Fast Preparation Research Articles

Ternary Liquid Metal Polymer Composite for Stretchable Electronics

AbstractThe small strain characteristics of the traditional flexible conductive composites hinder their realization of skin‐like properties and multi‐scenario applications. The value of liquid metal (LM)‐based elastomers is demonstrated in flexible electronics. Attempts in this area include the development of multifunctional LM‐based elastomers with controllable morphology, superior mechanical performances, and excellent stability. In this work, an efficient strategy is proposed to achieve the fast preparation of the LM patch by uniformly distributing eutectic gallium–indium–tin alloy in deionized water and by constructing the LM‐iron particles‐Ecoflex (LMIE) ternary composite system. In this study, the fabricated LMIE large strain sensor exhibits high sensitivity (the gage factor (GF) = 0.98 when strain ranges from 0% to 60%; GF = 1.91 when strain ranges from 60% to 100%), high linearity (correlation coefficient (R2) = 0.96 when strain ranges from 0% to 60%; R2 = 0.99 when strain ranges from 60% to 100%), a wide strain range of detection (e.g., 1%–100%) and breaking elongation (e.g., 450%), a fast response time (80 ms), excellent repeatability and stability. This work exhibits the excellent potential of multifunctional liquid metal composites in wearable electronics and prediction devices of structural collapse.

Fabric electromagnetic actuators

Soft electromagnetic actuators have important applications in fields, such as soft robots, human–machine interaction, and biomedicine, owing to their fast response speed, high driving efficiency, and large driving force. However, there are persistent challenges in the development of high-performance soft electromagnetic actuators that are light, thin, low-cost, controllable, and efficient. In this study, we propose a fabric electromagnetic actuator (FEMA) based on copper-mesh hot-pressing technology, which exhibits the advantages of simple processing, fast preparation speed, low cost, thinness and flexibility, and strong reliability and repeatability. This process is suitable for the preparation of electromagnetic actuators for various fabrics, such as cotton, nylon, terylene, and silk. Furthermore, the static and dynamic control characteristics of one and two actuators were tested and analyzed. The FEMA exhibits excellent flexibility, shape controllability, and high-speed driving ability. The results of the correlation analysis provide theoretical support for the controlling of FEMAs. Finally, we developed a 3 × 1 array actuator and 2 × 2 array actuators based on a modular combination of FEMA units and achieved multi-mode motion control. Furthermore, a large-area FEMA was developed, demonstrating excellent shape adaptability and gripping ability. Our findings have significant implications for the advancement of lightweight electromagnetic actuators, and further studies on design concepts and multi-mode control could unveil even more potential applications.

Third-order nonlinear optical treatment of (Ni and Fe)-doped zeolitic imidazolate framework-67: Synthesize and characterization

A simple chemical reaction was applied for fast preparation of pure zeolitic imidazolate framework-67 (ZIF-67) and doped with Ni or Fe ions. The distinctive bands appeared in FT-IR spectrum of each samples confirmed the successful synthesis of ZIF-67 samples. The surface morphology and microstructure of prepared pure ZIF-67 were evaluated by TEM and SEM techniques. A rhombic dodecahedron skeleton with smooth surface was shown for the ZIF-67. The SEM images of ZIF-67 doped with Ni or Fe indicated a polyhedral shaped nanostructures smaller than 300 nm. Considering the XRD pattern, the crystallinity index of samples was calculated. The large optical nonlinearities of Ni, and Fe doping ZIF-67 were characterized using a 532 nm wavelength laser source. All synthesized samples showed the nonlinear refractive index and the nonlinear absorption coefficient in the order of 10−8 cm2/W and 10−5 cm/W, respectively. The crystallinity index and polarizability of (Ni, Fe)-ZIF-67 were increased in comparison with ZIF-67. The bigger ionic radius causes to have more electrons and raises polarization. The large two-photon absorption (TPA) and self-defocusing effect of Fe-ZIF-67 made it suitable for related applications in optical limiting devices.

Dried blood spot analysis for the quantification of vancomycin and creatinine using liquid chromatography – tandem mass spectrometry: Method development and validation

BackgroundVancomycin is a widely used antibiotic for the treatment of gram-positive bacterial infections, especially for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections. Due to a small therapeutic range and large inter-patient variability, therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) of vancomycin is required to minimize toxicity and maximize treatment efficacy. Venous blood sampling is mostly applied for TDM of vancomycin, although this widely used sampling method is more invasive compared to less painful alternatives, such as the dried blood spot (DBS) method, which can be performed at home. MethodWe developed an UPLC-MS/MS method for the quantification of vancomycin and creatinine in DBS. A fast sample preparation and short analysis run time of 5.2 min were applied, which makes this method highly suitable for clinical settings. Validation was performed according to international (FDA and EMA) guidelines. ResultsThe validated concentration range was found linear for creatinine from 41.8 µmol/L to 722 µmol/L and for vancomycin from 3.8 mg/L to 76.6 mg/L (r2 > 0.990) and the inaccuracies, imprecisions, hematocrit effects, and recoveries were < 15 % for both compounds. No significant carryover effect was observed. ConclusionHence, we successfully validated a quantification method for the simultaneous determination of creatinine and vancomycin in DBS.

A simple, low cost and fast sample preparation method for fluorine determination by ISE in leguminous seeds and oilseeds.

This work presents the first report of the application of microwave-induced combustion in disposable vessels (MIC-DV) as a simple and fast sample preparation step for fluoride determination by ion-selective electrode (ISE) in leguminous seeds and oilseeds samples. Several experimental conditions of MIC-DV were evaluated, such as sample mass, absorbing solution, volume of combustion igniter, purging time with oxygen, and the use of successive combustion cycles. The accuracy of MIC-DV/ISE method was evaluated by comparing the results obtained by microwave-induced combustion and determination by ion chromatography, with agreements ranged from 94 to 106%. The method allowed to achieve relatively low limits of quantification (8.3 to 16µgg-1) comparing to AOAC method (40µgg-1), besides the use of small amounts of reagents, less handling of digests, making the method greener and with portable features comparing to other methods.

One-pot rapid visual detection of E. coli O157:H7 by label-free AuNP-based plasmonic-aptasensor in water sample

Access to clean water for irrigation and drinking has long been a global concern. The need for fast, precise, and cost-effective methods to detect harmful bacteria like Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) serotype O157:H7 is high due to the potential for severe infectious diseases. Fortunately, recent research has led to developing and utilizing rapid bacterial detection methods. The creation of an aptamer-based biosensor (aptasensor) for the detection of E. coli O157:H7 using label-free aptamers and gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) is described in this study. The specific aptamers that can detect target bacteria are adsorbed on the surface of unmodified AuNPs to form the aptasensor. The detection is performed by target bacterium-induced aptasensor aggregation, which is associated with a red-to-purple color change under high-salt circumstances. We devised a quick and easy method for detecting bacteria using an anti-E. coli O157:H7 aptamer without the need for specialized equipment or pretreatment processes like cell lysis. The aptasensor could identify target bacteria with only as few as 250 colony-forming units (CFU)/ml in 15 min or less, and its specificity based on our test was 100%. This method not only provides a fast direct preparation process but also exhibits remarkable proficiency in promptly identifying the intended target with a heightened level of sensitivity and specificity. Therefore, it can serve as an intelligent tool for monitoring water reservoirs and preventing the transmission of infectious diseases associated with EHEC.

Graphitic Carbon Nitride Meets Molecular Oxygen: New Sustainable Photocatalytic Ways for the Oxidation of Organic Molecules

In recent years, organic chemists have taken a resolute step toward green photocatalytic synthesis. In this regard, the oxidation of organic compounds with molecular oxygen is one of the most important classes of transformations, as it increases molecular complexity while avoiding the use of toxic and harmful oxidants. To this aim, the development of new and efficient photocatalysts capable of driving valuable oxidative reactions in a sustainable manner is highly desirable. These novel photocatalytic systems need to be metal-free, easy-to-prepare, and potentially recyclable. Carbon nitride (CN) fulfils all these requirements because of its outstanding physicochemical properties, thus emerging as a promising heterogeneous photocatalytic platform. The growing popularity of this material is also substantiated by its fast and facile preparation from readily available and inexpensive molecular precursors. This Review aims at highlighting the recent advances in synthesis of carbon nitride-based materials and their applications in organic photocatalysis for the oxidation of organic molecules in presence of molecular oxygen. Lastly, forward-looking opportunities within this intriguing research field are mentioned.

Gelatin medium for preserving of Trichinella spp. for quality control in laboratories - estimation of larvae viability.

Official food control laboratories ensure food safety using reliable, validated methods. Council Regulations (EC) No. 853/2004, 854/2004 and 882/2004 of the European Parliament established hygiene rules the production of food of animal origin, together with requirements for official controls. This leads to detailed requirements for Trichinella control set out in Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2015/1375 of 10 August 2015. These regulations require the laboratory to participate in proficiency testing (PT) to confirm their competence and improve the quality of testing, and require the PT Organizer to use methods for the preparation and preservation of parasite larvae in order to evaluate and improve detection. Traditional methods of preparing such larvae expose them to rapid degradation, making it necessary to simultaneously isolate the larvae and place them in meatballs to ensure quality. We developed a technique for preserving of Trichinella spp. for quality control such as PT sample preparation. The procedure protects larvae against toxic oxygen activity and bacterial destruction via a gelatin barrier. To estimate the viability of larvae preserved by this method, gelatin capsules with 10 larvae of T. spiralis in each were stored (4-8 °C) during 45 days of an experiment. Samples were tested at 2 day intervals (3 samples each day of testing). In total, 75 samples were tested. Larvae remained alive up to 3 weeks. The number of living larvae diminished after 27 days through day 43, after which no living larvae were observed. The gelatin medium procedure facilitated easy, high-throughput sample preparation and supported 100% recovery for 3 weeks. The method allows fast, efficient and accurate PT sample preparation.

Novel fast preparation of MoAlB phase cermet with elevated temperature oxidation resistance

Owing to the small production scale, high energy consumption and low degree of the current sintering method, the facile and fast method to prepare tailored MoAlB phase cermets is urgent. Hence, the high purity, dense and large-size MoAlB phase cermet blocks are fabricated by a novel direct current (DC) fast hot pressing (FHP) sintering technology starting from Mo/Al/B powders with a molar ratio of 1:1.3:1. The phase composition and the microstructure of MoAlB phase cermets under different sintering conditions are characterized with X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. The results indicate that the as-prepared MoAlB samples are almost single-phase. MoAlB phase cermet has good oxidation resistance, forming a thin layer with Al2O3, B2O3 and MoO3 at 1000 °C.

Fast quantum state transfer and entanglement preparation in strongly coupled bosonic systems

Abstract Continuous U(1) gauge symmetry, which guarantees the conservation of total excitations in linear bosonic systems, will be broken when it comes to the strong-coupling regime where the rotation wave approximation (RWA) fails. Here we develop analytic solutions for multi-mode bosonic systems with XX-type couplings beyond RWA, and propose a novel scheme to implement high-fidelity quantum state transfer (QST) and entanglement preparation (EP) with high speed. The scheme can be realized with designated coupling strength and pulse duration with which the excitation number keeps unchanged regardless of the breakdown of the global U(1) symmetry. In QST tasks, we consider several typical quantum states and demonstrate that this method is robust against thermal noise and imperfections of experimental sequence. In EP tasks, the scheme is successfully implemented for the preparation of Bell states and W-type states, within a shortest preparation time.

Research Progress of Selective Laser Melting Forming Medical Implants

Abstract:: Selective laser melting technology has the advantages of rapid manufacture, high precision, and the ability to produce fine structures. Medical implants made using selective laser melting technology have high precision and excellent mechanical properties that meet the needs of patients and make medical implants more promising in the medical field. This paper reviews the progress of research on selective laser melting of medical implants. This paper draws on numerous journals and patents. This paper firstly reviews the classification of medical implants, mainly including hip implants, knee implants, maxillo-craniofacial implants and spinal implants. Secondly, the common porous structure design methods, the effect of porous structure on the mechanical properties of the implant, and the effect of pore structure on the growth properties of porous titanium alloy bone are summarised. Finally, the process of manufacturing titanium alloy implants by selective laser melting technology is described. Medical implants made by selective laser melting have excellent properties and are widely used in the medical field. Compared to traditional mechanical processing methods, selective laser melting technology can better preserve the properties of the raw material, while providing higher precision and faster preparation. However, selective laser melting has a number of drawbacks, including differences in material microstructure, reduced strength and plasticity, inadequate surface treatment, and enhanced safety and reliability. Further scientific research and technological innovation are needed to solve these problems. In the future, as technology continues to innovate and develop, SLM technology will become more mature, resulting in implants that are more natural, suitable for the body and long-lasting. At the same time, as implants are personalised, there will be a huge market demand and development opportunities. In addition, the continuous improvement of regulatory policies is expected to further promote the market development and application of medical implants.

Low-cost ZIF-67-modified fabrics with effective photothermal disinfection for antimicrobial personal protective equipment production

Aerosol-based transmission contributes to infection by various pathogens. Consequently, it is urgent to design antimicrobial personal protective equipment (PPE) and address the potential biological contamination of discarded PPE. We report a novel ZIF-67-modified PP fabric for photothermal disinfection; our work provides a fast, one-step, and low-cost preparation approach for incorporating zeolitic imidazolate framework (ZIF) nanoparticles (NPs) onto polypropylene (PP) fabric. First, we prepared ZIF-67-water NPs and ZIF-67-methanol NPs using relevant solvents and characterized them by X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and field-emission scanning electron microscopy. We then used only ultrasonication to prepare ZIF-67-modified fabrics by incorporating ZIF-67 NPs onto PP fabric with a 0.5－1.5 mg/cm2 loading rate (18.5－40.5 wt%). The ZIF-67-modified fabrics were subjected to the same characterization, and then they were evaluated for photothermal performance, hydrophobicity and antimicrobial ability. The fabric of ZIF-67-water@PP-1.5 was selected to repurpose an antimicrobial mask. We demonstrated that the ZIF-67-modified fabrics have excellent photothermal performance with near-infrared (NIR) radiation and exhibit increased hydrophobicity, which is determined by the loading rate of ZIF-67 NPs. The surface temperature reached and maintained peak levels (70 °C and 90 °C) with NIR radiation, whilst the highest contact angle was over 140°. The photothermal behaviour could kill over 99.9% of gram-negative and gram-positive drug-resistant bacteria, whilst the haemolytic behaviour was less than 5%. The repurposed mask retained controllable photothermal properties. The application of these fabrics not only addresses the demand for affordable antimicrobial PPE but also contributes to reducing potential biochemical threats in discarded PPE.

Fast Preparation of W States by Designing the Evolution Operators with Rydberg Superatom

AbstractW states play an important role in quantum information processing and quantum computing. Here, it proposes a scheme for preparing W states by designing the evolution operators with Rydberg superatoms. It encodes quantum information on the effective energy level of the superatom, and construct shortcuts to adiabatic passages (STAP) by designing the evolution operators. Combined with Quantum Zeno dynamics and STAP, it can prepare three‐particle W states quickly and efficiently. In addition, the Rabi frequency in this scheme can be described as a linear superposition of Gaussian functions, which reduces the difficulty of practical experiment. The numerical simulation shows that the scheme is robust against decoherence, operational imperfection, and noise. At last, it generalizes this scheme to preparation of N‐particle W states.

Fast preparation of high-quality viral dsRNA from fungal tissue by commercial nucleic acid extraction kits

The genomes of most known mycoviruses consist of double stranded RNA (dsRNA) or single stranded RNA (ssRNA). Therefore, for all aspects of mycovirology, the research is highly dependent on the quality and quantity of RNA either by the extraction of genomic dsRNA or dsRNA as a replicating intermediate. A common procedure to extract dsRNA is its binding on a cellulose matrix after a phenol/chloroform purification step. A commercial kit for dsRNA extraction facilitated the researchers´ daily work, but is not available anymore. To extract nucleic acids in a standardized good quality and quantity from small amounts of starting material, we compared commercial kits for gDNA extraction to the kits for RNA extraction using fungal material with a high and a low virus titer. Here we show that viral dsRNA can be extracted using commercial gDNA kits from fungal tissue with a high and a low virus titer in the same quality and quantity as it was done with the discontinued dsRNA extraction kit.

High-performance thermochromic YSZ/[formula omitted]/YSZ coatings for energy-saving smart windows

The reversible semiconductor-to-metal transition of vanadium dioxide (VO2) makes VO2-based coatings a promising candidate for thermochromic smart windows, reducing the energy consumption of buildings. We report on a scalable sputter deposition technique for fast preparation of strongly thermochromic YSZ/V0.986W0.014O2/YSZ coatings, where YSZ denotes Y-stabilized ZrO2, on conventional soda-lime glass at a relatively low substrate surface temperature (350 °C) and without any substrate bias voltage. The thermochromic V0.986W0.014O2 layers and the antireflection YSZ layers were deposited using a controlled high-power impulse magnetron sputtering of a single V–W and Zr–Y target, respectively. A coating design utilizing a second-order interference in the YSZ layers was applied to increase both the integral luminous transmittance (Tlum) and the modulation of the solar energy transmittance (ΔTsol). We present the phase composition (X-ray diffraction) and microstructure (high-resolution transmission electron microscopy) of the coatings and their optical properties (spectrophotometry and spectroscopic ellipsometry). The YSZ/V0.986W0.014O2/YSZ coatings exhibit a transition temperature of 33–35 °C with Tlum = 64.5% and ΔTsol = 7.8% for a V0.986W0.014O2 thickness of 37 nm, and Tlum = 46.1% and ΔTsol = 13.2% for a V0.986W0.014O2 thickness of 67 nm. The results constitute an important step to a cost-effective and high-rate preparation of large-area thermochromic VO2-based coatings for future smart-window applications.

Enhanced thermoelectric performance of n-type PbTe through introducing PbSe by a fast preparation method

N-type PbTe-based materials exhibit promising thermoelectric performance around 600–900 K, while the near room-temperature thermoelectric performance still needs to be improved due to their high thermal conductivity. Forming solid solutions is an effective strategy to strengthen phonon scatterings and results in lower lattice thermal conductivity. However, the existing preparation methods used in PbTe-based solid solutions are time-consuming and energy-intensive, which limits their further applications. Herein, we report a fast method combined self-propagating high-temperature synthesis (SHS) with spark plasma sintering (SPS) to successfully fabricate PbTe–PbSe solid solutions. Due to the mass and strain fluctuations, a largely reduced room temperature lattice thermal conductivity of 1.27 W m−1 K−1 was achieved in (Pb0.995Bi0.005Te)0.8-(PbSe)0.2, which was 40% lower than that of pristine Pb0.995Bi0.005Te. Besides, carrier mobility increased after PbSe alloying, leading to comparable electrical performance. Consequently, a maximum average thermoelectric figure of merit ZTave reached 0.57 at 300–623 K of (Pb0.995Bi0.005Te)0.8-(PbSe)0.2 and was 21% and 24% higher than those of pristine Pb0.995Bi0.005Te and PbSe, respectively. Such a simple and effective method is expected to be further adopted in other thermoelectric solid solutions.

Evaluation of the interference of Tenax®TA adsorbent with dimethylformamide dimethyl acetal reagent for gas chromatography-Dragonfly mass spectrometry and future gas chromatography-mass spectrometry in situ analysis

Among future space missions, national aeronautics and space administration (NASA) selected two of them to analyze the diversity in organic content within Martian and Titan soil samples using a gas chromatograph – mass spectrometer (GC–MS) instrument. The Dragonfly space mission is planned to be launched in 2027 to Titan's surface and explore the Shangri-La surface region for years. One of the main goals of this mission is to understand the past and actual abundant prebiotic chemistry on Titan, which is not well characterized yet. The ExoMars space mission is planned to be launched in 2028 to Mars’ surface and explore the Oxia Planum and Mawrth Vallis region for years. The main objectives focus on the exploration of the subsurface soil samples, potentially richer in organics, that might be relevant for the search of past life traces on Mars where irradiation does not impact the matrices and organics. One recently used sample pre-treatment for gas chromatography – mass spectrometry analysis is planned on both space missions to detect refractory organic molecules of interest for astrobiology. This pre-treatment is called derivatization and uses a chemical reagent – called dimethylformamide dimethyl acetal (DMF-DMA) – to sublimate organic compounds keeping them safe from thermal degradation and conserving the chirality of the molecules extracted from Titan or Mars’ matrices. Indeed, the detection of building blocks of life or enantiomeric excess of some organics (e.g. amino acids) after DMF-DMA pre-treatment and GC–MS analyses would be both bioindicators. The main results highlighted by our work on DMF-DMA and Tenax®TA interaction and efficiency to detect organic compounds at ppb levels in a fast and single preparation are first that Tenax®TA did not show the onset of degradation until after 150 experiments – a 120 h at 300 °C experiment – which greatly exceeds the experimental lifetimes for the DraMS and GC-space in situ investigations. Tenax®TA polymer and DMF-DMA produce many by-products (about 70 and 46, respectively, depending on the activation temperature). Further, the interaction between the two leads to the production of 22 additional by-products from DMF-DMA degradation, but these listed by-products do not prevent the detection of trace-level organic molecules after their efficient derivatization and volatilization by DMF-DMA in the oven ahead the GC–MS trap and column.

High‐Speed Deposition of Large‐Area Narrow‐Bandgap Perovskite Films for All‐Perovskite Tandem Solar Mini‐Modules

AbstractDeveloping all‐perovskite tandem solar cells is an effective approach to extend the limit of power conversion efficiency. However, fast preparation of large‐area and high‐quality narrow‐bandgap Sn‐based perovskite films still remains a major challenge in fabricating all‐perovskite tandem modules. Here high‐crystalline and compact narrow‐bandgap perovskite films with an area over 100 cm2 are well prepared by combining compositional, solvent and additive engineering. The use of 2‐methoxyethanol as a solvent enables the fast deposition of narrow‐bandgap perovskite films. Adding proper amounts of dimethyl sulfoxide and surfactant L‐α‐phosphatidylcholine into the narrow‐bandgap perovskite precursor effectively enhances the crystallinity and coverage of the resulting perovskite films, respectively. Based on these studies, narrow‐bandgap perovskite and all‐perovskite tandem mini‐modules with an aperture area of 10.4 cm2 are constructed and exhibit high efficiencies of 13.2% and 16.4%, respectively. This study provides an option for fast deposition of high‐quality narrow‐bandgap perovskite films, which is beneficial for the scalable production of all‐perovskite tandem solar modules.

Na doped FeZn catalyst prepared by urea self-combustion method for efficient conversion of CO2 into liquid fuels

Although catalytic conversion of CO2 into liquid fuels has made tremendous progress, designing a promising catalyst with excellent CO2 conversion and C5+ selectivity remains a challenge. In this study, a series of Na-FeX (X = Co, Zn, and Mn) catalysts were prepared by the facile urea self-combustion method. Meanwhile, these catalysts were characterized by various characterizations such as N2 adsorption/desorption, XRD, SEM, TEM, H2-TPR, H2-TPD, etc. In detail, Na–FeZn exhibited 36.4% CO2 conversion and 60.6% C5+ selectivity at 320 °C and 3.5 MPa. In combination with the results of characterization and experiment, we found that the addition of Zn and Na could enhance CO2 adsorption on the surface of catalyst and promote it conversion into liquid fuels. Furthermore, over in-situ DRIFTS spectra, a possible reaction mechanism was proposed. This work not only provides a simple and fast catalyst preparation method for Fe-based catalyst, but also opens a new avenue for direct conversion of CO2 to liquid fuels.

Amine Functionalization Leads to Enhanced Performance for Nickel- and Cobalt-Ferrite-Supported Palladium Catalysts in Nitrobenzene Hydrogenation.

Easy preparation, good yield and easy recovery are the key challenges in the development of industrial catalysts. To meet all these three criteria, we have prepared intelligent, magnetizable NiFe2O4- and CoFe2O4-supported palladium catalysts that can be easily and completely recovered from the reaction medium by magnetic separation. The fast and facile preparation was achieved by a solvothermal method followed by sonochemical-assisted decomposition of the palladium nanoparticles onto the surface of the magnetic nanoparticles. The metal-support interaction was enhanced by amine functionalization of the supports using monoethanolamine. The performance and stability of the non-functionalized and amine-functionalized NiFe2O4- and CoFe2O4-supported palladium catalysts were compared in the industrially important nitrobenzene hydrogenation reaction. All catalysts showed high catalytic activity during aniline synthesis; complete nitrobenzene conversion and high aniline yield (above 97 n/n%) and selectivity (above 98 n/n%) were achieved. However, during reuse tests, the activity of the non-functionalized catalysts decreased, as the palladium was leached from the surface of the support. On the other hand, in the case of their amine-functionalized counterparts, there was no decrease in activity, and a non-significant decrease in palladium content could be measured. Based on these results, it can be concluded that amine functionalization of transition metal ferrites may result in more effective catalysts due to the enhanced metal-carrier interaction between the support and the precious metal.