Facile Synthesis of Low-Cost Copper-Silver and Cobalt-Silver Alloy Nanoparticles on Reduced Graphene Oxide as Efficient Electrocatalysts for Oxygen Reduction Reaction in Alkaline Media.

Copper-silver and cobalt-silver alloy nanoparticles deposited on reduced graphene oxide (CuAg/rGO and CoAg/rGO) were synthesized and examined as electrocatalysts for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and hydrogen peroxide reduction reaction (HPRR) in alkaline media. Characterization of the prepared samples was done by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Raman spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD), and scanning electron microscopy with integrated energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDS). CuAg/rGO and CoAg/rGO nanoparticles diameter ranged from 0.

A New Process of Direct Zinc Oxide Production by Carbothermal Reduction of Zinc Ash.

Zinc ash is a by-product of the hot-dip galvanizing process and the electrolytic zinc process, which is classified as a hazardous waste consisting predominately of zinc oxide that could be recovered as the useful main resource for ZnO preparation. In this work, in order to reduce the energy consumption of the direct reduction process and improve the resource-recovery rate. A new technology for zinc oxide production, by a carbothermal reduction of zinc ash, is proposed.

Visible-light-driven photodegradation of organic pollutants by simply exfoliated kaolinite nanolayers with enhanced activity and recyclability.

The need for abundant photocatalyst in wastewater treatment is currently a must. A simple intercalation process was utilized to exfoliate Kaolinite clay mineral structure AlSiO(OH) into two-dimensional nanostructured separated layers operated in visible light range. The intercalating agents were hydrazine hydrate and urea.

Maximize the use of municipal waste generated by the hydrogen peroxide industry in the production of high-quality refractory CAC.

High-grade calcium aluminate cement (CAC) has been successfully synthesized from municipal alumina waste and limestone under mild reaction conditions. Mineralogical composition and microstructure of the sintered mixes were investigated using X-ray diffraction and FESEM; valuable cementing phases such as CA, CA, and CA were observed in addition to the CA phase that was detected in the mixes with high CaCO content. Mix CA60 containing 60 wt% alumina waste has achieved the best sinterability (less than 1 vol% porosity) and the highest densification (~ 2.

Platinum-Dysprosium Alloys as Oxygen Electrodes in Alkaline Media: An Experimental and Theoretical Study.

Platinum-dysprosium (Pt-Dy) alloys prepared by the arc melting technique are assessed as potential electrodes for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) using voltammetry and chronoamperometry in alkaline media. A relatively small change (10 at.%) in the alloy composition brought a notable difference in the alloys' performance for the ORR.

Optimization of aluminum fluoride addition in aluminum electrolysis process based on pruned sparse fuzzy neural network.

The aluminum fluoride (AF) addition in aluminum electrolysis process (AEP) can directly influence the current efficiency, energy consumption, and stability of the process. This paper proposes an optimization scheme for AF addition based on pruned sparse fuzzy neural network (PSFNN), aiming at providing an optimal AF addition for aluminum electrolysis cell under normal superheat degree (SD) condition. Firstly, a Gaussian mixture model (GMM) is introduced to identify SD conditions in which the operating modes of AEP are unknown.

Effects of different silicate minerals on silicon activation by Ochrobactium sp. T-07-B.

As a kind of solid waste with a high silicon content, electrolytic manganese residue (EMR) can be utilized as silicon source by plants through bioleaching processes. EMR contains a variety of silicate minerals. In order to determine the source of available silicon in the bioleaching process of EMR, it is necessary to investigate the influence of silicate minerals in EMR on silicon-activating behavior of specific minerals.

Effect of Nb Addition and Heat Input on Heat-Affected Zone Softening in High-Strength Low-Alloy Steel.

The effect of both Nb content and heat input on the softening phenomenon of the heat-affected zone (HAZ) of low-alloy high-strength steel was studied through welding thermal simulation experiments. The microstructure evolution, density variation of geometrically necessary dislocation, microhardness distribution and the second phase precipitation behavior in HAZ was characterized and analyzed by combining the optical microscope, scanning electron microscope, high-resolution transmission electron microscope with microhardness tests. The results showed that the softening appeared in the fine-grain HAZ (FGHAZ) of the low-alloy high-strength steel with the polygonal ferrite and bainite microstructure.

Superhydrophobic magnetic sorbent via surface modification of banded iron formation for oily water treatment.

In the current study, a simple dry coating method was utilized to fabricate a super-hydrophobic super-magnetic powder (ZS@BIF) for oily water purification using zinc stearate (ZS) and banded iron formation (BIF). The produced composite was fully characterized as a magnetic sorbent for oily water treatment. The results of X-ray diffraction diffractometer (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), scanning electron microscope (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) and particle size analysis revealed the fabrication of homogenous hydrophobic-magnetic composite particles with core-shell structure.

LnTeO (Ln = La, Gd, and Eu) "Anti-Glass" Phase-Assisted Lanthanum-Tellurite Transparent Glass-Ceramics: Eu Emission and Local Site Symmetry Analysis.

The presence of lanthanide-tellurite "anti-glass" nanocrystalline phases not only affects the transparency in glass-ceramics (GCs) but also influences the emission of a dopant ion. Therefore, a methodical understanding of the crystal growth mechanism and local site symmetry of doped luminescent ions when embedded into the precipitated "anti-glass" phase is crucial, which unfolds the practical applications of GCs. Here, we examined the LnTeO "anti-glass" nanocrystalline phase growth mechanism and local site symmetry of Eu ions in transparent GCs produced from 80TeO-10TiO-(5 - )LaO-5GdO-EuO glasses, where = 0, 1, 2.

Rational design of mixed ionic-electronic conducting membranes for oxygen transport.

The mixed ionic-electronic conducting (MIEC) oxides have generated significant research efforts in the scientific community during the last 40 years. Since then, many MIEC compounds, most of which are based on perovskite oxides, have been synthesized and characterized. These compounds, when heated to high temperatures, form solid ceramic membranes with high oxygen ionic and electrical conductivity.

Visible-light photooxidation of ciprofloxacin utilizing metal oxide incorporated sol-gel processed La-doped NaTaO nanoparticles: A comparative study.

The supper dissemination of antibiotic waste in water resources has exponentially progressed the vital water and soil pollution that affect human health and the environment. Consequently, there have been several types of research anticipated for the green mineralization of such pollutants. Herein, we intended a surfactant-aided sol-gel formation of lanthanum-doped sodium tantalate (LNTO) nanocrystals.

Lead and Cadmium Bioaccumulation in Fresh Cow's Milk in an Intermediate Area of the Central Andes of Peru and Risk to Human Health.

The dairy basin of the Mantaro River located in the centre of Peru faces serious anthropogenic disturbances as it receives emissions and discharges from the metallurgical mining activity located in the headwaters of the basin and milk contaminated with lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) endangers the environmental and human health, especially children. To measure the concentrations of Pb and Cd in milk and the dangers of their consumption in the Peruvian population, 40 milk samples were collected and quantified by atomic absorption spectrometry. The mean concentration of Pb in milk was 15 ± 2.

Intrinsic Properties of Multi-Layer TiO/VO/TiO Coatings Prepared via E-Beam Evaporation.

Nanocomposite multi-layer TiO2/V2O5/TiO2 thin films were prepared via electron-beam evaporation using high-purity targets (TiO2 and V2O5 purity > 99.9%) at substrate temperatures of 270 °C (TiO2) and 25 °C (V2O5) under a partial pressure of oxygen of 2 × 10−4 mbar to maintain the stoichiometry. Rutherford backscattering spectrometry was used to confirm the layer structure and the optimal stoichiometry of the thin films, with a particle size of 20 to 40 nm.

Synthesis and Characterization of Nanostructured Multi-Layer Cr/SnO/NiO/Cr Coatings Prepared via E-Beam Evaporation Technique for Metal-Insulator-Insulator-Metal Diodes.

Enhanced non-linearity and asymmetric behavior of the Cr/metal oxide diode is reported, with the addition of two insulator layers of SnO2 and NiO to form the metal-insulator-insulator-metal (MIIM) configuration. Such an MIIM diode shows potential for various applications (rectifiers and electronic equipment) which enable the femtosecond fast intoxication in MIIM diodes. In this work, nanostructured multi-layer Cr/SnO2/NiO/Cr coatings were fabricated via e-beam evaporation with the following thicknesses: 150 nm/20 nm/10 nm/150 nm.

Study on optimization of coagulation-flocculation of fish market wastewater using bittern coagulant - response surface methodological approach.

Bittern contains a high ionic strength that can be used as an alternative coagulant in wastewater treatment. The magnesium content in the bittern could promote the removal of suspended particles and nutrients as settleable precipitates. This would create a more compact and manageable sludge.

Research on Dynamic Characteristics of the RBBH System Based on Dynamics Model and Vibration Data Fusion.

The roll-bearing-bearing housing (RBBH) system is one of the most common kernel structures used to determine strip mill stability and product surface quality in modern metallurgical machinery. To better understand dynamic characteristics of the RBBH system, this paper provides a nonlinear dynamic model and designs an engineering test platform on the RBBH system in the whole rolling process. First, a nonlinear dynamic model of the RBBH system supported by four-row rolling bearings under high speed and heavy load is established.

Design Strategies of High-Performance Positive Materials for Nonaqueous Rechargeable Aluminum Batteries: From Crystal Control to Battery Configuration.

Rechargeable aluminum batteries (RABs) have been paid considerable attention in the field of electrochemical energy storage batteries due to their advantages of low cost, good safety, high capacity, long cycle life, and good wide-temperature performance. Unlike traditional single-ion rocking chair batteries, more than two kinds of active ions are electrochemically participated in the reaction processes on the positive and negative electrodes for nonaqueous RABs, so the reaction kinetics and battery electrochemistries need to be given more comprehensive assessments. In addition, although nonaqueous RABs have made significant breakthroughs in recent years, they are still facing great challenges in insufficient reaction kinetics, low energy density, and serious capacity attenuation.

Enhancing the anti-ageing, antimicrobial activity and mechanical properties of surface-coated paper by Ag@TiO-modified nanopigments.

In this work, the effect of using Ag-doped TiO nanopigments on optical, mechanical and antimicrobial properties of coated paper was explored. Furthermore, the long-term antimicrobial activity of the coated paper was examined for up to 25 years. Titanium dioxide (TiO) nanoparticles have been synthesized and doped with different percentages of Ag nanoparticles (Ag NPs) using a simple wet chemical approach.

False Data Injection Detection for Phasor Measurement Units.

Cyber-threats are becoming a big concern due to the potential severe consequences of such threats is false data injection (FDI) attacks where the measures data is manipulated such that the detection is unfeasible using traditional approaches. This work focuses on detecting FDIs for phasor measurement units where compromising one unit is sufficient for launching such attacks. In the proposed approach, moving averages and correlation are used along with machine learning algorithms to detect such attacks.

Correction: Ultrafast conversion of carcinogenic 4-nitrophenol into 4-aminophenol in the dark catalyzed by surface interaction on BiPO/g-CN nanostructures in the presence of NaBH.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1039/D1RA02852A.].

A novel strontium-based MOF: synthesis, characterization, and promising application in removal of Eu from active waste.

Removal of hazardous radioactive materials such as Eu from active waste using the batch approach has attracted attention nowadays. In this work, a novel melamine-terephthalic strontium metal-organic framework (MTSr-MOF) was prepared a hydrothermal method. The MTSr-MOF was characterized by various analytical techniques such as FT-IR, H/C-NMR, mass spectroscopy, XPS, XRD, TGA, BET, FE-SEM/EDX, TEM, and UV.

Investigations aimed at producing 33% efficient perovskite-silicon tandem solar cells through device simulations.

The conversion efficiencies for silicon-based photovoltaic devices have become stagnant, with the record conversion efficiency of 26.7% achieved in 2017. This record efficiency is also close to the theoretical Auger limit of 29.

Correction: Synthesis and characterization of a new ZIF-67@MgAlO nanocomposite and its adsorption behaviour.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1039/D1RA01056E.].

The controlled synthesis and DFT investigation of novel (0D)-(3D) ZnS/SiO heterostructures for photocatalytic applications.

A ZnS/SiO photocatalyst was synthesized using a low-cost sol-gel wet chemical procedure. The as-synthesized ZnS/SiO nanocomposites with different molar ratios exhibited superior performance in the photodegradation of two organic dyes under UV irradiation, with complete degradation of both dyes after 2 hours of exposure to UV irradiation. The photocatalyst structure, microstructure, and surface area were studied using X-ray diffraction (XRD), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), and nitrogen adsorption ( ) studies.