Search

Integrating more active components into a catalyst material could facilitate the development of multifunctional electrocatalysts for energy conversion and storage applications. In this study, we developed a multifunctional electrocatalyst, namely, Pd alloyed with Co-Fe deposited on N-doped mesoporous carbon derived from tissue paper (Pd@Co-Fe/N-TDC). The synergism in Pd@Co-Fe/N-TDC, stemming from the interatomic alloy between Pd and Co-Fe, N-doped mesoporous carbon with defective surfaces, distribution of polyhedral Pd nanoparticles, and strong metal-support interfacial interaction, resulted in significantly high electrocatalytic performance for both oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER). Pd@Co-Fe/N-TDC was found to be an efficient bifunctional oxygen electrocatalyst, and this was evidenced by a high onset potential (1.01 V) and kinetic current density (2.6 mA/cm2) for the ORR and by a low overpotential (296 mV) and a low Tafel slope value (38 mV/dec) for the OER, along with a small Δ E of 736 mV. The catalyst also exhibited high durability for both ORR and OER, even after 10000 and 5000 cycles, respectively. Theoretical assessment provides an insight into the synergism of active metal sites in Pd@Co-Fe/N-TDC, which showed its potential for use as a non-Pt electrocatalyst for energy applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Activating flux is made up of inorganic material mixed with a volatile medium. The objective of this study is to identify and review the literature in activating flux, and different type of welding techniques. For that purpose, a structured review method is adopted and the Scopus database is used as a primary source for the selection of papers. The papers were identified using the string term of “Activating flux” OR “Activated flux” in the title of papers. And a total of 238 papers were identified for the study. Besides the above few other papers were also reviewed and the materials used, the type of flux used, and the findings of different combinations were highlighted in the form of tables. The findings of the study provide a comprehensive understanding of the different type of welding techniques focusing on TIG welding, and the different combination of flux used and their impact was summarized.

Activating flux is made up of inorganic material mixed with a volatile medium. The objective of this study is to identify and review the literature in activating flux, and different type of welding techniques. For that purpose, a structured review method is adopted and the Scopus database is used as a primary source for the selection of papers. The papers were identified using the string term of "Activating flux" OR "Activated flux" in the title of papers. And a total of 238 papers were identified for the study. Besides the above few other papers were also reviewed and the materials used, the type of flux used, and the findings of different combinations were highlighted in the form of tables. The findings of the study provide a comprehensive understanding of the different type of welding techniques focusing on TIG welding, and the different combination of flux used and their impact was summarized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the attractive combinations of cell/surface interactions, biocompatibility, and good mechanical properties of Ti-6Al-4V, there is still a need to enhance the early stages of cell/surface integration that are associated with the implantation of biomedical devices into the human body. This paper presents a novel, easy and reproducible method of nanoscale and nanostructured hydroxyapatite (HA) coatings on Ti-6Al-4V. The resulting nanoscale coatings/nanostructures are characterized using a combination of Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy equipped with energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy. The nanostructured/nanoscale coatings are shown to enhance the early stages of cell spreading and integration of bone cells (hFOB cells) on Ti-6Al-4V surfaces. The improvements include the acceleration of extra-cellular matrix, cell spreading and proliferation by nanoscale HA structures on the coated surfaces. The implications of the results are discussed for the development of HA nanostructures for the improved osseointegration of Ti-6Al-4V in orthopedic and dental applications., (© 2024 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Understandably, the automakers demanded that the visible outer surfaces of their product were perfectly uniform and free of any scratches or marks. Due to the growth in can and aerospace [...]

Easy movement of oxidized Galinstan in microfluidic channels is a promising way for the wide application of the non-toxic liquid metal. In this paper, two different surface modification techniques (physical and chemical) are reported, which dramatically improve the non-wetting characteristics of oxidized Galinstan in the microfluidic channel. In the physical technique, normal paper textures are transferred to the inner wall of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) channels and four types of nanoparticles are then coated on the surface of the wall for further improvement of the non-wetting characteristics. Highest advancing angle of 167° and receding angle of 151° are achieved on the paper-textured PDMS with titanium oxide (TiO2) nanoparticles. In the chemical technique, three types of inorganic acids are employed to generate dual-scale structures on the PDMS surface. The inner wall surface treated with sulfuric acid (H2SO4) shows the highest contact angle of 167° and a low hysteresis of ~14° in the dynamic measurement. Creating, transporting, separating and merging of oxidized Galinstan droplets are successfully demonstrated in the fabricated PDMS microfluidic channels. After optimization of these modification techniques, the potential application of tunable capacitors and electronic filters is realized by using liquid metal-based microfluidic devices.

In view of a large number of people infected with Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) with great harm followed, there is an urgent need to develop a non-invasive, easy-to-operate, and rapid detection method, and to identify effective sterilization strategies. In this study, highly specific nanoprobes with nanozyme activity, Ag@Pt nanoparticles (NPs) with the antibody, were utilized as a novel lateral flow immunoassay (LFIA). The optical label (Ag@Pt NPs) was enhanced by the introduction of the chromogenic substrate 3,3',5,5'-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) and compared with a gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) optical label. Under the optimal condition, Ag@Pt-LFIA and TMB-enhanced Ag@Pt-LFIA for H. pylori were successfully established, two of which were over twofold and 100-fold more sensitive than conventional visual Au NP-based LFIA, respectively. Furthermore, Ag@Pt NPs with the antibody irradiated with NIR laser (808 nm) at a power intensity of 550 mW/cm 2 for 5 min exhibited a remarkable antibacterial effect. The nanoprobes could close to bacteria through effective interactions between antibodies and bacteria, thereby benefiting photothermal sterilization. Overall, Ag@Pt NPs provide promising applications in pathogen detection and therapeutic applications., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Austria, part of Springer Nature.)

The history of antimony modification of Al–Si casting alloys is reviewed, together with the important technical and commercial reasons why antimony is no longer used as a modifier. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The presence of machining-induced white layer in the near-surface of critical aeroengine alloys has a detrimental effect on the lifetime of a component. Present techniques for identifying and characterizing white layer, such as optical microscopy and hardness testing, whilst effective, are destructive, costly and time-consuming. Non-destructive testing methods may, therefore, offer improvements to the process of white layer detection. This paper discusses the formation mechanisms and the defining physical properties of machining-induced white layers before offering a comprehensive review of the current state-of-the-art in both destructive and non-destructive testing methods for detecting this anomalous surface feature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Facile fabrication of flexible substrates containing high concentration of nanoparticles (NPs) is very promising owing to their capability of swab-based surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) trace detection. However, the background signal of the substrate could compromise the trace-detection capabilities. Moreover, the presence of fluorescent molecules may result in intense fluorescence background which could overshadow the Raman peaks. Herein, we demonstrate that the surfactant-free bimetallic (Ag and Au) NPs, synthesized directly on the filter paper, are very effective in reducing the background signal in SERS-based trace detection. Simple soaking of filter paper in a mixture of HAuCl 4 and AgNO 3 solution, and its immediate drying and reduction produces Au-Ag alloy NPs on the filter paper. Interestingly, the substrates are very effective in quenching the background fluorescence of both filter paper and the analyte, thereby effectively detecting the SERS signature of the fluorescent molecules. In particular, Rhodamine6G (R6G) concentrations down to 10−10 M were detected under resonance excitation, both by solution drying and swabbing. The swab detection of ammonium nitrate, which is usually used in homemade explosives, was also demonstrated. Moreover, owing to the fluorescence quenching properties, the Au-Ag alloy substrates (AuAgS) were able to carry out the swab-based multiplex-detection of crystal violet (CV), Brilliant Cresyl Blue (BCB), and R6G upon resonance excitation of R6G. Finally, the substrates have shown good reproducibility, stability, and signal uniformity. This verifies the potential of AuAgS for real-world trace-detection applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A Ru-Ni@Cu alloy catalyst with a well-connected two-phase or three-phase contact interface is fabricated as an alternative to a Pt-based catalyst for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) in water electrolysis in this study. For optimum bonding and adhesion stability, the alloy particles are grown directly on carbon paper (CP) by the hydrothermal method. The alloy particles are composed of central Cu cores, Ni nests wrapped around Cu core, and small (2.0 nm) Ru nanoparticles embedded at the Ni nests. The Ni surface readily adsorbs water, the high conductivity of Cu increases the electron density of the electrode surface to facilitate water splitting, and the Ru surface adsorbs more H+ ions, thus promoting hydrogen production in the Ru-Ni@Cu alloy. Eventually, despite the use of only 1.0 wt% Ru, the 1% Ru-Ni@Cu/CP electrode exhibits a low overpotential of −0.15 V (η = 246 mV and 87.08 mV dec−1) at 100 mA cm−2 in a 1.0 M KOH electrolyte, similarly to the −0.1 V overpotential of the 100% Pt/CP electrode. The electrode maintains excellent catalytic activity without deterioration for 10 days with a Faraday efficiency of 96.89% (50 h) HER and 3000th LSV cycles. [Display omitted] • Ru-Ni@Cu alloy with three-phase interface grown directly onto CP. • Cu core in the center, Ni nest on the outside, and 2.0 nm-sized Ru particle between Cu and Ni. • Hydrogen production promoted by more H+ ions adsorption on the Ru surface. • A low overpotential of −0.15 V even though only 1.0 wt.-% Ru usage. • Faraday efficiency of 96.89% for 3000 min-HER, without catalytic deactivation for 10 days. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biomedical alloys, like many engineering alloys, have chemical or physical heterogeneities at the surface, and such heterogeneities can potentially act as sites for pit initiation. Alloys of particular interest are 316/316L (and 316LVM) stainless steel, nitinol, and CoCr alloys. This review focuses on the sites-generally inclusions-that have been associated with pitting in various studies of biomedical alloys in simulated physiological solutions. The effect of these sites is discussed in relation to factors such as type and size. For both 316/316L stainless steel and nitinol, pitting has been found to initiate at two different types of inclusions: sulfide and oxide inclusions in stainless steel, and carbide and oxide inclusions in nitinol. Sulfide inclusions tend to be the predominant sites for pitting on 316/316L stainless steel, while there is some evidence to suggest that carbide inclusions may be more effective than oxide inclusions for pitting on nitinol. CoCrMo alloys differ from the other two alloys in that, although particles can be present in the form of carbides, the carbides typically do not provide sites for pit initiation except possibly for alloys with a high-C content, certain heat treatments, and when anodically polarized to high potentials. CoNiCrMo differs further in that TiN inclusions can be present in the vicinity of pits and might be associated with them, but irrespective of the initiation site, any pits are unlikely to grow because of repassivation., (© 2023 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Paper-based devices enable low-cost mass production, wide availability and useful technical aspects such as light weight, mechanical bendability and natural integration in existing paper-based creations such as educational books, administrative documentation and artwork. While magneto-electronics and spintronics play an important role in delivering sensing, communication and data storage solutions, especially necessary in the framework of the internet of things, it is beneficial to achieve compatibility between this technology and paper materials. As a first example of paper-based magneto-electronics, we investigate the manufacturing of well performing anisotropic magneto-resistors on paper by means of low power sputter deposition of permalloy $$(\hbox {Py:Ni}_{81}\hbox {Fe}_{19})$$ , shadow mask patterning and magnetic clamping of the shadow mask. A range of commercially available papers were studied by varying most significant mechanical, chemical and geometrical attributes of the paper to this application. The dependence of magnetic properties (coercivity, saturation remanence and relative permeability) on the paper properties (surface roughness, stiffness and paper making process) was studied based on magnetic characterization, surface profilometry and elemental analysis. Subsequently, conclusions on the optimal magnetic $$\hbox {Py:Ni}_{81}\hbox {Fe}_{19}$$ -on-paper system were drawn. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This response mainly deals with the scientific description of the comments on the structure of the published compound (Bi 1/2 K 1/2)(Fe 1/2 W 1/2)O 3. The newly designed (Bi 1/2 K 1/2)(Fe 1/2 W 1/2)O 3 compound was prepared using the solid-state reaction method. The ingredients were taken to satisfy the required stoichiometry/chemical composition to form a single-phase compound. The lattice parameters and structure is strongly affected by K and W doped elements. The structural analysis is supported by the results of other experimental techniques (dielectric study, Raman characterization, Hysteresis loop, etc.). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Magnesium (Mg) and its alloys have been widely explored as a potential biodegradable implant material. However, the fast degradation of Mg-based alloys under physiological environment has hindered their widespread use for implant applications till date. The present review focuses on in vitro and in vivo degradation of biodegradable Mg alloys, and preventive measures for biomedical applications. Initially, the corrosion assessment approaches to predict the degradation behavior of Mg alloys are discussed along with the measures to control rapid corrosion. Furthermore, this review attempts to explore the correlation between in vitro and in vivo corrosion behavior of different Mg alloys. It was found that the corrosion depends on experimental conditions, materials and the results of different assessment procedures hardly matches with each other. It has been demonstrated the corrosion rate of magnesium can be tailored by alloying elements, surface treatments and heat treatments. Various researches also studied different biocompatible coatings such as dicalcium phosphate dihydrate (DCPD), β-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP), hydroxyapatite (HA), polycaprolactone (PCL), polylactic acid (PLA), and so on, on Mg alloys to suppress rapid degradation and examine their influence on new bone regeneration as well. This review shows the need for a standard method of corrosion assessment to predict the in vivo corrosion rate based on in vitro data, and thus reducing the in vivo experimentation., (© 2021 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Thermal switches control thermal circuits and are widely used in electronics and engineering. Shape-memory alloys can be deformed by heating, which is widely used as a driving part for thermal switches by many research groups. Shape-memory alloys are inappropriately used in thermal switches as the heat transfer components because of their lower thermal conductivity. Components responsible for the heat transfer and driving are usually separated from each other inside the device. Such design increases the complexity of the device and its production cost. By combining high thermal conductivity and self-driving properties of the shape-memory alloys, the structure of the thermal switch can significantly not only simplify its design but also can improve its performance. In this paper, we implemented two-way memory alloy as the drive device. Graphene paper was used to cover the surface of the memory alloy. Self-actuation of the shape-memory alloy and high thermal conductivity of graphene enhance heat conduction of the switch. The resulting device has a simple structure, is flexible, stable and easy to operate. We thoroughly studied structure and working principle of this thermal switch. Both simulations and experimental tests were performed to analyze thermal conductivity of the switch. We obtained a switch ratio equal to 54.0 ± 24.3. Our thermal switch is very promising for the advanced thermal management of the electronic devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electro thermal papers have been widely applied in people's daily life. Compared to traditional metal alloy resistance heaters, three dimensional graphene/carbonized-PAN composite freestanding paper with lightweight, good flexibility and excellent electrothermal performance is presented. It retains intrinsic properties of graphene sheets in the bulk state, and exhibits fast electrothermal response under low operation voltage with robust mechanical property. The fastest specific heating rate could be up to 213 °C s−1 V−1, and the highest T s is 235 °C at low driving voltage just of 1.75 V, which far surpasses those of previous carbon-based film heaters, commercial nichrome wire, and Kanthal wire. These outstanding properties together with the advantage of facile and large-scale fabrication, make the composite paper with great potential applications in flexible electronics. Image 1 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanoalloy shows significant advantages and broad application prospects in chemical catalysis, due to the possessed high specific surface energy and abundant active sites can greatly promote their catalytic performance. In this work, morphology-controlled Cu-Sn alloy nanosheet arrays supported on carbon fiber paper (CP) substrate (Cu-Sn/CP) have been developed by a facile one-step electrodeposition technique at room temperature for the first time. Benefiting from the large active surface area, considerable ion transport channels and strong synergistic catalytic effect between Cu and Sn, the as-prepared Cu-Sn/CP served as a self-supported electrode for efficient nonenzymatic glucose sensing. Under optimized conditions, Cu-Sn/CP electrode offers wide linear ranges of 0.0005–2.0 mM and 2.0–10.0 mM, respectively. The detection limit is as low as 0.061 μM (S/N = 3). Cu-Sn/CP electrode also exhibited excellent selectivity and stability. Additionally, the proposed sensor is proven to be suitable for the detection of glucose in human serum samples. [Display omitted] • Morphology-controlled Cu-Sn/CP was first synthesized by a cost-efficient one step electrodeposition strategy. • Non-precious Cu-Sn alloy nanosheets were used for the electrocatalytic oxidation of glucose for the first time. • Cu-Sn/CP showed high electrocatalytic activity for glucose oxidation with wide linear range and low detection limit. • The as-proposed biosensor exhibited excellent anti-interference ability and stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biocompatibility is an important factor for metallic medical device implants, and corrosion resistance of implantable alloys is one aspect of biocompatibility. Corrosion behavior of nitinol is strongly dependent upon the nature of the surface oxide, which forms during processing. The surface oxide is comprised of a mixture of titanium and nickel oxides, and subsequent thermal exposure (e.g., during shape setting) and surface removal (e.g., electropolishing, mechanical polishing, etching, etc.) influence its structure. Corrosion behavior is often assessed through testing methods such as cyclic potentiodynamic polarization (e.g., ASTM F2129) and nickel ion release. Studies have suggested that a correlation exists between oxide thickness and nickel ion release, with thicker oxides eluting more nickel. It is hypothesized that the composition of the surface oxide, and not only its thickness, influences the corrosion performance of nitinol. To investigate this, nitinol wire samples were processed to produce surface oxides with different structures both in terms of thickness and composition. These samples were tested per ASTM F2129 and nickel ion release testing., (© 2021 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

According to different smelting processes, nonmetallic inclusions are divided into four grades: basic purity, industrial purity, high purity and ultra‐high purity to cope with the influence of inclusion size and quantity on INVAR foil. Smelting production was carried out according to different needs in OLED field. The concept of "extreme manufacturing" was inducted to design process. The "Four‐Ultra quality" controling that Ultra‐purity, Ultra‐smooth surface, Ultra‐flat shape and Ultra‐precise dimension were put forward and realized in the production process of INVAR alloy foil for FMM. The prepared INVAR alloy foil reached a high level and met the application requirements of FMM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) are promising materials for chemiresistive gas sensor, while TMD alloys (two chalcogenide or/and metal elements) with tunable electronic structures have drawn little attention in gas sensing. Herein, Mo 0.5 W 0.5 S 2 alloy nanoparticles (NPs) were prepared by a facile sonication exfoliation method and then tested for ammonia sensing. The crystal structure, geometric morphology, and elemental composition of Mo 0.5 W 0.5 S 2 NPs were investigated. The gas sensing measurements demonstrated Mo 0.5 W 0.5 S 2 NPs with good response to ammonia at 80 °C with a limit of detection down to 500 part per billion (ppb). The sensor also displayed good stability as well as superb selectivity to ammonia in the presence of interferences, such as methanol, acetone, benzene, and cyclohexane. The theoretical calculations revealed Mo and W atoms at edges (such as Mo 0.5 W 0.5 S 2 (010)) of sheet-like NPs as the active sites for ammonia adsorption. Electrons donated by the adsorbed ammonia were combined with holes in p-type Mo 0.5 W 0.5 S 2 NPs, and the concentration of the main charge carrier was reduced, resulting in resistance enhancement., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Austria, part of Springer Nature.)

The in situ synthesis is reported of citric acid-functionalized ultra-fine bimetallic PtRu alloy nanoparticles (CA@PtRu ANPs) through a simple one-pot wet chemical method. The cost-efficient CA@PtRu ANPs with an average diameter of 3.2 nm revealed to have enhanced surface area, peroxidase-like activity, high stability, and adequate availability of functional groups to bind biomolecules. Along with nanoparticle surface area, the surface charge has also significantly affected the peroxidase-like activity and the colloidal suspension stability. As an excellent immobilization matrix and peroxidase mimic, the CA@PtRu ANPs were utilized to develop non-enzymatic colorimetric immunoassay for rapid, selective, and sensitive quantification of C-reactive protein (CRP) biomarkers. In this immunoassay, CA@PtRu ANPs serve as enzyme mimic that significantly amplifies the color signals, and amine-functionalized silica-coated magnetic microbeads (APTES/SiO 2 @Fe 3 O 4 ) act as CRP-recognizing capture probes. The absorbance curves of colorimetric immunoassay were measured in wavelengths between 550 and 750 nm, and the maximum absorbance at 652 nm was used to establish a linear relationship between absorbance and CRP concentrations. The developed colorimetric immunoassay showed rapid and sensitive quantification of CRP levels from 0.01 to 180 μg mL -1 with a LOD of 0.01 μg mL -1 . Moreover, the mean recovery of CRP from spiked human serum samples lies between 97 and 109% (n = 3), which indicates that the proposed nanozyme-linked immunoassay has the potential to be used in rapid point-of-care applications.

Nantokite (CuCl) locked inside subsurface micro-pits has been recognised as the driving force to the form of corrosion called bronze disease. The use of the traditional corrosion inhibitor benzotriazole is questioned because of toxicity. So there is a need for alternative conservation treatments. This work is focused on the experimental design to test the effectiveness of sodium oxalate followed by treatment with limewater to face bronze disease on outdoor bronzes. A number of foundry bronze coupons were exposed to weathering at Genoa Experimental Marine Station (GEMS) exposure site and sprayed twice a week with a 5% NaCl solution for the first 124 days. After 562 days of natural weathering, the patinas on coupons were characterised with non-destructive techniques (NDT) and the presence of nantokite was verified. We designed a workflow, as similar as possible to conservation treatments on real artworks, to test a 3% w/v sodium oxalate treatment with two different application times, with or without limewater, on the coupons. The effectiveness of the treatments was analysed by comparison of surface properties by several NDT measurements. A statistical approach and XRD measurements directly on the corroded bronze surfaces are suggested as an effective way to characterise and compare the overall behaviour of bronze disease treatments for conservation., (© 2022. The Author(s).)