Incorporation Of Different Materials Research Articles

Recent Design and Synthesis Strategies for High-Performance Supercapacitors Utilizing ZnCo2O4-Based Electrode Materials

ZnCo2O4 has emerged as a promising electrode material for supercapacitor applications due to its unique properties and potential for high-performance energy storage. As a transition metal oxide, ZnCo2O4 offers eco-friendly characteristics and favorable diffusion properties, making it an attractive candidate for sustainable energy storage systems. However, the poor conductivity and low surface area of ZnCo2O4 have posed challenges for its optimal utilization in supercapacitors. Various innovative approaches have been explored to overcome these limitations, including the development of ZnCo2O4 with different morphologies such as core-shell and porous structures. This review work aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of diverse synthesis methods employed in recent studies, including hydrothermal growth, solvothermal synthesis, wet chemical methods, and miscellaneous synthesis techniques, each offering unique advantages and influencing the properties of the synthesized materials. The synthesis conditions, such as precursor concentrations, temperature, annealing time, and the incorporation of dopants or additional materials, were found to play a crucial role in determining the electrochemical performance of ZnCo2O4-based supercapacitor electrodes. Core-shell heterostructures based on ZnCo2O4 exhibited versatility and tunability, with the choice of shell material significantly impacting the electrochemical performance. The incorporation of different materials in composite electrodes, as well as doping strategies, proved effective in enhancing specific capacitance, stability, surface area, and charge transfer characteristics. Controlled synthesis of ZnCo2O4 with diverse morphologies and porosity was crucial in improving mechanical strength, surface area, and ion diffusion capabilities. The findings provide valuable insights for the design and engineering of high-performance supercapacitor electrodes based on ZnCo2O4, and suggest exciting avenues for further exploration, including advanced characterization techniques, novel doping strategies, scale-up of synthesis methods, and integration into practical supercapacitor devices. Continued research and development in this field will contribute to the advancement of energy storage technologies and the realization of efficient and sustainable energy storage systems.

Environmental Impact Analysis of Aprotic Li–O2 Batteries Based on Life Cycle Assessment

Aprotic lithium–oxygen (Li–O₂) batteries are a prominent example of ultrahigh energy density batteries. Although Li–O₂ batteries hold a great potential for large-scale electrochemical energy storage and electric vehicles, their implementation is lagging due to the complex reactions occurring at the cathode. Great effort has been applied to find practical cathodes through the incorporation of different materials acting as catalysts. Here we tap into the quantification of the environmental footprint of seven high-performance Li–O₂ batteries. The batteries were standardized to feed a 60 kWh electric vehicle. Life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology is applied to determine and compare how different batteries and respective components contribute to environmental footprints, categorized in 18 groups. To get a bigger picture, results are compared with the environmental burdens of a reference lithium ion battery, reference sodium ion battery, and the average value of lithium–sulfur batteries. Overall, Li–O₂ batteries present lower environmental burdens in 9 impact categories, with similar impacts in 5 categories in comparison with lithium–sulfur and lithium ion batteries. With an average value of 55.76 kg·CO₂ equiv in Global Warming Potential for the whole Li–O₂ battery, the cathode is the major contributor, with a relative weight of 44.5%. These results provide a road map to enable the practical design of sustainable aprotic Li–O₂ batteries within a circular economy perspective.

ROLE OF ELECTROSPUN NANOFIBERS IN WOUND DRESSING EFFICIENCY

Explaining the classification of nanofibers based on its wound dressing application. Properties and efficiency of different nanofibers.Effective techniques involved and different process carried out in the process of dressing wounds. Various techniques used along with different nanofibers for treating wounds. Wound healing process and the effects on with different nanofibers was briefly explained. Nanofibers made of different polymer blends have different properties in wound dressing and with the incorporation of different materials with it have different effects and wounds are explained. The paper helps in explaining the nanofibers that has particular effect on wounds and the polymer blend which are left to work and study on wound dressing.

Formation mechanisms of TiB2 tracks on Ti6Al4V alloy during selective laser melting of ceramic-metal multi-material

Multi-material selective laser melting (SLM) is a new development direction in additive manufacturing technologies to realize the incorporation of different materials within a single component. In this work, processing parameters, cross-sectional features and surface morphologies of TiB2 tracks on SLM-processed Ti6Al4V alloy layer were investigated. A processing window was determined by examining the type of molten pools and continuity of scanned tracks. Formation mechanism of microstructures at the cross-sections of TiB2 tracks was also discovered. At a high scan speed above 700 mm/s, the tracks all exhibited an unstable surface consisting of excessive shrinkage, spatters and cracks. Consequently, based on the experimental analysis and numerical simulations, a range of laser energy density from 0.67 J/mm to 1.50 J/mm at laser powers of 400–450 W was found to be a feasible scope of processing parameters to fabricate stable tracks of TiB2 on Ti6Al4V alloy by SLM.

Gelatin-hydroxyapatite nano-fibers as promising scaffolds for guided tissue regeneration (GTR): Preparation, assessment of the physicochemical properties and the effect on mesenchymal stem cells.

Background Periodontitis can lead to progressive destruction of periodontal tissues supporting the tooth. Developing biomaterials for tissue engineering has noticeably improved the existing treatment options. The present study investigated the gelatin-hydroxyapatite nano-fibers as promising scaffolds for guided tissue regeneration (GTR). Methods The scaffolds were prepared through electrospinning technique, and then the physicochemical properties and the cytotoxic effects on dental-derived mesenchymal stem cells were assessed. Results The nano-scaffolds were successfully prepared with a mono-dispersed nano-scale diameter (102±0.10 nm), negative surface charge (-20±0.17 mV), and uniform network-shaped morphology. The mesenchymal stem cells derived from the human dental pulp stem cells (hDPSC) with gelatin-hydroxyapatite nano-fibers showed that the prepared scaffolds had a significant proliferative effect. Besides, the applied method can be used to prepare fiber-based structures via other polymeric materials. Conclusion The incorporation of different materials to decrease the degradation rate of the fibers can match the speed of tissue regeneration. In this case, the prepared nano-fibers can be applied as a membrane biomaterial.

Recent strategies to enhance the performance of polymer monoliths for analytical separations

This review summarizes recent developments made in the incorporation of functional materials into organic polymer monoliths, together with new monolithic forms and formats, which enhance their application as supports and stationary phase materials for sample preparation and chromatographic separations. While polymer monoliths are well-known supports for the separation of large molecules, recent developments have been made to improve their features for the separation of small molecules. The selectivity and performance of organic polymer monoliths has been improved by the incorporation of different materials, such as metal-organic frameworks, covalent organic frameworks, or other types of nanostructured materials (carbon nanohorns, nanodiamonds, polyoxometalates, layered double hydroxides, or attapulgite). The surface area of polymer monoliths has been significantly increased by polymer hypercrosslinking, resulting in increased efficiency when applied to the separation of small molecules. In addition, recent exploration of less conventional supports for casting polymer monoliths, including photonic fibres and 3D printed materials, has opened new avenues for the applications of polymer monoliths in the field of separation science. Recent developments made in these topics are covered, focusing on the strategies followed by the authors to prepare the polymer monoliths and the effect of these modifications on the developed analytical applications.

Development of sodium alginate/PVA antibacterial nanofibers by the incorporation of essential oils

Electrospinning is a well known method for the manufacturing of nanoscale fibers. Electrospun nanofibers have higher surface area to volume ratio and can be used for the incorporation of different materials. Essential oils are well known for their antimicrobial and healing properties since ancient times. The main objective of this study was to develop antibacterial nanofibers by the incorporation of essential oils in sodium alginate/PVA solution. Sodium alginate and PVA have excellent biocompatible properties which are the base of their use in wound care applications. Three different essential oils (cinnamon, clove, and lavender) at three different concentrations (0.5, 1 and 1.5%) were used to optimize the fiber forming conditions during electrospinning and then the desired antibacterial properties were evaluated. Addition of oils in PVA/SA solutions increased the viscosity but reduced the surface tension and conductivity as compared to pure PVA/sodium alginate solution. FTIR Spectra of composite fibers verified the successful incorporation of essential oils in nanofibers through electrospinning. All oil containing samples showed good antibacterial properties against staphylococcus aureus which make them a good replacement of antibiotics. Cinnamon oil loaded nanofibers showed the best results among selected oils regarding the antibacterial properties. Nanofibers with 1.5% cinnamon oil exhibited highest zone of inhabitation of 2.7 cm. Nanofibrous coated cotton gauze showed higher liquid absorptions as compared to simple cotton gauze and potential to be used as wound dressings for its improved liquid absorption and antibacterial activity.

Estimation of step-by-step induced stress in a sequential process integration of nano-scale SOS MOSFETs with high-k gate dielectrics

The current work proposes a novel technique to incorporate process-induced uni-axial stress for significant mobility boosting in high-performance metal–oxide–semiconductor field-effect-transistors. It has been shown that two existing standard techniques, namely, silicon-on-sapphire and high-k gate dielectrics can be combined to develop such technology. Sapphire has very high elastic constant and thermal expansion coefficient, thereby capable of inducing a significant amount of stress which is observed to be biaxial in nature. However, with the incorporation of different materials during process integration, such biaxial stress is gradually changed to uni-axial nature. The high-k gate dielectric plays the key role in converting the biaxial stress to uni-axial. Several high-k gate dielectrics have been studied and titanium oxide (TiO2) is observed to maximize the induced stress and also effective to convert it to uni-axial. A final average longitudinal channel stress of 0.73 GPa has been obtained.

Potential of treated contaminated soil as a sustainable stabilising admixture

Soil improvement can be achieved by adopting different techniques suitable for specific application within the ambient environment and the incorporation of different materials into weak soils has proven to be one such technique. This paper deals with an attempt to study the potential use of treated petroleum contaminated soil as a sustainable stabilising material. In addition to improving the soil, a wider benefit would be the utilisation of treated soil which under normal circumstances would be disposed as a waste material or, may at best, be used as a landfill material at uninhabited sites. Laboratory experiments were conducted on the mixed soil samples where different proportions of treated soil were added to commonly available field soils of Brunei Darussalam. The stabilising effects on the field soil samples were determined in terms of change in density; results showed increased densities. The field soils’ grain sizes and their distribution were important factors in affecting the stabilising behaviour of the treated soil.