Materials

11 pages, 3110 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Use of an Edible Mushroom-Derived Renewable Carbon Material as a Highly Stable Electrocatalyst towards Four-Electron Oxygen Reduction

by Chaozhong Guo^1,*, Lingtao Sun¹, Wenli Liao^2,* and Zhongbin Li²

¹ Research Institute for New Materials Technology, Chongqing University of Arts and Sciences, Yongchuan 402160, Chongqing, China

² College of Materials and Chemical Engineering, Chongqing University of Arts and Sciences, Yongchuan 402160, Chongqing, China

Materials 2016, 9(1), 1; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma9010001 - 23 Dec 2015

Cited by 36 | Viewed by 5977

Abstract

The development of highly stable and efficient electrocatalysts for sluggish oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) is exceedingly significant for the commercialization of fuel cells but remains a challenge. We here synthesize a new nitrogen-doped biocarbon composite material (N-BC@CNP-900) as a nitrogen-containing carbon-based electrocatalyst for [...] Read more.

The development of highly stable and efficient electrocatalysts for sluggish oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) is exceedingly significant for the commercialization of fuel cells but remains a challenge. We here synthesize a new nitrogen-doped biocarbon composite material (N-BC@CNP-900) as a nitrogen-containing carbon-based electrocatalyst for the ORR via facile all-solid-state multi-step pyrolysis of bioprotein-enriched enoki mushroom as a starting material, and inexpensive carbon nanoparticles as the inserting matrix and conducting agent at controlled temperatures. Results show that the N-BC@CNP-900 catalyst exhibits the best ORR electrocatalytic activity with an onset potential of 0.94 V (versus reversible hydrogen electrode, RHE) and high stability. Meanwhile, this catalyst significantly exhibits good selectivity of the four-electron reaction pathway in an alkaline electrolyte. It is notable that pyridinic- and graphtic-nitrogen groups that play a key role in the enhancement of the ORR activity may be the catalytically active structures for the ORR. We further propose that the pyridinic-nitrogen species can mainly stabilize the ORR activity and the graphitic-nitrogen species can largely enhance the ORR activity. Besides, the addition of carbon support also plays an important role in the pyrolysis process, promoting the ORR electrocatalytic activity. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Porous Carbonaceous Materials from Biomass)

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17 pages, 8468 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effect of Moisture Exchange on Interface Formation in the Repair System Studied by X-ray Absorption

by Mladena Lukovic^* and Guang Ye

Section of Materials and Environment, Faculty of Civil Engineering and Geosciences, Delft University of Technology, Delft 2628 CD, The Netherlands

Materials 2016, 9(1), 2; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma9010002 - 22 Dec 2015

Cited by 56 | Viewed by 6141

Abstract

In concrete repair systems, material properties of the repair material and the interface are greatly influenced by the moisture exchange between the repair material and the substrate. If the substrate is dry, it can absorb water from the repair material and reduce its [...] Read more.

In concrete repair systems, material properties of the repair material and the interface are greatly influenced by the moisture exchange between the repair material and the substrate. If the substrate is dry, it can absorb water from the repair material and reduce its effective water-to-cement ratio (w/c). This further affects the hydration rate of cement based material. In addition to the change in hydration rate, void content at the interface between the two materials is also affected. In this research, the influence of moisture exchange on the void content in the repair system as a function of initial saturation level of the substrate is investigated. Repair systems with varying level of substrate saturation are made. Moisture exchange in these repair systems as a function of time is monitored by the X-ray absorption technique. After a specified curing age (3 d), the internal microstructure of the repair systems was captured by micro-computed X-ray tomography (CT-scanning). From reconstructed images, different phases in the repair system (repair material, substrate, voids) can be distinguished. In order to quantify the void content, voids were thresholded and their percentage was calculated. It was found that significantly more voids form when the substrate is dry prior to application of the repair material. Air, initially filling voids and pores of the dry substrate, is being released due to the moisture exchange. As a result, air voids remain entrapped in the repair material close to the interface. These voids are found to form as a continuation of pre-existing surface voids in the substrate. Knowledge about moisture exchange and its effects provides engineers with the basis for recommendations about substrate preconditioning in practice. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Image Analysis and Processing for Cement-based Materials)

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18 pages, 2179 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Biomass Pyrolysis Solids as Reducing Agents: Comparison with Commercial Reducing Agents

by Aitziber Adrados^*

, Isabel De Marco^†

, Alexander López-Urionabarrenechea^†, Jon Solar^†

, Blanca M. Caballero^† and Naia Gastelu^†

¹ Department of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, Bilbao 48013, Spain

^† These authors contributed equally to this work.

Materials 2016, 9(1), 3; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma9010003 - 23 Dec 2015

Cited by 37 | Viewed by 6149

Abstract

Biomass is one of the most suitable options to be used as renewable energy source due to its extensive availability and its contribution to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Pyrolysis of lignocellulosic biomass under appropriate conditions (slow heating rate and high temperatures) can produce [...] Read more.

Biomass is one of the most suitable options to be used as renewable energy source due to its extensive availability and its contribution to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Pyrolysis of lignocellulosic biomass under appropriate conditions (slow heating rate and high temperatures) can produce a quality solid product, which could be applicable to several metallurgical processes as reducing agent (biocoke or bioreducer). Two woody biomass samples (olives and eucalyptus) were pyrolyzed to produce biocoke. These biocokes were characterized by means of proximate and ultimate analysis, real density, specific surface area, and porosity and were compared with three commercial reducing agents. Finally, reactivity tests were performed both with the biocokes and with the commercial reducing agents. Bioreducers have lower ash and sulfur contents than commercial reducers, higher surface area and porosity, and consequently, much higher reactivity. Bioreducers are not appropriate to be used as top burden in blast furnaces, but they can be used as fuel and reducing agent either tuyére injected at the lower part of the blast furnace or in non-ferrous metallurgical processes where no mechanical strength is needed as, for example, in rotary kilns. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Porous Carbonaceous Materials from Biomass)

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12 pages, 7106 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Preparation and Characterization of Blended Films from Quaternized Hemicelluloses and Carboxymethyl Cellulose

by Xian-Ming Qi¹, Shi-Yun Liu¹, Fang-Bing Chu¹, Shuai Pang¹, Yan-Ru Liang¹, Ying Guan², Feng Peng^1,* and Run-Cang Sun¹

¹ Beijing Key Laboratory of Lignocellulosic Chemistry, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China

² School of Forestry and Landscape Architecture, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, China

Materials 2016, 9(1), 4; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma9010004 - 23 Dec 2015

Cited by 39 | Viewed by 6502

Abstract

Utilization of hemicelluloses from biomass energy is an important approach to explore renewable resources. A convenient, quick, and inexpensive method for the preparation of blended films from quaternized hemicelluloses (QH) and carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) was introduced into this study. QH and CMC solution [...] Read more.

Utilization of hemicelluloses from biomass energy is an important approach to explore renewable resources. A convenient, quick, and inexpensive method for the preparation of blended films from quaternized hemicelluloses (QH) and carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) was introduced into this study. QH and CMC solution were first mixed to form homogeneous suspension, and then were dried under vacuum to fabricate the blended films. The FT-IR and XRD results indicated that the linkage between QH and CMC was due to the hydrogen bonding and electrostatic interaction. From the results of mechanical properties and water vapor permeability (WVP), the tensile strength of the blended films increased with the QH/CMC content ratio increasing in appropriate range, and the WVP of the blended films decreased. The maximum value of tensile strength of blend film achieved was 27.4 MPa. In addition, the transmittances of the blended films increased with the decreasing of QH/CMC content ratio. When the weight ratio (QH: CMC) was 1:1.5, the blend film showed the best light transmittance (45%). All the results suggested that the blended films could be used in areas of application in the coating and packaging fields from the good tensile strength, transmittance, and low WVP. Full article

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10 pages, 3036 KiB

Open AccessArticle

First-Principles Study of Mo Segregation in MoNi(111): Effects of Chemisorbed Atomic Oxygen

by Yanlin Yu¹, Wei Xiao^1,2, Jianwei Wang¹ and Ligen Wang^1,3,*

¹ General Research Institute for Nonferrous Metals, Beijing 100088, China

² School of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, China

³ Power Environmental Energy Research Institute, Covina, CA 91722, USA

Materials 2016, 9(1), 5; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma9010005 - 26 Dec 2015

Cited by 23 | Viewed by 6230 | Correction

Abstract

Segregation at metal alloy surfaces is an important issue because many electrochemical and catalytic properties are directly correlated to the surface composition. We have performed density functional theory calculations for Mo segregation in MoNi(111) in the presence of chemisorbed atomic oxygen. In particular, [...] Read more.

Segregation at metal alloy surfaces is an important issue because many electrochemical and catalytic properties are directly correlated to the surface composition. We have performed density functional theory calculations for Mo segregation in MoNi(111) in the presence of chemisorbed atomic oxygen. In particular, the coverage dependence and possible adsorption-induced segregation phenomena are addressed by investigating segregation energies of the Mo atom in MoNi(111). The theoretical calculated results show that the Mo atom prefers to be embedded in the bulk for the clean MoNi(111), while it segregates to the top-most layer when the oxygen coverage is thicker than 1/9 monolayer (ML). Furthermore, we analyze the densities of states for the clean and oxygen-chemisorbed MoNi(111), and see a strong covalent bonding between Mo d-band states and O p-states. The present study provides valuable insight for exploring practical applications of Ni-based alloys as hydrogen evolution electrodes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Electrode Materials)

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9 pages, 1566 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Determination of Insulator-to-Semiconductor Transition in Sol-Gel Oxide Semiconductors Using Derivative Spectroscopy

by Woobin Lee¹, Seungbeom Choi¹, Kyung Tae Kim², Jingu Kang², Sung Kyu Park^2,* and Yong-Hoon Kim^1,3,*

¹ SKKU Advanced Institute of Nanotechnology (SAINT), Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 16419, Korea

² School of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Chung-Ang University, Seoul 06974, Korea

³ School of Advanced Materials Science and Engineering, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 16419, Korea

Materials 2016, 9(1), 6; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma9010006 - 23 Dec 2015

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 5996

Abstract

We report a derivative spectroscopic method for determining insulator-to-semiconductor transition during sol-gel metal-oxide semiconductor formation. When an as-spun sol-gel precursor film is photochemically activated and changes to semiconducting state, the light absorption characteristics of the metal-oxide film is considerable changed particularly in the [...] Read more.

We report a derivative spectroscopic method for determining insulator-to-semiconductor transition during sol-gel metal-oxide semiconductor formation. When an as-spun sol-gel precursor film is photochemically activated and changes to semiconducting state, the light absorption characteristics of the metal-oxide film is considerable changed particularly in the ultraviolet region. As a result, a peak is generated in the first-order derivatives of light absorption (A′) vs. wavelength (λ) plots, and by tracing the peak center shift and peak intensity, transition from insulating-to-semiconducting state of the film can be monitored. The peak generation and peak center shift are described based on photon-energy-dependent absorption coefficient of metal-oxide films. We discuss detailed analysis method for metal-oxide semiconductor films and its application in thin-film transistor fabrication. We believe this derivative spectroscopy based determination can be beneficial for a non-destructive and a rapid monitoring of the insulator-to-semiconductor transition in sol-gel oxide semiconductor formation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Advanced Materials Characterization)

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8 pages, 1392 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Dependence of Liquid Supercooling on Liquid Overheating Levels of Al Small Particles

by Qingsong Mei^1,* and Juying Li²

¹ Department of Materials Engineering, School of Power and Mechanical Engineering, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China

² School of Mechanical Engineering, Wuhan Polytechnic University, Wuhan 430023, China

Materials 2016, 9(1), 7; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma9010007 - 24 Dec 2015

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 4361

Abstract

The liquid thermal history effect on liquid supercooling behavior has been found in various metals and alloys; typically the degree of liquid supercooling (ΔT⁻) increases with the increase of liquid overheating (ΔT⁺) up to several to tens [...] Read more.

The liquid thermal history effect on liquid supercooling behavior has been found in various metals and alloys; typically the degree of liquid supercooling (ΔT⁻) increases with the increase of liquid overheating (ΔT⁺) up to several to tens of degrees above the equilibrium melting point (T₀). Here we report quantitative experimental measurements on the ΔT⁻-ΔT⁺ relationship of Al small particles encapsulated in Al₂O₃ shells by using a differential scanning calorimeter. We find a remarkable dependence of ΔT⁻ on ΔT⁺ of Al small particles, extending to at least 340 °C above T₀ of Al (~1.36T₀), which indicates the existence of temperature-dependent crystallization centers in liquid Al up to very high liquid overheating levels. Our results demonstrate quantitatively the significant effect of liquid thermal history on the supercooling behavior of Al and its alloys, and raise new considerations about the dependence of ΔT⁻ on ΔT⁺ at very high ΔT⁺ levels. Full article

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9 pages, 1716 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Fibre Morphological Characteristics of Kraft Pulps of Acacia melanoxylon Estimated by NIR-PLS-R Models

by Helena Pereira^1,†

, António José Alves Santos^1,†

and Ofélia Anjos^1,2,*,†

¹ Centro de Estudos Florestais, Instituto Superior de Agronomia, Universidade de Lisboa, Tapada da Ajuda, 1349-017 Lisboa, Portugal

² Instituto Politécnico de Castelo Branco, Escola Superior Agrária, Apartado 119, 6001-909 Castelo Branco, Portugal

^† These authors contributed equally to this work.

Materials 2016, 9(1), 8; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma9010008 - 25 Dec 2015

Cited by 16 | Viewed by 6805

Abstract

In this paper, the morphological properties of fiber length (weighted in length) and of fiber width of unbleached Kraft pulp of Acacia melanoxylon were determined using TECHPAP Morfi^® equipment (Techpap SAS, Grenoble, France), and were used in the calibration development of Near [...] Read more.

In this paper, the morphological properties of fiber length (weighted in length) and of fiber width of unbleached Kraft pulp of Acacia melanoxylon were determined using TECHPAP Morfi^® equipment (Techpap SAS, Grenoble, France), and were used in the calibration development of Near Infrared (NIR) partial least squares regression (PLS-R) models based on the spectral data obtained for the wood. It is the first time that fiber length and width of pulp were predicted with NIR spectral data of the initial woodmeal, with high accuracy and precision, and with ratios of performance to deviation (RPD) fulfilling the requirements for screening in breeding programs. The selected models for fiber length and fiber width used the second derivative and first derivative + multiplicative scatter correction (2ndDer and 1stDer + MSC) pre-processed spectra, respectively, in the wavenumber ranges from 7506 to 5440 cm⁻¹. The statistical parameters of cross-validation (RMSECV (root mean square error of cross-validation) of 0.009 mm and 0.39 μm) and validation (RMSEP (root mean square error of prediction) of 0.007 mm and 0.36 μm) with RPD_TS (ratios of performance to deviation of test set) values of 3.9 and 3.3, respectively, confirmed that the models are robust and well qualified for prediction. This modeling approach shows a high potential to be used for tree breeding and improvement programs, providing a rapid screening for desired fiber morphological properties of pulp prediction. Full article

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24 pages, 2452 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Sustainable High Quality Recycling of Aggregates from Waste-to-Energy, Treated in a Wet Bottom Ash Processing Installation, for Use in Concrete Products

by Philip Van den Heede¹

, Niels Ringoot¹, Arno Beirnaert¹, Andres Van Brecht², Erwin Van den Brande², Geert De Schutter¹

and Nele De Belie^1,*

¹ Magnel Laboratory for Concrete Research, Ghent University, Technologiepark Zwijnaarde 904, Ghent B-9052, Belgium

² Indaver nv, Dijle 17a, Mechelen B-2800, Belgium

Materials 2016, 9(1), 9; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma9010009 - 25 Dec 2015

Cited by 17 | Viewed by 6960

Abstract

Nowadays, more efforts towards sustainability are required from the concrete industry. Replacing traditional aggregates by recycled bottom ash (BA) from municipal solid waste incineration can contribute to this goal. Until now, only partial replacement has been considered to keep the concrete workability, strength [...] Read more.

Nowadays, more efforts towards sustainability are required from the concrete industry. Replacing traditional aggregates by recycled bottom ash (BA) from municipal solid waste incineration can contribute to this goal. Until now, only partial replacement has been considered to keep the concrete workability, strength and durability under control. In this research, the feasibility of a full aggregate replacement was investigated for producing prefabricated Lego bricks. It was found that the required compressive strength class for this purpose (C20/25) could be achieved. Nevertheless, a thorough understanding of the BA properties is needed to overcome other issues. As BA is highly absorptive, the concrete’s water demand is high. This workability issue can be dealt with by subjecting the fine BA fraction to a crushing operation to eliminate the porous elements and by pre-wetting the fine and coarse BA fractions in a controlled manner. In addition, a reactive NaOH washing is needed to avoid formation of longitudinal voids and the resulting expansion due to the metallic aluminum present in the BA. Regarding the long-term behavior, heavy metal leaching and freeze-thaw exposure are not problematic, though there is susceptibility to acetic and lactic acid attack and maybe increased sensitivity to alkali-silica reaction. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Utilisation of By-Product Materials in Concrete)

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9 pages, 2199 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Scalable Fabrication of Natural-Fiber Reinforced Composites with Electromagnetic Interference Shielding Properties by Incorporating Powdered Activated Carbon

by Changlei Xia²

, Shifeng Zhang^1,*, Han Ren³, Sheldon Q. Shi^2,*, Hualiang Zhang³, Liping Cai² and Jianzhang Li¹

¹ MOE Key Laboratory of Wooden Material Science and Application, Beijing Key Laboratory of Wood Science and Engineering, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China

² Department of Mechanical and Energy Engineering, University of North Texas, Denton, TX 76203, USA

³ Department of Electrical Engineering, University of North Texas, Denton, TX 76203, USA

Materials 2016, 9(1), 10; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma9010010 - 25 Dec 2015

Cited by 50 | Viewed by 7649

Abstract

Kenaf fiber—polyester composites incorporated with powdered activated carbon (PAC) were prepared using the vacuum-assisted resin transfer molding (VARTM) process. The product demonstrates the electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding function. The kenaf fibers were retted in a pressured reactor to remove the lignin and extractives [...] Read more.

Kenaf fiber—polyester composites incorporated with powdered activated carbon (PAC) were prepared using the vacuum-assisted resin transfer molding (VARTM) process. The product demonstrates the electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding function. The kenaf fibers were retted in a pressured reactor to remove the lignin and extractives in the fiber. The PAC was loaded into the freshly retted fibers in water. The PAC loading effectiveness was determined using the Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) specific surface area analysis. A higher BET value was obtained with a higher PAC loading. The transmission energies of the composites were measured by exposing the samples to the irradiation of electromagnetic waves with a variable frequency from 8 GHz to 12 GHz. As the PAC content increased from 0% to 10.0%, 20.5% and 28.9%, the EMI shielding effectiveness increased from 41.4% to 76.0%, 87.9% and 93.0%, respectively. Additionally, the EMI absorption increased from 21.2% to 31.7%, 44.7% and 64.0%, respectively. The ratio of EMI absorption/shielding of the composite at 28.9% of PAC loading was increased significantly by 37.1% as compared with the control sample. It was indicated that the incorporation of PAC into the composites was very effective for absorbing electromagnetic waves, which resulted in a decrease in secondary electromagnetic pollution. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bio- and Natural-Fiber Composites)

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13 pages, 2310 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Preparation and Characterization of Microencapsulated Phase Change Materials for Use in Building Applications

by Jessica Giro-Paloma¹

, Refat Al-Shannaq², Ana Inés Fernández¹

and Mohammed M. Farid^2,*

¹ Department of Materials Science and Metallurgical Engineering, Faculty of Chemistry, Universitat de Barcelona, C/Martí i Franquès, Barcelona 1. 08028, Spain

² Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, 20 Symonds Street, Auckland 1142, New Zealand

Materials 2016, 9(1), 11; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma9010011 - 26 Dec 2015

Cited by 43 | Viewed by 7908

Abstract

A method for preparing and characterizing microencapsulated phase change materials (MPCM) was developed. A comparison with a commercial MPCM is also presented. Both MPCM contained paraffin wax as PCM with acrylic shell. The melting temperature of the PCM was around 21 °C, suitable [...] Read more.

A method for preparing and characterizing microencapsulated phase change materials (MPCM) was developed. A comparison with a commercial MPCM is also presented. Both MPCM contained paraffin wax as PCM with acrylic shell. The melting temperature of the PCM was around 21 °C, suitable for building applications. The M-2 (our laboratory made sample) and Micronal^® DS 5008 X (BASF) samples were characterized using SEM, DSC, nano-indentation technique, and Gas Chromatography/Mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Both samples presented a 6 μm average size and a spherical shape. Thermal energy storage (TES) capacities were 111.73 J·g⁻¹ and 99.3 J·g⁻¹ for M-2 and Micronal^® DS 5008 X, respectively. Mechanical characterization of the samples was performed by nano-indentation technique in order to determine the elastic modulus (E), load at maximum displacement (P_m), and displacement at maximum load (h_m), concluding that M-2 presented slightly better mechanical properties. Finally, an important parameter for considering use in buildings is the release of volatile organic compounds (VOC’s). This characteristic was studied at 65 °C by CG-MS. Both samples showed VOC’s emission after 10 min of heating, however peaks intensity of VOC’s generated from M-2 microcapsules showed a lower concentration than Micronal^® DS 5008 X. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Development and Characterisation of Encapsulated PCM: Nano-, Micro-, and Macro-Encapsulation)

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11 pages, 5913 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Inactivated Sendai Virus (HVJ-E) Immobilized Electrospun Nanofiber for Cancer Therapy

by Takaharu Okada^1,2,3, Eri Niiyama^1,2, Koichiro Uto², Takao Aoyagi² and Mitsuhiro Ebara^2,4,*

¹ Graduate School of Pure and Applied Sciences, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1, Tennodai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8577, Japan

² Biomaterials Unit, Nano-Life Field, International Center for Materials Nanoarchitectonics (WPI-MANA), National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS), 1-1 Namiki, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-0044, Japan

³ Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS), 8 Ichibancho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 102-0083, Japan

⁴ Graduate School of Tokyo University of Science, 6-3-1 Niijuku, Katsushika-ku, Tokyo 125-8585, Japan

Materials 2016, 9(1), 12; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma9010012 - 26 Dec 2015

Cited by 20 | Viewed by 8071

Abstract

Inactivated Hemagglutinating Virus of Japan Envelope (HVJ-E) was immobilized on electrospun nanofibers of poly(ε-caprolactone) by layer-by-layer (LbL) assembly technique. The precursor LbL film was first constructed with poly-L-lysine and alginic acid via electrostatic interaction. Then the HVJ-E particles were immobilized on [...] Read more.

Inactivated Hemagglutinating Virus of Japan Envelope (HVJ-E) was immobilized on electrospun nanofibers of poly(ε-caprolactone) by layer-by-layer (LbL) assembly technique. The precursor LbL film was first constructed with poly-L-lysine and alginic acid via electrostatic interaction. Then the HVJ-E particles were immobilized on the cationic PLL outermost surface. The HVJ-E adsorption was confirmed by surface wettability test, scanning laser microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and confocal laser microscopy. The immobilized HVJ-E particles were released from the nanofibers under physiological condition. In vitro cytotoxic assay demonstrated that the released HVJ-E from nanofibers induced cancer cell deaths. This surface immobilization technique is possible to perform on anti-cancer drug incorporated nanofibers that enables the fibers to show chemotherapy and immunotherapy simultaneously for an effective eradication of tumor cells in vivo. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Electrospun Materials)

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8 pages, 2177 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Radiation-Induced Grafting with One-Step Process of Waste Polyurethane onto High-Density Polyethylene

by Jong-Seok Park^*

, Youn-Mook Lim and Young-Chang Nho

Radiation Research Division for Industry and Environment, Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute, 1266 Sinjeong-dong, Jeongeup-si, Jeollabuk-do 580-185, Korea

Materials 2016, 9(1), 13; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma9010013 - 29 Dec 2015

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 5444

Abstract

The recycling of waste polyurethane (PU) using radiation-induced grafting was investigated. The grafting of waste PU onto a high-density polyethylene (HDPE) matrix was carried out using a radiation technique with maleic anhydride (MAH). HDPE pellets and PU powders were immersed in a MAH-acetone [...] Read more.

The recycling of waste polyurethane (PU) using radiation-induced grafting was investigated. The grafting of waste PU onto a high-density polyethylene (HDPE) matrix was carried out using a radiation technique with maleic anhydride (MAH). HDPE pellets and PU powders were immersed in a MAH-acetone solution. Finally, the prepared mixtures were irradiated with an electron beam accelerator. The grafted composites were characterized by Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), surface morphology, and mechanical properties. To make a good composite, the improvement in compatibility between HDPE and PU is an important factor. Radiation-induced grafting increased interfacial adhesion between the PU domain and the HDPE matrix. When the absorbed dose was 75 kGy, the surface morphology of the irradiated PU/HDPE composite was nearly a smooth and single phase, and the elongation at break increased by approximately three times compared with that of non-irradiated PU/HDPE composite. Full article

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34 pages, 10453 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperReview

Ferroelectrics under the Synchrotron Light: A Review

by Luis E. Fuentes-Cobas^1,*

, María E. Montero-Cabrera¹

, Lorena Pardo² and Luis Fuentes-Montero³

¹ Centro de Investigación en Materiales Avanzados, Miguel de Cervantes 120, Compejo Industrial Chihuahua, Chihuahua 31136, Mexico

² Instituto de Ciencia de Materiales de Madrid, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Cantoblanco, Madrid E-28049, Spain

³ Diamond Light Source Ltd., Beamline I24, Diamond House, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot, Oxfordshire OX11 0DE, UK

Materials 2016, 9(1), 14; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma9010014 - 30 Dec 2015

Cited by 18 | Viewed by 10462

Abstract

Currently, an intensive search for high-performance lead-free ferroelectric materials is taking place. ABO₃ perovskites (A = Ba, Bi, Ca, K and Na; B = Fe, Nb, Ti, and Zr) appear as promising candidates. Understanding the structure–function relationship is mandatory, and, in this [...] Read more.

Currently, an intensive search for high-performance lead-free ferroelectric materials is taking place. ABO₃ perovskites (A = Ba, Bi, Ca, K and Na; B = Fe, Nb, Ti, and Zr) appear as promising candidates. Understanding the structure–function relationship is mandatory, and, in this field, the roles of long- and short-range crystal orders and interactions are decisive. In this review, recent advances in the global and local characterization of ferroelectric materials by synchrotron light diffraction, scattering and absorption are analyzed. Single- and poly-crystal synchrotron diffraction studies allow high-resolution investigations regarding the long-range average position of ions and subtle global symmetry break-downs. Ferroelectric materials, under the action of electric fields, undergo crystal symmetry, crystallite/domain orientation distribution and strain condition transformations. Methodological aspects of monitoring these processes are discussed. Two-dimensional diffraction clarify larger scale ordering: polycrystal texture is measured from the intensities distribution along the Debye rings. Local order is investigated by diffuse scattering (DS) and X-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS) experiments. DS provides information about thermal, chemical and displacive low-dimensional disorders. XAFS investigation of ferroelectrics reveals local B-cation off-centering and oxidation state. This technique has the advantage of being element-selective. Representative reports of the mentioned studies are described. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Piezoelectric Materials)

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11 pages, 2943 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Investigation of High-Energy Ion-Irradiated MA957 Using Synchrotron Radiation under In-Situ Tension

by Kun Mo^1,*, Di Yun^1,2, Yinbin Miao¹, Xiang Liu³, Michael Pellin¹, Jonathan Almer⁴, Jun-Sang Park⁴, James F. Stubbins^3,5, Shaofei Zhu⁶ and Abdellatif M. Yacout¹

¹ Nuclear Engineering Division, Argonne National Laboratory, Lemont, IL 60439, USA

² Department of Nuclear Engineering, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710049, Shaanxi, China

³ Department of Nuclear, Plasma, and Radiological Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA

⁴ Advanced Photon Source, Argonne National Laboratory, Lemont, IL 60439, USA

⁵ International Institute for Carbon-Neutral Energy Research (I2CNER), Kyushu University, Fukuoka 819-0395, Japan

⁶ Physics Division, Argonne National Laboratory, Lemont, IL 60439, USA

Materials 2016, 9(1), 15; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma9010015 - 2 Jan 2016

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 5906

Abstract

In this study, an MA957 oxide dispersion-strengthened (ODS) alloy was irradiated with high-energy ions in the Argonne Tandem Linac Accelerator System. Fe ions at an energy of 84 MeV bombarded MA957 tensile specimens, creating a damage region ~7.5 μm in depth; the peak [...] Read more.

In this study, an MA957 oxide dispersion-strengthened (ODS) alloy was irradiated with high-energy ions in the Argonne Tandem Linac Accelerator System. Fe ions at an energy of 84 MeV bombarded MA957 tensile specimens, creating a damage region ~7.5 μm in depth; the peak damage (~40 dpa) was estimated to be at ~7 μm from the surface. Following the irradiation, in-situ high-energy X-ray diffraction measurements were performed at the Advanced Photon Source in order to study the dynamic deformation behavior of the specimens after ion irradiation damage. In-situ X-ray measurements taken during tensile testing of the ion-irradiated MA957 revealed a difference in loading behavior between the irradiated and un-irradiated regions of the specimen. At equivalent applied stresses, lower lattice strains were found in the radiation-damaged region than those in the un-irradiated region. This might be associated with a higher level of Type II stresses as a result of radiation hardening. The study has demonstrated the feasibility of combining high-energy ion radiation and high-energy synchrotron X-ray diffraction to study materials’ radiation damage in a dynamic manner. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nuclear Materials 2015)

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13 pages, 4067 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Characterization of a Polyacrylamide Solution Used for Remediation of Petroleum Contaminated Soils

by Jongwon Jung¹, Jungyeon Jang¹

and Jaehun Ahn^2,*

¹ Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA

² School of Urban, Architecture, and Civil Engineering, Pusan National University, Busan 609-735, Korea

Materials 2016, 9(1), 16; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma9010016 - 2 Jan 2016

Cited by 38 | Viewed by 6787

Abstract

Biopolymers are viewed as effective and eco-friendly agents in soil modification. This study focuses on the wettability analysis of polyacrylamide (PAM) solutions for soil remediation. The contact angle, surface tension, and viscosity of PAM solutions were experimentally evaluated in air- and decane-biopolymer solution [...] Read more.

Biopolymers are viewed as effective and eco-friendly agents in soil modification. This study focuses on the wettability analysis of polyacrylamide (PAM) solutions for soil remediation. The contact angle, surface tension, and viscosity of PAM solutions were experimentally evaluated in air- and decane-biopolymer solution systems. Furthermore, a micromodel was used to investigate the pore-scale displacement phenomena during the injection of the PAM solution in decane and or air saturated pores. The contact angle of the PAM solution linearly increases with increasing concentration in air but not in decane. The surface tension between the PAM solution and air decreases at increasing concentration. The viscosity of the PAM solution is highly dependent on the concentration of the solution, shear rate, and temperature. Low flow rate and low concentration result in a low displacement ratio level, which is defined as the volume ratio between the injected and the defended fluids in the pores. The displacement ratio is higher for PAM solutions than distilled water; however, a higher concentration does not necessarily guarantees a higher displacement ratio. Soil remediation could be conducted cost-efficiently at high flow rates but with moderate concentration levels. Full article

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12 pages, 1055 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Energetic Study of Helium Cluster Nucleation and Growth in 14YWT through First Principles

by Yingye Gan¹, Huijuan Zhao^1,*, David T. Hoelzer² and Di Yun³

¹ Department of Mechanical Engineering, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29631-0921, USA

² Materials Science & Technology Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, PO Box 2008, Oak Ridge, TN 37831-6136, USA

³ School of Nuclear Science and Technology, Xi’an Jiao Tong University, 28 Xi’an Ning West Road, Xi’an 710049, China

Materials 2016, 9(1), 17; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma9010017 - 2 Jan 2016

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 5073

Abstract

First principles calculations have been performed to energetically investigate the helium cluster nucleation, formation and growth behavior in the nano-structured ferritic alloy 14YWT. The helium displays strong affinity to the oxygen:vacancy (O:Vac) pair. By investigating various local environments of the vacancy, we find [...] Read more.

First principles calculations have been performed to energetically investigate the helium cluster nucleation, formation and growth behavior in the nano-structured ferritic alloy 14YWT. The helium displays strong affinity to the oxygen:vacancy (O:Vac) pair. By investigating various local environments of the vacancy, we find that the energy cost for He cluster growth increases with the appearance of solutes in the reference unit. He atom tends to join the He cluster in the directions away from the solute atoms. Meanwhile, the He cluster tends to expand in the directions away from the solute atoms. A growth criterion is proposed based on the elastic instability strain of the perfect iron lattice in order to determine the maximum number of He atoms at the vacancy site. We find that up to seven He atoms can be trapped at a single vacancy. However, it is reduced to five if the vacancy is pre-occupied by an oxygen atom. Furthermore, the solute atoms within nanoclusters, such as Ti and Y, will greatly limit the growth of the He cluster. A migration energy barrier study is performed to discuss the reduced mobility of the He atom/He cluster in 14YWT. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nuclear Materials 2015)

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15 pages, 4204 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Influence of Blended Cements with Calcareous Fly Ash on Chloride Ion Migration and Carbonation Resistance of Concrete for Durable Structures

by Michał A. Glinicki^*, Daria Jóźwiak-Niedźwiedzka

, Karolina Gibas and Mariusz Dąbrowski

Institute of Fundamental Technological Research, Polish Academy of Sciences, 5B Pawińskiego, Warsaw 02-106, Poland

Materials 2016, 9(1), 18; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma9010018 - 2 Jan 2016

Cited by 51 | Viewed by 8503

Abstract

The objective of this paper is to examine the possible use of new blended cements containing calcareous fly ash in structural concrete, potentially adequate for structural elements of nuclear power plants. The investigation included five new cements made with different contents of non-clinker [...] Read more.

The objective of this paper is to examine the possible use of new blended cements containing calcareous fly ash in structural concrete, potentially adequate for structural elements of nuclear power plants. The investigation included five new cements made with different contents of non-clinker constituents: calcareous fly ash, siliceous fly ash, ground granulated blastfurnace slag, and a reference cement—ordinary Portland cement. The influence of innovative cements on the resistance of concrete to chloride and carbonation exposure was studied. Additionally, an evaluation of the microstructure was performed using optical microscopy on concrete thin sections. Test results revealed a substantial improvement of the resistance to chloride ion penetration into concrete containing blended cements. The resistance was higher for increased clinker replacement levels and increased with curing time. However, concrete made with blended cements exhibited higher depth of carbonation than the Portland cement concrete, except the Portland-fly ash cement with 14.3% of calcareous fly ash. The thin sections analysis confirmed the values of the carbonation depth obtained from the phenolphthalein test. Test results indicate the possible range of application for new cements containing calcareous fly ash. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Utilisation of By-Product Materials in Concrete)

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13 pages, 4644 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Novel Nitinol Spherical Occlusion Device for Liver Cancer

by Hao-Ming Hsiao^*, Yi-Ping Wang, Chun-Yi Ko, Yu-Han Cheng and Han-Yu Lee

Department of Mechanical Engineering, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10617, Taiwan

Materials 2016, 9(1), 19; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma9010019 - 2 Jan 2016

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 7150

Abstract

Liver cancer or hepatic cancer is a cancer that originates in the liver. It is formed from either the liver itself or from structures within the liver, including blood vessels or the bile duct. Liver cancer can be a life-threatening condition, but it [...] Read more.

Liver cancer or hepatic cancer is a cancer that originates in the liver. It is formed from either the liver itself or from structures within the liver, including blood vessels or the bile duct. Liver cancer can be a life-threatening condition, but it may be cured if found early. Hepatic artery embolization is one of the treatment options involving the injection of substances to reduce the blood flow to cancer cells in the livers of patients with tumors that cannot be removed by surgery; however, this treatment has some limitations. In this paper, we propose a novel nitinol “spherical occlusion device” concept, the first of its kind in the world. Our proposed spherical occlusion device is able to reduce the blood flow to cancer cells by deploying it in the upstream hepatic artery supplying blood to the liver. Moreover, it could carry multiple chemotherapy or radioactive drugs for delivery directly to the target site. Nitinol alloy was chosen as the device material due to its excellent super-elastic property. Computational models were developed to predict the mechanical response of the device during manufacturing and deployment procedures, as well as its hemodynamic behavior. Simulation results showed that the presence of the spherical occlusion device with 14%–27% metal density deployed at the upstream location of the right hepatic artery had significant occlusion effects, with the average blood flow rate cut down by 30%–50%. A pulsed fiber laser and a series of expansions and heat treatments were developed to make the first prototype of the spherical occlusion device for the demonstration of our novel concept. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Selected Papers from ICBEI2015)

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13 pages, 1180 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Activation of Aspen Wood with Carbon Dioxide and Phosphoric Acid for Removal of Total Organic Carbon from Oil Sands Produced Water: Increasing the Yield with Bio-Oil Recycling

by Andrei Veksha^1,2,†, Tazul I. Bhuiyan^1,† and Josephine M. Hill^1,*

¹ Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive NW, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada

² Residues and Resource Reclamation Centre, Nanyang Environment and Water Research Institute, Nanyang Technological University, 1 Cleantech Loop, Clean Tech One, Singapore 637141, Singapore

^† These authors contributed equally to this work.

Materials 2016, 9(1), 20; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma9010020 - 2 Jan 2016

Cited by 21 | Viewed by 7205

Abstract

Several samples of activated carbon were prepared by physical (CO₂) and chemical (H₃PO₄) activation of aspen wood and tested for the adsorption of organic compounds from water generated during the recovery of bitumen using steam assisted gravity [...] Read more.

Several samples of activated carbon were prepared by physical (CO₂) and chemical (H₃PO₄) activation of aspen wood and tested for the adsorption of organic compounds from water generated during the recovery of bitumen using steam assisted gravity drainage. Total organic carbon removal by the carbon samples increased proportionally with total pore volume as determined from N₂ adsorption isotherms at −196 °C. The activated carbon produced by CO₂ activation had similar removal levels for total organic carbon from the water (up to 70%) to those samples activated with H₃PO₄, but lower yields, due to losses during pyrolysis and activation. A method to increase the yield when using CO₂ activation was proposed and consisted of recycling bio-oil produced from previous runs to the aspen wood feed, followed by either KOH addition (0.48%) or air pretreatment (220 °C for 3 h) before pyrolysis and activation. By recycling the bio-oil, the yield of CO₂ activated carbon (after air pretreatment of the mixture) was increased by a factor of 1.3. Due to the higher carbon yield, the corresponding total organic carbon removal, per mass of wood feed, increased by a factor of 1.2 thus improving the overall process efficiency. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Porous Carbonaceous Materials from Biomass)

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27 pages, 5158 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperReview

Towards Lead-Free Piezoceramics: Facing a Synthesis Challenge

by María Elena Villafuerte-Castrejón^1,3,*, Emilio Morán², Armando Reyes-Montero¹, Rodrigo Vivar-Ocampo¹, Jesús-Alejandro Peña-Jiménez¹, Salvador-Oliver Rea-López¹ and Lorena Pardo³

¹ Instituto de Investigaciones en Materiales, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad Universitaria, Circuito Exterior S/N, A.P, México D.F. 70-360, Mexico

² Departamento de Química Inorgánica, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Complutense, Madrid 28040, Spain

³ Instituto de Ciencia de Materiales de Madrid (ICMM), CSIC, Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz, 3. Cantoblanco, Madrid 28049, Spain

Materials 2016, 9(1), 21; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma9010021 - 2 Jan 2016

Cited by 94 | Viewed by 13573

Abstract

The search for electroceramic materials with enhanced ferro-pyro-piezoelectric properties and revealing the perovskite type structure has been the objective of a significant number of manuscripts reported in the literature. This has been usually carried out by proposing the synthesis and processing of new [...] Read more.

The search for electroceramic materials with enhanced ferro-pyro-piezoelectric properties and revealing the perovskite type structure has been the objective of a significant number of manuscripts reported in the literature. This has been usually carried out by proposing the synthesis and processing of new compounds and solid solution series. In this work, several methods to obtain ferro-pyro-piezoelectric families of materials featuring the well-known ABO₃ perovskite structure (or related) such as BaTiO₃, Ba_1–xCa_xTi_1–yZr_yO₃, (Bi_0.5Na_0.5)TiO₃, (K_0.5Na_0.5)NbO₃ and their solid solutions with different cations either in the A or B positions, are presented. For this kind of materials, the challenge for obtaining a single phase compound with a specific grain size and morphology and, most importantly, with the adequate stoichiometry, will also be discussed. The results reviewed herein will be discussed in terms of the tendency of working with softer conditions, i.e., lower temperature and shorter reaction times, also referred to as soft-chemistry. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Piezoelectric Materials)

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22 pages, 7516 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Cutting Modeling of Hybrid CFRP/Ti Composite with Induced Damage Analysis

by Jinyang Xu^* and Mohamed El Mansori

MSMP—EA 7350 Laboratoire, Arts et Métiers ParisTech, Rue Saint Dominique B.P. 508, 51006 Châlons-en-Champagne, France

Materials 2016, 9(1), 22; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma9010022 - 4 Jan 2016

Cited by 26 | Viewed by 8161

Abstract

In hybrid carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP)/Ti machining, the bi-material interface is the weakest region vulnerable to severe damage formation when the tool cutting from one phase to another phase and vice versa. The interface delamination as well as the composite-phase damage [...] Read more.

In hybrid carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP)/Ti machining, the bi-material interface is the weakest region vulnerable to severe damage formation when the tool cutting from one phase to another phase and vice versa. The interface delamination as well as the composite-phase damage is the most serious failure dominating the bi-material machining. In this paper, an original finite element (FE) model was developed to inspect the key mechanisms governing the induced damage formation when cutting this multi-phase material. The hybrid composite model was constructed by establishing three disparate physical constituents, i.e., the Ti phase, the interface, and the CFRP phase. Different constitutive laws and damage criteria were implemented to build up the entire cutting behavior of the bi-material system. The developed orthogonal cutting (OC) model aims to characterize the dynamic mechanisms of interface delamination formation and the affected interface zone (AIZ). Special focus was made on the quantitative analyses of the parametric effects on the interface delamination and composite-phase damage. The numerical results highlighted the pivotal role of AIZ in affecting the formation of interface delamination, and the significant impacts of feed rate and cutting speed on delamination extent and fiber/matrix failure. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Manufacturing Processes and Systems)

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9 pages, 1461 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Optical and Magneto-Optical Properties of Gd₂₂Fe₇₈ Thin Films in the Photon Energy Range From 1.5 to 5.5 eV

by Eva Jesenská^1,2,*, Takahiro Hashinaka¹, Takayuki Ishibashi¹, Lukáš Beran², Ján Dušek², Roman Antoš², Kiyoshi Kuga³, Ken-ichi Aoshima³, Kenji Machida³, Hidekazu Kinjo³ and Martin Veis^2,*

¹ Department of Materials Science and Technology, Nagaoka University of Technology, Nagaoka, Niigata 1603-1, Japan

² Institute of Physics, Charles University, Prague 12116, Czech Republic

³ Science and Technology Research Laboratories, Japan Broadcasting Corporation (NHK), Tokyo 157-8510, Japan

Materials 2016, 9(1), 23; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma9010023 - 2 Jan 2016

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 5424

Abstract

Optical and magneto-optical properties of amorphous Gd₂₂Fe₇₈ (GdFe) thin films prepared by direct current (DC) sputtering on thermally oxidized substrates were characterized by the combination of spectroscopic ellipsometry and magneto-optical spectroscopy in the photon energy range from 1.5 to 5.5 [...] Read more.

Optical and magneto-optical properties of amorphous Gd₂₂Fe₇₈ (GdFe) thin films prepared by direct current (DC) sputtering on thermally oxidized substrates were characterized by the combination of spectroscopic ellipsometry and magneto-optical spectroscopy in the photon energy range from 1.5 to 5.5 eV. Thin SiN_x and Ru coatings were used to prevent the GdFe surface oxidation and contamination. Using advanced theoretical models spectral dependence of the complete permittivity tensor and spectral dependence of the absorption coefficient were deduced from experimental data. No significant changes in the optical properties upon different coatings were observed, indicating reliability of used analysis. Full article

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11 pages, 2523 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Preparation and Characterization of Inorganic PCM Microcapsules by Fluidized Bed Method

by Svetlana Ushak^1,2,*,†, M. Judith Cruz^1,†, Luisa F. Cabeza^3,†

and Mario Grágeda^1,2,†

¹ Department of Chemical Engineering and Mineral Processing and Center for Advanced Study of Lithium and Industrial Minerals (CELiMIN), University of Antofagasta, Av. Universidad de Antofagasta 02800, Campus Coloso, Antofagasta 127300, Chile

² Solar Energy Research Center (SERC-Chile), Av Tupper 2007, Piso 4, Santiago 8370451, Chile

³ GREA Innovació Concurrent, Edifici CREA, Universitat de Lleida, Pere de Cabrera s/n, Lleida 25001, Spain

^† These authors contributed equally to this work.

Materials 2016, 9(1), 24; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma9010024 - 4 Jan 2016

Cited by 41 | Viewed by 10990

Abstract

The literature shows that inorganic phase change materials (PCM) have been very seldom microencapsulated, so this study aims to contribute to filling this research gap. Bischofite, a by-product from the non-metallic industry identified as having good potential to be used as inorganic PCM, [...] Read more.

The literature shows that inorganic phase change materials (PCM) have been very seldom microencapsulated, so this study aims to contribute to filling this research gap. Bischofite, a by-product from the non-metallic industry identified as having good potential to be used as inorganic PCM, was microencapsulated by means of a fluidized bed method with acrylic as polymer and chloroform as solvent, after compatibility studies of both several solvents and several polymers. The formation of bischofite and pure MgCl₂·6H₂O microcapsules was investigated and analyzed. Results showed an efficiency in microencapsulation of 95% could be achieved when using 2 min of fluidization time and 2 kg/h of atomization flow. The final microcapsules had excellent melting temperatures and enthalpy compared to the original PCM, 104.6 °C and 95 J/g for bischofite, and 95.3 and 118.3 for MgCl₂·6H₂O. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Development and Characterisation of Encapsulated PCM: Nano-, Micro-, and Macro-Encapsulation)

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12 pages, 3577 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Enhanced Physicochemical and Biological Properties of Ion-Implanted Titanium Using Electron Cyclotron Resonance Ion Sources

by Csaba Hegedűs¹, Chia-Che Ho², Attila Csik³

, Sándor Biri^3,* and Shinn-Jyh Ding^2,4,*

¹ Department of Biomaterials and Prosthetic Dentistry, University of Debrecen, Nagyerdei krt. 98, H-4032 Debrecen, Hungary

² Institute of Oral Science, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung City 402, Taiwan

³ Institute for Nuclear Research (ATOMKI), Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Bem tér 18/c, H-4026 Debrecen, Hungary

⁴ Department of Dentistry, Chung Shan Medical University Hospital, Taichung City 402, Taiwan

Materials 2016, 9(1), 25; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma9010025 - 4 Jan 2016

Cited by 16 | Viewed by 5873

Abstract

The surface properties of metallic implants play an important role in their clinical success. Improving upon the inherent shortcomings of Ti implants, such as poor bioactivity, is imperative for achieving clinical use. In this study, we have developed a Ti implant modified with [...] Read more.

The surface properties of metallic implants play an important role in their clinical success. Improving upon the inherent shortcomings of Ti implants, such as poor bioactivity, is imperative for achieving clinical use. In this study, we have developed a Ti implant modified with Ca or dual Ca + Si ions on the surface using an electron cyclotron resonance ion source (ECRIS). The physicochemical and biological properties of ion-implanted Ti surfaces were analyzed using various analytical techniques, such as surface analyses, potentiodynamic polarization and cell culture. Experimental results indicated that a rough morphology was observed on the Ti substrate surface modified by ECRIS plasma ions. The in vitro electrochemical measurement results also indicated that the Ca + Si ion-implanted surface had a more beneficial and desired behavior than the pristine Ti substrate. Compared to the pristine Ti substrate, all ion-implanted samples had a lower hemolysis ratio. MG63 cells cultured on the high Ca and dual Ca + Si ion-implanted surfaces revealed significantly greater cell viability in comparison to the pristine Ti substrate. In conclusion, surface modification by electron cyclotron resonance Ca and Si ion sources could be an effective method for Ti implants. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Advanced Materials Characterization)

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19 pages, 611 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

A Comparison of Simple Methods to Incorporate Material Temperature Dependency in the Green’s Function Method for Estimating Transient Thermal Stresses in Thick-Walled Power Plant Components

by James Rouse^*,† and Christopher Hyde^†

¹ Department of Mechanical, Materials and Manufacturing Engineering, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire NG7 2RD, UK

^† These authors contributed equally to this work.

Materials 2016, 9(1), 26; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma9010026 - 6 Jan 2016

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 6476

Abstract

The threat of thermal fatigue is an increasing concern for thermal power plant operators due to the increasing tendency to adopt “two-shifting” operating procedures. Thermal plants are likely to remain part of the energy portfolio for the foreseeable future and are under societal [...] Read more.

The threat of thermal fatigue is an increasing concern for thermal power plant operators due to the increasing tendency to adopt “two-shifting” operating procedures. Thermal plants are likely to remain part of the energy portfolio for the foreseeable future and are under societal pressures to generate in a highly flexible and efficient manner. The Green’s function method offers a flexible approach to determine reference elastic solutions for transient thermal stress problems. In order to simplify integration, it is often assumed that Green’s functions (derived from finite element unit temperature step solutions) are temperature independent (this is not the case due to the temperature dependency of material parameters). The present work offers a simple method to approximate a material’s temperature dependency using multiple reference unit solutions and an interpolation procedure. Thermal stress histories are predicted and compared for realistic temperature cycles using distinct techniques. The proposed interpolation method generally performs as well as (if not better) than the optimum single Green’s function or the previously-suggested weighting function technique (particularly for large temperature increments). Coefficients of determination are typically above 0 . 96 , and peak stress differences between true and predicted datasets are always less than 10 MPa. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Failure Analysis in Materials)

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13 pages, 5066 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Development of a Hopkinson Bar Apparatus for Testing Soft Materials: Application to a Closed-Cell Aluminum Foam

by Marco Peroni^1,*

, George Solomos¹ and Norbert Babcsan²

¹ European Commission Joint Research Centre (JRC), IPSC, ELSA, Via E. Fermi 2749, Ispra (VA) 21027, Italy

² Aluinvent Zrt., Ipari Park, Szeles utca 2, Felsőzsolca H-3561, Hungary

Materials 2016, 9(1), 27; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma9010027 - 5 Jan 2016

Cited by 16 | Viewed by 7001

Abstract

An increasing interest in lightweight metallic foams for automotive, aerospace, and other applications has been observed in recent years. This is mainly due to the weight reduction that can be achieved using foams and for their mechanical energy absorption and acoustic damping capabilities. [...] Read more.

An increasing interest in lightweight metallic foams for automotive, aerospace, and other applications has been observed in recent years. This is mainly due to the weight reduction that can be achieved using foams and for their mechanical energy absorption and acoustic damping capabilities. An accurate knowledge of the mechanical behavior of these materials, especially under dynamic loadings, is thus necessary. Unfortunately, metal foams and in general “soft” materials exhibit a series of peculiarities that make difficult the adoption of standard testing techniques for their high strain-rate characterization. This paper presents an innovative apparatus, where high strain-rate tests of metal foams or other soft materials can be performed by exploiting the operating principle of the Hopkinson bar methods. Using the pre-stress method to generate directly a long compression pulse (compared with traditional SHPB), a displacement of about 20 mm can be applied to the specimen with a single propagating wave, suitable for evaluating the whole stress-strain curve of medium-sized cell foams (pores of about 1–2 mm). The potential of this testing rig is shown in the characterization of a closed-cell aluminum foam, where all the above features are amply demonstrated. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Metal Foams: Synthesis, Characterization and Applications)

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13 pages, 1303 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Poly-γ-Glutamic Acid: Biodegradable Polymer for Potential Protection of Beneficial Viruses

by Ibrahim R. Khalil^1,2,*, Victor U. Irorere¹, Iza Radecka¹

, Alan T. H. Burns¹, Marek Kowalczuk^1,3, Jessica L. Mason¹ and Martin P. Khechara^1,*

¹ Faculty of Science and Engineering, University of Wolverhampton, Wulfruna Street, Wolverhampton WV1 1LY, UK

² Department of Biology, College of Science, Tikrit University, Tikrit PO Box 42, Iraq

³ Center of Polymer and Carbon Materials, Polish Academy of Sciences, ul. M. Curie-Skłodowskiej 34, Zabrze 41-819, Poland

Materials 2016, 9(1), 28; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma9010028 - 6 Jan 2016

Cited by 28 | Viewed by 9241

Abstract

Poly-γ-glutamic acid (γ-PGA) is a naturally occurring polymer, which due to its biodegradable, non-toxic and non-immunogenic properties has been used successfully in the food, medical and wastewater industries. A major hurdle in bacteriophage application is the inability of phage to persist for extended [...] Read more.

Poly-γ-glutamic acid (γ-PGA) is a naturally occurring polymer, which due to its biodegradable, non-toxic and non-immunogenic properties has been used successfully in the food, medical and wastewater industries. A major hurdle in bacteriophage application is the inability of phage to persist for extended periods in the environment due to their susceptibility to environmental factors such as temperature, sunlight, desiccation and irradiation. Thus, the aim of this study was to protect useful phage from the harmful effect of these environmental factors using the γ-PGA biodegradable polymer. In addition, the association between γ-PGA and phage was investigated. Formulated phage (with 1% γ-PGA) and non-formulated phage were exposed to 50 °C. A clear difference was noticed as viability of non-formulated phage was reduced to 21% at log₁₀ 1.3 PFU/mL, while phage formulated with γ-PGA was 84% at log₁₀ 5.2 PFU/mL after 24 h of exposure. In addition, formulated phage remained viable at log₁₀ 2.5 PFU/mL even after 24 h of exposure at pH 3 solution. In contrast, non-formulated phages were totally inactivated after the same time of exposure. In addition, non-formulated phages when exposed to UV irradiation died within 10 min. In contrast also phages formulated with 1% γ-PGA had a viability of log₁₀ 4.1 PFU/mL at the same exposure time. Microscopy showed a clear interaction between γ-PGA and phages. In conclusion, the results suggest that γ-PGA has an unique protective effect on phage particles. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biodegradable and Bio-Based Polymers)

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14 pages, 1857 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Triggered Release from Thermoresponsive Polymersomes with Superparamagnetic Membranes

by Oliver Bixner^1,2

, Steffen Kurzhals¹, Mudassar Virk¹ and Erik Reimhult^1,*

¹ Institute for Biologically Inspired Materials, Department of Nanobiotechnology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Muthgasse 11, Vienna 1190, Austria

² School of Materials Science and Engineering, Centre for Biomimetic Sensor Science, Nanyang Technological University, 50 Nanyang Drive, 637553 Singapore

Materials 2016, 9(1), 29; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma9010029 - 6 Jan 2016

Cited by 29 | Viewed by 7366

Abstract

Magnetic polymersomes were prepared by self-assembly of the amphiphilic block copolymer poly(isoprene-b-N-isopropylacrylamide) with monodisperse hydrophobic superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPION). The specifically designed thermoresponsive block copolymer allowed for efficient incorporation of the hydrophobic nanoparticles in the membrane core and [...] Read more.

Magnetic polymersomes were prepared by self-assembly of the amphiphilic block copolymer poly(isoprene-b-N-isopropylacrylamide) with monodisperse hydrophobic superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPION). The specifically designed thermoresponsive block copolymer allowed for efficient incorporation of the hydrophobic nanoparticles in the membrane core and encapsulation of the water soluble dye calcein in the lumen of the vesicles. Magnetic heating of the embedded SPIONs led to increased bilayer permeability through dehydration of the thermoresponsive PNIPAM block. The entrapped calcein could therefore be released in controlled doses solely through exposure to pulses of an alternating magnetic field. This hybrid SPION-polymersome system demonstrates a possible direction for release applications that merges rational polymersome design with addressed external magnetic field-triggered release through embedded nanomaterials. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Advanced Composites)

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13 pages, 6106 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Facile Synthesis of SrCO₃-Sr(OH)₂/PPy Nanocomposite with Enhanced Photocatalytic Activity under Visible Light

by Alfredo Márquez-Herrera^1,*

, Victor Manuel Ovando-Medina², Blanca Estela Castillo-Reyes², Martin Zapata-Torres³, Miguel Meléndez-Lira⁴ and Jaquelina González-Castañeda⁵

¹ Departamento de Ingeniería Agrícola, DICIVA, Campus Irapuato-Salamanca, Universidad de Guanajuato, Ex Hacienda el Copal, Carr. Irapuato-Silao km 9, Irapuato Gto 36500, Mexico

² Ingeniería Química, COARA, Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí, Carr. a Cedral Km 5+600, San José de las Trojes, Matehuala, San Luis Potosí 78700, Mexico

³ Centro de Investigación en Ciencia Aplicada y Tecnología Avanzada, Unidad Legaría IPN, Calzada Legaría 694, Col. Irrigación, México D.F. 11500, Mexico

⁴ Departamento de Física, CINVESTAV-IPN, Apartado Postal 14-740, México D.F. 07000, Mexico

⁵ Departamento de Ingeniería Ambiental, DICIVA, Campus Irapuato-Salamanca, Universidad de Guanajuato, Ex Hacienda el Copal, Carr. Irapuato-Silao km 9, Irapuato Gto 36500, Mexico

Materials 2016, 9(1), 30; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma9010030 - 6 Jan 2016

Cited by 37 | Viewed by 9943

Abstract

Pyrrole monomer was chemically polymerized onto SrCO₃-Sr(OH)₂ powders to obtain SrCO₃-Sr(OH)₂/polypyrrole nanocomposite to be used as a candidate for photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue dye (MB). The material was characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, [...] Read more.

Pyrrole monomer was chemically polymerized onto SrCO₃-Sr(OH)₂ powders to obtain SrCO₃-Sr(OH)₂/polypyrrole nanocomposite to be used as a candidate for photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue dye (MB). The material was characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, UV/Vis spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction (XRD). It was observed from transmission electronic microscopy (TEM) analysis that the reported synthesis route allows the production of SrCO₃-Sr(OH)₂ nanoparticles with particle size below 100 nm which were embedded within a semiconducting polypyrrole matrix (PPy). The SrCO₃-Sr(OH)₂ and SrCO₃-Sr(OH)₂/PPy nanocomposites were tested in the photodegradation of MB dye under visible light irradiation. Also, the effects of MB dye initial concentration and the catalyst load on photodegradation efficiency were studied and discussed. Under the same conditions, the efficiency of photodegradation of MB employing the SrCO₃-Sr(OH)₂/PPy nanocomposite increases as compared with that obtained employing the SrCO₃-Sr(OH)₂ nanocomposite. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advancement of Photocatalytic Materials 2016)

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12 pages, 1832 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Improved Electrochemical Detection of Zinc Ions Using Electrode Modified with Electrochemically Reduced Graphene Oxide

by Jiri Kudr^1,2, Lukas Richtera^1,2

, Lukas Nejdl^1,2, Kledi Xhaxhiu^1,2

, Petr Vitek³, Branislav Rutkay-Nedecky^1,2, David Hynek^1,2, Pavel Kopel^1,2

, Vojtech Adam^1,2 and Rene Kizek^4,*

¹ Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Mendel University in Brno, Zemedelska 1, Brno CZ-613 00, Czech Republic

² Central European Institute of Technology, Brno University of Technology, Technicka 3058/10, Brno CZ-616 00, Czech Republic

³ Global Change Research Institute, The Czech Academy of Sciences, v.v.i., Bělidla 4a, Brno CZ-603 00, Czech Republic

⁴ Department of Biomedical and Environmental Analysis, Wroclaw Medical University, Borowska 211, Wrocław PL-50 556, Poland

Materials 2016, 9(1), 31; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma9010031 - 7 Jan 2016

Cited by 40 | Viewed by 8666

Abstract

Increasing urbanization and industrialization lead to the release of metals into the biosphere, which has become a serious issue for public health. In this paper, the direct electrochemical reduction of zinc ions is studied using electrochemically reduced graphene oxide (ERGO) modified glassy carbon [...] Read more.

Increasing urbanization and industrialization lead to the release of metals into the biosphere, which has become a serious issue for public health. In this paper, the direct electrochemical reduction of zinc ions is studied using electrochemically reduced graphene oxide (ERGO) modified glassy carbon electrode (GCE). The graphene oxide (GO) was fabricated using modified Hummers method and was electrochemically reduced on the surface of GCE by performing cyclic voltammograms from 0 to −1.5 V. The modification was optimized and properties of electrodes were determined using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and cyclic voltammetry (CV). The determination of Zn(II) was performed using differential pulse voltammetry technique, platinum wire as a counter electrode, and Ag/AgCl/3 M KCl reference electrode. Compared to the bare GCE the modified GCE/ERGO shows three times better electrocatalytic activity towards zinc ions, with an increase of reduction current along with a negative shift of reduction potential. Using GCE/ERGO detection limit 5 ng·mL⁻¹ was obtained. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Advanced Materials Characterization)

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13 pages, 2717 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Buckling Behavior of Substrate Supported Graphene Sheets

by Kuijian Yang¹, Yuli Chen^1,*, Fei Pan¹, Shengtao Wang¹, Yong Ma¹ and Qijun Liu²

¹ Institute of Solid Mechanics, International Research Institute for Multidisciplinary Science, Beihang University, Beijing 100191, China

² Department of Aerospace Engineering, University of Illinois, Champaign, IL 61801, USA

Materials 2016, 9(1), 32; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma9010032 - 7 Jan 2016

Cited by 40 | Viewed by 6794

Abstract

The buckling of graphene sheets on substrates can significantly degrade their performance in materials and devices. Therefore, a systematic investigation on the buckling behavior of monolayer graphene sheet/substrate systems is carried out in this paper by both molecular mechanics simulations and theoretical analysis. [...] Read more.

The buckling of graphene sheets on substrates can significantly degrade their performance in materials and devices. Therefore, a systematic investigation on the buckling behavior of monolayer graphene sheet/substrate systems is carried out in this paper by both molecular mechanics simulations and theoretical analysis. From 70 simulation cases of simple-supported graphene sheets with different sizes under uniaxial compression, two different buckling modes are investigated and revealed to be dominated by the graphene size. Especially, for graphene sheets with length larger than 3 nm and width larger than 1.1 nm, the buckling mode depends only on the length/width ratio. Besides, it is revealed that the existence of graphene substrate can increase the critical buckling stress and strain to 4.39 N/m and 1.58%, respectively, which are about 10 times those for free-standing graphene sheets. Moreover, for graphene sheets with common size (longer than 20 nm), both theoretical and simulation results show that the critical buckling stress and strain are dominated only by the adhesive interactions with substrate and independent of the graphene size. Results in this work provide valuable insight and guidelines for the design and application of graphene-derived materials and nano-electromechanical systems. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Graphene)

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16 pages, 1391 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

A Critical Evaluation of the Influence of the Dark Exchange Current on the Performance of Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells

by Rodrigo García-Rodríguez^1,*, Julio Villanueva-Cab², Juan A. Anta³ and Gerko Oskam^1,*

¹ Departamento de Física Aplicada, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional (CINVESTAV-IPN), Mérida, Yucatán 97310, Mexico

² Instituto de Física, Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla (BUAP), Puebla, Puebla 72570, Mexico

³ Nanostructured Solar Cells Group, Department of Physical, Chemical and Natural Systems, Universidad Pablo de Olavide, Seville ES-41013, Spain

Materials 2016, 9(1), 33; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma9010033 - 8 Jan 2016

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 6312

Abstract

The influence of the thickness of the nanostructured, mesoporous TiO₂ film on several parameters determining the performance of a dye-sensitized solar cell is investigated both experimentally and theoretically. We pay special attention to the effect of the exchange current density in the [...] Read more.

The influence of the thickness of the nanostructured, mesoporous TiO₂ film on several parameters determining the performance of a dye-sensitized solar cell is investigated both experimentally and theoretically. We pay special attention to the effect of the exchange current density in the dark, and we compare the values obtained by steady state measurements with values extracted from small perturbation techniques. We also evaluate the influence of exchange current density, the solar cell ideality factor, and the effective absorption coefficient of the cell on the optimal film thickness. The results show that the exchange current density in the dark is proportional to the TiO₂ film thickness, however, the effective absorption coefficient is the parameter that ultimately defines the ideal thickness. We illustrate the importance of the exchange current density in the dark on the determination of the current–voltage characteristics and we show how an important improvement of the cell performance can be achieved by decreasing values of the total series resistance and the exchange current density in the dark. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Electrode Materials)

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16 pages, 7362 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Aminopropyl-Silica Hybrid Particles as Supports for Humic Acids Immobilization

by Mónika Sándor¹, Cristina Lavinia Nistor^2,*

, Gábor Szalontai³, Rusandica Stoica², Cristian Andi Nicolae², Elvira Alexandrescu², József Fazakas¹, Florin Oancea²

and Dan Donescu²

¹ Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Babes-Bolyai University, Arany János Street, No.11, Cluj-Napoca 400028, Romania

² National Research & Development Institute for Chemistry and Petrochemistry—ICECHIM, Splaiul Independentei No.202, 6th district, PO Box 35-174, Bucharest 060021, Romania

³ NMR Laboratory, Institute of Materials Engineering, University of Pannonia, Egyetem Street, No. 10, Veszprém 8200, Hungary

Materials 2016, 9(1), 34; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma9010034 - 8 Jan 2016

Cited by 25 | Viewed by 8730

Abstract

A series of aminopropyl-functionalized silica nanoparticles were prepared through a basic two step sol-gel process in water. Prior to being aminopropyl-functionalized, silica particles with an average diameter of 549 nm were prepared from tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS), using a Stöber method. In a second [...] Read more.

A series of aminopropyl-functionalized silica nanoparticles were prepared through a basic two step sol-gel process in water. Prior to being aminopropyl-functionalized, silica particles with an average diameter of 549 nm were prepared from tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS), using a Stöber method. In a second step, aminopropyl-silica particles were prepared by silanization with 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES), added drop by drop to the sol-gel mixture. The synthesized amino-functionalized silica particles are intended to be used as supports for immobilization of humic acids (HA), through electrostatic bonds. Furthermore, by inserting beside APTES, unhydrolysable mono-, di- or trifunctional alkylsilanes (methyltriethoxy silane (MeTES), trimethylethoxysilane (Me₃ES), diethoxydimethylsilane (Me₂DES) and 1,2-bis(triethoxysilyl)ethane (BETES)) onto silica particles surface, the spacing of the free amino groups was intended in order to facilitate their interaction with HA large molecules. Two sorts of HA were used for evaluating the immobilization capacity of the novel aminosilane supports. The results proved the efficient functionalization of silica nanoparticles with amino groups and showed that the immobilization of the two tested types of humic acid substances was well achieved for all the TEOS/APTES = 20/1 (molar ratio) silica hybrids having or not having the amino functions spaced by alkyl groups. It was shown that the density of aminopropyl functions is low enough at this low APTES fraction and do not require a further spacing by alkyl groups. Moreover, all the hybrids having negative zeta potential values exhibited low interaction with HA molecules. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Advanced Materials Characterization)

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13 pages, 3590 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Heteroatom Doped-Carbon Nanospheres as Anodes in Lithium Ion Batteries

by George S. Pappas^1,†, Stefania Ferrari^1,*,†, Xiaobin Huang², Rohit Bhagat¹, David M. Haddleton³ and Chaoying Wan^1,*

¹ Warwick Manufacturing Group, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, UK

² School of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China

³ Department of Chemistry, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, UK

^† These authors contributed equally to this work.

Materials 2016, 9(1), 35; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma9010035 - 9 Jan 2016

Cited by 37 | Viewed by 8785

Abstract

Long cycle performance is a crucial requirement in energy storage devices. New formulations and/or improvement of “conventional” materials have been investigated in order to achieve this target. Here we explore the performance of a novel type of carbon nanospheres (CNSs) with three heteroatom [...] Read more.

Long cycle performance is a crucial requirement in energy storage devices. New formulations and/or improvement of “conventional” materials have been investigated in order to achieve this target. Here we explore the performance of a novel type of carbon nanospheres (CNSs) with three heteroatom co-doped (nitrogen, phosphorous and sulfur) and high specific surface area as anode materials for lithium ion batteries. The CNSs were obtained from carbonization of highly-crosslinked organo (phosphazene) nanospheres (OPZs) of 300 nm diameter. The OPZs were synthesized via a single and facile step of polycondensation reaction between hexachlorocyclotriphosphazene (HCCP) and 4,4′-sulphonyldiphenol (BPS). The X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) analysis showed a high heteroatom-doping content in the structure of CNSs while the textural evaluation from the N₂ sorption isotherms revealed the presence of micro- and mesopores and a high specific surface area of 875 m²/g. The CNSs anode showed remarkable stability and coulombic efficiency in a long charge–discharge cycling up to 1000 cycles at 1C rate, delivering about 130 mA·h·g⁻¹. This study represents a step toward smart engineering of inexpensive materials with practical applications for energy devices. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Electrode Materials)

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17 pages, 1868 KiB

Open AccessReview

Liquid Crystal Microlenses for Autostereoscopic Displays

by José Francisco Algorri^*

, Virginia Urruchi, Braulio García-Cámara and José M. Sánchez-Pena

Electronic Technology Department, Carlos III University of Madrid, Avenida de la Universidad 30, Leganés E28911, Spain

Materials 2016, 9(1), 36; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma9010036 - 11 Jan 2016

Cited by 33 | Viewed by 8532

Abstract

Three-dimensional vision has acquired great importance in the audiovisual industry in the past ten years. Despite this, the first generation of autostereoscopic displays failed to generate enough consumer excitement. Some reasons are little 3D content and performance issues. For this reason, an exponential [...] Read more.

Three-dimensional vision has acquired great importance in the audiovisual industry in the past ten years. Despite this, the first generation of autostereoscopic displays failed to generate enough consumer excitement. Some reasons are little 3D content and performance issues. For this reason, an exponential increase in three-dimensional vision research has occurred in the last few years. In this review, a study of the historical impact of the most important technologies has been performed. This study is carried out in terms of research manuscripts per year. The results reveal that research on spatial multiplexing technique is increasing considerably and today is the most studied. For this reason, the state of the art of this technique is presented. The use of microlenses seems to be the most successful method to obtain autostereoscopic vision. When they are fabricated with liquid crystal materials, extended capabilities are produced. Among the numerous techniques for manufacturing liquid crystal microlenses, this review covers the most viable designs for its use in autostereoscopic displays. For this reason, some of the most important topologies and their relation with autostereoscopic displays are presented. Finally, the challenges in some recent applications, such as portable devices, and the future of three-dimensional displays based on liquid crystal microlenses are outlined. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Materials for Display Applications)

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15 pages, 2336 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Antimicrobial Properties and Cytocompatibility of PLGA/Ag Nanocomposites

by Mariangela Scavone^1,2,3,4, Ilaria Armentano⁵, Elena Fortunati⁵

, Francesco Cristofaro⁶

, Samantha Mattioli⁵, Luigi Torre⁵, Jose M. Kenny⁵

, Marcello Imbriani^7,8, Carla Renata Arciola^9,*

and Livia Visai^6,8,*

¹ Unité Mixte de Recherche (UMR) S949, Inserm, Strasbourg 67000, France

² Etablissement Français du Sang-Alsace (EFS-Alsace), Strasbourg 67000, France

³ Fédération de Médecine Translationnelle de Strasbourg (FMTS), Strasbourg 67000, France

⁴ Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg 67000, France

⁵ Materials Engineering Center, UdR INSTM, University of Perugia, Terni 05100, Italy

⁶ Department of Molecular Medicine, INSTM UdR of Pavia, Biochemistry Unit, “A Castellani”, Viale Taramelli, 3/b-27100 Pavia, Center for Health Technologies (C.H.T.), University of Pavia, Pavia 27100, Italy

⁷ Department of Public Health, Experimental Medicine and Forensics, University of Pavia, Pavia 27100, Italy

⁸ Department of Occupational Medicine, Toxicology and Environmental Risks, S. Maugeri Foundation, IRCCS Pavia 27100, Italy

⁹ Research Unit on Implant Infections, Rizzoli Orthopaedic Institute, and DIMES, University of Bologna, Via di Barbiano 1/10-40136, Bologna, Italy

Materials 2016, 9(1), 37; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma9010037 - 11 Jan 2016

Cited by 23 | Viewed by 6232

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the antimicrobial properties of multifunctional nanocomposites based on poly(dl-Lactide-co-Glycolide) (PLGA) and increasing concentration of silver (Ag) nanoparticles and their effects on cell viability for biomedical applications. PLGA nanocomposite films, produced by solvent casting [...] Read more.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the antimicrobial properties of multifunctional nanocomposites based on poly(dl-Lactide-co-Glycolide) (PLGA) and increasing concentration of silver (Ag) nanoparticles and their effects on cell viability for biomedical applications. PLGA nanocomposite films, produced by solvent casting with 1 wt%, 3 wt% and 7 wt% of Ag nanoparticles were investigated and surface properties were characterized by atomic force microscopy and contact angle measurements. Antibacterial tests were performed using an Escherichia coli RB and Staphylococcus aureus 8325-4 strains. The cell viability and morphology were performed with a murine fibroblast cell line (L929) and a human osteosarcoma cell line (SAOS-2) by cell viability assay and electron microscopy observations. Matrix protein secretion and deposition were also quantified by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The results suggest that the PLGA film morphology can be modified introducing a small percentage of silver nanoparticles, which induce the onset of porous round-like microstructures and also affect the wettability. The PLGA/Ag films having silver nanoparticles of more than 3 wt% showed antibacterial effects against E. coli and S. aureus. Furthermore, silver-containing PLGA films displayed also a good cytocompatibility when assayed with L929 and SAOS-2 cells; indicating the PLGA/3Ag nanocomposite film as a promising candidate for tissue engineering applications. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Anti-Infective Materials in Medicine and Technology)

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19 pages, 5064 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Thickness Influence on In Vitro Biocompatibility of Titanium Nitride Thin Films Synthesized by Pulsed Laser Deposition

by Liviu Duta¹

, George E. Stan², Adrian C. Popa³, Marius A. Husanu², Sorin Moga⁴

, Marcela Socol²

, Irina Zgura²

, Florin Miculescu⁵

, Iuliana Urzica¹, Andrei C. Popescu^1,* and Ion N. Mihailescu^1,*

¹ National Institute for Lasers, Plasma and Radiation Physics, Magurele-Ilfov 077125, Romania

² National Institute of Materials Physics, Magurele-Ilfov 077125, Romania

³ Army Centre for Medical Research, Bucharest 020012, Romania

⁴ Research Centre for Advanced Materials, University of Pitesti, Pitesti 110040, Romania

⁵ Faculty of Materials Science and Engineering, Politehnica University of Bucharest, Bucharest 060042, Romania

Materials 2016, 9(1), 38; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma9010038 - 13 Jan 2016

Cited by 30 | Viewed by 8332

Abstract

We report a study on the biocompatibility vs. thickness in the case of titanium nitride (TiN) films synthesized on 410 medical grade stainless steel substrates by pulsed laser deposition. The films were grown in a nitrogen atmosphere, and their in vitro cytotoxicity was [...] Read more.

We report a study on the biocompatibility vs. thickness in the case of titanium nitride (TiN) films synthesized on 410 medical grade stainless steel substrates by pulsed laser deposition. The films were grown in a nitrogen atmosphere, and their in vitro cytotoxicity was assessed according to ISO 10993-5 [1]. Extensive physical-chemical analyses have been carried out on the deposited structures with various thicknesses in order to explain the differences in biological behavior: profilometry, scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), X-ray diffraction and surface energy measurements. XPS revealed the presence of titanium oxynitride beside TiN in amounts that vary with the film thickness. The cytocompatibility of films seems to be influenced by their TiN surface content. The thinner films seem to be more suitable for medical applications, due to the combined high values of bonding strength and superior cytocompatibility. Full article

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12 pages, 2343 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Synthesis and Characterization of Nanofibrous Polyaniline Thin Film Prepared by Novel Atmospheric Pressure Plasma Polymerization Technique

by Choon-Sang Park¹

, Dong Ha Kim¹, Bhum Jae Shin² and Heung-Sik Tae^1,*

¹ School of Electronics Engineering, College of IT Engineering, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 702-701, Korea

² Department of Electronics Engineering, Sejong University, Seoul 143-747, Korea

Materials 2016, 9(1), 39; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma9010039 - 11 Jan 2016

Cited by 34 | Viewed by 8500

Abstract

This work presents a study on the preparation of plasma-polymerized aniline (pPANI) nanofibers and nanoparticles by an intense plasma cloud type atmospheric pressure plasma jets (iPC-APPJ) device with a single bundle of three glass tubes. The nano size polymer was obtained at a [...] Read more.

This work presents a study on the preparation of plasma-polymerized aniline (pPANI) nanofibers and nanoparticles by an intense plasma cloud type atmospheric pressure plasma jets (iPC-APPJ) device with a single bundle of three glass tubes. The nano size polymer was obtained at a sinusoidal wave with a peak value of 8 kV and a frequency of 26 kHz under ambient air. Discharge currents, photo-sensor amplifier, and optical emission spectrometer (OES) techniques were used to analyze the plasma produced from the iPC-APPJ device. Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), and gel permeation chromatography (GPC) techniques were used to analyze the pPANI. FE-SEM and TEM results show that pPANI has nanofibers, nanoparticles morphology, and polycrystalline characteristics. The FT-IR and GC-MS analysis show the characteristic polyaniline peaks with evidence that some quinone and benzene rings are broken by the discharge energy. GPC results show that pPANI has high molecular weight (M_w), about 533 kDa with 1.9 polydispersity index (PDI). This study contributes to a better understanding on the novel growth process and synthesis of uniform polyaniline nanofibers and nanoparticles with high molecular weights using the simple atmospheric pressure plasma polymerization technique. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Manufacturing Processes and Systems)

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13 pages, 7771 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Preliminary Investigation of the Process Capabilities of Hydroforging

by Bandar Alzahrani and Gracious Ngaile^*

Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, North Carolina State University, 911 Oval Drive-3160 EB3, Raleigh, NC 27695-7910, USA

Materials 2016, 9(1), 40; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma9010040 - 12 Jan 2016

Cited by 16 | Viewed by 6523

Abstract

Hydroforging is a hybrid forming operation whereby a thick tube is formed to a desired geometry by combining forging and hydroforming principles. Through this process hollow structures with high strength-to-weight ratio can be produced for applications in power transmission systems and other structural [...] Read more.

Hydroforging is a hybrid forming operation whereby a thick tube is formed to a desired geometry by combining forging and hydroforming principles. Through this process hollow structures with high strength-to-weight ratio can be produced for applications in power transmission systems and other structural components that demands high strength-to-weight ratio. In this process, a thick tube is deformed by pressurized fluid contained within the tube using a multi-purpose punch assembly, which is also used to feed tube material into the die cavity. Fluid pressure inside the thick tube is developed by volume change governed by the movement of the punch assembly. In contrast to the conventional tube hydroforming (THF), the hydroforging process presented in this study does not require external supply of pressurized fluid to the deforming tube. To investigate the capability of hydroforging process, an experimental setup was developed and used to hydroforge various geometries. These geometries included hollow flanged vessels, hexagonal flanged parts, and hollow bevel and spur gears. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forming of Light Weight Materials)

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17 pages, 4276 KiB

Open AccessReview

Failure Analysis in Magnetic Tunnel Junction Nanopillar with Interfacial Perpendicular Magnetic Anisotropy

by Weisheng Zhao^1,2,*, Xiaoxuan Zhao^1,2, Boyu Zhang^1,2, Kaihua Cao^1,2, Lezhi Wang^1,2, Wang Kang^1,2, Qian Shi^1,2, Mengxing Wang^1,2, Yu Zhang^1,2,3, You Wang^3,4, Shouzhong Peng^1,2, Jacques-Olivier Klein³, Lirida Alves De Barros Naviner⁴ and Dafine Ravelosona³

¹ School of Electrical and Information Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing 100191, China

² Spintronics Interdisciplinary Center, Beihang University, Beijing 100191, China

³ Institut d’Electronique Fondamentale, CNRS UMR 8622, University of Paris-Sud, 91405 Orsay, France

⁴ Laboratoire Traitement et Communication de l’Information, Institut MINES-TELECOM, TELECOM ParisTech, Paris 75634, France

Materials 2016, 9(1), 41; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma9010041 - 12 Jan 2016

Cited by 74 | Viewed by 15282

Abstract

Magnetic tunnel junction nanopillar with interfacial perpendicular magnetic anisotropy (PMA-MTJ) becomes a promising candidate to build up spin transfer torque magnetic random access memory (STT-MRAM) for the next generation of non-volatile memory as it features low spin transfer switching current, fast speed, high [...] Read more.

Magnetic tunnel junction nanopillar with interfacial perpendicular magnetic anisotropy (PMA-MTJ) becomes a promising candidate to build up spin transfer torque magnetic random access memory (STT-MRAM) for the next generation of non-volatile memory as it features low spin transfer switching current, fast speed, high scalability, and easy integration into conventional complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) circuits. However, this device suffers from a number of failure issues, such as large process variation and tunneling barrier breakdown. The large process variation is an intrinsic issue for PMA-MTJ as it is based on the interfacial effects between ultra-thin films with few layers of atoms; the tunneling barrier breakdown is due to the requirement of an ultra-thin tunneling barrier (e.g., <1 nm) to reduce the resistance area for the spin transfer torque switching in the nanopillar. These failure issues limit the research and development of STT-MRAM to widely achieve commercial products. In this paper, we give a full analysis of failure mechanisms for PMA-MTJ and present some eventual solutions from device fabrication to system level integration to optimize the failure issues. Full article

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13 pages, 5524 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Improved Sectional Image Analysis Technique for Evaluating Fiber Orientations in Fiber-Reinforced Cement-Based Materials

by Bang Yeon Lee¹

, Su-Tae Kang², Hae-Bum Yun³ and Yun Yong Kim^4,*

¹ School of Architecture, Chonnam National University, 77 Yongbong-ro, Buk-gu, Gwangju 61186, Korea

² Department of Civil Engineering, Daegu University, 201 Daegudae-ro, Jillyang, Gyeongsan, Gyeongbuk 38453, Korea

³ Department of Civil, Environmental, and Construction Engineering, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL 32816, USA

⁴ Department of Civil Engineering, Chungnam National University, 99 Daehak-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 34134, Korea

Materials 2016, 9(1), 42; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma9010042 - 12 Jan 2016

Cited by 15 | Viewed by 5923

Abstract

The distribution of fiber orientation is an important factor in determining the mechanical properties of fiber-reinforced concrete. This study proposes a new image analysis technique for improving the evaluation accuracy of fiber orientation distribution in the sectional image of fiber-reinforced concrete. A series [...] Read more.

The distribution of fiber orientation is an important factor in determining the mechanical properties of fiber-reinforced concrete. This study proposes a new image analysis technique for improving the evaluation accuracy of fiber orientation distribution in the sectional image of fiber-reinforced concrete. A series of tests on the accuracy of fiber detection and the estimation performance of fiber orientation was performed on artificial fiber images to assess the validity of the proposed technique. The validation test results showed that the proposed technique estimates the distribution of fiber orientation more accurately than the direct measurement of fiber orientation by image analysis. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Image Analysis and Processing for Cement-based Materials)

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12 pages, 1032 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Influence of Different Post-Plasma Treatment Storage Conditions on the Shear Bond Strength of Veneering Porcelain to Zirconia

by Mun-Hwan Lee^1,†, Bong Ki Min^2,†, Jun Sik Son³ and Tae-Yub Kwon^4,*

¹ Department of Medical & Biological Engineering, Graduate School, Kyungpook National University, 2-188-1 Samduk-dong, Jung-gu, Daegu 700-412, Korea

² Center for Research Facilities, Yeungnam University, 214-1 Dae-dong, Gyeongsan 712-749, Korea

³ Korea Textile Development Institute, 1083 Jungri-dong, Seo-gu, Daegu 703-712, Korea

⁴ Department of Dental Biomaterials, School of Dentistry, Kyungpook National University, 2-188-1 Samduk-dong, Jung-gu, Daegu 700-412, Korea

^† These authors contributed equally to this work.

Materials 2016, 9(1), 43; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma9010043 - 12 Jan 2016

Cited by 33 | Viewed by 6123

Abstract

This in vitro study investigated whether different storage conditions of plasma-treated zirconia specimens affect the shear bond strength of veneering porcelain. Zirconia plates were treated with a non-thermal atmospheric argon plasma (200 W, 600 s). Porcelain veneering (2.38 mm in diameter) was performed [...] Read more.

This in vitro study investigated whether different storage conditions of plasma-treated zirconia specimens affect the shear bond strength of veneering porcelain. Zirconia plates were treated with a non-thermal atmospheric argon plasma (200 W, 600 s). Porcelain veneering (2.38 mm in diameter) was performed immediately (P-I) or after 24 h storage in water (P-W) or air (P-A) on the treated surfaces (n = 10). Untreated plates were used as the control. Each group was further divided into two subgroups according to the application of a ceramic liner. All veneered specimens underwent a shear bond strength (SBS) test. In the X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis, the oxygen/carbon ratios of the plasma-treated groups increased in comparison with those of the control group. When a liner was not used, the three plasma-treated groups showed significantly higher SBS values than the control group (p < 0.001), although group P-A exhibited a significantly lower value than the other two groups (p < 0.05). The liner application negatively affected bonding in groups P-I and P-W (p < 0.05). When the veneering step was delayed after plasma treatment of zirconia, storage of the specimens in water was effective in maintaining the cleaned surfaces for optimal bonding with the veneering porcelain. Full article

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13 pages, 9750 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Correlation of High Magnetoelectric Coupling with Oxygen Vacancy Superstructure in Epitaxial Multiferroic BaTiO₃-BiFeO₃ Composite Thin Films

by Michael Lorenz^1,*, Gerald Wagner², Vera Lazenka³, Peter Schwinkendorf¹, Michael Bonholzer¹, Margriet J. Van Bael⁴, André Vantomme³, Kristiaan Temst³, Oliver Oeckler² and Marius Grundmann¹

¹ Institut für Experimentelle Physik II, Universität Leipzig, Leipzig D-04103, Germany

² Institut für Mineralogie, Kristallographie und Materialwissenschaft, Universität Leipzig, Leipzig D-04103, Germany

³ Instituut voor Kern- en Stralingsfysica, KU Leuven, Leuven B-3001, Belgium

⁴ Laboratorium voor Vaste-Stoffysica en Magnetisme, KU Leuven, Leuven B-3001, Belgium

Materials 2016, 9(1), 44; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma9010044 - 13 Jan 2016

Cited by 16 | Viewed by 8927

Abstract

Epitaxial multiferroic BaTiO₃-BiFeO₃ composite thin films exhibit a correlation between the magnetoelectric (ME) voltage coefficient α_ME and the oxygen partial pressure during growth. The ME coefficient α_ME reaches high values up to 43 V/(cm·Oe) at 300 K and [...] Read more.

Epitaxial multiferroic BaTiO₃-BiFeO₃ composite thin films exhibit a correlation between the magnetoelectric (ME) voltage coefficient α_ME and the oxygen partial pressure during growth. The ME coefficient α_ME reaches high values up to 43 V/(cm·Oe) at 300 K and at 0.25 mbar oxygen growth pressure. The temperature dependence of α_ME of the composite films is opposite that of recently-reported BaTiO₃-BiFeO₃ superlattices, indicating that strain-mediated ME coupling alone cannot explain its origin. Probably, charge-mediated ME coupling may play a role in the composite films. Furthermore, the chemically-homogeneous composite films show an oxygen vacancy superstructure, which arises from vacancy ordering on the {111} planes of the pseudocubic BaTiO₃-type structure. This work contributes to the understanding of magnetoelectric coupling as a complex and sensitive interplay of chemical, structural and geometrical issues of the BaTiO₃-BiFeO₃ composite system and, thus, paves the way to practical exploitation of magnetoelectric composites. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Epitaxial Materials 2015)

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13 pages, 3281 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effect of Rare Earth Metals on the Microstructure of Al-Si Based Alloys

by Saleh A. Alkahtani¹, Emad M. Elgallad², Mahmoud M. Tash¹

, Agnes M. Samuel² and Fawzy H. Samuel^2,*

¹ Industrial Engineering Program, Mechanical Engineering Department, College of Engineering, Prince Sattam bin AbdulAziz University, Al Kharj 11942, Saudi Arabia

² Département des Sciences Appliquées, Université du Québec à Chicoutimi, Chicoutimi, QC G7H 2B1, Canada

Materials 2016, 9(1), 45; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma9010045 - 13 Jan 2016

Cited by 52 | Viewed by 9889

Abstract

The present study was performed on A356 alloy [Al-7 wt %Si 0.0.35 wt %Mg]. To that La and Ce were added individually or combined up to 1.5 wt % each. The results show that these rare earth elements affect only the alloy melting [...] Read more.

The present study was performed on A356 alloy [Al-7 wt %Si 0.0.35 wt %Mg]. To that La and Ce were added individually or combined up to 1.5 wt % each. The results show that these rare earth elements affect only the alloy melting temperature with no marked change in the temperature of Al-Si eutectic precipitation. Additionally, rare earth metals have no modification effect up to 1.5 wt %. In addition, La and Ce tend to react with Sr leading to modification degradation. In order to achieve noticeable modification of eutectic Si particles, the concentration of rare earth metals should exceed 1.5 wt %, which simultaneously results in the precipitation of a fairly large volume fraction of insoluble intermetallics. The precipitation of these complex intermetallics is expected to have a negative effect on the alloy performance. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Failure Analysis in Materials)

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9 pages, 2098 KiB

Open AccessLetter

Effects of the F₄TCNQ-Doped Pentacene Interlayers on Performance Improvement of Top-Contact Pentacene-Based Organic Thin-Film Transistors

by Ching-Lin Fan^1,2,*, Wei-Chun Lin², Hsiang-Sheng Chang¹, Yu-Zuo Lin¹ and Bohr-Ran Huang²

¹ Department of Electronic and Computer Engineering, National Taiwan University of Science and Technology, No. 43, Section 4, Keelung Road, Da’an District, Taipei City 106, Taiwan

² Graduate Institute of Electro-Optical Engineering, National Taiwan University of Science and Technology, No. 43, Section 4, Keelung Road, Da’an District, Taipei City 106, Taiwan

Materials 2016, 9(1), 46; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma9010046 - 13 Jan 2016

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 8193

Abstract

In this paper, the top-contact (TC) pentacene-based organic thin-film transistor (OTFT) with a tetrafluorotetracyanoquinodimethane (F₄TCNQ)-doped pentacene interlayer between the source/drain electrodes and the pentacene channel layer were fabricated using the co-evaporation method. Compared with a pentacene-based OTFT without an interlayer, OTFTs [...] Read more.

In this paper, the top-contact (TC) pentacene-based organic thin-film transistor (OTFT) with a tetrafluorotetracyanoquinodimethane (F₄TCNQ)-doped pentacene interlayer between the source/drain electrodes and the pentacene channel layer were fabricated using the co-evaporation method. Compared with a pentacene-based OTFT without an interlayer, OTFTs with an F₄TCNQ:pentacene ratio of 1:1 showed considerably improved electrical characteristics. In addition, the dependence of the OTFT performance on the thickness of the F₄TCNQ-doped pentacene interlayer is weaker than that on a Teflon interlayer. Therefore, a molecular doping-type F₄TCNQ-doped pentacene interlayer is a suitable carrier injection layer that can improve the TC-OTFT performance and facilitate obtaining a stable process window. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Electrode Materials)

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11 pages, 1258 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Surface Functional Poly(lactic Acid) Electrospun Nanofibers for Biosensor Applications

by Edurne González¹, Larissa M. Shepherd¹

, Laura Saunders² and Margaret W. Frey^1,*

¹ Department of Fiber Science and Apparel Design, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA

² Chemical and Biological Engineering Department, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY 14261, USA

Materials 2016, 9(1), 47; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma9010047 - 14 Jan 2016

Cited by 52 | Viewed by 8394

Abstract

In this work, biotin surface functionalized hydrophilic non-water-soluble biocompatible poly(lactic acid) (PLA) nanofibers are created for their potential use as biosensors. Varying concentrations of biotin (up to 18 weight total percent (wt %)) were incorporated into PLA fibers together with poly(lactic acid)-block-poly(ethylene glycol) [...] Read more.

In this work, biotin surface functionalized hydrophilic non-water-soluble biocompatible poly(lactic acid) (PLA) nanofibers are created for their potential use as biosensors. Varying concentrations of biotin (up to 18 weight total percent (wt %)) were incorporated into PLA fibers together with poly(lactic acid)-block-poly(ethylene glycol) (PLA-b-PEG) block polymers. While biotin provided surface functionalization, PLA-b-PEG provided hydrophilicity to the final fibers. Morphology and surface-available biotin of the final fibers were studied by Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM) and competitive colorimetric assays. The incorporation of PLA-b-PEG block copolymers not only decreased fiber diameters but also dramatically increased the amount of biotin available at the fiber surface able to bind avidin. Finally, fiber water stability tests revealed that both biotin and PLA-b-PEG, migrated to the aqueous phase after relatively extended periods of water exposure. The functional hydrophilic nanofiber created in this work shows a potential application as a biosensor for point-of-care diagnostics. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Electrospun Materials)

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14 pages, 1424 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Synthesis, X-ray Structure, Optical, and Electrochemical Properties of a White-Light-Emitting Molecule

by Jiun-Wei Hu, Ying-Hsuan Wu, Hsing-Yang Tsai and Kew-Yu Chen^*

Department of Chemical Engineering, Feng Chia University, Taichung 40724, Taiwan

Materials 2016, 9(1), 48; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma9010048 - 14 Jan 2016

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 6160

Abstract

A new white-light-emitting molecule (1) was synthesized and characterized by NMR spectroscopy, high resolution mass spectrometry, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Compound 1 crystallizes in the orthorhombic space group Pnma, with a = 12.6814(6), b = 7.0824(4), c = 17.4628(9) Å, [...] Read more.

A new white-light-emitting molecule (1) was synthesized and characterized by NMR spectroscopy, high resolution mass spectrometry, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Compound 1 crystallizes in the orthorhombic space group Pnma, with a = 12.6814(6), b = 7.0824(4), c = 17.4628(9) Å, α = 90°, β = 90°, γ = 90°. In the crystal, molecules are linked by weak intermolecular C-H···O hydrogen bonds, forming an infinite chain along [100], generating a C(10) motif. Compound 1 possesses an intramolecular six-membered-ring hydrogen bond, from which excited-state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) takes place from the phenolic proton to the carbonyl oxygen, resulting in a tautomer that is in equilibrium with the normal species, exhibiting a dual emission that covers almost all of the visible spectrum and consequently generates white light. It exhibits one irreversible one-electron oxidation and two irreversible one-electron reductions in dichloromethane at modest potentials. Furthermore, the geometric structures, frontier molecular orbitals (MOs), and the potential energy curves (PECs) for 1 in the ground and the first singlet excited state were fully rationalized by density functional theory (DFT) and time-dependent DFT calculations. The results demonstrate that the forward and backward ESIPT may happen on a similar timescale, enabling the excited-state equilibrium to be established. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Materials for Display Applications)

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10 pages, 4332 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Preparation of Extracellular Matrix Developed Using Porcine Articular Cartilage and In Vitro Feasibility Study of Porcine Articular Cartilage as an Anti-Adhesive Film

by Ji Hye Baek^1,†, Kyungsook Kim^1,†, Soon Sim Yang^1,†, Seung Hun Park¹, Bo Ram Song¹, Hee-Woong Yun¹, Sung In Jeong², Young Jick Kim³, Byoung Hyun Min^1,3,* and Moon Suk Kim^1,*

¹ Department of Molecular Science and Technology, Ajou University, Suwon 443-749, Korea

² Advanced Radiation Technology, Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute, Jeollabuk-do 580-185, Korea

³ Cell Therapy Center, Ajou University Medical Center, Suwon 443-749, Korea

^† These authors are equal first authors in this work.

Materials 2016, 9(1), 49; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma9010049 - 14 Jan 2016

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 6330

Abstract

In this study, we examined whether porcine articular cartilage (PAC) is a suitable and effective anti-adhesive material. PAC, which contained no non-collagenous tissue components, was collected by mechanical manipulation and decellularization of porcine knee cartilage. The PAC film for use as an anti-adhesive [...] Read more.

In this study, we examined whether porcine articular cartilage (PAC) is a suitable and effective anti-adhesive material. PAC, which contained no non-collagenous tissue components, was collected by mechanical manipulation and decellularization of porcine knee cartilage. The PAC film for use as an anti-adhesive barrier was easily shaped into various sizes using homemade silicone molds. The PAC film was cross-linked to study the usefulness of the anti-adhesive barrier shape. The cross-linked PAC (Cx-PAC) film showed more stable physical properties over extended periods compared to uncross-linked PAC (UnCx-PAC) film. To control the mechanical properties, Cx-PAC film was thermally treated at 45 °C or 65 °C followed by incubation at room temperature. The Cx-PAC films exhibited varying enthalpies, ultimate tensile strength values, and contact angles before and after thermal treatment and after incubation at room temperature. Next, to examine the anti-adhesive properties, human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were cultured on Cx-PAC and thermal-treated Cx-PAC films. Scanning electron microscopy, fluorescence, and MTT assays showed that HUVECs were well adhered to the surface of the plate and proliferated, indicating no inhibition of the attachment and proliferation of HUVECs. In contrast, Cx-PAC and thermal-treated Cx-PAC exhibited little and/or no cell attachment and proliferation because of the inhibition effect on HUVECs. In conclusion, we successfully developed a Cx-PAC film with controllable mechanical properties that can be used as an anti-adhesive barrier. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Anti-Infective Materials in Medicine and Technology)

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11 pages, 3600 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Biodegradable Nanocomposite Films Based on Sodium Alginate and Cellulose Nanofibrils

by B. Deepa^1,2, Eldho Abraham³, Laly A. Pothan^1,*, Nereida Cordeiro⁴

, Marisa Faria⁴ and Sabu Thomas⁵

¹ Department of Chemistry, Bishop Moore College, Mavelikara-690101, Kerala, India

² Department of Chemistry, Church Missionary Society(C.M.S) College, Kottayam-686001, Kerala, India

³ Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, Hebrew University, Jerusalem, POB 12, Rehovot 76100, Israel

⁴ Faculty of Exact Science and Engineering, University of Madeira, 9000-390 Funchal, Portugal

⁵ School of Chemical Sciences, Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam-686560, Kerala, India

Materials 2016, 9(1), 50; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma9010050 - 14 Jan 2016

Cited by 171 | Viewed by 12625

Abstract

Biodegradable nanocomposite films were prepared by incorporation of cellulose nanofibrils (CNF) into alginate biopolymer using the solution casting method. The effects of CNF content (2.5, 5, 7.5, 10 and 15 wt %) on mechanical, biodegradability and swelling behavior of the nanocomposite films were [...] Read more.

Biodegradable nanocomposite films were prepared by incorporation of cellulose nanofibrils (CNF) into alginate biopolymer using the solution casting method. The effects of CNF content (2.5, 5, 7.5, 10 and 15 wt %) on mechanical, biodegradability and swelling behavior of the nanocomposite films were determined. The results showed that the tensile modulus value of the nanocomposite films increased from 308 to 1403 MPa with increasing CNF content from 0% to 10%; however, it decreased with further increase of the filler content. Incorporation of CNF also significantly reduced the swelling percentage and water solubility of alginate-based films, with the lower values found for 10 wt % in CNF. Biodegradation studies of the films in soil confirmed that the biodegradation time of alginate/CNF films greatly depends on the CNF content. The results evidence that the stronger intermolecular interaction and molecular compatibility between alginate and CNF components was at 10 wt % in CNF alginate films. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Green Composites)

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9 pages, 1529 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Acoustic Behavior of Subfloor Lightweight Mortars Containing Micronized Poly (Ethylene Vinyl Acetate) (EVA)

by Luiza R. Brancher¹, Maria Fernanda de O. Nunes^2,*, Ana Maria C. Grisa¹, Daniel T. Pagnussat² and Mára Zeni¹

¹ Laboratory of Materials Chemistry Research, University of Caxias do Sul, Rua Francisco Getúlio Vargas, 1130, Caxias do Sul RS 95070-560, Brazil

² Laboratory of Constructive Technology, University of Caxias do Sul, Avenida Frederico Segala, 3099, Caxias do Sul RS 95010-550, Brazil

Materials 2016, 9(1), 51; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma9010051 - 15 Jan 2016

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 6551

Abstract

This paper aims to contribute to acoustical comfort in buildings by presenting a study about the polymer waste micronized poly (ethylene vinyl acetate) (EVA) to be used in mortars for impact sound insulation in subfloor systems. The evaluation method included physical, mechanical and [...] Read more.

This paper aims to contribute to acoustical comfort in buildings by presenting a study about the polymer waste micronized poly (ethylene vinyl acetate) (EVA) to be used in mortars for impact sound insulation in subfloor systems. The evaluation method included physical, mechanical and morphological properties of the mortar developed with three distinct thicknesses designs (3, 5, and 7 cm) with replacement percentage of the natural aggregate by 10%, 25%, and 50% EVA. Microscopy analysis showed the surface deposition of cement on EVA, with preservation of polymer porosity. The compressive creep test estimated long-term deformation, where the 10% EVA sample with a 7 cm thick mortar showed the lowest percentage deformation of its height. The impact noise test was performed with 50% EVA samples, reaching an impact sound insulation of 23 dB when the uncovered slab was compared with the 7 cm thick subfloor mortar. Polymer waste addition decreased the mortar compressive strength, and EVA displayed characteristics of an influential material to intensify other features of the composite. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Utilisation of By-Product Materials in Concrete)

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18 pages, 9402 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperReview

Stimuli-Responsive Polymer-Clay Nanocomposites under Electric Fields

by Shang Hao Piao, Seung Hyuk Kwon and Hyoung Jin Choi^*

Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, Inha University, Incheon 402-751, Korea

Materials 2016, 9(1), 52; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma9010052 - 15 Jan 2016

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 7136

Abstract

This short Feature Article reviews electric stimuli-responsive polymer/clay nanocomposites with respect to their fabrication, physical characteristics and electrorheological (ER) behaviors under applied electric fields when dispersed in oil. Their structural characteristics, morphological features and thermal degradation behavior were examined by X-ray diffraction pattern, [...] Read more.

This short Feature Article reviews electric stimuli-responsive polymer/clay nanocomposites with respect to their fabrication, physical characteristics and electrorheological (ER) behaviors under applied electric fields when dispersed in oil. Their structural characteristics, morphological features and thermal degradation behavior were examined by X-ray diffraction pattern, scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis, respectively. Particular focus is given to the electro-responsive ER characteristics of the polymer/clay nanocomposites in terms of the yield stress and viscoelastic properties along with their applications. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymer Nanocomposites)

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28 pages, 4078 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperReview

Bottom-Up Synthesis and Sensor Applications of Biomimetic Nanostructures

by Li Wang^1,*, Yujing Sun², Zhuang Li², Aiguo Wu³

and Gang Wei^4,*

¹ College of Chemistry, Jilin Normal University, Haifeng Street 1301, Siping 136000, China

² State Key Laboratory of Electroanalytical Chemistry, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Renmin Street 5625, Changchun 130022, China

³ Key Laboratory of Magnetic Materials and Devices & Division of Functional Materials and Nanodevices, Ningbo Institute of Material Technology and Engineering, Chinese Academy Sciences, Ningbo 315201, China

⁴ Faculty of Production Engineering, University of Bremen, Am Fallturm 1, D-28359 Bremen, Germany

Materials 2016, 9(1), 53; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma9010053 - 18 Jan 2016

Cited by 61 | Viewed by 10954

Abstract

The combination of nanotechnology, biology, and bioengineering greatly improved the developments of nanomaterials with unique functions and properties. Biomolecules as the nanoscale building blocks play very important roles for the final formation of functional nanostructures. Many kinds of novel nanostructures have been created [...] Read more.

The combination of nanotechnology, biology, and bioengineering greatly improved the developments of nanomaterials with unique functions and properties. Biomolecules as the nanoscale building blocks play very important roles for the final formation of functional nanostructures. Many kinds of novel nanostructures have been created by using the bioinspired self-assembly and subsequent binding with various nanoparticles. In this review, we summarized the studies on the fabrications and sensor applications of biomimetic nanostructures. The strategies for creating different bottom-up nanostructures by using biomolecules like DNA, protein, peptide, and virus, as well as microorganisms like bacteria and plant leaf are introduced. In addition, the potential applications of the synthesized biomimetic nanostructures for colorimetry, fluorescence, surface plasmon resonance, surface-enhanced Raman scattering, electrical resistance, electrochemistry, and quartz crystal microbalance sensors are presented. This review will promote the understanding of relationships between biomolecules/microorganisms and functional nanomaterials in one way, and in another way it will guide the design and synthesis of biomimetic nanomaterials with unique properties in the future. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Biomaterials)

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17 pages, 7539 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Tuning the Performance of Metallic Auxetic Metamaterials by Using Buckling and Plasticity

by Arash Ghaedizadeh¹

, Jianhu Shen¹, Xin Ren^1,2 and Yi Min Xie^1,*

¹ Centre for Innovative Structures and Materials, School of Engineering, RMIT University, GPO Box 2476, Melbourne 3001, Australia

² Key Laboratory of Traffic Safety on Track, School of Traffic & Transportation Engineering, Central South University, Changsha 410075, China

Materials 2016, 9(1), 54; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma9010054 - 18 Jan 2016

Cited by 73 | Viewed by 13485

Abstract

Metallic auxetic metamaterials are of great potential to be used in many applications because of their superior mechanical performance to elastomer-based auxetic materials. Due to the limited knowledge on this new type of materials under large plastic deformation, the implementation of such materials [...] Read more.

Metallic auxetic metamaterials are of great potential to be used in many applications because of their superior mechanical performance to elastomer-based auxetic materials. Due to the limited knowledge on this new type of materials under large plastic deformation, the implementation of such materials in practical applications remains elusive. In contrast to the elastomer-based metamaterials, metallic ones possess new features as a result of the nonlinear deformation of their metallic microstructures under large deformation. The loss of auxetic behavior in metallic metamaterials led us to carry out a numerical and experimental study to investigate the mechanism of the observed phenomenon. A general approach was proposed to tune the performance of auxetic metallic metamaterials undergoing large plastic deformation using buckling behavior and the plasticity of base material. Both experiments and finite element simulations were used to verify the effectiveness of the developed approach. By employing this approach, a 2D auxetic metamaterial was derived from a regular square lattice. Then, by altering the initial geometry of microstructure with the desired buckling pattern, the metallic metamaterials exhibit auxetic behavior with tuneable mechanical properties. A systematic parametric study using the validated finite element models was conducted to reveal the novel features of metallic auxetic metamaterials undergoing large plastic deformation. The results of this study provide a useful guideline for the design of 2D metallic auxetic metamaterials for various applications. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cellular Materials: Design and Optimisation)

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11 pages, 1590 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Theoretical and Experimental Studies on the Crystal Structure, Electronic Structure and Optical Properties of SmTaO₄

by Song Wang, Miao Jiang, Lihong Gao^*

, Zhuang Ma and Fuchi Wang

School of Materials Science and Engineering, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China

Materials 2016, 9(1), 55; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma9010055 - 18 Jan 2016

Cited by 23 | Viewed by 6218

Abstract

The crystal structure, electronic structure and optical properties of SmTaO₄ were identified through an experimental method and first principles calculation. X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) and a spectrophotometer were used to characterize the crystal structure, reflectivity and band gap of this material; furthermore, [...] Read more.

The crystal structure, electronic structure and optical properties of SmTaO₄ were identified through an experimental method and first principles calculation. X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) and a spectrophotometer were used to characterize the crystal structure, reflectivity and band gap of this material; furthermore, the electronic structure and optical properties were investigated according to three exchange-correlation potentials, LDA, GGA and GGA + U. Results show that the SmTaO₄ calcined at 1400 °C with the solid-state reaction method is in monoclinic phase in the space group I²/a. In addition, the calculated lattice parameters are consistent with the experimental values. The electron transitions among the O 2p states, Sm 4f states and Ta 5d states play a key role in the dielectric function, refractive index, absorption coefficient and reflectivity of SmTaO₄. The calculation of first principles provides considerable insight into the relationship between the electronic structure and optical properties of this material. Full article

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26 pages, 16898 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Thermo-Mechanical Compatibility of Viscoelastic Mortars for Stone Repair

by Thibault Demoulin¹, George W. Scherer²

, Fred Girardet³ and Robert J. Flatt^1,*

¹ Physical Chemistry of Building Materials, Institute for Building Materials, HIF, ETH Zurich, Zurich 8093, Switzerland

² Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Eng. Quad. E-319, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA

³ RINO Sarl, Blonay 1807, Switzerland

Materials 2016, 9(1), 56; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma9010056 - 18 Jan 2016

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 5814

Abstract

The magnitude of the thermal stresses that originate in an acrylic-based repair material used for the reprofiling of natural sandstone is analyzed. This kind of artificial stone was developed in the late 1970s for its peculiar property of reversibility in an organic solvent. [...] Read more.

The magnitude of the thermal stresses that originate in an acrylic-based repair material used for the reprofiling of natural sandstone is analyzed. This kind of artificial stone was developed in the late 1970s for its peculiar property of reversibility in an organic solvent. However, it displays a high thermal expansion coefficient, which can be a matter of concern for the durability either of the repair or of the underlying original stone. To evaluate this risk we propose an analytical solution that considers the viscoelasticity of the repair layer. The temperature profile used in the numerical evaluation has been measured in a church where artificial stone has been used in a recent restoration campaign. The viscoelasticity of the artificial stone has been characterized by stress relaxation experiments. The numerical analysis shows that the relaxation time of the repair mortar, originating from a low T g , allows relief of most of the thermal stresses. It explains the good durability of this particular repair material, as observed by the practitioners, and provides a solid scientific basis for considering that the problem of thermal expansion mismatch is not an issue for this type of stone under any possible conditions of natural exposure. Full article

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11 pages, 3587 KiB

Open AccessReview

Advanced Engineering Strategies for Periodontal Complex Regeneration

by Chan Ho Park¹, Kyoung-Hwa Kim², Yong-Moo Lee²

and Yang-Jo Seol^2,*

¹ Department of Nanobiomedical Science & BK21 PLUS NBM Global Research Center for Regenerative Medicine, Dankook University, Cheonan 330-714, Korea

² Department of Periodontology and Dental Research Institute, School of Dentistry, Seoul National University, Seoul 110-749, Korea

Materials 2016, 9(1), 57; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma9010057 - 18 Jan 2016

Cited by 42 | Viewed by 8645

Abstract

The regeneration and integration of multiple tissue types is critical for efforts to restore the function of musculoskeletal complex. In particular, the neogenesis of periodontal constructs for systematic tooth-supporting functions is a current challenge due to micron-scaled tissue compartmentalization, oblique/perpendicular orientations of fibrous [...] Read more.

The regeneration and integration of multiple tissue types is critical for efforts to restore the function of musculoskeletal complex. In particular, the neogenesis of periodontal constructs for systematic tooth-supporting functions is a current challenge due to micron-scaled tissue compartmentalization, oblique/perpendicular orientations of fibrous connective tissues to the tooth root surface and the orchestration of multiple regenerated tissues. Although there have been various biological and biochemical achievements, periodontal tissue regeneration remains limited and unpredictable. The purpose of this paper is to discuss current advanced engineering approaches for periodontal complex formations; computer-designed, customized scaffolding architectures; cell sheet technology-based multi-phasic approaches; and patient-specific constructs using bioresorbable polymeric material and 3-D printing technology for clinical application. The review covers various advanced technologies for periodontal complex regeneration and state-of-the-art therapeutic avenues in periodontal tissue engineering. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Regenerative Materials)

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11 pages, 1664 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Correlation of Surfactant Concentrations on the Properties of Mesoporous Bioactive Glass

by Shao-Ju Shih^*

, Yu-Chien Lin

, Leon Valentino Posma Panjaitan and Dyka Rahayu Meyla Sari

Department of Materials Science and Engineering, National Taiwan University of Science and Technology, 43, Section 4 Keelung Road, Taipei 10607, Taiwan

Materials 2016, 9(1), 58; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma9010058 - 19 Jan 2016

Cited by 26 | Viewed by 5678

Abstract

Bioactive glass (BG), a potential biomaterial, has received increasing attention since the discovery of its superior bioactivity. One of the main research objectives is to improve the bioactive property of BGs; therefore, surfactant-derived mesoporous bioactive glasses (MBGs) were developed to provide a high [...] Read more.

Bioactive glass (BG), a potential biomaterial, has received increasing attention since the discovery of its superior bioactivity. One of the main research objectives is to improve the bioactive property of BGs; therefore, surfactant-derived mesoporous bioactive glasses (MBGs) were developed to provide a high specific surface area for achieving higher bioactivity. In this study, various concentrations of typical triblock F127 surfactant were used to manipulate the morphology, specific surface area, and bioactivity of MBG particles. Two typical morphologies of smooth (Type I) and wrinkled (Type II) spheres were observed, and the population of Type II particles increased with an increase in the surfactant concentration. A direct correlation between specific surface area and bioactivity was observed by comparing the data obtained using the nitrogen adsorption-desorption method and in vitro bioactive tests. Furthermore, the optimal surfactant concentration corresponding to the highest bioactivity revealed that the surfactant aggregated to form Type II particles when the surface concentration was higher than the critical micelle concentration, and the high population of Type II particles may reduce the specific surface area because of the loss of bioactivity. Moreover, the formation mechanism of SP-derived MBG particles is discussed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bioactive Glasses)

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13 pages, 3827 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Development of Hollow Steel Ball Macro-Encapsulated PCM for Thermal Energy Storage Concrete

by Zhijun Dong¹

, Hongzhi Cui^1,*, Waiching Tang²

, Dazhu Chen¹ and Haibo Wen¹

¹ Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Durability for Marine Civil Engineering, College of Civil Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China

² School of Architecture and Built Environment, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia

Materials 2016, 9(1), 59; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma9010059 - 19 Jan 2016

Cited by 50 | Viewed by 9266

Abstract

The application of thermal energy storage with phase change materials (PCMs) for energy efficiency of buildings grew rapidly in the last few years. In this research, octadecane paraffin was served as a PCM, and a structural concrete with the function of indoor temperature [...] Read more.

The application of thermal energy storage with phase change materials (PCMs) for energy efficiency of buildings grew rapidly in the last few years. In this research, octadecane paraffin was served as a PCM, and a structural concrete with the function of indoor temperature control was developed by using a macro-encapsulated PCM hollow steel ball (HSB). The macro-encapsulated PCM-HSB was prepared by incorporation of octadecane into HSBs through vacuum impregnation. Test results showed that the maximum percentage of octadecane carried by HSBs was 80.3% by mass. The macro-encapsulated PCM-HSB has a latent heat storage capacity as high as 200.5 J/g. The compressive strength of concrete with macro-encapsulated PCM-HSB at 28 days ranged from 22 to 40 MPa. The indoor thermal performance test revealed that concrete with macro-encapsulated octadecane-HSB was capable of reducing the peak indoor air temperature and the fluctuation of indoor temperature. It can be very effective in transferring the heating and cooling loads away from the peak demand times. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Development and Characterisation of Encapsulated PCM: Nano-, Micro-, and Macro-Encapsulation)

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8 pages, 1800 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Parameters Influencing the Growth of ZnO Nanowires as Efficient Low Temperature Flexible Perovskite-Based Solar Cells

by Alex Dymshits, Lior Iagher and Lioz Etgar^*

Institute of Chemistry Casali Center for Applied Chemistry, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 91904, Israel

Materials 2016, 9(1), 60; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma9010060 - 19 Jan 2016

Cited by 38 | Viewed by 7810

Abstract

Hybrid organic-inorganic perovskite has proved to be a superior material for photovoltaic solar cells. In this work we investigate the parameters influencing the growth of ZnO nanowires (NWs) for use as an efficient low temperature photoanode in perovskite-based solar cells. The structure of [...] Read more.

Hybrid organic-inorganic perovskite has proved to be a superior material for photovoltaic solar cells. In this work we investigate the parameters influencing the growth of ZnO nanowires (NWs) for use as an efficient low temperature photoanode in perovskite-based solar cells. The structure of the solar cell is FTO (SnO₂:F)-glass (or PET-ITO (In₂O₃·(SnO₂) (ITO)) on, polyethylene terephthalate (PET)/ZnAc seed layer/ZnO NWs/CH₃NH₃PbI₃/Spiro-OMeTAD/Au. The influence of the growth rate and the diameter of the ZnO NWs on the photovoltaic performance were carefully studied. The ZnO NWs perovskite-based solar cell demonstrates impressive power conversion efficiency of 9.06% on a rigid substrate with current density over 21 mA/cm². In addition, we successfully fabricated flexible perovskite solar cells while maintaining all fabrication processes at low temperature, achieving power conversion efficiency of 6.4% with excellent stability for over 75 bending cycles. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Energy Materials)

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9 pages, 4154 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Fabrication of Crack-Free Barium Titanate Thin Film with High Dielectric Constant Using Sub-Micrometric Scale Layer-by-Layer E-Jet Deposition

by Junsheng Liang^*, Pengfei Li, Dazhi Wang, Xu Fang, Jiahong Ding, Junxiong Wu and Chang Tang

Key Laboratory for Micro/Nano Technology and System of Liaoning Province, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116023, China

Materials 2016, 9(1), 61; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma9010061 - 19 Jan 2016

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 6044

Abstract

Dense and crack-free barium titanate (BaTiO₃, BTO) thin films with a thickness of less than 4 μm were prepared by using sub-micrometric scale, layer-by-layer electrohydrodynamic jet (E-jet) deposition of the suspension ink which is composed of BTO nanopowder and BTO sol. [...] Read more.

Dense and crack-free barium titanate (BaTiO₃, BTO) thin films with a thickness of less than 4 μm were prepared by using sub-micrometric scale, layer-by-layer electrohydrodynamic jet (E-jet) deposition of the suspension ink which is composed of BTO nanopowder and BTO sol. Impacts of the jet height and line-to-line pitch of the deposition on the micro-structure of BTO thin films were investigated. Results show that crack-free BTO thin films can be prepared with 4 mm jet height and 300 μm line-to-line pitch in this work. Dielectric constant of the prepared BTO thin film was recorded as high as 2940 at 1 kHz at room temperature. Meanwhile, low dissipation factor of the BTO thin film of about 8.6% at 1 kHz was also obtained. The layer-by-layer E-jet deposition technique developed in this work has been proved to be a cost-effective, flexible and easy to control approach for the preparation of high-quality solid thin film. Full article

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13 pages, 2319 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Comparison of Cyclic Hysteresis Behavior between Cross-Ply C/SiC and SiC/SiC Ceramic-Matrix Composites

by Longbiao Li

College of Civil Aviation, Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, No. 29 Yudao St., Nanjing 210016, China

Materials 2016, 9(1), 62; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma9010062 - 19 Jan 2016

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 5150

Abstract

In this paper, the comparison of cyclic hysteresis behavior between cross-ply C/SiC and SiC/SiC ceramic-matrix composites (CMCs) has been investigated. The interface slip between fibers and the matrix existed in the matrix cracking mode 3 and mode 5, in which matrix cracking and [...] Read more.

In this paper, the comparison of cyclic hysteresis behavior between cross-ply C/SiC and SiC/SiC ceramic-matrix composites (CMCs) has been investigated. The interface slip between fibers and the matrix existed in the matrix cracking mode 3 and mode 5, in which matrix cracking and interface debonding occurred in the 0° plies are considered as the major reason for hysteresis loops of cross-ply CMCs. The hysteresis loops of cross-ply C/SiC and SiC/SiC composites corresponding to different peak stresses have been predicted using present analysis. The damage parameter, i.e., the proportion of matrix cracking mode 3 in the entire matrix cracking modes of the composite, and the hysteresis dissipated energy increase with increasing peak stress. The damage parameter and hysteresis dissipated energy of C/SiC composite under low peak stress are higher than that of SiC/SiC composite; However, at high peak stress, the damage extent inside of cross-ply SiC/SiC composite is higher than that of C/SiC composite as more transverse cracks and matrix cracks connect together. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Advanced Composites)

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12 pages, 2572 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Influence of Oxygen Concentration on the Performance of Ultra-Thin RF Magnetron Sputter Deposited Indium Tin Oxide Films as a Top Electrode for Photovoltaic Devices

by Jephias Gwamuri¹

, Murugesan Marikkannan^2,†, Jeyanthinath Mayandi^2,†, Patrick K. Bowen^1,† and Joshua M. Pearce^1,3,*

¹ Department of Materials Science & Engineering, Michigan Technological University, 1400 Townsend, Houghton, MI 49931, USA

² Department of Materials Science, School of Chemistry, Madurai Kamaraj University, Ta mil Nadu, Madurai 625 019, India

³ Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering, Michigan Technological University, 1400 Townsend, Houghton, MI 49931, USA

^† These authors contributed equally to this work.

Materials 2016, 9(1), 63; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma9010063 - 20 Jan 2016

Cited by 52 | Viewed by 10202

Abstract

The opportunity for substantial efficiency enhancements of thin film hydrogenated amorphous silicon (a-Si:H) solar photovoltaic (PV) cells using plasmonic absorbers requires ultra-thin transparent conducting oxide top electrodes with low resistivity and high transmittances in the visible range of the electromagnetic spectrum. Fabricating ultra-thin [...] Read more.

The opportunity for substantial efficiency enhancements of thin film hydrogenated amorphous silicon (a-Si:H) solar photovoltaic (PV) cells using plasmonic absorbers requires ultra-thin transparent conducting oxide top electrodes with low resistivity and high transmittances in the visible range of the electromagnetic spectrum. Fabricating ultra-thin indium tin oxide (ITO) films (sub-50 nm) using conventional methods has presented a number of challenges; however, a novel method involving chemical shaving of thicker (greater than 80 nm) RF sputter deposited high-quality ITO films has been demonstrated. This study investigates the effect of oxygen concentration on the etch rates of RF sputter deposited ITO films to provide a detailed understanding of the interaction of all critical experimental parameters to help create even thinner layers to allow for more finely tune plasmonic resonances. ITO films were deposited on silicon substrates with a 98-nm, thermally grown oxide using RF magnetron sputtering with oxygen concentrations of 0, 0.4 and 1.0 sccm and annealed at 300 °C air ambient. Then the films were etched using a combination of water and hydrochloric and nitric acids for 1, 3, 5 and 8 min at room temperature. In-between each etching process cycle, the films were characterized by X-ray diffraction, atomic force microscopy, Raman Spectroscopy, 4-point probe (electrical conductivity), and variable angle spectroscopic ellipsometry. All the films were polycrystalline in nature and highly oriented along the (222) reflection. Ultra-thin ITO films with record low resistivity values (as low as 5.83 × 10⁻⁴ Ω·cm) were obtained and high optical transparency is exhibited in the 300–1000 nm wavelength region for all the ITO films. The etch rate, preferred crystal lattice growth plane, d-spacing and lattice distortion were also observed to be highly dependent on the nature of growth environment for RF sputter deposited ITO films. The structural, electrical, and optical properties of the ITO films are discussed with respect to the oxygen ambient nature and etching time in detail to provide guidance for plasmonic enhanced a-Si:H solar PV cell fabrication. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Photovoltaic Materials and Electronic Devices)

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17 pages, 8616 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Influence of Radiation Sterilization on Properties of Biodegradable Lactide/Glycolide/Trimethylene Carbonate and Lactide/Glycolide/ε-caprolactone Porous Scaffolds with Shape Memory Behavior

by Piotr Rychter¹, Natalia Śmigiel-Gac^1,2, Elżbieta Pamuła³

, Anna Smola-Dmochowska², Henryk Janeczek², Wojciech Prochwicz¹ and Piotr Dobrzyński^1,2,*

¹ Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Jan Dlugosz University in Czestochowa, Armii Krajowej 13/15 Av., Czestochowa 42-218, Poland

² Centre of Polymer and Carbon Materials, Polish Academy of Sciences, Curie-Sklodowska 34 St., Zabrze 41-800, Poland

³ Department of Biomaterials, Faculty of Materials Science and Ceramics, AGH University of Science and Technology, Al Mickiewicza 30, Kraków 30-059, Poland

Materials 2016, 9(1), 64; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma9010064 - 20 Jan 2016

Cited by 16 | Viewed by 7784

Abstract

The aim of the study was the evaluation of gamma irradiation and electron beams for sterilization of porous scaffolds with shape memory behavior obtained from biodegradable terpolymers: poly(l-lactide-co-glycolide-co-trimethylene carbonate) and poly(l-lactide-co-glycolide-co-ɛ-caprolactone). [...] Read more.

The aim of the study was the evaluation of gamma irradiation and electron beams for sterilization of porous scaffolds with shape memory behavior obtained from biodegradable terpolymers: poly(l-lactide-co-glycolide-co-trimethylene carbonate) and poly(l-lactide-co-glycolide-co-ɛ-caprolactone). The impact of mentioned sterilization techniques on the structure of the scaffolds before and after the sterilization process using irradiation doses ranged from 10 to 25 kGy has been investigated. Treatment of the samples with gamma irradiation at 15 kGy dose resulted in considerable drop in glass transition temperature (T_g) and number average molecular weight (M_n). For comparison, after irradiation of the samples using an electron beam with the same dose, no significant changes in structure or properties of examined scaffolds have been noticed. Higher doses of irradiation via electron beam caused essential changes of the scaffolds’ pores resulting in partial melting of their surface. Nevertheless, obtained results have revealed that sterilization with electron beam, when compared to gamma irradiation, is a better method because it does not affect significantly the physicochemical properties of the scaffolds. Both used methods of sterilization did not influence the shape memory behavior of the examined materials. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biodegradable and Bio-Based Polymers)

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30 pages, 11409 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Solid-State Gas Sensors: Sensor System Challenges in the Civil Security Domain

by Gerhard Müller^1,2,*,†

, Angelika Hackner^2,†, Sebastian Beer^2,3,† and Johann Göbel^2,†

¹ Department of Applied Sciences and Mechatronics, Munich University of Applied Sciences, Lothstraße 34, München D-80335, Germany

² Airbus Group Innovations, Munich D-81663, Germany

³ Infineon Technologies, Wernerwerkstraße 2, Regensburg D-93049, Germany

^† These authors contributed equally to this work.

Materials 2016, 9(1), 65; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma9010065 - 20 Jan 2016

Cited by 15 | Viewed by 12458

Abstract

The detection of military high explosives and illicit drugs presents problems of paramount importance in the fields of counter terrorism and criminal investigation. Effectively dealing with such threats requires hand-portable, mobile and affordable instruments. The paper shows that solid-state gas sensors can contribute [...] Read more.

The detection of military high explosives and illicit drugs presents problems of paramount importance in the fields of counter terrorism and criminal investigation. Effectively dealing with such threats requires hand-portable, mobile and affordable instruments. The paper shows that solid-state gas sensors can contribute to the development of such instruments provided the sensors are incorporated into integrated sensor systems, which acquire the target substances in the form of particle residue from suspect objects and which process the collected residue through a sequence of particle sampling, solid-vapor conversion, vapor detection and signal treatment steps. Considering sensor systems with metal oxide gas sensors at the backend, it is demonstrated that significant gains in sensitivity, selectivity and speed of response can be attained when the threat substances are sampled in particle as opposed to vapor form. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanostructured Materials for Chemical Sensing Applications)

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