Continuous Deposition Research Articles

Numerical Analysis of Spatial Distribution of Carbon in Methane Dry Reforming over Supported Nickel Catalyst in a Packed Bed Reactor

This study investigates carbon deposition during methane dry reforming over a nickel-based catalyst supported on alumina in a laboratory-scale fixed-bed reactor. Approximately 23.75 grams of catalyst were used, and simulations were performed using COMSOL 6.2 software. The reactor was simulated at isothermal wall conditions at four temperatures (650°C, 750°C, 850°C, and 950°C), with an equimolar CH₄ to CO₂ ratio in the feed. The results showed that while localized carbon deposition density increased with temperature, likely due to a higher local methane decomposition rate, the total amount of carbon deposited was inversely proportional to temperature. This suggests enhanced carbon gasification at higher temperatures. The total carbon deposited was estimated to be around 18 grams after 10,000 seconds of Time on Stream (TOS) at 650°C. As the temperature increased, the total carbon deposition decreased, although this reduction became negligible beyond 850°C. Furthermore, the hydrogen to carbon monoxide (H₂/CO) molar ratio peaked at over 1.1 at 650°C, dropped to approximately 0.76 at 750°C, and then rose back to 0.97 at 950°C. Steady-state operation was not achieved due to continuous carbon deposition and accumulation in the reactor. However, in the absence of carbon deposition, steady-state was reached around 100 seconds after the feed entered, at a velocity of 3 cm/s. Methane conversion reached 97% at 950°C.

Colloidal substrate-facilitated synthesis of gold nanohelices

Helical nanostructures have unique optical and mechanical properties, yet their syntheses had always been quite challenging. Various symmetry-breaking mechanisms such as chiral templates, strain-restriction and asymmetric ligand-binding have been developed to induce the helical growth at nanoscale. In this work, with neither chiral ligands nor templates, gold (Au) nanohelices were synthesized via a facile wet-chemical method, through an asymmetric Active Surface Growth facilitated by colloidal silica nanoparticles (NPs). The one-dimensional growth followed the Active Surface Growth, which employs a thiolated ligand to direct continuous deposition of Au at the interface, known as the active surface, between the Au nanostructures and the silica NPs – the colloidal substrates. More importantly, the colloidal substrates are crucial for the helical growth, as the diameter of the obtained nanohelices was found proportional to the size of the colloidal substrates. We propose that the nanoscale size and the curvature of the silica NPs would reduce the size of anchoring point between Au nanowires and the substrates, causing partial blockage of the active surface by the substrate and divergence of the activity on the active surface towards Au deposition. The subsequent inequivalent deposition, and the dynamic shifting of the blockage lead to the asymmetric growth and the formation of nanohelices. Factors that would affect the asymmetric Active Surface Growth were also identified and discussed, including the reduction kinetics, substrate treatment and the type and concentration of the ligand. In particular, variation of the size of the active surfaces would change the degree of the surface inequivalence, and thus affect the yield of the nanohelices.

Decoding historical and emerging environmental concerns of C6−36 chlorinated paraffins: Insights from marine sediment cores in the Pearl River Estuary

Chlorinated paraffins (CPs) readily deposit in sediments upon entering estuaries and adjacent seas. Time-series investigations are indispensable for the long-term monitoring of historical releases and identifying CPs of emerging concerns in the marine environment. In this study, short-, medium-, and long-chain CPs (SCCPs, MCCPs, and LCCPs) were investigated using time-of-flight high-resolution mass spectrometry (ToF-HRMS) in sediment cores, dated between the 1920s and the 2010s sampled from Hong Kong waters and Lingdingyang of the Pearl River Estuary (PRE), South China. Levels of SCCPs remained steady since the 1980s, while increasing trends of MCCPs and LCCPs were observed, indicating a market supply shift from SCCPs to MCCPs and LCCPs, potentially influenced by global restrictions. This is the first study to report C18−31 CPs in Chinese marine sediments. C>20 very long-chain CPs (C>20 vLCCPs) subcategorized from LCCPs semi-quantified via ToF-HRMS positively correlated with those of other CP categories, implying their synchronized release in the investigated regions. C>20 vLCCPs, contributing an average of 27% of total CP concentrations in two cores, were found at higher levels than LCCPs (7%). Hence, the risk of C>20 vLCCP contamination should not be ignored. By highlighting the temporal variations in the world’s largest producer and consumer of CPs, the present study augments the database of the continuous deposition of SCCPs and MCCPs in marine sediments in the PRE and highlights the unrecognized risks of LCCP contaminations.

Zincophilic SnS2 protective layer for homogeneous deposition towards dendrite-free aqueous Zn metal batteries

As one of the most promising candidates for grid-scale energy storage, aqueous Zn metal batteries (AZMBs) have attracted extensive attention owing to their high theoretical capacity, high safety, low voltage, and environmental benign. However, Zn metal continuously suffers the corrosion and dendrites issue during cycling owing to uneven deposition. Herein, we proposed a facile deposition strategy, achieving a continuous deposition process from moderately heterogeneous phase evolution to smoothly homogeneous deposition, realizing a dendrites-free anode for AZMBs. The flower-like SnS2 structure provides nucleation assistance by enlarging the active area and guiding zinc ion flux through its favorable affinity for zinc. Meanwhile, the SnS2 layer also inhibits the HER and corrosion serving as a protective layer. The symmetrical cell with the modified Zn metal anode realizes a stable and prolonged lifespan of 1,000 h under a current density of 5 mA/cm2. This study presents an innovative approach to zinc ion storage materials, realizing guiding zinc ion flux, assisting nucleation processes, and providing corrosion inhibition.

Field investigation on burial characteristics of subsea pipeline with spoiler on silty seabed

This study presents results from field data observed from Hangzhou Bay Subsea Pipeline (HBSP) to investigate the burial characteristics of subsea pipelines with spoiler on silty seabed. The study is based on large-scale seabed topography data and continuous ten years of pipeline route survey data conducted between 2005 and 2014. Analysis of surveyed data shows that along the pipeline route, seabed evolution around HBSP has three zones: continuous scour, scour followed by deposition, and continuous deposition zone. For continuous scour, pipeline remains exposed, and pipeline with spoiler induced full self-burial doesn't take effect. While for continuous deposition and scour followed by deposition, the combined effects of self-burial and seabed evolution increase average total burial depth from 1.5m in 2006 to 3.5m in 2014. Spoiler attached to pipeline is the main factor to increase total burial depth before 2006, and by 2014, the contribution of seabed deposition to burial depths far exceeds that of self-burial. The self-burial depth is over 2.0D (D is pipeline diameter) under bidirectional tidal flow while it is no more than 1.0D under unidirectional flow. These findings provide technical support for the implementation of spoiler in offshore pipelines under similar hydrodynamic and sediment conditions.

Freezing‐Assisted Direct Ink Writing of Customized Polyimide Aerogels with Controllable Micro‐ and Macro‐ Structures for Thermal Insulation

AbstractPolyimide (PI) aerogels have attracted attention in thermal management due to their low thermal conductivity, high porosity, and robust mechanical properties. However, building PI aerogels with elaborately tailored micro‐ and macro‐ structures for optimized thermal insulation performance in specific scenarios remains a challenge. Here, a scalable approach is reported to prepare PI aerogels with controllable micro‐ and macro‐ structures by freezing‐assisted direct ink writing (FADIW) of poly(amic acid) (PAA) inks. This FADIW strategy can enable continuous ink deposition and transient low‐temperature‐induced gelation, contributing to the facile construction of spatially free geometries with structural complexity and shape fidelity. Importantly, controllable construction of microstructures of the aerogels is achieved by controlling the extrusion substrate temperature. The resulting customized PI aerogels show good thermal insulation owing to the porous microstructure and customized macrostructure, enabling good thermal management for portable electronics. In addition, this FADIW strategy is universal and allows for multi‐material integration, broadening the functionality of PI aerogels. Significantly, such FADIW approach can be promisingly applied to realize on‐demand design of PI aerogels and other polymer aerogels with targeted micro‐ and macro‐structures, offering an alternative avenue for the manufacture of customized aerogels toward widespread applications.

A Paleoenvironmental Reconstruction of Lake Vrana on the Island of Cres (Croatia) Based on the Geochemistry and Mineralogy of the Late Pleistocene and Holocene Sediments

A 7.4 m long sediment core has been retrieved from the central part of Lake Vrana on the island of Cres to reconstruct the paleoenvironmental conditions. Lake Vrana is the deepest freshwater lake in Croatia, located in the karst region of the eastern Adriatic coast. A dated sediment sequence in Lake Vrana of 4.4 m has spanned the past 16.4 kyr, and it featured a dynamic sediment deposition until the beginning of the Holocene, including strong sediment input and supply to the lake by runoff sediments of dolomitic origin from the catchment in the period 16.4–14.4 cal kyr BP. High organic carbon content, which originates from mixed terrestrial and aquatic origins in the periods 14.4–13.3 cal kyr BP and 12.7–11.7 cal kyr BP, indicates fluctuating lake levels in shallow water environments during the Late Glacial to Holocene transition. The Holocene sequence indicates the development of more stable conditions and continuous sediment deposition, characterized by an increasing trend of siliciclastic sediments delivered into the lake during the early Holocene (11.7–10 cal kyr BP) and dominantly from 8 to 4.4 cal kyr BP, indicating enhanced input and erosion, which coincides with the humid and pluvial period recorded in the central Mediterranean region. It is followed by sediments with high organic carbon content between 4.4 and 1.6 cal kyr BP, which points to higher lake productivity. Calcite sedimentation prevailed between 1.6 to 0.4 cal kyr BP, indicating stable deeper-lake conditions. Predominantly, siliciclastic sediments from 0.4 to 0.1 cal kyr BP pointed to erosion during the Little Ice Age (LIA), with enhanced precipitation and sediment discharge from the catchment. The re-establishment of calcite sedimentation has been observed over the last 100 years.

A multi‐layer approach for additive manufacturing of continuous fiber composites

AbstractAdditive manufacturing (AM) of continuous fiber reinforced polymer composites (cFRPCs) requires innovative tool‐pathing strategies that account for the anisotropic properties of the continuous fibers and ensure their continuous deposition as reinforcement along the designed structure, reducing fibers bending and cutting. Existing 3D printing slicing software, designed for isotropic materials like neat polymers, has been adapted for 3D printing of continuous fiber composites, resulting in a layer‐by‐layer approach that necessitates filament cutting after each layer deposition. This method introduces discontinuities, weakening the material and underutilizing continuous fibers strength. In this research, we propose a novel tool‐pathing strategy designed to address these challenges through (1) Ensuring fiber continuity across layers by allowing overlapping filaments and (2) Strategically positioning fiber cut points based on stress distribution, modeled using finite element analysis. A Multi‐Layer Continuous Fiber Path (ML‐CFP) approach was introduced and validated on a simple bracket structure featuring two load‐application inserts. 3D printed brackets using different tool paths were tested to failure under tension and compression after compression molding to improve interlayer adhesion. Mechanical investigations confirmed that the ML‐CFP approach enhances fiber utilization, improving tensile strength and work to fracture by up to 46% and 100% through promoting failure in fibers rather than at cut points.Highlights Introduced the multi‐layer continuous fiber path method (ML‐CFP) in AM of cFRPCs. Introduced the strategic cut point placement (SCPP) based on stress distribution. Maintaining fiber continuity and reduce fiber bending by allowing filament overlap. Mechanical testing to compare the ML‐CFP with conventional slicing methods. Enhanced tensile strength by up to 46% and work to fracture by 100%.

Anaerostipes caccae CML199 enhances bone development and counteracts aging-induced bone loss through the butyrate-driven gut–bone axis: the chicken model

BackgroundThe gut microbiota is a key regulator of bone metabolism. Investigating the relationship between the gut microbiota and bone remodeling has revealed new avenues for the treatment of bone-related disorders. Despite significant progress in understanding gut microbiota-bone interactions in mammals, research on avian species remains limited. Birds have unique bone anatomy and physiology to support egg-laying. However, whether and how the gut microbiota affects bone physiology in birds is still unknown. In this study, we utilized laying hens as a research model to analyze bone development patterns, elucidate the relationships between bone and the gut microbiota, and mine probiotics with osteomodulatory effects.ResultsAging led to a continuous increase in bone mineral density in the femur of laying hens. The continuous deposition of medullary bone in the bone marrow cavity of aged laying hens led to significant trabecular bone loss and weakened bone metabolism. The cecal microbial composition significantly shifted before and after sexual maturity, with some genera within the class Clostridia potentially linked to postnatal bone development in laying hens. Four bacterial strains associated with bone development, namely Blautia coccoides CML164, Fournierella sp002159185 CML151, Anaerostipes caccae CML199 (ANA), and Romboutsia lituseburensis CML137, were identified and assessed in chicks with low bacterial loads and chicken primary osteoblasts. Among these, ANA demonstrated the most significant promotion of bone formation both in vivo and in vitro, primarily attributed to butyrate in its fermentation products. A long-term feeding experiment of up to 72 weeks confirmed that ANA enhanced bone development during sexual maturity by improving the immune microenvironment of the bone marrow in laying hens. Dietary supplementation of ANA for 50 weeks prevented excessive medullary bone deposition and mitigated aging-induced trabecular bone loss.ConclusionsThese findings highlight the beneficial effects of ANA on bone physiology, offering new perspectives for microbial-based interventions for bone-related disorders in both poultry and possibly extending to human health.3YvVhM8B6L-RxYm8AZskZyVideo Graphical

Continuous Material Deposition on Filaments in Fused Deposition Modeling.

A novel approach, i.e., Continuous Material Deposition on Filaments (CMDF), for the incorporation of active materials within 3D-printed structures is presented. It is based on passing a filament through a solution in which the active material is dissolved together with the polymer from which the filament is made. This enables the fabrication of a variety of functional 3D-printed objects by fused deposition modeling (FDM) using commercial filaments without post-treatment processes. This generic approach has been demonstrated in objects using three different types of materials, Rhodamine B, ZnO nanoparticles (NPs), and Ciprofloxacin (Cip). The functionality of these objects is demonstrated through strong antibacterial activity in ZnO NPs and the controlled release of the antibiotic Cip. CMDF does not alter the mechanical properties of FDM-printed structures, can be applied with any type of FDM printer, and is, therefore, expected to have applications in a wide variety of fields.

Mechanism of nanofiltration fouling in high hardness and dissolved organic carbon surface water based on chemical characterization of foulant

Nanofiltration (NF) membranes purifying high hardness and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) surface water are prone to much more severe fouling than those supplied by waters of better quality. We conducted analyses on an ultrafiltration/nanofiltration pilot plant supplied by high hardness and DOC water to investigate the NF foulant chemical composition and fouling mechanism. NF foulant was primarily organic (97 %). Analyses of the physically (PRF) and chemically (CRF) removable foulant components unveiled their different compositions. CRF, i.e., the fouling substances directly adsorbed on the nanofilter surface and pores, mainly comprised hydrophobic and low molecular weight & building blocks of humic substances. PRF, i.e., the gel-layer formed by the substances continuous deposition, contained more compounds with hydrophilic character and a wide range of molecular weights, from low molecular weight & building blocks (<1 kDa) to humic substances (1 – 20 kDa) and biopolymers (>20 kDa), showing a more uniform distribution of those features. Calcium and magnesium may have promoted the bridging of the organics with the NF membrane, and between the organics, strengthening the foulant structure. The presence of a humic- and EPS-conditioning film may have interfered with or contributed to bacterial adhesion, respectively, forming biofilm patches.

Potential Role of Extracellular Matrix and its Components in Cancer Development and Progression

Cancer occurs due to unregulated multiplication of cells. Extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins come in a huge variety, and each one has unique biochemical and biophysical characteristics that affect the phenotype of cells. To ensure tissue homeostasis, the ECM undergoes continuous deposition, remodeling, and degradation from early development until maturity. In order to govern cell behavior and differentiation, the ECM's composition and structure are spatiotemporally controlled. However, when ECM dynamics are dysregulated in any way, illnesses like cancer can arise. Collagen is a major component involved in ECM regulation but after cross linking with each other, it initiates ECM stiffness, loss of cell contacts and cell geometry. Due to which most of the regulators including the Transcriptional coactivator with PDZ-binding motif (TAZ) and Yes-associated protein (YAP) are inhibited and cause extensive cell proliferation and tumor metastasis. Proteases like Metalloproteinases degrades collagen and other proteins that leads to ECM break down and cancer progression. As cancer spreads, the stress and pressure on cells increases which damage arteries and capillaries causing hypoxia. Hypoxia inducible factors take advantage of the situation and enhance invasiveness of cancer cells. This stress generated by tumor cells in their surrounding causes dysregulation of ECM matrix. Finding strategies to study the relationship between mechanical stress in tumors and their destructive behavior is vital for cancer research.

Continuous and Stable Printing Method of Planar Microstructure Based on Meniscus-Confined Electrodeposition.

The meniscus-confined electrodeposition (MCED) technique offers advantages such as low cost and wide applicability, making it a promising method in the field of micro/nanofabrication. However, unstable meniscal morphology and poor deposition quality during planar deposition in MCED necessitate the development of improved methods. Therefore, a planar adaptive micro-tuning deposition method (PAMTDM), which utilizes the positioning technology of scanning electrochemical cell microscopy (SECCM) and employs a singular value decomposition (SVD) planar fitting method to determine the flatness of the deposition plane, is proposed. An adaptive micro-tuning motion mode was proposed by analyzing the variation patterns of the meniscus. Moreover, a combination of multi-physics finite element simulations and orthogonal experimental methods was introduced to determine the optimal motion parameters. The experimental results demonstrate that the PAMTDM effectively addresses the issues encountered during planar growth. Compared to the point-by-point deposition method, the PAMTDM achieves a threefold increase in deposition speed for continuous deposition of 105-μm-long line segments in two-dimensional planes, with a deposition current error of less than 0.2 nA. In conclusion, the proposed method provides significant insights into the broad future applications of MCED.

Breath of impact: Unveiling the dynamics of exhalation-driven deposition of polydisperse particles in lung across varied physical activities

Continuous deposition of workplace pollutant particles on lung airways during respiratory actions seriously threatens the lung health of persons performing tasks in polluted environments. This study aims to analyze the exhalation-driven deposition of fine and coarse occupational pollutant particles in polydisperse form. Computer simulations are conducted to study the patterns of deposition of grain dust, coal fly ash, and bituminous coal particles. Key findings include the observation of early emergence of secondary flows in the real model, a notable shift in deposition patterns towards the post-bifurcation zones, and influence of physical activity intensity on particle deposition. Additionally, deposition primarily occurs near cranial ridge during inhalation, while exhalation leads to deposition in pre- and post-bifurcation zones. PM2.5 deposition is minimal and random in idealized model but becomes more significant and consistent in real model. This research underscores the increased risk of lung diseases for workers in polluted environments during vigorous activity.

Benefits of In Situ Foamed and Printed Porous Scaffolds in Wound Healing.

Macroporous hydrogels have shown significant promise in biomedical applications, particularly regenerative medicine, due to their enhanced nutrient and waste permeability, improved cell permissibility, and minimal immunogenicity. However, traditional methods of generating porous hydrogels require secondary post-processing steps or harmful reagents making simultaneous fabrication with bioactive factors and cells impossible. Therefore, a handheld printer is engineered for facile and continuous generation and deposition of hydrogel foams directly within the skin defect to form defect-specific macroporous scaffolds. Within the handheld system, a temperature-controlled microfluidic homogenizer is coupled with miniaturized liquid and air pumps to mix sterile air with gelatin methacryloyl (GelMA) at the desired ratio. An integrated photocrosslinking unit is then utilized to crosslink the printed foam in situ to form scaffolds with controlled porosity. The system is optimized to form reliable and uniform GelMA foams. The resulting foam scaffolds demonstrate mechanical properties with excellent flexibility making them suitable for wound healing applications. The results of in vitro cell culture on the scaffolds demonstrate significantly increased cellular activity compared to the solid hydrogel. The in vivo printed foam scaffolds enhanced the rate and quality of wound healing in mice with full-thickness wound without the use of biological materials.

Remnant of the Late Holocene sand beach reveals ancient settlement-related sea level change from western Thailand

Archaeological findings and analysis of the sand beach at the Ban Khu Bua site in western Thailand indicate substantial sea-level shifts, which relate to sea-level regression during the late Holocene. This research focused on analyzing the paleo-shoreline and determining the age of ancient sandy beach deposits. Satellite imagery (Sentinel-2A) taken in 2021 facilitated classification of the paleo-coastal landforms into four main categories: colluvium, recent floodplain, old tidal flat, and old sandy beach. The latter, running predominantly north to south, is composed of fine to very fine sand characterized by sub-angular to round shapes, high sphericity, and well sorted. The sediment’s mineral composition is primarily quartz, accompanied by smaller rock fragments, organic matter, heavy minerals, and feldspars. Optically Stimulated Luminescence analysis of quartz-rich samples from the inner and outer areas suggested deposition of the old sandy beach sediments between 1,500 and 3,000 years ago in the inner part, pre-dating the establishment of the Khu Bua community in the Dvaravati period. Continuous beach sand deposition along Thao U-Thong Road aligns with the community settlement approximately 200 to 1,000 years ago.

A novel ultrasonic rolling assisted direct energy deposition method with semi-solid thixo-forming characteristics for AA6061

In order to overcome the defects during the process of additive manufacturing for AA6061, a novel ultrasonic rolling assisted direct energy deposition method with semi-solid thixo-forming characteristics was proposed in this study, which used cold deformed AA6061 wire as raw material, and a corresponding process platform was established. The results showed that under the conditions of laser heating temperature of 750 ℃ and heating plate temperature of 200 ℃, the sample could achieve continuous multi-pass deposition while retaining some of the cold-drawn plastic deformation energy. When the vertical deformation rate was 0.153 and the ultrasonic amplitude was 20 μm, the microstructure of deposition sample after semi-solid heat-treat exhibited typical equiaxed grain characteristics, corresponding to average grain diameter of 95.6 μm and shape coefficient of 1.263. Thin-walled samples with different shapes were formed to verify the capability of process platform. The inference of the formation mechanism of semi-solid microstructure was revealed at last: the introduction of ultrasonic rolling supplemented the plastic deformation energy, and semi-solid heat-treat provided temperature and time for the incubation of equiaxed grains, both of which were crucial for the formation of the semi-solid microstructure.

Enhanced corrosion protection of steel strip through advanced Zn–Mg alloy coatings manufactured by Continuous Physical Vapor Deposition: A review

The growing global consensus on the “carbon peak and neutrality” has focused on high-strength steel, highlighting its critical role in enhancing energy efficiency, reducing emissions in the steel industry, and reducing the weight of automobiles. Traditional Electro-Galvanizing (EG) and Hot-Dip Galvanizing (HDG) technologies face challenges in meeting the surface protection demands of these applications. This limitation is evident with the development of Zn–Mg coated strip steel, which offers high corrosion resistance. Continuous Physical Vapor Deposition (CPVD) effectively addresses these issues in a sealed vacuum environment, drawing significant attention in the strip coating industry owing to its superior surface quality, diverse material options, and environmental advantages. This article reviews the latest advancements and current status of Zn–Mg alloy coatings prepared using the CPVD technology. It discusses the typical thermal evaporation process used in CPVD, traces the development history of CPVD coatings on strip steel, and examines the microstructure, corrosion resistance, and adhesion performance evolution mechanisms of Zn–Mg alloy coatings. By designing multilayer structures, adjusting the Mg composition, and implementing controllable heat treatments, the overall performance of the coatings is enhanced. This study also comprehensively analyzes the feasibility of applying multilayer, highly corrosion-resistant Zn–Mg coatings. Additionally, it identifies the main challenges in applying CPVD technology to Zn–Mg coatings on strip steel, such as the large-scale, stable, and low-cost mass production of typical processes and controlling the void content at multilayer interfaces. Finally, future research directions are anticipated, underscoring the potentially significant impact of further alloying and computer simulations in advancing steel surface treatments.

In situ X-ray diffraction and thermal simulation of material extrusion additive manufacturing of polymer

Material extrusion additive manufacturing (AM) has gradually become a dominant technology for the fabrication of complex-designed thermoplastic polymers that require a higher level of control over the morphological and mechanical properties. The polymer internal crystal structure formed during the AM process can present significant impacts on the mechanical properties of the individual filaments, as well as the whole structure. Currently, limited details are known about the crystal structure evolution during the material extrusion AM processes of polymers. A novel in situ synchrotron X-ray diffraction (XRD) experimental configuration was developed enabling us to capture the material evolution data throughout the extrusion AM process. The in situ time-resolved data was analysed to reveal nucleation and crystallization sequences during the continuous deposition, with the aid of both complimentary numerical simulations and post-process (ex situ) characterisations. The thermal simulations supported the prediction of the filament temperature profile over time and location during the AM process, while ex situ characterisations validated the correlation between polymer crystallinity (resulting from printing parameters) and corresponding mechanical properties. The results obtained from varied process parameters suggest that the processing temperature has a dominant influence on the crystal microstructure evolution compared to the deposition velocity. A lower processing temperature just above the melting temperature permitted favourable crystallization conditions. The overall analysis demonstrated prospects for enhancing polymer AM, to engineering mechanically hierarchical structures through correlative investigations.

Control of Ag deposition for improvement of specular reflection in Ag deposition-based electrochemical mirror through modulation of electrolysis condition

The reflection behavior of an Ag deposition-based reversible electrochemical mirror is determined by the morphology of the electrodeposited Ag. This study demonstrates the control of the morphology of Ag deposits through the modulation of the electrolysis conditions, specifically the applied potential and Ag+ ions concentration, without increasing the amount of Ag deposits. By applying a potential with a sufficiently large deposition overpotential for continuous deposition on the electrode surface, the deposited Ag formed a flat surface, resulting in high reflectivity. Considering the concentration dependence of Ag+ ions, the diffusion of Ag+ ions to the electrode significantly affected the resulting morphology of the deposits. At higher Ag+ concentrations, the time for the transition to a diffusion-limited process increased because Ag+ ions were close to the working electrode. Therefore, a flat Ag layer was obtained due to the promotion of three-dimensional deposition, including the in-plane growth.