Energy Dispersion Research Articles

Modulation of the morphological and optical properties of CVD grown non-Stochiometric [formula omitted] nanostructures by various substrate angles

Gallium oxide (Ga2O3) nanostructures (NSs) were synthesized via atmospheric pressure chemical vapor deposition (APCVD) technique assisted by hydrogen. The geometrical orientation in terms of the substrate angle was studied to investigate its influence on the morphological, compositional and optical properties of the material. The results revealed that the geometry, stoichiometry and optical parameters of Ga2O3 could be tuned by substrate angle variations during deposition. Tilting the substrate was found to enhance the step coverage of the substrate and the Ga/O atomic ratio above the stoichiometric value. Bandgap of the films was observed to vary inversely (ranged between 4.590 and 4.664eV) to the Ga/O atomic ratio. The refractive index at wavelength of 632.8 nm, dispersion and single oscillator energy of the prepared films were also evaluated, and were found to be in the range of 2.129–3.265, 20.952–56.520eV and 5.309–6.387eV, respectively, with the increase of substrate angle.

Enhanced mechanical, tribological and corrosion properties of graphite and carbon nanotube-reinforced copper-based hybrid composites

Copper (Cu)-based hybrid composites were fabricated by powder metallurgy, incorporating Graphite (Gr) and Carbon nanotube (CNT) reinforcements at various fractions. The composites were formed using a cold pressing technique and subsequently sintered at various temperatures. The structural properties of the hybrid composites were evaluated using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Energy Dispersion Spectrum (EDX) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Hardness, compression, wear and corrosion tests were performed to show the effect of the reinforcements. It was shown that the hardness of Gr and CNT reinforcements have significantly improved the properties of pure Cu. The Cu-Gr-2CNT hybrid composite, which was subjected to sintering at a temperature of 850°C, exhibited the highest level of hardness, showing a significant increase of 51.4% in comparison to the pure Cu sample. While the compressive stresses increased in the Cu matrix with the addition of Cu-Gr, it increased to 350 MPa with the addition of 2 wt% CNT. The hardness value exhibited a similar increase and was measured to be 122 HV in Cu-Gr-2CNT. During the wear tests, the coefficient of friction values fell by 9.2% for Cu-2CNT, by 3.88% for Cu-CNT, by 3.92% for Cu-Gr-2CNT, and by 5.27% for Cu-Gr-CNT, as compared to pure Cu. The comprehensive findings demonstrated that the tests and analyses yielded consistent results, and the utilization of various combinations of Gr and CNT reinforcements enhanced the mechanical, tribological, and corrosion resistance properties of the fabricated hybrid composites. Nevertheless, the combination of Cu-Gr-2CNT yielded the most advantageous outcomes.

Flotation Tailings from Cu-Au Mining (Bor, Serbia) as a Potential Secondary Raw Material for Valuable Metals Recovery

The increased exploitation of ores leads to the generation of mining waste, which has a negative impact on the environment and human health. For this reason, it is necessary to take care of it in an adequate way by applying some of the possible treatments. In addition to protecting the environment by applying appropriate treatment, there is also the possibility of making a profit by valorizing useful elements from mining waste. In order to choose the most adequate treatment, it is necessary to perform the characterization of mining waste. This paper contains a detailed characterization of the flotation tailings deposited at the Old Flotation Tailings in eastern Serbia, originating from copper ore processing. Characterization includes physico-chemical analysis, polarizing microscope analysis, X-ray Diffraction analysis (XRD) and Scanning Electron Microscopy with Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (SEM-EDS) analysis analysis. The obtained results indicate that the investigated flotation tailings can be used as a secondary raw material for metal recovery, in this case primarily copper (whose content is about 0.24%), gold (with a content of about 0.43 ppm) and silver (with a content of about 1.7 ppm). Considering that the content of valuable elements is quite low, it is suggested to apply hydrometallurgical treatment for their recovery.

Impacts of Curing-Induced Phase Segregation in Silicon Nanoparticle-Based Electrodes

We report the investigation of silicon nanoparticle composite anodes for Li-ion batteries, using a combination of two nm-scale atomic force microscopy-based techniques: scanning spreading resistance microscopy for electrical conduction mapping and contact resonance and force volume for elastic modulus mapping, along with scanning electron microscopy-based energy dispersion spectroscopy, nanoindentation, and electrochemical analysis. Thermally curing the composite anode—made of polyethylene oxide-treated Si nanoparticles, carbon black, and polyimide binder—reportedly improves the anode electrochemical performance significantly. This work demonstrates phase segregation resulting from thermal curing, where alternating bands of carbon and silicon active material are observed. This electrode morphology is retained after extensive cycling, where the electrical conduction of the carbon-rich bands remains relatively unchanged, but the mechanical modulus of the bands decreases distinctly. These electrical and mechanical factors may contribute to performance improvement, with carbon bands serving as a mechanical buffer for Si deformation and providing electrical conduction pathways. This work motivates future efforts to engineer similar morphologies for mitigating capacity loss in silicon electrodes.

Optical, AC conductivity and antibacterial activity enhancement of chitosan-silver nanocomposites for optoelectronic and biomedical applications

This study is aimed to prepare and investigate the optical, electrical and antibacterial activity of the environmentally friendly (green) chitosan (Cs)/silver nanocomposites. TEM demonstrated that AgNPs have a spherical shape with particle size ranged from 3 nm to 25 nm. UV analysis spectra of Cs and Cs/Ag nanocomposites showed that, increasing the content of AgNPs led to a noticeable increase in the values of Urbach energy (E U ) and a dramatic decrease in both the indirect (E ig ) and direct (E dg ) optical bandgap energies. It is found that (E ig ) and (E dg ) are decreased from (4.72/5.31 eV) to (2.47/4.19 eV). The formation of the AgNPs is verified by the existence of surface plasmon resonance (SPR) peak at ∼ (421–450) nm. Wemple-DiDomenico and Sellmeier oscillator models are employed and displayed a clear enrichment in the dispersion energy (E d ) and oscillator energy (E 0) as well as the linear and nonlinear optical parameters of Cs. It is observed that the linear (χ(1)) and nonlinear (χ(3) and n2) parameters are enhanced from 0.083, 0.868 × 10−14 and 1.584 × 10−12 to 0.153, 9.762 × 10−14 and 4.088 × 10−12. The novel results in our study nominate Cs/Ag nanocomposites for applications in linear/nonlinear optical devices. AC conductivity behavior of Cs and Cs/Ag nanocomposites is analyzed based on Jonscher’s law and the analysis showed that the overlapping large polaron tunneling (OLPT) is the dominant conduction mechanism for our samples. It is clear that the values of dielectric constant (ε′) of Cs and Cs/Ag nanocomposites are higher confirming the presence of interface polarization (IP) relaxation. Moreover, it is found that the antibacterial activity of Cs against Gram-negative (P. aeruginosa) and Gram-positive (B. thuringiensis) bacteria is found to be enhanced with increasing the content of Ag NPs. These results suggested that Cs/Ag nanocomposites will be good source for preparing bio-nanocomposites for use in many biomedical and industrial applications.

Adapting high-speed indentation mapping for investigating microstructure-property correlations in chromium carbide-nickel alloy coatings: Challenges and solutions

This study investigates the microstructural and mechanical characteristics of chromium carbide‑nickel rich alloy coatings produced through laser cladding, detonation spraying, and plasma spraying techniques. While all three processing techniques used the same feedstock powder, each method yields coatings with unique microstructures encompassing varying compositions and length scales. Employing Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FE-SEM) in combination with Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS) and nanoindentation mapping, local microstructure and mechanical properties were assessed at the micrometre length scale. Laser-clad coatings exhibit a typical metal matrix composite microstructure with high carbide content, distinct (MoNb)C2 phases, and Fe in the metallic matrix, while the thermal sprayed coatings showed carbides of varying sizes and metallic matrix with varying degrees of chromium dissolved in it. The instrumented indentation technique helped precisely record the microstructural features in all the coatings. Chromium carbide consistently emerges as the hardest phase across all coatings, with variations in metallic matrix hardness. Higher matrix hardness in thermal sprayed coatings correlates with increased Cr content, attributed to extended solid solubility of Cr and the presence of Mo and Nb. Energy dispersive spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy provided clearer insight into the microstructure. This study highlights a direct one-to-one correlation between microstructure and mechanical properties mapped using instrumented indentation techniques in chromium carbide‑nickel rich coatings across different deposition methods.

Enhanced morphological and thermal properties of epoxy composites reinforced with Palm and Prosopis Juliflora fibers

Abstract This study investigates the fabrication and characterization of a hybrid epoxy matrix composite reinforced with Palm and Prosopis Juliflora fibers fabricated using the hand layup technique. Three composite samples were prepared with varying weight percentages of palm and Prosopis Juliflora fiber reinforcements: 5% (Sample A), 10% (Sample B), and 15% (Sample C). Sample B having 10 weight percentage each of Palm fiber and Prosopis Juliflora fiber and 80 weight percentage of Epoxy matrix, exhibited superior performance with a tensile strength of 45.5 MPa and a hardness of 86.5 Shore D. Thermal analysis revealed Sample B’s exceptional thermal stability, with distinct decomposition stages observed through Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA) and Differential Thermal Analysis (DTA). Void content analysis indicated Sample C had the lowest void content at 4.5%. Energy Dispersive x-ray (EDX) Analysis confirmed homogeneous fiber distribution and strong fiber-matrix adhesion, supported by carbon and oxygen peaks. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) spectra showed interactions between functional groups, including alcohols, carboxylic acids, and carbonyl compounds. These findings underscore the composite’s potential for high strength, toughness, and thermal stability applications.

Characterisation and biological activities of synthesised copper oxide nanoparticles from the Pimpinella anisum L. aqueous extract

AbstractNanoparticles can be synthesised by several methods. Due to the long duration, high cost, and toxic by-products of chemical and physical methods, the biological method has become more preferred. Among various sources such as bacteria, fungi, or yeast, the use of plants in biological synthesis has proven to be the most ideal. Many metals can be used in the biological method, including copper oxide (CuO). In this study, copper oxide nanoparticles (CuONPs) were synthesised using Pimpinella anisum L. aqueous extract. For characterisation of the CuONPs, UV–Visible Spectroscopy (UV–Vis), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Energy Dispersion Spectroscopy (EDS), and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR) analyses were performed. The biological activity of the P. anisum extract and CuONPs was determined using DNA cleavage (agarose gel electrophoresis), antioxidant (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging activity and hydrogen peroxide scavenging activity), mutagenic (Ames/Salmonella test), and catalytic (methylene blue degradation) activities. In DNA cleavage activity test, CuONPs completely denatured DNA at high concentrations (100 and 200 μg mL−1) due to their oxidative activity. The results showed that both the extract and CuONPs have antioxidant properties in DPPH and hydrogen peroxide scavenging activities. According to the mutagenicity, CuONPs did not have a mutagenic effect. In catalytic activity, CuONPs degraded methylene blue within 240 min by 99.45%.

The impact of pulsed Nd:YAG laser on the surface of n-Si and photo-electrical performance of silicon solar cells

Texturizing the surface of a silicon solar cell enhances performance by reducing reflection losses. Pyramidal texturization via wet chemical etching is standard in manufacturing, while plasma etching is often used for vertical hole texturization. Laser texturization offers a chemical-free, user-friendly alternative to plasma etching. Infrared (IR) transmission studies indicate that laser-textured samples transmit more IR light through n-Si than normally textured samples, suggesting that vertical grooves from laser texturization allow deeper light penetration. Analyses using cross-sectional Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM), Energy Dispersion x-ray (EDX), and Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS) demonstrate the effects of laser texturization on the front surface of textured n-Si wafers. However, silicon solar cells with laser-textured surfaces demonstrated lower conversion efficiencies (1.20% to 4.30%) compared to conventionally textured cells (14.30%). The short-circuit current density (JSC) was also lower in laser-textured cells, below 17 mA cm−2, compared to 34.44 mA cm−2 in normally textured cells. At the same time, higher laser power (114 W) during texturization also led to the lowest JSC and open-circuit voltage (VOC), indicating that laser texturization may introduce defects and dislocations that degrade Si properties.

Crystal structures, NCI-RDG, Hirshfeld surface and energy framework analysis of tetra aryl substitute bispidine and oxaquinuclidine core containing derivatives: A potential COVID-19 drug candidate

Two of the title compounds are crystallized in P21/c and monoclinic face groups. Each crystal unit cell has four molecules. There are two piperidine rings: one in the chair conformation and another one in the boat conformation. The piperidine nitrogen in the boat conformation is joined to the oxygen-containing chair conformation piperidine ring to produce the oxaquinuclidine ring (-N-CH2O-). Furthermore, because of the steric barrier between rings, all aryl groups are oriented in an equatorial position. The crystal network is maintained through several interactions, including C—H⋯O/N/Cl/π. The crystal void and interaction energy studies gave additional evidence of the strength of the crystal packing and intermolecular linkage. Crystal 3b has less cavity than crystal 3c, indicating that it is densely packed. The dispersion energy contribution dominates the stability, according to the analysis of the electrostatic, dispersion, and total energy frameworks. Reduced density gradient (RDG), electron localization function (ELF), and localized orbital locator (LOL) analysis were used to determine the molecular interaction, electron pair density, and maximally localized orbitals overlapping sites, respectively. This approach reveals that oxaquinuclidine ring steric hindrance and the electron densities throughout the molecules. Density function theory (DFT) provides more evidence for the ring's orientation and the molecules' reactivity. A molecular docking investigation of four essential COVID-19 proteins was carried out using these theoretical ideas. This investigation demonstrates that each protein's reactivity varies; certain proteins have more interaction with high electron density molecules (electron-donating substituent), while others have more interaction with low electron density molecules (electron-withdrawing substituent). The ADMET and drug-likeness investigations reveal that methoxy group substituted molecules perfectly correlate with the required pharmacological characteristics. The cytotoxicity of the five compounds was assessed using the HEK293T cell.

Influence of chromium concentration on the structural, optical, magnetical, and thermal properties of ZnS nanocrystals

Pure ZnS and Zn1-xCrxS nanoparticles were successfully prepared using the coprecipitation method, where x represents the concentration (x = 0.00, 0.10, and 0.05). There are many analytical methods used, such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and Spectroscopy of energy dispersive (EDS). The magnetism structure of the catalysts was investigated using spectrophotometry (VSM), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and differential thermal analysis (DTA). X-ray diffraction studies determine the nanocrystal arrangement and size of microcrystals. As seen in SEM analysis, the particles are agglomerated. The coordination of sulfur ions around zinc ions was examined using FTIR analysis. The energy band gap of the Cr-doped sample increases. Photoluminescence spectroscopy showed that the violet emission around 424 nm could be attributed to the excitation process of electrons from the low energy of the conduction band to the valence band of sulfur intermediate atoms. The front amplitude of doped ZnS nanocrystals remains constant regardless of the amount of Cr present. The results show that the ZnS nanocrystals were replaced by dilute Cr3+ ions. Cr-doped ZnS exhibits diamagnetic properties under hightemperature conditions. The results show that these materials are improved by the Cr doping process, making them suitable for many applications.

Exploring the structural, electronic, mechanical, magnetic and optical properties of Cs-based hydride-perovskites CsXH3 (X = Cr, Mn) for hydrogen storage application

Low cast hydride-perovskites are more efficient in power conversion and for energy storage. Here in, structural investigation, electronic, mechanical and optical properties of hydrogen based CsXH3 (X = Cr, Mn) compounds using the density functional theory. The result shows that both materials crystallize into cubic structure. The thermodynamic and dynamic stabilities are conformed through formation energy and phonon dispersion curve. The optimized lattice constants are 3.52 Å and 3.54 Å for CsCrH3 and CsMnH3 respectively. Both materials are found to be half metallic in nature. IR-Elast package are used to obtain elastic constants. The elastic study presents that both materials are ductile and have anisotropic nature. The optical parameters are studied in the range of 0–10 eV. The optical results show that both materials have an excellent optical absorption. The values obtained of gravimetric hydrogen storage capacity for these compounds are 1.55 % and 1.58 % for CsMnH3 and CsCrH3 respectively indicating that these materials can be an excellent candidate for hydrogen energy storage.

The “SEP Clock”: A Discussion of First Proton Arrival Times in Wide-Spread Solar Energetic Particle Events

This work analyzes the appearance of wide-spread deka-MeV solar energetic proton (SEP) events, in particular the arrival of the first protons within ≈ 4.5 – 45 MeV measured at Earth–Sun L1, and their relationship with their relative solar source longitude. The definition of “wide-spread SEP event” for this study refers to events that are observed as a 25 MeV proton intensity increase at near 1 AU locations that are separated by at least 130∘ in solar longitude. Many of these events are seen at all three of the spacecraft, STEREO (Solar-Terrestrial Relations Observatory) A, STEREO B, and SOHO (Solar and Heliospheric Observatory), and may therefore extend far beyond 130∘ in longitude around the Sun. A large subset of these events have already been part of a study by Richardson et al. (Solar Phys., 289, 3059, 2014). The event source region identifications draw from this study; more recent events have also been added. Our focus is on answering two specific questions: (1) What is the maximum longitude over which SEP protons show energy dispersion, i.e., a clear sign of arrival of higher-energy protons before those of lower energy? (2) What implications can be drawn from the ensemble of events observed regarding either direct magnetic connectivity to shocks and/or cross-field transport from the site of the eruption in the onset phase of the event?

Influence of HSS drill coatings on surface finish and cylindricity of AA6061/C/ZrO2 composite in CNC drilling operations under dry conditions

Abstract This study aims to evaluate the effect of HSS drill tool coatings, namely single-layer TiN, single-layer AlCrN, and double-layer AlTiN + TiSiXN (Durana), on the surface roughness and cylindricity of AA6061 (90 wt%)/C (5 wt%)/ZrO2 (5 wt%) hybrid composite material processed by the stir casting method. The fabricated sample was examined for the uniform particle distribution of reinforcements using Scanning Electron Microscope. The drilling operation was carried out on the fabricated in a CNC machining center by setting the spindle speeds of 800, 1200, and 1600 rpm, depths of cut of 0.5, 1, and 1.5 mm, and feeds of 50, 100, and 150 mm/rev. An orthogonal array (L27) designed by Taguchi’s method was used as the design of the experiment for the optimization of the best cutting parameters and coating. Surface roughness and cylindricity errors were determined for the 27 experimental runs. Field emission scanning electron microscopic (FESEM) examination and Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS) were used to analyze the surface integrity and elemental composition, respectively. The results revealed that Durana had a significant effect on the surface substrate with minimum surface roughness (Ra) of 1.666 μm and obtained the minimum cylindricity error for the parameters of depth of cut 0.5 mm, spindle speed of 1200 and feed of 100 mm rev−1.

Application of the luminous bacterium Photobacterium phosphoreum for toxicity monitoring of selenite and its reduction to selenium(0) nanoparticles

Luminous marine bacteria are traditionally used as a bioassay due to the convenience and high rate of registering the intensity of their physiological function – luminescence. This study aimed to develop the application of Photobacterium phosphoreum in traditional and novel fields – toxicity monitoring and biotechnology. We demonstrated (1) effects of selenite ions on bioluminescence, and (2) biotransformation of selenite to selenium(0) in the form of nanoparticles. The effects of selenite (SeO32−) on the intensity of bacterial bioluminescence were studied, and its dependencies on exposure time and concentration of Na2SeO3 were analyzed. Bioluminescence activation and inhibition were revealed; dose–effect dependencies corresponded to the hormesis model. The toxicity of SeO32− was characterized by an effective concentration of 10−3 M. Effects of SeO32− on reactive oxygen species (ROS) in bacterial suspensions were studied. High positive correlations were found between the bioluminescence intensity and ROS content, which indicates the decisive role of ROS and associated redox processes in the bioeffects of selenite ions. Scanning and transmission electron microscopy revealed the presence of nano-structures in the bacteria exposed to selenite. The energy dispersion spectrum detected a high content of selenium in the nanoparticles. The particle size distribution depended on Na2SeO3 concentration; maxima of the distribution varied within 45–55 nm.

Exploring the Multifunctional aspects of SrBi2-X(CoFe2O4)XNb2O9 Nanocomposite Materials Emphasizing the Structural, Elastic, and Optical Properties

Nanocomposites of SrBi(2-X)(CF)XNb2O9 (SBNCF) (CF=CoFe2O4 for X = 0.0 to 0.5 with a step increment of 0.1) were synthesized using the hydrothermal method and characterized for their structural, morphological, elastic, and optical properties. The incorporation of CF into SrBi2Nb2O9 (SBN) resulted in hybrid composites with tailored properties. X-ray Diffraction (XRD) with Rietveld refinement analysis confirmed the formation of orthorhombic SBN and spinel CF phases. Field Emission Gun Scanning Electron Microscopy (FEG-SEM) revealed that SBN exhibits a plate-like morphology, with the incorporation of CF into the SBN matrix resulting in both plate-like and octahedral-shaped grains. The Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) method was used to determine the pore radius and surface area, both of which were found to have increased, indicating an enhancement in photocatalytic performance. The presence of the constituent elements in the prepared compositions was confirmed by Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS). Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) spectra were used to determine elastic properties, suggesting potential applications in electronic noise filtering. From Diffuse Reflectance Spectroscopy (DRS), a recognizable semiconducting behavior and band gap bowing were noticed in SBNCF nanocomposites on the obtained energy band gap values (2.20 eV - 1.56 eV) compared to the SBN host matrix (3.16 eV). The materials exhibited strong emission peaks at 470 nm, 528 nm, 584 nm, and 703 nm upon the excitation of 425 nm light using Photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy. The white emission was predominant at room temperature in all the produced samples and the corresponding color temperature values range from 5865.93 K to 7599.05 K from the CIE diagram. The SBNCF materials are promising candidates in photocatalytic reactions and white light-emitting diodes (w-LEDs) based on their enhanced optical properties.

Failure Analysis of Bypass Rupture of Flowmeter in Steam Pipeline

Abstract A petrochemical company’s pipeline ruptured in the flowmeter bypass of the main steam pipeline during a steam blowdown before commissioning, resulting in material failure and inoperability. The cause of the pipe rupture needed to be detected experimentally. To study the failure in the steam pipeline of a flowmeter of bypass rupture, visual inspection, mechanical properties testing, chemical composition analysis, X-ray diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS) and Mechanical property. The experiments confirmed the reason for the bypass rupture of the 15CrMoG steam pipeline: improper heat treatment transforms the material’s structure, and the pearlite spheroidization (PC) leads to the deterioration of the material’s mechanical properties. The main manifestations are as follows: the grains in the superheated zone of the welding exhibit a coarse morphology, and a distinctive superheated Widmanstatten structure is formed due to rapid cooling, resulting in a significant reduction in material plasticity and impact toughness. High-temperature oxidation occurs, accompanied by localized enrichment of Cr-element in certain areas, while other regions experience Cr depletion, resulting in the deterioration of material properties.

Effect of Electromagnetic Field Assistance on the Wear and Corrosion Resistance of Nickel-Based Coating by Laser Cladding

Offshore wind turbine generators usually demand higher requirements for key component materials because of the adverse working environment. Therefore, in this study, electromagnetic-assisted laser cladding technology was introduced to prepare the nickel-based composite coating on the Q345R matrix of wind turbine generator key component material. By means of Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Energy Dispersive Spectrometer (EDS), the Vickers hardness tester, friction and wear tester, and electrochemical workstation, the effects of different magnetic field intensities on the macroscopic morphology, microstructure, phase composition, microhardness, wear resistance, and corrosion resistance of the coating were analyzed. The experimental results show that the addition of a magnetic field can effectively reduce the surface defects, improve the surface morphology, and not change the phase composition of the coating. With the increase in magnetic field intensity, the microstructure is gradually refined, and the average microhardness increases gradually, reaching a maximum of 944HV0.5 at 8 T. The wear resistance gradually increases with the increase in magnetic field intensity, especially when the magnetic field intensity reaches 12 T, the wear rate of the coating is reduced by 81.13%, and the corrosion current density is reduced by 43.7% compared with the coating without a magnetic field. The addition of an electromagnetic field can enhance the wear resistance and corrosion resistance of the nickel-based laser cladding layer.

Eco-Friendly Electrochemical Sensor for Accurate Soil Nitrate Detection using ZnOx/PANI Nanocomposite on Nickel Foam Electrode

This study presents an innovative approach to enhancing nitrate detection in soil, a critical macronutrient for agriculture. We developed a novel electrochemical sensor using a nanocomposite of Zinc Oxide (ZnOx) and Polyaniline (PANI) on a Nickel foam electrode. The nanocomposite was synthesized through cyclic voltammetry and characterized using Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM), Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS), and X-ray Diffraction (XRD) to analyze its morphological, elemental, and crystalline properties. The sensor's performance was evaluated using square wave voltammetry, revealing a direct linear relationship between the peak current and nitrate concentration. The sensor demonstrated high sensitivity (4.53 µA/µM) and a low detection limit (0.40 µM), confirming its potential for precise and sensitive nitrate analysis in soil samples.

Unravelling the importance of hydrogen bonds and dihydrogen interactions in the supramolecular assembly of a caryolan-1-ol derivative: an experimental and theoretical investigation

We report here the synthesis of a caryolan-1-ol derivative, namely [(1R, 2S, 5R, 8S)-1-hydroxy-4,4,8-trimethyltricyclo[6.3.1.02,5]dodecan-6-one] (3), characterized by structural single-crystal X-ray diffraction, FTIR and 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopies. The crystal structure reveals weak noncovalent interactions along with O-H···O hydrogen bonding interactions that forms 1D network architectures. Hirshfeld surfaces and their two-dimensional fingerprint plots allow us to visualize the intermolecular contacts and their relative contributions to the total Hirshfeld surface for the compound. A comparative analysis against related compounds was carried out. The interaction energies for the molecular pair involving O-H···O hydrogen bonds indicated a dominant contribution to packing stabilization coming from the Coulombic components. Energy framework calculations afforded to analyse and visualize the topology of the intermolecular interactions responsible for the crystal packing, showing that dispersion energy prevail over the electrostatic one in the structure of 3. Theoretical calculations have been performed to analyse the unconventional noncovalent interactions observed in the solid-state structure of 3 using the quantum theory of atoms in molecules (QTAIM), noncovalent interactions plot (NCIplot) and natural bond orbital (NBO) computational tools.