Additional Metal Research Articles

A Technique to Augment Arthroscopic Bankart Repair With or Without a Metal Block: A Comparison.

Introduction: Arthroscopic Bankart repair (ABR) is associated with an increased failure rate over time. The Recenter implant, a metal block, is designed to reinforce capsulolabral repair. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether the addition of the Recenter implant to ABR reduces the rate of recurrence in patients with glenohumeral anterior instability. Materials and Methods: This was a retrospective, multicentric case-control study focusing on patients surgically treated for anterior shoulder instability from February 2012 to November 2019. This study compared patients undergoing ABR augmented with the "Recenter" implant (augmented ABR group) against those receiving traditional ABR. Primary outcomes measured included recurrence rates. Secondary outcome measures included functional scores (Walch-Duplay and the subjective shoulder test [SST], the auto Rowe score, satisfaction, pain, and the presence or absence of subjective subluxation and apprehension), return to sports, the range of motion, as well as other complications. Results: Thirty-two patients with augmented ABR were compared to forty-eight patients in the traditional ABR group, with mean follow-up periods of 5.2 ± 1.3 years and 6.1 ± 1.5 years, respectively. Three patients (9.4%) experienced recurrence in the "Recenter" group, versus eight (16.7%) in the other group (p > 0.05). The Walch-Duplay score was 70.2 ± 8.2 in the "Recenter" group and 64.2 ± 8 in the control group (p > 0.05). The SST score out of 100 was, respectively, 84.6 ± 6 and 81.5 ± 5.5 (p = 0.05). There were no early complications in the implant group. No statistically significant differences were observed between the two groups for the other outcomes. Conclusions: ABR safely restores shoulder stability in selected patients with subcritical glenoid bone deficiency. However, the addition of the Recenter metal implant did not improve outcomes compared to traditional Bankart repair and introduced presumed significant surgical time, technical challenges, and additional costs.

Enhanced Nitrous Oxide Decomposition on Zirconium-Supported Rhodium Catalysts by Iridium Augmentation.

The effective elimination of N2O from automobile exhaust at low temperatures poses significant challenges. Compared to other materials, supported RhOx catalysts exhibit high N2O decomposition activities, even in the presence of O2, CO2, and H2O. Metal additives can enhance the low-temperature N2O decomposition activities over supported RhOx catalysts; however, the enhancement mechanism and active sites require further investigation. In this study, we demonstrate the significant enhancement of the low-temperature N2O decomposition activity of a monoclinic ZrO2-supported Rh catalyst [Rh(1)/ZrO2] with Ir addition in the presence of N2O + O2 + CO2 + H2O. The promotional effect of Ir and the active sites on N2O decomposition in Rh(1)-Ir(1)/ZrO2 (Rh = 1 wt % and Ir = 1 wt %) were investigated by kinetic studies and in situ spectroscopic methods, including X-ray absorption spectroscopy, ambient-pressure X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy. These results indicate that both surface Rh and Ir species in Rh(1)-Ir(1)/ZrO2 were active sites for N2O catalytic decomposition at low temperatures, and Ir augmentation promoted the desorption of gaseous O2, which are regarded as key steps in N2O decomposition.

Combustion Behaviour of ADN-Based Green Solid Propellant with Metal Additives: A Comprehensive Review and Discussion

Solid propellants play a crucial role in various civil, scientific, and defence-related aerospace propulsion applications due to their efficient energy release, high energy density, low fabrication cost, and ease of operation. Ammonium dinitramide (ADN) has gained considerable attention as a potential oxidizer for green solid propellants due to its high oxygen content, significant energy density, non-toxicity, and non-polluting combustion products, leading to lower environmental impact. As ADN is a new desirable oxidizer in the field of solid propellants, understanding the practicality and viability of the use of ADN in composite solid propellants necessitates a thorough understanding of its chemical and thermal decomposition pathways in addition to its combustion characteristics in the presence of other ingredients. ADN is being explored as an alternative to the traditionally used ammonium perchlorate (AP), a toxic oxidizer containing chlorine (Cl). Additionally, AP monopropellants often suffer from moderate burning rates and poor mechanical strength. To address these limitations, researchers have explored the incorporation of metal additives, such as aluminium (Al), magnesium (Mg), and metalloid boron (B), to enhance the combustion performance and burn rate of AP. These metals not only act as energy-rich additives but also influence the combustion process through various mechanisms. The incorporation of metal additives into ADN has shown promising enhancements in the overall energetic performance of green solid propellants. This review aims to provide an in-depth analysis of the thermal decomposition of ADN and its combustion behaviour, along with the combustion of ADN-based solid propellants with metal additives. Finally, based on an extensive review of the existing literature, various research pathways for focused future collaborative efforts are identified to further advance ADN-based “green” solid propellants.

Modeling Absorbed Energy in Microwave Range for Nanocomposite Hot Melts Containing Metallic Additives

Modeling Absorbed Energy in Microwave Range for Nanocomposite Hot Melts Containing Metallic Additives

Construction of five- and seven-membered rings facilitated by alkyne-azide functionality: access to quinoline fused triazolo-azepines.

The synthesis of novel quinoline-fused triazolo-azepine derivatives has been reported using an intramolecular 1,3-dipolar azide-alkyne cycloaddition strategy. This method possesses considerable potential to synthesize five- and seven-membered rings in high yields (65-87%) without the necessity of metal catalysts or additives. Additionally, this methodology was applicable to pyridine and tetralone based adducts to afford triazolo-azepine derivatives. This intriguing chemistry offers numerous advantages, including metal-free and additive-free processes, applicability to gram scale synthesis, high atom economy and easy access to a diverse library of potential pharmacological compounds in high yields.

Transition metal-catalyzed cascade C-H activation/cyclization with alkynes: an update on sulfur-containing directing groups.

In light of the extensive applications of sulfur-containing heterocyclic compounds in drug discovery, agrochemicals, and advanced materials, the construction of complex sulfur-containing molecular scaffolds has flourished in recent years. There is a profound interest in synthetic methods for forming carbon-sulfur bonds. Regarding this, transition metal (TM)-catalyzed C-H bond activation has emerged as a valuable means for the rapid formation of C-S bonds, although it is comparatively less explored than C-N or C-C bonds. The research significance of sulfur-directed C-H activation chemistry lies in maintaining a balance between activating and poisoning the catalyst as well as in the diversity and novelty of its properties. This review centers on sulfur-directed TM-catalyzed cascade C-H activation/cyclization with alkyne and encompasses the literature mainly from 2012 to 2024. The widely acknowledged reactivity and versatility of rhodium, ruthenium, and cobalt catalysts have given rise to various captivating cascade processes. For most reactions illustrated in this review, reactivity and selectivity are attained through the flexible synergistic combination of different metal catalysts and additives. Further advancements will be accompanied with the discovery of innovative sulfur-directing groups, chiral catalysis, and ground-breaking experimental techniques. This article will also inspire researchers to gain a deeper understanding of the mechanism, thus undoubtedly leading to innovations and more discoveries in the future.

Intrinsic Coexistence of Miscibility and Segregation in Gold-Silver Nanoalloys.

Bimetallic nanoparticles are used in numerous applications in catalysis, plasmonics or fuel cell technology. The addition of the second metal to the nanoparticles allows enhancing and fine-tuning their properties by choosing their composition, size, shape and environment. However, the crucial additional parameter of chemical structure within the particle is difficult to predict and access experimentally, even though segregated core-shell structures and random alloys can have drastically different physicochemical properties. This is highlighted by the vast literature on the most studied bimetallic system, gold-silver, for which the controversy on whether gold and silver are miscible on the nanoscale or segregate persists. Here, these contradictions are solved by determining quantitatively the coexistence of an alloyed core and a 1-2nm thick shell with gradual silver enrichment as the chemical ground state structure. Chemical reactions with the environment and meta-stable structures are furthermore identified as responsible for the contradictions in the literature. This method is applicable to other multi-metallic systems, provides benchmark input for theoretical models, and forms the basis for studying chemical rearrangements under reactive conditions in catalysis.

Overcoming Selectivity Trade-Offs in Alkene Azidodifluoroalkylation: An Enlightening Synergistic Catalytic Approach.

Recent advances in dual catalysis involving biomimetic conversion strategies that utilize radical ligand transfer (RLT) often rely on large doses of precious metal additives. The role of these additives within the mechanism remains ambiguous, leading to complex reaction conditions, uncertain pathways, and increased costs. These challenges complicate the study of the reaction process and are accompanied by potential safety risks. To address these issues, azide salt was used as an alternative to TMSN3. This replacement not only avoids the drawbacks associated with almost parallel research on alkene azidodifluoroalkylation but also eliminates the need for ligands. Comparative analysis indicates that existing biomimetic synergistic catalysis strategies require Ag2CO3 additives to enhance selectivity in alkene difunctionalization reactions, highlighting the superior simplicity, environmental friendliness, and operational ease of our developed synergistic catalysis strategy. Furthermore, under the guidance of our proposed mechanism, an alkene azidosulfonation was designed, validating the innovative and practical applicability of our synergistic catalysis approach.

Tuning the Growth Pattern of Triangular Silver Nanoplates from Lateral to Vertical by Secondary Metal Addition.

We are presenting an easy synthetic access to the aqueous synthesis of truncated trigonal silver nanobipyramids with tunable width and height in a facile two step synthesis. We modified a synthesis that employs seed particles with twinning faults on which silver is deposited laterally along the twinning fault, leading to flat particles. The ratio of lateral and vertical growth is adjusted by the co-titration of further noble metal salts at nanomolar concentrations alongside the silver precursor. Thus, besides the edge lengths, the thickness and related aspect ratio of metal bipyramids can be tuned. By tracking the growth of the particles via their localized surface plasmon resonance position during the reaction using optical transmission spectroscopy, we present insights into the modification of the growth mechanism for truncated silver nanobipyramids.

Bimetallic Mesoporous MCM-41 Nanoparticles with Ta/(Ti, V, Co, Nb) with Catalytic and Photocatalytic Properties.

Bimetallic (Ta/Ti, V, Co, Nb) mesoporous MCM-41 nanoparticles were obtained by direct synthesis and hydrothermal treatment. The obtained mesoporous materials were characterized by XRD, XRF, N2 adsorption/desorption, SEM, TEM, XPS, Raman, UV-Vis, and PL spectroscopy. A more significant effect was observed on the mesoporous structure, typically for MCM-41, and on optic properties if the second metal (Ti, Co) did not belong to the same Vb group with Ta as V and Nb. The XPS showed for the TaTi-MCM-41 sample that framework titanium is the major component. The new nanoparticles obtained were used as catalysts for oxidation with hydrogen peroxide of olefinic compounds (1,4 cyclohexadiene, cyclohexene, styrene) and photodegradation of organic pollutants (phenol, methyl orange) from water. The results showed improvementsin activity and selectivity in oxidation reactions by the addition of the second metal to the Ta-MCM-41 catalyst. The slow addition of H2O2 was also beneficial for the selectivity of epoxide products and the stability of the catalysts. The band gap energy values decreased in the presence of the second metal, and the band edge diagram evidenced positive potential for all the conduction bands of the bimetallic samples. The highestlevels of photocatalytic degradation were obtained for the samples with TaTi and TaV.

Machine Learning‐Assisted Optimization of Additive Engineering in FAPbI3‐Based Perovskite Solar Cells: Achieving High Efficiency and Long‐Term Stability

Additive engineering in perovskite solar cells (PSCs) has been proven to enhance device performance, yet comparing the effects of different additives through experimental methods is still a challenge. Herein, machine learning (ML) is used to quantitatively analyze the impact of additive engineering on performance of PSCs, utilizing a dataset with 778 samples and 39 input features. Key features affecting device performance are identified, revealing that alkali metal additives boost short‐circuit current, alkylamine additives improve open‐circuit voltage, and passivation at A‐site defects is more beneficial than at interstitial sites. Using the results gained from the ML approach, the performance of PSCs improves significantly, achieving an efficiency of 23.50%, with VOC and JSC values of 1.16 V and 25.35 mA cm−2, respectively, markedly higher than those of the control samples.

Mechanical and microstructural characterization of recycled aggregate geopolymer concrete having high strength and recycled tire steel wire fibers

The mechanical and microstructural properties of recycled aggregate geopolymer concrete (RAGC) that contains high-strength steel wire fibers (HSWF), recycled tire steel fibers (RTF), or a mix of the two as hybrid fibers are investigated in this study. Using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis, the study examines microstructure, flexural toughness, compressive strength, and stress–strain response. By volume, metallic fiber additions ranged from 0.5 % to 1.5 %. Results showed that the HSWF1.5 mix achieved the highest mechanical strength of 56.27 MPa at 28 days, a 16.18 % increase over the mix having no fibers i.e., the Control mix. Toughness increased by 59 % in the mix with 1.5 % hybrid fibers i.e., HF1.5 mix, underscoring the significant durability enhancement from fibers.

MICROSTRUCTURE AND MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF LEAD BABBIT B(PbSb15Sn10) WITH SOME RARE EARTH METALS (La, Ce, Nd)

The article presents a detailed study on the effects of rare earth elements, such as lanthanum (La), cerium (Ce), and neodymium (Nd), on the microstructure and mechanical properties of lead-based babbitt alloy grade B (PbSb15Sn10). The study involves a thorough analysis of the changes in the alloy's structure and its mechanical characteristics under the influence of these rare earth additives, which helped to reveal their role in shaping the material's properties. It is shown that the addition of rare earth metals to the lead babbitt significantly improves its strength characteristics, leading to a longer service life and high operational reliability. The research established that adding rare earth metals increases the hardness of the original babbitt alloy to 187 MPa. Cerium is identified as the most effective alloying component in terms of enhancing hardness and strength. The results of the microstructure analysis of the babbitts indicate that the introduction of small amounts of rare earth metals has a substantial modifying effect on the alloy's structure, resulting in significant refinement of the eutectic structure, represented by Pb+SbSn+γ phases, in the babbitts. Additionally, during the eutectic crystallization process, the formation and precipitation of intermetallic phase inclusions, involving antimony and rare earth metals, were observed in the babbitt structure. Rare earth metals alter the alloy structure by reducing the grain size.

A Thermodynamic and Kinetic‐Based Argon Oxygen Decarburization Process Model and Validation with Plant Data

Argon oxygen decarburization (AOD) is one of the most dynamic and complex processes in stainless steel production. Along with a lot of metallic additions, oxygen (O2), argon (Ar), or nitrogen (N2) gas is blown into the reactor to produce complex stainless‐steel grades. Typically, a hit‐and‐trial method approach is followed in the plant to optimize the critical process parameters for producing any new grades or optimizing the existing ones. In this regard, a mathematical model of the process coupled with robust thermodynamic databases is adopted to optimize the process. As discussed in the manuscript, most of the previous models explain the decarburization patterns by assuming a critical carbon (C) content to justify the change in decarburization rate from surface oxidation due to high O2 flow rates at high C levels to liquid phase mass transfer of C at low C levels. In the current study, decarburization patterns are described without any assumption of critical C content. The modeling results are validated against the plant data for a standard 316L grade in a 150 ton AOD converter. Next, the model parameters are implemented as it is for grades 439 and 321 and the AOD model is used as a predictive tool for these grades.

Improving Catalytic Activity of Solid Oxide Electrolysers for the Electrosplitting of Water Vapor and CO2 by the Addition of Affordable and Eco-Friendly Promoter Metals

Recently, Solid Oxide Electrolysis Cells (SOECs) can be considered a solution for the elimination of atmospheric CO2 and limiting its negative environmental impact. Thanks to high operation temperatures, full-solid construction and high Faradaic efficiency it is a promising method for a production of great amounts of relatively cheap and pure hydrogen. Furthermore, these ceramic cells can be set to perform CO2 electroreduction along with water vapor. Thanks to that, it is possible to simultaneously supply various chemical processes with H2-CO feedstock using one, relatively simple setup. In that sense, the SOECs can provide ‘green’ hydrogen and reduce the CO2 amount by delivering the valuables such as syngas or other chemicals. Recently, high temperature H2O/CO2 coelectrolysis in SOECs became reasonable alternative to other technologies of syngas production such as steam reforming of biogas or coal gasification, which both release huge amount of the greenhouse gases.The main constituent of water-hydrogen electrode is bifunctional composite of NiO and Zr0.84Y0.16O2-δ, which upon the reduction forms metallic network of Ni within the scaffold of ionic conductor. This type of electrode is quite well established for working with water vapor in electrolysis mode but struggles under the atmosphere containing CO and/or CO2. Ni grains are considered active, but not the most efficient towards RWGS as well as electrochemical splitting of H2O/CO2. Over the years other transition metals - Cu, Fe, or Co - as well as their oxides - MnO, ZnO - were found to be more prominent and used in catalytic reactors. Further increase of the activity and the efficiency can be achieved thanks to promoter metals and their oxides e.g., K2O, Na2O, Rb2O, MgO, CaO. The addition of the transition metals can be promising alternative to the usage of the noble metals considering mostly their much lower price. On the other hand, the addition of alkaline metal oxides can increase the adsorption rate of CO2 and prolong the retention time in the proximity of the electrode. As the SOECs are generally non-pressurized systems, the efficiency of the electrode surface catalysts should be pushed to maximum in order to provide valuable yield of the outlet gases.A series of modified SOECs was prepared by the addition of 5 mol.% of the transition metal (Co, Cu, Mn, Fe) or alkaline metal oxide (Na, K, Ca, Mg, Rb, Li, Sr) nanoparticles. The samples have been fabricated by simple wet impregnation method. The SOECs were tested for the coelectrolysis of CO2/H2O mixture with an addition of H2 for electrode protection against the reoxidation. The electrical tests were considering the utilization factor of water vapor and electrochemical behavior of the cells under various CO2:H2:H2O ratios to better understand the mechanisms of syngas formation.It was found out that depending on the reducibility of the metals they got dissolved into Ni grains (e.g., Co, Fe) or formed the secondary phases on the top of the grains (e.g. MnO). It was observed as an accumulation of the metal ions inside Ni-rich grains or dissipation of the ions all over the imaging area as seen in STXM images. Alkaline metal oxides formed a mixture of the phases all over Ni and YSZ grains. A series of in-situ XAS measurements at the ESRF (France) was performed to observe the formation of various mixed compounds and the response of electrode's components to CO2-rich atmosphere at high temperature. The surficial changes of the oxidation states were determined using in-situ XPS imaging of modified electrode structure using SPEM at the Elettra (Italy). The addition of secondary metal alters the energy levels on Ni surface and increases the tendency to form carbonate-like compounds, what prolongs the retention time of CO2. The addition of guest metal highly increased CO2 conversion and selectivity towards CO production as well as the electrical efficiency due to the alterations of basic-acid sites and introduction of active redox couples. Acknowledgements This work was supported by a project funded by National Science Centre Poland, based on decision UMO-2021/43/B/ST8/01831 (OPUS 22). The XAS and XPS experiments were supported by CERIC-ERIC consortium and performed at the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF) and the Elettra Sincrotrone Trieste, respectively. The access to ESRF was financed by the Polish Ministry of Education and Science – decision no. 2021/WK/11.

Stability Enhancement of Direct Ammonia Solid Oxide Fuel Cells By Using Barium-Modified Ni/YSZ Anodes

Ammonia fuel is attracting interest as a hydrogen carrier gas in solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) due to its superior volumetric storage capacity. In this study, comparative analyses of hydrogen and ammonia fuel were conducted for SOFCs. Experiments using a Ni/YSZ-based button cell were conducted to investigate one of the major technical challenges encountered when using ammonia fuel: the nitridation of the Ni fuel electrode. We employed methods such as the addition of alkaline earth metals to prevent nitridation. Accordingly, two types of button cells were fabricated to compare their performance, including power density and ammonia conversion rates. The difference between these cells was in the composition of their anode support layer. One maintained the standard Ni/YSZ formulation, while the other was modified by adding BCZYYb to the Ni/YSZ base. This modification, specifically the addition of Ba, aims to enhance ammonia conversion and mitigate nitridation when operated with ammonia fuel. Both types of button cells were tested at 750℃. Current-voltage (IV) measurements and Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) analysis were conducted to evaluate the electrochemical performance of the cells. X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) analysis was utilized to examine the presence of secondary phases. Gas Chromatography (GC) analysis was performed to measure the ammonia conversion rates.

Improvement of CO2 Conversion By Infiltration of Metal Additives (Ag, Cu, Ni, Co, and Ce) to Decorate Sr2Fe1.5Mo0.5O6- δ Cathodes for Solid Oxide Electrolysis Cells

The transformation of CO2 into CO and its conversion into biofuels has become a topic of interest due to the increasing severity of global warming. Solid oxide electrolysis cells are considered as one type of device to address this challenge. In this study, the cathode used for the electrolysis cell was Sr2Fe1.5Mo0.5O6- δ (SFM). Surface modification was performed by infiltrating Ag, Cu, Ni, Co, and Ce at an operating temperature of 800 °C. The SFM sample before H2 reduction treatment show a performance of 100 mA/cm2 at 1.6 V, which is significantly lower than the 196 mA/cm2 achieved after reduction treatment. According to the XRD results, the formation of SrMoO4 before reduction could be a factor affecting its performance.Furthermore, I-V curves were observed for SFM samples that were infiltrated with Ag, Cu, Ni, Co, and Ce before the reduction treatment. The performance of the infiltrated samples was better than that of the untreated SFM sample. Samples infiltrated with Ag and Cu exhibited a turning point at approximately 1.4 V, where the current density decreased significantly with increasing voltage. The Faradaic efficiency results for CO production indicate that the efficiency of Ag and Cu samples without reduction treatment significantly decreased at voltages above 1.4 V. This phenomenon was not observed in pure SFM samples. It is suggested to be due to the partial supply of current after 1.4 V was not utilized for CO2 reduction but rather for the reduction of Ag and Cu oxides.Samples treated with H2 exhibited a significant increase in current density. Additionally, the turning point phenomenon observed in Ag and Cu samples was eliminated. SrMoO4 in SFM disappears after reduction treatment. Additionally, the Ag and Cu oxide particles involved in the reaction transform into nano-metal particles that no longer consume supplied electrons. Thus, the Faradaic efficiency results after reduction treatment were higher than that of the pure SFM sample. The Ag sample achieved conversion efficiencies of up to 90%.

Tuning the microstructure and strength of selective laser melted Al0.5CoCr0.8FeNi2.5V0.2 high entropy alloys through Fe-based metallic glass addition

The microstructure and mechanical properties of Al0.5CoCr0.8FeNi2.5V0.2 high entropy alloy (HEA) fabricated by selective laser melting (SLM), with Fe-based metallic glass (MG) powder added as modifier, have been studied in comparison to the MG-free one. All the as-SLMed samples show face-centered cubic (FCC) single-phase structure, where the MG powders are well molten and dissolved during SLM. The epitaxial growth characteristic of grains is degraded by MG addition due to the elemental segregation at fusion lines, with the morphology of grains changed from columnar to equiaxial and orientation of grains changed from <001> orientation to randomly oriented. As the MG addition increased from 0 wt% to 20 wt%, the grain size decrease from 20.90 μm to 8.12 μm, the yield strength (YS) and hardness increased from 653 MPa to 286 HV to 1082 MPa 417 HV, respectively; the fracture elongation decreases from 33 % to 3 %, and a well balance is achieved with the YS of 904 MPa and elongation of 16 % in the sample with 10 wt% MG addition. The strengthening effect is mainly attributed to the segregation at sub-grain boundaries due to the MG addition. The deformation mechanism of MG modified HEA was also studied and discussed. This work proposed a new option of tuning the microstructure and properties of SLMed HEAs by simply introducing MG additions.

Effect of sludge-based additive on particulate matter emission during the combustion of agricultural biomass pellet

In this study, the effects of a sludge-based additive on particulate matter emission during the cornstalk pellet combustion were investigated using a vertical fixed bed reactor combined with a Dekati low pressure impactor (DLPI). It was found that the PM1 and total PM10 yields from the cornstalk pellet combustion were much higher than those from the individual combustion of sludge-based additive. With the addition of sludge-based additive, the alkali and alkaline earth metals (AAEMs) in biomass would react with the Al/Si-containing and P-containing inorganic minerals in sludge-based additive to form various aluminosilicates, silicates, and K-Ca-P compounds, which could enhance the potassium fixation and retain it in the coarse particles, such as fly ash and residual ash. The PM1 and total PM10 yields from the composite pellet combustion could be effectively reduced by 62 %, with the mixing ratio of sludge-based additive increasing to 75 %. The mixing ratio of sludge-based additive showed a positive synergistic effect in reducing the emission of PM and a mixing ratio of <30 % was recommended based on comprehensive considerations to produce relatively high-quality pellet fuel with respect to good heating value and low ash content and PM emission in later combustion application.

Comparison of the effect of gaseous and metallic additives on ultrathin Ag layer formation: An experimental and numerical investigation

Ultrathin Ag layers are promising for optoelectronic applications, however, the inherently poor wettability of Ag on oxide substrates such as SiOx poses a significant challenge. Current techniques for resolving this issue often introduce trace amounts of metallic or gaseous additives during Ag growth. Previous studies have not thoroughly compared the influence of metallic and gaseous additives on the wetting and optoelectrical performance of Ag. Even though these additives certainly improve Ag wetting, existing information on their effectiveness is inconsistent. In this study, we aimed to identify the most effective additive by investigating the impact of the O, N, Cu, and Zn additives on Ag wetting. We combined experimental and computational investigations to reveal the ways these additives at the Ag surface and/or the Ag − SiOx interface reduce the cohesive energy of the Ag layers, thereby determining the Ag wetting behavior. Consequently, our findings suggest that O is the most effective additive for improving the optoelectrical properties of the Ag layers owing to its ability to enhance Ag wettability and optoelectrical performance. This conclusion challenges conventional practices, heavily relying on metallic additives and Cu in particular. Our study provides valuable insights into the optimization of ultrathin Ag layers for optoelectronic applications.