Composite Substrate Research Articles

Superhydrophobic-electrothermal laser-induced graphene for effectively anti-icing and de-icing

Superhydrophobic-electrothermal hybrid systems have shown perspectives in anti/de-icing fields. However, the hybrid strategy was hindered by complex processes and implementation difficulties. Here, we developed a facile approach to prepare superhydrophobic-electrothermal laminated laser-induced graphene (LIG) coating for achieving highly efficient anti-icing/de-icing. Under the optimized laser parameter, the fluorinated LIG with excellent hydrophobicity (CA of 161.2° and SA of 1.58°) was prepared on composites substrate and prolonged the freezing time from 106 s to 868 s at −15 °C. In addition, we also found that the laminated coating could effectively accomplish anti-icing/de-icing with apparently decreased energy supply compared to electrothermal coating (48.75% in static environment and 17.4% in dynamic environment). This work could contribute to the development of LIG for anti-icing/de-icing applications.

Research and design of metasurface antennas based on composite dielectric materials

The metasurface has the ability to regulate electromagnetic waves, which is widely used for polarization state control, impedance bandwidth expansion, vortex beam generation, and high-directional antennas. Research shows that the substrate of the metasurface has a significant impact on the performance of the antenna. The equivalent dielectric constant of composite dielectric materials is investigated by using the characteristic mode analysis (CMA). A novel metasurface with composite dielectric substrate is proposed. The composite dielectric material consists of a substrate with a dielectric constant of 3.55 and an air gap. The calculation results of the effective dielectric constant of composite dielectric materials are basically consistent with the simulation results. Based on this composite dielectric material, a metasurface antenna is designed. S11 is less than-10 dB in the frequency range of 5.22–7.87 GHz. The peak boresight gain is 10.44 dBi at 6.5 GHz.

Enhancement of immobilized biochar/FeS on nitrogen removal in constructed wetland at low temperature

Constructed wetland (CW) is an eco-friendly and economically treatment for the deep nitrogen removal. Microbial denitrification, a key process in CW, is temperature-sensitive, with decreased nitrogen removal efficiency at low temperature. To enhance the nitrogen removal efficiency at low temperature, this study explored the use of functional substrates, focusing on iron sulfide (FeS) nanoparticles and biochar (BC). The results showed that immobilized BC/FeS significantly improved nitrate (NO3-N) and total nitrogen (TN) removal in CW at low temperature (8–13 °C), which reached 93.59 ± 2.07 and 80.06 ± 3.00 %, respectively, with 30 % immobilized BC/FeS. Increasing the dosage of immobilized BC/FeS accelerated denitrification rate and reduced nitrite (NO2-N) accumulation. Autotrophic denitrification was the primary pathway, with the contribution of autotrophic denitrification increasing from 64.06 % (10 % immobilized BC/FeS) to 83.25 % (30 % immobilized BC/FeS). Sulfurimonas was the dominant denitrifying bacteria identified as a cold-tolerant denitrifying bacteria. The study underlines the potential of composite electron donor substrates to enhance nitrogen removal in CW, providing a sustainable solution to nitrogen pollution in cold climates.

Micro- and Nanostructured Fibrous Composites via Electro-Fluid Dynamics: Design and Applications for Brain.

The brain consists of an interconnected network of neurons tightly packed in the extracellular matrix (ECM) to form complex and heterogeneous composite tissue. According to recent biomimicry approaches that consider biological features as active components of biomaterials, designing a highly reproducible microenvironment for brain cells can represent a key tool for tissue repair and regeneration. Indeed, this is crucial to support cell growth, mitigate inflammation phenomena and provide adequate structural properties needed to support the damaged tissue, corroborating the activity of the vascular network and ultimately the functionality of neurons. In this context, electro-fluid dynamic techniques (EFDTs), i.e., electrospinning, electrospraying and related techniques, offer the opportunity to engineer a wide variety of composite substrates by integrating fibers, particles, and hydrogels at different scales-from several hundred microns down to tens of nanometers-for the generation of countless patterns of physical and biochemical cues suitable for influencing the in vitro response of coexistent brain cell populations mediated by the surrounding microenvironment. In this review, an overview of the different technological approaches-based on EFDTs-for engineering fibrous and/or particle-loaded composite substrates will be proposed. The second section of this review will primarily focus on describing current and future approaches to the use of composites for brain applications, ranging from therapeutic to diagnostic/theranostic use and from repair to regeneration, with the ultimate goal of providing insightful information to guide future research efforts toward the development of more efficient and reliable solutions.

Fabrication of Superhydrophobic–Hydrophilic Patterned Cu@Ag Composite SERS Substrate via Femtosecond Laser

Ultralow concentration molecular detection is critical in various fields, e.g., food safety, environmental monitoring, and disease diagnosis. Highly sensitive surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) based on ultra-wettable surfaces has attracted attention due to its unique ability to detect trace molecules. However, the complexity and cost associated with the preparation of traditional SERS substrates restrict their practical application. Thus, an efficient SERS substrate preparation with high sensitivity, a simplified process, and controllable cost is required. In this study, a superhydrophobic–hydrophilic patterned Cu@Ag composite SERS substrate was fabricated using femtosecond laser processing technology combined with silver plating and surface modification treatment. By inducing periodic stripe structures through femtosecond laser processing, the developed substrate achieves uniform distribution hotspots. Using the surface wettability difference, the object to be measured can be confined in the hydrophilic region and the edge of the hydrophilic region, where the analyte is enriched by the coffee ring effect, can be quickly located by surface morphology difference of micro-nanostructures; thus, greatly improving detection efficiency. The fabricated SERS substrate can detect Rhodamine 6G (R6G) at an extraordinarily low concentration of 10−15 mol/L, corresponding to an enhancement factor of 1.53 × 108. This substrate has an ultralow detection limit, incurs low processing costs and is simple to prepare; thus, the substrate has significant application potential in the trace analysis field.

Manipulations of Electronic and Spin States in Co-Quantum Dot/WS2 Heterostructure on a Metal-Dielectric Composite Substrate by Controlling Interfacial Carriers.

Charge and spin are two intrinsic attributes of carriers governing almost all of the physical processes and operation principles in materials. Here, we demonstrate the manipulation of electronic and spin states in designed Co-quantum dot/WS2 (Co-QDs/WS2) heterostructures by employing a metal-dielectric composite substrate and via scanning tunneling microscope. By repeatedly scanning under a unipolar bias, switching the bias polarity, or applying a pulse through nonmagnetic or magnetic tips, the Co-QDs morphologies exhibit a regular and reproducible transformation between bright and dark dots. First-principles calculations reveal that these tunable characters are attributed to the variation of density of states and the transition of magnetic anisotropy energy induced by carrier accumulation. It also suggests that the metal-dielectric composite substrate is successful in creating the interfacial potential for carrier accumulation and realizes the electrically controllable modulations. These results will promote the exploration of electron-matter interactions in quantum systems and provide an innovative way to facilitate the development of spintronics.

The evolution of H+ implantation induced defects and the different cleavage behaviors under different thermal excitation in 4H-SiC during Crystal-Ion-Slicing technology

The Silicon Carbide (SiC) composite substrate fabricated by crystal-ion-slicing (CIS) technology can be an excellent material platform to realize a variety of microelectronic device functions. The difference in the surface morphology of the exfoliated films under different thermal excitation conditions was found in research. In order to explore the different cleavage behaviors resulting the differences, the basic models of defect evolution during the fabrication of SiC film by CIS technique is established based on AFM, Raman, XRD and TEM material characterizations, which can be divided into detachment, aggregation, growth, and concatenation stages. Combining the molecular dynamics simulation results and defect evolution models, the difference of the cleavage behavior leading to different surface topography under different anneal thermal excitations can be attributed to the different H2 bubble nucleation rate. The work in this paper investigates the fundamental physicochemical phenomena of defect evolution and crystal cleavage in CIS technology, and guides the improvement of heat treatment process, which is beneficial to achieve neat cleavage for the transfer of SiC single crystal film and to realize available heterogeneous integration of SiC single crystal film.

Bio-based conductive polyurethane composites derived from renewable castor oil with enhanced self-healing ability for flexible supercapacitors

To alleviate the pressure on the petrochemical industry and address environmental concerns, the utilization of polyurethane (PU) derived from castor oil (CO) (as an ester polyol replacement of petrochemical-based materials) has garnered significant attention in recent decades. Extending the service life of materials requires imparting self-healing properties to vegetable oil-based polymers, an aspect that has received limited attention in current studies. However, low self-healing efficiency still poses a significant challenge, and non-conductivity also remains an obstacle in current research, crucial for their application in electronic devices. In this work, we present the first series of electrically self-healing biopolymer composites constructed by incorporating carbon nanotube (CNT) networks into crosslinked castor oil-based polyurethane (BPU) through a simple curing process. These materials address the challenges mentioned above and exhibit improved mechanical, electrical, and self-healing capabilities compared to other bio-based self-healing materials. The resulting BPU/CNT composite demonstrated exceptional repeated self-healing capacity, restoring both mechanical properties and electrical performance even after experiencing severe mechanical damage. Notably, this composite served as a conductive substrate in flexible solid-state supercapacitor (FSSC) devices. Consequently, the FSSC derived from the composite conductive substrate achieved an impressive 92.4 % self-healing efficiency even after undergoing 7 cutting/healing cycles. The device remained virtually unchanged even after being bent at a 180° angle with a bending radius of 1.6 mm, indicating excellent repeatability and durability. The exceptional self-healing ability, with ∼98 % electrical recovery at 100 °C for 70 s and 93 % at 80 °C after 6 min, of these composites was attributed to the synergistic interactions of the dynamic exchange reactions of disulfide bonds and dense hydrogen bonds within the BPU matrix, which provide a reversible dynamic polymer network. The healing efficiency of these dynamic bonds was evaluated by adjusting the composition ratio of the long linear chain of pTHF in hybrid polyols of the crosslinked polymer network. Overall, this work highlights a series of green, simple, and highly efficient self-healing polymer composites derived from renewable castor oil, and it establishes an essential framework for future sustainable polymer composite design.

Preparation of PVDF/PVP blend polymer nanofiber films and application on screen-printed flexible electrodes

The preparation of three electrodes (working electrode, counter electrode, reference electrode) on soft, deformable, and breathable film substrates with good adhesion is a novel approach for the development of wearable devices for plants. In this study, the adsorption energy of carbon paste, graphite, and a polymer was calculated via molecular dynamics simulations, and the optimal polymer ratio was selected for the preparation of nanofiber films. Electrospinning technology was used to prepare a breathable ultrathin polymer film, which was used as a flexible substrate for three electrodes, and a conductive carbon paste was patterned on the nanofiber film substrate by screen printing. The properties of the composite nanofiber membrane substrate and flexible screen-printing electrode were studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), infrared (IR) spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), 3D profile scanning, and electrochemical experiments. The combination of electrospinning technology and screen-printing technology is a new path for the preparation of nondestructive and wearable detection devices.

The Effects of Composite Alkali-Stored Spent Hypsizygus marmoreus Substrate on Carcass Quality, Rumen Fermentation, and Rumen Microbial Diversity in Goats.

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of composite alkali-stored spent Hypsizygus marmoreus substrate (SHMS) on carcass quality, rumen fermentation, and rumen microbial diversity in goats. Twenty-four 6-month-old Chuanzhong black goats with similar body weights (20 ± 5 kg) were selected and randomly divided into four groups (n = 6 per group) and received four treatments: 0% (control group, CG); 20% (low-addition group, LG); 30% (moderate-addition group, MG); and 40% (high-addition group, HG) of SHMS-replaced silage corn and oat hay. The experiment lasted for 74 days (including a 14 d adaptation period and a 60 d treatment period). The results of this study showed that MG and HG significantly improved the marble score of goat meat (p < 0.05). The flesh color score significantly increased in each group (p < 0.05). The fat color scores significantly increased in LG and MG (p < 0.05). There were no significant effects on the pH value or shear force of the longissimus dorsi in each group (p > 0.05). The cooking loss in MG was higher than that in CG (p < 0.05). The histidine and tyrosine contents in each group of muscles significantly increased (p < 0.05), with no significant effect on fatty acids (p > 0.05). The rumen pH of MG significantly decreased (p < 0.05), while the total volatile fatty acids (TVFAs) and ammoniacal nitrogen (NH3-N) increased by 44.63% and 54.50%, respectively. The addition of the SHMS altered both the alpha and beta diversities of the rumen microbiota and significant differences in the composition and structure of the four microbial communities. The dominant bacterial phylum in each group were Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes, with Prevotella 1 as the dominant bacterial genus. Correlation analysis revealed that rumen bacteria are closely related to the animal carcass quality and rumen fermentation. In the PICRUSt prediction, 21 significantly different pathways were found, and the correlation network showed a positive correlation between the Prevotella 1 and 7 metabolic pathways, while the C5-branched dibasic acid metabolism was positively correlated with nine bacteria. In summary, feeding goats with an SHMS diet can improve the carcass quality, promote rumen fermentation, and alter the microbial structure. The research results can provide a scientific reference for the utilization of SHMS as feed in the goat industry.

Using Recycled Construction Waste Materials with Varying Components and Particle Sizes for Extensive Green Roof Substrates: Assessment of Its Effects on Vegetation Development

Using construction waste materials as substrates can reduce the resource consumption of minerals and provide sustainability benefits in green roofs. This research examined the viability of crushed bricks and crushed concrete with varying particle sizes as substrates by conducting a simulated drought experiment and roof experiment. Six composite substrates were prepared, respectively, by mixing peat with small-, medium-, and large-sized crushed bricks and crushed concrete particles (peat-to-inorganic-particle volume ratio of 1:2). The properties of each group were within acceptable parameters, with the crushed brick substrates displaying lower bulk density and higher porosity compared to the crushed concrete substrates. Seldom lineare was selected for the experiments, and the substrate thickness was set at 10 cm. Under the simulated drought conditions, the growth and stress resistance of Seldom lineare in the crushed brick substrates was similar to that in the conventional substrates and poorer in the crushed concrete substrates. Seldom lineare in medium-particle-size brick substrates performed the best, surpassing the traditional group. The growth of Seldom lineare in the small-particle-size concrete substrates was the worst. In the rooftop environment, all groups could support Seldom lineare over 180 days without maintenance, with an overall coverage of more than 60%. The plants in the medium-particle-size brick substrates exhibited the highest cover. In conclusion, the medium-particle-size brick substrate exhibits ideal characteristics in terms of substrate physical properties and plant growth, making it a favorable option.

Facet junction engineering for enhanced SERS activity of Ag/Cu2O composite substrates.

Featuring ultra-high sensitivity and molecule-specific detection ability, surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) is suitable for the rapid sensing of trace-level chemicals in biological, environmental, and agricultural samples. Although crystal facet junction engineering is a powerful tool to manipulate the optoelectronic properties of semiconducting materials, its correlation with the SERS sensing activity of noble metal/semiconductor composites has still not been clarified. In this work, Ag was deposited on Cu2O nanocrystals enclosed by different facets, including {100} (cube), {111} (octahedron), and {100}/{111} (truncated octahedron), and a detailed study of their SERS performance was carried out. It was found that Ag/truncated-octahedral Cu2O (Ag/Cu2O(J3)) exhibited superior SERS activity to Ag/cubic Cu2O (Ag/Cu2O(C)) and Ag/octahedral Cu2O (Ag/Cu2O(O)). The {100}/{111} facet junction in Cu2O can promote the separation and transfer of photogenerated charge carriers, which is beneficial for enhancing SERS sensing performance. Moreover, Ag/Cu2O(J3) has a higher content of oxygen vacancies, providing extra interfacial charge-transfer pathways to the analyte, which also contribute to improving the SERS activity. The low detection limit of Ag/Cu2O(J3) was 1 × 10-11 M for 4-nitrobenzenethiol, two orders of magnitude lower than that of Ag/Cu2O(C) and Ag/Cu2O(O). In addition, Ag/Cu2O(J3) could detect CV and R6G at concentrations down to 1 × 10-10 M and 1 × 10-8 M, respectively. The findings of this work can provide insightful information for designing metal/semiconductor substrates toward SERS sensing application by regulating the crystal facet junction.

Plasma amplifiers: multiscale light-enhanced uniform SERS composite substrates for breaking through resonance limitations.

A phenomenon known as plasmon resonance constitutes a unique optical effect that can induce an enhancement in localized electromagnetic fields, resulting in a substantial increase in the electromagnetic field intensity surrounding metallic nanostructures. In this work, the coupling effect of excitation of surface plasmon polaritons and local surface plasmons in nanoparticles is deeply studied under the background of nanoparticles/one-dimension grating composite structures through grating matching. By employing finite-difference time-domain simulations as our methodological approach, we discern gratings with a periodicity of 1.5 μm support surface plasmon bound states between the gratings. Furthermore, the modulation of SPs along the vertical sidewalls of the grating due to standing wave effects exhibits oscillatory behavior with varying grating heights. Experimental results obtained from the nanoparticle/grating composite SERS substrate validate theoretical predictions, demonstrating higher enhanced Raman signals at 633 nm compared to 532 nm. Remarkably, this structure exhibits good performance, with R6G detection sensitivity down to concentrations as low as 10-10 M and mapping achieving a relative standard deviation of 7.79%, underscoring its uniformity and capability of electromagnetic field enhancement.

Enhancing Aluminum-Based Composite Manufacturing: Leveraging Si3N4 Reinforcement via Friction Stir Process

In the realm of composite manufacturing, this study delves into the innovative approach of enhancing Aluminum-Based Composite Manufacturing through Si3N4 Reinforcement leveraged via Friction Stir Process (FSP). The FSP technique, executed with precision using a vertical milling machine, intricately fabricates composite materials with unparalleled properties. Meticulously chosen parameters including pin diameter, tool tilt angle, and tool profile, coupled with precise tool traversal and rotation, define the operation. The composite substrate, composed of AA 2024, undergoes stringent cleanliness protocols before Si3N4 powders are strategically placed into a designated groove on the titanium surface for processing. Microscopic examination reveals the uniform dispersion of Si3N4 particles within the aluminum matrix, profoundly enhancing mechanical properties. The tensile strength experiences a remarkable 21.45% improvement, while hardness witnesses a significant enhancement of 36.9%. Additionally, fatigue strength is notably improved by 24.12%, and wear resistance sees a substantial boost of 30.44% following Si3N4 nanoparticle integration via FSP.

Effects of dentin bonding agents and silanization on bond strength between 3D printed resin and composite resin.

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of dentin bonding agents and silanization on the bond strength between 3D printed resin and composite resin and compare it with a conventional composite resin. 3D printed resin cylinders (PCB) and composite resin substrates (Z250) were prepared and divided into eight subgroups based on the bonding agents used (n=12). The shear bond strength was measured using a universal testing machine, and the failure modes were evaluated. The bond strength was found to vary significantly among the bonding agents and substrate types. Silane application did not significantly improve the bond strength. Among the bonding agents, the universal adhesives exhibited the highest bond strengths for both substrates. Compared to PCB, Z250 demonstrated stronger bonds and exhibited more cohesive failures. Further research is needed to optimize the surface treatments and resin formulations for enhanced bond strength and durability between 3D printed and composite resins.

SERS detection of thiram using a 3D sea cucumber-like composite flexible porous substrate.

Nowadays, trace detection of thiram is in urgent demand due to its widespread application in agriculture and significant harmful effects on public health. In this work, a three-dimensional (3D) sea cucumber-like flexible porous surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) substrate composed of a poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) membrane, ZnO nanorods, gold films, and Ag nanoparticles (Ag/Au/ZnO/P) has been established for the highly sensitive detection of thiram. The substrate takes advantage of the 3D morphology of the Ag/Au/ZnO system on a flexible porous PVDF membrane to produce abundant plasmonic hot spots. Meanwhile, the employment of an AgNPs/Au shell system combined the benefits of both gold and silver metals, thus guaranteeing stable and sensitive detection. With 4-mercaptobenzoic acid (4-MBA) as a probe molecule, the Ag/Au/ZnO/P substrate exhibited excellent linear detection in the range of 10-11-10-5 M, with a correlation coefficient (R2) of 0.99 and an enhancement cofactor of 7.09 × 107. The substrate exhibited excellent uniformity with a related standard deviation (RSD) value of 3.82% and demonstrated high stability during a 15 d-storage test. In addition, the substrate could detect thiram in an aqueous solution at concentrations as low as 10-10 M with excellent selectivity. Meanwhile, thiram on the surface of apple peel could be easily detected by the Ag/Au/ZnO/P substrate with the "paste-and-peel" method in less than 10 s, and the detection limit could be as low as 0.48 ng cm-2. Overall, the remarkable performance of the Ag/Au/ZnO/P SERS substrate demonstrated its great potential for the environmental monitoring of thiram.

Au nanoparticles decorated β-Bi2O3 as highly-sensitive SERS substrate for detection of methylene blue and methyl orange.

In this work, Au/Bi2O3 was synthesized by loading Au nanoparticles (NPs) onto β-Bi2O3 by a simple solution reduction method. β-Bi2O3 was synthesized by a precipitation-thermal decomposition procedure, which results in significantly improved SERS detection limits down to 10-9 M for methylene blue (MB) and 10-7 M for methyl orange (MO) as probe molecules, comparable to those reported for the best semiconductor SERS substrates. In particular, further deposition of Au NPs (5.20% wt%) onto β-Bi2O3 results in a two-order-of-magnitude enhancement in detection sensitivity, achieving a detection limit of 10-11 M for MB and 10-9 M for MO. Under ultraviolet/visible irradiation, the Au/Bi2O3 hybrids substrate exhibits superior self-cleaning ability due to its photocatalytic degradation ability which can be applied repeatedly to the detection of pollutants. The advanced composite substrate simultaneously achieved ultra-low mass loading of Au NPs, outstanding detection performance, good reproducibility, high stability and self-cleaning ability. The development strategy of low load noble metal coupled high performance semiconductor β-Bi2O3 to obtain nano-hybrid materials provides a method to balance SERS sensitivity, cost effectiveness and operational stability, and can be synthesized in large quantities, which is a key step towards commercialization and has good reliability prospects.

Application of Substrate Materials Derived from Plant Roots, Stems, Leaves, and Microbes for Remediation of Soil Heavy Metal Pollution

This study focuses on the remediation of chromium (Cr), a heavy metal, in soil using substrate materials synthesized from plant roots, stems, leaves, and microbes. Corn was chosen as the source material for biochar production through high-temperature pyrolysis of corn roots, stems, and leaves. The biochar was then modified with an iron solution, and microbial adsorption was employed to remediate heavy metal Cr in the soil. The study involved physical and infrared analyses of the substrate materials and experiments to determine the adsorption contribution of different pH conditions, sites, and substrate materials to metal Cr. The effectiveness of plant roots, stems, leaves, and microbial combinations in remediating soil heavy metal pollution was verified. The experimental results demonstrate a decrease in the Zeta potential values of both materials as the pH increases. Moreover, as pH gradually increases, the form of Cr ions changes, and the reproductive ability of microbes weakens. The substrate materials exhibit a notable increase in negative charge, leading to enhanced repulsion towards Cr, which impacts their adsorption performance. At neutral pH, the adsorption capacity of the substrate materials for Cr is enhanced. The contribution rate of the composite substrate materials in the adsorption process is 6.78%, while that of microbial organisms is 56.45%, significantly higher than that of Fe-CBC. The main reason is that microbial adsorption activity for Cr is enhanced under higher pH conditions, with the contribution rate of microbial organisms continuing to increase significantly at a pH of 9.

Conventional-, bulk-fill- or flowable-resin composites as prosthetic core build-up: Influence on the load-bearing capacity under fatigue of bonded leucite-reinforced glass-ceramic

This study aimed to evaluate the fatigue performance of simplified ceramic restorations (leucite-reinforced glass ceramic) adhesively cemented onto substrates of different resin composites. Three options from the same commercial line were selected (Tetric N-Line, Ivoclar), classified as Conventional (CRC), Bulk-fill (BRC) and Flowable (FRC), which were used to make discs using a cylindrical metallic device (n = 19; Ø = 10 mm, thickness = 2.0 mm). A total of 57 discs (Ø = 10 mm, thickness = 1.0 mm) were made from CAD/CAM prefabricated blocks of a leucite reinforced glass-ceramic (Empress CAD, Ivoclar) to simulate a monolithic restoration, then were randomly distributed to be bonded on 19 discs of each three different resin composite substrates (CRC; BRC; or FRC) with a dual resin cement (Multilink N; Ivoclar). The samples were subjected to a compression test with a hemispherical stainless-steel piston (Ø = 40 mm) at a monotonic regimen (n = 4; 1 mm/min loading rate and 500 kgf loading cell until fracture). The cyclic fatigue test was performed underwater at a frequency of 20 Hz (n = 15). The first step was applied using 200N for 5000 cycles, followed by increments of 50N at each step of 10,000 until failure. The outcome considered for both tests was the occurrence of radial crack. Specific statistical tests (α = 0.05) were performed for monotonic (One-way ANOVA; Tukey's test) and fatigue data (Kaplan-Meier test; Log-rank test). Fractography of fractured samples were also performed. The FRC group had the lowest failure load in both test regimes (p < 0.05; monotonic: 726.64N; fatigue: 716.67N). There were no differences between the CRC and BRC groups (p > 0.05; monotonic: 989.30 and 990.11N; fatigue: 810.00 and 833.33N, respectively). The same result was obtained considering cycles for fatigue failure (FRC < CRC=BRC). Leucite glass-ceramic bonded to substrates made of flowable resin composite behaves worse mechanically than bonding to conventional or bulk-fill resin composite substrates.

Ultrasensitive and reusable Cu2O/Ag composite SERS substrates for trace thiram detection

Cu2O/Ag composite substrates synthesized by electrodeposition and magnetron sputtering could serve as photocatalytic reusable SERS platforms for the detection of thiram in soil.