and ZrO₂ powders. Phase investigation by XRD, SEM and EDS methods of Li₇La₃Zr₂O₁₂ were carried out. The molar heat capacity of Li₇La₃Zr₂O₁₂ at constant pressure in the temperature range 298-800 K should be calculated as Cp,m = 518.135+0.599 × T - 8.339 × T−2, where T is absolute temperature, . Thermodynamic characteristics of Li₇La₃Zr₂O₁₂ were determined as next: entropy S0298 = 362.3 J mol-1 K-1, molar enthalpy of dissolution ΔdHLlZO = ˗ 1471.73 ± 29.39 kJ mol−1, the standard enthalpy of formation from elements ΔfH0 = ˗ 9327.65 ± 7.9 kJ mol−1, the standard Gibbs free energy of formation ∆f G0298 = ˗9435.6 kJ mol-1.

Immunoglobulin G (IgG), a type of antibody, represents approximately 75% of serum antibodies in humans, and is the most common type of antibody found in blood circulation Consequently, the development of simple, fast and reliable systems for IgG detection are of considerable interest which can be achieved using electrochemical sandwich-type immunosensors. In this study we have developed an immunosensor sub-strate using an inexpensive and very simple fabrication method based on ZnO nanorods obtained through the electrodeposition of ZnO. The ZnO nanorods were treated by electrodepositing a layer of reduced gra-phene oxide to ensure an easy immobilization of the antibodies. On this substrate, the sandwich configura-tion of the immunosensor was built through different incubation steps, that were all optimized. The im-munosensor is electrochemically active thanks to the presence of gold nanoparticles tagging the secondary antibody, therefore it has been used to measure the current density of the hydrogen development reaction which is indirectly linked to the concentration of H-IgG antigens. In this way the calibration curve was constructed obtaining a linear range of 1-100 ng / ml with a detection limit of few ng / mL and good sensi-tivity.

The process of full-thickness skin regeneration is complex and has many parameters involved, which makes it difficult to use a single dressing to meet the various requirements of the complete regeneration at the same time. Therefore, developing hydrogel dressings with multifunction, including tunable rheological properties and aperture, hemostatic, antibacterial and super cytocompatibility, is a desirable candidate in wound healing. In this study, a series of complex hydrogels were developed via the hydrogen bond and covalent bond between chitosan (CS) and alginate (SA). These hydrogels exhibited suitable pore size and tunable rheological properties for cell adhesion. Chitosan endowed hemostatic, antibacterial properties and great cytocompatibility and thus solved two primary problems in the early stage of the wound healing process. Moreover, the sustained cytocompatibility of the hydrogels was further investigated after adding FGF and VE-cadherin via the co-culture of L929 and EC for 12 days. The confocal 3D fluorescent images showed that the cells were spherical and tended to form multicellular spheroids, which distributed in about 40-60μm thick hydrogels. Furthermore, the hydrogel dressings significantly accelerate defected skin turn to normal skin with proper epithelial thickness and new blood vessels and hair follicles through the histological analysis of in vivo wound healing. The findings mentioned above demonstrated that the CS/SA hydrogels with growth factors have tremendous potential as multifunctional hydrogel dressings for full-thickness skin regeneration incorporated with hemostatic, antibacterial, sustained cytocompatibility for 3D cell culture and normal skin repairing.

Magnesium-silver alloys are of high interest for the use as temporary bone implants due to their antibacterial properties in addition to biocompatibility and biodegradability. Thin wires in particular can be used for scaffolding, but the determination of their degradation rate and homogeneity using traditional methods is difficult. Therefore, we have employed 3D imaging using X-ray near-field holotomography with sub-micrometer resolution to study the degradation of thin (250 μm diameter) Mg-2Ag and Mg-6Ag wires. The wires were studied in two states, recrystallized and solution annealed to assess the influence of Ag content and precipitates on the degradation. Imaging was employed after degradation in Dulbecco’s modified Eagle’s medium and 10% fetal bovine serum after 1 to 7 days. At 3 days of immersion the degradation rates of both alloys in both states were similar, but at 7 days higher silver content and solution annealing lead to decreased degradation rates. The opposite was observed for the pitting factor. Overall, the standard deviation of the determined parameters was high, owing to the relatively small field of view during imaging and high degradation inhomogeneity of the samples. Nevertheless, Mg-6Ag in the solution annealed state emerges as a potential material for thin wire manufacturing for implants.

In this work, we demonstrate that cutting diamond crystals with a laser (532 nm wavelength, 0.5 mJ energy, 200 ns pulse duration at 15 kHz) produces a ≲20nm thick surface layer with magnetic order at room temperature. We have measured the magnetic moment with a SQUID magnetometer of six natural and six CVD diamond crystals of different size, nitrogen content and surface orientations. A robust ferromagnetic response at 300 K is observed only for crystals that were cut with the laser along the (100) surface orientation. The magnetic signals are much weaker for the (110) and negligible for the (111) orientations. We attribute the magnetic order to the disordered graphite layer produced by the laser at the diamond surface. The ferromagnetic signal vanished after chemical etching or after moderate temperature annealing. The obtained results indicate that laser treatment of diamond may pave the way to create ferromagnetic spots at its surface.

There was a question on “how lanthanides doping in iron oxide affects cure kinetics of epoxy-based nanocomposites?” To answer, we synthesized samarium (Sm)-doped Fe3O4 nanoparticles via electrochemical method and characterized it using FTIR, XRD, FE-SEM, EDX, TEM, and XPS analyses. The magnetic particles were uniformly dispersed in epoxy resin to increase the curability of the epoxy/amine system. The effect of the lanthanide dopant on the curing reaction of epoxy with amine was explored by modeling DSC experimental data based on model-free methodology. It was found that Sm3+ in the structure of Fe3O4 crystal participates in cross-linking of epoxy by catalyzing the reaction between epoxide rings and amine groups of curing agents. In addition, the etherification reaction of active OH groups on the surface of nanoparticles reacts with epoxy rings which prolongs the reaction time at the late stage of reaction where diffusion is the dominant mechanism.

Today, more disciplines are intercepting each other, giving rise to “cross-disciplinary” research. Technological advancements in material science and device structure and production have paved the way towards development of new classes of multi-purpose sensory devices. Organic phototransistors (OPTs) are photo-activated sensors based on organic field-effect transistors that convert incident light signals into electrical signals. The organic semiconductor (OSC) layer and three-electrode structure of an OPT offer great advantages for light detection compared to conventional photodetectors and photodiodes, due to their signal amplification and noise reduction characteristics. Solution processing of the active layer enables mass production of OPT devices at significantly reduced cost. The chemical structure of OSCs can be modified accordingly to fulfil detection at various wavelengths for different purposes. Organic phototransistors have attracted substantial interest in a variety of fields, namely biomedical, medical diagnostics, healthcare, energy, security, and environmental monitoring. Lightweight and mechanically flexible and wearable OPTs are suitable alternatives not only at clinical levels but also for point-of-care and home-assisted usage. In this review, we aim to explain different types, working mechanism and figures of merit of organic phototransistors and highlight the recent advances from the literature on development and implementation of OPTs for a broad range of research and real-life applications.

The application of optimization techniques to improve the performance of polymer processing technologies is of great practical consequence, since it may result in significant savings of materials and energy resources, assist recycling schemes and generate products with better properties. The present review aims at identifying and discussing the most important characteristics of polymer processing optimization problems in terms of the nature of the objective function, optimization algorithm, and process modelling approach that is used to evaluate the solutions and the parameters to optimize. Taking into account the research efforts developed so far, it is shown that several optimization methodologies can be applied to polymer processing with good results, without demanding important computational requirements. Also, within the field of artificial intelligence, several approaches can be reach significant success. The first part of this review demonstrated the advantages of the optimization approach in polymer processing, discussed some concepts on multi-objective optimization and reported the application of optimization methodologies in single and twin screw extruders, extrusion dies and calibrators. This second part focus on injection molding, blow molding and thermoforming technologies.

Millions of people use public transportation daily worldwide and frequently touch surfaces, thereby producing a reservoir of microorganisms on surfaces increasing the risk of transmission. Constant occupation makes sufficient cleaning difficult to achieve. Thus, an autonomous, perma-nent antimicrobial coating (AMC) could keep down the microbial burden on such surfaces. A photodynamic AMC was applied to frequently touched surfaces in buses. The microbial burden (colony forming units, cfu) was determined weekly and compared to equivalent surfaces in buses without AMC (references). The microbial burden ranged from 0 – 209 cfu/cm² on references and from 0 – 54 cfu/cm² on AMC. The means were 13.4 ± 29.6 cfu/cm² on references and 4.5 ± 8.4 cfu/cm² on AMC (p<0.001). The difference of microbial burden on AMC and references was al-most constant throughout the study. Considering a hygiene benchmark of 5 cfu/cm², the data yield an absolute risk reduction of 22.6 % and a relative risk reduction of 50.7 %. In conclusion, photo-dynamic AMC kept down the microbial burden, reducing the risk of transmission of microor-ganisms. AMC permanently and autonomously contributes to hygienic conditions on surfaces in public transportation. Photodynamic AMC therefore are suitable for reducing the microbial load and closing hygiene gaps in public transportation.

SLM Additive Manufacturing has demonstrated great potential for aerospace applications when structural elements of individual design and/or complex shape need to be promptly supplied. 3D-printable AlSi10Mg (RS-300) alloy is widely used for the fabrication of different structures in aerospace industry. The importance of the evaluation of residual stresses that arise as a result of complex 3D-printing process thermal history is widely discussed in literature, but systematic assessment remains lacking for their magnitude, spatial distribution, and comparative analysis of different evaluation techniques. In this study we report the results of a systematic study of residual stresses in a 3D-printed double tower shaped samples using several approaches: the contour method, blind hole drilling laser speckle interferometry, X-ray diffraction, and Xe pFIB-DIC micro-ring-core milling analysis. We show that a high level of tensile and compressive residual stresses is inherited from SLM 3D-printing and retained for longer than 6 months. The stresses vary over a significant proportion of the material yield stress. All residual stress evaluation techniques considered returned comparable values of residual stresses even regardless of dramatically different dimensional scales from millimeters for the Contour Method down, laser speckle interferometry and XRD and down to small fractions of a mm (70 μm) for Xe pFIB-DIC ring-core drilling. The use of residual stress evaluation is discussed in the context of optimizing the printing strategy to enhance the mechanical performance and long-term durability.