Adhesion, biological corrosion resistance and biotribological properties of carbon films deposited on MAO coated Ti substrates.

A thin diamond-like carbon (DLC) film, a graphite-like carbon (GLC) film and a thick diamond-like carbon (PE-DLC) film are deposited on the micro arc oxidation (MAO) coated pure titanium substrates using a hybrid ion beam deposition system, magnetron sputtering and plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition, respectively. The microstructure, adhesion, biological corrosion resistance and biotribological properties were determined. The results showed that the three duplex coatings presented uneven surface features and increased binding force.

Mechanistic prediction for cutting force in rotary ultrasonic machining of BK7 glass based on probability statistics.

Material removal in rotary ultrasonic machining (RUM) of hard-brittle material is an abnormal complicated process, which involves the combination effects of the numerous abrasive grains with the random distributions in the dimensions and penetration depths. These stochastic characteristics result in the evident differences in the extrusion loading between the material and each individual grain, and their aggregate effects serve to significantly affect the cutting force of the diamond tool. However, few mechanistic prediction models of the cutting force have incorporated in the random distribution features of the abrasive grains, restricting the current optimization methods for the reduction of the cutting force during the formal RUM process.

Accelerated Weathering of Polylactide-Based Composites Filled with Linseed Cake: The Influence of Time and Oil Content within the Filler.

This paper presents the effects of accelerated weathering on the properties of polylactide (PLA) composites filled with linseed cake. The particle-shaped waste filler with different linseed oil content (0.9-39.

Biofriendly and Regenerable Emotional Monitor from Interfacial Ultrathin 2D PDA/AuNPs Cross-linking Films.

Well-designed 2D materials with ultrathin structures show great potential for humidity-sensing performance owing to their high surface-volume ratio and a great number of exposed atoms on the surface. However, some sensing elements employed for healthcare applications may be considered as potentially risky, such as inflammation, granuloma formation, and carcinogenesis. Herein, we explored biofriendly humidity-sensing characteristics inspired by the great biocompatibility and conductivity of hyperbranched polyethyleneimine-capped gold nanoparticles and cross-linked with polydopamine from the adhesive proteins in mussels.

Micromagnetic Configuration of Variable Nanostructured Cobalt Ferrite: Modulating and Simulations toward Memory Devices.

Magnetic nanostructures with flux-closure state or single-domain state have widespread application in diverse memory devices. However, an insight into the modulation of these variable states within one specific magnetic material is rarely reported but still needed. Herein, these micromagnetic configurations within prototypical cobalt ferrite (CoFeO) nanostructures in different size and dimension were studied by modulating the assembly of CoFeO building blocks.

Unraveling Oxygen Evolution in Li-Rich Oxides: A Unified Modeling of the Intermediate Peroxo/Superoxo-like Dimers.

Peroxo/superoxo is a key intermediate in oxygen evolution/reduction reactions in (electro)catalysis. However, peroxo/superoxo analogues have aroused controversies relevant to the origin of oxygen-anion redox. Specifically, some characteristics such as the magnitude of the O-O bond length in bulk materials have been puzzling during oxygen oxidation, as has the relationship between the peroxo/superoxo intermediate and the release of oxygen.

Nickel-Based Transition Metal Nitride Electrocatalysts for the Oxygen Evolution Reaction.

Electrocatalysis is an efficient and promising means of energy conversion, with minimal environmental footprint. To enhance reaction rates, catalysts are required to minimize overpotential. Alternatives to noble metal electrocatalysts are essential to address these needs on a large scale.

Semi-Interpenetrating Polymer Networks Based on Cyanate Ester and Highly Soluble Thermoplastic Polyimide.

Thermoplastic polyimide (TPI) was synthesized via a traditional one-step method using 2,3,3',4'-biphenyltetracarboxylic dianhydride (3,4'-BPDA), 4,4'-oxydianiline (4,4'-ODA), and 2,2'-bis(trifluoromethyl)benzidine (TFMB) as the monomers. A series of semi-interpenetrating polymer networks (semi-IPNs) were produced by dissolving TPI in bisphenol A dicyanate (BADCy), followed by curing at elevated temperatures. The curing reactions of BADCy were accelerated by TPI in the blends, reflected by lower curing temperatures and shorter gelation time determined by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and rheological measurements.

15% Efficiency Ultrathin Silicon Solar Cells with Fluorine-Doped Titanium Oxide and Chemically Tailored Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):Poly(styrenesulfonate) as Asymmetric Heterocontact.

In order to achieve a high performance-to-cost ratio to photovoltaic devices, the development of crystalline silicon (c-Si) solar cells with thinner substrates and simpler fabrication routes is an important step. Thin-film heterojunction solar cells (HSCs) with dopant-free and carrier-selective configurations look like ideal candidates in this respect. Here, we investigated the application of n-type silicon/poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) HSCs on periodic nanopyramid textured, ultrathin c-Si (∼25 μm) substrates.

Ultraflexible Transparent Bio-Based Polymer Conductive Films Based on Ag Nanowires.

The unstable mechanical properties of flexible transparent conductive films (TCFs) make it difficult for them to meet the requirements for displays or wearable devices. Here, the relationship between the mechanism behind the bending behavior and the electrical properties, which is important for improving the mechanical stability of flexible TCFs, is explored. Flexible TCFs are reported based on silver nanowires (AgNWs) and bio-based poly(ethylene-co-1,4-cyclohexanedimethylene 2,5-furandicarboxylate)s (PECFs), with a low sheet resistance (23.

Hydrophilic/Hydrophobic Interphase-Mediated Bubble-like Stretchable Janus Ultrathin Films toward Self-Adaptive and Pneumatic Multifunctional Electronics.

As promising candidates for intelligent biomimetic applications similar to living organisms, smart soft materials have aroused extensive interest due to their extraordinarily designable structures and functionality. Herein, a bubble-like elastomer-based electronic skin that can be pneumatically actuated is achieved through hydrophilic/hydrophobic interphase mediated asymmetric functionalization. The asymmetric and controllable introduction of elastic polydimethylsiloxane into the carbon nanotube film at the air/water interface can endow the Janus ultrathin film with tunable conductivity, self-adhesivity, self-adaptivity, and even self-sealing properties.

A Novel Coloration of Polyester Fabric through Green Silver Nanoparticles (G-AgNPs@PET).

This paper reports a novel route for the coloration of polyester fabric with green synthesized silver nanoparticles (G-AgNPs@PET) using chitosan as a natural eco-friendly reductant. The formation of AgNPs was confirmed by UV-visible spectroscopy. The morphologies and average particles size of G-AgNPs was investigated by transmission electron microscope (TEM) analysis.

Single step synthesis of highly conductive room-temperature stable cation-substituted mayenite electride target and thin film.

Novel approaches to synthesize efficient inorganic electride [CaAlO](e) (thereafter, C12A7:e) at ambient pressure under nitrogen atmosphere, are actively sought out to reduce the cost of massive formation of nanosized powder as well as compact large size target production. It led to a new era in low cost industrial applications of this abundant material as Transparent Conducting Oxides (TCOs) and as a catalyst. Therefore, the present study about C12A7:e electride is directed towards challenges of cation doping in C12A7:e to enhance the conductivity and form target to deposit thin film.

Recent Progress in Biomimetic Anisotropic Hydrogel Actuators.

Polymeric hydrogel actuators refer to intelligent stimuli-responsive hydrogels that could reversibly deform upon the trigger of various external stimuli. They have thus aroused tremendous attention and shown promising applications in many fields including soft robots, artificial muscles, valves, and so on. After a brief introduction of the driving forces that contribute to the movement of living creatures, an overview of the design principles and development history of hydrogel actuators is provided, then the diverse anisotropic structures of hydrogel actuators are summarized, presenting the promising applications of hydrogel actuators, and highlighting the development of multifunctional hydrogel actuators.

Strong texture in nanograin bulk Nd-Fe-B magnets via slow plastic deformation at low temperatures.

Nanograin magnets are potential candidates for ultrastrong magnets with high coercivity and high energy product. However, existing nanograin bulk magnets exhibit modest energy products because desired structures with nanoscale grain size and strong orientation (texture) are often difficult to obtain. This study describes a synchrony of the nanoscale grain size and strong texture in bulk Nd-Fe-B magnets by plastic deformation with slow strain rates at temperatures well below the melting point of the Nd-rich phase.

A Hollow Microtubular Triazine- and Benzobisoxazole-Based Covalent Organic Framework Presenting Sponge-Like Shells That Functions as a High-Performance Supercapacitor.

In this paper we report the construction of a hollow microtubular triazine- and benzobisoxazole-based covalent organic framework (COF) presenting a sponge-like shell through a template-free [3+2] condensation of the planar molecules 2,4,6-tris(4-formylphenyl)triazine (TPT-3CHO) and 2,5-diaminohydroquinone dihydrochloride (DAHQ-2HCl). The synthesized COF exhibited extremely high crystallinity, a high surface area (ca. 1855 m  g ), and ultrahigh thermal stability.

An achiral ferromagnetic/chiral antiferromagnetic bilayer system leading to controllable size and density of skyrmions.

Magnetic skyrmions are topologically protected domain structures related to the Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction (DMI). To understand how magnetic skyrmions occur under different circumstances, we propose a model for skyrmion formation in a bilayer system of ferromagnetic/antiferromagnetic (FM/AFM) films, in which the bulk DMI is only present in the AFM film. Micromagnetic simulations reveal that skyrmions are formed in this system due to the competition between the DMI and demagnetization energies.

Disorder in MAX phases at the atomic scale.

Atomic disordering in materials alters their physical and chemical properties and can subsequently affect their performance. In complex ceramic materials, it is a challenge to understand the nature of structural disordering, due to the difficulty of direct, atomic-scale experimental observations. Here we report the direct imaging of ion irradiation-induced antisite defects in MAX phases using double C-corrected scanning transmission electron microscopy and provide compelling evidence of order-to-disorder phase transformations, overturning the conventional view that irradiation causes phase decomposition to binary fcc-structured MX.

Thickness-modulated passivation properties of PEDOT:PSS layers over crystalline silicon wafers in back junction organic/silicon solar cells.

PSS/silicon heterojunction solar cell has recently attracted much attention due to the fact that it can be simply and cost-effectively fabricated. It is crucial to suppress the interfacial recombination rate between silicon (Si) and organic film for improving device efficiency. In this study, we demonstrated a thickness-dependent passivation effect, i.

pH and Thermo Dual-Responsive Fluorescent Hydrogel Actuator.

As one of the most important smart materials, fluorescent hydrogel actuators can produce both color and shape changes under external stimuli. In the present work, an effective approach to develop a novel fluorescent hydrogel actuator with pH and thermo dual responsiveness is proposed. Through incorporating pH-responsive perylene tetracarboxylic acid (PTCA), which is a typical fluorescent moiety with aggregation-caused quenching (ACQ) effect, into an anisotropic poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)-polyacrylamide (PNIPAm-PAAm) structure, the obtained hydrogel exhibits stable thermoresponsive shape deformation and switchable fluorescence performance upon a pH trigger.

A novel method based on fluorescent magnetic nanobeads for rapid detection of Escherichia coli O157:H7.

Fluorescent lateral flow immunoassay (FLFIA) based on immunomagnetic separation (IMS) has the advantage of sensitivity. However, its complex operation includes IMS, elution, incubation, and FLFIA steps. Here, we prepared a core@shell@satellite structure fluorescent magnetic nanobeads (FMNBs) and firstly introduced them into the novel method that integrated IMS with FLFIA (I-IMS-FLFIA) for the detection of Escherichia coli O157:H7.

Enhanced Antibacterial and Food Simulant Activities of Silver Nanoparticles/Polypropylene Nanocomposite Films.

In this work, we synthesize dodecyl mercaptan-functionalized silver nanoparticles integrated with polypropylene nanocomposite (DM-AgNPs/PP) substrates by a simple in situ melt blending method. The formation and distribution of AgNPs are confirmed by UV-visible spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis. The existence of DM-AgNPs in PP film substrate enhances the thermal degradation and crystallization properties.

Carbon Composite Networks with Ultrathin Skin Layers of Graphene Film for Exceptional Electromagnetic Interference Shielding.

Natural cotton was selected as a cheap and renewable carbon source to fabricate novel carbon networks with porous three-dimensional conductive frameworks composed of numerous unique hollow carbon fibers by pyrolysis, and outstanding electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding effectiveness (SE) of ∼26.9-46.9 dB was observed for the samples (∼0.

Ultra-stable binder-free rechargeable Li/I batteries enabled by "Betadine" chemical interaction.

An activated carbon cloth/polymer-iodine (ACC/PVP-I2) composite was prepared by the "Betadine" method and employed as a high-performance cathode for rechargeable Li/I2 batteries. Due to the synergistic effect of ACC and PVP-I2, Li/I2 cells with ACC/PVP-I2 as the cathode exhibited superior electrochemical performance.

Fluorescent microsphere probe for rapid qualitative and quantitative detection of trypsin activity.

Current technologies still face a big challenge to achieve simultaneous rapid qualitative and quantitative detection of trypsin. In our present study, we developed a simple and effective strategy to sensitively, qualitatively and quantitatively analyze the activity of trypsin using a fluorescent polystyrene (PS) microsphere probe. PS spheres were first functionalized by the surface coating of polyethylene glycol (PEG), which could significantly decrease the possibility of nonspecific physical adsorption of the fluorescein isothiocyanate isomer-modified peptide (peptide-FITC).