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A stable and efficient porous nickel phosphate (p-NiPO/Ti) electrocatalyst on titanium sheets was developed via electrochemical deposition and low-temperature phosphatization. For obtaining the optimal performance of the p-NiPO/Ti electrocatalyst, the optimized experimental parameters of deposition and phosphatization were determined by parallel experiments. After the preparation, XPS and XRD were used to validate the chemical and amorphous structure, with SEM and TEM simultaneously validating a distinct nanosheet/nanocluster crosslinked microstructure. In particular, with phosphatization conditions maintained at 300 °C for 10 min, the p-NiPO/Ti produced demonstrated excellent charge transfer and catalytic characteristics in 1.0 M KOH. The electrocatalytic results revealed that the optimal p-NiPO/Ti with excellent catalytic performance and excellent stability (~24 h) needs lower HER overpotentials (128 mV at 10 mA cm−2 and 242 mV at 100 mA cm−2) as inputs. This research provides a promising strategy with which to use transition metal materials as catalysts in alkaline electrocatalytic hydrogen production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rapid development of electronic and grid storage technologies based on lithium-ion batteries are leading to tight supply of lithium resources in the future. Extracting lithium from seawater can completely solve the problem of lithium resource shortage. An electro-deposition method based on a lithium superionic conductive solid-state electrolyte, Li1.5Al0.5Ge1.5(PO4)3 (LAGP), has been reported to obtain metallic lithium from seawater. However, expensive LAGP increases the cost of lithium extraction, while Li1.3Al0.3Ti1.7(PO4)3 (LATP) with relatively lower prices cannot meet the stable requirements. Herein, a low-cost, stable glass–ceramics, Li1.5Al0.3Ti1.7Si0.2P2.8O12 (LATSP), has been prepared for lithium extraction from seawater. The LATSP glass–ceramics show good selectivity towards Li+ and exhibit a high ionic conductivity of 3.98 × 10−4 S cm−1 at 22 °C. After soaking in simulated seawater, LATSP showed much better stability than LATP, comparable to LAGP. The resultant LATSP glass–ceramics was successfully employed in a seawater lithium extraction device, with a high lithium extraction Coulombic efficiency of 94.0%. Moreover, the LATSP exhibits an ionic conductivity of 2.80 × 10−4 S cm−1 and maintains a complete structure after 45 h of lithium extraction. This work presents an effective and practical Li-ion conducting membrane for lithium extraction from seawater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solution-processed graphene is beneficial for large-scale, low-cost production. However, its small lateral size, variable layer thickness, and uncontrollable oxidation level still restrict its widespread electronic application. In this study, a newly developed electrochemical exfoliation process was introduced, and a graphene-patched film electrode was fabricated by interfacial self-assembly. We were able to minimize the deterioration of graphene colloids during exfoliation by voltage and electrolyte modulation, but the patched structure of the graphene electrode still showed low conductivity with numerous inter-sheet junctions. Therefore, we determined the optimal conditions for the growth of fully networked silver structures on the multi-stacked graphene film by direct current electro-deposition, and these silver–graphene composite films showed significantly lowered graphene-colloid-patched film surface resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electrochemical deposition of CaCO3 is one of the methods to reduce scaling in industrial water system. The pulse current（PC） and direct current（DC） were used to study the electrodeposition process of CaCO3，and the influence of different ions on PC electrodeposition of CaCO3. The crystal morphology of CaCO3 were characterized by SEM and XRD. The experimental results showed that the nucleation rate of CaCO3 on 304SS electrode under PC is faster than that under DC，which promoted the ripening process of calcium carbonate. The addition of Fe3+，PO43-，SiO32- and Mg2+ accelerated the crystallization of CaCO3，but decreased the density and thickness of the deposition. The ripening process of PC electrodeposition makes the crystallization tend to form layered calcite with larger particle size，and the calcite particle size is larger than that obtained by DC electrodeposition.

Copyright of Industrial Water Treatment is the property of CNOOC Tianjin Chemical Research & Design Institute and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Abstract Background Tecothane (medical grade of polyurethane) is strongly involved in the fabrication of metallic and polymeric-based medical devices (e.g., catheters and stents) as they can withstand cardiac cycle-related forces without deforming or failing, and they can mimic tissue behavior. The main problem is microbial contamination and formation of pathogenic biofilms on such solid surfaces within the human body. Accordingly, our hypothesis is the coating of tecothane outer surfaces with antibacterial agents through the electro-deposition or chemical grafting of anti-biofilm agents onto the stent and catheter surfaces. Results Tecothane is grafted with itaconic acid for cross-linking the polyethyleneimine (PEI) as the protective-active layer. Accordingly, the grafting of poly-itaconic acid onto the Tecothane was achieved by three different methods: wet-chemical approach, electro-polymerization, or by using plasma treatment. The successful modifications were verified using Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, grafting percentage calculations, electrochemical, and microscopic monitoring of biofilm formation. The grafting efficiency of itaconic acid was over 3.2% (w/w) at 60 ℃ after 6 h of the catheter chemical modification. Bio-electrochemical signals of biofilms have been seriously reduced after chemical modification because of the inhibition of biofilm formation (for both Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus) over a period of 9 days. Conclusion Chemical functionalization of the polyurethane materials with the antimicrobial and anti-biofilm agents led to a significant decrease in the formation of pathogenic biofilms. This promising proof-concept will open the door to explore further surface protection with potential anti-biofilm agents providing better and sustainable productions of stents and catheters biomaterials. Graphical Abstract

[Display omitted] Herein, a novel CuO catalyst functionalized Ti-based catalytic membrane (FCTM) was prepared via the regulated electro-deposition technique followed with low-temperature calcination. The morphology of CuO catalyst and oxygen vacancy (O V) content can be controlled by adjusting the preparation conditions, under optimal condition (400 °C, electrolyte as sulfuric acid), the fern-shaped CuO catalyst was formed and the O V content was up to its highest level. Under the optimal treatment condition, the 4-chlorophenol (4-CP) removal of the membrane filtration combined with peroxymonosulfate (PMS) activation (MFPA) process was up to 98.2% (TOC removal of 88.2%). Mechanism studying showed that the enhanced performance in this system was mainly due to the increased production of singlet oxygen (1O 2) via the co-effect of fern-shaped CuO (increased specific surface area) and its fine-tuned O V (precursor of 1O 2), which not only synergistically enhanced adsorption ability but also offered more active sites for PMS activation. Theoretical calculations showed that the O V -rich CuO displayed high adsorption energy for PMS molecule, leading to the change in O O and O H bond (tend to 1O 2) of the PMS molecule. Finally, the possible three degradation pathways of 4-CP were formed by the electrophilic attacking of 1O 2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of saccharin concentration on magnetoimpedance ratio in multilayer permalloy structure i.e., [NiFe/Cu/NiFe]3/Cu/[NiFe/Cu/NiFe]3 on Cu printed circuit board (PCB) meander substrates have been discussed. The multilayer [NiFe/Cu/NiFe]3/Cu/[NiFe/Cu/NiFe]3 structure was prepared by using the electrodeposition method. The results of XRF characterization show that the composition of Ni:Fe is close to the calculation mol ratio permalloy of 80:20. The magnetoimpedance effect is evaluated by total impedance measurement at the various magnetic fields. The typical increase of the magneto-impedance ratio with frequency confirms in this experiment. Here, the magnetoimpedance ratio modifies from 0.07 to 1.63 % for frequency measurements of 20 and 100 kHz, respectively. Finally, the MI ratio monotonically decreases with an increase in additive saccharin concentration. The MI ratio slightly decreases by 17.17 % (=(1.63-1.35)/1.63) for additive saccharin concentration increase of 1 to 2 g/L. Then MI ratio drastically decreases by 40.0 % (=(1.35-0.81)/1.35) in the change of additive saccharin concentration from 2 to 4 g/L. Here, the change in the morphological surface should attribute to the decrease in the MI ratio. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zinc nanoparticles were electro-deposited along the fibres of carbon paper (CP) substrate uniformly in a salt-induced pre-phase separation region solution. The as-prepared Zn/CP electrode was used for electro-reduction of CO 2 and exhibited a Faradaic efficiency towards CO of 97.6% with a current density of 340 mA cm−2 in an H-type cell, which is the best result to date. [Display omitted] Efficient electrode design is crucial for the electrochemical reduction of CO 2 to produce valuable chemicals. The solution used for the preparation of electrodes can affect their overall properties, which in turn determine the reaction efficiency. In this work, we report that transition metal salts could induce the change of two-phase ionic liquid/ethanol mixture into miscible one phase. Pre-phase separation region near the phase boundary of the ternary system was observed. Zinc nanoparticles were electro-deposited along the fibres of carbon paper (CP) substrate uniformly in the salt-induced pre-phase separation region solution. The as-prepared Zn(1)/CP electrode exhibits super-wettability to the electrolyte, rendering very high catalytic performance for CO 2 electro-reduction, and the Faradaic efficiency towards CO is 97.6% with a current density of 340 mA cm −2, which is the best result to date in an H-type cell. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Tecothane (medical grade of polyurethane) is strongly involved in the fabrication of metallic and polymeric-based medical devices (e.g., catheters and stents) as they can withstand cardiac cycle-related forces without deforming or failing, and they can mimic tissue behavior. The main problem is microbial contamination and formation of pathogenic biofilms on such solid surfaces within the human body. Accordingly, our hypothesis is the coating of tecothane outer surfaces with antibacterial agents through the electro-deposition or chemical grafting of anti-biofilm agents onto the stent and catheter surfaces. Results Tecothane is grafted with itaconic acid for cross-linking the polyethyleneimine (PEI) as the protective-active layer. Accordingly, the grafting of poly-itaconic acid onto the Tecothane was achieved by three different methods: wet-chemical approach, electro-polymerization, or by using plasma treatment. The successful modifications were verified using Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, grafting percentage calculations, electrochemical, and microscopic monitoring of biofilm formation. The grafting efficiency of itaconic acid was over 3.2% (w/w) at 60 °C after 6 h of the catheter chemical modification. Bio-electrochemical signals of biofilms have been seriously reduced after chemical modification because of the inhibition of biofilm formation (for both Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus) over a period of 9 days. Conclusion Chemical functionalization of the polyurethane materials with the antimicrobial and anti-biofilm agents led to a significant decrease in the formation of pathogenic biofilms. This promising proof-concept will open the door to explore further surface protection with potential anti-biofilm agents providing better and sustainable productions of stents and catheters biomaterials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting in a pH-neutral electrolyte has attracted more and more attention in the field of sustainable energy. Bismuth vanadate (BiVO4) is a highly promising photoanode material for PEC water splitting. Additionally, cobaltous phosphate (CoPi) is a material that can be synthesized from Earth's rich materials and operates stably in pH-neutral conditions. Herein, we propose a strategy to enhance the charge transport ability and improve PEC performance by electrodepositing the in situ synthesis of a CoPi layer on the BiVO4. With the CoPi co-catalyst, the water oxidation reaction can be accelerated and charge recombination centers are effectively passivated on BiVO4. The BiVO4/CoPi photoanode shows a significantly enhanced photocurrent density (Jph) and applied bias photon-to-current efficiency (ABPE), which are 1.8 and 3.2 times higher than those of a single BiVO4 layer, respectively. Finally, the FTO/BiVO4/CoPi photoanode displays a photocurrent density of 1.39 mA cm−2 at 1.23 VRHE, an onset potential (Von) of 0.30 VRHE, and an ABPE of 0.45%, paving a potential path for future hydrogen evolution by solar-driven water splitting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aluminum (Al) alloy AA7075 is widely used in various industries due to its high strength-to-weight ratio, which is comparable and replaceable to steel in many applications. However, it has poor resistance to wear and corrosion compared to other Al alloys. The conventional pressure die coating with Cr and cadmium has led to premature failure while the load is applied. It is indeed to develop a novel coating method to improve the mechanical, wear, and corrosion properties of AA7075 Al alloy. In the present investigation, the binary and ternary metals such as zinc–nickel (Zn–Ni), zinc–cobalt (Zn–Co), and nickel–chromium–cobalt (Ni–Cr–Co) are electroplated on the substrate material (AA7075). In order to ensure optimal coating adhesion, the surface of the substrate material was pre-treated with laser surface treatment (LST). The mechanical and corrosion studies have been carried out on the uncoated and coated materials. It is observed from the findings that the ternary coating has higher wear resistance than the binary-coated material. The ternary coating has 64% higher resistance in the non-heat-treated status and 67% higher resistance in the heat-treated condition compared to the uncoated specimens. The tensile strength (MPa) of Ni–Cr–Co on AA7075 pressure die casting (PDC) is higher than the other deposits (582.24 of Ni–Cr–Co > 566.07 of Zn–Co > 560.05 of Zn–Ni > 553.64 of uncoated condition). The presence of a crystalline structure with the high alignment of Co and Ni atoms could significantly improve the corrosion resistance of Ni–Cr–Co coatings on AA 7075 PDC substrates when compared to binary coatings. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy findings on the coated materials have been corroborated with the analyses on mechanical and corrosion properties. The XRD analysis of the Zn–Ni binary coating has reported that the diffraction peaks of γ-NiZn3 (831), γ -Ni2Zn11 (330), and 631 with 2θ values 38, 43, and 73° are confirming the presence of Zn–Ni binary deposit on AA7075 PDC substrate. The XRD pattern of Zn–Co-coated material has revealed that the presence of three strong peaks such as Zn (110), Co (111), and CoZn (211) and two feeble peaks such as ε-CoZn3 (220) and ε-CoZn3 (301) are clearly visible. The XRD pattern of Ni–Cr–Co ternary coating has exhibited that the Ni–Cr–Co ternary deposit is a solid solution with a body-centered cubic structure due to the formation peaks at lattice plane such as (110), (220), and (210) with a crystal lattice constant of 2.88 A°. The SEM image for both the binary- and ternary-coated materials has exhibited that the deposited surface has displayed many shallow pits due to hitting by progressive particles. The SEM image has illustrated the presence of Zn–Ni atoms with smaller globular structure. The surface morphology of binary Zn–Co coating on the PDC AA7075 substrate has unveiled the evenly distributed dot-like structure and submerged Co particles in the galaxy of Zn atoms. To understand the effectiveness of bonding by laser texturing, cross-section SEM has been carried out which furthermore revealed the effective adhesion of Ni–Cr–Co on AA7075 PDC; this could also be the reason for the enhancement of microhardness, wear, and corrosion resistance of the said coating.

Electro-deposition approach was used to produce zinc oxide nanostructure thin films for switching applications in optoelectronic devices. The aqueous solution of zinc nitrate (0.1, 0.5 & 1.0 M) and potassium nitrate (1.0M) of pH 6 were prepared at 65°C with constant stirring and nanostructure of ZnO thin film was deposited onto indium doped tin oxide (ITO) coated glass substrates. The morphology and growth size of deposited nanostructure thin film was analysed by SEM. The structural information was examined using XRD spectrum, which suggested that the deposited nanostructure thin films were crystalline with wurtzite phase. FTIR results gave information about metal oxide (ZnO) bonds and optical properties that was supported by the synthesized nanostructure. The effect of potential and concentration of used salts on the growth of ZnO nanostructure was also studied. Therefore, current-voltage characteristics were measured and applied for the switching properties in optoelectronic devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work aims to study the electrolytic oxidation of ethanol in alkaline solution by a carbon paste electrode modified with natural phosphate and cobalt (Co-NP/CPE). The electrodes were obtained by depositing the cobalt on carbon-NP substrates by electrodeposition, using potentiostatic and galvanostatic techniques. Morphological characterisation by optical microscopy techniques shows that the Co is well dispersed with the presence of NP particles on the surface of the electrode. The study of the electrode behaviour by voltammetric techniques exhibits a catalytic effect leading to a better result regarding the oxidation of ethanol. Compared to CPE-NP, the cobalt-modified CPE-NP electrode exhibits high electrolytic activity for ethanol oxidation.

During the pyroprocessing operation, various signals can be collected by process monitoring (PM). These signals are utilized to diagnose process states. In this study, feasibility of using PM for nuclear safeguards of electrorefining operation was examined based on the use of machine learning for detecting off-normal operations. The off-normal operation, in this study, is defined as co-deposition of key elements through reduction on cathode. The monitored process signal selected for PM was cathode potential. The necessary data were produced through electrodeposition experiments in a laboratory molten salt system. Model-based cathodic surface area data were also generated and used to support model development. Computer models for classification were developed using a series of recurrent neural network architectures. The concept of transfer learning was also employed by combining pre-training and fine-tuning to minimize data requirement for training. The resulting models were found to classify the normal and the off-normal operation states with a 95% accuracy. With the availability of more process data, the approach is expected to have higher reliability.

A novel method for remediating eutrophic lakes through electrolysis was made possible by one titanium (Ti) mesh, which serves as a cathode and two anodes of Ti mesh coated with ruthenium (IV) oxide and iridium (IV) oxide (RuO2-IrO2/Ti). Once the three-electrode components RuO2-IrO2/Ti and Ti are stabilized, they can carry out electrolytic reaction to control cyanobacteria blooms and assist with the remediation of eutrophic water. The order of influence on the theoretical energy consumption involved in removing algae is as follows: The electrode spacing was more effective than electrode voltage, which proved more effective than electrolysis time through the orthogonal test method. Thus, an electrode spacing of 60 mm, an electrode voltage of 30 V, and an electrolysis time of 12 h are the optimal electrolysis methods used to remove cyanobacterial blooms. The strong acidic environment produced by the anode increased the concentration of hydroxyl radical (•OH) and other strong oxidizing substances, which were the main roles that made cyanobacteria bloom inactivation. The electrolysis reaction was conducive to the transformation of organophosphorus in cyanobacterial blooms to dissolved inorganic phosphorus (DIP) in water. Some DIP was most deposited on the cathode after electro-depositing enhanced the removal of P in water with the 12-h prolonged electrolysis time. Meanwhile, it was beneficial to reduce the total nitrogen (TN) and ammonia nitrogen (NH3-N) in the water. Thus, electrolysis proved to be an effective way to the inactivation of cyanobacteria blooms and simultaneously recover P as the concentration became higher. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The application of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) in the electro-catalysis of heterogeneous structures is limited by the problems of low electrical conductivity and poor mechanical strength due to the complex synthesis process, although their high specific surface area and controllable structure. In this study, a method involving metal precipitation and ligand reaction is used during the electrochemical corrosion of hydroxides/oxy-hydroxides to obtain ZIF-67 in situ. The in situ growth technology not only effectively addresses the bonding strength and material conductivity challenges in the heterostructure between MOFs and the substrate but also enhances the catalyst's surface area and activity. Additionally, the exposure and protection of Co 4+ by ZIF-67 contribute to the electrocatalyst's performance, demonstrating a low overpotential (η 100 ) of 293 mV, a Tafel slope of 25.8 mV dec -1 , and a charge transfer resistance of 3.9 Ω, with long-term robustness proven in continuous stability test exceeding 75 000 s under the superhigh current density of 500 mA cm -2 . This work on binder-free in situ growth of MOFs not only provides relevant theoretical insights and experimental experience for cost-effective and controllable production of MOF-based catalysts but also offers ideas for the development of future electrocatalysts by exploring the exposure and protection of active site using MOFs materials., (© 2024 Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)

[Display omitted] • The feasibility of ionic liquid based non-aqueous reprocessing of UO 2 has been demonstrated. • Oxidative room temperature dissolution in C 8 mim.NTf 2 containing HDEHP. • Electro-deposition on Cu plate as black UO 2. • The dissolution was found to be endothermic. • The extent of followed the trend UO 3 > UO 2 > U 3 O 8. The present manuscript demonstrated the dissolution of oxides of uranium , mainly UO 2 , via surface oxidation by H 2 O 2 into ionic liquid at ambient temperature within 4 h of equilibration. The dissolution was found to be endothermic (ΔH ∼ 30.8 kJ mol-1 and 3.20 kJ mol-1) predominantly following the pseudo 2nd order rate kinetics (k ∼ 0.004 g−1 min and 0.0009 g−1 min) with activation energies of 54.12 J mol-1 and 26.69 J mol-1, for H 2 O 2 and RCO 3 H, respectively. The extent of dissolution for different oxides of uranium followed the trend UO 3 > UO 2 > U 3 O 8. Within 8 h of equilibration, quantitative dissolution of 50 mg mL−1 of UO 2 can be achieved with optimized experimental conditions of 0.4 M HD2EHP as the complexing agent and 10 µL H 2 O 2 as the oxidizing agent. The oxidative dissolution followed the trend C 8 mim.NTf 2 > C 8 mim.PF 6. In C 8 mim.NTf 2 , the most probable species was UO 2 (HDEHP)2+ associated to Σ g +→Γ g transition involving the σ u +ϕ u configuration with a D 3d (D 3) symmetry; while for C 8 mim.PF 6 the predominate species was UO 2 F 2 (HDEHP)- with a D 3h symmetry. Four hours of electro-deposition resulted a black solid deposit on the Cu electrode resulting the change in surface morphology and enhancement in the surface roughness as analyzed by the SEM images. The EDXRF analysis revealed the presence of the uranium peak; whereas the XRD pattern showed the fluorite structure revealing the deposit of UO 2 phase upon electro-deposition latter confirmed by FTIR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • A novel CoFe 2 O 4 -THFM was prepared via electro-deposition and followed by calcination. • The Fe(II) reinforced the valance transformation of Co(III) to Co(II). • The Co/Fe synergism played a key role in the non-radical-dominated oxidation mechanism. • The CoFe 2 O 4 -THFM MFPA process showed wide-pH adaptation and stability for water treatment. Constructing membrane filtration coupled with peroxymonosulfate (PMS) activation system has emerged as a promising strategy for efficient water purification. In this work, a novel CoFe 2 O 4 -titanium hollow fiber membrane (CoFe 2 O 4 -THFM) filtration system was proposed, aiming to integrate Co/Fe synergism and membrane filtration for enhancing PMS activation (MFPA) toward phenol (PE) removal. The performance of CoFe 2 O 4 -THFM MFPA process was rationally regulated via electro-deposition and calcination process, which displayed 100 % PE removal and showed 4.80 and 1.24 times (under 2 min running time) higher than that of FeO-THFM and CoO-THFM MFPA process. Mechanism analysis revealed a non-radical-dominated oxidation mechanism (involving 1O 2 , Fe(VI)=O and electron transfer), primarily attributed to the crucial role of Fe. On the one hand, the synergistic promotion mechanism of dual metal centers (Co(III)/Fe(II)) in the PMS activation process significantly enhanced the content of Co(II), and together with Fe(II) acted as active sites to generate reactive oxygen species (ROS, especially 1O 2) for PE removal. On the other hand, the generated Fe(VI)=O (from Fe(III)) tend to react with PE (electron-donating), while the formed CoFe 2 O 4 -THFM-PMS* complex (oxygen vacancy (O V) mediated) plundered electrons from PE (electron transfer), leading to its oxidation. The notable non-radical process (1O 2 , Fe(VI)=O and electron transfer) mentioned above contributed to the excellent performance in real water matrix. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The nickel aluminides are commonly employed as a bond coat material in thermal barrier coating systems for the components of aeroengines operated at very high temperatures. However, their lifetime is limited due to several factors, such as outward diffusion of substrate elements, surface roughness at high temperatures, morphological changes of the oxide layer, etc. For this reason, inter-diffusion migrations were studied in the presence and absence of nickel coating. In addition, a hot corrosion study was also carried out. Thus, on one set of substrates, nickel electrodeposition was carried out, followed by a high activity pack aluminizing process, while another set of substrates were directly aluminized. The microstructural, mechanical, and oxidation properties were examined using different characterization techniques, such as SEM-EDS, optical microscopy, XRD, optical emission spectroscopy, surface roughness (Ra), and adhesion tests. In addition, the variable oxidation temperatures were employed to better understand their influence on the roughness, degree of spallation (DoS), and morphology. The results show that AISI 304L substrates do not respond to aluminizing treatment, i.e., no aluminide coating was formed; rather, a nearly pure aluminum (or alloy) was observed on the substrate. On the contrary, successful formation of an aluminide coating was observed on the nickel-electrodeposited substrates. In particular, a minimum amount of migrations were noted, which is attributed to nickel coating. Moreover, the scratch test at 10 N load revealed neither cracking nor peeling off, thereby indicating good adhesion of the aluminide coating before oxidation. The as-aluminized samples were oxidized between 700 °C to 1100 °C in air for 8 h each. The degree of spallation showed an incremental trend as temperatures increased. Likewise, oxide morphologies showed temperature dependence. On the other hand, average surface roughness (from Ra = 2.3 µm to 5.8 µm) was also increased as temperatures rose. Likewise, the mass gain showed linearity as temperatures increased during oxidation. The hot corrosion responses of electrodeposited-aluminized samples were superior among all specimens. An extensive discussion is presented based on the observations noted above. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Acta Materiae Compositae Sinica is the property of Acta Materiea Compositae Sinica Editorial Department and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The lubricating failure problems caused by friction and wear severely inhibit the regular operation and lifetime of artificial implanted joints. In order to improve their wear resistance effectively, the functional nano/micro‐composite coatings consisted of poly(ether‐ether‐ketone) (PEEK)/graphite/polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) were successfully prepared through electrophoretic deposition and heat treatment. Additionally, the friction and wear behaviors under different loads and lubricating mediums of the composite coatings were investigated systematically. The results show that the composite coating significantly increased the microhardness and wear resistance of PEEK coating. The introduction of graphite and PTFE fillers reduces the wear rates and coefficient of friction (COF) of the composite coating significantly. Especially under 10 N load conditions, the friction and wear tests show that the composite coatings drop by 80% of friction coefficient and an order of magnitude in wear rates compared to that of PEEK coating. The improved wear resistance can be attributed to the synergistic effect of PTFE and graphite fillers. As a result, the graphite provides good load‐bearing capacity and the PTFE lubricant endow a low friction coefficient for the composite coatings. Thus, this study provides a better approach to improve the wear resistance of PEEK‐based coatings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Modern Food Science & Technology is the property of Editorial Office of Modern Food Science & Technology and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This work aims to study the electrolytic oxidation of ethanol in alkaline solution by a carbon paste electrode modified with natural phosphate and cobalt (Co-NP/CPE). The electrodes were obtained by depositing the cobalt on carbon-NP substrates by electrodeposition, using potentiostatic and galvanostatic techniques. Morphological characterisation by optical microscopy techniques shows that the Co is well dispersed with the presence of NP particles on the surface of the electrode. The study of the electrode behaviour by voltammetric techniques exhibits a catalytic effect leading to a better result regarding the oxidation of ethanol. Compared to CPE-NP, the cobalt-modified CPE-NP electrode exhibits high electrolytic activity for ethanol oxidation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel Ti/CoTiO 3 /Ce-PbO 2 composite anode with desirably electrocatalytic performance was constructed on Ti substrate employing impregnation pyrolysis combined with electrodeposition process and utilized for electrocatalytic degradation of refractory organic dyes aqueous solution. [Display omitted] The exploitation of efficient electrocatalyst is significantly important for degradation of refractory organic pollutants. Herein, a novel Ti/CoTiO 3 /Ce-PbO 2 composite electrocatalyst (abbreviated as CTO/CP) is successfully constructed via facile consecutive immersion pyrolysis and electro-deposition method and then systematically characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier Transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) and near infrared chemical imaging (NIR-CI). Importantly, the electrochemical measurements demonstrate that the CTO/CP possesses numerous prominent properties such as lower charge transfer resistance, larger electroactive area, higher oxygen evolution potential than those of the pristine Ti/CoTiO 3 (CTO) and Ti/Ce-PbO 2 (CP). Thereby, the CTO/CP exhibits an enhanced electrocatalytic degradation performance with the degradation efficiency as high as 90.0% and COD removal rate of 88.3% at 180 min for the optimal CTO/CP (denoted as 10 layers of CTO and 1 h electrodeposition of CP), in which the ·OH is the major reactive species. Additionally, the optimal CTO/CP also shows a higher ICE/ACE together with lower EEC and desirable stability, universal applicability for many different dyes and reusability. Overall, this work offers a promising approach for enhancing the electrocatalytic properties of CTO via introducing CP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present article reports an accelerated growth technique for fabrication of 2D assembly of ZnO nanostructure and investigated the impact of concentration variance on their grown morphology. The combination of zinc nitrate hexahydrate [Zn (NO3)2 · 6H2O] and hexamethylenetetramine (HMTA) is employed as growth solution having pH value of 6.0. The assembly of 2D nanostructures grown on microtip is accelerated by introducing the ultrafine discharge in the chemical growth solution. The synthesis, deposition, and growth time were limited to 20 seconds only. After deposition and growth, annealing heat treatment was applied at 95°C for 45 minutes to eliminate any impurities or crystal defects. The structural/morphological characterization through FESEM confirms that the fabricated nanostructure is of 2D nanosheet-like at lower molar concentration (0.10 M). Nevertheless, at higher concentration (0.20 M), the grown morphology changes to marigold flower-like structure with porousness in its crystal structure. The chemical characterization through EDX confirms the dominance of the ZnO in the fabricated nanostructure. The XRD results confirm the phase pure hexagonal wurtzite structure of ZnO with an average crystalline thickness of ≈27 nm. The availability of functional group and molecular fingerprint corresponds to ZnO stretching is identified by FTIR while elemental composition and their chemical states were analyzed by XPS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Usage of acid and reducatant can be avoided in electro-chemical leaching. • Reduced Ea (s) can greatly facilitate the electro-leaching of valuable metals. • Closed-loop cycle of acid generation and metal recycling can be established. • Valuable metals can be efficiently and directly recovered with high selectivity. The sustainable recycling of valuable metals from spent lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) is impeded by the issues of extensive chemicals consumption, tedious separation process and deficient selectivity. Here, novel electrochemically driven and internal circulation strategy was developed for the direct and selective recycling of valuable metals from waste LiCoO 2 of spent LIBs. Firstly, the waste LiCoO 2 can be efficiently dissolved by generated acid (H 2 SO 4) during electro-deposition of Cu from CuSO 4 electrolyte. Then, Co2+ ions in the lixivium can be electrodeposited and recovered as metallic Co with a coinstantaneous regeneration of H 2 SO 4 and regenerated acid can be reused as leachant without obvious shrinking of leaching capability based on circulating leaching results. Over 92% Co and 97% Li can be leached, and 100% Cu and 93% Co are recovered as their metallic forms under the optimized experimental conditions. Results of leaching kinetics suggest that the leaching of Co and Li is controlled by internal diffusion with significantly reduced apparent activation energies (E a) for Li and Co. Finally, Li 2 CO 3 can be recovered from Li+ enriched lixivium after circulating leaching. This recycling process is a simplified route without any input of leachant and reductant, and valuable metals can be selectively recovered in a closed-loop way with high efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this paper is to evaluate and optimize the experimental parameters of the electro-deposition of silver atom nuclei on a graphite carbon paste to elaborate an electrochemical sensor. The electro-deposition process was performed using the cyclic voltammetry. The electrochemical studies show that the deposited silver micro-particle array offers an excellent electro-catalytic activity towards the NO2 attractor group of the dimetridazole side chain. SEM morphological analysis of the silver deposits indicates the presence of a large number of Ag micro-particles on the graphite carbon with good nucleation. The size of the Ag micro-particles is of the order of 19,7621 μm and their distribution is normal over the entire range of the pulp. DRX analysis of the deposit also indicates that the microcrystalline structure of the silver microcrystals in the deposit is face-centered cubic. The electrochemical behavior of dimetridazole is totally irreversible, the transfer process is controlled by diffusion phenomena on the surface of the electrode covered by a silver deposit realized μAg@CPE. The analytical performance of the constructed electrode shows a good selectivity. Calibration curves for the detection of dimetridazole have been drawn in the concentration range of 3,5 × 10−4 mol/L to 10−6 mol/L using cyclic voltammetry method, with a detection and quantification limits of 6.565 × 10−7 mol/L and 2.216 × 10−6 mol/L respectively. The applicability of the constructed electrode has been tested in real samples including orange juice, tomato juice, tap water. The results obtained show a recovery rate above 94%, which is very satisfactory.

To test the effect of electrolysis and microbial remediation technology in polluted river sediment, we explored the possibility of using electrolysis method to remove ammoniacal nitrogen–nitrogen (NH3–N), nitrate-nitrogen (NO3––N) and phosphate ions-phosphorous (PO43−–P). The electrolysis was carried out by double electrolysis reaction system with a pair of a titanium (Ti) mesh cathode, a Ti/Ti dioxide (TiO2)/Ruthenium (IV) oxide (RuO2) (RuO2–IrO2/Ti) mesh anode, and another pair of magnesium–aluminum (Mg–Al) alloy anode and a titanium mesh cathode placed within the sediment and overlying water. Results showed approximately 151.82 ± 21.69 mg total nitrogen (TN) in sediment was removed, which was five times than the non-electrolytic controls (30.21 ± 13.73 mg). Furthermore, NH3–N concentration in the sediment was substantially reduced (up to 2.9 times) compared to the non-electrolytic controls. Its efficiency lies in the electrolysis process, which may directly remove NH3–N through electrochemical oxidation and simultaneously produce oxygen which helps nitrifying bacteria to convert NH3–N into an NO3−–N by anode; moreover, electrolysis may directly remove NO3−–N in the overlying water through electrochemical reduction while simultaneously producing hydrogen electron donors for hydrogen autotrophic microorganisms, such as Hydrogenophohaga. This genus of hydrogen autotrophic denitrifying bacteria dominated the removal of NO3−–N by a cathode in electrolytic sediment. Electrolysis also reduced the PO43−–P through electro-coagulation since Mg2+ ions also produced a sacrificial Mg–Al alloy anode. This anode was used in conjunction with electro-deposition on a Ti mesh cathode to increase PO43−-P removal in the overlying water and sediment. This study verifies the benefits of electrolysis-driven bioremediation as a sustainable technology for the bioremediation of N and P polluted river sediment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The magneto-impedance of a CoP@Cu core–shell microwire was investigated. • The long term stability of the CoP metallic amorphous alloy was tested. • A microstrip waveguide was used for measuring the magneto-impedance. • Giant magneto-impedance effect yielded values as high as 98 % for f = 30 MHz. • The Kittel formula for a plate geometry accounted for FMR in the microwave regime. The giant magneto-impedance effect (GMI) consists in a large variation in the electrical impedance that occurs in some magnetic materials when subjected to a variable external magnetic field. Here we present an experimental study of the GMI in a wide frequency range observed in a structure of the metallic amorphous magnetic alloy CoP electrodeposited on copper microwires by using a microstrip configuration. In the low frequency range, the magnetic field dependence of the impedance is due to the behavior of the circumferential ac susceptibility in the magnetic coating. In the microwave range the behavior of the GMI is dominated by the main dynamical magnetic phenomenon at high frequencies, namely ferromagnetic resonance (FMR). The experimental data are well fit by Kittel equation for the FMR frequency for a ferromagnetic layer with a saturation magnetization similar to the ones reported in previous works. The structural stability of the CoP alloy against aging effects was also investigated. The overall results indicate that the CoP alloy is a good candidate for applications in sensors and in microwave devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Glassy carbon electrode (GCE) modified by reduced graphene oxide Cu–Pd nano-dendrimer (Pd-CuNDs-RGO/GCE) was prepared using electro-deposition and spontaneous displacement methods. Graphene oxide was put on the surface of GCE by drop-casting, then a thin film of reduced graphene oxide (RGO) was formed by electro-reduction at −0.9 V. The copper nano-dendrimers (CuNDs) were electro-plated on RGO/GCE surface. Finally, Pd-CuNDs-RGO/GCE was prepared by the spontaneous replacement of CuNDs with palladium nanoparticles (PdNPs) in a dilute solution of palladium. The electrode surface was characterized using field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), X-ray energy diffraction (EDX) spectroscopy, and electrochemical techniques. The electrochemical behavior of the modified electrode in the oxidation of alkaline solution of methanol was investigated. The experimental conditions affecting the performance of the modified electrode in the methanol oxidation were studied and optimized. Finally, the proposed electrode has the onset potential of −0.5 V and the ratio of i f /i b equal to 2.2, which confirms the high catalytic activity. The electrode has appropriate stability and shows about 86% of initial activity after 100 times testing. [Display omitted] • Facile method for preparing NDs on the Reduced Graphene Oxide was proposed. • The nanodendrites is composed of bimetallic Pd and Cu (Pd–Cu nanodendrites). • Pd–CuNDs/RGO show 86% stability over the tested period (100cycles) for MOR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Advancement of the effective, stable, earth-rich, low-cost, and highly efficient electro-catalysts commonly demanded large-scale commercial applications toward the low-carbon economy. Here our group demonstrated the synthesis, characterization and electrochemical performance of highly effective and versatile cobalt oxide nanoparticles (Co3O4 NP's) layered on fluorinated tin oxide (FTO) for efficient water splitting strategy. The synthesized Co3O4 NP's were analyzed by Scanning Electron Microscopy, Particle Size Analyzer, Zeta Potential, X-ray Diffraction, Ultraviolet–Visible Absorption Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and Raman spectroscopy. The Co3O4 NP's were deposited on FTO using inexpensive as well as leading electro-deposition method and by simple spray method. Hence, prepared Co3O4 electrocatalysts is found to be highly efficient for water oxidation without any pre-conditioning. This Co3O4 electrocatalyst, layered at FTO through electro-deposition method, is first used in Oxygen evolution reactions (OER). Electrochemically deposited Co3O4 NP's at FTO proved itself a better electrode than simple spray-coated Co3O4 NP's at FTO electrode and initiated the oxygen onset potential around 1.49 V versus reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE) (ŋ = 260 mV). The observed Tafel slope was 53 mV dec−1 during the oxygen evolution reaction and the peak of the current density J/ 68 mA cm−2 was observed at 1.78 V versus RHE, which is novel for cobalt-based electrocatalyst system. The conclusions drawn were comparable with both the pricey state of the art IrO2 and RuO2 electrocatalyst systems. In the long term water electrolysis experiment, the electrocatalyst also offered durability and enduring stability. This innovative approach offers a simplest technique to prepare cost-effective and super effectual nanoscale electrocatalyst for water electrolysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

(FeCo)1−xCrx nanowires (NWs) were grown by a pulsed AC electrodeposition technique into aluminum oxide nanoporous templates with good consistency. The structural features and morphologies of the NWs array were examined by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM). A vibrating sample magnetometer equipped with the first-order reversal curve (FORC) diagram was then used to find the magnetic properties. The formation of NW with the (110) texture was also confirmed for the whole series samples. With increasing the Cr addition on the FeCo NW arrays, the corresponding diffraction peak in the XRD patterns was shifted to the lower angles and the lattice constant was increased. FE-SEM analysis also revealed that (FeCo)1−xCrx NWs with the length of 10 µm were grown above the Cu pre-plating layer into aluminum oxide with the pore diameter of 30 nm. Further, the hysteresis loops showed that the coercivity were decreased from 2265 to 1388 Oe, respectively, with an increase in the Cr content from the concentration of 0 to 0.03 M. FORC diagrams proved a decrease of the magnetostatic interaction with Cr content and a non-interacting single domain structure for the maximum Cr addition. Local magnetic interactions were also found to prevail in the presence of the Cr element beside the magnetic phase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reservoir formation waters typically contain scaling ions which can precipitate and form mineral deposits. Such mineral deposition can be accelerated electrochemically, whereby the application of potential between two electrodes results in oxygen reduction and water electrolysis. Both processes change the local pH near the electrodes and affect the surface deposition of pH-sensitive minerals. In the context of the plugging and abandonment of wells, electrochemically enhanced deposition could offer a cost-effective alternative to the established methods that rely on setting cement plugs. In this paper, we tested the scale electro-deposition ability of six different formation waters from selected reservoirs along the Norwegian continental shelf using two experimental setups, one containing CO2 and one without CO2. As the electrochemical deposition of scaling minerals relies on local pH changes near the cathode, geochemical modelling was performed to predict oversaturation with respect to the different mineral phases at different pH values. In a CO2-free environment, the formation waters are mainly oversaturated with portlandite at pH > 12. When CO2 was introduced to the system, the formation waters were oversaturated with calcite. The presence of mineral phases was confirmed by powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) analyses of the mineral deposits obtained in the laboratory experiments. The geochemical-modelling results indicate several oversaturated Mg-bearing minerals (e.g., brucite, dolomite, aragonite) in the formation waters but these, according to XRD results, were absent in the deposits, which is likely due to the significant domination of calcium-scaling ions in the solution. The amount of deposit was found to be proportional to the concentration of calcium present in the formation waters. Formation waters with a high concentration of Ca ions and a high conductivity yielded more precipitate.

Powder mixed-electro discharge machining (PM-EDM) is a new emerging trend in research on electro-thermal process that can simultaneously shape and deposit a coating on the surface of the workpiece. PM-EDM is a hybridized form of EDM in which metallic powders are amalgamated in dielectric liquid to enhance both the machined surface condition and machining performance. Migration of materials on the cutting surface occurs by melting and chemical reactions during the operation from both the electrodes and metallic powders. 316L stainless steel, Ti-based alloys, Co-Mo-Cr-based alloys, magnesium and magnesium-based alloys are commonly utilized in manufacturing biomedical devices. These biomaterials, however, release toxic particles due to corrosion, wear, tear, and tiredness of the joint replacements through repeated loads and relative movements. Surfaces of bio-implants made from these biomaterials are therefore protected using bioactive and biocompatible coating. Several methods of deposition are used for coating purposes which have both advantage and drawback. This study proposes that the PM-EDM coating enhances the biomaterials' mechanical characteristics, surface morphology, and topography. Through reflecting critical and analytical concerns, this review focuses extensively on the current progress of the PM-EDM process. Moreover, following various research initiatives, this paper outlines the critical challenges and future research scopes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Powder mixed-electro discharge machining (PM-EDM) is recently evolving machining technique which can simultaneously remove and modify the machined surface through thermo-electrical process. It is a modified form of EDM in which the conductive powder elements are added in the dielectric liquid to enhance machined surface characteristics and machining responses. The commonly used biomaterials such as 316L stainless steel, Ti-based alloy, Ni–Ti, Mg alloy, and Co–Mo–Cr alloy have excellent mechanical characteristics while the biofunction of these materials are not in satisfactory level. Due to higher hardness, brittleness, and heat resistant natures of the biomaterials, it is very challenging to machine them with conventional machining. Both the system efficiency and modified surface properties depend on the associated electrical and non-electrical factors of PM-EDM cycle. This review focuses on the influence of process factors such as current, pulse duration, tool-polarity, duty cycle, potential voltage, types of liquid, and added powder concentration on performance outputs including material removal and tool wear rate, coating thickness, coarseness, microhardness, coating adhesion bonding, biocompatibility, and resistant to corrosion. This study also discusses influence of various powders on machining and modified surface characteristics of biomaterials. The future research scopes and challenges of PM-EDM process are included in this study thoroughly. • Enable to concurrent conductive workpiece forming and coating. • Enhancing modified surface characteristics and PM-EDM process performance. • Influence of process factors on the system performance and altered surface properties. • Influence of additive powders on the system performance and altered surface properties. • Proper selection of factors for obtaining optimal machining efficiency and machined surface characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Analyte quantification in first generation electrochemical biosensors is threatened by electro‐active molecules, such as ascorbic acid (AA). Electrochemical deposition of ortho‐phenylendiamine (oPD) on transducer considerably reduces AA interfering. These properties of poly‐oPD (PPD) are influenced by electro‐polymerization conditions. Chronoamperometry (CA) is proposed as an alternative technique for oPD electro‐deposition over Pt. Pt/PPD sensors are evaluated through functional parameters related to AA rejection and analytical performances. N2, O2, and air bubbled supporting electrolyte and several step duration times are used. Best performing CA‐PPD sensor is obtained in N2‐purged phosphate solution containing 300 mM oPD by means of a 1 s step duration/120 steps CA. High performing PPD is achieved in shorter time compared to commonly used constant potential amperometry. Aging of polymeric features and scanning electron microscopy investigations are performed and optimized CA electro‐polymerization conditions are used to build up an efficient interference blocking layer in a glucose oxidase biosensor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• ZnO-CeO 2 /CF cathode was fabricated successfully via one-step electro-deposition method. • The stable cathode of ZnO-CeO 2 /CF showed an excellent degradation performance of CIP. • Degradation efficiency of CIP was accelerated owing to the valence state transition of Ce3+/Ce4+ and Fe2+/Fe3+. Herein, an excellent cathode of ZnO-CeO 2 /CF was fabricated successfully via one-step electro-deposition method for the degradation of ciprofloxacin (CIP) in sewage by electro-Fenton (EF) technology. The detailed characterizations of ZnO-CeO 2 /CF material were conducted by SEM, XRD, XPS, CV and EIS. Effects of deposition time, initial pH and voltage value on degradation performance of ZnO-CeO 2 /CF were investigated systematically. The results showed nearly 100% degradation efficiency was easily obtained at 2 h owing to the large specific surface area of cathode, the good oxygen storage ability and Fenton-like performance of ZnO-CeO 2. It was worth to mention that the favorable capability still existed in cathode body after 10 consecutive runs. Moreover, electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) test and sacrificial agent experiments revealed that the increase of active substance accelerated the degradation efficiency of CIP during the process of valence state transition of Ce3+/Ce4+ or Fe2+/Fe3+. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Powder mixed-EDM is a newly emerging proposed manufacturing process which can simultaneously shape and coat the surface of conductive materials. Transformation of machined surface is occurred through melting and chemical reactions of the added powders, tools materials and dielectric fluid due to elevated temperature generation during the operation. Though the biomaterials such as titanium alloy, magnesium, 316 L SS and Co-Cr alloy attribute to higher mechanical strength, corrosion and wear resistance, and enough biocompatibility, these are limited to apply directly because of releasing the toxic elements and having inferior biological responses. Surfaces of bio-implants made from these biomaterials are therefore protected using bioactive and biocompatible coating. Hydroxyapatite is a bioceramic that possesses bone like element composition and excellent biocompatibility. The PM-EDM process with hydroxyapatite can enhance not only adhesion strength and roughness but also biocompatibility of the treated surface. It is proposed in this paper that carbide and oxide coating formation can improve the microhardness, bonding strength and roughness of surface of the substrates. This study comprehensively reports the current status of adhesion and surface coarseness of bio-ceramics based coating through PM-EDM process. A comparative critical analysis of employing bio-ceramic powder using various deposition techniques is presented in this review. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Effective thermal management of electronic integrated devices with high powder density has become a serious issue, which requires materials with high thermal conductivity (TC). In order to solve the problem of weak bonding between graphite and Cu, a novel Cu/graphite film/Cu sandwich composite (Cu/GF/Cu composite) with ultrahigh TC was fabricated by electro-deposition. The micro-riveting structure was introduced to enhance the bonding strength between graphite film and deposited Cu layers by preparing a rectangular array of micro-holes on the graphite film before electro-deposition. TC and mechanical properties of the composites with different graphite volume fractions and current densities were investigated. The results showed that the TC enhancement generated by the micro-riveting structure for Cu/GF/Cu composites at low graphite content was more effective than that at high graphite content, and the strong texture orientation of deposited Cu resulted in high TC. Under the optimizing preparing condition, the highest in-plane TC reached 824.3 W·m−1K−1, while the ultimate tensile strength of this composite was about four times higher than that of the graphite film. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Skin‐compatible electrodes have been studied intensively for its application in wearable electronics. To satisfy various deformations of electronic skin, it requires to fabricate a highly conductive, mechanically stable, flexible, and stretchable electrode. Here, a feasible laser direct writing (LDW) process is carried out to fabricate micro‐spring structured metal electrodes. The metal electrodes show high conductivity and transparency with sheet resistance of 4.8 ohm per square and at transmittance of 83%. It is worthy of noting that, the metal electrodes have an excellent mechanical–electrical stability, where stretching over 75% and bending over 5000 times induces resistance variance less than 5% and 2%, respectively. The excellent mechanical and electrical behavior of the micro‐spring metal electrodes are promising to be useful for wearable electronics. The LDW process may facilitate the design and prototype of the skin compatible metal electrodes in the coming future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

P-type CIGS (CuIn 1-x Ga x Se 2) thin films are electro-deposited on a p-type c-Si substrate with a galvanostatic mode to form CIGS(p)/c-Si(p) hetero-junction. The Ga content is varied up to x = 30%. The physical properties of formed CIGS films are characterized by XRD, SEM, EDS and UV–Visible spectroscopy. With x = 30%, we obtain a single chalcopyrite phase of CIGS with a tetragonal crystal structure, a high crystallinity, an orientation toward the (112) direction and a band gap energy of 1.40 eV. AM1.5 J-V performed on the CuI 0.7 G 0.3 Se 2 /c-Si hetero-junction reveals interesting photovoltaic parameters with an efficiency of 3.75%. In addition, using the energy diagram of the hetero-junction calculated with the Anderson model, we show that it could play a dual role when combined to a c-Si cell in a Ag–Al/c-Si(n+)/c-Si(p)/CIGS(p)/Al new architecture. Therefore, in addition to its interesting photovoltaic parameters, this hetero-junction can substitute the BSF. Image 1 • Highly polycrystalline CIGS film is electro-deposited on c-Si to form CIGS/c-Si hetero-junction. • AM1.5 J-V of the CuI 0.7 G 0.3 Se 2 /c-Si hetero-junction reveals interesting photovoltaic parameters. • Using the Anderson model, we show that the hetero-junction could play a dual in new architecture solar cell. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oxygen evolution reaction (OER) catalysts are of central importance for electrocatalytic water oxidation and fuel generation, while it is still an urgent requirement to design and develop efficient OER catalysts with rapid kinetics and low overpotentials. Herein, we report an electrochemical deposition method to fabricate carbon nanotubes/N-doped cuprous sulfide (CNTs/N-Cu2S) composites using thiourea and a CuSO4 solution as the S and Cu sources, respectively. The advantages of this strategy include low cost, simple processing and the absence of templates or surfactants that can otherwise affect the electrochemical properties of the products. The N supplied by the thiourea can be used as a doping agent as a result of the in situ formation of small N-Cu2S particles, which can increase larger surface area and create more active sites to enhance OER catalytic activity, compared with that obtained with materials synthesized without adding the thiourea. The synergic interface of CNTs and N-Cu2S can improve conductivity and efficient chemical transfer in the composites electrodes by introducing CNTs. Under the optimal experimental conditions, the CNTs/N-Cu2S-5cyc composites present an excellent activity with the current density of 10 mA cm−2 at a low OER overpotential of 280 mV, the Tafel slope of 63 mV dec−1 and a strong electrochemical stability in 1.0 M KOH solution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The effect of nano-particles and surfactants in changing the net charge of asphaltene (ASP) in the electric field was investigated. • The effect of nano-particles and surfactants on preventing asphaltene (ASP) deposition in the electro-deposition experiment was investigated. • Fabrication of electro-deposited cells with effective efficiency. • Introduction of LABS surfactant as an effective additive to inhibit asphaltene (ASP) deposition. • Introduction of SiO 2 nano-particles and CeZrO 4 nano-particles as the most effective nano-particles to prevent asphaltene (ASP) deposition. Asphaltenes (ASPs) are regarded as high molecular weight components that often deposit in the production lines and downstream infrastructure, leading to pressure drop and reduced production rate. In this paper, we investigated the potential of electro-deposition of ASP an Iranian crude oil sample encountering ASP deposition problems, to reduce the risk of well shut-in. In this regard, a systematic research plan has been designed to use the electro-deposition technique to precipitate and deposit ASP different fluid samples incluiding crude oil/n-heptane, synthetic oil (containing the same ASP)/n-heptane, crude oil/n-heptane/additive and synthetic oil/n-heptane/additive are utilized. The additives such as Linear Alkyl Benzene Sulfonate (LABS) as a surfactant, metal oxide nano-particles such as SiO 2 , γ-Al 2 O 3 , and TiO 2 and synthesized mixed-metal oxide nano-particles compounds such as CeNiO 3 , CeZrO 4 and CeCaO 3 were used. This work reveals the effect of these additives on the deposition rate of ASP particles from crude oil and compares their effectiveness. Using a homemade apparatus, the optimum direct-current electric field (EF) and time for ASP deposition were found, followed by finding the best solution of crude oil and n-heptane. As for the additives, LABS showed that ASP deposition is critically decreased on the cathode at 2000 ppm for crude oil and 1500 ppm for synthetic oil. Nano-particles exhibit different behavior in an EF. The experimental results indicated that by increasing the concentration of nano-particles, the amount of ASP deposit on the anode decreases. The results indicated that synthesized mixed-metal oxide nano-particles do not change the charge type of ASP and result in ASP deposition reduction utilizing a very low number of nano-particles. Currently, electro-deposition is a key solution to remove ASPs from crude oil. This is due to its high energy efficiency and relatively simple process. Comparing the effects of these newly proposed additives showed that, CeZrO 4 nano-particles are more efficient to inhibit ASP deposition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]