Enhanced energy storage in relaxor (1-x)BiNaTiO-xBaZrTiO thin films by morphotropic phase boundary engineering.

Perovskites at the crossover between ferroelectric and relaxor are often used to realize dielectric capacitors with high energy and power density and simultaneously good efficiency. Lead-free BiNaTiO is gaining importance in showing an alternative to lead-based devices. Here we show that ()BiNaTiO - BaZr Ti O (best: 0.

Reliable Atom Probe Tomography of Cu Nanoparticles Through Tailored Encapsulation by an Electrodeposited Film.

Nanoparticles are essential for energy storage, catalysis, and medical applications, emphasizing their accurate chemical characterization. However, atom probe tomography (APT) of nanoparticles sandwiched at the interface between an encapsulating film and a substrate poses difficulties. Poor adhesion at the film-substrate interface can cause specimen fracture during APT, while impurities may introduce additional peaks in the mass spectra.

3D-Printed Acrylated Soybean Oil Scaffolds with Vitrimeric Properties Reinforced by Tellurium-Doped Bioactive Glass.

In this study, we present novel, vitrimeric and biobased scaffolds that are designed for hard tissue applications, composed of acrylated, epoxidized soybean oil (AESO) and reinforced with bioactive glass that is Tellurium doped (BG-Te) and BG-Te silanized, to tune the mechanical and antibacterial properties. The manufacture's method consisted of a DLP 3D-printing method, enabling precise resolution and the possibility to manufacture a hollow and complex structure. The resin formulation was optimized with a biobased, reactive diluent to adjust the viscosity for an optimal 3D-printing process.

Influence of material-material interactions and wear on coarse waste shredders.

This article uses model materials to introduce a controlled, location- and manufacturer-independent internationally accepted method for assessing shredding machines based on large-scale tests. Furthermore, a better understanding of the comminution behaviour of shredders with fixed settings (gap width, shaft speed, cutting tool geometry) is in the focus of the present investigation and assessed, using the statistical analyses for particle size distribution in certain screen sections. Conclusions have been drawn on the comminution behaviour in general and the material-material interactions of different fractions in the grinding chamber of the shredder by showing significant differences in the pure fraction's comminution behaviour against the mixture's comminution behaviour.

Influence of Different Measuring Backgrounds on the Classification of Multilayer Polyolefin Films Using a Near-Infrared Handheld Spectrometer.

The low thickness of plastic films poses a challenge when using near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy as it affects the spectral quality and classification. This research focuses on offering a solution to the challenge of classifying multilayer plastic film materials with a focus on polyolefin multilayer plastics. It presents the importance of spectral quality on accurate classification.

In-use dissipation of technology-critical elements from vehicles and renewable energy technologies in Vienna, Austria: A public health matter?

The rollout of electric vehicles and photovoltaic panels is essential to mitigate climate change. However, they depend on technology-critical elements (TCEs), which can be harmful to human health and whose use is rapidly expanding, while recycling is lacking. While mining has received substantial attention, in-use dissipation in urban areas has so far not been assessed, for example, corrosion and abrasion of vehicle components and weather-related effects affecting thin-film photovoltaic panels.

Advancing the next generation of high-performance metal matrix composites through metal particle reinforcement.

Metal matrix composites (MMCs) offer asignificant boost to achieve a wide range of advanced mechanical properties and improved performance for a variety of demanding applications. The addition of metal particles as reinforcement in MMCs is an exciting alternative to conventional ceramic reinforcements, which suffer from numerous shortcomings. Over the last two decades, various categories of metal particles, i.

Wavelength-Dependent Dynamic Behavior in Thiol-Ene Networks Based on Disulfide Exchange.

While latent catalysts have become a well-established strategy for locally and temporally controlling bond exchange reactions in dynamic polymer networks, there is a lack of inherently tailorable systems. Herein, we introduce a thiol-ene network based on disulfide exchange that alters its dynamic properties as a function of the color of light used during the curing reaction. For this purpose, selected allyl-bearing disulfides are synthesized, which are transparent at 450 nm but undergo disulfide scission upon 365 nm light irradiation, as confirmed by UV-vis and EPR measurements.

Effective preparation of low-melting solder materials for atom probe tomography.

Low-melting metal alloys have gained renewed attention for additive manufacturing, energy storage and microelectronics. However, micro- and nanostructure characterisation demands highly sophisticated sample preparation. Here, we optimise the Ga-FIB preparation of atom probe tomography (APT) specimens for low melting SAC305 solder materials utilising different FESEM/FIB stage temperatures.

Hydrogen Trapping at Fe/Cu Interfaces.

Copper (Cu) in steel production can be a residual element, causing challenges during steel processing, as well as an alloying element, improving corrosion resistance and providing hardenability by nanosized precipitates. For the transition toward a green economy, increased recycling rates in steel production and alternative energy carriers, such as hydrogen, are of vital importance. As hydrogen is known for its embrittling effect on high-strength steels, this work sought to explore possible mitigation strategies for hydrogen embrittlement (HE) with the help of Cu precipitates.

Impact of Surface Microstructure and Properties of Aluminum Electrodes on the Plating/Stripping Behavior of Aluminum-Based Batteries Using Imidazolium-Based Electrolyte.

The 99.99% Al used for negative Al electrodes in aluminum-based battery studies is expensive. This is primarily due to the complex challenges associated with fabricating 99.

Synergistic Interactions in a Heterobimetallic Ce(III)-Ni(II) Diimine Complex: Enhancing the Electrocatalytic Efficiency for CO Reduction.

In this study, we propose a practical approach for producing a heterobimetallic Ni(II)-Ce(III) diimine complex from an extended salen-type ligand (HL) to serve as an electrocatalyst for CO reduction and demonstrate an outstanding overall efficiency of 99.6% of the cerium-nickel complex and integrate it into applicable cell assemblies. We optimize not only the catalyst, but the operational conditions enabling successful CO electrolysis over extended periods at different current densities.

Photochemistry dominates over photothermal effects in the laser-induced reduction of graphene oxide by visible light.

Graphene oxide (GO) possesses specific properties that are revolutionizing materials science, with applications extending from flexible electronics to advanced nanotechnology. A key method for harnessing GO's potential is its laser-induced reduction, yet the exact mechanisms - photothermal versus photochemical effects - remain unclear. Herein, we discover the dominant role of photochemical reactions in the laser reduction of GO under visible light, challenging the prevailing assumption that photothermal effects are dominant.

Sustainable extraction and recycling of non-ferrous metals: a review from a European perspective.

This review article provides a comprehensive examination of sustainable extraction and recycling methods for non-ferrous metals, which are critical to a wide range of industries including electronics, construction and renewable energy. Focusing on metals such as aluminium, copper and silicon, the study highlights the importance of recycling in conserving resources and minimizing environmental impact. It discusses the challenges posed by material diversity in recycling processes and the advances in recycling technologies that have emerged in response.

Supply security beyond mines and scrap recycling: valorization potential of metallurgical residues.

In the context of the European Critical Raw Materials Act, this work attempts to demonstrate the potential of residual material flows from non-ferrous metallurgy and their possible contribution to the supply security of metals by locally available new secondary resources, assuming technically and economically viable processing. Based on the aluminium, zinc, copper and lead industries, the resulting waste streams are discussed and, in particular, the complex process consisting of physical, chemical and metallurgical steps is described. Their diversity, be it slags, dusts or even sludges, has a wide variety of morphologies and compositions due to the process of generation.

Biodegradable plastics - Where to throw? A life cycle assessment of waste collection and management pathways in Austria.

The current waste management systems are struggling to optimally handle biodegradable plastics (BDPs) and are facing numerous challenges; one of which is the consumer confusion about how to best source-segregate BDPs. Based on an environmental life-cycle assessment, this study investigated the consequences of collecting BDPs in one of three waste streams (packaging waste, biowaste, and residual waste) in Austria. Collecting BDPs as (i) packaging waste resulted in incineration (SP1) or mechanical recycling (SP2), (ii) biowaste resulted in composting (SB1) or anaerobic digestion (AD) (SB2), and (iii) residual waste in incineration (SR1).

Controlling strain localization in thin films with nanoindenter tip sharpness.

Thin film nanoindentation has increased interest due to its usage in various applications. It is virtually impossible to measure thin film elastic modulus without the substrate influence. Several different methods exist to obtain the true thin film's elastic modulus with no attention given to investigate what parameters can improve insight into thin film mechanical property measurement.

Deep learning approaches for classification of copper-containing metal scrap in recycling processes.

Separating copper from iron scrap is a critical operation in metal recycling and achieving this with low cost sensoric equipment like RGB cameras instead of XRF/XRT is becoming increasingly attractive. In this article, the groundwork for creating an image classification model to separate copper from iron scrap has been performed. Twenty of the most common and most easily available CNN architectures were trained on 2200 metal scrap specimens and evaluated inline on a sensor-based sorting rig for their prediction accuracy and their inference latency to mimic real circumstances in an industrial setting.

In Vivo Assessment on Freeze-Cast Calcium Phosphate-Based Scaffolds with a Selective Cell/Tissue Ingrowth.

Highly porous bioceramic scaffolds are widely used as bone substitutes in many applications. However, the use of bioceramics is often limited to hard tissues due to the risk of potential soft tissue calcification. A further limitation of highly porous bioceramic scaffolds is their poor mechanical stability, manifested by their tendency to break under stress.

Modelling freckles and spurious grain formation in directionally solidified superalloy castings.

Segregation channels with misoriented spurious grains, known as freckles, are an unacceptable casting defect in superalloy turbine blades. A digital-twin method to predict segregation channels was proposed in our previous studies; however, the formation of spurious grains was ignored. Here, we extend the digital twin methodology by incorporating dendrite fragmentation, which is recognized as the predominant mechanism in the formation of spurious grains.

Hydrothermal synthesis of ZnZrO catalysts for CO hydrogenation to methanol: the effect of pH on structure and activity.

With the growing necessity of achieving carbon neutrality in the industrial sector, the catalytic hydrogenation of carbon dioxide into methanol has been widely considered one of the key strategies for the utilization of captured CO. For this reason, the development of alternative catalysts such as ZnZrO has attracted considerable interest, given its superior stability and versatility in comparison to the conventional Cu-based materials. In this work, ZnZrO has been produced by a hydrothermal synthesis method at varied synthesis pH between 7 and 10 and a positive association between pH and catalytic CO conversion is observed.

Evaluation of X-ray fluorescence for analysing critical elements in three electronic waste matrices: A comprehensive comparison of analytical techniques.

As the drive towards recycling electronic waste increases, demand for rapid and reliable analytical methodology to analyse the metal content of the waste is increasing, e.g. to assess the value of the waste and to decide the correct recycling routes.

Synthesis and Characterization of Rebondable Polyurethane Adhesives Relying on Thermo-Activated Transcarbamoylation.

Dynamic polymer networks combine the noteworthy (thermo)mechanical features of thermosets with the processability of thermoplastics. They rely on externally triggered bond exchange reactions, which induce topological rearrangements and, at a sufficiently high rate, a macroscopic reflow of the polymer network. Due to this controlled change in viscosity, dynamic polymers are repairable, malleable, and reprocessable.

Comprehensive Risk Analysis of Emergency Medical Response Systems in Serbian Healthcare: Assessing Systemic Vulnerabilities in Disaster Preparedness and Response.

Background/objectives: Emergency Medical Response Systems (EMRSs) play a vital role in delivering medical aid during natural and man-made disasters. This quantitative research delves into the analysis of risk and effectiveness within Serbia's Emergency Medical Services (EMS), with a special emphasis on how work organization, resource distribution, and preparedness for mass casualty events contribute to overall disaster preparedness.

Methods: The study was conducted using a questionnaire consisting of 7 sections and a total of 88 variables, distributed to and collected from 172 healthcare institutions (Public Health Centers and Hospitals).