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Magnetostrictive bimorphs consisting of positive and negative magnetostrictive materials such as FeGa and Ni respectively were made in the form of (a) multilayers containing Si/Ni/FeGa and (b) stacking consisting of Ni/Si/FeGa by sputtering technique on Si substrates. While the thickness of the FeGa film was maintained at 200 nm for all the films, Ni films were grown with two different thicknesses, viz., 100 and 200 nm. Magnetostrictive response of these bimorphs was compared with FeGa unimorph deposited on Si. Structural studies indicated FCC and BCC structure for Ni and FeGa films respectively. Magnetization studies showed a decrease in saturation magnetization with increase in Ni content owing to the lower magnetization of Ni when compared to FeGa. Considerable enhancement in tip deflection has been observed in the bimorph structure when compared with pure FeGa film. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The hydrogenolysis of polymers is emerging as a promising approach to deconstruct plastic waste into valuable chemicals. Yet, the complexity of plastic waste, including multilayer packaging, is a significant barrier to handling realistic waste streams. Herein, we reveal fundamental insights into a new chemical route for transforming a previously unaddressed fraction of plastic waste – poly(ethylene‐co‐vinyl alcohol) (EVOH) and related polymer blends – into alkane products. We report that Ru/ZrO2 is active for the concurrent hydrogenolysis, hydrogenation, and hydrodeoxygenation of EVOH and its thermal degradation products into alkanes (C1−C35) and water. Detailed reaction data, product analysis, and catalyst characterization reveal that the in‐situ thermal degradation of EVOH forms aromatic intermediates that are detrimental to catalytic activity. Increased hydrogen pressure promotes hydrogenation of these aromatics, preventing catalyst deactivation and improving alkane product yields. Calculated apparent rates of C−C scission reveal that the hydrogenolysis of EVOH is slower than low‐density polyethylene. We apply these findings to achieve hydrogenolysis of EVOH/polyethylene blends and elucidate the sensitivity of hydrogenolysis catalysts to such blends. Overall, we demonstrate progress towards efficient catalytic processes for the hydroconversion of waste multilayer film plastic packaging into valuable products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multilayer films of diamond‐like carbon (DLC) on monocrystalline diamond substrates have been for the first time obtained by plasma‐chemical deposition. Their chemical composition and structural and morphological properties are studied. The DLC individual layers differ in their sp3 carbon content. The multilayer nature of the resulting coatings is confirmed by periodic density modulation on the small‐angle X‐ray reflectometry curve and modulations in the CsC8, CsC6, CsC4 lines on the crater depth profile of secondary ions of elements (secondary ion mass spectrometry). The dependence of the deposition rate of multilayer DLC films on diamond, their composition and properties on the argon additive to the reaction gas mixture, as well as on methane flow, pressure and growth time, are studied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The influence of the concentration of various ethylene–vinyl alcohol (EVAlC) and ethylene–vinyl acetate copolymers on the properties of high-density and low-density polyethylenes is studied to develop compositions for utilization and recycling of polymer multilayer films containing EVAlCs as a barrier layer. It was found that EVAlCs have a lesser negative effect on the properties of mixtures based on high-density polyethylene. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The adaptability of molybdenum disulfide (MoS 2) films in space environments is crucial for aerospace applications. However, atomic oxygen (AO) in low Earth orbit can damage the friction and wear performance of MoS 2 films, leading to a reduction in the service life of the film. To enhance the resistance of the film to atomic oxygen irradiation, we constructed a nano-multilayer structure composed of MoS 2 -WC-MoS 2. Studies have shown that MoS 2 /WC multilayer films exhibit an ultra-low friction coefficient of 0.010 due to their (002) preferred orientation. Even after high-dose AO irradiatione at 1.84 × 1020 atoms·cm−2, the film still maintains a friction coefficient of 0.009. This is attributed to the presence of MeO X nanoparticles in the MoS 2 transfer film at the friction interface after AO irradiation, and the existence of MeO X nanoparticles plays a key role in maintaining ultra-low friction of the film. These findings are of great significance for extending the service life of molybdenum disulfide films in space environments and enhancing their resistance to atomic oxygen irradiation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anti reflection coating with high hardness on the OLED display surface was studied to improve the wear resistance and visibility of OLED. However, the high residual stress inside the multilayer thin film configuration of anti reflection coating has been a problem and the improvement is necessary. In this study, the residual stress and optical properties variation on various deposition conditions on the thin film were investigated. In addition, we suggested new coating structure using nanocomposites to overcome the residual stress of films. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multilayer structures based on the In‐Zn‐O (IZO) system with modulated oxygen doping have been developed as a TCF (transparent conductive film) alternative to ITO or IGZO layers in the LC and OLED displays. The minimum resistivity (3.37 Ohm*cm) and the maximum concentration of free charge carriers correspond to the layers synthesized in an atmosphere of pure argon, while the maximum mobility (39.18 cm2/V*s) corresponds to the layers synthesized in the atmosphere of both argon and oxygen 99.6%/0.4% mixture. Thin‐film periodic structures with gradient modulation of oxygen content in thickness have been fabricated by periodically changing the oxygen concentration in the composition of the working gas during spraying at a substrate temperature of 100 °C. The structures consist of alternating layers with a high concentration of free charge carriers and layers with high mobility. As a result of the single layers' thicknesses optimization the thin‐film periodic structures with a minimum resistivity of 2.89 Ohm*cm have been made. The resistivity is lower than in homogeneous layers of the same composition. The alternation of layers of optimal thickness provides high carrier mobility, it is inherent to layers synthesized in the atmosphere of 99.6/0.4 argon and oxygen mixture at high concentration. The mobility value is close to the value achieved in the layers synthesized in the pure argon atmosphere. This material provides fabrication of high quality, stable and low cost transparent electrodes or TFT layers with performances corresponding to parameters of traditional materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of China Rubber Industry is the property of Editorial Office of China Rubber Industry 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.)

In this study, poly(ethylene terephthalate)‐block‐polyethylene (PET‐PE) multiblock copolymers (MBCPs) with block molar masses of ~4 or 7 kg mol−1 and either alternating or random block sequencing, and a PE‐PET‐PE triblock copolymer (TBCP) of comparable total molar mass, were synthesized. To explore the effect of molecular architecture on compatibilization, both MBCPs and TBCPs were blended into 80/20 wt/wt mixtures of PET/linear low‐density PE (LLDPE). Compatibilization was remarkably efficient for all MBCP types, with the addition of 0.2 wt% yielding blends nearly as tough as PET homopolymer. Addition of MBCP also significantly decreases LLDPE dispersed phase sizes compared to PET/LLDPE neat blends, as much as 80% in as‐mixed blends and by a factor of 10 in post‐mixing thermally annealed samples. Conversely, the TBCP was less efficient at decreasing domain sizes of the blends and improving the mechanical properties, requiring loadings of 1 wt% to produce comparably tough blends. Peel tests of PET/BCP/LLDPE trilayer films showed that both MBCPs and TBCP all improve interfacial strength over a PET‐PE bilayer film by two orders of magnitude; however, when the BCPs were preloaded into LLDPE, only the MBCP containing films showed strong adhesion highlighting their potential utility as adhesive agents in multilayer films. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The abuse of plastic food packaging has brought about severe white pollution issues around the world. Developing green and sustainable biomass packaging is an effective way to solve this problem. Hence, a chitosan/sodium alginate- based multilayer film is fabricated via a layer-by-layer (LBL) self-assembly method. With the help of superior interaction between the layers, the multilayer film possesses excellent mechanical properties (with a tensile strength of 50 MPa). Besides, the film displays outstanding water retention property (blocking moisture of 97.56%) and ultraviolet blocking property. Anthocyanin is introduced into the film to detect the food quality since it is one natural plant polyphenol that is sensitive to the pH changes ranging from 1 to 13 in food when spoilage occurs. It is noted that the film is also bacteriostatic which is desired for food packaging. This study describes a simple technique for the development of advanced multifunctional and fully biodegradable food packaging film and it is a sustainable alternative to plastic packaging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the evolution of new polymers and an increase in their scope of applications, the use of natural resources such as petroleum products for polymer production has seen a drastic increase in the past few years. With production rates higher than ever and rapid, unsafe disposal of used polymers has taken a toll on the environment and other species through pollution. Even though there are alternative solutions, including bioplastics manufactured from greener sources and biodegradable plastics that can disintegrate in a shorter time period, these alternatives are currently in their early stages and hence expensive. It is also more challenging for them to meet the high demands in terms of both quantity and properties. The next nearest alternative, recycling, is the best available solution to avoid plastic waste entering landfills and to reduce raw material demands. This study aims to determine the effectiveness of a newly introduced styrene–ethylene–butadiene block copolymer (SEBS)-based property enhancer (WinMod 300) with disposed high-impact polystyrene (HIPS) and a maleic anhydride-grafted SEBS compatibilizer (WinMod 110) with disposed multilayer films (low-density polyethylene and polyester layers). Recycled compounds were tested for necessary and significant mechanical properties and subjected to material characterization, and the results are presented in this paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Structural Integrity & Life / Integritet i vek Konstrukcija is the property of University of Belgrade, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering 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 article performs computer simulations of the change in magnetization in the ferromagnetic film when polarized electric current passes through it. The model examines multilayer structures from ferromagnetic and nonmagnetic films. A sandwich system comprises two ferromagnetic layers separated by a nonmagnetic gasket. Ferromagnetic films have different magnetic susceptibility. The first ferromagnetic film is magnetically hard and acts as a fixed layer. The second ferromagnetic film is magnetically soft, with a switched direction of magnetization. The current direction is perpendicular to the film plane (CPP geometry). Spin transfer is carried out by electrons that polarize in the first ferromagnetic film and transmit spin to the second ferromagnetic film. We use the Ising model to describe the magnetic properties of the system and the Metropolis algorithm to form the thermodynamic states of the spin system. Simulations are performed at temperatures below the Curie points for both materials. The result of computer simulation is the dependence of magnetization in the magnetically soft film on the current strength in the system. Calculations show that there is a critical value of the current at which the magnetization sign of the controlled film changes. The magnetization versus current plot is stepwise. The change in the magnetization sign is due to an increase in the polarization of the electron gas. The plot of electron gas polarization versus current is also stepwise. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphene oxide (GO) has arisen as an effective adsorbent for water treatment owing to its high removal efficiency for water pollutants. However, separating GO adsorbents from the pollutant solution is difficult after adsorption. The GO adsorbents are unsuitable for various dyes, and can only remove cationic dyes from an aqueous solution. To address these issues, this study utilized a simple and cost-effective layer-by-layer assembly technique to deposit multilayer films onto solid substrates. These films were composed of poly(allylamine hydrochloride)–dextran (PAHD) microgels and GO, and were designed to be highly effective while remaining affordable. The PAHD/GO multilayer films obtained produced an effortless separation process and demonstrated exceptional adsorption capabilities for cationic, anionic and non-ionic dyes. Specifically, the adsorption capacities for carmine and mulberry red were notably high, measuring 337.4 and 417.7 mg g−1, respectively. In addition, the PAHD/GO multilayer films could be regenerated well in sodium chloride solution without obvious compromise of removal efficiency. The adsorption kinetics, isotherms and thermodynamics of dyes on the PAHD/GO multilayer films were also studied. Thanks to the straightforward manufacturing process and outstanding adsorption capabilities of PAHD/GO multilayer films, this study presents a significant opportunity to advance the practical application of GO in water treatment. A composite film composed of poly(allylamine hydrochloride)–dextran microgels and graphene oxide can be employed repeatedly to remove cationic, anionic and non-ionic dyes in water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study we evaluated the production of BTX aromatics out of a polyolefin-based 5-layer commercial film for food packaging where PVDC is included. Ex-situ catalytic pyrolysis of the polymer sample for the production of renewable benzene, toluene and xylenes (bio-BTX) has been performed. The experiment consisted of a controlled pyrolysis step followed by subsequent catalytic upgrading. Up to 23 wt% of BTX was produced out of the PVDC-containing multilayer polymer sample. The results obtained put in evidence that the overall BTX yield and the chemical composition of products generated by the composite film are similar with those based on pure PE. A study on the multilayer sample has been conducted by means of hyphenated technique (TGA-FTIR-MS), which describes the degradation steps during heating.

This paper presents the results of an investigation of direct laser writing on a titanium film with an antireflection capping silicon coating. Bi-layer films were deposited on fused silica substrates using an e-beam evaporation system. Modeling predicted that optical absorption for a bi-layer Si/Ti material can be increased by a factor of ~2 compared to a single-layer Ti film at 532 nm laser writing beam wavelength. It is experimentally proved that rate of thermochemical laser writing on Si/Ti films is at least 3 times higher than that on a single-layer Ti film with comparable thickness. The silicon layer was found to participate in the thermochemical reaction (silicide formation) under laser beam heating, which allows one to obtain sufficient position-dependent phase change (PDPC) of light reflected from exposed and unexposed areas. This results in much larger profile depth measured with a white light interferometer (up to 150 nm) than with an atomic force microscope (up to 25 nm). During direct laser writing on Si/Ti films, there is a broad range of writing beam power within which the PDPC and reflection coefficient for the exposed areas change insignificantly. The possibility of selective development of a thermochemically written pattern on a Ti film by removing the capping silicon layer on unexposed areas in a hot KOH solution is shown. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Infrared selective emitters are attracting more and more attention due to their modulation ability of infrared radiance, which provides an efficient ability to blend objects into the surrounding environment. In this paper, an Ag/ZnS/Si/Ag/Si multilayered emitter is proposed by virtue of impedance matching as well as Fabry-Perot cavity effect to achieve selective radiation in the infrared band. The emissivity of the fabricated selective emitter is measured to be ε3–5μm = 0.16 and ε8–14μm = 0.23 in the atmosphere windows, respectively, meeting the requirements of infrared stealth. Meanwhile, the emissivity at the non-atmospheric window (5–8 μm) is as high as 0.78, which allows efficient heat dissipation to achieve radiative cooling. Furthermore, the selective emitter maintains excellent stealth performance until 350 °C, indicating its good heat resistance and dissipation at medium temperature. The proposed emitter with spectral selectivity provides a new strategy for the facile fabrication of mid-/low-temperature infrared stealth devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper presents the results of surface radiation erosion and stress evolution of multilayer coatings made of ZrN ceramic layers and metallic glass (Zr-Cu) under He2+ ion irradiation with an energy of 40 keV and fluences from 5·1016 to 1.1·1018 cm−2. Multilayer coatings of nc-ZrN/a-Zr1−хCuх with an elementary layer thickness of 5 nm/5 nm and 5 nm/10 nm are formed by reactive magnetron sputtering with different copper Cu contents (x = 0.45; 0.53; 0.61 and 0.74). Sputtering took place from Zr and Cu targets at a substrate temperature T = 300 °C. The surface of the films remained stable up to a fluence of 5·1017 cm−2. It has been found that with an increase in the ion fluence, the radiation erosion of the surface develops according to the flecking mechanism. It has been established that an increase in the thickness of the amorphous layer and the copper content increase the resistance to irradiation (the critical fluence increases from 5·1017 cm−2 to 8·1017 cm−2). Irradiation with helium He ions leads to a decrease in the level of compressive stresses. Reducing the level of stresses in multilayer films is associated with the effects of changes in the microstructure of the layers (shape distortion) at a dose of 2·1017 cm−2 and radiation erosion at a dose of 8·1017 cm−2.

The comparison between the magnetic properties of materials with different curvature and spatial distribution of nanograins, such as particles (3D spatial distribution) and multilayer films (2D) was carried out. Functionally graded Co(P)/Ni(P) and Co(P)/CoNi(P) specimens have been fabricated by electroless deposition. The magnetic and structural properties are characterized by electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, ferromagnetic resonance spectroscopy, and vibrating sample magnetometer. It was demonstrated that the interaction between the Ni(P) core and Co(P) shell of particles could form the functionally graded materials with tailored structure and coercive force. Furthermore, it was found that the magnetic parameters (the local anisotropy field, ferromagnetic resonance linewidth, and coercivity) are mainly determined by the artificially created interface boundaries for all grains' spatial distribution. The magnetic anisotropy field and coercivity of Co(P)/Ni(P) flat films were characterized by lower values than those for spherical shell of particles with the same composition, produced by the same method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The multilayer (Ti/DLC) × 3 films were deposited using a DC arc evaporator with a titanium cathode and a pulsed cathode-spark evaporator with a graphite cathode. Following the deposition of the films, a heat treatment process was performed in air and Ar atmosphere at temperatures of 200 °C and 400 °C. The investigation of the films involved the examination of their structure, surface morphology, and chemical composition using AFM, SEM, XPS and Raman. Additionally, the mechanical properties of the films were assessed by nanoindentation, sclerometry and wear test. Changes in the structure, RMS roughness, С-sp2/С-sp3 ratio of carbon atoms in the film and the formation of Ti-C carbide were determined in relation to the heat treatment conditions. Studies have demonstrated that subjecting materials to heat treatment at temperatures of 400 °C results in a decrease in friction coefficient and an increase in hardness. The deposition of films on the working surfaces of microdrills with subsequent heat treatment leads to a reduction in wear, an extension of their service life, and an improvement in drilling accuracy as compared to microdrills without films. Furthermore, microdrills with (Ti/DLC) × 3 films annealed in air at 400 °C exhibit negligible size reduction and better drilling accuracy. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article performs computer simulations of the change in magnetization in the ferromagnetic film when polarized electric current passes through it. The model examines multilayer structures from ferromagnetic and nonmagnetic films. A sandwich system comprises two ferromagnetic layers separated by a nonmagnetic gasket. Ferromagnetic films have different magnetic susceptibility. The first ferromagnetic film is magnetically hard and acts as a fixed layer. The second ferromagnetic film is magnetically soft, with a switched direction of magnetization. The current direction is perpendicular to the film plane (CPP geometry). Spin transfer is carried out by electrons that polarize in the first ferromagnetic film and transmit spin to the second ferromagnetic film. We use the Ising model to describe the magnetic properties of the system and the Metropolis algorithm to form the thermodynamic states of the spin system. Simulations are performed at temperatures below the Curie points for both materials. The result of computer simulation is the dependence of magnetization in the magnetically soft film on the current strength in the system. Calculations show that there is a critical value of the current at which the magnetization sign of the controlled film changes. The magnetization versus current plot is stepwise. The change in the magnetization sign is due to an increase in the polarization of the electron gas. The plot of electron gas polarization versus current is also stepwise.

In this review, the principles of the formation of polyelectrolyte microcapsules by the layer-by-layer assembly method have been considered, the intermolecular interactions that take part in the systems have been described, and the factors that affect the parameters of the resulting structures have been listed. Works devoted to tuning the internal structure of polyelectrolyte shells by means of variations in environmental conditions have been presented, in particular, the effect of temperature on polyelectrolyte shells of various compositions has been considered. Examples of changing the permeability of the shells, as well as imparting desired optical properties to the capsules by incorporating dyes and nanoparticles into polyelectrolyte multilayers have been presented. Possible approaches to remote control of shell permeability under the action of external physical stimuli, such as laser and microwave radiations and a low-frequency magnetic field, have been described. One of the sections of the review has been devoted to the methods of encapsulating emulsion droplets via layer-by-layer deposition of polyelectrolytes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Small plastic packaging films make up a quarter of all packaging waste generated annually in Austria. As many plastic packaging films are multilayered to give barrier properties and strength, this fraction is considered hardly recyclable and recovered thermally. Besides, they can not be separated from recyclable monolayer films using near-infrared spectroscopy in material recovery facilities. In this paper, an experimental sensor-based sorting setup is used to demonstrate the effect of adapting a near-infrared sorting rig to enable measurement in transflection. This adaptation effectively circumvents problems caused by low material thickness and improves the sorting success when separating monolayer and multilayer film materials. Additionally, machine learning approaches are discussed to separate monolayer and multilayer materials without requiring the near-infrared sorter to explicitly learn the material fingerprint of each possible combination of layered materials. Last, a fast Fourier transform is shown to reduce destructive interference overlaying the spectral information. Through this, it is possible to automatically find the Fourier component at which to place the filter to regain the most spectral information possible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mechanochromic materials exhibit color changes upon external mechanical stimuli, finding wide-ranging applications in colorimetric sensing, display technology, and anticounterfeiting measures. Many of these materials rely on fluorescence properties and therefore necessitate external optical or electrical excitation. However, for broader applicability, the detection of color changes by the naked eye only or without complicated detection instrumentation is highly desirable. Photonic crystals offer a promising avenue for attaining such performances. In this work, we present elastomeric distributed Bragg reflectors (DBRs) characterized by a series of photonic bandgaps exhibiting mechanochromic response from the near-infrared to the visible wavelengths. To achieve this, we engineered alternating thin films of a thermoplastic fluoropolymer and a styrene-butadiene copolymer using different elastomeric substrates to attain different behaviors. The reported system demonstrates a reversible and instantaneous shift of the photonic bandgaps in response to 100% strain in multiple deformation cycles. Comparing the DBR stress-strain response with the optical strain response confirms a mechanochromic sensitivity of ∼1.7-6.9 nm/% and ∼80 nm/MPa, with an optical Poisson's ratio in the range 0.3-0.7. All these properties are spectrally dependent, as demonstrated by exploiting the properties of different diffraction order photonic band gaps.

Abstract Background Bacterial proliferation on the endosseous implants surface presents a new threat to the using of the bone implants. Unfortunately, there is no effective constructed antibacterial coating which is bacterial anti-adhesion substrate-independent or have long-term biofilm inhibition functions. Methods Drug release effect was tested in Chymotrypsin (CMS) solution and S. aureus. We used bacterial inhibition rate assays and protein leakage experiment to analyze the in vitro antibacterial effect of (Montmorillonite/Poly-l-lysine-Chlorhexidine)10 [(MMT/PLL-CHX)10] multilayer film. We used the CCK-8 assay to analyze the effect of (MMT/PLL-CHX)10 multilayer films on the growth and proliferation of rat osteoblasts. Rat orthopaedic implant-related infections model was constructed to test the antimicrobial activity effect of (MMT/PLL-CHX)10 multilayer films in vivo. Results In this study, the (MMT/PLL-CHX)10 multilayer films structure were progressively degraded and showed well concentration-dependent degradation characteristics following incubation with Staphylococcus aureus and CMS solution. Bacterial inhibition rate assays and protein leakage experiment showed high levels of bactericidal activity. While the CCK-8 analysis proved that the (MMT/PLL-CHX)10 multilayer films possess perfect biocompatibility. It is somewhat encouraging that in the in vivo antibacterial tests, the K-wires coated with (MMT/PLL-CHX)10 multilayer films showed lower infections incidence and inflammation than the unmodified group, and all parameters are close to SHAM group. Conclusion (MMT/PLL-CHX)10 multilayer films provides a potential therapeutic method for orthopaedic implant-related infections.

Layered nanofilms based on Fe, Co, and Cu were grown on Si(001)2×1-Cu wetting layers with thicknesses of 1 and 2 ML and studied using the AES, EELS, and LEED methods in an ultrahigh vacuum chamber. After unloading into air, the samples were studied by AFM and MOKE methods. It was found that an increase in the thickness and annealing of the Si(001)2×1-Cu wetting layer increase the agglomeration of nanofilms and, as a consequence, their magnetization and coercive force. Although, annealing the Cu wetting layer reduces the degree of squareness of the magnetic hysteresis loop.

This paper presents the results of an investigation of direct laser writing on a titanium film with an antireflection capping silicon coating. Bi-layer films were deposited on fused silica substrates using an e-beam evaporation system. Modeling predicted that optical absorption for a bi-layer Si/Ti material can be increased by a factor of ~2 compared to a single-layer Ti film at 532 nm laser writing beam wavelength. It is experimentally proved that rate of thermochemical laser writing on Si/Ti films is at least 3 times higher than that on a single-layer Ti film with comparable thickness. The silicon layer was found to participate in the thermochemical reaction (silicide formation) under laser beam heating, which allows one to obtain sufficient position-dependent phase change (PDPC) of light reflected from exposed and unexposed areas. This results in much larger profile depth measured with a white light interferometer (up to 150 nm) than with an atomic force microscope (up to 25 nm). During direct laser writing on Si/Ti films, there is a broad range of writing beam power within which the PDPC and reflection coefficient for the exposed areas change insignificantly. The possibility of selective development of a thermochemically written pattern on a Ti film by removing the capping silicon layer on unexposed areas in a hot KOH solution is shown.

Infrared selective emitters are attracting more and more attention due to their modulation ability of infrared radiance, which provides an efficient ability to blend objects into the surrounding environment. In this paper, an Ag/ZnS/Si/Ag/Si multilayered emitter is proposed by virtue of impedance matching as well as Fabry-Perot cavity effect to achieve selective radiation in the infrared band. The emissivity of the fabricated selective emitter is measured to be ε3–5μm = 0.16 and ε8–14μm = 0.23 in the atmosphere windows, respectively, meeting the requirements of infrared stealth. Meanwhile, the emissivity at the non-atmospheric window (5–8 μm) is as high as 0.78, which allows efficient heat dissipation to achieve radiative cooling. Furthermore, the selective emitter maintains excellent stealth performance until 350 °C, indicating its good heat resistance and dissipation at medium temperature. The proposed emitter with spectral selectivity provides a new strategy for the facile fabrication of mid-/low-temperature infrared stealth devices.

Multilayer films are widely used in flexible packaging to provide an optimum balance of performance and cost. Orientation in the semi-solid state via tenter frame, double bubble, and machine direction orientation processes enhances barrier and mechanical properties and offers a means toward light weighting packaging structures. Interlayer adhesion of coextruded films, however, substantially decreases during the orientation as the generated new interfacial area decreases bond density and chain segments are stressed. A guideline is proposed that provides insight into how changes during orientation in chain segment penetration, entanglement, bond orientation, and density affect peel strength because of semi-solid state orientation. Examples are provided that use these insights to design novel tie resins with improved performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigated the structural, optical, and electrical properties of molybdenum and zirconium-doped zinc oxide (ZZO) with a purity of 99.99% deposited on a glass substrate by radio-frequency magnetron sputtering and annealed at different temperatures. The doping amount of zirconium on ZnO was 3 wt%. The optimal resistivity of the multilayers, 5.1 x 10-3 Q-cm, was observed for an annealing temperature of 400 °C. This film also had the highest transmittance of 93%. Moreover, the optimal figure of merit, 4.6 x 10-6 Ω-1, was observed for an annealing temperature of 400 °C. Furthermore, the grain size also increased with the annealing temperature, as observed by scanning electron microscopy. Mo/ZZO multilayer thin films with such excellent optical and electrical properties can be applied in photosensors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prostate cancer (PCa) is a slow-growing neoplasm that has, when diagnosed in its early stages, great chances of cure. During initial tumor development, current diagnostic methods fail to have the desired accuracy, thus, it is necessary to develop or improve current detection methods and prognostic markers for PCa. In this scenario, films composed of hyaluronic acid (HA) and chitosan (CHI) have demonstrated significant capture potential of prostate tumor cells (PC3 line), exploring HA as a CD44 receptor ligand and direct mediator in cell-film adhesion. Here, we present a strategy to control structural and cell adhesion properties of HA/CHI films based on film assembly conditions. Films were built via Layer-by-layer (LbL) deposition, where the pH conditions (3.0 and 5.0) and number of bilayers (3.5, 10.5, and 20.5) were controlled. The characterization of these films was carried out using profilometry, ultraviolet-visible (UV-VIS), atomic force microscopy (AFM) and contact angle measurements. Multilayer HA/CHI films produced at pH 3.0 gave optimum surface wettability and availability of free carboxyl groups. In turn, at pH 5.0, the coverings were thinner and presented a smoother surface. Films prepared with 3.5 bilayers showed greater tumor cell capture regardless of the pH condition, while films containing 10.5 and 20.5 bilayers presented a significant swelling process, which compromised their cell adhesion potential. This study shows that surface chemistry and morphology are critical factors for the development of biomaterials designed for several cell adhesion applications, such as rapid diagnostic, cell signaling, and biosensing mechanisms.

Magnesium-based materials offer a promising, cost-effective, and high-capacity solution for hydrogen storage. However, their slow kinetics and elevated absorption/desorption temperatures limit their large-scale application. In this study, a series of Mg 1- x /V x (x = 0.05, 0.10, 0.15, 0.20) multilayer films were designed and fabricated using an ultra-high vacuum magnetron sputtering technique. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analysis revealed the presence of a discontinuous nanoscale V single-phase interlayer between the Mg layers, confirming the successful formation of Mg/V multilayer films. The surface of the deposited films predominantly consists of hexagonal particles of varying sizes stacked upon one another. Upon hydrogenation, tetragonal rutile structures of MgH 2 and V 2 H were formed. The Mg 0.95 V 0.05 film absorbed 6.40 wt% hydrogen within 15 min at 150 °C and desorbed 0.34 wt% hydrogen within 1.8 h at the same temperature, with an initial dehydrogenation temperature of 79 °C. The activation energies for hydrogen absorption and desorption were estimated to be 60 ± 7 and 140 ± 10 kJ/mol H 2 , respectively, significantly lower than the corresponding values of 100 and 160 kJ/mol H 2 for conventional pure Mg/MgH 2. The enhanced hydrogen absorption performance was attributed to the catalytic effect of nanocrystalline V at the Mg/V incoherent interface, while the improved desorption performance was due to the synergistic catalytic effect of nanocrystalline V 2 H at the MgH 2 /V 2 H incoherent interface. DFT calculations indicated that the interaction at the Mg/V incoherent interface promoted H atom adsorption and diffusion, significantly enhancing the hydrogenation and dehydrogenation performance of the multilayer films. [Display omitted] • Mg/V multilayer films were designed and prepared using magnetron sputtering. • Structure and hydrogen storage properties of Mg/V multilayer films were studied. • DFT calculations revealed that the Mg/V interface strongly adsorbs H atoms. • V and its hydride-induced catalytic effect improve hydrogen absorption/desorption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Xingfang Yu,1,* Xin Liao,2,* Hongwei Chen1 1Department of Orthopedics, The Affiliated Yiwu Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Yiwu, Zhejiang, 322000, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Orthopedics, The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children’s Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, 325000, People’s Republic of China*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Hongwei ChenDepartment of Orthopedics, The Affiliated Yiwu Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Yiwu, Zhejiang, 322000, People’s Republic of ChinaTel +86-13506896988Email sssaaa18@163.comBackground: Bone infections remain one of the most common and serious complications of orthopedic surgery, posing a tremendous economic burden to society and patients. This is because bacteria colonize and multiply on the surface of the implant. The (MMT/PLL)8 multilayer films have been shown to effectively release antibiotics depending on the changes in the microenvironment. Here, vancomycin was loaded into the (MMT/PLL)8 multilayer films, which were prepared to be used as a local delivery system for the treatment of bone infections.Methods: We used the layer-by-layer self-assembly method to prepare VA-loaded coatings (MMT/PLL-VA)8 consisting of montmorillonite (MMT), poly-L-lysine (PLL), and VA. The thickness and surface morphology of coatings were characterized using spectroscopic ellipsometry and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). In order to evaluate the drug release behavior from coatings in different media, we measured the size of the zone of inhibition. Additionally, in vitro antibacterial activity was assessed using the shake-flask culture method and SEM images, while that of in vivo was evaluated by establishing an animal model of bone infection.Results: Our findings revealed that small-molecule antibiotics were successfully loaded into the (MMT/PLL-VA)8 multilayer film structure during the hierarchical self-assembly process and subsequently the multilayer film structure depicted linear growth behavior. The PLL in the multilayer films was progressively degraded which triggered the VA release when contacted with CMS or bacterial infections. The release of VA from multilayer film structure depends on the concentration changes of CMS. Notably, the multilayer films presented great in vitro cell compatibility. Moreover, the prepared antibacterial multilayer films showed excellent antibacterial property by killing more than 99.99% of S. aureus in 24 h. More importantly, we found that multilayer film exhibits good sterilization effect and biocompatibility under the stimulation of bacterial liquid both in vitro and in vivo antibacterial ability tests.Conclusion: Altogether, this study shows that (MMT/PLL-VA)8 multilayer films containing CMS and bacteria-responsive drug release properties posess high bactericidal activity and good biocompatibility. This finding provides a novel strategy for the treatment of bone infections.Keywords: bone infections, multilayer films, microenvironment, layer-by-layer, antibacterial

Polypropylene (PP) films have been widely used in medical, electronics, and construction fields due to their low cost and excellent comprehensive properties. However, the poor low-temperature toughness of PP films restricts its further applications in extreme cold environments. Here, the nacre-inspired 8-, 32-, 128-, and 512-layer PP/SEBS-based films were constructed via our multilayer blown systems. Compared to the conventional blended films, 128-layer films showed significant improvement under the low-temperature conditions, i.e., 160 %, 150 %, and 136 % in impact toughness, tear toughness, and elongation at break, respectively. The high toughening efficiency of the multilayer films is because of the nacre-inspired multilayer structures, which can develop the multi-stage propagation of the damage behavior such as craze and plastic deformation to dissipate much energy when mechanically broken. Since nacre-inspired PP/SEBS-based multilayer films show high efficiency in low-temperature toughening, this work may provide a possible solution to improving the low-temperature mechanical properties of PP films or even other types of polymeric films. [Display omitted] • PP/SEBS-based microlayer films up to 512 layers with a thickness of 140 μm were fabricated. • Excellent low-temperature toughening efficiency were achieved. • An industrial feasibility for large-scale production of high-toughness PP/SEBS-based films were provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Multilayer films based on thermoplastic starch and poly(butylene adipate- co -terephthalate) were successfully developed. • Optimized formulation of the thermoplastic starch/polyester core layer based on tensile properties. • Competitive barrier properties and cell compatibilities of the multilayer films. • New potential applications to pharmaceutical packaging and biomedical devices. To develop tailored and performing biodegradable multilayer systems with polyester as cap layers and thermoplastic starch (TPS)/polyester blends in the core, several TPS-based blends, with varying formulations and several biodegradable and potentially biobased polyesters, were first elaborated. Poly(butylene adipate- co -terephthalate) (PBAT), poly(butylene succinate) (PBS) and poly(butylene succinate- co -adipate) (PBSA) were tested. The TPS-based blends for the core layer were compatibilized with a multifunctional epoxide styrene-acrylic reactive chain extender. As evidenced by tensile tests, the compatibilization was more effective with blends based on PBAT, probably due to its higher number of reactive chain ends. Multilayer films comprising neat PBAT cap layers and a TPS/PBAT blend, compatibilized or not, as a core layer were then elaborated by coextrusion. Thanks to the PBAT cap layers, the multilayer films had improved thermal stability and water vapor barrier properties, while TPS in the core layer added oxygen barrier properties to the global systems. In connection with the applications, the biocompatibility was also demonstrated through cell growth tests. The suitability of such multilayer films for biodegradable packaging linked to biomedical applications was thereby confirmed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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In this study, two packaging materials, modified polypropylene (MPP) and polyethylene terephthalate/aluminum/ low-density polyethylene (PETFA-Al-LDPE) were studied under various atmospheric conditions: 100% CO2, 70% N2 - 30% CO2, 80% N2 - 20% CO2 for packing probiotic ultrafiltered (UF) white brined cheese. pH, titratable acidity, moisture content, Lacticaseibacillus paracasei viability and overall acceptability were monitored within a 12-week period. The control samples were packaged in atmospheric air. Results revealed that samples packaged in PETFA-Al-LDPE with the combination of 70% N2 - 30% CO2 had the lowest pH, highest acidity and moisture content. The viability of Lacticaseibacillus paracasei was reported to be 4*106 CFU/g within 12 weeks. The highest and lowest overall acceptability was for the cheese packaged in 70% N2 - 30% CO2 and the control sample, respectively.

In this work, peel tests inside the chamber of an ESEM (in situ peel tests) are described with heat-sealed test specimens of packaging systems made of multilayer films that simulate different flexible packaging types, according to the packaging line used. The in situ peel tests provided evidence to describe the influence of three different main aspects of the packaging process in relation to the opening behavior of the sealing packages. The investigated aspects are the peel angle, the alignment angle between the orientation of the multilayer films and the seal, and the bulge formation as a consequence of inadequate sealing parameters. In situ peel tests enabled the differentiation between peel angle and local (micro) peel angle, which results from the overall stiffness of the multilayer structure film. Alignment angles of 90° and 45° were found to produce similar opening forces. Images showing the formation of various new local micro fissures on new planes during the in situ peel test explained how the opening force can be dramatically increased during the tearing of two sealed multilayer films. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the scarcity of indium (In) in the earth and its potential harm to individuals, the development of In-free transparent conductive film is considered crucial. In this work, In-free SnO 2 :Sb/Au/SnO 2 :Sb (ATO/Au/ATO, SAS) tri-layer films with high transparency and conductivity were successfully prepared on polycarbonate (PC) substrates by RF and DC magnetron sputtering at room temperature. The influence of the Au layer thickness on microstructure, electrical and optical performances was systematically studied after fixing the ATO thickness to 50 nm. It was indicated by X-ray diffraction patterns that ATO is amorphous and Au is oriented along (111). The trend of increasing and then decreasing light transmission with Au layer thickness was observed in both experimental and simulation results. The improved figure of merit (FoM, 1.89 × 10−2 Ω−1) was achieved in SAS tri-layer film, the resistivity and average transmittance of which was lowered to 7.50 × 10−5 Ω cm and 81.4%, respectively, when Au layer thickness is 11 nm. Moreover, the mechanism of the variation of optical and electrical properties at different Au layer thickness was proposed. Particularly, the SAS tri-layer films also exhibit superior flexibility, durability and adhesion. These results demonstrate SAS tri-layer films are promising alternative to ITO in flexible electronics applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein, the influence of material parameters on the core diameter of the artificial skyrmions in hard magnetic/soft magnetic bilayer thin film is investigated. It is found that the perpendicular magnetic anisotropy (PMA) constant and the interlayer exchange constant play a key role in the realization of artificial skyrmions. Through simulation, the PMA constant of the hard magnetic materials should be between 1.0 × 105 and 4.5 × 105 J m−3. Therefore, some rare earth materials with high magnetic anisotropy or other materials with low magnetic anisotropy do not meet the requirement. The initial skyrmion spin texture is Bloch‐type artificial skyrmion in the hard/soft magnetic bilayer system. In the presence of 1.0–1.5 × 105 J m−3 PMA constant and 0 J m−1 interlayer exchange constant, the Néel‐type artificial skyrmions are formed in the hard/soft magnetic bilayer system. The size of the hard magnetic layer material has little effect on the stability of skyrmions, so the stability of skyrmions should mainly be adjusted with the PMA of the hard magnetic materials or by changing the material types. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The phenomenon of physical aging of glassy polymers in confined environments has been extensively studied over the last few decades due to its numerous technological and fundamental implications. Understanding aging in confined environments is vital for predicting the long-term performances in applicative conditions for confined glassy polymers. The physical aging of PC/PMMA multilayer films, with layer thicknesses ranging from micro-to-nanoscale, was explored using the Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) technique. Reducing the layer thickness down to 12 nm was shown to have a very different effect on the structural relaxation parameters of the above-mentioned polymers. Recovered enthalpy data for aged films exhibited an acceleration in physical aging under confinement for PC (rigid backbone and rubbery environments), while no change was noted for PMMA (flexible backbone and amorphous environments). A large effect in the amplitude of the structural relaxation process has also been evidenced for confined PC layers. These observations have thoroughly been discussed with respect to the impact of the chemical structure (entanglement), adjacent polymer state (rubbery and amorphous environments) and the nature of molecular mobility (the CRR shape and length are both related to intra-chain and inter-chain relaxation during glass transition),. Moreover, it was found that the accelerated aging of PC was mainly attributed to the dynamic relaxation related to its chemical structure and local modification of intermolecular interactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Leakage currents in InAlN/GaN‐based high‐electron‐mobility transistors considered for normally‐off devices critically depend on the oxidation behavior of InAlN thin films. Herein, lattice‐matched InAlN thin films deposited on GaN (0001) are rapid thermally annealed at 800 °C in an oxygen‐rich environment. Aberration‐corrected scanning transmission electron microscopy combined with electron energy‐loss spectroscopy is used to systematically characterize the oxidation behavior of InAlN films as a function of annealing time. Initial growth of oxide layers is found to be reaction limited, which is replaced by a diffusion limited growth process once a critical thickness of the oxide layer is obtained. Growing oxide layers are amorphous and become porous with increasing annealing time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, two packaging materials, modified polypropylene (MPP) and polyethylene terephthalate/aluminum/ low-density polyethylene (PETFA-Al-LDPE) were studied under various atmospheric conditions: 100 % CO2 , 70 % N2 - 30 % CO2, 80 % N2 - 20 % CO2 for packing probiotic ultrafiltered (UF) white brined cheese. pH, titratable acidity, moisture content, Lacticaseibacillus paracasei viability and overall acceptability were monitored within a 12- week period. The control samples were packaged in atmospheric air. Results revealed that samples packaged in PETFA-Al-LDPE with the combination of 70 % N2 - 30 % CO2 had the lowest pH, highest acidity and moisture content. The viability of Lacticaseibacillus paracasei was reported to be 4*106 CFU/g within 12 weeks. The highest and lowest overall acceptability was for the cheese packaged in 70% N2 - 30 % CO2 and the control sample, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Bacterial proliferation on the endosseous implants surface presents a new threat to the using of the bone implants. Unfortunately, there is no effective constructed antibacterial coating which is bacterial anti-adhesion substrate-independent or have long-term biofilm inhibition functions. Methods: Drug release effect was tested in Chymotrypsin (CMS) solution and S. aureus. We used bacterial inhibition rate assays and protein leakage experiment to analyze the in vitro antibacterial effect of (Montmorillonite/Poly-l-lysine-Chlorhexidine)10 [(MMT/PLL-CHX)10] multilayer film. We used the CCK-8 assay to analyze the effect of (MMT/PLL-CHX)10 multilayer films on the growth and proliferation of rat osteoblasts. Rat orthopaedic implant-related infections model was constructed to test the antimicrobial activity effect of (MMT/PLL-CHX)10 multilayer films in vivo. Results: In this study, the (MMT/PLL-CHX)10 multilayer films structure were progressively degraded and showed well concentration-dependent degradation characteristics following incubation with Staphylococcus aureus and CMS solution. Bacterial inhibition rate assays and protein leakage experiment showed high levels of bactericidal activity. While the CCK-8 analysis proved that the (MMT/PLL-CHX)10 multilayer films possess perfect biocompatibility. It is somewhat encouraging that in the in vivo antibacterial tests, the K-wires coated with (MMT/PLL-CHX)10 multilayer films showed lower infections incidence and inflammation than the unmodified group, and all parameters are close to SHAM group. Conclusion: (MMT/PLL-CHX)10 multilayer films provides a potential therapeutic method for orthopaedic implant-related infections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the synthesized thermoplastic polyimide (TPI) precursor is coated on both surfaces of the surface-treated polyimide (PI) base film, and the TPI/PI/TPI multilayer films is obtained by thermal imidization. The mechanical properties, heat resistance, water absorption of the multilayer film and the interface between the TPI and the PI base film were investigated in detail. Then, multilayer film-2 (MF-2) with excellent comprehensive performance and the two copper foils were pressed together to prepare a double-sided flexible copper clad laminate (FCCL) by thermal lamination method, and the properties of FCCL were studied in detail. The results show that the FCCL has a high peel strength of 1.22 N/mm, passed a solder bath test of 288°C, and the surface condition was good under hot-pressing temperature of 360°C, hot-pressing pressure of 15 MPa and hot-pressing time of 60 s. In addition, the SEM and EDS spectra of the stripped copper foil confirmed that the TPI layer was immersed into the interstitial space of the Cu nodules, forming a strong physical bite with the copper foil. The current work provides a promising solution for the design and fabrication of multilayer printed circuit boards with excellent performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ferroelectric multilayer films attract great attention for a wide variation of applications. The synergistic effect by combining different functional layers induces distinctive electrical properties. In this study, ferroelectric BaZr0.2Ti0.8O3/PbZr0.52Ti0.48O3/BaZr0.2Ti0.8O3 (BZT/PZT/BZT) multilayer thin films are designed and fabricated by using the magnetron sputtering method, and a LaNiO3 (LNO) seed layer is introduced. The microstructures and electrical properties of the BZT/PZT/BZT films with and without the LNO seed layer are systematically studied. The results show that the BZT/PZT/BZT/LNO thin film exhibits much lower surface roughness and a preferred (100)-orientation growth, with the growth template and tensile stress provided by the LNO layer. Moreover, an enhanced dielectric constant, decreased dielectric loss, and improved ferroelectric properties are achieved in BZT/PZT/BZT/LNO thin films. This work reveals that the seed layer can play an important role in improving the microstructure and properties of ferroelectric multilayer films.