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Hydroxyapatite (HA)-containing polymers have been proposed for improving the biological properties of bone cements. Poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) has long been used to secure orthopedic implants to skeletal bones. The aim of this study was to determine whether the incorporation of HA nanoparticles into the PMMA nanofibrous scaffolds enhances the biological functions of osteoblasts. The number of os-teoblasts adhered and proliferated on the PMMA/HA nanofibrous scaffolds was significantly larger than that on the PMMA alone. The cytoskeletal organization and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity of the osteoblasts on the PMMA/HA nanofibrous scaffolds were clearly higher than that on the PMMA con-trol. The amount of calcium ions released from 20 wt% HA-containing PMMA nanofibrous scaffolds (PMMA/HA20) was much higher than that released from 10 wt% HA-containing PMMA nanofibrous scaffolds (PMMA/HA 10) (HA, 10 wt%). These findings suggested that osteoblast differentiation was ac-celerated by the incorporation of HA into the PMMA nanofibrous scaffolds. Therefore, the incorporation of HA into the PMMA nanofibrous scaffolds could be a useful method. This can be used for providing PMMA scaffolds with enhanced osteogenic properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two-dimensional (2D) molybdenum disulphide (MoS2) atomic layers have a strong potential to be used as 2D electronic sensor components. However, intrinsic synthesis challenges have made this task difficult. In addition, the detection mechanisms for gas molecules are not fully understood. Here, we report a high-performance gas sensor constructed using atomic-layered MoS2 synthesised by chemical vapour deposition (CVD). A highly sensitive and selective gas sensor based on the CVD-synthesised MoS2 was developed. In situ photoluminescence characterisation revealed the charge transfer mechanism between the gas molecules and MoS2, which was validated by theoretical calculations. First-principles density functional theory calculations indicated that NO2 and NH3 molecules have negative adsorption energies (i.e., the adsorption processes are exothermic). Thus, NO2 and NH3 molecules are likely to adsorb onto the surface of the MoS2. The in situ PL characterisation of the changes in the peaks corresponding to charged trions and neutral excitons via gas adsorption processes was used to elucidate the mechanisms of charge transfer between the MoS2 and the gas molecules. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zinc oxide (ZnO) films under in situ hydrogen plasma were deposited via atomic layer deposition (ALD) at an extremely low temperature (100 °C). Diethyl zinc ((C2H5)2Zn) and deionized water were used as the zinc and oxygen source, respectively. The growth rate of the ZnO films decreased to 1.26 and 1.06 Å/cycle due to changes in the hydrogen plasma treatment power and exposure time, respectively. The resistivity of the ZnO films decreased to 7.6 × 10-4 Ω cm, even at 100 °C, with a very high carrier concentration (1.4 × 1021 cm-3) due to the increasing oxygen deficiencies in the ZnO films. The carrier mobility was decreased slightly to 8.6 cm2/Vs via grain boundary scattering due to the enhanced polycrystallization. Based on the x-ray diffraction and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, the carrier concentration and mobility were strongly correlated to the oxygen deficiency and crystallinity, respectively. In addition, the in situ hydrogen plasma in the ZnO ALD had an important role in sequentially generating oxygen deficiencies and enhancing polycrystal growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Micro-arc oxidation method is a useful process for mesoporous titanium dioxide films. In order to improve the photocatalytic activity of the TiO2 film, N–Eu co-doped titania catalyst was synthesized by micro-arc oxidation in the H2SO4/Eu(NO3)3 mixture solution. The specific surface area and the roughness of the anodic titania film fabricated in the H2SO4/Eu(NO3)3 electrolyte, were increased compared to that of the anodic TiO2 film prepared in H2SO4 solution. The absorbance response of N–Eu titania film shows a higher adsorption onset toward visible light region, and the incorporated N and Eu ions during anodization as a dopant in the anodic TiO2 film significantly enhanced the photocatalytic activity for dye degradation. After dye decomposition test for 3h, dye removal rates for the anodic TiO2 film were 60.7% and 90.1% for the N–Eu doped titania film. The improvement of the photocatalytic activity was ascribed to the synergistic effects of the surface enlargement and the new electronic state of the TiO2 band gap by N and Eu co-doping. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: We investigated the effects of hydrogen plasma treatment on the physical and electrical properties of fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) films used for amorphous silicon (a-Si) thin film solar cells. A slight increase in carrier concentration by the hydrogen doping effect was observed for the FTO film exposed to the hydrogen plasma for 5 min. For further exposure to the plasma, the chemical reduction became prominent and resulted in deterioration of the electrical and optical properties of the film. XPS analysis revealed that the chemical reduction of SnO2 to Sn metallic state occurs on the surface region. It was found that the defects formed by hydrogen plasma act as recombination centers at the interface between FTO electrode and p-layer of a-Si solar cells. This phenomenon resulted in the deterioration of the cell performance. The averaged conversion efficiency (6.82%) of the cells on pristine FTO hydrogen substrate was decreased to 5.81% for the cells on FTO treated for 5 min, which is mainly attributed to the decrease in short-circuit current density. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Two-dimensional (2D) molybdenum disulphide (MoS2) atomic layers have a strong potential to be used as 2D electronic sensor components. However, intrinsic synthesis challenges have made this task difficult. In addition, the detection mechanisms for gas molecules are not fully understood. Here, we report a high-performance gas sensor constructed using atomic-layered MoS2 synthesised by chemical vapour deposition (CVD). A highly sensitive and selective gas sensor based on the CVD-synthesised MoS2 was developed. In situ photoluminescence characterisation revealed the charge transfer mechanism between the gas molecules and MoS2, which was validated by theoretical calculations. First-principles density functional theory calculations indicated that NO2 and NH3 molecules have negative adsorption energies (i.e., the adsorption processes are exothermic). Thus, NO2 and NH3 molecules are likely to adsorb onto the surface of the MoS2. The in situ PL characterisation of the changes in the peaks corresponding to charged trions and neutral excitons via gas adsorption processes was used to elucidate the mechanisms of charge transfer between the MoS2 and the gas molecules. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydroxyapatite (HA)-containing polymers have been proposed for improving the biological properties of bone cements. Poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) has long been used to secure orthopedic implants to skeletal bones. The aim of this study was to determine whether the incorporation of HA nanoparticles into the PMMA nanofibrous scaffolds enhances the biological functions of osteoblasts. The number of osteoblasts adhered and proliferated on the PMMA/HA nanofibrous scaffolds was significantly larger than that on the PMMA alone. The cytoskeletal organization and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity of the osteoblasts on the PMMA/HA nanofibrous scaffolds were clearly higher than that on the PMMA control. The amount of calcium ions released from 20 wt% HA-containing PMMA nanofibrous scaffolds (PMMA/HA20) was much higher than that released from 10 wt% HA-containing PMMA nanofibrous scaffolds (PMMA/HA10) (HA, 10 wt%). These findings suggested that osteoblast differentiation was accelerated by the incorporation of HA into the PMMA nanofibrous scaffolds. Therefore, the incorporation of HA into the PMMA nanofibrous scaffolds could be a useful method. This can be used for providing PMMA scaffolds with enhanced osteogenic properties.

Purpose: To examine the effect of phosphoric acid solution on the anodic oxide film of titanium., Materials and Methods: Commercially pure grade 2 titanium specimens were prepared and anodized in phosphoric acid solution at a constant current density (70 A/m2). Specimens were evaluated by means of scanning electron microscopy, x-ray diffraction analysis, electron probe microanalysis, energy-dispersive spectroscopy, profilometry, and atomic force microscopy., Results: The anodic oxide film was observed to consist of a porous or non-uniform layer and a dense or uniform layer. X-ray diffraction and energy-dispersive spectroscopic analyses indicated that the film consisted of a mixture of anatase and amorphous oxide, with the incorporation of phosphorus., Discussion: The degree of oxide crystallinity was observed to increase with an increase in voltage but decreased as the electrolyte concentration was increased. In addition, the concentration of phosphorus also increased as the electrolyte concentration and voltage increased., Conclusions: Electrolyte concentration and voltage play an important role in governing the anodic oxide thickness, composition, and degree of oxide crystallinity.