Search Results (506)

Recently, a new solarization method gained a great deal of attention thanks to various advantages in comparison with both the traditional one and soil fumigation (alternative soil treatment based on the use of chemical agents). This method implements traditional solarization by spraying a biodegradable black liquid over the soil surface before the application of a thermic film. This creates a thin black film that acts like a “black body”, significantly increasing soil temperatures at various depths. Thanks to higher temperatures, it is possible to eliminate most of the pathogens in shorter times compared to traditional solarization. In the present paper, the results of different trials carried out on green beans, Romanesco broccoli, and lettuce were reported. The aims of this work were to demonstrate the efficacy on soil borne pathogens, its lower impact on living soil fungal biodiversity and the agronomical performance of the new solarization method. All crops tested showed a significant yield increase when grown in soil treated with the innovative solarization method. Romanesco broccoli also exhibited improved inflorescence quality. Solarization had a positive impact on overall crop productivity: green beans showed a maximum yield increase of 165.3%, lettuce yields rose by 47.5%, and Romanesco broccoli yields were 111.5% higher compared to the non-solarized control. These results confirm that the new solarization method is more effective, as well as environmentally, economically, and socially sustainable compared to traditional methods. Full article

High-repetition-rate targets present an opportunity for developing diagnostic tools for on-demand calibration at high-power laser facilities for consistent performance and reproducibility during experimental campaigns. The non-linear change in transmission associated with a laser-driven plasma mirror, based on high-repetition rate targets, has been used in a Frequency Resolved Optical Gating (FROG) configuration to analyze the spectral phase for near-infrared pulses far from the Fourier limit. Three types of targets were compared for characterizing pulses in the 1–8 ps range: a glass slide, a polymer tape, and a thin liquid sheet created by two impinging micrometer-scale jets. The thin liquid film had the best mechanical stability and introduced the least spectral distortion, allowing the most robust reconstruction of the temporal intensity profile. The spectral phase was reconstructed using a non-iterative algorithm, which reproduced the second-order phase distortions induced with an acousto-optic programmable dispersive filter with an RMS error of 6.2%, leading to measured pulse durations with an RMS deviation ranging from 1% for pulses of 6.8–7.8 ps up to 7.5% for pulses around 1 ps. Full article

Biocompatible nanocarriers were formulated by encapsulating medicinal extracts from Bryonia dioica (Red Bryony) and Glaucium leiocarpum (Horned Poppy) using a nanophytosome approach. The nanophytosomes were prepared by employing a thin-film hydration technique. The SEM results showed a broad size distribution for both nanophytosomes, and the encapsulation efficiency was about 75–80% for both Red Bryony and Horned Poppy nanophytosomes, as confirmed through scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and dynamic light scattering (DLS). Zeta potential analysis indicated sufficient surface charges to maintain colloidal stability. Encapsulation improved the release characteristics of the extracts, exhibiting an initial burst release followed by sustained release, which is advantageous for enhancing bioavailability within a liquid environment. Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy identified key functional groups, confirming the successful encapsulation of bioactive ingredients within the nanophytosomes. Cytotoxicity tests on fibroblast cell lines (HSF-PI 16) demonstrated the safety of these nanocarriers, indicating biocompatibility at concentrations up to 200 μg/mL. Stability tests over 30 days revealed minimal size fluctuations, further supporting the structural integrity of the formulations. Results suggest that the synthesized nanophytosomes could serve as effective and novel nanocarriers for herbal delivery, addressing the bioavailability limitations of herbal extracts and offering a promising approach for therapeutic applications in both traditional and alternative medicine. This is the first study to report nanophytosome-based delivery of Red Bryony and Horned Poppy extracts. Full article

The application of graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) in polymer composites is a challenge due to their high tendency to agglomerate and restack during processing. In this work, alkyl phosphonium-based ionic liquid was used to assist the dispersion of GNP in an ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) matrix, through a melt-mixing procedure. The mechanical properties and creep resistance of the films prepared by the film extrusion process were evaluated. The results demonstrated that the noncovalent treatment of GNP with the ionic liquid (IL) enhanced the electrical conductivity and creep stability of the EVA composites. The microwave absorbing properties were studied in the X-band and Ku-band. A reflection loss (RL) of −15 dB for EVA containing 0.5 wt% of GNP and 1:1 wt% of GNP/IL was achieved. The use of a multi-layered structure containing thin film layers was efficient for enhancing the microwave absorbing performance, with a minimum RL of −24.6 dB and effective absorption bandwidth of 4.3 GHz. This result is attributed to the internal reflection and scattering of the radiation between layers. The use of simple, low-cost materials and procedures, combined with the system’s excellent mechanical and electrical properties, makes it a promising candidate for multifunctional applications as electrostatic dissipative and microwave absorbing materials for electronic packaging and other electronic devices. Full article

Poly-ether-ether-ketone (PEEK) is widely used in dynamic sealing applications due to its excellent properties. However, its tribological performance as a sealing material still has limitations, as its relatively high friction coefficient may lead to increased wear of sealing components, affecting sealing effectiveness and service life. To optimize its lubrication performance, this study employs surface modification techniques to synthesize a thin polyimide (PI) film on the surface of PEEK. When paired with bearing steel, this modification reduces the friction coefficient and enhances the anti-wear performance of sealing components. The tribological properties of a friction pair composed of GCr15 steel and PI-modified PEEK were systematically investigated using a nematic liquid crystal as the lubricant. The friction system was analyzed through various tests. The experimental results show that, under identical conditions, the friction coefficient of the PI-modified PEEK system decreased by 83.3% compared to pure PEEK. Under loads of 5 N and 25 N and rotational speeds ranging from 50 rpm to 400 rpm, the system exhibited induced alignment superlubricity. At 50 rpm, superlubricity was maintained when the load was below 105 N, while at 200 rpm, this occurred when the load was below 125 N. Excessively high rotational speeds (above 300 rpm) might affect system stability. The friction coefficient initially decreased and then increased with increasing load. The friction system demonstrated induced alignment superlubricity under the tested conditions, suggesting the potential application of PI-modified PEEK in friction components. Full article

Metalworking fluids (MWFs) are crucial in the manufacturing industry, playing a key role in facilitating various production processes. As each machining operation comes with distinct requirements, the properties of the MWFs have to be tailored to meet these specific demands. Understanding the properties of different MWFs is fundamental for optimizing processes and improving performance. This study centered on characterizing the thermal behavior of various cutting oils and water-based cutting fluids over a wide temperature range and sheds light on the specific tribological behavior. The results indicate that water-based fluids exhibit significant shear-thinning behavior, whereas cutting oils maintain nearly Newtonian properties. In terms of frictional performance, cutting oils generally provide better lubrication at higher temperatures, particularly in mixed and full-fluid film regimes, while water-based fluids demonstrate greater friction stability across a wider range of conditions. Among the tested fluids, water-based formulations showed a phase transition from solid to liquid near 0 °C due to their high water content, whereas only a few cutting oils exhibited a similar behavior. Additionally, the thermal conductivity and heat capacity of water-based fluids were substantially higher than those of the cutting oils, contributing to more efficient heat dissipation during machining. These findings, along with the reported data, intend to guide future researchers and industry in selecting the most appropriate cutting fluids for their specific applications and provide valuable input for computational models simulating the influence of MWFs in the primary and secondary shear zones between cutting tools and the workpiece/chiplet. Full article

Graphene films are widely used in thermal management of electronic devices due to their excellent properties such as high flexibility, high thermal conductivity and light weight. However, in the traditional preparation process, some structural defects are introduced, which will lead to an increase in phonon scattering, thereby reducing the thermal conductivity of graphene. Therefore, a new method for preparing graphene thin films is proposed by using the evaporation method; the graphene oxide composite film is prepared by adding carbon-rich molecules (CRMs) to the graphene oxide dispersion liquid. The experimental results show that the addition of a mass fraction of 0.15% CRMs helps to form continuous strips and channels, which are beneficial to the construction of the internal aromatic structure of graphene and improve the crystallinity of graphene film. The in-plane thermal conductivity of the composite film increased from 598.74 W/(m·K) to 704.27 W/(m·K) after adding carbon-rich molecules. However, excess CRMs can lead to the formation of disordered structures during graphitization, which will reduce the thermal conductivity of the film to a certain extent. The radiation properties of graphene films are also proposed to verify the validity of the above conclusions, and the results show that the graphene film with a mass fraction of 0.24% CRMs has better heat dissipation performance, which can be reduced by 5 °C compared with that of pure graphene film. Through the application of graphene in new energy car seats, it is proved that compared with the resistance wire seats, graphene seats have better performance in terms of a fast heating speed and uniform heating. Full article

A linear stability analysis is performed for a power-law liquid film flowing down an inclined rigid plane over a deformable solid layer. The deformable solid is modeled using a neo-Hookean constitutive equation, characterized by a constant shear modulus and a nonzero first normal stress difference in the base state at the fluid–solid interface. To solve the linearized eigenvalue problem, the Riccati transformation method, which offers advantages over traditional techniques by avoiding the parasitic growth seen in the shooting method and eliminating the need for large-scale matrix eigenvalue computations, was used. This method enhances both analytical clarity and computational efficiency. Results show that increasing solid deformability destabilizes the flow at low Reynolds numbers by promoting short-wave modes, while its effect becomes negligible at high Reynolds numbers where inertia dominates. The fluid’s rheology also plays a key role: at low Reynolds numbers, shear-thinning fluids ($n<1$) are more prone to instability, whereas at high Reynolds numbers, shear-thickening fluids ($n>1$) exhibit a broader unstable regime. Full article

Coordination polymers are attractive materials for various fields of practical application. The high degree of freedom of choice of metal ions and organic ligands plays a critical role in functional diversification. In the present study, we report the liquid–liquid interfacial synthesis of a 2D bis(terpyridine)copper(II) polymer thin film, Cu-tpy. The synthesized Cu-tpy was characterized by various microscopic observations such as TEM, SEM, and AFM, and spectroscopic measurements such as XPS, Raman spectroscopy, SEM/EDS, and UV–Vis spectroscopy. Synchrotron-radiated X-ray scattering confirmed that Cu-tpy was oriented crystalline films. Moreover, Cu-tpy showed electrochemical micro-supercapacitor behavior in the solid-state owing to its ionic nature. This study expands the potential of bis(terpyridine)metal(II) polymers as electro-functional materials. Full article

The electric field enhancement effect induced by localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) plays a critical role in imaging and sensing applications. In particular, nanocube structures with narrow gaps provide large hotspot areas, making them highly promising for high-sensitivity applications. This study predicts the electric field enhancement effect of structures combining silver nanocubes and a 10 nm thick silver thin film using the finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method. We demonstrate that the interaction between the silver nanocubes and silver thin film allows control over sharp LSPR peaks in the visible wavelength range. Specifically, the structure with a spacer layer between the silver nanocubes and the silver thin film is suitable for multimodal imaging, while the direct contact structure of the silver nanocubes and the silver thin film shows potential as a highly sensitive refractive index sensor. The 10 nm thick silver thin film enables backside illumination due to its transparency in the visible wavelength region, making it compatible with inverted microscopes and allowing for versatile applications, such as living cell imaging and observations in liquid media. These structures are particularly expected to contribute to advancements in bioimaging and biosensing. Full article

Polyphenylene sulfide (PPS)-based separators have garnered significant attention as high-performance components for next-generation lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), driven by their exceptional thermal stability (>260 °C), chemical inertness, and mechanical durability. This review comprehensively examines advances in PPS separator design, focusing on two structurally distinct categories: porous separators engineered via wet-chemical methods (e.g., melt-blown spinning, electrospinning, thermally induced phase separation) and nonporous solid-state separators fabricated through solvent-free dry-film processes. Porous variants, typified by submicron pore architectures (<1 μm), enable electrolyte-mediated ion transport with ionic conductivities up to >1 mS·cm⁻¹ at >55% porosity, while their nonporous counterparts leverage crystalline sulfur-atom alignment and trace electrolyte infiltration to establish solid–liquid biphasic conduction pathways, achieving ion transference numbers >0.8 and homogenized lithium flux. Dry-processed solid-state PPS separators demonstrate unparalleled thermal dimensional stability (<2% shrinkage at 280 °C) and mitigate dendrite propagation through uniform electric field distribution, as evidenced by COMSOL simulations showing stable Li deposition under Cu particle contamination. Despite these advancements, challenges persist in reconciling thickness constraints (<25 μm) with mechanical robustness, scaling solvent-free manufacturing, and reducing costs. Innovations in ultra-thin formats (<20 μm) with self-healing polymer networks, coupled with compatibility extensions to sodium/zinc-ion systems, are identified as critical pathways for advancing PPS separators. By addressing these challenges, PPS-based architectures hold transformative potential for enabling high-energy-density (>500 Wh·kg⁻¹), intrinsically safe energy storage systems, particularly in applications demanding extreme operational reliability such as electric vehicles and grid-scale storage. Full article

Ionic liquids (ILs) have been explored as a way of improving the performance of ZnO-based optoelectronic devices; however, there are few fundamental studies of the IL/ZnO interface. Here, the adsorption of the IL 1-octyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate [C₈C₁Im][BF₄] on ZnO (0001) and ZnO ($10\overline{1}0$) has been studied using synchrotron-based soft X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The results indicate that [C₈C₁Im][BF₄] is deposited intact on the ZnO (0001) surface; however, there is some dissociation of [BF₄]⁻ anions, resulting in boron atoms attaching to the oxygen atoms in the ZnO surface and forming B₂O₃. In contrast, the deposition of [C₈C₁Im][BF₄] on the ZnO ($10\overline{1}0$) surface at −150 °C results in the appearance of more chemical environments in the spectra. We propose that the high temperature of the IL evaporator causes some conversion of [C₈C₁Im][BF₄] to a carbene–borane adduct, resulting in the deposition of both the IL and adduct onto the ZnO surface. The adsorption and desorption of the analogous IL 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate [C₄C₁Im][BF₄] was investigated on ZnO (0001) using synchrotron-based soft X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The results indicate that [C₄C₁Im][BF₄] is deposited largely intact at −150 °C and forms islands when heated to room temperature. When heated to over 80 °C, it begins to react with the ZnO surface and decomposes. This is a much lower temperature than the long-term thermal stability of the pure IL, quoted in the literature as ~400 °C, and of IL on powdered ZnO, quoted in the literature as ~300 °C. This indicates that the ZnO surface may catalyse the thermal decomposition of [C₄C₁Im][BF₄] at lower temperatures. This is likely to have a negative impact on the potential use of ILs in ZnO-based photovoltaic applications, where operating temperatures can routinely reach 80 °C. Full article

Conventional etchants for multi-metal/alloy stacked structures often suffer from nonuniform etching, residual layers, or undercutting, failing to meet high-generation production standards. This study presents a stable copper-molybdenum (Cu-Mo) etchant with extended bath life for thin film transistor liquid crystal display (TFT-LCD) applications, achieved through compositional optimization. Systematic investigations have been conducted on the effects of etching time, copper ion (Cu²⁺) loading (bath life) and storage time on the etch performance, alongside evaluations of sudden-eruption point and material compatibility. Results demonstrate that over-etching beyond the “detected endpoint” by 10% to 90% maintains critical dimension (CD) bias and taper angle of MoNiTi(MTD)/Cu/MTD three-layer and Cu/MTD two-layer within process specifications, as well as the difference between the CD bias of the three-layer and two-layer structures at the same over-etch time. The optimized formulation exhibits a 20% broader process window and 20% longer bath life compared to the process-of-record (POR) etchant. Shelf stability exceeds 15 days with minimal performance degradation, while maintaining compatibility with industrial equipment materials. These advancements address key challenges in high-precision etching for advanced TFT-LCD manufacturing, providing a scalable solution for next-generation display production. Full article

Janus nanorods are a special class of nanorods composed of two distinct surface regions, one hydrophilic and one hydrophobic. This amphiphilic characteristic makes them promising candidates for stabilizing water–oil interfaces. Oily wastewater (OWW) contamination, resulting from industrial activities such as petroleum extraction and refining and vegetable oil processing, poses significant risks to ecosystems, water resources, and public health. Traditional surfactants used in enhanced oil recovery (EOR) and wastewater treatment often introduce secondary pollution due to their persistence and toxicity. In this work, we investigate the interfacial behavior of Janus NRs under two different conditions: a thin oil film surrounded by water and a nanoconfined system with purely repulsive walls. Using dissipative particle dynamics (DPD) simulations, we analyze how nanorod length and confinement influence interfacial tension and self-assembly. In bulk systems, shorter NRs (dimers and quadrimers) effectively reduce interfacial tension by adsorbing at the oil–water interface, while longer NRs (hexamers) exhibit bulk aggregation, limiting their surfactant efficiency. In contrast, under nanoconfinement, all NR sizes increase interfacial tension due to steric constraints, with longer NRs preferentially adsorbing onto the solid–liquid interface. These results pave the way for the rational design of nanostructured materials for applications in enhanced oil recovery, wastewater treatment, and membrane filtration. Full article

This study aims to optimize the application of electrospun nanofibrous substrates in thin-film composite (TFC) nanofiltration (NF) membranes for enhanced liquid separation efficiency by employing a method of effective welding between fibers using latent solvents. Polyacrylonitrile (PAN) nanofiber substrates were fabricated via electrospinning, and a dense polyamide selective layer was formed on their surface through interfacial polymerization (IP). The investigation focused on the effects of different solvent systems, particularly the role of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) as a latent solvent, on the nanostructure and final membrane performance. The results indicate that increasing the DMSO content can enhance the greenness of the fabrication process, the substrate hydrophilicity, and the mechanical strength, while also influencing the thickness and morphology of the polyamide layer. At a DMSO rate of 30%, the composite membrane achieves optimal pure water permeability and high rejection rates; when the DMSO content exceeds 40%, structural inhomogeneity in the substrate membrane leads to an increase in defects, significantly deteriorating membrane performance. These findings provide theoretical insights and technical guidance for the application of electrospinning technology in designing efficient and stable NF membranes. Full article