Applications In Various Industrial Fields Research Articles

Novel method for quantifying the ratios of sp3/sp2 hybridized carbon in diamond-like carbon films using soft X-ray emission spectroscopy

This study presents a pioneering method for quantifying the ratios of sp3/sp2 hybridized carbon in diamond-like carbon (DLC) films. The novelty lies in using soft X-ray emission spectroscopy (SXES), a technique not widely employed in this context. The DLC films, obtained through various deposition methods, were characterized for hydrogen content, film density, and sp3/sp2 ratio using Rutherford backscattering spectroscopy/Elastic recoil detection analysis (RBS/ERDA), X-ray reflectivity (XRR), and SXES, respectively. To ensure the reliability of the SXES method, it was validated through comparative analysis with near-edge X-ray absorption fine Structure (NEXAFS) spectroscopy, providing confidence in its accuracy. While NEXAFS provided consistent sp3/sp2 ratio measurements in hydrogen-free DLC films, its accuracy in hydrogenated DLC films was impacted due to poor accuracy when applied to this film group. In contrast, SXES demonstrated greater precision in hydrogenated and hydrogen-free DLC films, revealing sp3/sp2 ratios ranging from 36 % to 62 %, corresponding variations in hydrogen contents and film densities. These findings highlight the superior utilization of SXES in accurately determining the sp3- and sp2-hybridized carbon ratios, particularly in hydrogenated DLC films, offering a robust alternative to NEXAFS and paving the way for enhanced characterization and application in various industrial fields.

An AI-driven multiscale methodology to develop transparent wood as sustainable functional material by using the SSbD concept

Efficient design, production, and optimization of new safe and sustainable by design materials for various industrial sectors is an on-going challenge for our society, poised to escalate in the future. Wood-based composite materials offer an attractive sustainable alternative to high impact materials such as glass and polymers and have been the focus of experimental research and development for years. Computational and AI-based materials design provides significant speed-up the development of these materials compared to traditional methods of development. However, reliable numerical models are essential for achieving this goal. The AI-TranspWood project, recently funded by the European Commission, has the ambition to develop such computational and AI-based tools in the context of transparent wood (TW), a promising composite with potential applications in various industrial fields. In this project we advance the development specifically by using an Artificial Intelligence (AI)-driven multiscale methodology.

Optimizing drying time of lacquer-based MTCS-modified SiO2-TiO2 coatings for enhanced mechanical durability, superhydrophobicity and photocatalytic activity

This research successfully improved the mechanical durability of a superhydrophobic coating on wet lacquer. Methyltrichlorosilane (MTCS) modified SiO2-TiO2 nanoparticles (NPs) were applied to a wet lacquer layer with various drying times using a simple spraying technique. The optimal coating exhibited superhydrophobicity with a water contact angle of 157° and a sliding angle of 2°. Additionally, the superhydrophobic surface could withstand over 100,000 water drops, 200 g of sand, and 40 tape-peeling repetitions, indicating high mechanical stability. Moreover, the superhydrophobic surface demonstrated photocatalytic activity by degrading methylene blue (MB) solution. The coating showed excellent adaptability to different substrates, including automotive body panels, with self-cleaning properties. This simple and effective strategy has potential for large-scale fabrication for practical applications in various industrial fields.

Production of eco composites based on natural rubber and recycled sugarcane bagasse waste to be utilised as a type of food contact

Natural fibres are abundant, renewable, and biodegradable, which has inspired numerous academics worldwide to investigate their possible applications in various industrial fields. The food packaging sector is seeking bio-based and biodegradable substitutes to increase sustainability. In this study, new composites were prepared from natural rubber (NR) and sugarcane bagasse fibres (SCB) with different concentrations of SCB (0, 2.5, 5, 10 &20 phr). The effect of SCB on the properties of natural rubber was studied before and after the alkaline treatment of the fibres. The biocomposites are characterized using Fourier transmission infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, scanning electron microscope, transmission electron microscope, and dielectric measurements in addition to rheological and mechanical analysis. The overall migration test for biocomposites loaded with 20phr SCB was performed to assess the biocomposite’s safety as food contact materials. The study’s results indicated that, adding SCB improved the conductivity, tensile strength, and elongation at break of natural rubber. Alkaline treatment strengthened the bonding between the filler and matrix and improved biocomposites’ thermal dielectric and mechanical properties. The overall migration test indicated that the alkaline treatment increased the overall migration to simulants. Accordingly, alkaline-treated NR-SCB biocomposites are effective eco-friendly food packaging candidates for certain types of food such as aqueous non-acidic products.

Synthesis, Surface Activity, Emulsifiability and Bactericidal Performance of Zwitterionic Tetrameric Surfactants.

In this paper, a series of tetrameric surfactants (4CnSAZs, n = 12, 14, 16) endowed with zwitterionic characteristic were synthesized by a simple and convenient method and their structures were characterized by FT-IR, 1H NMR and elemental analysis. Their physicochemical properties were studied using the Wilhelmy plate method, fluorescence spectra and dynamic light scattering technique. 4CnSAZs have higher surface activities and tend to adsorb at the air/water surface rather than self-assembling in aqueous solution. The thermodynamic parameters obtained from surface tension measurements show that both processes of adsorption and micellization of 4CnSAZs are spontaneous and that the micellization processes of 4CnSAZs are entropy-driven processes. Both adsorption and micellization of 4CnSAZs are inclined to occur with the increase of alkyl chain length or temperature. For 4C12SAZs, there are only small-size aggregates (micelles), while the large aggregates (vesicles) are observed at the alkyl length of 4CnSAZs of 14 or 16. This shows that the alkyl chain length for oligomeric surfactants has a greater sensitivity for aggregate growth. The aggregate morphologies obtained from the calculated values of critical packing parameter (p) for 4C14SAZs and 4C16SAZs can be supported by the DLS measurement results. The test results obtained by the separation-water-time method show that 4CnSAZs have good emulsification performance and that the prepared emulsions appear to exit in the form of multiple emulsions. In addition, 4CnSAZs have good antibacterial activities against Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus). The present study reveals the unique behavior of a zwitterionic tetrameric surfactant and may give new insights into molecular design and synthesis of a high degree of surfactants with different structure characteristics for potential application in various industrial fields.

Compatibility study of recycled Polypropylene (PP)/Poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) blends nanocomposites with PP‐g‐MAH: Modeling of twin screw extrusion

AbstractAlthough the utilization of recycled polymers is essential to sustain the environment, conventional recycled polymers face limitations in application due to the degradation of their properties caused by impurities. To solve the problem the performance deterioration of these recycled polymers, this study aimed to enhance their compatibility by chemically adding polypropylene‐graft‐maleic anhydride (PP‐g‐MAH) and physically manipulate a screw profile by using an extrusion simulation program. As a result of applying the optimized extrusion process set by the simulation program, significant improvements in the compatibility and dispersion of fillers within the polymer were observed through scanning electron microscopy image analysis. In addition, through detailed analysis of rheological data, the positive impact of adding compatibilizer and changing screw profile on rheological properties was demonstrated. As the compatibility of recycled polymer blends improved, tensile strength increased by approximately two‐fold and thermal conductivity was significantly improved, which were decisive factors in dramatically enhancing the performance of recycled polymers. These improved polymer properties provide an opportunity for recycled polymers to be applied more broadly and will expand the potential for new applications in various industrial fields.

Carboxylate-Based Metal-Organic Framework and Coordination Polymer Glasses: Progress and Perspectives.

ConspectusCoordination polymers (CPs) and metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) represent versatile materials with diverse structural and functional properties, making them appealing for various applications. However, their conventional forms, which are typically synthesized as powders or crystals, pose challenges due to limited processability and mechanical fragility. Recently, CP/MOF glasses have emerged as promising alternatives, offering enhanced processability while retaining some of the unique characteristics shown in the mother crystalline materials. Despite the prevalence of carboxylate ligands in CP/MOF synthesis, the development of carboxylate-based CP/MOF glasses has been limited compared to that of zeolitic-imidazole framework (ZIF)-based glasses. This is attributed to the strong metal-ligand bonds and low thermal stability of carboxylic acids, which hinder their melting in CP/MOF structures. Nonetheless, recent advancements have led to a surge in methods for synthesizing carboxylate-based CP/MOF glasses. So far, desolvation and melt-quenching have been introduced for achieving glass structures from CP/MOF precursors.The first melt-quenched MOF glass was reported in 2015 with ZIFs. However, we informally observed the melting of the MOF during thermal decomposition research of aliphatic carboxylate-based MOFs as a sacrificial template dating back to 2013. In that study, aliphatic ligands, instead of aromatic carboxylate, were employed due to their high lability, lower thermal stability, and high degree of freedom, which facilitated pyrolysis. The results were published with a focus on synthesizing hierarchically porous MgO via the pyrolysis of an aliphatic ligand-based Mg-MOF in an inert environment. A decade later, it was revisited and studied as the first melt-quenched carboxylate-based MOF glass, converted from a crystalline MOF through the liquid phase before decomposition during the heating process.This Account aims to introduce six studies, including the aforementioned example, on the synthesis of CP/MOF glasses from carboxylate-based CPs/MOFs that have been published so far. To overcome the challenges with aromatic carboxylates in CP/MOF glass formation, the metal coordination sphere should be altered and the degree of freedom in the ligands should be increased. Based on these approaches, the strategies for vitrification of carboxylate-based CPs/MOFs can be divided into two categories: desolvation and melt-quenching. Desolvation can be preceded by vapor perturbation such as hydration. Carboxylate-based CP/MOF glasses possess the potential to expand into a broader range of applications beyond those of existing CP/MOF glasses. Alongside the diversity offered by carboxylic acid ligands, these materials mirror the extensive range of applications previously explored in the existing carboxylate-based CP/MOF crystals. Moreover, their high processability, inherent to glass materials, enables their applications in various industrial fields. This versatility may extend to previously unexplored areas of utilization such as a novel class of bioactive glass.

Synergy of alloy and ligand for CO2 hydrogenation to formic acid on PdAu/HPC-AP

Formic acid (FA) is of great significance given its extensive applications in various industrial fields. At present, methanol carbonylation is the main industrial production process of FA. However, this process uses two kinds of raw materials from fossil fuels and emits a large amount of CO2. Alternatively, converting CO2 into FA can not only achieve the production of value-added chemicals but also effectively address environmental issues caused by CO2 emission. To improve the low reactivity of CO2, homogeneous and heterogeneous catalytic systems have been widely evaluated, among which heterogeneous catalytic systems are attracting ever-increasing attention owing to their great industrialization prospects. However, some of these heterogeneous catalysts suffer from low catalytic performance. Herein, PdAu alloy nanoparticles anchored on amine-functionalized hierarchical porous carbon (PdAu/HPC-AP) were constructed to drive efficient converting of CO2 into FA. Characterization and testing results demonstrated that the introduced Au atoms caused lattice distortion and charge redistribution on the surface of the bimetallic catalyst, facilitating the adsorption and activation of reaction molecules. Furthermore, the modification of HPC with an appropriate amount of amine ligands was found important to the chemical adsorption of CO2 and the dispersion of PdAu NPs. The Pd60Au40/HPC-AP catalyst with the optimum synergy of alloy and ligand demonstrated excellent activity for the target reaction with a TOF value of 486 h–1 at 100 °C. Moreover, it can even catalyze the reaction at room temperature with a TOF value of 13 h–1.

Eco-Friendly Isolated Nanocellulose from Seaweed Biomass via Modified-Acid and Electron Beam Process for Biodegradable Polymer Composites

Nanocellulose (NC) has emerged as a promising biodegradable material with applications in various industrial fields owing to its high mechanical strength, thermal stability, and eco-friendly properties. Traditional methods for isolating NC from wood-based biomass (WB) involve high energy consumption and extensive chemical usage, leading to environmental and sustainability concerns. This study explored an alternative approach to isolate NC from seaweed-based biomass (SB) (SNC), which contains fewer non-cellulosic components and a higher cellulose content than WB, thereby yielding a more efficient e-isolation process. We employed a combination of modified-acid solution and electron beam (E-beam) technology to isolate NC from SB. The E-beam process enhanced the crystallinity while reducing the particle size, thus facilitating NC isolation with reduced environmental impact and processing time. Moreover, our method significantly reduced the need for harsh chemical reagents and energy-intensive processes, which are typically associated with traditional NC isolation methods. We fabricated biodegradable films with improved mechanical properties using NC as a reinforcing agent in polymer composites, thereby demonstrating the potential of NC-based materials for various applications. Therefore, our proposed approach offers a sustainable and efficient method for NC isolation and serves as a guide for the development of eco-friendly industrial processes. Our findings contribute to ongoing efforts to create sustainable materials and reduce the environmental footprint of the manufacturing industry.

Recovery of Ni-Co-Mn Oxides from End-of-Life Lithium-Ion Batteries for the Application of a Negative Temperature Coefficient Sensor

This study demonstrates the current advancements in battery management systems (BMSs), emphasizing the need for precise temperature monitoring within battery packs to enhance safety and performance through efficient thermal management. The increased demand for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) has driven the development of temperature sensors with improved accuracy and stability. In particular, Ni-Co-Mn-based spinel oxides are commonly used due to their stable negative temperature coefficient (NTC) behavior. However, challenges arise in manufacturing due to the high cost and uncertain supply of critical cathode components (e.g., Co, Ni, and Mn) for LIBs. This research focuses on developing spinel-type (Ni0.6Co0.4Mn2)O4 using recycled Ni-Co-Mn oxides obtained from end-of-life (EOL) LIBs, demonstrating temperature resistance behavior suitable for temperature sensing. The oxides are prepared through hydrometallurgy, oxalate synthesis, and post-heat treatment. Successful integration into spinel-type NTC thermistors suggests broader applications in various industrial fields. A systematic investigation into the synthesis and characterization of recovered Ni-Co-Mn oxides from EOL LIB cathode materials (Li(Ni0.33Co0.33Mn0.33)O2) is presented for NTC thermistor application. Thermogravimetric analysis-derivative thermogravimetry (TGA-DTG) identifies the optimal post-heat treatment temperature. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns confirm a cubic spinel structure of the Ni-Co-Mn oxides, supported by scanning electron microscope (SEM) images showing a uniform microstructure. Also, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) mapping confirms homogeneous element distribution. Recovered oxide pellets from the sintering process exhibit a single spinel structure, with X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis revealing changes in the valence states for Ni and Mn. Resistivity measurements demonstrate semiconductive behavior, which shows a B value (3376.92 K) suitable for NTC thermistor applications. This study contributes valuable insights to black powder recycling from EOL LIBs and its potential in temperature-sensitive electronic devices.

Equipment develop and experiment study of the synchronization of electrospinning and electrospray

High-performance multi-functional nanomaterials have broad applications in various industrial fields. The assembling of nanofibers and nanoparticles prepared by electrospinning and electrospray is a typical structure for the functional combination of multi-materials. However, due to different solution properties and processing parameters, as well as the simultaneous mutual interferences, the controlling of the synchronization of electrospinning and electrospray technology is in an urgent demand. In this paper, an equipment was developed to realize the synchronization of electrospinning and electrospray technology, and multi-functional nanomaterials combining nanofibers and nanoparticles was achieved. Then, thermoplastic polyurethanes (TPU)/grapheneoxide (GO) and poly(lactic acid) PLA/polyaniline (PANI) membrane was prepared based on the self-developed equipment, verifying the process of the synchronization of electrospinning and electrospray.

Rhus microphylla leaves extracts obtained by ohmic heating: Physicochemical composition and bioactive properties

Rhus microphylla Engel. Ex A. Gray is a traditional plant used in folk medicine for various conditions, yet research on its biological potential is limited. It is important to explore its biological effects and associated bioactive compounds, aiming to propose natural alternatives for pharmaceuticals and sustainable agriculture. Thus, this study aims to assess the bioactive properties of its leaves (RmL) through various extracts, including aqueous and hydroalcohol (1:1), obtained by means of ohmic heating extraction for 5 and 10 min (A5, A10, H5, H10). The extracts were evaluated for their antioxidant, antiproliferative, antibacterial, and insecticidal activities. Aqueous extraction demonstrated higher recovery of phenolic compounds such as gallic acid and catechin, while other compounds were also detected in lower concentrations (epicatechin gallate, ferulic acid, 2-hydroxycinnamic acid, and myricetin). All extracts showed antiproliferative activity against the A549 cell line (lung cancer), with less effect on the HeLa cell line (human cervix carcinoma), while none exhibited cytotoxicity against the noncancerous ARPE-19 cell line. Aqueous extracts displayed notable antimicrobial effects, particularly A10 against Staphylococcus aureus. In insecticidal assessments, H5 emerged as the most effective treatment against Musa domestica and Plutella xylostella. This study pioneers the evaluation of RmL extracts, revealing promising bioactivity with selective extraction conditions for further applications in various industrial fields.

A Study of Artificial Intelligence-Assisted Listening Training in College English Teaching

Abstract The rapid development of intelligent technology and its wide application in various industrial fields have caused a big change in the teaching mode of university English listening training. Based on the C/S architecture, this paper establishes an intelligent English teaching listening training system by combining artificial intelligence technology, analyzes the auxiliary role of artificial intelligence technology for listening training, and designs an intelligent English listening training teaching mode based on this system. In order to obtain a diversity of English listening training materials, this paper first utilizes speech signal pre-emphasis, frame-splitting, windowing, and other methods to carry out signal preprocessing and then realizes end-point detection of speech signals through the improved double-threshold algorithm. Based on the characteristics of English speech signals, the Seq2Seq model is optimized by the attention mechanism, and the WaveNet model is introduced to establish a speech synthesis model for listening training. Pre-emphasis can improve the clarity of the speech signal by 50%, and the improved double threshold algorithm improves the recognition effect of speech segment clear tone, and the mean value of speech synthesis MOS score is 4.39. After adopting the intelligent English listening training teaching model, the English listening scores of the students in the observation group increased by 8.21 points compared with those of the control group, and the students who were very uninterested in English listening learning decreased by 20 percentage points. The introduction of artificial intelligence technology can provide students with more diverse English listening training materials, which can help them improve their listening level and learnability.

Quantitative assessment of corrosion-induced wall thinning in L-shaped bends using ultrasonic feature guided waves

The utilization of L-shaped bends has become widespread due to their versatility and ease of application in various industrial fields. Nevertheless, the geometric configuration of these bends makes them susceptible to stress concentration in the bending zone, which can lead to wall thinning caused by accelerated corrosion. This poses a profound challenge to the bearing capacity and reliability of L-shaped bends and highlights the urgent necessity for an effective technique to assess corrosion-induced wall thinning in the bending zone. In this study, we propose a nondestructive testing (NDT) method based on ultrasonic feature guided waves (FGWs) for the evaluation of local corrosion-induced wall thinning in L-shaped bends. Propagation characteristics of FGWs in L-shaped bends were analyzed using the semi-analytical finite element (SAFE) method and perfectly matched layer (PML) technique. Time-reversal (TR) method was employed to address the dispersion and multi-modes phenomenon of the selected guided wave modes and improve the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of measured FGW signals. Enhanced SNR of two types of FGW modes signals at different frequencies were verified by experimental and numerical results. Obtained results reveal that FGWs can effectively detect corrosion-induced wall thinning inside L-shaped bends, with improving the signal reflection coefficient by TR method.

Analysis of Die Compaction of Chip Geometry through Porous Continuum Model‐Based Approach

Metal swarf has the advantage of being eco‐friendly due to their ability to be recycled and reused, in addition to being lightweight, energy‐absorbing, and cost‐effective. For practical applications in various industrial fields, effective and accurate modeling for each case should be developed in consideration of its physical properties. This study investigates the mechanical behavior of aluminum chip compaction employing a new computational simulation approach based on a pressure‐dependent porous continuum model. Two material parameters of densification rate (n) and the ratio of shear modulus (m) are proposed and adjusted for different swarf. The numerical results show good agreement with the experimentally obtained axial stress—relative density relation of three various samples, demonstrating a close relationship between the parameters n and the chip geometry. This study can be applied for further investigation and analysis utilizing metal swarf of different geometries in various industrial applications.

Effect of Cr addition on the Corrosion-Wear Behaviors of 18Mn(V, Mo) Steel in a Seawater Environment

The objective of this study was to examine the wear-corrosion behavior of 18Mn(V, Mo) steel, which had a minor amount of Cr addition (< 3 wt%), in an artificial seawater environment, and compare it to conventional carbon steel. A variety of electrochemical experiments, including linear polarization resistance, impedance spectroscopy, and galvanostatic polarization, were conducted, along with weight loss measurements after immersion and wear-corrosion testing. These tests aimed to determine the static corrosion and wear-corrosion mechanisms of 18Mn(V, Mo) steel with respect to Cr addition. The results of this study indicated that the addition of Cr to 18Mn(V, Mo) steel refined the V4C3 particles in the microstructure, which led to an increase in surface hardness. Moreover, the 18Mn(V, Mo) steel with Cr addition exhibited the lowest corrosion and corrosion-wear losses, compared to 18Mn(V, Mo) steel without Cr and conventional carbon steel. This beneficial effect was primarily attributed to the formation of a thin Crenriched corrosion scale that adhered to the underlying steel. This corrosion scale served as a protective barrier against the penetration of corrosive species and as a lubricant for mechanical wear. The 18Mn(V, Mo) steel with Cr addition has potential application in various industrial fields, particularly in marine and offshore environments, owing to its low corrosion-induced wear loss rate in a brine environment.

Miscibility and related rheological, physical, and optical properties of polycarbonate/poly(methyl methacrylate-co-phenyl methacrylate) blends: Effect of varying phenyl methacrylate composition

This study presents a systematic investigation of miscibility, rheological, and physical/optical properties of polycarbonate (PC)/poly (methyl methacrylate-co-phenyl methacrylate) (PMMA-co-PPhMA) blends with varying copolymer composition and blend weight percentage (wt%). Herein, single glass transition behavior from miscible blends was confirmed through differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and dynamic mechanical analyzer (DMA), while further analysis revealed differences in blend homogeneity. X-ray scattering and rheometer measurements complemented this different phase homogeneity in the blends. PMMA-co-PPhMA with 14 mol% of PhMA (denoted as PMPA-2) demonstrated the most favorable miscibility and phase homogeneity among the prepared blends. Enhanced scratch resistance was achieved by increasing the wt% of PMMA-co-PPhMA, but phase inhomogeneity resulted in decreased optical transparency. The blend between PC and PMPA-2 exhibited optimal rheological, mechanical, and optical properties. This study provides insights into the PC-based blend materials for applications in various industrial fields.

Preparation and Characterization of Microalgae Styrene-Butadiene Composites Using Chlorella vulgaris and Arthrospira platensis Biomass.

The food industry is a high consumer of polymer packing materials, sealing materials, and engineering components used in production equipment. Biobased polymer composites used in the food industry are obtained by incorporating different biogenic materials into the structure of a base polymer matrix. Renewable resources such as microalgae, bacteria, and plants may be used as biogenic materials for this purpose. Photoautotrophic microalgae are valuable microorganisms that are able to harvest sunlight energy and capture CO2 into biomass. They are characterized by their metabolic adaptability to environmental conditions, higher photosynthetic efficiency than terrestrial plants, and natural macromolecules and pigments. The flexibility of microalgae to grow in either low-nutrient or nutrient-rich environments (including wastewater) has led to the attention for their use in various biotechnological applications. Carbohydrates, proteins, and lipids are the main three classes of macromolecular compounds contained in microalgal biomass. The content in each of these components depends on their growth conditions. In general, proteins represent 40-70% of microalgae dry biomass, followed by carbohydrates (10-30%) and lipids (5-20%). A distinctive feature of microalgae cells is the presence of light-harvesting compounds such as photosynthetic pigments carotenoids, chlorophylls, and phycobilins, which are also receiving growing interest for applications in various industrial fields. The study comparatively reports on polymer composites obtained with biomass made of two species of green microalgae: Chlorella vulgaris and filamentous, gram-negative cyanobacterium Arthrospira. Experiments were conducted to reach an incorporation ratio of the biogenic material into the matrix in the 5-30% range, and the resulting materials were characterized by their mechanical and physicochemical properties.

Kinetic resolution of sulfoxides with high enantioselectivity using a new homologue of methionine sulfoxide reductase B.

Optically pure sulfoxides are noteworthy compounds that find wide applications in various industrial fields. Here, we report a methionine sulfoxide reductase B (MsrB) homologue that exhibits high enantioselectivity and broad substrate scope for the kinetic resolution of racemic (rac) sulfoxides. This MsrB homologue, named liMsrB, was identified from Limnohabitans sp. 103DPR2 and showed good activity together with enantioselectivity towards a series of aromatic, heteroaromatic, alkyl and thioalkyl sulfoxides. Chiral sulfoxides in the S configuration were prepared in approximately 50% yield and 92-99% enantiomeric excess through kinetic resolution at an initial substrate concentration of up to 90 mM (11.2 g L-1). This study presents an efficient route for the enzymatic preparation of (S)-sulfoxides through kinetic resolution.

Design and synthesis of robust superhydrophobic coating based on epoxy resin and polydimethylsiloxane interpenetrated polymer network

Superhydrophobic surfaces, such as lotus leaves, have attracted significant attention because of their excellent performance and potential application value. However, the micro-nano hierarchy on superhydrophobic surfaces is often vulnerable and easily broken from mechanical stress or chemical corrosion, which greatly inhibits its practical application and long-term service. This study presents a low-cost and scalable superhydrophobic coating based on an interpenetrated polymer network of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) and epoxy resin. The composite polymer matrix exhibits mechanical robustness as derived from the epoxy resin and low surface energy as derived from the PDMS. The superhydrophobic coating is obtained by dispersing fluoroalkyl-silane-modified SiO2 in the solution containing the composite polymer. The multi-level hierarchical structure of SiO2 aggregations and their strong bonding with the composite polymer gives the coating outstanding mechanical durability while maintaining superhydrophobicity after multiple cycles of sandpaper abrasion, tape peeling, and water impact tests. The chemical inertness of all components ensures its chemical stability, and the surface shows super repellency to strong acids and alkaline liquids (pH = 0–14). The coating also has excellent self-cleaning properties, which has potential applications in various industrial fields.