Addition Of Nanomaterials Research Articles

The role of nanomaterials in enhancing adhesion properties between bitumen and aggregate particles

During production and construction stages of asphalt mixtures, rheology of bitumen must be set at certain level. In addition, the adhesion strength between bitumen and the aggregate particles should be high enough so that during the service life of the pavement, asphalt mixture can resist various distresses. There are different methods of controlling rheological properties of bitumen binders and increasing adhesion properties of asphalt mixtures. One of the most effective methods of modifying bitumen binders of asphalt mixtures is using nanomaterials. In this research, two bitumen types of 60/70 and 85/100 penetration grades, three aggregate types (limestone, siliceous, and granite) and four nanomaterials types (nanohydrated lime NHL, nanosilica NSiO2, nanolime NCaCO3, and nanoclay bentonite NClay) were used at 2, 4, and 6% of the weight of bitumen. X-ray diffraction and X-ray fluorescence tests were performed and, microscopic images of thin-sections of aggregates and asphalt mixtures were taken with the aim of evaluating petrographic properties of aggregates and bonding characteristics of the bitumen binders with aggregate particles. Physical and rheological properties of the nano-modified bitumen binders were evaluated, performing dynamic shear rheometer and rotational viscometer tests. Boiling water and pull-off tests were also carried out in order to investigate the coating ability and the adhesion strength that is performed at the aggregate surface in the interface with the bitumen binders. Digital images were analyzed using Digimizer Software. The results indicated that the addition of nanomaterials at certain optimal percentage affected viscosity and improved rheological behavior of the bitumen binders at different temperatures, and increased adhesion properties of the bitumen coating the aggregate particles. Comparing the effects of different aggregates, it resulted that the binder coating the limestone aggregates performed better than the siliceous and the granite aggregates. The adhesion and the rheological properties of the 60/70 pen bitumen that was modified with nanomaterials were better than those of the 85/100 pen bitumen. Nano-modified binders at 4% NHL, or 2% NSiO2, or 4% NCaCO3, or 4% NClay exhibited the best behavior. Among these, the nano-modified binders containing 4% NHL resulted in better performance. Finally, the correlation between the adhesion and rheological behavior was suitable for nano-modified binders in order to improve the asphalt mixes' performance in operation and construction stages.

Deployment of Dedicative Nanoadditives to Enhance the Thermal Behavior and Effectiveness of Heat Transfer Performance of Eutectic Compound

ABSTRACTTwo nanoprecursors with capping agents were incorporated in stearyl alcohol–adipic acid combination phase change material (PCM) in this study. The addition of nanomaterials made the eutectic reliable in the manner of its thermal properties like higher enthalpy, degradation point, and more compatible with the metal encapsulation materials when compared with the pristane eutectic. The importance of nano‐metal oxides in parent material was shown by the reduced time frame of the PCM's thermal energy storing and releasing process for space heating applications. The specific heat capacity of both the aluminum and titanium oxide nanocomposites were greater than the eutectic, which indicates that the material can retain more energy. The thermal conductivities of base material and nanocomposite PCMs were 0.2686, 0.2815, and 0.4395 W/mK at 40°C, and the highest percentage increment of nanocomposites was seen as 9.19% and 63.62% at varied encircled temperatures. The crystal structure and chemical disintegration were evinced with the X‐ray diffractometer results of the composites.

Wet-Spinning Carbon Nanotube/Shape Memory Polymer Composite Fibers with High Actuation Stress and Predesigned Shape Change.

Actuators based on shape memory polymers and composites incorporating nanomaterial additives have been extensively studied; achieving both high output stress and precise shape change by low-cost, scalable methods is a long-term-desired yet challenging task. Here, conventional polymers (polyurea) and carbon nanotube (CNT) fillers are combined to fabricate reinforced composite fibers with exceptional actuation performance, by a wet-spinning method amenable for continuous production. It is found that a thermal-induced shrinkage step could obtain densified strong fibers, and the presence of CNTs effectively promotes the tensile orientation of polymer molecular chains, leading to much improved mechanical properties. Consequently, the CNT/ polyurea composite fibers exhibit stresses as high as 33MPa within 0.36 s during thermal actuation, and stresses up to 22MPa upon electrical stimulation enabled by the built-in conductive CNT networks. Utilizing the flexible thin fibers, various shape change behavior are also demonstrated including the conversion between different structures/curvatures, and recovery of predefined simple patterns. This high-performance composite fibers, capable of both thermal and electrical actuation and produced by low-cost materials and fabrication process, may find many potential applications in wearable devices, robotics, and biomedical areas.

A review: Enhancing tribological properties of journal bearings composite materials

Abstract Tribology is the science of studying friction, wear, and lubrication. Composite materials consist of two or more constituents (phases): the discontinuous phase represents the reinforcement and the continuous phase represents the matrix. Journal bearing is manufactured from various composite materials. This article reviews the literature on improving the tribological properties of journal bearings made of composite materials (polymer matrix composite materials and metal matrix composite materials) by dividing the previous studies into six primary sections depending on the kinds of composite materials. An efficient method was utilized to solve the problems of composite journal bearings in water lubrication such as wear resistance, reduced friction, and increased service life of journal bearings in various applications especially in ships. The impact of composite materials, which were added through thermoplastic such as polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), polyether-ether-ketone, POM, and PA66, thermoset such as epoxy, polyester, and phenolic reinforced with fibers, and thermoplastic with thermoset (PTFE/epoxy composite) to reduce wear rate and coefficient of friction, and also the addition of nanomaterials to composite journal bearing to enhance the tribological properties in various applications were examined. The last section used metal matrix composite reinforced to other metal or alloy to give the attractive mechanical properties used to improve wear resistance and friction coefficient of journal bearing. The novelty of this article lies in the comprehensive analysis of various composite materials and their effect on the tribological properties of journal bearings, providing future insights into bearing design and optimization to improve performance.

Enhancing anaerobic digestion of food waste for biogas production: Impact of graphene nanoparticles and multiwalled nanotubes on direct interspecies electron transfer mechanism

The present research investigated the effect of two carbonaceous materials, multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs), and graphene nanoparticles (GNPs), on biogas yield from food waste (FW) in an anaerobic digestion system for 30 days. Lab scale investigations were conducted in batch mode in 250 mL glass reactor bottles and the findings were compared to the control reactor. The performance of the experimental procedure was assessed in terms of biogas output and organic matter reduction. The addition of 100 mg/L multiwalled carbon nanotubes and 100 mg/L GNPs increased the cumulative biogas production (33.55 % and 81.16 %, respectively) while decreasing the total solid content (about 25.95 % and 24.95 %, respectively). However, increasing the concentration of both carbon nanomaterials from 100 mg/L to 500 mg/L reduced the total biogas production compared to the control, which can be attributed to cytotoxic effects. A microbial diversity study was performed using 16S amplicon sequencing to understand the changes occurring in the microbial ecology. The predominant phyla found during diversity analysis were Firmicutes, Proteobacteria, Actinobacteriota, and Bacteroidota. Finally, addition of carbonaceous nanomaterials to the anaerobic reactors favours organic matter degradation through the DIET mechanism. It improves the biogas production kinetics and productivity during the anaerobic digestion of FW up to a certain dose.

Molecular dynamics study of the thermal radiatively pressure-driven flow of two immiscible hybrid nanofluids through a curved pipe with viscous dissipation

Hybrid nanomaterials significantly enhance thermal systems through improved thermal conductivity, efficient energy storage, and customized thermomechanical properties. Due to their superior thermophysical characteristics, hybrid nanofluids are crucial in fields such as industry, biomedicine, transportation, and pharmaceuticals. Therefore, the current article scrutinizes the characteristics of heat transfer on the thermally radiative flow of two immiscible hybrid nanofluids through a curved pipe induced due to a pressure gradient in an axial direction. The pipe is divided into two distinct regions: namely, (i) Region 1 (core) is filled with base fluid kerosene oil containing copper (Cu) and carbon nanotube (CNT) nanoparticles, while (ii) Region 2 (peripheral) is filled with base fluid water containing zinc oxide (ZnO) and aluminum oxide (Al2O3) nanoparticles. The complex curvilinear coordinates called toroidal coordinates are used to form a mathematical model for the present problem. The fluid in the core region is assumed to be more viscous than that of the peripheral region as such types of flows are observed in real life (viz. blood flow through arteries). Equations governing the flow are considered without ignoring any curvature ratio terms and are solved analytically by considering the perturbation series. The continuity of velocities and shear stresses at the fluid-fluid interface is taken into account along with no-slip, symmetric, and regularity conditions while solving the two-fluid flow problem under consideration. The effect of various fluid parameters such as curvature ratio, Reynolds number, viscosity ratio, and density ratio on the axial velocity and temperature is studied through 2-dimensional graphs, contour plots, and streamlines. The results show that the axial velocity of immiscible fluids flow decreases with an increase in the concentration of nanomaterials. Heat transport characteristics of nanofluid are increased by the addition of nanomaterials.

Development of a Bio-Selecting Agent Based on Immobilized Bacterial Cells with Amidase Activity for Bio-Detection of Acrylamide

Actinobacteria cells Rhodococcus erythropolis 4-1 and Rhodococcus erythropolis 11-2 and Proteobacteria Alcaligenes faecalis 2, which have amidase activity, were immobilized by entrapping barium alginate and agarose into the gel structure, as well as by obtaining biofilms on thermally expanded graphite (TEG). The operational stability of such immobilized biocatalysts after storage in frozen and dehydrated form was determined, and a prototype of a conductometric acrylamide biosensor based on such a bioselective agent was developed. The most preferred method for storing immobilized cells was freezing at temperatures from –20 to –80°C; long-term storage is also possible wet at 4–25°C. It was shown that these cells were most preferable for the biodetection of acrylamide A. faecalis 2, immobilized in an agarose gel structure. An agarose gel with bacterial cells immobilized in its structure had greater mechanical strength and stability during successive cycles of conversion of acrylamide into acrylic acid compared to barium alginate gel. The mechanical strength of barium alginate gel can be enhanced by the addition of carbon nanomaterials during cell immobilization. Growing biofilms on carbon materials used for manufacturing electrodes is also promising. Biofilms of R. erythropolis 11-2 on TEG are capable of converting acrylamide into acrylic acid in more than 20 reaction cycles while maintaining at least 50% amidase activity.

Hybrid effects of graphene oxide-zeolitic imidazolate framework-67 (GO@ZIF-67) nanocomposite on mechanical, thermal, and microstructure properties of cement mortar

The addition of two-dimensional nanomaterials, such as graphene oxide (GO), and three-dimensional nanomaterials, such as zeolitic imidazolate framework-67 (ZIF-67), has shown great promise in improving the characteristics of cement-based systems. Consequently, a thorough understanding of the synergistic interactions between 2D and 3D nanomaterials in cement-based mortars is necessary. However, there is a lack of research on the use of graphene oxide-zeolitic imidazolate framework-67 (GO@ZIF-67) nanocomposites. Accordingly, this study investigated the hybrid effects of GO@ZIF-67 nanocomposites on the mechanical strength, hydration kinetics, shrinkage performance, and microstructural features of cement mortars. The GO@ZIF-67 nanocomposite was synthesized and added to the cement mortar at various concentrations (0.3, 0.4, and 0.5 wt %). The developed nanocomposite cement mortar was characterized using SEM-EDS, XRD, and DSC-TGA. The results indicated that the hybrid GO@ZIF-67 slightly improved the compressive strength of the cement paste, with a synergistic effect observed at specific concentrations. However, microstructural analysis revealed that the presence of hybrid nanomaterials did not facilitate the assembly and regulation of hydration crystal growth, nor did it significantly impede growth, resulting in minimal effects on the properties of cement mortar. Additionally, the nanocomposite influenced the hydration reactions and the formation of specific hydration products, introduced defects, and weakened the microstructure of the cement mortar. Moreover, an increase in the hybrid nanocomposite content led to higher drying shrinkage and water absorption, indicating a reduced durability of the cement mortar. Further research is required to optimize the use of GO@ZIF-67 nanocomposites in cement mortars to achieve the desired balance of properties.

Polysaccharide-based Edible Film Coatings for Preservation and Packaging of Food

Abstract: A lot of interest has been shown in edible films and coatings made from homo- and heteropolysaccharides as environmentally friendly substitutes for food packaging and preservation. This review delves into the various uses, characteristics, and working principles that underpin these biopolymer- based materials' ability to prolong food products' shelf lives and preserve their quality. Clarified are the structure-function correlations of a variety of polysaccharides, such as starch, chitosan, cellulose, and their blends, emphasizing their potential as barrier coverings against microbial, oxygen, and moisture contamination. Additionally, the addition of bioactive substances and nanomaterials to these films is covered, with a focus on how these materials improve the films' mechanical, antioxidant, and antibacterial qualities. The paper also discusses future options for research and case studies of these biopolymer-based systems. All things considered, the application of edible films and coatings based on homo- and heteropolysaccharide biopolymers offers viable options for environmentally friendly food packaging that preserves food quality and safety while lowering environmental impact. The need for this review arises from the growing demand for sustainable, environment- friendly alternatives to traditional plastic packaging.

Nano-metakaolin-enhanced fly ash and cement-based geopolymer mortar

The addition of Nanomaterials to Geopolymer mortar causes substantial modification in the kinetic of polymerization. The purpose of this research is to study, the effect of nano metakaolin in cement-based fly ash geopolymer mortar. The ratio of alkaline activators and molar concentration of NaOH was kept constant at 1.5 and 12M respectively, while the proportion of Portland cement and fly ash constitutes 30% and 70% of the total starting materials respectively. The replacement level of nano metakaolin was (0%, 5%, 10%, 15%, and 20% by weight of binders). Mortar mechanical and microstructural Properties were evaluated by conduct compressive strength, flexural strength, ultrasonic pulse velocity, scanning electron microscope (SEM) and x-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. The result shows significant improvement in mechanical performance and denser morphology than the control mix. Therefore, geopolymer mortar containing 10% replacement of nano metakaolin has shown particularly good results and enhancement in various aspects of the material performance and properties, indicating its potential for wider implementation in the construction industry.

Thermomechanical behavior of concretes with addition of non-functionalized and functionalized carbon nanotubes

The development of more durable materials is crucial for ensuring user safety in construction, particularly under adverse conditions. Carbon nanotubes are currently being studied as components in civil engineering composites due to their high tensile strength, high modulus of elasticity, high failure temperature, and satisfactory electrical and thermal conductivity. These nanotubes can be either non-functionalized (CNT), the more conventional type, or functionalized (CNT-F).This study aims to evaluate and compare the thermomechanical properties of concrete with the addition of CNT and CNT-F, analysis that still has not been extensively covered in the literature. The results show that the addition of nanomaterials did not significantly impact the mechanical properties of the concrete, although CNT-F exhibited slightly better performance. At 300 °C, CNT-F concrete experienced a 26 % reduction in strength, compared to a 34 % reduction in the control concrete and a 57 % reduction in concrete with CNT. At 900 °C, all types of mixtures were degraded, showing no significant difference in performance. This behavior was expected, as carbon nanotubes deteriorate at around 600 °C and are no longer effective at higher temperatures. Additionally, this trend was observed in other mechanical properties, such as tensile strength. It was also found that dispersing the nanotubes uniformly within the concrete mixture remains a challenge, as they can concentrate in specific regions of the composite. Finally, it's important to note that incorporating nanotubes into concrete helps store carbon within the material, preventing its release into the atmosphere and thereby reducing environmental damage.

Optimization of entropy and heat transfer in a magnetohydrodynamic marangoni convection flow of biviscosity bingham hybrid nanofluid through convergent channel

This study examines the entropy generation and heat transfer performance in a Jeffrey-Hamel flow of biviscosity Bingham fluid with the addition of Al2O3 and Cu nanomaterials in the presence of a thermal Marangoni convective process. An emerging Jeffrey-Hamel problem is extended with the implementation of the Bingham fluid stress tensor in a Naiver Stokes equation. The governing equations with Marangoni boundary conditions due to surface tension are solved computationally utilizing the Keller-Box methodology. The findings demonstrate the complex interplay of entropy production processes, fluid-solid interfaces, and thermal Marangoni convection. Findings demonstrated that increasing Marangoni, Bingham parameters, and thermal radiation enhances the rate of heat transmission. The influence of the Marangoni and Bingham parameters on skin friction is conflicting in a narrow channel. System entropy and flow field uplift with a higher Marangoni convection parameter. Increasing the Reynolds number significantly increases the drag force, whereas the effect of the magnetic variable is the reverse. Velocity is an increasing function of the Reynolds and Bingham parameters and deteriorates with the load of nanomaterials. Temperature is a rising function of nanomaterial load, Eckert, and Bingham parameter. The results of this investigation have important ramifications for improving heat transfer, coolant systems, and nozzles design.

Crystalline 1D Linear Conjugated Polymers with a Quinoidal Unit As Metal‐Free Electrocatalysts for Oxygen Reduction

AbstractCrystalline and soluble 1D linear conjugated polymers (LCPs) have garnered considerable interest as cost‐effective and efficient metal‐free electrocatalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) due to their high exposure of catalytic sites and ease of processing. However, difficulties remain in achieving excellent ORR performance for 1D LCPs by conventional molecular design. Herein, it is demonstrated the utilization of quinoidal units as a promising strategy to develop 1D LCPs for ORR. The incorporation of quinoidal unit not only results in polymers with strong inter‐ and intra‐molecular interactions and low‐lying LUMO (lowest unoccupied molecular orbital) energy levels, but also provides polymers with good crystallinity and commendable charge carrier mobilities. The electronic properties of these polymers are fine‐tuned through the introduction of additional heteroatoms and/or substituents in the monomers and comonomers to understand and optimize their ORR catalytic activity. Evaluation of their catalytic performances reveals a remarkable half‐wave potential and limiting current density of up to 0.74 V (vs reversible hydrogen electrod) and 7.50 mA cm−2, respectively. Notably, these performances are achieved without the addition of carbon nanomaterials as support. This study offers a new insight into the design of highly efficient metal‐free organic electrocatalysts.

Exploring the dual effect of sodium lignosulfonate-modified LDH treatment and heat processing on elevating corrosion and wear resistance of Ni-W composite coatings

The exploration of Ni-W composite coatings with high corrosion and wear resistance is highly important for engineering applications. In this study, LDH-SLS composite nanomaterials were synthesized via hydrothermal synthesis, and Ni-W/SLS composite coatings with excellent wear and corrosion resistance were prepared via pulsed electrodeposition combined with heat treatment. The successful synthesis of LDH-SLS was confirmed by TEM, EDS, FTIR, XPS and XRD analyses. Furthermore, multipoint BET specific surface area analyses demonstrated that pore size and the specific surface area of the LDH materials were enhanced by SLS. Corrosion studies showed that the Ni-W/SLS coatings with the addition of the LDH-SLS nanomaterial had higher impedance compared to the Ni-W coatings. And the Ni-W/SLS coating can show better corrosion resistance after heat treatment at 400°C with an impedance of 2.98 ×104 Ω·cm2, which is 502.2 % higher than that of the Ni-W coating, and a corrosion current of 7.2399 ×10−7 A/cm2, which is two orders of magnitude lower than that of the Ni-W coating. Comparative analyses of coating microhardness, friction curves and average friction coefficients show that heat treatment at appropriate temperatures can significantly improve the wear resistance of Ni-W coatings. The Ni-W/SLS coatings heat treated at 400°C showed the most desirable wear resistance. This study presents a new method for producing Ni-W coatings with high corrosion and wear resistance.

A systematic study of the effect of nano-additives on the functional characteristics of hydraulic fracturing gels

Currently, the main technique for the development of low-permeability reservoirs is hydraulic fracturing technology. To further enhance its efficiency and reduce costs, it is necessary to improve the formulations and properties of liquids used for hydraulic fracturing. The use of nanoparticles for these purposes may become one of the promising directions. In this paper, for the first time, the effect of concentration, size, material and form of nano-additives on colloidal stability, viscosity, wetting characteristics and filtration losses of cross-linked gels for hydraulic fracturing were studied systematically. In the preparation of cross-linked gels, a guar gum biopolymer was used as a typical gel-forming agent and sodium tetraborate in glycerin was applied as a cross-linker. Spherical nanoparticles of silicon oxide and aluminum oxide, single-walled carbon nanotubes, and aluminum oxide nanofibers were employed as nano-additives. The average size of the nanoparticles varied from 11 to 216 nm. The concentration of nano-additives in the gels ranged from 0.01 to 0.8 wt%. The temperature was changed from 25 to 70 °C. The research has shown that the dependences of the functional characteristics of nano-modified gels on the concentration and size of nano-additives are non-monotonic in nature. The optimal concentration of nanoparticles to control the properties of the gel is in the range of 0.05–0.2 wt%, and the optimal average size is 70–80 nm. With these parameters, nanomaterial additives can radically change the properties of hydraulic fracturing gels (increase the effective viscosity several times, reduce filtration losses tenfold and significantly change the hydrophobicity).

Preparation of High-Performance Polyethylene Nanocomposites with Oleic Acid-Siloxene-Supported Ziegler-Natta Catalysts.

The addition of two-dimensional inorganic nanomaterials can effectively enhance the properties of polyethylene (PE). In the present study, a series of high-performance PE/oleic acid (OA)-siloxene nanocomposites were prepared by in situ polymerization using OA-siloxene-supported Ziegler-Natta catalysts. Compared with the conventional Ziegler-Natta catalyst, the polymerization activity of the OA-siloxene-supported Ziegler-Natta catalyst was enhanced to 100 kg/mol-Ti•h, an increase of 56%. The OA-siloxene fillers exhibited excellent dispersion within the PE matrix through the in situ polymerization technique. Compared to pure PE, PE/OA-siloxene nanocomposites containing 1.13 wt% content of OA-siloxene showed 68.3 °C, 126%, 37%, and 46% enhancements in Tdmax, breaking strength, modulus, and elongation at break, respectively.

Mechanical and Microstructural Characterization of a Nano-stabilized Sandy Soil

This research investigates the potential of using nanoparticles, Poly Aluminum Silicate and Poly Calcium Silicate, and industrial by-products, Recycled Glass Powder (RGP) and Ground Granulated Ballast Furnace Slag (GGBS) to enhance the durability and strength of a sandy soil, particularly in wet or saturated conditions where water table is close to building foundations. The study aims to determine the optimal content and concentration of additives and assess their influence on the compressive strength and the failure strain. The optimal content and concentration of dry additives and alkaline solutions were determined. Uniaxial compressive strength tests were conducted on various stabilized geopolymers, considering factors such as alkaline activator type, nanoparticle type and percentage, and degree of saturation. Scanning electron microscopy images were taken and analyzed to verify geomechanical testing outcomes. Mixtures with nanomaterials exhibited greater strength than untreated soil, with some exhibiting up to a tenfold increase. GGBS-based samples displayed a twofold increase in strength with nanomaterial addition, while RGP-based samples experienced reduced strength. However, both nanomaterials addressed the durability concerns in wet conditions. The addition of 2% nanomaterials to GGBS-based mixtures led to significant strength gains, with some showing a 20% increase after saturation. This research indicated the potential of nanoparticles and industrial by-products in resolving a major concern regarding geopolymers which is the lack of durability in wet or saturated conditions. These findings have implications for eco-friendly geoconstruction materials and practices.

Enhancing Thermal Conductivity of Phase Change Materials Using Nanomaterials and its Effectiveness in Cooling Solar Cells

The latent heat storage system is considered the most promising technology in thermal energy storage (TES) because of its many advantages. This technique uses phase change material (PCM) as a TES medium. However, the low thermal conductivity (TC) of PCM is the major drawback of the system. Previous studies have shown that the addition of nanomaterials to PCM generally increases its TC. On the other hand, researchers tend to study the possibility of using enhanced PCM to cool solar cells. In fact, raising the solar cell’s operating temperature negatively impacts its efficiency. This problem is considered one of the biggest problems in solar energy systems, and researchers are still working to solve it. This paper focused on the possibility of enhancing the TC of paraffin by adding different shapes of silver nanomaterials to it (silver nanoparticles, silver nanowires and nanohybrid with silver nanoparticles and silver nanowires). Nanomaterials were added at volume fractions of 0.5% and 1%. Then, the study examined the ability to use this improved material to reduce the temperature of solar cells. We used the “Solidworks” program to create a 3D system, and then we used the “Ansys Fluent” software to simulate five cases; PV without PCM, PV with PCM, PV with PCM enhanced by nanoparticles, PV with PCM enhanced by nanowires, PV with PCM enhanced by nanohybrid (a mixture of nanoparticles and nanowires). The results show that using PCM enhanced by nanowire at a volume fraction of 0.5% gave the best results in decreasing the temperature of PV. The average temperature of PV declined by 14.9[Formula: see text]. In addition, the efficiency of PV rose by about 7.6%. Followed by using PCM enhanced by nanoparticles at a volume fraction of 1%. The average temperature of PV declined by 12.9[Formula: see text]. Moreover, the efficiency of PV rose by about 6.6%.

Mechanical Enhancement and Water Treatment Efficiency of Nanocomposite PES Membranes: A Study on Akçay Dam Water Filtration Application.

Polymeric membranes are widely used in water treatment because of their ease of fabrication and low cost. The flux and purification performance of membranes can be significantly improved by incorporating appropriate amounts of nanomaterials into the polymeric membrane matrices. In this study, neat poly(ether sulfone) (PES), PES/nano copper oxide (CuO), and PES/nano zinc oxide (ZnO) membranes are fabricated via phase inversion. The pure water flux of the neat PES membrane, which is 355.14 L/m2·h, is increased significantly with the addition of nano-CuO and nano-ZnO, and the pure water fluxes of the nanocomposite membranes vary in the range of 392.65-429.74 L/m2·h. Moreover, nano CuO and nano ZnO-doped PES nanocomposite membranes exhibit higher conductivity, color, total organic carbon, boron, iron, selenium, barium, and total chromium removal efficiencies than neat PES membranes. The membrane surfaces examined by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) after water filtration revealed that those containing 0.5% wt. nano CuO and nano ZnO are more resistant to fouling than the membrane surfaces containing 1% wt. nano CuO and nano ZnO. Based on the results of this study, 0.5% wt. nano ZnO-doped PES membrane is found to be the most suitable membrane for use in water treatment due to its high pure water flux (427.14 L/m2·h), high pollutant removal efficiency, and high fouling resistance. When the mechanical properties of the membranes are examined, the addition of CuO and ZnO nanoparticles increases the membrane stiffness and modulus of elasticity. The addition of 0.5% and 1% for CuO leads to an increase in the modulus of elasticity by 57.95% and 324.43%, respectively, while the addition of 0.5% and 1% for ZnO leads to an increase in the modulus of elasticity by 480.68% and 1802.43%, respectively. At the same time, the tensile strength of the membranes also increases with the addition of nanomaterials.

Geopolymer concrete containing nanomaterials-a step toward sustainable construction.

Geopolymer concrete (GPC) utilizes industrial wastes such as fly ash, bottom, ash, and slag instead of conventional Portland cement as the primary binder, and thus promote a sustainable solution for bulk concrete works. Nanomaterials (NMs) have often been linked with developing these sustainable high-strength mixes. Furthermore, NMs have been proven to imbibe enhanced physio-mechanical properties, often eliminating the need for thermal curing. This not only reduces total energy demand for concrete production but also offers enhanced durability due to denser inter-particle packing of the mix. This review meticulously summarizes the performance of GPCs dosed with different types of NMs including nano-silica (NS), nano-alumina (NA), nano-titanium di oxide (NT), nano-clay (NC), nano-graphene oxide (NG), and carbon nanotubes (CNT). The reported findings of previous studies were carefully studied and compiled in a systematic manner in terms of physio-mechanical, durability, and microstructural properties. It was observed that addition of NM, in general, leads to a slight reduction in the mix's workability; however, the same can be counteracted by use of suitable superplasticizers. Furthermore, inclusion of NMs in GPC offers the distinct advantage of high density and impermeability, resulting in enhanced mechanical and durability characteristics. Two distinct multi-criteria decision making (MCDM) techniques were employed in this study to statistically analyze the most preferred NM for GPC. It was found that addition of NS (2%) yields the most desirable outcomes. Finally, limitations and challenges associated with production of NM dosed GPC along with scopes for future works are presented toward the end of this review.