Higher Density Values Research Articles

Optimizing Surface Lithology Interpretation from Global Gravity Model and Landsat 8 Satellite Imagery in Semeru Mountain, Indonesia

Conventional geological mapping has high data accuracy but has ineffectiveness such as incomplete sample sweep coverage due to extreme topography, densely populated environmental conditions, and weather constraints in the field. Remote sensing is an effective alternative geological mapping solution through a combination of satellite gravity methods and satellite imagery interpretation. This study aims to apply remote sensing to obtain a more detailed distribution of Mount Semeru lithological types from regional geological maps. Integration of rock density results from satellite gravity and lithology distribution from satellite imagery results in a more detailed lithological types interpretation with more specific physical conditions of rock density. Relatively low rock density values (1.9 - 2.3 gr/cm3) distribution is at the top and foot of the mountain in the outermost areas of the study area indicating relatively thick pyroclastic material with relatively deep bedrock depth, and unconsolidated material. On the side of the body of the mountain slope, there is a relatively high rock density value (2.9 - 3.5 gr/cm3) with an indication of the formation of pyroclastic material which is relatively thinner with the presence of shallower bedrock and has consolidated material. Geological mapping optimization forms the basis for further research related to the planning and development of natural resources, as well as a more effective and efficient advanced geological mapping automation process.

Crown Density Relationship to Microclimate and Comfort Index in Telaga Sari City Forest, Balikpapan, East Kalimantan, Indonesia

The development of urban areas that are increasingly developing causes the area of green open space to decrease, and urban buildings that are increasingly denser result in an increase in local temperatures in the city. The presence of vegetation will provide cooler air. Furthermore, the urban microclimate is an interesting thing to correlate with the presence of vegetation somewhere. The Telaga Sari City Forest is one of Balikpapan’s green open space places. This research analyz the relationship between crown density microclimate and comfort index. The method for the percentage of crown density used Habitapp App. To measure the microclimate used Thermohygrometer, and Lux Meter. From the research results, it is known that, at the Telaga Sari City Forest there is a strong relationship between crown density and microclimate, namely light intensity, temperature, humidity, and the comfort index/THI, successively the multiple R values of 0.87, 0.83, 0.78 and 0.81. The linear equations namely y = -23.677x + 1986, y = -0.0317x + 31.096, y = 0.119x + 65.891 and y = -0.0232x + 29.007. In order to create a favorable microclimate in the city and provide green open space, it required to plant trees with high canopy density values.

Bacteria and Yeasts Isolated from the Environment in Biodegradation of PS and PVC Microplastics: Screening and Treatment Optimization

Biodegradation is the most environmentally friendly and, at the same time, economically acceptable approach to removing various pollutants from the environment. However, its efficiency in removing microplastics (MPs) from the environment is generally low. The successful biodegradation of MPs requires microorganisms capable of producing enzymes that degrade MP polymers into compounds that the microorganisms can use as a source of carbon and energy. Therefore, scientists are screening and characterizing microorganisms that can degrade MPs more efficiently. These microorganisms are often isolated from sites contaminated with MPs because the microorganisms living there are adapted to these pollutants and should be able to better degrade MPs. In this study, five bacterial strains and five yeast strains were isolated from various environmental samples including activated sludge, compost, river sediment, and biowaste. Among them, screening was performed for bacteria and yeasts with the highest potential for the biodegradation of polystyrene (PS) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) MPs, and the bacterium Delftia acidovorans and the yeast Candida parapsilosis were identified as the best candidates. Optimization of biodegradation of the selected MPs by each of these two microorganisms was performed, focusing on the influence of cell density, agitation speed and pH of the medium. It was found that within the selected experimental ranges, high values of cell density, low agitation speed, and a slightly basic medium favored the biodegradation of PS and PVC MPs by Delftia acidovorans. In the case of Candida parapsilosis, favorable conditions also included high cell density followed by a slightly higher, but not maximum, agitation speed and a weakly acidic medium. Broad spectroscopic and imaging methods indicated that Delftia acidovorans and Candida parapsilosis better adapt to PVC MPs to use it as a carbon and energy source.

Upcycling of Wood Dust from Particleboard Recycling as a Filler in Lignocellulosic Layered Composite Technology

The following research aims to investigate selected properties of three-layer plywood, manufactured using dust from the milling of three-layer particleboard as a filler in the bonding mass. Four types of fillers were considered in the study: commercial rye flour, wood dust naturally occurring in the composition of particles used industrially for particleboard production, wood dust from the first batch of shredded particleboard, and dust from the second round of milled particleboard. The highest modulus of elasticity (MOE) values were observed for the reference samples. Notably, in the samples containing filler sourced from the secondary milling of particleboard, the MOE exhibited an upward trend in conjunction with increasing filler content. The modulus of rupture (MOR) decreased with an elevated degree of filler milling from 73.1 N mm−2 for the native filler, through to 68.9 N mm−2 for the filler after 1st milling, and to 54.5 N mm−2 for the filler after 2nd milling (with 10 parts per weight (pbw) of filler used as an reference), though it increased slightly as the filler content increased. The most favorable outcomes in shear strength were achieved in samples containing filler material from the initial milling of particleboard. The thickness swelling peaked in variants utilizing filler material from both the initial and secondary milling of particleboards (20.1% and 16.6% after 24 h of soaking for samples with 10 pbw filler after the 1st and 2nd milling, respectively, compared to 13.0% for the reference samples). Water absorption testing exhibited a more pronounced response in the newly introduced variants, although the samples containing filler from the initial and secondary milling processes eventually yielded results akin to the reference sample, with naturally occurring dust displaying higher water absorption values. The highest density values (about 1224 kg m−3) were observed in the reference samples. A similar density profile was recorded for samples with five parts of wood flour as filler, although the density of the bonding line was slightly lower in these instances (1130 kg m−3). This research confirms the feasibility of applying the aforementioned dust as an alternative to conventional fillers in plywood technology. It also raises the question of how to effectively remove glue residues from wood-based composite dust, which would enhance their absorption properties.

Physical analysis of an acrylic resin modified by metal and ceramic nanoparticles.

Nanoparticles (NPs) have gained significant attention in various fields due to their unique properties and potential applications. Polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) is an acrylic resin widely used in dentistry and medicine. However, the effect of different types of NP fillers on the physical properties of PMMA-based resins has not been thoroughly explored in the literature. The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of 3 different types of NP fillers on the physical properties of an experimental PMMA-based resin as a function of the NP content and concentration. Ten groups (n = 10) were designed. The specimens were composed of an acrylic resin, silicon dioxide (SiO2), cerium dioxide (CeO2), and titanium dioxide (TiO2) at the following ratios (wt%): group 1 (G1) - control; group 2 (G2) - 0.5% SiO2; group 3 (G3) - 1% SiO2; group 4 (G4) - 3% SiO2; group 5 (G5) - 0.5% CeO2; group 6 (G6) - 1% CeO2; group 7 (G7) - 3% CeO2; group 8 (G8) - 0.5% TiO2; group 9 (G9) - 1% TiO2; and group 10 (G10) - 3% TiO2. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) was used to assess the quality of NP dispersion. Thermal stability was assessed with thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The effects of the abovementioned NPs on the properties of the resin were evaluated using the Archimedes principle for density, the Vickers hardness (VH) test and the impact strength (IS) test. Data analysis employed the oneand two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), followed by Duncan's post hoc test at a significance level of 0.05. Transmission electron microscopy showed partial NP dispersion. All types of NPs enhanced the mechanical properties of the acrylic resin except for IS, which was similar to that of the control group. Among the types of NPs, irrespective of the weight percentage, CeO2 showed higher thermal stability and higher IS for 0.5 wt% and 1 wt% as compared to other groups, as well as the highest values of density at 0.5 wt%, 1 wt% and 3 wt%. Titanium oxide at 1 wt% presented a higher VH as compared to other groups. The fracture pattern was the same for all groups. Incorporating the tested NPs into the acrylic resin resulted in enhanced physical properties, primarily attributed to a lower NP content.

Influence of Tic on Density and Microstructure of Al2O3 Ceramics Doped with Nb2O5 and Lif

Ceramic matrix composites are widely studied in the ballistic sector due to their high hardness, fracture toughness, and improved ballistic performance in multilayer shielding systems. However, the presence of dopants in ceramics can pose challenges during processing and potentially compromise the final properties of the sintered material. This study focused on the ceramic processing of Al2O3-based ceramic matrix composites by adding 4 wt.% Nb2O5 (niobium oxide), 0.5 wt.% LiF (lithium fluoride), and 38.5 wt.% TiC (titanium carbide). The composites were produced using cold uniaxial pressing and conventional sintering at 1400 °C for 3 h. The composites were characterized using Archimedes’ principle and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results revealed that the samples to which TiC was added exhibited low initial densities, indicating that the applied pressure of 50 MPa during cold pressing was insufficient to adequately densify the green bodies. Moreover, the presence of TiC led to a significant reduction in densification, making it challenging to apply a conductive coating for SEM analysis. Adjustments to the intensity of the electron beam were necessary to conduct the analysis successfully. Conversely, the samples to which TiC was not added exhibited high density values in the green state and yielded consistent results after sintering in line with previous research, indicating a satisfactory degree of sintering in the absence of TiC. These findings highlight the importance of carefully considering the addition of TiC in ceramic matrix composites during processing, which can have a significant impact on densification and subsequent material properties. The results contribute to the understanding of processing parameters with regard to the production of ceramic composites with desirable characteristics for ballistic applications.

Morphometric variation and species density of Nerita (Neritidae: Gastropoda) in the coastal waters of Ambon Island, Indonesia

Nerita is one of the species with high diversity in the coastal waters of Ambon Island. With this high diversity, the way to assess the length of various Nerita species is through a morphometric study. Meanwhile, density studies are useful for knowing the number of each of these diverse Nerita species. The purpose of this study was to identify the Nerita species to calculate the density and morphometrics. This research was conducted in an intertidal area in two locations, namely Seri and Tawiri villages. The morphometric characteristics of Nerita consist of shell length, shell width, aperture length, spire height, columella length, aperture length, and lip thickness. The density calculation refers to the density formula. The results showed that there were 9 species of Nerita, namely N. polita, N. chamaeleon, N. patula, N. exuvia, N. maxima, N. squamulata, N. albicilla, and N. planospira. N. polita has the highest density value (41.33 ind/m2) while N. patula (0.04 ind/m2) has the lowest density value. Morphometric analysis shows that there are variations in shell size among these species. Shell morphometric variations can be used as a reference for studying the phenetic diversity of Neritaidae in Ambon Island waters

Vortex Dynamics and Pinning in CaKFe4As4 Single Crystals from DC Magnetization Relaxation and AC Susceptibility

Among various “families” of iron-based superconductors, the quite recently discovered AeAFe4As4 (where Ae is an alkali-earth metal and A is an alkali metal) has high critical current density, a very high upper critical field, and a low anisotropy, and has recently received much interest for the possibility of high magnetic field applications at the liquid hydrogen temperature. We have performed DC magnetization relaxation and frequency-dependent AC susceptibility measurements on high-quality single crystals of CaKFe4As4 with the aim of determining the pinning potential U*. The temperature dependence of U* displays a clear crossover between elastic creep and plastic creep. At temperatures around 27–28 K, U* has a very high value, up to 1200 K, resulting in an infinitesimally small probability of thermally activated flux jumps. From the dependence of the normalized pinning potential on irreversible magnetization, we have determined the creep exponents in the two creep regimes, which are in complete agreement with theoretical models. The estimation of the pinning potential from multifrequency AC susceptibility measurements was possible only near the critical temperature due to equipment limitations, and the resulting value is very close to the one that resulted from the magnetization relaxation data. Magnetic hysteresis loops revealed a second magnetization peak and very high values of the critical current density.

Valorisation of Tuff and Brick Wastes by Alkali Activation for Historical Building Remediation.

Nowadays, the preservation and restoration of a historical building needs to be faced in accordance with a novel sensibility regarding the environment in order to preserve the building for future generations. In this context, the scientific community is focusing on novel and sustainable materials and techniques that allow for durability and mechanical performance as well as compatibility with the existing heritage. Alkali-activated materials represent a great challenge to the production of new materials, starting from the existing ones, with the goal of reducing consumption, emission of greenhouse gases and environmental impact. This study deals with the valorisation of waste materials coming from demolition and construction activities in the manufacture of geocomposites suitable for the restoration and conservation of historical heritage. In particular, waste from tuff sawing and brick grinding were used as raw materials, and then the geopolymeric samples produced were characterized based on a physical-chemical and mechanical point of view in order to investigate their performance and evaluate their suitability as materials for a historical building's recovery. The results showed that brick waste-based geocomposites were more compact than the tuff-based ones, as shown by the higher-density values and the lower values of open porosity and water absorption and as further confirmed by the trend of the mechanical performance. Moreover, experimental data showed that the physical and mechanical properties of both bricks and tuff waste-based geocomposites, even with different waste content, are compatible with existing building materials as well as traditional repairing products.

Sandwich structured pedot-TiO2/GO/PEDOT-TiO2 electrodes for supercapacitor

In this study, we fabricated a divergent strategy to enhance the electrochemical capacitive properties of electrodes via the cost-effective multistep green and facile electrodeposition and brush coating technique of PEDOT-TiO2/GO/PEDOT-TiO2 composite. The synthesised composite showed both EDLCs and pseudocapacitive behaviour with a good specific capacitance of 501 Fg−1 for sandwiched structure at 1 Ag−1. From the results, synthesized composite has a better ion transportation mechanism which leads to a fast charge–discharge cycle as well as a very high value of power density (500 kW/ kg) suitable for supercapacitor applications. The substance demonstrated excellent electrochemical stability, retaining 94 % of capacitance after 2000 cycles. The obtained nanocomposites were examined by FTIR, XRD, Raman, SEM-EDX and electrochemical analyses such as CV, GCD and EIS analyses. We consider that the highly stable PEDOT-TiO2/GO/PEDOT-TiO2 nanocomposite with super-capacitive behaviours is a very promising material for high-performance electrochemical storage.

Taguchi Based Gray Relational Analysis of Production Parameters of Al7075/B4C/GNP's Hybrid Composites

In this study, metal matrix hybrid composites obtained by adding B4C and graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) powders as reinforcement elements to Al7075 powders were produced by powder metallurgy (P/M) method. Mixture powders prepared by supplementing Al7075 powders with different weight ratios of B4C (2-5-10%) and GNPs (0.5%) are compressed at room temperature and at different pressing pressures (600-700-800 MPa) and then at different temperatures (500-550- 600C) was sintered in vacuum atmosphere and samples were produced in accordance with ASTM G99 standard. Density and hardness analyzes were carried out depending on the changing production parameters of hybrid composites. It was determined that the pressing pressure had a direct effect on the condensation rate of the samples and the highest density value was 2.6764 g/cm3 in the Al7075+5% B4C+0.5% GNPs sample pressed under 800MPa pressure. The hardness of the samples, on the other hand, generally increased due to the increasing amount of reinforcement element, while it also increased with the increase of pressing pressure and sintering temperature.

Sugar-Free, Vegan, Furcellaran Gummy Jellies with Plant-Based Triple-Layer Films.

Increasing consumer awareness of the impact of nutrition on health and the growing popularity of vegan diets are causing a need to look for new plant-based formulations of standard confectionery products with high energy density and low nutritional value, containing gelatin. Therefore, the aim of this study was to develop vegan and sugar-free gummy jellies based on an algae-derived polysaccharide-furcellaran (FUR). Until now, FUR has not been used as a gel-forming agent despite the fact that its structure-forming properties show high potential in the production of vegan confectionery. The basic formulation of gummy jellies included the addition of soy protein isolate and/or inulin. The final product was characterized regarding its rheological, antioxidant, mechanical and physicochemical properties. Eco-friendly packaging for the jellies composed of a three-layer polymer film has also been developed. It was observed that the highest values of textural parameters were obtained in jellies containing the addition of soy protein isolate, whose positive effect was also found on antioxidant activity. Before drying, all furcellaran-based gel systems showed G' and G" values characteristic of strong elastic hydrogels. Storing jellies for a week under refrigeration resulted in an increase in hardness, a decrease in moisture content and reduced water activity values. Overall, our study indicates the high potential of furcellaran both as a gelling agent in confectionery products and as a base polymer for their packaging.

Studies on photovoltaic properties of BFO/WO3 bilayer thin films for solar energy harvesting applications

BFO possess high remnant polarization (∼100 μC/cm2) and low direct band gap (∼2.7 eV) having potential for photovoltaic (PV) applications. In the present work, WO3 insulating layer is utilized with BFO and BFO/WO3 bilayer thin film structure is fabricated for reducing the leakage current along with possessing the low band gap and high ferroelectric polarization. In BFO/WO3 bilayer structure, the WO3 nanostructured thin film layer was fabricated utilizing rf-magnetron sputtering technique under the optimized parameters while BFO thin film layer was fabricated by altering the incident energy of excimer laser (150 mJ − 250 mJ) in Pulsed Laser deposition technique. BFO/WO3 bilayer structure prepared at 200 mJ laser energy demonstrated the superior ferroelectric properties (Ps = 63.24 µC/cm2 and Pr = 25.94 µC/cm2) with high values of short circuit photocurrent density (Jsc = ∼18 mA/cm2) and open-circuit voltage (Voc = ∼320 mV) under the UV illumination of Intensity = 160 mW/cm2 and λ = 355 nm. Obtained results suggest the utilization of prepared BFO/WO3 bilayer thin film structures on future novel energy harvesting purposes.

Novel low-macroscopic-field emission cathodes for electron probe spectroscopy systems

The current state of electron probe methods [including energy loss spectroscopy of inelastically scattered electrons (EELS)] is considered. The analysis concerning the issues of their application, challenges, and limitations is performed. Particular attention is paid to the fundamental limitations and the means to overcome those during electron probe methods’ subsequent development for the study of composite nanostructured materials. It is emphasized that the emitted electron energy spectrum dispersion (or electron energy distribution function width) is one of the main factors limiting a further increase in EELS energy resolution, although the use of direct detection sensors and monochromators allows one to approach the physical limit of this method. Novel low-macroscopic-field electron emitters are synthesized and investigated. Their properties are analyzed and compared with previously obtained specimens. Both energy and temporal resolutions of an EEL system utilizing the suggested cathodes are estimated. The comparison of its characteristics with the corresponding parameters of classical facilities is performed. The obtained results indicate the possibility to achieving a significant growth in energy and temporal resolutions as well as a decrease in the detection threshold of chemical elements with trace concentrations while maintaining relatively high emission current density values.

Mapping the Urban Environments of Aedes aegypti Using Drone Technology

Aedes aegypti is widely distributed worldwide and is the main vector mosquito for dengue, one of the most important infectious diseases in middle- and low-income countries. The landscape composition and vegetation cover determine appropriate environments for this mosquito to breed, and it is fundamental to define the most affordable methodology to understand these landscape variables in urban environments. The proposed methodology integrated drone technologies and traditional entomological surveillance to strengthen our knowledge about areas suitable for Ae. aegypti infestation. We included an analysis using the vegetation indexes, NDVI and NDVIRe, and their association with Ae. aegypti larvae and adults in houses from the El Vergel neighborhood Tapachula, Chiapas, Mexico. We used drone technology to obtain high-resolution photos and performed multispectral orthomosaic constructions for the data of vegetation indexes with a kernel density analysis. A negative binomial regression was performed to determine the association between the numbers of Ae. aegypti larvae and adults with the kernel density based on NDVI and NDVIRe. Medium and high values of kernel density of NDVIRe (both p-value < 0.05) and NDVI (both p-value < 0.05) were associated with a higher amount of mosquito adults per houses. The density of Ae. aegypti larvae per house did not show an association with medium and high values of NDVIRe (both p-value > 0.05) and NDVI (both p-value > 0.05). The vegetation indexes, NDVI and NDVIRe, have potential as precise predictors of Ae. aegypti adult mosquito circulation in urban environments. Drone technology can be used to map and obtain landscape characteristics associated with mosquito abundance in urban environments.

Uranium-anchored carbon nanotube-based hybrid nanostructure: A promising electrode material for high-performance ultracapacitors

The search for nanomaterials that can offer outstanding electrochemical performances is accelerating due to the rise in demand for reliable energy storage systems. However, the body of knowledge on highly effective radioactive materials, like uranium, is still lacking. Herein, a straightforward fabrication procedure was implemented to fabricate Uranium-based hybrid electrode material, so-called uranium anchored-carbon nanotube (U-CNTx; where x represents the CNT:U ratio by weight) to be employed in ultracapacitors. A radioactive compound-based ultracapacitor cell was made for the first time, to the best knowledge of the researcher, in the rapidly developing field of energy storage devices. The physicochemical features of the fabricated U-CNTx hybrid nanostructures were examined by several characterization techniques including scanning electron microscope (SEM) equipped with energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), Raman spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, and the successful anchoring of the Uranium atoms on CNT architecture was confirmed as well as the morphological characteristics of the structure. With a 96.13% capacitance retention value, after 15,000 consecutive galvanostatic charge-discharge (GCD) cycles at 1.0 A g−1 in addition to a considerable specific capacitance value of 251.8 F g−1 even at a high current density value of 10.0 A g−1, the U-CNT10 electrode-based ultracapacitor cell provided the best performance parameters. The radiation doses of the assembled ultracapacitor cells were measured by a Geiger-Müller detector. The results offered that even the U-CNT10 electrode-based SC, which had the highest uranium content, had no harmful effects on human health or the environment considering its value of ∼0.1–0.3 μSv (excluded background measurement). The development of a high-performance ultracapacitor with uranium-based hybrid organic electrodes may open a new age as a result of this work.

Briquettes Optimization of Palm Shell Waste and LDPE Plastic based on Particle Size and Compressive Strength as Alternative Fuels

The purpose of this study was to find the optimal parameters of the briquette making process (particle size and pressure), where optimization was carried out based on the values of physical properties, namely density, elastic modulus and ultimate tensile strength. The method used in this study was to vary the particle size of palm shell charcoal waste with particle sizes of 40, 60, 80 and 100 mesh mixed with chopped LDPE plastic with a size of 0,5 x 0,5 cm, starch adhesive and water with a predetermined composition, then the briquettes are given varying pressures of 30N/m2, 40N/m2, 50N/m2, 60N/m2, 70N/m2 and 80N/m2. The results of this study found that the highest density value was 808,71 kg/m3, the highest elastic modulus value was 50 MPa, and the highest ultimate strength is 4,81 Mpa. Based on the values of density, elastic modulus and ultimate tensile strength, it can be concluded that the most optimal briquettes are produced from a particle size of 80 mesh and a pressure of 70N/m2 with a density value of 796,08 kg/m3, an elastic modulus of 40 MPa and an ultimate strength of 4,81 MPa.

Health Concern of Phenomenally Premium Boba Milk Tea and Pearls Beverages in Kuala Lumpur: Sugary Content and Physico-chemical Profiles Analysis

The sugary drink boba milk tea has seen its popularity surge in recent years. However, the overwhelmingly trending boba milk tea is categorised as a sugar-sweetened beverage due to its high sugar content. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine the sugar content of four brands of boba milk tea drinks (brand A, B, C, and D) available around Setapak, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The physico-chemical characteristics of each brand were evaluated comprising the pH level, Total Dissolved Solids (TDS), conductivity value, and liquid density. In addition, the glucose content in the liquid milk and boba pearls were determined using the glucometer and gravimetric analysis, which were then used to estimate the total glucose content in the boba milk tea samples. Based on the results, there were significant differences between the pH value and glucose content (p < 0.05). The pH of brand A recorded the highest value of 8.23 ± 0.03 (slightly alkaline) compared to other brands. The liquid milk of Brand A also exhibited the highest glucose content value and the highest density value (p < 0.05) with a value of 23.4 ± 0.5 mmol/L and 1030 g/L, respectively. However, brand D possessed the highest TDS content and conductivity with values of 1912 ± 36 ppm and 3825 ± 71 µS, respectively. Meanwhile, the highest glucose content in the liquid milk and boba pearls were 23.4 ± 0.5 mmol/L (brand A) and 18.1 ± 0.4 (brand B), respectively. Overall, the study estimated that brand B has the highest total glucose content (38.6 ± 0.1 mmol/L) due to the significant glucose content from the boba pearls. Surprisingly, the overall glucose content in boba milk tea (milk tea solution and boba pearl) was approximately from 2- to 5-fold more than the recommended daily sugar (glucose) intake of 8.33 mmol/L (equivalent to 50 g/day) by the Ministry of Health (MOH), Malaysia. The lack of preventive measures to curb the overconsumption of boba milk tea would cause a long-term adverse health effect on individuals and increase the rate of patients suffering from diabetic-related diseases and other non-communicable diseases (NCD). An intervention is required instantaneously from a public health perspective to regulate the consumption of sweetened and flavored beverages that is limitless added to sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB) without strict regulations.

An in-Situ Study of the Transformation of Hybrid Layered Hydroxides into Metallic Nanocomposites with Interest in Energy Storage Systems

The high increase of energy demand in recent decade and the necessity of reduce the fossil fuel consumption have triggered the interest of the scientific community in the search of 'green' alternatives. Due to the characteristic intermittence of solar and wind technologies, there is a huge effort on the development energy storage systems. Among them hybrid capacitors (HCs) are promising systems due its high energy and power density values, in comparison with Li-ion batteries, that make them ideal for industrial and automobile applications. Battery-like materials such as nanocomposites (NCs) based on metallic nanoparticles (working as pseudo-capacitor based in redox reactions) with a carbon matrix (working as electric double layer capacitors) are key HCs systems itself. These NCs exhibits a notorious enhancement on their electrochemical performance by applying an external magnetic field. [1] Typically, NCs are obtained by the thermal decomposition of hybrid materials under inert atmosphere, as it has been demonstrated for the case of layered double hydroxides (LDHs), layered hydroxides (α-LHs) and metal organic frameworks (MOFs). [1-3] However, there is a lack of information in terms how the thermal transformation takes places.In this work, we present for the first-time an in-situ study about the transformation of hybrid layered hydroxides into NCs. For that, synchrotron measurements of X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) and powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) are performed for different hybrid layered hydroxides to follow the transformation in terms of oxidation state and crystallinity. These hybrid layered hydroxides will variate on: (i) the layered hydroxide structure and the anion-layer interactions (LDHs vs α-LHs + electrostatic vs covalent), (ii) the cation nature, and (iii) the identity of the organic linkers, to name a few. For instance, in the case of α-LHs, while the LHs structure defines the thermal decomposition, and the organic molecule length controls the quality and quantity of the final carbon matrix at the NCs.[4] Interestingly, in function of the amount of carbon present on the organic molecule, the oxidation state and the formation of the carbon matrix on the final material are conditioned, which imply that there is a minimum amount of carbon to obtain the NCs. In the other hand, for the previous NCs obtained, the electrochemical characterization is performed in pouch cells, applying an external magnetic field throughout the galvanostatic cycles. This assembly prevents the loss of material along the time and during the process, where it is evidenced how the magnetic field improves the electrochemical performance with an increase in the specific capacity of the NCs. In overall, this work introduces fundamental knowledge on the rational design of hybrid layered hydroxides and the subsequent nanocomposites and its performance in energy storage systems.

High Energy Density Porous RuO2 micro-Supercapacitors Using Protic Ionic Liquid Electrolytes

The rapid development of the Internet of Things (IoT) demands reliable and long-term energy supply to microelectronic devices distributed over the network with high power performance and less maintenance required.[1] Micro-supercapacitors (MSCs) have come to the foreground as miniaturized energy storage devices showing outstanding power density and long cycle life. However, the low cell voltage and low energy density remain major bottleneck that prevents their adoption in real device applications. To this end, several studies have been devoted to the engineering of MSC electrode materials and structural architecting of current collectors within the limited available footprint. This approach could offer opportunities to enhance the electrochemically active surface and mass loading of active materials with fast ion diffusion kinetics, leading to high areal energy density performance.[2] Although several efforts have been put forth in this direction, the complex synthesis route, unfavourable interfacial and mechanical stability of the electrode, electrolyte compatibility issues, etc. remain an arduous challenge.[3] The low cell voltage is another major issue preventing from achieving high energy density values in MSCs as it is directly linked to the electrochemical stability window (ESW) of the electrolytes used.[4] In addition, liquid-state electrolytes currently employed are inappropriate for the microfabrication route as it is prone to evaporation, leakage, and potential safety issues. Hence, a lot of research attention has been given to developing solid-state electrolytes able to afford large operational windows and help promote the application of on-chip MSCs. In this work, we have demonstrated the use of protic ionic liquid (PIL)-based electrolytes able to provide pseudocapacitance in hydrous ruthenium dioxide (RuO2) electrodeposited on interdigitated MSC substrates with extended operational cell voltage. As a pseudocapacitive material, RuO2 exhibits excellent conductivity, high electrochemical reversibility, and cycling stability.[5] On the other hand, as room temperature molten salts, PILs help to overcome evaporation and encapsulation problems associated with the conventional aqueous electrolytes and flammability and safety issues linked to common organic electrolytes.[6-9] We explored pyrrolidinium-based PILs with varying alkyl substitutions, their structure-property, and electrochemical studies for RuO2 MSCs. To further expand the use of these PILs in real devices, 3D MSCs with higher active material mass loading was realised using interdigitated porous Au current collector substrates. The PIL-based porous RuO2 MSCs showed superior charge storage and higher energy density performance as compared to conventional aqueous electrolytes. To envision the practical application of RuO2 MSCs and their subsequent integration with microelectronic devices, ionogel-based solid-state electrolytes were developed. This work opens pathways to develop micro-supercapacitors exhibiting high energy and power density by combining pseudocapacitive metal oxide-based active materials and protic ionic-liquid-based non-aqueous electrolytes and help their integration with on-chip IoT devices.