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Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations have become a powerful tool for investigating electrical double layers (EDLs), which play a crucial role in various electrochemical devices. In this Review, we provide a comprehensive overview of the techniques used in MD simulations for EDL studies, with a particular focus on methods for describing electrode polarization, and examine the principle behind these methods and their varying applicability. The applications of these approaches in supercapacitors, capacitive deionization, batteries, and electric double-layer transistors are explored, highlighting recent advancements and insights in each field. Finally, we emphasize the challenges and potential directions for future developments in MD simulations of EDLs, such as considering movable electrodes, improving electrode property representation, incorporating chemical reactions, and enhancing computational efficiency to deepen our understanding of complex electrochemical processes and contribute to the progress in the field involving EDLs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phosphides with high theoretical capacity are considered ideal anode materials for lithium‐ion capacitors (LICs), but poor electronic conductivity as well as unsatisfied cyclic stability limits the performance of the phosphides. Here a covalently bonded CoP@C heterostructure is reported, which consists of 5 nm CoP quantum dots (QDs) like pomegranate seeds pinned in carbon polyhedron through interfacial Co─P─C bonding. The ultrafine size of CoP QDs provides more reactive sites and a shorten electrons/ions diffusion path, boosting the specific capacity. The Co─P─C bond induces the energy band variation of CoP and increases the interfacial charge density, bringing about fast kinetics. Besides, the Co─P─C bond introduces a robust pining effect among CoP QDs and carbon polyhedra, greatly improving the structure stability of 5 nm CoP QDs. The CoP@C heterostructure electrode exhibits high capacity (nearly 1000 mAh g−1) and superior cycling stability. It is worth noting that a prototyped LIC full‐cell of YP80//CoP@C presents an impressive high energy density of 172 Wh kg−1 and a power density of 10.8 kW kg−1. Moreover, the LIC possesses an ultra‐long life, retaining 80% after 20,000 cycles. This study offers an effective design for phosphides achieving fast kinetics and superior structure stability through an interfacial bonding approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] Although lots of nanomaterials modified anodes have been reported to improve the bacterial attachment and extracellular electron transfer (EET) in microbial fuel cells (MFCs), the lack of a three dimensional (3D) conductive and capacitive network severely limited MFCs performance. In this work, 3D conductive networks derived from mucor mycelia were grown on carbon cloth (CC), and capacitive FeMn phosphides/oxides were further anchored on these 3D networks by electrochemical deposition (denoted as FeMn/CMM@CC) to simultaneously address the above challenges. As a result, the multivalent metal active sites were evenly distributed on 3D conductive network, which favored the enrichment of exoelectrogens, mass transport and EET. Consequently, the as-prepared FeMn/CMM@CC anode displayed accumulated charge of 131.4C/m2, higher than bare CC. Meanwhile, FeMn/CMM@CC anode substantially promoted flavin excretion and the amounts of nano conduits. The abundance of Geobacter was 63 % on bare CC, and greatly increased to 83 % on FeMn/CMM@CC. MFCs equipped by FeMn/CMM@CC anode presented the power density of 3.06 W/m2 and coulombic efficiency (29.9 %), evidently higher than bare CC (1.29 W/m2, 7.3 %), and the daily chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal amount also increased to 92.6 mg/L/d. This work developed a facile method to optimize the abiotic-biotic interface by introducing 3D conductive and capacitive network, which was proved to be a promising strategy to modify macro-porous electrodes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Design and synthesis of earth-abundant and robust bifunctional electrocatalysts have been greatly sought for commercialization of the technology for clean and renewable energy and replacement of the energy equipment based on fossil fuels. In this work, a facile hydrothermal approach is used to synthesize MoS 2 /NiFe 2 O 4 -based nanocomposite as a novel electrocatalyst for alkaline water splitting. Surface analysis was conducted using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Benefiting from the synergy of lamellar MoS 2 and crystalline NiFe 2 O 4 , the obtained MoS 2 /NiFe 2 O 4 composite shows excellent hydrogen evolution reaction (η 10 = 190 mV, η 50 = 279 mV) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) (η 50 = 350 mV, η 100 = 360 mV) activity with high TOF (0.01 s−1@190 mV for HER and 0.24 s−1 @360 mV for OER) and displays good electrochemical stability. Explicitly, the electrocatalyst requires a cell voltage of 1.69 V to drive overall water splitting at a current density of 10 mA cm−2. Density functional theory (DFT) results demonstrated that the MoS 2 /NiFe 2 O 4 composite electrocatalyst has smaller hydrogen adsorption free energy (|ΔG H *|) than pristine MoS 2 and NiFe 2 O 4 , which demonstrates the effective adsorption and cleavage of water on the catalyst surface. This work thus presents an approach for the synthesis and rational design of metal oxide/metal sulfide hybrids as an electrocatalyst with high performance for overall water splitting. [Display omitted] • Heterostructured MoS 2 /NiFe 2 O 4 composites are prepared by simple hydrothermal method. • The MoS 2 /NiFe 2 O 4 electrocatalyst demonstrates exceptional water splitting activity. • The performance is due to the heterointerfaces of MoS 2 /NiFe 2 O 4 of large active area. • DFT study reveals the surface suitability of the catalyst for H adsorption in HER. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mercury is one of the main components of fluorescent lamps. Considering the adverse effects of mercury on human health and the environment, recovery of mercury-containing fluorescent lamps is very important in developed countries. The glass parts of used fluorescent lamps are among the dangerous wastes whose mercury content should be reduced to the lowest possible level according to international standards. The aim of this research is to achieve a systematic approach to minimize the amount of mercury present in fluorescent lamp glass residues according to the European Commission EC95/2002 regulations. In order to extract mercury from glasses, glass pieces were washed with deionized water, using stirring to increase washing efficiency. In order to achieve the maximum amount of extraction, parameters such as ratio of glass to deionized water (S/L), stirring time, temperature and pH were changed. The results showed that, the highest mercury extraction rate is about 98% and in the conditions S/L = 0.1, stirring time of 12 h, temperature of 60 °C and pH 1, which is using a combination of HCl and H3PO4 acid 5% with a ratio of 1:4 has been obtained. The success of this method not only increases environmental sustainability, but also classifies the resulting glass waste as non-hazardous. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Continuous Li monitoring is vital in ensuring the safety and treatment efficacy of probationers with psychotic disorders, such as bipolar disorder, depression, and mania. This study introduced a validated quantitative analysis method using ion chromatography (IC) to monitor Li+ concentration in urine. The methodology involved centrifuging the urine sample, diluting the supernatant with deionized water, and subsequent IC analysis using guard and analytical columns for precise Li+ concentration measurement. The method quantified Li+ within the range of 2–400 ng/mL, demonstrating its excellent linearity (r2 = 0.9983) with a weighting factor of 1/x. Precision levels below 12.8% were observed for both intraday and interday measurements with an accuracy of −5.9% to 15.2%. The detection limit was identified as 0.12 ng/mL. The method conformed to analytical standards in terms of selectivity, matrix effect, process efficiency, dilution integrity, and stability. Moreover, the method distinctly quantified Li+ while effectively eliminating interference from Na+, which had a similar retention time as Li+ with higher concentrations. Further, the developed method was successfully applied to analyze forensic urine samples of Li users, demonstrating its applicability for medication compliance monitoring using urine samples of mentally disordered probationers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anodic oxidation is a promising method for removing organic pollutants from water due to its high nonselectivity and effectiveness. Nevertheless, its widespread application is limited due to its low current efficiency, high energy consumption and low treatment rates. These problems may be overcome by the optimization of the process parameters, reactor design and electrode geometry, by coupling the experimental investigations with mathematical modeling. Here we review the modeling of anodic oxidation with focus on basics of this process, the competition phenomenon in real wastewater, flow cells and batch cells, historical aspects, general modeling equations, modeling with plate electrodes, modeling with porous 3-dimension electrodes and the density functional theory. Mathematical modeling can provide current, voltage and concentration distributions in the system. Mathematical modeling can also determine the effects on the performance of parameters such as diffusion layer thickness, flow velocity, applied current density, solution treatment time, initial concentration and diffusion coefficients of organic pollutants, electrode surface area, and oxidation reaction rate constant. Mathematical models allow to determine whether the limiting factor of the process is kinetics or diffusion, and to study the impact of competition of phenomena. The density functional theory provides information on probable reaction pathways and by-products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study draws attention to arsenic (V) (As(V)), chromium (III) (Cr(III)), and chromium (VI) (Cr(VI)) heavy metal pollutants, which have negative effects on aquatic ecosystems and indirectly pose a serious threat to the health of living things in the environment. Homopolymer and copolymer hydrogels were synthesized by the UV polymerization technique using 2-acrylamido-2-methyl-1-propansulfonic acid sodium salt (AMPS) and 3-acrlylamidopropil-trimethyl ammonium chloride monomers, and a crosslinker aimed to improve the swelling properties and metal sorption of the prepared hydrogels. The swelling balance values of hydrogels were determined by the gravimetric method in deionized water and different pH values, and their structural characterizations were carried out by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) techniques. Sorption efficiencies and sorption capacities of the synthesized hydrogels were determined using aqueous solutions containing As(V), Cr(III), and Cr(VI) heavy metal ions at 25 °C. It was determined that there was a significant increase in p(AMPS) (AM1)-based hydrogel's balance swelling value in deionized water compared to p(AP1) and p(AMPS-co-APTMACl) (AMAP1)-based hydrogels. The lowest equilibrium swelling value was reached in the AMAP1 hydrogel, and the main reason for this result was thought to be due to the closure of the active functional groups of the increased cross-links between AMPS and APTMACl monomer. When sorption results were examined, it was observed that the highest heavy metal ion removal for AM1, AP1, and AMAP1 was in As(V) metal. The highest metal ion holding capacity of AM1, AP1, and AMAP1 was found to be 494 mg/g, 2336 mg/g, and 1439 mg/g for As(V), 323 mg/g, 111 mg/g, and 276 mg/g for Cr(III), and 303 mg/g, 723 mg/g, and 554 mg/g for Cr(VI), respectively. Considering the swelling and sorption results, it is thought that the synthesized hydrogels will provide a significant advantage in the removal of heavy metal ions, which have negative effects on environmental pollution and live health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein, the SrTiO 3 -TiO 2 -CaTiO 3 /Cu 2 O quaternary composite has been designed and prepared via one-step hydrothermal process followed by a NaBH 4 reduction treatment. By comparing the H 2 production rate (HPR) of Sr-Ti-Ca/Cu samples prepared by different Cu sources, it is found that Sr-Ti-Ca/Cu has the best H 2 production performance when CuCl 2 is as Cu source. As expected, the highest HPR of Sr-Ti-Ca/Cu sample is up to 5.088 mmol g−1 h−1, which is 195.7 times as higher as that of the Sr-Ti-Ca sample (0.026 mmol g−1 h−1) under the same conditions. Moreover, the HPR reached 0.692, 0.530 and 0.647 mmol g−1 h−1 in tap water, lake water and river water, indicating that the photocatalyst has high practicability in natural water sources. In addition, the experiment of the tap water composition effect on H 2 production performance shows that NO 3 − and SO 4 2− ions have great negative influence on the HPR. Compared with Sr-Ti-Ca, the light absorption of Sr-Ti-Ca/Cu extends over the entire visible region, the interface resistance decreases, and the photocurrent density increases. These results suggest that the well-designed dual p-n heterojunctions and dual type-II heterojunctions in Sr-Ti-Ca/Cu sample can enhance the light absorption in the ultraviolet region and realize the rapid separation and migration of photogenerated charge, thereby accelerating the production of H 2. This work shows the strong advantage and potential of non-precious metal efficient photocatalyst system for producing H 2 from deionized water and natural fresh water. The SrTiO 3 -TiO 2 -CaTiO 3 /Cu 2 O quaternary composite with dual p-n heterojunctions and dual type-II heterojunctions was successfully designed and prepared by a facile two-step synthesis process firstly, and it exhibited high hydrogen production rate in deionized water and natural fresh water. [Display omitted] • The multi-type heterojunctions can promote the separation of carriers. • Sr-Ti-Ca/Cu exhibited high H 2 production rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Manganese dioxide (MnO2) often suffers from a slow electron transport, and so improving the charge transport capability of MnO2 is imminent. In here, crossed MnO2 nanosheets grown on carbon cloth (CC) are fabricated firstly and subsequently coated with a layer of polypyrrole (PPy) to prepare CC/MnO2/PPy (CC/MP) electrode. At 1 A g−1, the prepared electrode is able to deliver a specific capacitance of 328 F g−1. The flexible asymmetric supercapacitor consists of CC/MP and CC/activated carbon (CC/AC) separately as positive and negative electrodes and PVA‐H2SO4 as gel electrolyte. The assembled device exhibits a specific capacitance of 123.96 F g−1 at 10 mV s−1, reaches a voltage window of 1.6 V, has a capacitance retention of 96.46% after 8000 cycles, and produces an energy density of 25.67 W h kg−1 at a power density of 401.79 W kg−1, as well as an energy density of 8.78 W h kg−1 at a power density of 3902.22 W kg−1. The two devices in series can illuminate 1.8 V red light‐emitting diode (LED) light. These excellent electrochemical properties are ascribed to the unique heterostructure of the electrode composite. The outcomes indicate that the prepared CC/MP electrode and the corresponding device have huge potential applications in next‐generation high‐performance supercapacitor devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aqueous foams have been used in many underbalanced drilling applications, and their success significantly relies on foam stability. Many studies in the literature have investigated different drilling-foam systems with different surfactants and additives. However, very limited studies reported the foam performance in a high pH environment that is highly recommended for drilling operations to avoid corrosion. Moreover, the stability of the drilling-foam systems should be tested against formation influxes, e.g., brine. However, it is fairly covered in the reported studies. Therefore, this study presents an experimental investigation to evaluate the stability of a set of surfactants (anionic and zwitterionic) at high pH conditions that mimic a typical drilling environment. These surfactants are ammonium alcohol ether sulfate (CPID), coco amido propyl dimethyl betaine, alpha-olefin sulfonates, and coco amido propyl hydroxysultaine. Moreover, the effect of water salinity on the foam stability was investigated. A commercial drilling-foam blend was used as a reference. The tests were conducted using water samples with different salinities, i.e., deionized water, synthetic sea water, and formation water. The analysis of the foam properties such as foam bubble count, structure, foam half-life, and liquid drainage was conducted using a sophisticated foam analyzer. The surfactants used for foaming exhibited have varying impact on foaming properties, i.e., foam stability, structure, and foamability, with increasing water salinity. Therefore, it is recommended to investigate them independently to evaluate their compatibility with different water salinities. The results showed that the surfactant: Ammonium alcohol ether sulfate (CPID) is suggested to be a good potential candidate for UB drilling applications. This is because it showed good compatibility with different water salinities with no considerable impact on its formability. Moreover, it showed promising stability which increases with increasing water salinity, unlike the other tested surfactants. The analysis also showed that CPID surfactant had very comparable foam characteristics to the commercial blend and hence promotes its potentiality to be a good drilling foam. This study would help provide a better understanding of the drilling foam in a mildly alkaline environment. Besides, it is substantial to improve operational safety and cost control, as well as mitigate the risks associated with the application of foam drilling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phenol is nonetheless considered a major pollutant and, therefore should be treated to eliminate the phenol in wastewater to save the environment, people, and organisms from the negative impacts of phenol. This study, for the first time, investigates the synthesis and performance evaluation of hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide-functionalized cellulose nanocrystals (HDTMA-Br/CNCs) adsorbent for removing phenol from synthetic phenol-containing wastewater. The CNCs were prepared from as-received cellulose, by mixed acid hydrolysis consisting of sulfuric acid, glacial acetic acid, and deionized water in a mass ratio of 1:7:2. The prepared CNCs were functionalized by adding 20 g of the produced CNCs to the HDTMA-Br solution and stirred for 120 min. The synthesized and HDTMA-Br-functionalized CNCs were characterized using different analytical techniques, such as Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM-EDX) to examine the surface morphology and the elemental composition of the modified and unmodified adsorbents. Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) was used to examine the attachment of the functional group. X-ray diffraction (XRD) was used to analyze the crystalline structure of the adsorbent. To evaluate the performance of the synthesized adsorbent in batch mode, 1 g/L of phenol was used to prepare the synthetic phenol-containing wastewater. The analysis of the feed and permeate was done using pre-calibrated High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). The multi-BET surface area of CNCs was 24.11 m2 g−1, meanwhile, fCNCs possessed a higher surface area of 201.4 m2 g−1 with a pore volume of 0.069 cm3 g−1. About ∼75 ± 1.4% phenol removal was obtained for the functionalized CNCs compared to the non-functionalized CNCs adsorbent having ∼43 ± 0.1% phenol removal at 35 °C reaction temperature. It could be observed that the spent adsorbent a shows percentage phenol removal of 70.0 ± 0.8% and 35.5 ± 1.4%, for fCNCs and CNCs at the 3rd cycle. The Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms best match the experimental data, while the pseudo-first-order kinetic model provided the greatest fit to the kinetic data. Thus far, the results suggest that modified CNCs may be an alternative adsorption material for phenol removal in wastewater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aluminum can be found in water and vegetables in the form of the trivalent ion (Al3+), which can potentially contaminate food and water. Overconsumption of aluminum can lead to serious health problems in humans. Therefore, there is a need for an economical and simple procedure to detect the presence of aluminum. In this study, we synthesized a conjugate of Grewia asiatica extract with silver nanoparticles. The nanoparticle-stabilized fruit extract of Grewia asiatica was found to be an extremely selective sensor of Al3+ in tap water, DI water, industrial wastewater, and human blood plasma. We characterized the Grewia asiatica-conjugated silver nanoparticles (GA-AgNPs) using UV-visible, SEM, and AFM techniques and found that they were stable in an extensive pH range and different electrolyte concentrations up to 10 M NaCl. The GA-AgNPs were circular in shape with typical particle sizes of 65–97 nm. We inspected the photo physical properties of GA-AgNPs concerning metallic ions using UV-visible spectroscopy and found that they were highly selective for Al3+ ions, with no interfering ions detected in competitive experimentation. The absorption intensity of GA-AgNPs was directly related to Al3+ concentration over a wide range of concentrations (6.25–500 μM). Jobs plot experiment displayed 1 : 1 binding stoichiometry between GA-AgNPs, and Al3+. Additionally, GA-AgNPs were effectively utilized for the recognition of Al3+ in laboratory tap water, DI water, industrial wastewater, and human blood plasma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cocatalysts play a key role in photocatalytic technology in remarkably improving the efficiency of H 2 evolution. Herein, S vacancies-rich Cd 0.6 Zn 0.4 S nanorods (CZS NRs) were prepared via solvothermal method. Then, as-obtained CZS NRs were modified with Ni–Co PBA-derived NiS x nanoparticles (NPs) cocatalyst using grinding method. The optimized CZS/NiS x -N-1.5 hybrids (CZS/NiS x -N, where N represents nickel nitrate which was used as nickel source) exhibited outstanding stability and activity, the average rate of H 2 was up to 192.82 mmolg−1h−1 in deionized water medium, which was 201.4% higher than that of CZS. Besides, NiS x -A and NiS x -C cocatalysts with different particle sizes were obtained using nickel acetate (A) and nickel chloride (C) as nickel source, respectively. The CZS/NiS x -C-1.5 and CZS/NiS x -A-1.5 exhibited the H 2 evolution rate of 180.70 and 201.93 mmolg−1h−1 in deionized water medium, respectively. The as-prepared materials also exhibited the excellent H 2 evolution performance in natural seawater medium. Besides, the photocatalytic mechanism of H 2 evolution over CZS NRs/NiSs NPs was also discussed. This work develops a novel H 2 evolution cocatalyst and unveils the relationship between the loading amount/particle size of cocatalyst on the H 2 evolution rate. CZS NRs/NiSx NPs hybrids for photocatalytic pure water and natural seawater hydrogen production. [Display omitted] • A novel photocatalytic H 2 evolution cocatalyst was prepared. • Optimized CZS/NiS x exhibits high reusability, and structural stability. • The relationship of loading amount/particle size of cocatalyst on H 2 evolution rate were unveiled. • The evolution process of morphology from Ni–Co PBA NCs to NiS x NPs was explored. • Optimized CZS/NiS x exhibits excellent high activity in deionized water and natural seawater medium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using polyaspartic acid (PAsp) and bentonite (BT) as the main raw materials, a new type of degradable soil water retaining agent (PAsp-AA/BT) was synthesized by microwave radiation. The optimum synthesis conditions and comprehensive properties of PAsp-AA/BT were discussed and the structure and surface characteristics of PAspsp-AA/BT were characterized by FTIR, SEM, XRD and TGA in the paper. The results showed that the optimum synthesis conditions of PAsp-AA/BT were as follows: the dosages of polyaspartic acid (PAsp), bentonite (BT), initiator potassium persulfate, crosslinking agent N,N′-methylene bisacrylamide was 5, 3, 0.3, 0.03%, respectively, the neutralization degree of acrylic acid was 75%, and the microwave power was 490W. Under this condition, the absorption ratio of the synthesized PAspsp-AA/BT in deionized water and 0.9% NaCl solution was 953 and 164 g/g, respectively. The synthesized PAsp-AA/BT had a high water absorption rate, good water retention and repeated water absorption, and the degradation rate in soil within 30 days reached 32.75%, with good degradation effect. The analysis of SEM, FT-IR, XRD and TGA showed that: the surface of PAsp-AA/BT was rough and had obvious pore structure, which was conducive to the diffusion of water molecules; polyaspartic acid, bentonite and acrylic acid were polymerized; the cross-linking structure was formed between polyaspartic acid, bentonite and acrylic acid; the product of PASP-AA/BT had good thermal stability. This study provides a new soil water retaining agent, which is helpful for the better development of soil water retaining agent research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The supercritical hydrothermal synthesis of nanomaterials has gained significant attention due to its straightforward operation and the excellent performance of the resulting products. In this study, the supercritical hydrothermal method was used with Zn(CH3COO)2·2H2O as the precursor and deionized water and ethanol as the solvent. Nano-ZnO was synthesized under different reaction temperatures (300~500 °C), reaction times (5~15 min), reaction pressures (22~30 MPa), precursor concentrations (0.1~0.5 mol/L), and ratios of precursor to organic solvent (C2H5OH) (2:1~1:4). The effects of synthesis conditions on the morphology and size of ZnO were studied. It was found that properly increasing hydrothermal temperature and pressure and extending the hydrothermal time are conducive to the more regular morphology and smaller size of ZnO particles, which is mainly achieved through the change of reaction conditions affecting the hydrothermal reaction rate. Moreover, the addition of ethanol makes the morphology of nano-zno more regular and significantly inhibits the agglomeration phenomenon. In addition to the change in physical properties of the solvent, this may also be related to the chemical bond established between ethanol and ZnO. The results show that the optimum synthesis conditions of ZnO are 450 °C, 26 MPa, 0.3 mol/L, 10 min, and the molar ratio of precursor to ethanol is 1:3. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we synthesized a polymer hydrogel(PPNS), which features multiple hydrogen bonds through copolymerization, by using N -isopropylacrylamide, polyvinyl alcohol, and octadecyl polyoxyethylene ether acrylate (SGA 15) as raw materials. The PPNS hydrogel demonstrated outstanding high-resolution, repeatable recording capabilities, enabling reversible recording, encryption, and decryption of information using anhydrous ethanol as the inducer. Due to their responsive and dynamic nature of PPNS hydrogels are positions them as promising candidates for use as innovative information storage platforms. [Display omitted] Smart hydrogel materials, known for their sensitivity to external stimuli, exhibit a reversible dynamic response and find applications in diverse fields, particularly in information storage. Despite significant efforts in this domain, developing a hydrogel with high-resolution, repeatable recording, and robust information encryption/decryption capabilities still remains a challenge. In this study, we synthesized a polymer hydrogel, namely polyvinyl alcohol- n -isopropylacrylamide-octadecyl polyoxyethylene ether acrylate hydrogel (PPNS), which features multiple hydrogen bonds through copolymerization, by using N -isopropylacrylamide, polyvinyl alcohol, and octadecyl polyoxyethylene ether acrylate (SGA 15) as raw materials. The PPNS hydrogel demonstrated outstanding high-resolution, repeatable recording capabilities, enabling reversible recording, encryption, and decryption of information using anhydrous ethanol as the inducer. Varying the SGA 15 monomer concentration revealed that the PPNS-2% hydrogel, prepared with 2% SGA 15 , outperformed the other hydrogels in terms of information recording and encryption/decryption when immersed in anhydrous ethanol and deionized water. Furthermore, the PPNS-2% hydrogel exhibited the ability to undergo multiple information cycles while maintaining excellent mechanical properties even after 25 cycles. Notably, ethanol served as a specialized ink for inscribing different patterns on the hydrogel surface for information recording. The recorded information could be erased through water wiping or ethanol volatilization, enabling reversible information recording, encryption, and decryption. Due to their responsive and dynamic nature of PPNS hydrogels are positions them as promising candidates for use as innovative information storage platforms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] The utilization of Na 2 MnSiO 4 as a Faraday electrode in hybrid capacitive deionization (HCDI) is investigated to achieve efficient desalination. The Na 2 MnSiO 4 /C (NMSO) materials were fabricated via a simple sol–gel method, in which the synthesis process was modulated by adjusting the volume ratio of ethanol to water. When maintaining the volume ratio of water to ethanol at 3:1, the resultant NMSO-3/1 exhibited expected salt adsorption capacity of 31.06 mg g−1 and salt adsorption rate of 20.43 mg g−1 min−1. This distinguished desalination performance was mainly attributed to its inherent multiple redox pairs, as well as the integration of ethanol, which enhanced both specific capacitance and hydrophilicity of the material. This study opens a new perspective for the development of highly efficient materials in HCDI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Film boiling occurs when an overheated sample is rapidly plunged into the liquid. The study of film boiling is paramount in many engineering applications, like, cooling of nuclear reactor fuel rods, regenerative cooling of rockets, and wet treatment of blast slag furnaces. The objective of the present study is to explore the influence of boric acid at various concentrations (0.5%, 1%, 3%, and 5% vol.) and subcooling temperature on film boiling heat transfer using stainless steel rod (304 L). We performed vertical immersion quenching experiments in subcooled (50 °C) and saturation temperature at atmospheric conditions. Under saturated conditions, the sample quenched in deionized water took 73 s to cool down to 100 °C, while in the subcooled condition, the sample only took 13 s. At both saturated and subcooled conditions, 1% vol. boric acid solution accelerated the quenching rate and facilitated lowest film boiling time than other solutions considered. Conversely, film boiling time is higher when the sample is quenched in deionized water with 5% vol. of boric acid. The coolant temperature and additive concentration influence the film boiling time and Leidenfrost temperature, with a local build-up of boric acid concentration at the liquid–vapor interface being the governing mechanism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To validate a UV-visible spectrophotometric technique for evaluating niclosamide (NIC) concentration in different media across various values of pH. Methods: NIC was investigated using a UV-visible spectrophotometer in acidic buffer solution (ABS) of pH 1.2, deionized water (DW), and phosphate buffer solution (PBS), pH 7.4. The characterization of NIC was done with differential scanning calorimeter (DSC), powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The UV analysis was validated for accuracy, precision, linearity, and robustness. Results: The DSC spectra showed a single endothermic peak at 228.43 °C (corresponding to the melting point of NIC), while XRD and FTIR analysis confirmed the identity, crystallinity and purity of NIC. In all media, the measured concentration of NIC was within ± 5 % of the actual value, which confirmed accuracy. The percentage relative standard deviation values were < 1 %, reflecting the precision of the method. The range of concentration measured was between 2 and 24 µg/mL, and all coefficient of determination (R²) values were > 0.99, indicating the linearity of the established analytical method. The limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantification (LOQ) values were 0.122 and 0.407 µg/mL in ethanol, 0.530 and 1.766 µg/mL in ABS (pH 1.2), 0.224 and 0.747 µg/mL in DW, and 0.798 and 2.662 µg/mL in PBS, pH 7.4. The robustness was confirmed as the measured concentration under slight changes in temperatures and wavelengths were insignificant (p > 0.05). Conclusion: Based on the results above, the UV-visible spectrophotometric method under investigation was validated to be accurate, precise, linear, and robust in all the different media for the determination of NIC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present study, poly acrylonitrile (PAN) nanofiltration membrane has been tailored for applying in forward osmosis (FO) process via the combination of two modification approaches including blending and layer-by-layer (LBL)-surface modification techniques. Firstly, dopamine was embedded in PAN nanofiltration membrane to improve its hydrophilicity and antifouling features so that at the optimal loading rate (0.1 wt%) water contact angle (WCA) of the bare membrane declined from 62.7° to 54.5°, its pure water flux augmented from 3.59 to 7.2 kg/m2 h, and its flux recovery ratio (FRR) increased from 70.6 to 92.3%. Secondly, LBL technique has been performed on the optimal MM membrane's surface (with 0.1 wt%) by using poly diallyl dimethyl ammonium and poly(4-styrenesulfonic acid-co-maleic acid) sodium salt as poly cation and poly anion, respectively. From the obtained results, the insertion of 5 bilayers on the optimally dopamine–incorporated membrane's surface showed an outperformance compared to the others with FRR and WCA of 99.2% and 34.5°, respectively. Finally, the performances of the synthesized membranes were evaluated in a FO setup containing NaCl (1M) as a draw solution and deionized water as a feed solution. Pursuant to the obtained results, the optimally tailored membrane by using both the modification methods revealed the lowest reverse solute flux (3.9 g/m2 h) and a moderate pure water flux (3 l/m2 h), corroborating its potential to be used in an effectual FO process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electrochemical devices based on the proton conducting ceramic BaZrO 3 have shown their immense potential for efficient energy conversion and gas separation processes at intermediate temperatures. A major drawback of this material class is the inevitably high sintering temperature, which is necessary to reach sufficient densities for gas tightness. Recently, cold sintering has been applied to densify BaZrO 3 – BaCeO 3 solid solutions at low temperatures using a partial dissolution of the Ce-rich phase. Here, we apply the method to BaZr 0.8 Y 0.2 O 3-ẟ (BZY20), which is a Ce-free proton conducting ceramic. We show that densification by cold sintering is viable at temperatures between 150 °C and 250 °C under uniaxial pressures of 400 MPa and deionized water as a sintering aid. The dissolution of yttrium from BZY20 during cold sintering acts as the trigger for densification at low temperatures but forms Y(OH) 3 as an instable side product. Therefore, we developed a two-step cold sintering process that adds an additional thermal treatment between 900 and 1100 °C directly after the cold sintering process to enable electrochemical characterization and transmission electron microscopy investigations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lithium-ion batteries are commonly employed as energy providers for portable electronic gadgets due to their notable characteristics, which encompass a substantial energy storage capacity, exceptional efficiency, and lightweight design. Nonetheless, it's worth noting that current commercially available LIBs continue to confront challenges, such as comparatively lower power density and a shorter overall cycle life when compared to other significant electrochemical energy storage alternatives. This research describes the method of making graphene derived from graphite and making anodes used in lithium-ion battery applications. The process of making graphene is that graphite is weighed as much as 7 grams, then mixed into a solution of H2SO4 and H3PO4 in a ratio (9:1) of 840 mL H2SO4 and 93.8 mL H3PO4. The next process is stirring using magnetic stirrer for 6 hours at 1000 rpm and added slowly KMnO4 42 grams to solution. The resulting solution was then mixed using ice cubes added with H2O2 (2800 mL and 21 mL), then the solution was filtrated using filter paper. The next process is washing, the solution that has been filtered is then washed using deionized water (1400 mL), ethanol (1400 mL). The sample was then dried by allowing it to stand at room temperature for 12 hours. After that, the process of making battery anodes by mixing 5 grams of graphene with boron acid solutions (0.5 M and 1 M) as much as 100 ml and then given hydrothermal treatment to the sample. Anodes of GO, BrGO 0.5 M, BrGO 1 M has the potential to enhance the perform of lithium-ion batteries. In the FTIR test results, it is known that B-C bond is found at a peak of 1222 cm-1 and the B-O bond at a peak of 1454 cm-1. XRD testing shows the crystal size of GO is 4.55 nm, BrGO 0.5 is 3.89 nm, and BrGO 1 shows a sample size of 3.19 nm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, (Bi0.5Na0.5)0.94Ba0.06TiO3 (BN6BT) lead‐free ceramics were prepared via cold‐sintering followed by annealing, and effects of grain size of precursor powders and annealing temperature on microstructure, dielectric, and ferroelectric properties of the ceramics were studied. The precursor powders for cold sintering were obtained by mixing the powders with sub‐micrometer (average grain size, AGS = 0.26 μm) and nanometer (AGS = 73 nm) grains in various mass ratios (1:0, 1:1, 1:2, and 1:4). The precursor powders were mixed with deionized water and cold sintered at 180°C for 1 h under 500 MPa. The cold‐sintered samples were then annealed at temperatures between 800 and 1000°C for 2 h. For the ratios of 1:2 and 1:4, the corresponding ceramics annealed at 950°C exhibit dielectric and ferroelectric properties similar to those of the BN6BT ceramics sintered at 1170°C via the solid‐state sintering method. The present BN6BT ceramics exhibit dense microstructure with finer grains with AGS = 280 nm, higher breakdown strength (BDS = 160 kV· cm−1) compared to the solid‐state sintered BN6BT ceramics with AGS = 1.6 μm and BDS = 75 kV· cm−1. The results demonstrate that the cold‐sintering followed by annealing is effective in preparing BN6BT ceramics with fine grains and excellent dielectric and ferroelectric properties at relatively low temperatures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This comprehensive review addresses the need for sustainable and efficient energy storage technologies against escalating global energy demand and environmental concerns. It explores the innovative utilization of waste materials from oil refineries and coal processing industries as precursors for carbon-based electrodes in next-generation energy storage systems, including batteries and supercapacitors. These waste-derived carbon materials, such as semi-coke, coal gasification fine ash, coal tar pitch, petroleum coke, and petroleum vacuum residue, offer a promising alternative to conventional electrode materials. They present an optimal balance of high carbon content and enhanced electrochemical properties while promoting environmental sustainability through effectively repurposing waste materials from coal and hydrocarbon industries. This review systematically examines recent advancements in fabricating and applying waste-derived carbon-based electrodes. It delves into the methodologies for converting industrial by-products into high-quality carbon electrodes, with a particular emphasis on carbonization and activation processes tailored to enhance the electrochemical performance of the derived materials. Key findings indicate that while higher carbonization temperatures may impede the development of a porous structure, using KOH as an activating agent has proven effective in developing mesoporous structures conducive to ion transport and storage. Moreover, incorporating heteroatom doping (with elements such as sulfur, potassium, and nitrogen) has shown promise in enhancing surface interactions and facilitating the diffusion process through increased availability of active sites, thereby demonstrating the potential for improved storage capabilities. The electrochemical performance of these waste-derived carbon materials is evaluated across various configurations and electrolytes. Challenges and future directions are identified, highlighting the need for a deeper understanding of the microstructural characteristics that influence electrochemical performance and advocating for interdisciplinary research to achieve precise control over material properties. This review contributes to advancing electrode material technology and promotes environmental sustainability by repurposing industrial waste into valuable resources for energy storage. It underscores the potential of waste-derived carbon materials in sustainably meeting global energy storage demands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil cadmium (Cd) contamination poses a serious threat to ecosystems, and the application of phosphorus fertilizers can reduce Cd toxicity. However, the specific effects of different phosphorus fertilizers on the subcellular distribution and chemical morphology of Cd in eggplant grown in calcareous Cd-contaminated soil remain unclear. This study examined the impact of various types and levels of phosphate fertilizers on the subcellular distribution and chemical morphology of cadmium in eggplant seedlings using a two-factor analysis. The investigation was conducted via a pot experiment utilizing a two-factor analysis. The application of 0.35 g kg−1 dicalcium phosphate significantly decreased the Cd content in the subcellular distribution and induced notable alterations in the chemical morphology of Cd in eggplant roots. Specifically, the ethanol-extracted Cd state decreased by 65.45%, and the sodium chloride-extracted Cd state decreased by 64.65%. Conversely, Cd extracted by deionized water, acetic acid, hydrochloric acid, and the residue state increased by 6.20%, 4.01%, 20.87%, and 17.85%, respectively. The application of 0.35 g kg−1 dicalcium phosphate resulted in the most significant reduction in Cd content in eggplant and modification of subcellular Cd distribution and chemical morphology in roots. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pectin gel and retinyl palmitate (RP)-loaded monoolein (MO) cubic phases were prepared by a melt-hydration method as a salt-responsive and anti-oxidative vehicle. The pectin gel was formed maximally when CaCl2 concentration in aqueous pectin solution (0.25% to 2%) was 50 mM. The phase transition temperature (PTT) of the cubic phase, determined by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), decreased from 58 to 46.9 ℃ as the RP content increased from 0 to 1.5%. The maximum release degree at 22 ℃ of a dye (amaranth) loaded in a cubic phase was about 15.9% and 51.3%, respectively, when the release medium was deionized water and PBS (10 mM, pH 7.4). An ion exchange between Na+ and Ca2+ seemed to cause the extensive release in the saline. The in vitro radical scavenging capability (RSC) of RP loaded in the cubic phase was proportional to the RP concentration and the RSC was substantially higher than that of free RP. The double bond of MO contained in the cubic phases was chemically stable during 6 months storage at 25 ℃ and 40 ℃, evidenced by 1H NMR spectroscopy. The cubic phases maintained their integrity and retained their unique structure (the water channels winded by the lipid layers) under the same storage conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The astaxanthin nanocapsules (ASX-LNC) was prepared by high-pressure homogenization technology, the microstructure, stability, antioxidant activity, and in vitro release characteristics of ASX-LNC were characterized and evaluated. The ASX-LNC comprised a core material and wall materials. The core material was composed of astaxanthin oil, and the wall materials were composed of β-cyclodextrin, decapolyglycerol monooleate, soybean lecithin (PC60), glycerol, and deionized water. The mean particle size of the ASX-LNC was 206.9 ± 2.8 nm, and the polydispersity index (PdI) value was 0.218 ± 0.026. The zeta potential of ASX-LNC was −26.16 ± 0.87 mV. The loading amount of ASX-LNC was 0.546%±0.032%, and the encapsulation efficiency was 99.65%±0.13%, indicating that the preparation process was feasible. The stability of ASX-LNC was determined under different conditions, indicating good stability of the ASX-LNC. In antioxidant research, the inhibition rate of free radicals of ASX-LNC was 91.03 ± 0.87% under 250 μg/mL for 30 min, and the inhibition rate of free radicals of astaxanthin ethanol solution was 90.83 ± 1.37%. The antioxidant capacity of astaxanthin was not affected by the encapsulation, which demonstrated the effect of prolonging the release of active ingredients due to the protection of the biological activity of astaxanthin by encapsulation. Compared with the astaxanthin ethanol solution, the ASX-LNC had a slow-release effect and could prolong the action time of active substances. Overall, ASX-LNC is a potential carrier for application in food and health products, which can control the release of active substances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study presents a comparative analysis of the thermal performance of a flat plate solar collector featuring deionized water and MWCNT-water nanofluid with Gum Arabic, a bio-surfactant. A two-step method is adopted to formulate the nanofluid, which is utilized as a heat transport fluid to improve the thermal performance of a flat plate solar collector. A zeta potential analyzer is employed to characterize the nanofluid. The collector consists of a copper tube heat exchanger for closed-loop cyclic operation. Temperature, pressure and flow rate measurements are carried out. The comparative collector efficiency is investigated at 0.50 and 0.94 lpm flow rates and at MWCNT concentrations of 0.05 and 0.10 wt%, respectively. The thermal conductivity of the MWCNT-water nanofluid with Gum Arabic bio-surfactant exhibited a higher value than that of the SDS surfactant. The absorbed and removed energy parameters at 0.5 lpm for MWCNT-water (0.10 wt%) are found to be increased by 50.42% and 158.75%, respectively, when compared to the corresponding values obtained for DI water. The distribution of collector efficiency with time during the peak hours with maximum solar radiations suggests that a maximum thermal efficiency of 61% can be achieved for 0.94 lpm and 0.10 wt% of MWCNT nanoparticles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Advanced Geothermal Systems (AGS) may in principle be able to satisfy the global energy demand using standard continental-crust geothermal temperature gradients of 25–35 ∘ C/km. However, conventional mechanical rotary drilling is still too expensive to cost-competitively provide the required borehole depths and lengths for AGS. This highlights the need for a new, cheaper drilling technology, such as Plasma-Pulse Geo-Drilling (PPGD), to improve the economic feasibility of AGS. PPGD is a rather new drilling method and is based on nanoseconds-long, high-voltage pulses to fracture the rock without mechanical abrasion. The absence of mechanical abrasion prolongs the bit lifetime, thereby increasing the penetration rate. Laboratory experiments under ambient-air conditions and comparative analyses (which assume drilling at a depth between 3.5 and 4.5 km) have shown that PPGD may reduce drilling costs by approximately 17–23%, compared to the costs of mechanical drilling, while further research and development are expected to reduce PPGD costs further. However, the performance of the PPGD process under deep wellbore conditions, i.e., at elevated temperatures as well as elevated lithostatic and hydrostatic pressures, has yet to be systematically tested. In this paper, we introduce a standard experiment parameter to examine the impact of deep wellbore conditions on PPGD performance, namely the productivity (the excavated rock volume per pulse) and the specific energy (the amount of energy required to drill a unit volume of rock). We employ these parameters to investigate the effect of temperature on PPGD performance, with temperatures increasing up to 80 ∘ C, corresponding to a drilling depth of up to approximately 3 km. Highlights: This study introduces an experiment protocol for studying the impact of deep wellbore conditions on Plasma-Pulse Geo-Drilling performance. When deionized water is used, increasing the temperature decreases Plasma-Pulse Geo-Drilling productivity and increases the specific energy. The effect of increasing temperature on Plasma-Pulse Geo-Drilling depends significantly on the drilling fluid used. Deionized water negatively affects Plasma-Pulse Geo-Drilling, while other studies have shown that the effect of oil-based drilling muds is negligible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plant-mediated processes offer a more straightforward and cost-effective alternative to conventional chemical and physical methods for the reduction of silver ions to silver metallic nanoparticles. This study was conducted to synthesize silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using a solution of silver nitrate (AgNO3) and a local Basciftlik white potato cultivar (S. tuberosum). Furthermore, the study aimed to compare antioxidant activity of nano-silver particles with that of the potato extract. The potato cultivar was extracted with deionized water and the solution was filtrated. The filtrate was reacted with AgNO3 solution to obtain the AgNPs. The structure of synthesized AgNPs was determined by a spectroscopic study, and characteristic functional groups were analyzed by a fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The signal observed at 3267 cm−1 is indicative of the hydroxyl functional group. The highest absorption at 429 nm in ultraviolet-visible (UV-VIS) spectrum confirmed the occurrence of the synthesized AgNPs. The biogenic crystalline structure of the synthesized AgNPs was verified by an X-ray diffraction analysis. Average size and morphology of the St-AgNPs were determined by Scanning Electron Microscope analysis, which also indicated the formation of the AgNPs with an average size of 37.31 nm. Antioxidant activity study revealed that the synthesized AgNPs had higher antioxidant activity compared to that of the potato extract alone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

TNAs have been synthesized using a two-step anodization method by increasing the second-step voltages. The titanium (Ti) foil was used as the anode, and the first step of anodization layer was removed by sonication in the deionized water. The second anodization step was conducted using the same electrolyte but at a higher potential. The modification of the second-step voltage was discussed with correlation for the morphology and photoelectrochemical performance of TNAs. Increasing the second voltage of two-step anodization leads to a decrease in the bandgap of the anatase phase of TNAs at 3.09 eV. The highly ordered TNAs were formed by increasing the second-step voltage based on the Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) images with a higher regularity ratio (RR) with 30 V for 30 min in the first step and 40 V for 30 min in the second step. The tube length of TNAs was produced in a short time of anodization. The photocurrent density of TNAs prepared by increasing voltage in the second step is higher than that of the one-step anodization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The search for novel components with antibacterial potential has recently gained increasing significance due to growing worldwide bacterial infections by antibiotic-resistant bacterial strains. Therapeutic plants are crucial to human health due to their antiseptic potential against bacterial pathogens. Botanical sources have benefitted healthcare for many years due to the various active compounds present, such as tannins, terpenoids, alkaloids, and flavonoids. This study seeks to report the antibacterial potential of Cuminum cyminum against Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus cereus, and Staphylococcus aureus. The research proceeded with the use of methanolic extract of C. cyminum preparation using the Soxhlet extraction technique. Formulating five concentrations (150, 180, 200, 220, and 250 mg/ml) used deionized water and incurred testing at varying temperatures (40 °C, 60 °C, 80 °C, 100 °C, and 121 °C) and pH (3, 5, 7, 9, and 11 pH) ranges. The well-diffusion assay and minimum inhibitory concentration helped analyze the antimicrobial properties of C. cyminum methanolic extract as observed against selected bacterial strains. The results' analysis engaged the one-way ANOVA. It was evident that the maximum effect of plant extract against E. coli, B. subtilis, and B. cereus was at 200 mg/ml and against Staph. aureus, a maximum zone emerged at 180 mg/ml. At varying temperatures, the maximum inhibition of E. coli, Staph. aureus, and B. cereus occurred at 121 °C, with B. subtilis inhibited at 80 °C. For pH changes, it revealed that all strains were sensitive to acidic pH (3) at both concentrations (150 and 250 mg/ml). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • An efficient CuHCF/C electrode was prepared for Cu2+ removal by CDI. • CuHCF/C achieved high Cu2+ adsorption capacity of 134.47 mg g−1 at low applied voltage of 0.8 V. • CuHCF/C manifested excellent Cu2+ selectivity in multi-ion coexisting solution. • The mechanism of removing Cu2+ by Faradaic pseudocapacitance was explained. The efficient capture of copper ions (Cu2+) in wastewater has dual significance in pollution control and resource recovery. Prussian blue analog (PBA)-based pseudocapacitive materials with open frameworks and abundant metal sites have attracted considerable attention as capacitive deionization (CDI) electrodes for copper removal. In this study, the efficiency of copper hexacyanoferrate (CuHCF) as CDI electrode for Cu2+ treating was evaluated for the first time upon the successful synthesis of copper hexacyanoferrate/carbon sheet combination (CuHCF/C) by introducing carbon sheet as conductive substrate. CuHCF/C exhibited significant pseudocapacitance and high specific capacitance (52.92 F g−1) through the intercalation, deintercalation, and coupling of Cu+/Cu2+ and Fe2+/Fe3+ redox pairs. At 0.8 an applied voltage and CuSO 4 feed liquid concentration of 100 mg L−1, the salt adsorption capacity was 134.47 mg g−1 higher than those of most reported electrodes. Moreover, CuHCF/C demonstrated excellent Cu2+ selectivity in multi-ion coexisting solutions and in actual wastewater experiments. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations were employed to elucidate the mechanism. This study not only reveals the essence of Cu2+ deionization by PBAs pseudocapacitance with promising potential applications but also provides a new strategy for selecting efficient CDI electrodes for Cu2+ removal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To prepare a soft magnetic powder core, the magnetic powder surface has to be insulated by phosphating treatment. Organic chemicals such as ethanol and acetone are generally used as solvents for phosphoric acid, which may cause serious environmental problems. This work proposed deionized water as the environmentally friendly phosphating solvent for FeSiCr powder. The soft magnetic composites (SMCs) were prepared using phosphoric acid for inorganic coating and modified silicon polymer for organic coating. The effect of different phosphating solvents, including deionized water, ethanol, and acetone, on the structure and magnetic properties of SMCs were investigated. It is found that the solvent affects the phosphating solution's stability and the phosphoric acid's ionization. The phosphoric acid is more stable in deionized water than in ethanol and acetone. The phosphating reaction in deionized water is also more stable in deionized water, resulting in a dense phosphate coating on the particle surface. The effects of phosphoric acid concentration and temperature on the magnetic properties of FeSiCr-based SMCs were further studied. With the increase in phosphoric acid concentration and temperature, the magnetic permeability and saturation magnetization of the powder core decrease, and the core loss decreases, followed by an increase. The optimized combination of properties was obtained for the SMCs phosphated with 0.2 wt.% phosphoric acid in deionized water at 35 °C, including a high effective permeability μe of 25.7, high quality factor Q of 80.2, low core loss Pcv of 709.5 mW/cm3 measured at 0.05 T @ 100 kHz, and high withstanding voltage of 276 V, due to the formation of uniform and dense insulating coating layers. In addition, the SMCs prepared with phosphated powder show good corrosion resistance. The anti-corrosion properties of the SMCs using deionized water as a phosphating solvent are better than those using ethanol and acetone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three-dimensional printing allows accurate geometries to be obtained across a wide range of applications and it is now also moving into the architecture and construction industry. In the present work, a unique binary mix composed of ordinary Portland cement (OPC) and quick-setting cement (QSC) was combined with silica sand aggregate in different proportions for a customized binder jetting 3D printing (BJ3DP) process. Specimens were printed using the blended dry powders and deionized water to determine the impact of the processing variables on the properties of the realized specimens. The results show that the properties are influenced by the binary mix proportions and the layer thickness. The investigation found significant improvement in mechanical performance on increasing the proportion of OPC and optimal conditions were identified with proportions of 35 wt% OPC and 5 wt% QSC. Notable enhancements were also observed as the layer thickness was reduced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The synthesis of metallic nanoparticles has ignited intense interest over the last decade due to their unique properties, which make them applicable in a variety of fields of science and technology. In this study, iron oxide nanoparticles (Fe2O3 NPs) were synthesized, characterized, and their antibacterial activity was determined using a low-cost and simple method. Method: In this paper, magnetic nanoparticles were synthesized by a physical method of pulsed laser ablation in a liquid medium with 600 mJ energy. Magnetic Fe2O3 NPs were prepared by using a 1064 nm Nd-YAG laser and bombarding the α -Fe2O3 target in a deionized aqueous solution. An absorption spectrometer was used to study the optical properties and structures of nanoparticles, the prepared nanoparticles were analyzed using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. Besides, utilizing FESEM, the morphological and surface characteristics were examined. The antibacterial activity of Fe2O3 NPs against several pathogenic Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria isolated from various human infection sites was investigated using a disk diffusion experiment with laser pulse lengths of (100 nm, 150 nm, 200 nm and 300 nm) with the same laser energy. Result: The results showed the success of this method as the first sign that can be inferred from the change in the color of the solution to prepare nanoparticles. Fe2O3 NPs are mostly spherical in shape, with nano sizes ranging between 66.7 nm and 9.5 nm. The energy gap was found to be in the range of 1.79–2.39 eV for almost all nanoparticles prepared. Fe2O3 NPs were formed in almost spherical surface morphology with regular size and shape. The results showed their effect on stopping the growth of bacteria of type E. coli maximum zone of inhibition of 20 mm and 19 mm of S. epidermidis, 18 mm of type S. mutans and 16 mm of P. aeruginosa. As a result, in this study, it was shown that Fe2O3 NPs produced in water by laser ablation method can be used as antibacterial agents due to these properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel methodology to obtain 3D printable BiVO 4 precursor scaffolds (3DM-BiVO 4) via robocasting, showing excellent periodicity, shape retention, and mechanical stability, is disclosed for the first time. The ceramic pastes (solids at 70 wt.-%) comprised of BiVO 4 precursor, SiO 2 NPs, and a solution of deionized water: ethylene glycol (volume ratio 1:2, DI water: EG) exhibited enhanced rheology for the 3D printing of self-supported structures (3DM-BiVO 4). The thermal treatment induced a monoclinic scheelite phase, and the ethylene glycol contributed to achieving a unique square flake-like particle morphology. 3DM-BiVO 4 scaffolds were used as reusable monolithic photocatalysts, showing 72% acetaminophen mineralization at 240 min and pH = 9. This innovative approach opens avenues for designing 3D printable ceramic pastes, offering potential applications in tailoring-made monolithic photocatalyst fabrication by using SiO 2 NPs as an inorganic binder. [Display omitted] • 3D printable BiVO4 pastes by DIW using SiO2NP as a ceramic binder and DI water:ethylene glycol as solvents. • 3DM-BiVO4 scaffolds with periodicity, excellent shape retention, mechanical stability, and self-supporting were achieved. • Ethylene glycol promotes morphologies of square flake-like particles comprised of small peanut-like BiVO4 particles. • 3DM-BiVO4 exhibited good photocatalytic activity for acetaminophen mineralization. • 3DM-BiVO4 photocatalyst can be easily recovered and reused several times. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is known that floriculture is very important for the world economic scenario. Nevertheless, the vase life of cut flowers is determined by a short time span. This study evaluated the spectral behavior during leaf degradation of lisianthus (Eustoma grandiflorum) flower stems in the postharvest, in different preservative solutions, and estimating its leaf pigments by hyperspectral data. Lisianthus floral stems were subjected to preservative solutions with different concentrations of sucrose, glucose, phytohormones and deionized water. Leaves from these stems were collected every 4 days for further hyperspectral analysis. Spectra was determined in laboratory with a sensor collecting at the range of 350-2500 nm. In order to analyze the use of the spectra to detect the performance of the preservative solutions, statistical tests were used at each wavelength. Pigment prediction was assessed by the CAR/CLF ratio (Ratio between Carotenoids and Chlorophyll) from the spectral curves, using PLSR and RRMSE. The glucose-based solutions registered positive effects on the preservation of floral stems, especially at the dose of 180 g/L. The solutions based on sucrose and phytohormones registered similarities in the spectral curves among the doses, demonstrating equality in leaf preservation. The discriminant analyses demonstrated there was statistical difference in the spectral responses in the doses for each solution used. The CAR/CLF ratio had reasonable coefficients of 0.6 and RRMSE below 6.99%. The hyperspectral analyses presented a potential for the evaluation of leaf degradation in lisianthus floral stems in different pulsing solutions used in the postharvest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In view of water eutrophication, global energy crisis and the carbon neutrality policies, the ammonia recovery from wastewater with high efficiency and low energy consumption is crucial for preserving the ecological environment and achieving sustainable development. Transmembrane electro-chemisorption (TMECS), which integrates transmembrane chemisorption with electrochemical systems to reduce the addition of chemicals and improve recovery efficiency, is a promising technology for ammonia recovery from wastewater. Accordingly, this paper first reviews the recent advances in TMECS for ammonia recovery from wastewater. In particular, the technology principles, including ammonia stripping by cathodic base, ammonia recovery by TMECS with authigenic acid and base, and ammonia recovery by membrane cathode with in situ cathodic base are elucidated. Couplings of TMECS with other electrochemical systems, including electrodialysis, flow-electrode capacitive deionization, and electrochemical precipitation, are further summarized and compared. Finally, the challenges and prospects of the TMECS technology are addressed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, alkali-activated materials (AAMs) were prepared combining waste coral powder (CP) and blast furnace slag (BFS) as precursors, artificial seawater and deionized water as mixing water, and blends of NaOH and sodium silicate solution as alkaline activators. The effect of CP and seawater on the fluidity, mechanical properties, and hydration was discussed. The experimental results showed that a 15% CP content effectively improved the fluidity of fresh paste while having little effect on compressive strength of the samples. Compared with deionized water, the use of seawater for sample preparation resulted in a reduction of the fluidity and mechanical properties of the samples. The pore structure could be refined by CP and seawater, but gel micropores increased significantly when the CP content reached 25%. The use of CP and seawater did not cause significant changes in the type of hydration products. Although the amount of hydration products in the early stages of the samples prepared with seawater was relatively low compared with those prepared with deionized water, it gradually surpassed that in samples prepared with deionized water with increasing curing time. Increasing the CP content led to a higher reaction degree, and a CP content of 25% resulted in a reaction degree of approximately 30%–50%, which was roughly twice that of a sample containing 5% CP. These findings have important implications for the development of sustainable construction materials for utilization in marine engineering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Silk fibroin (SF) is a natural material with polymorphic structures that determine its water solubility and biodegradability, which can be altered by exposing it to heat. Here, a hybrid thermal lithography method combining scalable microscale laser‐based patterning with nanoscale patterning based on thermal scanning probe lithography is developed. The latter enables in addition grayscale patterns to be made. The resolution limit of the writing in silk fibroin is studied by using a nanoscale heat source from a scanned nanoprobe. The heat thereby induces local water solubility change in the film, which can subsequently be developed in deionized water. Nanopatterns and grayscale patterns down to 50 nm lateral resolution are successfully written in the silk fibroin that behaves like a positive tone resist. The resulting patterned silk fibroin is then applied as a mask for dry etching of SiO2 to form a hard mask for further nano‐processing. A very high selectivity of 42:1 between SiO2 and silk fibroin is obtained allowing for high‐aspect ratio structure to be fabricated. The fabricated nanostructures have very low line edge roughness of 5 ± 2 nm. The results demonstrate the potential of silk fibroin as a water‐soluble resist for hybrid thermal lithography and precise micro/nanofabrication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]