Corrosion effect of Bacillus cereus on X80 pipeline steel in a Beijing soil environment.

The corrosion of X80 pipeline steel in the presence of Bacillus cereus (B. cereus) was studied through electrochemical and surface analyses and live/dead staining. Scanning electron microscopy and live/dead straining results showed that a number of B.

Electrochemical antioxidant screening based on a chitosan hydrogel.

A chitosan based hydrogel has been fabricated using silver ions as crosslinking agent. Silver redox behavior in the hydrogel is suppressed due to complexation. However, hydrogen peroxide induced hydroxyl radicals could attract the glucoside bonds and consequently restore silver redox behavior.

Clustered-Microcapsule-Shaped Microporous Carbon-Coated Sulfur Composite Synthesized via in Situ Oxidation.

Hollow materials as sulfur hosts have been intensively investigated to address the poor cycling stabilities of Li-S batteries. Herein, we report an enhanced hollow framework to improve the applicability of the sulfur confinement. A clustered-microcapsule-shaped microporous carbon coated sulfur (CM-S@MPC) composite is prepared from the clustered zinc sulfide precursor, through an in situ oxidation process.

Macroscopic Assembly of Gold Nanorods into Superstructures with Controllable Orientations by Anisotropic Affinity Interaction.

Two-dimensional or three-dimensional highly ordered arrays of anisotropic nanoparticles provide attracting properties that are highly desired by the industry. Traditional assembly methods such as evaporation usually produces the nanostructure arrays only up to the millimeter scale with poor control of nanoparticle orientation, making them hardly applicable for industrial needs. Here, we report a facile method to assemble centimeter-scale gold nanorod (Au NR) arrays with highly controlled nanoparticle orientation and high reproducibility.

Opto-electric investigation for Si/organic heterojunction single-nanowire solar cells.

Recently, silicon single nanowire solar cells (SNSCs) serving as the sustainable self-power sources have been integrated into optoelectronic nanodevices under the driver of technology and economy. However, conventional SNSC cannot provide the minimum energy consumption for the operation of nanodevices due to its low power conversion efficiency (PCE). Here, we propose an innovative approach to combine the n-type silicon nanowires (SiNWs) with p-type poly(3,4-ethylthiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) to form the p n heterojunction, which shows superior opto-electric performances.

Fabrication of highly ordered 2D metallic arrays with disc-in-hole binary nanostructures via a newly developed nanosphere lithography.

2D metallic arrays with binary nanostructures derived from a nanosphere lithography (NSL) method have been rarely reported. Here, we demonstrate a novel NSL strategy to fabricate highly ordered 2D gold arrays with disc-in-hole binary (DIHB) nanostructures in large scale by employing a sacrificing layer combined with a three-step lift-off process. The structural parameters of the resultant DIHB arrays, such as periodicity, hole diameter, disc diameter and thicknesses can be facilely controlled by tuning the nanospheres size, etching condition, deposition angle and duration, respectively.

Flexible PVDF membranes with exceptional robust superwetting surface for continuous separation of oil/water emulsions.

Instability of superwetting surface is the stumbling block of flexible polymeric membranes for continuous separation of water-in-oil or oil-in-water emulsions. Manipulation of rigid superwetting nano-TiO on hierarchical poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) membrane by mimicking the plant roots holding soil behaviour enabled the generation of robust superwetting surface withstanding the harshly physical and chemical torture. The unique interface combination, which fabricated by a compacted nano-layer with the thickness of ~20 μm, was disclosed by systematic structure characterization.

Preparation and cold welding of silver nanowire based transparent electrodes with optical transmittances >90% and sheet resistances <10 ohm/sq.

In this article, silver nanowires (AgNWs) with aspect ratios of 1000 and lengths up to 200 μm are obtained by a modified polyol approach. These very long AgNWs are then utilized to prepare transparent electrodes (TEs) displaying a transmittance of 91.3% at a sheet resistance of 8.

Supramolecular Interactions Induce Unexpectedly Strong Emissions from Triphenylamine-Functionalized Polytyrosine Blended with Poly(4-vinylpyridine).

In this study, we synthesized a triphenylamine-functionalized polytyrosine (PTyr-TPA) through living ring opening polymerization with 4,4'-diamino-4″-methoxytriphenylamine (TPA-NH₂) as an initiator, and used Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy to confirm the chemical structure. Photoluminescence spectroscopy revealed the photophysical properties of TPA-NH₂ and PTyr-TPA and suggested that TPA-NH₂ exhibited aggregation-caused quenching; in contrast, attaching the initiator to the rigid rod conformation of the PTyr segments caused PTyr-TPA to display aggregation-induced emission behavior. Differential scanning calorimetry revealed single glass transition temperatures for miscible PTyr-TPA/P4VP blends, the result of intermolecular hydrogen bonding between the pyridine units of P4VP and the phenolic OH units of PTyr-TPA, as confirmed through FTIR spectroscopic analyses.

A One-Step Rapid Assembly of Thin Film Coating Using Green Coordination Complexes for Enhanced Removal of Trace Organic Contaminants by Membranes.

We report a fast, simple, and green coating method using the coordination complex of tannic acid (TA) and ferric ion (Fe) to enhance the removal of trace organic contaminants (TrOCs) by polyamide membranes. The entire coating process can be completed in less than 2 min; quartz crystal microbalance characterization revealed that a TA-Fe thin film formed in merely 10-20 s. Coating this TA-Fe thin film on a commercial nanofiltration membrane (NF270) reduced its effective pore size from 0.

Degradation Mechanism of Dimethyl Carbonate (DMC) Dissociation on the LiCoO Cathode Surface: A First-Principles Study.

The degradation mechanism of dimethyl carbonate electrolyte dissociation on the (010) surfaces of LiCoO and delithiated LiCoO were investigated by periodic density functional theory. The high-throughput Madelung matrix calculation was employed to screen possible LiCoO supercells for models of the charged state at 4.5 V.

Recyclable Polydimethylsiloxane Network Crosslinked by Dynamic Transesterification Reaction.

This article reports preparation of a crosslinked polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) network via dynamic transesterification reaction between PDMS-diglycidyl ether and pripol 1017 with Zn(OAc) as the catalyst. The thermal dynamic nature of the network was investigated by the creep-recovery and stress-relaxation tests. The synthesized PDMS elastomer showed excellent solvent resistance even under high temperature, and could be reprocessed by hot pressing at 180 °C with the mechanical properties maintained after 10 cycles.

Melt-Processable Semicrystalline Polyimides Based on 1,4-Bis(3,4-dicarboxyphenoxy)benzene Dianhydride (HQDPA): Synthesis, Crystallization, and Melting Behavior.

It is a great challenge to develop semicrystalline polyimides exhibited significant recrystallization ability and fast crystallization kinetics from the melt. A series of semicrystalline polyimides based on 1,4-bis(3,4-dicarboxyphenoxy)benzene dianhydride (HQDPA) and different diamines, including 1,3-bis(4-aminophenoxy)benzene (TPER), 1,4-bis(4-aminophenoxy)benzene (TPEQ), 4,4'-oxydianiline (4,4'-ODA) and 4,4'-bis(4-aminophenoxy)biphenyl (BAPB), end capped with phthalic anhydride were synthesized. Crystallization and melting behaviors were investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC).

A Modelling Study for Predicting Life of Downhole Tubes Considering Service Environmental Parameters and Stress.

A modelling effort was made to try to predict the life of downhole tubes or casings, synthetically considering the effect of service influencing factors on corrosion rate. Based on the discussed corrosion mechanism and corrosion processes of downhole tubes, a mathematic model was established. For downhole tubes, the influencing factors are environmental parameters and stress, which vary with service duration.

Effect of Nanosized NbC Precipitates on Hydrogen Diffusion in X80 Pipeline Steel.

In this paper, the effects of dispersed 3~10 nm NbC precipitates on hydrogen diffusion in X80 pipeline steel were investigated by means of high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), electrochemical hydrogen permeation, and thermal desorption spectroscopy (TDS). The relationship between hydrogen diffusion and temperature was determined for Nb-free X80 and 0.055 wt% Nb X80 steel.

Effect of Zinc Phosphate on the Corrosion Behavior of Waterborne Acrylic Coating/Metal Interface.

Waterborne coating has recently been paid much attention. However, it cannot be used widely due to its performance limitations. Under the specified conditions of the selected resin, selecting the function pigment is key to improving the anticorrosive properties of the coating.

Failure Mechanisms of the Coating/Metal Interface in Waterborne Coatings: The Effect of Bonding.

Waterborne coating is the most popular type of coating, and improving its performance is a key point of research. Cathodic delamination is one of the major modes of failure for organic coatings. It refers to the weakening or loss of adhesion between the coating and substrate.

Electrochemical Migration Behavior of Copper-Clad Laminate and Electroless Nickel/Immersion Gold Printed Circuit Boards under Thin Electrolyte Layers.

The electrochemical migration (ECM) behavior of copper-clad laminate (PCB-Cu) and electroless nickel/immersion gold printed circuit boards (PCB-ENIG) under thin electrolyte layers of different thicknesses containing 0.1 M Na₂SO₄ was studied. Results showed that, under the bias voltage of 12 V, the reverse migration of ions occurred.

Activation of Magnesium Lignosulfonate and Kraft Lignin: Influence on the Properties of Phenolic Resin-Based Composites for Potential Applications in Abrasive Materials.

Magnesium lignosulfonate and kraft lignin were activated by different oxidizing agents for use in phenolic resin composites used for the production of abrasive components. The physicochemical properties of the oxidized materials were analyzed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), dynamic mechanical-thermal analysis (DMTA) and inverse gas chromatography (IGC). The homogeneity of the model abrasive composites containing the studied products was assessed based on observations obtained using a scanning electron microscope (SEM).

Tunable adhesion of superoleophilic/superhydrophobic poly (lactic acid) membrane for controlled-release of oil soluble drugs.

Superhydrophobic membranes with tunable adhesion have attracted intense interests for various engineering applications. In this work, superhydrophobic sustainable poly (lactic acid) (PLA) porous membrane with tunable adhesive force from 101μN to 29μN was successfully fabricated via one-step phase separation method. The incorporation of Perfluoro-1-decene (PFD) into the PLLA/PDLA membrane via the in situ polymerization can facilely tune the PLLA/PDLA stereocomplex crystallization during phase inversion, which consequently caused the unique morphology blooming evolution from bud to full-blown state.

Elastocaloric effect and superelastic stability in Ni-Mn-In-Co polycrystalline Heusler alloys: hysteresis and strain-rate effects.

Controlling material hysteresis and working frequency variability are fundamentally important for refrigeration cycle efficiency and power density in solid-state cooling systems. For elastocaloric cooling, understanding the relationship between the width of the stress hysteresis and elastocaloric behaviour during superelastic cycles under varied strain rates is important. In this work, we report the effects of strain rate effects on the superelastic and elastocaloric responses in NiMnInCo (x = 13.

Stretchable supramolecular hydrogels with triple shape memory effect.

Shape memory polymers based on reversible supramolecular interactions have invoked growing research interest, but still suffer from limitations such as poor mechanical strength and finite shape memory performance. Here, we present a novel mechanical stretchable supramolecular hydrogel with a triple shape memory effect at the macro/micro scale. The introduction of a double network concept into supramolecular shape memory hydrogels endows them with excellent mechanical properties.

Coumarin- and Carboxyl-Functionalized Supramolecular Polybenzoxazines Form Miscible Blends with Polyvinylpyrrolidone.

In this study, we synthesized a novel multifunctional benzoxazine monomer (Coumarin-COOH BZ), possessing both coumarin and COOH groups, through the reaction of 4-methyl-7-hydroxycoumarin, 4-aminobenzoic acid, and paraformaldehyde in 1,4-dioxane, with the structure confirmed using ¹H and C nuclear magnetic resonance and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), FTIR spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis were then employed to monitor the thermal curing behavior of Coumarin-COOH BZ and its blends with poly(-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone) (PVP), both before and after photodimerization of the coumarin moieties. DSC revealed a single glass transition temperature for each Coumarin-COOH BZ/PVP blend composition; a large positive deviation based on the Kwei equation suggested that strong hydrogen bonding existed between the Coumarin-COOH BZ and PVP segments, confirmed through FTIR spectroscopic analyses.

A Multiple Shape Memory Hydrogel Induced by Reversible Physical Interactions at Ambient Condition.

A novel multiple shape memory hydrogel is fabricated based on two reversible physical interactions. The multiple shape memory property is endowed by a simple treatment of soaking in NaOH or NaCl solutions to form chitosan microcrystal or chain-entanglement crosslinks as temporary junctions.

One-Pot Sintering Strategy for Efficient Fabrication of High-Performance and Multifunctional Graphene Foams.

Macroscopic three-dimensional (3D) graphene foams (GFs) were fabricated efficiently by immediately sintering low-temperature exfoliated graphene powder under inert atmosphere at the temperature over 500 °C. The one-pot sintering process not only integrated two-dimensional (2D) graphene sheets into 3D GF, but also accelerated the structural integrity of graphene by inducing its deoxygenation and repairing the defects. More importantly, the whole process could be finished within hours, usually less than 12 h, and the resultant GFs with interconnected graphene framework as well as meso- and macroporous structure exhibited exceptional attenuating performance for high-frequency electromagnetic interference and adsorption capacities for organic pollutants.