Cost-effective Components Research Articles

A Comparative Study of Tin Anodes in Carbonate and Glyme Electrolytes

Sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) are a focus of novel battery research as they present a potentially more sustainable alternative to lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) due to the abundance of sodium as well as other anode and cathode active materials. One key focus of sodium-ion battery research has been cost-effective components which exhibit high energy density and long-term cyclability. These capabilities can enable SIBs as a viable alternative to LIBs. Tin is a promising option for high-capacity anode manufacturing in SIBs because of its ability to be used independently or in other metal alloys in conjunction with suitable additives and binders. However, tin-based anodes still suffer from degradation related to excessive volume change during cycling.The degradation of tin anodes in SIBs can be mitigated in part through application of appropriate binders and the proper formulation of the electrolyte. The advantage of using styrene butadiene rubber (SBR) in tin anodes as a complement to other binders provides a route for improving the shelf life of anodes and reducing the subsequent degradation from charging-discharging of the battery. The application of glyme-based electrolytes compared to widely used carbonate-based electrolytes can potentially improve cycling life and the overall performance of the battery as well. Copper current collectors are the default when it comes to LIB anodes but with the low reactivity of sodium and good thermal stability aluminum is a cost-effective SIB anode current collector.Tin-based anodes are casted based on the combination of variables in current collector material, electrolyte, and addition of SBR to the binder. A mixture ratio of 70:20:10 of active material, additive and binder are considered for the slurry preparation. However, a ratio of 70:15:10:5 ratio is considered for the SBR experiments, which is 5% of the total slurry at the expense of the carbon black additive. A solvent of 70:30 mixture of deionized water and ethanol are found to be the best option which dissolved the binder and reduce agglomeration of components and delamination of the anode. An X-Ray diffraction test is run on all samples to ensure the retention of tin structure. Test cells are assembled in a half-cell configuration with a combination of current collectors, SBR and electrolytes and subjected to electrochemical characterization tests (Galvanostatic Cycling with Potential Limitation, Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy, and Cyclic Voltammetry) to focus on the tin anode and understand of the performance differences between these variables. The electrochemical tests are conducted on pristine cells and on the lower end of the potential window (0.01V-0.8V) at an initial C-rate of C/10 because of the ability of tin to form alloys with sodium at lower potentials.For short-term cycling results, the aluminum current collector exhibited better performance in terms of specific capacities (~34% higher) during discharge when compared to copper current collectors in carbonate electrolytes. The lower reactivity of sodium with aluminum is likely to have provided the advantage over copper in specific capacity, which can be further explored with pre-treatment of aluminum oxides, potentially exhibiting better performance. A smaller improvement is observed in the glyme electrolyte for the aluminum current collector. The glyme electrolyte however showed a significant increase (~30%) in discharging specific capacity compared to the carbonate electrolyte. The increase in performance with glyme electrolytes is evident because of the selection of the diglyme and 1M NaClO4 sodium salt formulation, which was found to be the most viable option, and exhibited lower ionic association compared to monoglyme and lower viscosity than tetraglyme that led to higher ionic conductivity. An interchangeability between the formulations of electrolytes leaves the other half of the test matrix to be explored for future work, along with a variation in C-rate capabilities of the battery, which would present a holistic understanding of the proposed materials for this set of experiments.

Optimizing Low-Cost Gas Analysis with a 3D Printed Column and MiCS-6814 Sensor for Volatile Compound Detection.

This paper explores an application of 3D printing technology on the food industry. Since its inception in the 1980s, 3D printing has experienced a huge rise in popularity. This study uses cost-effective, flexible, and sustainable components that enable specific features of certain gas chromatography. This study aims to optimize the process of gas detection using a 3D printed separation column and the MiCS-6814 sensor. The principle of the entire device is based on the idea of utilizing a simple capillary chromatographic column manufactured by 3D printing for the separation of samples into components prior to their measurement using inexpensive chemiresistive sensors. An optimization of a system with a 3D printed PLA block containing a capillary, a mixing chamber, and a measuring chamber with a MiCS-6814 sensor was performed. The optimization distributed the sensor output signal in the time domain so that it was possible to distinguish the peak for the two most common alcohols, ethanol and methanol. The paper further describes some optimization types and their possibilities.

Cost-effectiveness of screening with transcriptional signatures for incipient TB among U.S. migrants.

Host-response-based transcriptional signatures (HrTS) have been developed to identify "incipient tuberculosis (TB)". No study has reported the cost-effectiveness of HrTS for post-arrival migrant screening programs in low-incidence countries. To assess the potential health impact and cost-effectiveness of HrTS for post-arrival TB infection screening among new migrants in the United States. We used a discrete-event simulation model to compare four strategies: (1) no screening for TB infection or incipient TB; (2) 'IGRA-only', screen all with interferon gamma release assay (IGRA), provide TB preventive treatment for IGRA-positives; (3) 'IGRA-HrTS', screen all with IGRA followed by HrTS for IGRA-positives, provide incipient TB treatment for individuals testing positive with both tests; and (4) 'HrTS-only', screen all with HrTS, provide incipient TB treatment for HrTS-positives. We assessed outcomes over the lifetime of migrants entering the U.S. in 2019, assuming HrTS met the WHO Target Product Profile (TPP) optimal criteria. We conducted sensitivity analyses to evaluate the robustness of results. The IGRA-only strategy dominated the HrTS-based strategies under both healthcare sector and societal perspectives, with an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of $78,943 and $89,431 per quality-adjusted life-years (QALY) gained, respectively. This conclusion was robust to varying costs ($15-300) and characteristics of HrTS, and the willingness-to-pay threshold ($30,000-150,000/ QALY gained), but sensitive to the rate of decline in TB progression risk after U.S. entry. Our findings suggest that HrTS meeting the WHO TPP is unlikely to be a cost-effective component of post-arrival screening for migrants entering the U.S.

Broadband and widely tunable second harmonic generation in suspended thin-film LiNbO3 rib waveguides

Our study demonstrates second harmonic generation (SHG) in a high confinement LiNbO3 rib waveguide through type-I birefringence phase matching of fundamental modes. The combination of micro-waveguide dispersion and material birefringence reveals unique SHG characteristics that complement the performance of standard LiNbO3 on insulator (LNOI) components. Dual-pump wavelength phase matching in the near-infrared and mid-infrared regions is shown in a given waveguide. These two wavelengths can be positioned in the 1.1–3.5 μm range or converge near 1.5 μm by adjusting the core waveguide size or through temperature tuning. A 25 °C temperature change enables a broad pump tunability band of 300 nm, ranging from 1350 to 1650 nm, with a conversion efficiency exceeding 40 %/W/cm2 within a single waveguide. A temperature tuning range of up to 900 nm is foreseen by tailoring the waveguide core size. In addition, a broadband response of 150 nm within the telecom window is demonstrated experimentally. The nonlinear waveguide, etched in a thin film membrane, is combined with titanium-indiffused waveguides to form a monolithic LiNbO3 component. This configuration provides low coupling losses of 0.8 dB and single-mode operation. It paves the way for a new generation of versatile and cost-effective frequency conversion components with wide-band spectral responses suitable for optical communications, environmental sensing, and quantum information processing.

Synthesized economic evidence on the cost-effectiveness of screening familial hypercholesterolemia

BackgroundFamilial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is a prevalent genetic disorder with global implications for severe cardiovascular diseases. Motivated by the growing recognition of the need for early diagnosis and treatment of FH to mitigate its severe consequences, alongside the gaps in understanding the economic implications and equity impacts of FH screening, this study aims to synthesize the economic evidence on the cost-effectiveness of FH screening and to analyze the impact of FH screening on health inequality.MethodsWe conducted a systematic review on the economic evaluations of FH screening and extracted information from the included studies using a pre-determined form for evidence synthesis. We synthesized the cost-effectiveness components involving the calculation of synthesized incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs) and net health benefit (NHB) of different FH screening strategies. Additionally, we applied an aggregate distributional cost-effectiveness analysis (DCEA) to assess the impact of FH screening on health inequality.ResultsAmong the 19 studies included, over half utilized Markov models, and 84% concluded that FH screening was potentially cost-effective. Based on the synthesized evidence, cascade screening was likely to be cost-effective, with an ICER of $49,630 per quality-adjusted life year (QALY). The ICER for universal screening was $20,860 per QALY as per evidence synthesis. The aggregate DCEA for six eligible studies presented that the incremental equally distributed equivalent health (EDEH) exceeded the NHB. The difference between EDEH and NHB across the six studies were 325, 137, 556, 36, 50, and 31 QALYs, respectively, with an average positive difference of 189 QALYs.ConclusionsOur research offered valuable insights into the economic evaluations of FH screening strategies, highlighting significant heterogeneity in methods and outcomes across different contexts. Most studies indicated that FH screening is cost-effective and contributes to improving overall population health while potentially reducing health inequality. These findings offer implications that policies should promote the implementation of FH screening programs, particularly among younger population. Optimizing screening strategies based on economic evidence can help identify the most effective measures for improving health outcomes and maximizing cost-effectiveness.

Crushing performance of cost-effective tubular components of AA 5083-O fabricated through friction stir welding process for automotive application

Crushing performance of cost-effective tubular components of AA 5083-O fabricated through friction stir welding process for automotive application

Components optimization of polyurethane-modified asphalt binder towards compatibility: Insight from molecular dynamics simulations

Polyurethane-modified asphalt demonstrated the enhanced durability and skid resistance, while remaining the drawback in the compatibility between the polyurethane modifier and asphalt binder in practical use. Herein, a molecular-dynamics-simulations based compatibility evaluation method is proposed for the polyurethane modifier and asphalt binder, thereby achieving the cost-effective and efficient components optimization. Twelve components asphalt molecular model was built in Molecular Dynamics to investigate the interaction of asphalt binder to the polypropylene glycol, toluene diisocyanate, and diphenylmethane diisocyanate, respectively. The molecular model of polyurethane modified asphalt binder was verified by the similar loss modulus temperature from the simulation and temperature scanning tests. The simulation outcomes indicate significant variations in the compatibility of different polyurethanes with asphalt, in which diphenylmethane diisocyanate-type polyurethane exhibits the superior compatibility. The compatibility of various polyurethane concentrations in asphalt shows considerable disparity, suggesting that the compatibility index can serve as a criterion for determining the optimal dosage of the modifier. Temperature also exerts an influence on the compatibility of polyurethane modified asphalt binder. Simulation results indicates that 130 °C potentially may be the optimal temperature for its preparation, which is corroborated by the microscopic characterization. This study provides a fundamental framework for the molecular dynamics simulation-based components optimization of polyurethane-modified asphalt, thereby inspiring the targeted design of asphalt materials.

A low-cost, antimicrobial aloe-alginate hydrogel film containing Australian First Nations remedy ‘lemon myrtle oil’ (Backhousia citriodora) – Potential for incorporation into wound dressings

Chronic wounds pose a global public health challenge, particularly in remote settings where access to specialised wound care and dressings can be limited and cost-prohibitive. First Nations communities in Australia are at a significantly higher risk for developing chronic wounds and this risk further increases for people living in remote regions. There is an urgent need to develop inexpensive but effective wound dressings to improve wound outcomes. Over the past decade, sodium alginate (SA)-based hydrogel polymers have emerged as a cost-effective and biocompatible component in wound dressings, and many have been successfully commercialised. In this study, we have developed and evaluated various prototypes of SA-based hydrogels with the addition of another low-cost component, aloe vera (AV) to further tailor the physicochemical properties of the hydrogel. Since the presence of microbes is a major contributor to the pathophysiology of chronic wounds, we also evaluated the antimicrobial activity of lemon myrtle oil (LMO) (Backhousia citriodora) incorporated into the hydrogel, a remedy used traditionally by First Nations Australians. Novel formulations of AV-SA-LMO hydrogel prototypes in the absence and presence of lemon myrtle oil (at a concentration of 5 μg/mL) were assessed for their physicochemical and antimicrobial properties and compared to a commercially available hydrogel-based dressing. The addition of lemon myrtle oil imparted viscoelastic behaviour for improved processability of AV-SA-LMO hydrogel prototypes, while increasing protein adhesion, enhancing physical properties, and demonstrating antimicrobial activity against the common wound-infecting microbes Staphylococcus epidermidis and Candida albicans. Fourier transmission infrared (FTIR) spectra confirmed the molecular structures of the hydrogel prototypes as predicted. The prototypes also demonstrated biocompatibility with the HaCaT human keratinocyte cell line. This study has provided preliminary evidence that a 25:75 aloe vera:sodium alginate hydrogel with 5 μg/mL lemon myrtle oil has comparable physicochemical characteristics to a commercial hydrogel-based wound dressing and antimicrobial properties against S. epidermidis and C. albicans.

Perceived barriers and criteria for referral to pulmonary rehabilitation used in primary health care by general practitioners

Introduction: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease encompasses both pharmacological and non-pharmacological components. The most cost-effective non-pharmacological component is pulmonary rehabilitation, an individualised, comprehensive intervention, including exercise training, education, and behavior change, to improve the physical and psychological condition and promote adherence to long-term healthy behaviors. The aim was to understand the habits and barriers perceived by Portuguese general practitioners when referring people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease to pulmonary rehabilitation and the criteria valued in decision-making. Methodology: We conducted a cross-sectional study to assess general practitioners' knowledge, referral practices, and perceived barriers regarding pulmonary rehabilitation using an online questionnaire. The questionnaire evaluated knowledge of PR benefits, referral criteria, and existing barriers. Results: Sixty-one responses were obtained, of which 31.1% (n=19) never referred to PR. Of those who were referred, the most used criterion for referral, 78.5% (n=33), was functional limitation. This criterion was considered extremely important for referral by 64% (n=39) of the participants in this study. Discussion: To increase referrals to pulmonary rehabilitation, doctors must raise awareness of the advantages of these programmes. Publicising existing programmes is essential to ensure that general practitioners know these responses. Information from the assessment of the impact of pulmonary rehabilitation programmes on a person's condition should be shared. Conclusion: Insufficient available PR programmes, Lack of patient adherence and feedback of programme outcomes and lack of knowledge of referencing criteria are the most perceived barriers by general practitioners to referring patients to pulmonary rehabilitation programmes.

Experimental COP optimization procedure in an air-based reverse Brayton cycle for cryogenic applications

Sustainable and efficient refrigerants are essential due to increasing regulatory constraints on traditional high-GWP refrigerants. This study investigates the potential of natural refrigerants, specifically air, in Reverse Brayton Cycles (RBC) for low-temperature applications. Unlike carbon dioxide and ammonia, which pose limitations and safety concerns below -40°C, air offers a safer and more versatile solution due to its excellent thermodynamic properties and availability. An experimental RBC was constructed using automotive components like centrifugal compressors, a radial turbine, and inter-coolers. These cost-effective and accessible components shift the refrigeration paradigm. The RBC was tested to optimize the Coefficient of Performance (COP) at -100°C while dissipating 2 kW, a typical scenario for whole-body cryotherapy (WBC). Key control parameters included the pressure ratio of the centrifugal compressors and the position of the stator vanes in the variable geometry turbine (VGT). The optimization process resulted in a COP increase of up to 28%. Additionally, a 1D gas-dynamic model validated these results, suggesting that different component selections could enhance performance by 17% compared to the experimental optimum point. Air-based RBC systems using automotive components can effectively achieve temperatures below -40°C, offering a viable, eco-friendly alternative to traditional refrigerants. This advancement addresses regulatory challenges and contributes to the scientific community by providing a sustainable refrigeration solution using commercially available components and demonstrating improvements through experimental data.

Organic Electronics: Material Innovations, Synthesis Strategies, and Applications as Flexible Electronics

Organic electronics has emerged as a transformative field in materials science, revolutionizing the development of flexible, lightweight, and cost-effective electronic components. Utilizing carbon-based organic small molecules and polymers, this technology diverges significantly from traditional inorganic electronic materials, offering unique advantages in terms of flexibility and processability. This paper provides a comprehensive review of the advancements within the field of organic electronics, focusing on essential materials such as conductive polymers, small molecule semiconductors, and organic photovoltaic materials. The paper highlights various production methods that enable large-scale and cost-effective manufacturing and explores innovations in chemical synthesis that enhance device performance and stability. Furthermore, it addresses the integration of these materials into practical applications, illustrating their potential to significantly impact the electronic device market. Despite the progress in material development, challenges remain in material durability, efficiency, and integration into existing systems. In conclusion, the field of organic electronics represents a dynamic and evolving area of materials science that holds significant promise for transforming the landscape of electronic devices.

Flexible and Disposable Hafnium Nitride Extended Gates Fabricated by Low-Temperature High-Power Impulse Magnetron Sputtering.

To obtain a high-performance extended gate field-effect transistor for pH detection, hafnium nitride (HfN) was first fabricated on an indium tin oxide on polyethylene terephthalate (ITO/PET) substrate using a high-power impulse magnetron sputter system (HiPIMS) in this study. It can be easily applied in biomedical diagnostic and environmental monitoring applications with the advantages of flexible, disposable, cost-effective, and reliable components. Various duty cycle conditions in HiPIMSs were designed to investigate the corresponding sensing performance and material properties including surface morphology and composition. As the duty cycle increased, the grain size of HfN increased. Additionally, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis illustrated the presence of HfOxNy on the deposited HfN surface. Both behaviors could result in a better pH sensing performance based on the theory of the site-binding model. Subsequently, HfN with a 15% duty cycle exhibited excellent pH sensitivity and linearity, with values of 59.3 mV/pH and 99.8%, respectively; its hysteresis width and drift coefficient were -1 mV and 0.5 mV/h, respectively. Furthermore, this pH-sensing performance remained stable even after 2000 repeated bending cycles. These results indicate the potential and feasibility of this HiPIMS-deposited HfN for future wearable chemical applications.

Simple and low-cost microscopy setup for 3D particle field measurement using incoherent illumination and open-source hardware.

The quantification of 3D particle field is of interest for a vast range of fields. While in-line particle holography (PH) can provide high-resolution measurements of particles, it suffers from speckle noise. Plenoptic imaging (PI) is less susceptible to speckle noises, but it involves a trade-off between spatial and angular resolution, rendering images with low resolution. Here, we report a simple microscopy setup with the goals of getting the strengths of both techniques. It is built with off-the-shelf and cost-effective components including a photographic lens, a diaphragm, and a CCD camera. The cost of the microscopy setup is affordable to small labs and individual researchers. The pupil plane of the proposed setup can be mechanically accessible, allowing us to implement pupil plane modulation and increase the depth of field (DOF) without requiring any additional relay lenses. It also allows us to understand the working principle of pupil plane modulation clearly, benefiting microscopy education. It illuminates the sample (particles) using diffuse white light, and thus avoids the problem of speckle noise. It captures multiple perspective images via pupil plane modulation, without requiring trading off angular and spatial resolution. We validate the setup with 2D and 3D particle samples. RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS: We report a simple and cost-effective microscopy setup with the goals of getting the strengths of plenoptic imaging and in-line particle holography. It is built with off-the-shelf and cost-effective components. The cost of the microscopy setup is affordable to small labs and individual researchers. The pupil plane of the proposed setup can be mechanically accessible, allowing us to implement pupil plane modulation and increase the DOF without requiring any additional relay lenses. It also allows us to understand the working principle of pupil plane modulation clearly, benefiting microscopy education. It illuminates the sample (particles) using diffuse white light, and thus avoids the problem of speckle noise. It captures multiple perspective images via pupil plane modulation, without requiring trading off angular and spatial resolution. We validate the setup with 2D and 3D particle samples.

Hydrochars derived from real organic wastes as carbonaceous precursors of activated carbons for the removal of NO from contaminated gas streams

The improvement of air quality in densely-populated urban regions constitutes an environmental challenge of increasing concern. In this respect, the abatement of NO emissions, primarily emanating from combustion processes associated with motor-vehicles, along with industrial/domestic combustion systems, represents one of the main problems. Here, three hydrochars from diverse organic residues were used as activated carbon precursors for their evaluation in the NO removal in two potential application scenarios. Hydrochars were physically activated at 800 °C with pure-CO2 or diluted-O2. These materials were tested in a lab-scale biofilter at different conditions (NO concentration, temperature, relative humidity, NO-containing gas and carbon particle size) and in a larger-scale biofilter to evaluate the long-term NO removal capacity. Hydrochar-derived carbons present a relatively well-developed micro- and mesoporous structure, with BET areas of up to 421 m2/g, and a variety of oxygen surface functionalities (carboxylic, lactone, carbonyl and quinone groups), especially concerning CO2-activated carbons. These exhibited an excellent behaviour at low NO concentration (5 ppmv) between 25 and 75 °C with removal capacities of ≈97 % and > 82 %, respectively; and still good-performance (≈66 %) in a more concentrated gas (120 ppmv). Whilst, carbons obtained by diluted-O2 activation from the same hydrochars, evidenced a higher removal capacity loss at high NO concentration. The O2 presence in the gas stream was confirmed as a crucial factor in the NO elimination, since both co-adsorb on the carbon surface favouring NO oxidation to NO2. Besides, the humidity in the airstream diminished the NO removal capacity from 0.88 to 0.51 mgNO/gcarbon, but still remained at 0.54 mgNO/gcarbon, when the carbon (in pellet) was operated at larger-scale biofilter in 9-fold longer test under humid air. Therefore, this study highlights the potential of renewable carbons to serve as cost-effective component in urban biofilters, to mitigate NO emissions from exhaust gases in biomass boilers and urban semi-close areas.

Supplementation of date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) residue for growth and lactic acid production of probiotic bacterial Lactobacillus spp.

Date palm is an age-old cultivated plant that thrives in tropical and subtropical regions. The date palm is a bountiful source of carbohydrates, encompassing sucrose, glucose, and fructose and proteins. The date industry generates a significant volume of unused by-products. Dates offer a diverse range of by-products beyond the agri-food sector. LAB have garnered extensive utilisation across diverse food sectors, spanning meat, vegetables, beverages, dairy products, and other fermented foods. In the quest for establishing a new large-scale fermentation process for lactic acid there has been a concerted effort to utilise more cost-effective medium components. In the present work, date palm residue (DPR) derived from date palm fruit, after sugar extraction, was incorporated into MRS. The fermentation process was executed through two distinct fermentation systems. Initially, experiments were conducted in flasks. Afterward, the optimal conditions for bacterial growth were determined, and the experiment was carried out using a bioreactor. DPR supported the probiotic Lactobacillus spp. growth especially after 48 h incubation. The prebiotic effect of DPR on Lactobacillus spp. was reported. An increase in the total number of bacterial populations was observed in response to the addition the DPR until 48 h. Specifically, the supplementing DPR at a concentration of 1.5% in batch fermentation enhanced the growth and lactic acid production of Lactobacillus casei. This study suggests that DPR could potentially function as an economical prebiotic source and could be seamlessly incorporated as a functional food ingredient, thereby transforming a waste product into an economically sustainable food substrate.

The restorative effects of mental imagery of nature: A study on subjective and physiological responses

Exposure to natural environments, whether real or virtual, has been demonstrated to have restorative effects. However, it is unclear whether these effects depend on the meanings and associations that individuals attribute to different environments. This study explored the restorative effects of mental imagery of nature (i.e., pure top-down processing) following cognitive stress induction. Fifty students participated in a within-subject study where they imagined the contents of nature and urban words for 5 min each. Self-rated measures indicated a stronger sense of subjective restoration following nature imagery compared to urban imagery. The heart rate was slower, and heart rate variability was larger during nature imagery than during urban imagery, suggesting a greater degree of relaxation with nature imagery. Both tonic and phasic electrodermal activity was stronger during the mental imagery of nature than urban contents. This difference was driven by a higher preference for nature over urban words, indicating that imagery of nature was associated with stronger positive arousal than urban imagery. Notably, participants’ reported connection to nature moderated some of the physiological responses. In conclusion, top-down processes and individual meanings and associations play a significant role in the positive effects of nature exposure. The results also indirectly support the inclusion of nature imagery as a cost-effective component of therapeutic techniques aimed at promoting relaxation.

FeCl3-modified carbon as an electrode material for supercapacitors: preparation, analysis, and electrochemical properties

The necessity to combat the effects of global warming has made the use of renewable energy sources essential. Much attention has been focused on utilizing various types of biomass that can provide high energy productivity and serve as an alternative to traditional fossil fuels. This study specifically aims to investigate the electrochemical properties of carbon materials obtained from plant-based raw materials after biofuel production by the carbonization of melon and citrus peels at 300 °C and chemical activation using FeCl3. It is established that chemical activation with FeCl3 at 700 °C has led to dehydration, degradation of the carbon matrix, and the development of a microporous surface. For a two-electrode electrochemical cell, the specific capacitance values at a discharge current of 50 mA are 196 F/g in an aqueous KOH solution and 78 F/g in TEABF4. Based on the impedance spectroscopy results, an equivalent electrical circuit has been modeled, revealing the energy storage mechanism at the carbon electrode-electrolyte interface, with a physical interpretation of each circuit element provided. Most importantly, the device remains stable with no capacitance loss after 1000 cycles. The research findings may contribute to expanding the use of biomass as a cost-effective electrode component for supercapacitors.

Low-temperature creep performance of additive manufactured Ti–6Al–4V

Abstract Additive manufacturing enables the fabrication of versatile and cost-effective metallic-alloy components from a digital data model. This study explores the prospects of selective laser melting (SLM), an additive manufacturing technique, for fabricating Ti6Al4V alloy components from Ti6Al4V alloy powders. Selective laser melting parameters, such as laser power, scanning speed, powder thickness, hatching space, and scanning strategy, are carefully selected through a series of experiments. The metallurgical characteristics (microstructure, grain orientation, and phase composition), microhardness, and creep performance of the as-fabricated specimens are tested and analyzed. The kinetics of phase transformation and rupture mechanism are determined using advanced instrumental characterization tools, such as field emission scanning electron microscope, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscope, X-ray diffractometer, and transmission electron microscope.

Shuttle-free zinc–iodine batteries enabled by a cobalt single atom anchored on N-doped porous carbon host with ultra-high specific surface area

Aqueous zinc‑iodine batteries are favorable solutions for grid-level energy storage owing to their cost-effective components and intrinsic safety. Nevertheless, the sluggish conversion kinetics and polyiodide shuttle effect have significantly hindered their practical applications. Herein, a Co single atom anchored on N-doped porous carbon nanosheets (Co-SAs@NPC) was produced through an efficient molten-salt engaged pyrolysis process and further utilized as the iodine host for aqueous zinc-iodine batteries. The large specific surface area (1741 m2 g−1) combined with abundant heteroatom-containing functional groups can afford a tight physical and chemical confinement towards iodine species. Meanwhile, the presence of Co single atoms exhibits high electrocatalytic activity towards I2 reduction reactions. According to the experimental results and DFT theoretical calculations, the resulting Co-SAs@NPC can simultaneously offer generous electrochemical active sites and electrocatalytic activity, which displays a high adsorption ability towards iodide species and boost the reversible redox reactions between iodine and iodides. Consequently, the as-assembled zinc-iodine batteries with Co-SAs@NPC/I2 cathodes can deliver a high specific capacity (295 mA h g−1 at 0.3 A g−1), good rate performance (199 mAh g−1 at 20 A g−1), and long cyclic stability over 10,000 cycles. Additionally, the absence of polyiodide shuttle was analyzed by a series of ex-situ spectrum analyses.

A Cost-Effective Integrated Methodology for Electromagnetic Actuation via Visual Feedback.

Electromagnetic actuation can support many fields of technology, such as robotics or biomedical applications. In this context, fully understanding the system behavior and proposing a low-cost package for feedback control is challenging. Modeling the electromagnetic force is particularly tricky because it is a nonlinear function of the actuated object's position and coil's current. Measuring in real time the position of the actuated object with the precision required for accurate motion control is also nontrivial. In this study, we propose a novel, cost-effective electromagnetic set-up to achieve position control via visual feedback. We actuated vertically and under different experimental conditions a 10 mm diameter steel ball hanging on a low-stiffness spring, demonstrating good tracking performance (the position error remained within ±0.5 mm, with a negligible phase delay in the best scenarios). The experimental results confirm the feasibility of the proposed set-up, which is characterized by minimum complexity and realized with off-the-shelf and cost-effective components. For these reasons, such a contribution helps to understand and apply electromagnetic actuation even further.