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Boron was introduced into carbon papers (CPs) to catalyze their graphitization in this paper. The results showed the graphitization of CPs was moved from 2400 °C to 2100 °C. At 2100 °C, boron substituted carbon atoms in the hexagonal carbon lattices to form a solid solution, and the catalytic mechanism was dissolution and precipitation. CPs with excellent electrical conductivity and good permeability were prepared at lower temperature. Thus, the boron-doping method provides a new way to prepare high performance CPs at lower costs.

Boron was introduced into carbon papers (CPs) to catalyze their graphitization in this paper. The results showed the graphitization of CPs was moved from 2400 °C to 2100 °C. At 2100 °C, boron substituted carbon atoms in the hexagonal carbon lattices to form a solid solution, and the catalytic mechanism was dissolution and precipitation. CPs with excellent electrical conductivity and good permeability were prepared at lower temperature. Thus, the boron-doping method provides a new way to prepare high performance CPs at lower costs. [Display omitted] • The graphitization degree of 88.1% for CPs is reached at 2100 °C by boron-doping, whereas the value for the undoped CPs 2100 °C is only 34.3%; • The highly conductive CPs are achieved at lower graphitization temperatures without scarifying their gas permeability. • The graphitization temperature of CPs can be lowered as much as 300 °C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Boron (B) is a crucial element for efficient plant growth and development; therefore, B-based fertilisers have been employed in agricultural applications. The need for B-based fertilisers for agricultural uses is continuously increasing as a result of the world's growing population. It is expected that the global market for B-based fertiliser will grow by around $6.3 billion by 2032; hence, demand for B sources will also increase. In addition to being used in fertiliser, B is also employed in the production of neodymium iron B (NdFeB) permanent magnets. The demand for NdFeB magnets is also continuously increasing. Hence, it is of the utmost importance to reclaim B from secondary resources due to the rising demand for B in a wide variety of applications. This review study addresses the recovery of B from various waste streams. The main focus is on the recovery of B from spent NdFeB magnets, borax sludge, and liquid streams such as brine water, seawater, sewage, industrial wastewater, and agricultural effluents. Different technologies for B recovery are discussed, such as sorption, solvent extraction, membrane processes, precipitation, and hydrometallurgical methods. Solvent extraction has been found to be a very effective approach for reclaiming B from spent NdFeB magnet waste and from liquid streams with high B concentration (>1-2 g/L). Further, the application of B-based fertiliser in agriculture application is reviewed. Challenges associated with B recovery from waste streams and future perspectives are also highlighted in this review., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Electrochemical oxidation (EO), electro-Fenton (EF), and photoelectro-Fenton (PEF) with a BDD anode have been comparatively assessed to remediate solutions of Red CL and/or Red WB azo dyes from real raw water. For the EO process in 50 mM Na 2 SO 4 at pH 3.0, the main oxidant was the heterogeneous • OH generated at the anode, whereas in EF and PEF, the cathodic production of H 2 O 2 and the addition of 0.50 mM Fe 2+ catalyst additionally originated homogeneous • OH that enhanced the oxidation of organics. In PEF, the solution was illuminated with a 6 W UVA light. An almost total discoloration was always found operating with a 1:1 mixture of 200 mg L -1 of both dyes in 60 min, whose efficiency increased in the order of EO < EF < PEF. The HPLC analysis of the dye mixture treated by PEF disclosed that its degradation process agreed with its discoloration. A high 74% of COD was reduced due to the oxidative action of hydroxyl radicals and the photolysis of final Fe(III)-carboxylate species with UVA irradiation. The process was accompanied by an energy consumption of 0.76 kWh (g COD) -1 , a value similar to the energy consumed by the applied UVA light., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The conventional silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) are characterized with high loading rate and stacking phenomenon, leading to shedding caused biotoxicity and low catalytic efficiency. This seriously hinders their application in biomedicine. Here, we modified the highly dispersible Ag NPs and Ag single-atoms (SAs) synthesis by combining the halloysite clay nanotubes (HNTs) and dodecahydro-dodecaborate (closo-[B 12 H 12 ] 2- ) to increase the biocompatible properties and decrease the loading rate. This novel Ag single-atom nanoenzyme alongside Ag NPs nanoenzyme avoid the elevated-temperature calcination while maintaining the exceptionally high-level efficiency of Ag utilization via the reducibility and coordination stabilization of closo-[B 12 H 12 ] 2- and HNTs. With theoretical calculation and electron paramagnetic resonance, we confirmed that both Ag SAzymes and Ag NPs in HNT@B 12 H 12 @Ag nanoenzyme are capable decompose the H 2 O 2 into hydroxyl radical (·OH). For the application, we investigated the catalytic activity in the tumor cells and antitumor effects of HNT@B 12 H 12 @Ag nanoenzyme both in vitro and in vivo, and confirmed that it effectively suppressed melanoma growth through ·OH generation, with limited biotoxicity. This study provides a novel Ag nanoenzyme synthesis approach to increase the possibility of its clinical application., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Chemical oxo-precipitation (COP) is an enhanced precipitation method for boron removal with the conversion of boric acid to perborate anions. When using barium-based precipitant, the boron can be effectively precipitated as barium perborates (BaPBs). The phase transformation of BaPBs from amorphous (A-BaPB, Ba(B(OH) 3 OOH) 2 ) to crystalline (C-BaPB, BaB 2 (OO) 2 (OH) 4 ) form is crucial for effective boron removal. However, scaling up this phase transformation of BaPBs is hindered by poor diffusion. This study aims to promote the growth of C-BaPB through seed-induced crystal growth, eliminating the need for phase transformation. By examining the relationship between crystal growth rate and supersaturation, surface spiral growth was identified as the rate-limiting step of the growth of micron-sized seeds near pH pzc . To enable continuous crystal growth, granular seeds of C-BaPB were prepared and employed as the medium for fluidized-bed crystallization (FBC). The system reached steady state 3 hydraulic retention times, achieving 90% boron removal. The effect of surface loading, ionic strength, and dosages on steady-state crystal growth rate was studied, revealing a shift of the rate-limiting step in FBC to diffusion. Lastly, the system that constituted of two FBCs in-series for sequential crystallization of A-BaPB and C-BaPB was demonstrated. The integrated system provided 97.8% of boron removal from synthetic wastewater containing 500 mg-B/L, with 92.3% of boron crystallized on the granular seeds of BaPBs., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

This study presents a baseline evaluation of the distribution, human and ecotoxicological risk, and the potential interactions of fluoride and boron in the water-sediment interface in 25 locations from incredible Red Sea tourist destinations. Results showed comparable levels of B and F in the water and sediments with previous literature. Significant positive correlation was found between B and F (r = 0.57; P<0.01). Based on the sediment/liquid partition coefficient (K d ), F is more likely to be released from the sediment into seawater (logK d < 3) than B (3< logK d < 4). pH and alkalinity may affect water-sediment interactions of B and F, respectively, while SO 4 2- and Cl - ions had no significant effect on adsorption ability of F and B. The majority of minerals had average saturation Index (SI) > 1 referring to the over saturation of seawater with these minerals and their inability to dissolve. The formation of CF, FAP, and CFAP may be related to the high correlation between F w (r = 0.928, P< 0.01; r = 0.527, P< 0.01; r = 0.608, P< 0.01) and B w (r = 0.38, P< 0.05; r = 0.38, P< 0.05; r = 0.397, P< 0.05). Total hazard quotient (THQ) for children and adults were <1, revealing no health risks from exposure to B and F through ingestion and skin contact while swimming. The risk characterization ratio; RCR mix(MEC/PNEC) showed high short-term risks to aquatic organisms. Further investigations might emphasis on emerging mitigation strategies to address these concerns., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Extensive global dependency on rice and wheat crops has necessitated the adoption of intensive cultivation practices, thereby compelling to closely monitor the potential yield-limiting factors, among which, boron (B) deficiency stands out to be a prime concern. The present study explores the effects of B fertilization strategies within the Rice-Wheat Cropping System (RWCS) in the Tarai region of North-West India. A comprehensive six-year field experiment was conducted (2013-2019) at G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Uttarakhand, India. The experiment tested graded B doses (0.5, 1.0, 1.5, and 2.0 kg ha -1 ) at varied frequencies (single, alternate, and annual) in a factorial design. The study revealed significant impacts of alternate B application at 1.5 kg ha -1 on crop yields and the Sustainable Yield Index (SYI). The System Rice Equivalent Yield (SREY) exhibited an increase of 6.7% with B supplementation over B-deprived plots, highlighting the pivotal role of B fertilizer in enhancing productivity within the RWCS. The economic optimum B dose was found to be 1.422 kg ha -1 using a linear plus plateau model, resulting in a calculated annual SREY of 9.73 t ha -1 when applied alternately to the cropping system. Continuous application and higher B rates demonstrated substantial increases in various B fractions, while the mobility factor remained within 10%, depicting safe ecological limits. The distribution of fractions in B-treated plots on average followed the order: residual B > organically-bound B > oxide bound B > specifically adsorbed B > readily soluble B. Similarities in the distribution patterns of B fractions between B-treated plots and the control indicated potential influence of biotic or abiotic processes on B fraction dynamics, even in the absence of external B application. To sum up, B application in alternate years at 1.5 kg ha -1 was most sustainable in enhancing the SREY, SYI, available soil B, and B fractions and lowering the environmental hazards., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The author(s) declared no potential conflict of interest that could have appeared to influence the work reported in the present paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Nonlinear optical (NLO) response materials are among the smartest materials of the era and are employed to modulate the phase and frequency of the laser. The present study presents a quantum chemical framework for tailoring nitrogen/boron doped derivatives of Dihydrodibenzo [de,op]pentacene through terminal and central core modifications. The derivatives of these compounds have been designed by introducing various π-conjugated connectors as well as B/N heteroatoms in the phenalene rings. Density functional theory (DFT) methods are used to optimize the ground state molecular geometries of designed compounds, represented as 1 to 4 (phenalene derivatives) and 1-BN to 4-BN (B/N doped phenalene derivatives) at the M06-2X/6-311G* level of theory. The highest value of 116.9 × 10 -24  esu and 240.2 × 10 -24  esu for isotropic and anisotropic linear polarizability is shown by compound 4. Among the designed compounds, 4-BN has achieved the highest γ amplitude of 1858 × 10 -36  esu owing to its unique molecular structural design. Further analysis of electronic parameters, such as electron density difference (EDD) maps, the density of states, electrostatic potentials, transition density matrix (TDM) analysis, and frontier molecular orbitals analysis (FMOs), demonstrated the more effective intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) for the best compounds, resulting in a good NLO response. The compounds were also analyzed for their potential in photovoltaic applications based on factors such as open circuit voltage values determined to be between (0.14 eV and 1.82 eV), and light harvesting efficiency (0.425-0.909)., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Utilizing the Kubo-Greenwood formula, Tight Binding calculations were employed to examine the electronic and thermoelectric properties of hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) with carbon impurity instead of boron, nitrogen and pairs boron-nitrogen. The electronic properties of the pristine monolayer BN are markedly impacted by the introduction of carbon dopants and its band gap reduction is directly correlated with the concentration of carbon impurities. The electronic properties of doped h-BN are influenced by the presence of a magnetic field, leading to subband separation and band gap narrowing, independent of the impurity types. The thermal conductivity and magnetic susceptibility of the C BN -doped monolayer BN structure are higher than those of the B C and N C doped h-BN structures and for all structures, their properties have a strong dependence on the magnetic field. The Lorenz Number for all structures has peak at the T M temperature which shifts to a lower temperature as the impurity concentration decreases., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Tissue engineering is an interdisciplinary field of science that has been developing very intensively over the last dozen or so years. New ways of treating damaged tissues and organs are constantly being sought. A variety of porous structures are currently being investigated to support cell adhesion, differentiation, and proliferation. The selection of an appropriate biomaterial on which a patient's new tissue will develop is one of the key issues when designing a modern tissue scaffold and the associated treatment process. Among the numerous groups of biomaterials used to produce three-dimensional structures, hydroxyapatite (HA) deserves special attention. The aim of this paper was to discuss changes in the double electrical layer in hydroxyapatite with an incorporated boron and strontium/electrolyte solution interface. The adsorbents were prepared via dry and wet precipitation and low-temperature nitrogen adsorption and desorption methods. The specific surface area was characterized, and the surface charge density and zeta potential were discussed.

Composite coatings have been successfully fabricated at the laboratory scale in many research centers around the world; however, it is still a major challenge to transfer the positive results of the work to the industrial scale. This paper presents the technology for the production of Ni-B and Ni-B/B composite coatings on a pilot experimental semi-technical line by chemical reduction. A process scheme for the fabrication of Ni-B layers and composite coatings with a nickel–boron matrix and a dispersive phase in the form of boron nanoparticles was developed. All stages of the fabrication process were described in detail. The dispersion phase of the boron particles was characterized, and the performance properties of the Ni-B and Ni-B/B composite coatings produced on a pilot electroplating line were studied. The structure and morphology of the Ni-B/B composite coatings were characterized for comparison with nickel–boron coatings. Their mechanical and tribological properties and adhesion to the substrate were studied. The influence of the dispersion phase of boron particles on the structure and functional properties of the composite coatings was evaluated. In order to improve the performance of the fabricated coatings, a heating process at 400 °C was carried out, and the performance of Ni-B and composite Ni-B/B coatings was studied after the heat treatment operation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tourmaline, a boron-bearing mineral, has been extensively applied as a geothermometer, provenance indicator, and fluid-composition recorder in geological studies. In this paper, the decomposition capability of an HF-HNO3–mannitol mixture for a tourmaline sample was investigated in detail for the first time, and a wet acid digestion method based on the boron–mannitol complex for accurate boron determination in tourmaline by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) was proposed. With a digestion temperature of 140 °C, tourmaline samples of 25 mg (±0.5 mg) can be completely decomposed by a ternary mixture, which consisted of 0.6 mL of HF, 0.6 mL of HNO3, and 0.7 mL of 2% mannitol (wt.), via a continuous heating treatment of 36 h. Following gentle evaporation at 100 °C, the sample residues were re-dissolved using 2 mL of 40% HNO3 solution (wt.) and diluted to about 2.0 × 105-fold by a two-step method using 2% HNO3 solution (wt.). The boron contents in a batch of parallel tourmaline samples were then determined by ICP-MS, and results showed that the boron concentration levels were in a range of 3.20–3.44% with determination RSDs less than 4.0% (n = 5). It was found that the boron concentrations obtained at the mass of 10B were comparable with results from the measurements at the mass of 11B. This revealed that the usage of 2% mannitol with a quantity as high as 0.7 mL in this developed approach did not exhibit significant effect on the quantification accuracy of boron at the mass of 11B. It was also found that the processes including fluoride-forming prevention and fluoride decomposition deteriorated the boron-reserving efficiency of mannitol for tourmaline, causing the averaged boron contents to vary from 2.25% to 3.57% (n = 5). Furthermore, the stability of the boron–mannitol complex under 185 °C by applying the laboratory high pressure-closed digestion method was evaluated, which showed that there existed a 60.36% loss of boron compared to that under 140 °C by using this proposed approach. For this ternary mixture, the tourmaline decomposing efficiency was found to be weakened prominently using 100 °C as the digestion temperature, and tourmaline powders can be observed even after 72 h of continuous heating with B contents within 1.09–1.23% (n = 5). To assess the accuracy of this developed method, the boron recovery of anhydrous lithium tetraborate was studied. It was found that the boron recoveries were within 96.59–102.12% (RSD < 1%, n = 5), demonstrating the accuracy and reliability of this proposed method, which exhibits advantages of high B preserving efficiency, and giving concentration information of both B and trace elements simultaneously. By applying such a boron–mannitol complex-based wet acid digestion method, the chemical composition of boron and trace elements in three tourmaline samples from different pegmatites were quantified, which provided valuable information to distinguish regional deposits and the associated evolution stages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Multiple applications in aerospace utilize pyrotechnic charges for their operation, and these charges are predominantly in the form of granules. One of the most used charges is boron potassium nitrate (BPN), and the present study focuses on mathematically modeling granular combustion, its experimental recreation, and carrying out a comparative study on three upwind schemes for its numerical simulation. A customized version of the seven-equation compressible multifluid formulation is presented in this paper to model granular combustion mathematically. Three upwind schemes, namely HLLC, AUSM+-up, and HLLC-AUSM, are used for the numerical comparison. Utilizing these, an axisymmetric code is developed for the comparative study. To experimentally replicate granular combustion, granular BPN is fired in a closed bomb test facility, and the experimental pressure history is used for the numerical comparisons. The developed code can adequately predict the physics of granular combustion, and all three schemes are equally capable of numerical prediction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes an electrochemical sensor based on a Cu-modified boron-doped diamond (BDD) electrode for the detection of nitrate-contaminated water. The sensor utilizes the catalytic effect of copper on nitrate and the stability of the BDD electrode. By optimizing the electrolyte system, the linear detection range was expanded, allowing the sensor to detect highly concentrated nitrate samples up to 100 mg/L with a low detection limit of 0.065 mg/L. Additionally, the stability of the sensor was improved. The relative standard deviation of the current responses during 25 consecutive tests was only 1.03%. The wide detection range and high stability of the sensor makes it suitable for field applications and the on-site monitoring of nitrate-contaminated waters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol (THFA), a widely applied raw materials, intermediate and solvent in the fields of agricultural, industry (especially in nuclear industry), is a potentially hazardous and non-biodegradable pollutant in wastewater. In this study, the electrochemical degradation pathways of THFA by a boron-doped diamond (BDD) anode with different current density (j appl  = 20, 40 and 60 mA cm -2 ) and electrolyte solution (KNO 3 , KCl and K 2 SO 4 ) was carefully investigated. The results exhibit that high chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal and mineralization rates were achieved by rapid non-selective oxidation in electrolyte solutions mediated by hydroxyl radicals (∙OH) and active chlorine (sulfate) under constant current electrolysis. In-depth data analysis using the high performance liquid chromatography and liquid chromatography/mass spectroscopy, the underlying removal pathways of THFA in KNO 3 , KCl and K 2 SO 4 electrolyte solutions are proposed according to the effect of different mineralization mechanisms., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Antimicrobial resistance to antibiotics for current bacterial infection treatments is a medical problem. 2D nanoparticles, which can be used as both antibiotic carriers and direct antibacterial agents due to their large surface areas and direct contact with the cell membrane, are important alternatives in solving this problem. This study focuses on the effects of a new generation borophene derivative obtained from MgB 2 particles on the antimicrobial activity of polyethersulfone membranes. MgB 2 nanosheets were created by mechanically separating magnesium diboride (MgB 2 ) particles into layers. The samples were microstructurally characterized using SEM, HR-TEM, and XRD methods. MgB 2 nanosheets were screened for various biological activities such as antioxidant, DNA nuclease, antimicrobial, microbial cell viability inhibition, and antibiofilm activities. The antioxidant activity of nanosheets was 75.24 ± 4.15% at 200 mg/L. Plasmid DNA was entirely degraded at 125 and 250 mg/L nanosheet concentrations. MgB 2 nanosheets exhibited a potential antimicrobial effect against tested strains. The cell viability inhibitory effect of the MgB 2 nanosheets was 99.7 ± 5.78%, 99.89 ± 6.02%, and 100 ± 5.84% at 12.5 mg/L, 25 mg/L, and 50 mg/L, respectively. The antibiofilm activity of MgB 2 nanosheets against S. aureus and P. aeruginosa was observed to be satisfactory. Furthermore, a polyethersulfone (PES) membrane was prepared by blending MgB 2 nanosheets from 0.5 wt to 2.0 wt %. Pristine PES membrane also has shown the lowest steady-state fluxes at 30.1 ± 2.1 and 56.6 L/m 2 h for BSA and E. coli, respectively. With the increase of MgB 2 nanosheets amount from 0.5 to 2.0 wt%, steady-state fluxes increased from 32.3 ± 2.5 to 42.0 ± 1.0 and from 15.6 ± 0.7 to 24.1 ± 0.8 L/m 2 h, respectively for BSA and E. coli. E. coli elimination performance of PES membrane coated with MgB 2 nanosheets at different rates and the membrane filtration procedure was obtained from 96% to 100%. The results depicted that BSA and E. coli rejection efficiencies of MgB 2 nanosheets blended PES membranes increased when compared to pristine PES membranes., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Electro-enhanced metal-free boron/peroxymonosulfate (B/PMS) system has demonstrated potential for efficient metal-organic complexes degradation in an eco-friendly way. However, the efficiency and durability of the boron activator are limited by associated passivation effect. Additionally, the lack of suitable methods utilizing in-situ recovery of metal ions liberated from decomplexation causes huge resource waste. In this study, B/PMS coupled with a customized flow electrolysis membrane (FEM) system is proposed to address above challenges with Ni-EDTA used as the model contaminant. Electrolysis is confirmed to remarkably promote the activation performance of boron towards PMS to efficiently generate • OH which dominated Ni-EDTA decomplexation in the anode chamber. It is revealed that the acidification near the anode electrode improves the stability of boron by inhibiting passivation layer growth. Under optimal parameters (10 mM PMS, 0.5 g/L boron, initial pH = 2.3, current density = 68.87 A/m 2 ), 91.8% of Ni-EDTA could be degraded in 40 min, with a k obs of 6.25 × 10 -2 min -1 . As the decomplexation proceeds, nickel ions are recovered in the cathode chamber with little interference from the concentration of co-existing cations. These findings provide a promising and sustainable strategy for simultaneous metal-organic complexes removal and metal resources recovery., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Boron (B) is an indispensable mineral nutrient for plants and is primarily taken up by roots mainly in the form of boric acid (H 3 BO 3 ). Recently, research shows that B has a significant impact on plant growth and productivity due to its narrow range between deficiency and toxicity. Fertilization and other procedures to address B stress (deficiency and toxicity) in soils are generally expensive and time-consuming. Over the past 20 years, substantial studies have been conducted to investigate the mechanisms underlying B acquisition and the molecular regulation of B stress in plants. In this review, we discuss the effects of B stress on plant growth, physiology, and biochemistry, and finding on enhancing plant tolerance from the perspective of plant B uptake, transport, and utilization. We also refer to recent results demonstrating the interactions among B and other biological and abiotic factors, including nitrogen, phosphorus, aluminum, and microorganisms. Finally, emerging trends in this field are discussed., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Context: To lessen the impact of the dangerous metal Cr, this paper applies the first principles to investigate the adsorption behavior and photoelectric properties of GaS on Cr. The effects of doped GaS on Cr adsorption behavior are investigated with four GaS systems, which are pure, boron (B)-doped, nitrogen (N)-doped, and oxygen (O)-doped, in order to maximize the characteristics of GaS for use in novel sectors, to obtain understanding of the impact of doping on the electronic structure and optical properties of GaS adsorption of Cr, as well as to promote the development of the material. Four GaS adsorbed Cr systems, pure, B-doped, N-doped, and O-doped, are optimized, and the optimized results show that the stable adsorption position of Cr on both pure and doped GaS is the top position of Ga atoms, whereas doped elements B, N, and O can promote the adsorption of Cr on GaS, and the order of the strength of this promotion is B > N > O. Method: In this paper, molecular simulation calculations and analyses using the CASTEP module in the software Materials Studio are performed to simulate the structure optimization of GaS-adsorbed Cr materials doped with B, N, and O atoms by using the generalized gradient approximation (GGA) plane-wave pseudopotential approach [1] and the Perdew-Burke-Ernzerhof (PBE) generalized function [2]. From the convergence test, it is reasonable to set the K-point network to 4 × 4 × 1 and the truncation energy to 500 eV [3]. In this paper, a 3 × 3 × 1 supercell structure with 18 S atoms and 18 Ga atoms is selected. The convergence value of the iterative accuracy is 1.0e − 5 eV/atom, and all the atomic forces are less than 0.02 eV/Å. A vacuum layer of 16 Å is also set in the C direction to avoid interlayer interactions of GaS. First, we optimize the geometry of the model and then analyze the nature of the adsorption energy and electronic structure corresponding to the model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: This study explores, for the first time, using first principles, the impact of substitutional doping with boron (B), carbon (C), and nitrogen (N) on the adsorption of chromium (Cr) on monolayer MoS2. The effects of doping on the Cr adsorption behavior of MoS2 were investigated using four MoS2 systems, namely, pure, boron (B)-doped, carbon (C)-doped, and nitrogen (N)-doped, in order to gain an in-depth understanding of the mechanism of the effects of doping on the electronic structure and optical properties of Cr adsorbed by MoS2, to optimize the properties of MoS2, to explore new areas of application, and to promote the development of materials science. Four MoS2 adsorption systems of Cr adsorption on pure, B-doped, C-doped, and N-doped MoS2 were optimized, and the optimized results showed that the stable adsorption location of Cr on both pure and doped MoS2 was the hollow location at the top of the folded hexagon. The findings reveal that pure MoS2 has an adsorption effect on Cr, and doped elements B, C, and N can promote the adsorption of Cr on MoS2, and the strong and weak order of this promotion is B > C > N. Methods: In this paper, we use the CASTEP module in the simulation software Materials Studio to perform simulation calculations and analyses to optimize the simulation of Cr adsorption by MoS2 doped with B, C, and N atoms using the generalized gradient approximation (GGA) plane-wave pseudo-potential method (Perdew et al. Phys Rev Lett 77(18):3865–3968, 1996), as well as Perdew-Burke-Ernzerhof (PBE) generalized functionals (Segall et al. J Phys: Condens Matter 14(11):2717–2744, 2022). The convergence test reveals that it is more reasonable to set the K-point network to 3 × 3 × 1 and the truncation energy to 400 eV. In this paper, a 3 × 3 × 1 supercell structure with 18 S atoms and 9 Mo atoms is selected. The convergence value of the iteration accuracy is 1.0e − 5eV/atom, and all the atomic forces are less than 0.02eV/Å. Additionally, to prevent MoS2 interlayer interaction, a vacuum layer with a thickness of 18 Å is set in the C direction. The geometrical optimization of the model is performed first, and then the corresponding adsorption energies of the model and the nature of the electronic structure are analyzed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: This study explores, for the first time, using first principles, the impact of substitutional doping with boron (B), carbon (C), and nitrogen (N) on the adsorption of chromium (Cr) on monolayer MoS2. The effects of doping on the Cr adsorption behavior of MoS2 were investigated using four MoS2 systems, namely, pure, boron (B)-doped, carbon (C)-doped, and nitrogen (N)-doped, in order to gain an in-depth understanding of the mechanism of the effects of doping on the electronic structure and optical properties of Cr adsorbed by MoS2, to optimize the properties of MoS2, to explore new areas of application, and to promote the development of materials science. Four MoS2 adsorption systems of Cr adsorption on pure, B-doped, C-doped, and N-doped MoS2 were optimized, and the optimized results showed that the stable adsorption location of Cr on both pure and doped MoS2 was the hollow location at the top of the folded hexagon. The findings reveal that pure MoS2 has an adsorption effect on Cr, and doped elements B, C, and N can promote the adsorption of Cr on MoS2, and the strong and weak order of this promotion is B > C > N. Methods: In this paper, we use the CASTEP module in the simulation software Materials Studio to perform simulation calculations and analyses to optimize the simulation of Cr adsorption by MoS2 doped with B, C, and N atoms using the generalized gradient approximation (GGA) plane-wave pseudo-potential method (Perdew et al. Phys Rev Lett 77(18):3865–3968, 1996), as well as Perdew-Burke-Ernzerhof (PBE) generalized functionals (Segall et al. J Phys: Condens Matter 14(11):2717–2744, 2022). The convergence test reveals that it is more reasonable to set the K-point network to 3 × 3 × 1 and the truncation energy to 400 eV. In this paper, a 3 × 3 × 1 supercell structure with 18 S atoms and 9 Mo atoms is selected. The convergence value of the iteration accuracy is 1.0e − 5eV/atom, and all the atomic forces are less than 0.02eV/Å. Additionally, to prevent MoS2 interlayer interaction, a vacuum layer with a thickness of 18 Å is set in the C direction. The geometrical optimization of the model is performed first, and then the corresponding adsorption energies of the model and the nature of the electronic structure are analyzed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates the structural transformation of dicalcium silicate (C2S) crystals brought about through boron doping. Both qualitative and quantitative analyses were conducted to explore the correspondence between boron content and the structure of dicalcium silicate. The results show that boron doping can stabilize β-C2S and the high-temperature phase α′H-C2S, and the structural transformation does not involve the modulation of α′L-C2S. There is a corresponding relationship between the unit cells of β-C2S and α′H-C2S, which can be transformed using a transformation matrix. The relationship between boron content and the content of different C2S structures, as well as the structural expressions for β-C2S and α′H-C2S, is determined using linear fitting and multivariable linear regression analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Featured Application: Application of microdosimetric techniques to characterize the mixed radiation field in boron neutron capture therapy. This paper explores the role of microdosimetry in boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT), a cancer treatment involving the selective accumulation of boron-containing compounds in cancer cells, followed by neutron irradiation. Neutron interactions with 10B induces a nuclear reaction, releasing densely ionizing particles, specifically alpha particles and recoiling lithium-7 nuclei. These particles deposit their energy within a small tissue volume, potentially targeting cancer cells while sparing healthy tissue. The microscopic energy distribution, subject to significant fluctuations due to the short particle range, influences treatment efficacy. Microdosimetry, by studying this distribution, plays a crucial role in optimizing BNCT treatment planning. The methodology employs paired tissue equivalent proportional counters (TEPCs), one with cathode walls enriched with boron and the other without. Precise assessment of boron concentration is essential, as well as the ability to extrapolate results to the actual 10B concentration within the treatment region. The effective 10B concentrations within four boronated TEPCs, containing 10, 25, 70, and 100 ppm of 10B, have been determined. Results show variations of less than 3% from nominal values. Additionally, dose enhancement due to BNC interactions was measured and found to be proportional to the 10B concentration, with a proportionality factor of 7.7 × 10−3 per ppm of boron. Based on these findings, a robust procedure is presented for assessing the impact of BNCT in the treatment region, considering potential variations in boron content relative to the TEPC used. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coatings made from metallic glasses are a promising solution for protecting surfaces of materials in various challenging environments. From an engineering perspective, glassy alloy coatings containing carbon are of greater importance compared to those without carbon but containing boron. Despite anticipating improved coating characteristics, there is no data on using high entropy glassy alloy as a coating material. In this paper, we investigated the influence of the simultaneous addition of boron and carbon elements on the glass-forming ability, thermal stability, crystallization behavior, yield strength, hardness, and corrosion resistance of high entropy (Fe, Co, Ni, Cr, Mo)-(B, C) glassy alloys. It was found that the content of boron and carbon had a significant effect on the improvements of glass-forming ability, mechanical properties, and corrosion resistance. The (Fe0.25Co0.25Ni0.25Cr0.125Mo0.125)75(B0.7C0.3)25 bulk glassy alloy exhibits high glass-forming ability, high yield strength of 3500 MPa, Vickers hardness of 1240, and the highest corrosion resistance among the alloys. We also discussed the reason for their good engineering properties, and the possibility of using high entropy glassy alloys as coating materials, in addition to the guidelines for designing high-performance multicomponent glassy alloys. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To avoid potentially harmful wet sample preparation is offered to use laser ablation (LA) -- inductively coupled plasma -- optical emission spectrometry (ICPOES) as a method for the elemental analysis of fly ash for boron, lithium, and some metals. For this purpose, synthetic samples were prepared by spiking with dissolved standards. As a result, great stability of calibration curves was achieved. It was found that a particle diameter less than 80 μm in fly ash is enough to have a satisfying homogeneity for successful calibration in the method of standard additions. The average recovery test for reference materials used in the study was 16-77% of the certified values for the elements observed. The low results might be the effect of spiking with calibration samples in the liquid state. This type of analysis requires further investigation. According to the results of elemental analysis, the content of boron and lithium was determined for ZUK-2 and SO-1, which was not previously noticed in other papers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study concentrates on comparing effects of conventional and laser-assisted machining (LAM) of laser-borided Monel 400 alloy. For this purpose, the shaft made from Monel 400 was covered with 200-µm thick boron layer and surface melted using diode laser. For determining the influence of laser beam scanning velocity on final microstructure, microhardness, and depth of melting, four laser beam scanning velocities were set: 5, 6, 8. and 10 m/min. Obtained microstructures are typical for laser-melted metal and are composed of fine crystals. Microhardness increased significantly due to enriching Monel 400 with boron and the level of this increase depends on the laser beam scanning velocity carried out for the process. During both conventional and laser-assisted turning, cutting forces were measured for comparison. Other compared parameters after carrying out these processes were obtained surface roughness and tool life. It was found that it is possible to form laser-borided surface of Monel 400 alloy by machining and using additional laser-assist has a positive impact on the efficiency of the process. Laser-assisted machining allows to lower cutting forces during machining and this leads to extended tool life. On the other hand, this method provides lower values of roughness parameters on the machined surface due to the effect of softening the surface during the process. The paper is the first description of effects obtained by laser-assisted machining of laser-borided surface. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper focuses on relationship between the mechanical properties and abrasive wear resistance, expressed by the Kb index, using an example of low-alloy cast steels. In order to achieve the aim of this work, eight cast steels of varying chemical composition were designed, cast and then heat treated. The heat treatment involved quenching and tempering at 200, 400 and 600 °C. Structural changes caused by tempering are demonstrated by the different morphologies of the carbide phases in the ferritic matrix. In the first part of this paper, the present state of knowledge about the influence of structure and hardness on the tribological properties of steels is discussed. This research involved the evaluation of a material's structure, as well as its tribological and mechanical properties. Microstructural observations were performed using a light microscope and a scanning electron microscope. Next, tribological tests were carried-out with the use of a dry sand/rubber wheel tester. To determine the mechanical properties, Brinell hardness measurements and a static tensile test were carried out. The relationship between the determined mechanical properties and abrasive wear resistance was then investigated. The analyses also provided information regarding the heat treatment states of the analyzed material in the as-cast and as-quenched states. It was found that the abrasive wear resistance, expressed by the index Kb, was most strongly correlated with hardness and yield point. In addition, observations of the wear surfaces indicated that the main wear mechanisms were microcutting and microplowing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, plain seaweed biochar (SW) and boron-doped seaweed biochar (BSW) were prepared through a simple pyrolysis process using Undaria pinnatifida (algae biomass) and boric acid. The BSW catalyst was utilized to degrade organic pollutants in aqueous environments by activating peroxymonosulfate (PMS). Surface characterization of the BSW demonstrated successful doping of boron into the biochar materials. BSW 600 exhibited greater catalytic activity than SW 600 , as evidenced by the former's maximum adsorption capacity of diclofenac (DCF) onto BSW 600 (q max  = 30.01 mg g -1 ) and the activation of PMS. Complete degradation of DCF was achieved in 30 min using 100 mg L -1 BSW 600 , 0.5 mM PMS, and 6.5 initial solution pH as critical parameters. The pseudo-first-order kinetic model accurately described the DCF degradation kinetics. The scavenger experiment displayed that radical and non-radical reactive oxygen species (ROS) formed in the BSW 600 /PMS system. Furthermore, the generation of ROS in the BSW 600 /PMS system was confirmed by electron spin resonance spectroscopy (ESR). The percentage contribution of ROS was assessed to be 12.3, 45.0, and 42.7% for HO • , SO 4 •- , and 1 O 2 , respectively. Additionally, the electron transfer pathway was also confirmed by electrochemical analysis. Moreover, the influence of water matrics on the BSW 600 /PMS system was demonstrated. The co-existence of anions and humic acid (HA) did not affect the catalytic activity of the BSW 600 /PMS system. The recyclability of BSW 600 was assessed by DCF removal (86.3%) after three cycles. Ecological structure-activity relationships software was used to assess by-product toxicity. This study demonstrates the efficacy of non-metallic heteroatom-doped biochar materials as eco-friendly catalysts in groundwater applications., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that may have influenced the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

In a deuterium–tritium (D–T) reactor, large amounts of neutrons are produced. Although a 3 He fusion reactor produces fewer neutrons, 3 He resources are scarce on Earth. As large amount of deuterium fuel sources are available, a D–D reactor on Earth is an ideal reactor. Although it also produces tritium and neutrons, their production rate is not so high. In this paper, the temperature and time behaviour of an ArF laser-driven fusion reactor containing a functional D–D fuel in the low-temperature region controlled through the injection of a solid 11 B capsule is investigated for the first time, whose main fuel is deuterium and boron is the additional fuel. To increase its energy gain, we use the cone guided manner in fast ignition. The results of our calculations show that the injection of deuteron beam simultaneously with laser beam irradiation to the desired spherical fuel capsule causes the bonus energy to be deposited in the fuel capsule and the energy gain increases depending on the amount of deuteron beam energy, and along with that injection of solid boron into D–D fuel increases the energy gain at 100 keV which is about 10 times. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As an important part of water splitting, the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) requires efficient, low-cost, and stable catalysts to overcome its sluggish kinetic barrier. In this study, based on previously reported OER catalyst materials of boron monosulfide mixed with graphene (r-BS+G), nickel foam (NF) is introduced as a supporting material for an r-BS+G electrocatalyst. The resulting r-BS+G-NF exhibits a very low overpotential at 10 (245 mV), 100 (308 mV), and 500 (405 mV) mA cm−2, with a low Tafel slope (56 mV dec−1). In addition, r-BS+G-NF exhibits high durability and can maintain high activity for more than 100 h at 100 mA cm−2. This is in sharp contrast to the catalyst without graphene (r-BS+NF), which shows lower durability. The results suggest that the unique morphology of the NF provides a large electrochemically active area and exposes more active sites on the surface of the prepared electrocatalyst, while the flexible graphene sheets play an important role as a support for effectively combining r-BS and NF. Consequently, the self-supporting structure can improve the OER performance as well as stability. Therefore, this study provides a promising strategy for use as an efficient and stable OER catalyst at high current densities. In the realm of electrocatalysis and the quest for sustainable energy conversion and storage technologies, our research introduces a distinctive contribution in the form of a nickel-foam-based boron monosulfide – graphene electrocatalyst (r-BS+G-NF) for the Oxygen Evolution Reaction (OER). Thanks to the porous structure of nickel foam and the important role of graphene in combining r-BS and nickel foam, r-BS+G-NF exhibits high catalytic activity and long durability for up to 100 hours. The findings presented in this paper represent a significant advancement in the field of electrocatalysis, with the potential to impact the development of cleaner and more efficient energy conversion and storage technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present paper, a scalable, economically feasible, and continuous process for making cellulose-based carbon fibers (CFs) is described encompassing precursor spinning, precursor additivation, thermal stabilization, and carbonization. By the use of boric acid (BA) as an additive, the main drawback of cellulose-based CFs, i.e., the low carbon yield, is overcome while maintaining a high level of mechanical properties. This is demonstrated by a systematic comparison between CFs obtained from a BA-doped and an un-doped cellulose precursor within a temperature range for carbonization between 1000 and 2000 °C. The changes in chemical composition (via elemental analysis) and physical structure (via X-ray scattering) as well as the mechanical and electrical properties of the resulting CFs were investigated. It turned out that, in contrast to current opinion, the catalytic effect of boron in the formation of graphite-like structures sets in already at 1000 °C. It becomes more and more effective with increasing temperature. The catalytic effect of boron significantly affects crystallite sizes (La, Lc), lattice plane spacings (d002), and orientation of the crystallites. Using BA, the carbon yield increased by 71%, Young's modulus by 27%, and conductivity by 168%, reaching 135,000 S/m. At the same time, a moderate decrease in tensile strength by 25% and an increase in density of 14% are observed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates the possibility to extend the cycle length of boiling water reactor bundles to 15 years of operation with three different burnable poisons; gadolinium, erbium, and boron carbide. This can be carried out by mixing highly enriched UO 2 fuel (15-19.9% U-235) with high concentrations of Gadolinium oxide (3-14% Gd 2 O 3 ) or Erbium oxide (2-4% Er 2 O 3 ).The boron carbide B 4 C was modeled as (Al 2 O 3 -B 4 C) rods in the bundle guide tubes. MCNPX code 2.7 was used to evaluate infinite multiplication factor (K-inf), power distribution, peaking factor, void reactivity coefficient, fuel cycle length, depletion of U-235, and fissile inventory ratio for the three designs at 40% void. The MCNPX simulation showed that introducing gadolinium rods at the bundle periphery has the advantage of lowering reactivity swing throughout the exposure range. The uniform distribution of erbium in all fuel rods contributed to the flattening of peaking factor at all the burnup stages. For the B 4 C design, the author found that the assembly with B 4 C-Al performs best in terms of reactivity flattening when five of the B 4 C-AL 2 O 3 rods are positioned in the central region of the assembly. Furthermore, the fuel temperature coefficient is more negative for gadolinium design at all burnup stages. On the other hand, the boron model delivers the lowest control rod worth. Finally, the moderator temperature coefficient is more negative for erbium and WABA designs due to the enhanced thermal neutrons capture by the effect of the strategic arrangement of WABA rods and the uniform distribution of erbium., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

In this paper, we use tight-binding approximation and linear response theory to study the electronic and optical properties of strained monolayer boron-phosphide (h-BP). Compared with the previous DFT study and adding on-site energy variation to the Hamiltonian, we propose a theoretical approach to investigate the strain effects on the electronic and optical properties of the h-BP. Applying tensile strain increases the gap while compressive strain reduces it as the maximum and minimum of the gap are 1.45 eV and 1.14 eV respectively and are related to the biaxial strain. Also, we investigate the optical conductivity and electron energy loss spectrum (EELS) of the pristine and strained h-BP. The absorption peak of the [Formula: see text] appears in energy about 4 eV but applying strain shifts the peak's energy. Optical properties of pristine h-BP are isotopic and biaxial strain preserves this isotropy, but uniaxial strain exerts anisotropic behavior in the system., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

For opening a way to synthesize novel metal-free catalysts and clarifying the photodegradation performance difference of photoactive species (such as ·O 2 - ), a series of metal-free photocatalysts have been synthesized by using different existing forms of the same materials (boron carbon nitride (BCN) and boron carbon nitride-citric acid quantum dot (BCQD)) as precursors via calcinating their mixture at 350 °C. BCQD has good fluorescence and up-conversion fluorescence performance. BCN/BCQD-350 has the highest removal efficiency (90%, including adsorption 60% and photodegradation 30%) for tetracycline (TC) among all samples under visible light irradiation. TC adsorption by BCN/BCQD-350 conforms to pseudo-second-order kinetic and Langmuir isotherm models. TC photodegradation by BCN/BCQD-350 conforms to type II heterojunction mechanism. Photoactive species capture experiments suggest that·O + ), a series of metal-free photocatalysts have been synthesized by using different existing forms of the same materials (boron carbon nitride (BCN) and boron carbon nitride-citric acid quantum dot (BCQD)) as precursors via calcinating their mixture at 350 °C. BCQD has good fluorescence and up-conversion fluorescence performance. BCN/BCQD-350 has the highest removal efficiency (90%, including adsorption 60% and photodegradation 30%) for tetracycline (TC) among all samples under visible light irradiation. TC adsorption by BCN/BCQD-350 conforms to pseudo-second-order kinetic and Langmuir isotherm models. TC photodegradation by BCN/BCQD-350 conforms to type II heterojunction mechanism. Photoactive species capture experiments suggest that·O 2 - makes a higher contribution for TC photodegradation, followed by h + , ·OH, 1 O 2 and e - . From LC-MS results, TC photodegradation is initiated by the dehydration step. TC dehydration activated by ·O 2 - has the lowest barrier (43.4 kcal/mol) than that (50.1 kcal/mol) activated by h + , that (64.8 kcal/mol) without the activation by photoactive species. TC removal rate of BCN/BCQD-350 (0.01563 min -1 ) is higher than that of g-C 3 N 4 , P25 (TiO 2 ), BNPA, BCNPA, etc. Furthermore, BCN/BCQD-350 can also photodegrade TC under infrared light irradiation (λ > 800 nm)., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Green synthesis of nanoparticles can be beneficial due to their low toxicity, cost-effectiveness, and environment-friendliness. Its synthesis involves the use of eco-friendly and biodegradable materials such as plant extracts, natural products, and microorganisms to reduce the negative environmental impacts of traditional nanoparticle synthesis methods. Herein, Spinacia oleracea leaves are used as a boron source, and a visible light active photo-catalyst is produced. The effect of Co-Catalyst Boron in Graphitic carbon nitride based nanocomposites for methylene blue dye photo-degradation in water is examined. Titanium dioxide (TiO 2 ) was activated by changing the hydrogen potential value while utilizing a typical orange dye as a sensitizer. The graphitic carbon nitride/TiO 2 nanocomposites were synthesized through a hydrothermal technique. To improve their performance, Boron used as a co-catalyst and B-doped g-C 3 N 4 /TiO 2 nanocomposites prepared through wet chemical co-percipitate mathod. UV-visible spectroscopy, SEM and FTIR spectroscopy were used to analyze the photocatalyst and boron-doped composites in detail. The photocatalytic performance of pristine photocatalyst CNTx (x = 2%,4%,6%,8%) and B-doped CNTx composites were examined for Methylene Blue degradation in the presence of a light source. The spectroscopy analysis showed that B-doped g-C 3 N 4 /TiO 2 -8% nano-composites performed better than all other synthesized pristine catalysts and composites in this research. This research has demonstrated that B-doped g-C 3 N 4 /TiO 2 composites can provide an ideal solution for treating polluted water using visible light as a source to activate these photocatalysts., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

This study focuses on the effect of replacing molybdenum with vanadium in rapidly quenched quasi-high-entropy alloys of the Fe-Co-Ni-Cr-(Mo,V)-B system. The paper analyzes the effect of the chemical composition of alloys with different boron content levels on structure formation, characteristic temperatures of alloys, and mechanical properties. An analysis of the relationship between the structure of alloys and their properties is performed. X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy methods were used in the work to establish the structural dependencies. Characteristic temperatures were determined by differential scanning calorimetry. It is suggested that the addition of vanadium to the alloys of this system leads to the formation of vanadium nitrides in the structure, due to the binding of dissolved nitrogen. Furthermore, it is found that replacing molybdenum with vanadium leads to an increase in the thermal stability of the amorphous phase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Excessive contents of boron and its compounds can exhibit toxic effects despite their necessity for functioning living organisms. An urgent task is to remove them in various ways, including the use of sorption technologies. Boron-selective sorbents with functional OH groups and granular anion exchangers with functional amino groups are capable of extracting boron compounds. This paper is devoted to studying boric acid sorption under static conditions on FIBAN A-5 fibrous sorbent, which shows a high affinity for boron and can be used as an alternative to anion-exchange resins produced in the form of granules. The features of the kinetics and equilibrium of the sorption by the studied fiber brought in contact with boric acid solutions have been studied. It has been found that the time required to reach the equilibrium state decreases with the intensification of stirring and an increase in the concentration gradient in a solution. Sorption isotherms are of a stepwise character due to the existence of boron in different forms at concentrations above 0.025 M. The influence of temperature, pH of a solution, and ionic form of the sorbent on the capacity of FIBAN A-5 fiber has been determined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stimuli-responsive materials with dynamically switched room-temperature phosphorescence (RTP) aroused great interest. However, the dynamic control of RTP with a color-tunable persistent afterglow by external stimuli is still challenging. Herein, an appealing strategy for constructing dynamic hydrogen-bond networks based on boron-doped carbon quantum dots (BCQDs) was proposed to generate sequence-dependent stimuli-responsive RTP. The BCQDs exhibited bright RTP in paper matrix after successive stimulation by water and heat, demonstrating a fascinating regulation based on an AND logic gate. The RTP generated experienced a reversible switching without attenuation fatigue when BCQDs were heated and exposed to air. The switching of hydrogen-bond network from that among BCQDs to that between BCQDs and paper could facilitate the population of triplet-state BCQDs. The RTP can last a long timie of 10 s after the ceasation of excitation light source. Furthermore, the AND logic gate stimuli-responsive RTP with different colors in papers were obtainded for the first time after blending with various non-RTP dyes. The BCQDs with controllable and on-demand afterglow were further applied for advanced multi-level information encryption and anti-counterfeiting materials. The finding provided assistance to understand the origin and mechanism of the stimuli-responsive RTP of smart materials and offered opportunities for developing multiple continuous stimuli-responsive intelligent RTP materials., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Boron (B) is an essential mineral nutrient for growth of plants, and B deficiency is now a worldwide problem that limits production of B deficiency-sensitive crops, such as rape and cotton. Agronomic practice has told that balanced B and other mineral nutrient fertilizer applications is helpful to promote crop yield. In recent years, much research has reported that applying B can also reduce the accumulation of toxic elements such as cadmium and aluminum in plants and alleviate their toxicity symptoms. Therefore, the relation between B and other elements has become an interesting issue for plant nutritionists. Here we summarize the research progress of the interaction between B and macronutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus, calcium, potassium, magnesium, and sulfur, essential micronutrients such as iron, manganese, zinc, copper, and molybdenum, and beneficial elements such as sodium, selenium, and silicon. Moreover, the interaction between B and toxic elements such as cadmium and aluminum, which pose a serious threat to agriculture, is also discussed in this paper. Finally, the possible physiological mechanisms of the interaction between B and other elements in plants is reviewed. We propose that the cell wall is an important intermediary between interaction of B and other elements, and competitive inhibition of elements and related signal transduction pathways also play a role. Currently, research on the physiological role of B in plants mainly focuses on its involvement in the structure and function of cell walls, and our understanding of the details for interactions between B and other elements also tend to relate to the cell wall. However, we know little about the metabolic process of B inside cells, including its interactions with other elements. More research is needed to address the aforementioned research questions in future.