Iodide Solution Research Articles

CREATION OF A CHEMICAL CURRENT SOURCE USING REDOX REACTIONS IN THE "IODINE-IODIDE" SYSTEM

Chemical current sources play an important role in energy supply systems that are closely related to everyday life. The ever-increasing dependence on electricity creates a huge demand for appropriate energy storage devices. The purpose: The aim of the work is to create a chemical current source based on the use of the "red – ox" iodine-iodide system and to determine the patterns of formation of electromotive force (EMF) and short-circuit current (short-circuit current) in water solutions depending on the concentration of ions. Objects. The experiments are carried out by measuring the EMF formed between graphite electrodes and SCC. A special installation has been assembled, consisting of an electrolyzer with separated electrode spaces, an ammeter, a voltmeter and graphite electrodes. Solutions of iodine and potassium iodide served as the electrolyte. Results. In an electrolyzer, the electrode spaces of which are separated by an anionite membrane, when one of the spaces is filled with a solution of iodine and the other with potassium iodide, an EMF is formed between the graphite electrodes. Under optimal conditions, the EMF and SCC values will be higher than 135 mV and 10 mA, respectively. Conclusion. The possibility of forming a chemical current source using the "red – ox" iodine-iodide system is shown. The patterns of EMF and SCC formation and their changes depending on ion concentrations are revealed. The results of the study show that "red – ox" systems of alternating valent elements can be used to create flowing chemical current sources with increased electrical capacity.

The Janus Structure of Graphene Oxide and Its Large-Size Conductive Film Strip Pattern.

In this paper, the oxidation-exfoliation process of graphite is studied experimentally by the mixed-solvent method, the oxidation-exfoliation process of graphite is simulated theoretically, and it is found that Graphene Oxide (GO) is a Janus structure with inconsistent oxidation on both surfaces; hydrophilic on one side and hydrophobic on the other side. This layer structure and layer spacing are due to the inconsistent oxidation on both sides which changes with the polarity of different solvent mixtures. We used a two-phase system of benzyl alcohol and water, as well as controlling the polarity of the surface of the substrate, to achieve (using a mixed solution of GO which has a selectivity more inclined to the oil phase when the aqueous phase is present) the preparation of reduced graphene oxide patterns. We also used a complex solution of hydrogen iodide and a sodium-iodide complex solution for secondary reduction to enhance its conductivity to 8653 S/m.

Effect of Thermoablation with pH Change on Giant Cell Tumor of Bone: An In Vitro Study

Objective: To evaluate the effect of pH on the apoptosis and necrosis rate of giant cell tumor of bone (GCTB) cells during thermoablation. Materials and Methods: GCTB tissues were collected from 15 patients. Cells were incubated at 25 ºC , 37 ºC, 45 ºC, and 50 ºC, with the variation of the pH at 4.7, 5.6, 6.5, 7.4, 8.3, and 9.2 for 20 minutes (in triplicate for each condition). The effect of thermoablation and pH variation on GCTB cells death was evaluated by staining with Annexin V-FITC and propidium iodide solution after 3 days of incubation. The fluorescence intensity was evaluated by flow cytometry to evaluate the percentage of tumor cells death. Results: Thermoablation alone increased the percentage of tumor cells death. However, when combined with an increase in pH, the percentage of GCTB cells death increased more. Conversely, lowering the pH did not increase the tumor cells death compared with thermoablation treatment alone, while changing the pH alone had only a low effect on increasing the percentage of GCTB cells death. Conclusion: Thermoablation the temperature between 37 ºC and 45 ºC plus a pH level slightly higher than physiologic pH (between 7.4 and 8.3) for 20 minutes increased GCTB cell death. However, determining the optimum condition to kill tumor cells while causing minimal harm to normal cells requires more study.

The flow pattern effects of hydrodynamic cavitation on waste activated sludge digestibility

The disintegration of raw sludge is of importance for enhancing biogas production and facilitates the degradation of substrates for microorganisms so that the efficiency of digestion can be increased. In this study, the effect of hydrodynamic cavitation (HC) as a pretreatment approach for waste activated sludge (WAS) was investigated at two upstream pressures (0.83 and 1.72 MPa) by using a milli-scale apparatus which makes sludge pass through an orifice with a restriction at the cross section of the flow. The HC probe made of polyether ether ketone (PEEK) material was tested using potassium iodide solution and it was made sure that cavitation occurred at the selected pressures. The analysis on chemical effects of HC bubbles collapse suggested that not only cavitation occurred at low upstream pressure, i.e., 0.83 MPa, but it also had high intensity at this pressure. The pretreatment results of HC implementation on WAS were also in agreement with the chemical characterization of HC collapse. Release of soluble organics and ammonium was observed in the treated samples, which proved the efficiency of the HC pretreatment. The methane production was improved during the digestion of the treated samples compared to the control one. The digestion of treated WAS sample at lower upstream pressure (0.83 MPa) resulted in higher methane production (128.4 mL CH4/g VS) compared to the treated sample at higher upstream pressure (119.1 mL CH4/g VS) and control sample (98.3 mL CH4/g VS). Thus, these results showed that the HC pretreatment for WAS led to a significant increase in methane production (up to 30.6%), which reveals the potential of HC in full-scale applications.

Gold leaf electrochemical flow cell for determination of iodide in nuclear emergency tablets

This work introduces an innovative gold-leaf flow cell for electrochemical detection in flow injection (FI) analysis. The flow cell incorporates a hammered custom gold leaf electrochemical sensor. Hammered gold leaves consist of pure gold and are readily available in Thailand at affordable prices (approximately $0.085 for a sheet measuring 40 mm × 40 mm). Four sensing devices can be made from a single sheet of this gold leaf, resulting in a production cost of approximately $0.19 per sensor. Each electrochemical sensor has the gold leaf as the working electrode, together with a printed carbon strip, and a printed silver/silver chloride strip as the counter and reference electrodes, respectively. Initial investigations using cyclic voltammetry of a standard 1000 μmol L⁻1 iodide solution in 60 mmol L⁻1 phosphate buffer (PB) solution at pH 5, demonstrated performance comparable to that of a commercial screen-printed gold electrode. The hammered gold leaf electrode was then installed in a commercial flow cell as part of an FI system. A sample or standard iodide solution (100 μL) is injected into the first carrier stream of phosphate buffer (PB) solution, which then merges to mix with the second stream of the same buffer solution before flowing into the flow cell for amperometric detection of iodide. The optimized operating conditions include a fixed potential of +0.39 V (vs Ag/AgCl), and a total flow rate of 3 mL min⁻1. A linear calibration is obtained in the concentration range of 1 to 1000 μmol L⁻1 I− with a typical equation of μA = (0.00299 ± 0.00004) × (μmol L−1 I−) + (0.021 ± 0.020), and R2 = 0.9994. Analysis of iodide using this gold leaf-FI system is rapid with sample throughput of 86 samples h⁻1 and %RSD of a sample of 100 μmol L⁻1 I⁻ of 1.2 (n = 29). The limit of detection, (calculated as 2.78 × SD of regression line/slope), is 27 μmol L⁻1 I−. This method was successfully applied to determine iodide in nuclear emergency tablets.

Boosting optoelectronic performance of (FA)X(MA)1-XPbI3 perovskite solar cells: Via FAI post-treatment engineering

Complex composition engineering of mixed-cations perovskite (FAxMA1-xPbI3) has recently supported rapid progress in perovskite solar cells (PSCs). Nevertheless, it is insufficient to embed and accommodate formamidinium (FA) cation into the MAPbI3 lattice structure via existing methods, leaving behind masses of FA or lead halide content and deteriorating photovoltaic performance. Herein, we present facile surface engineering via post-treated methodology, the surface of CH3NH3PbI3 (MAPbI3) films post-treated with formamidinium iodide (FAI) solution and that results get mixed-cation FAxMA1-xPbI3 perovskite films. The mixed-cation-based FAXMA1-XPbI3 perovskite with significant and large grain size, uniform and compact morphology, highly crystallization, and consequently reducing defect density of the perovskite films can be produced via the present method. It is observed that the film, post-treated with FAI-2, shows results in a very stable and highly crystalline lattice structure with attributes such as extended carrier lifetime, better electron transport, and decreased defect density. The optimized device demonstrates a promising power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 21.89%, and higher than that of the non-treated (19.08%) devices. Furthermore, the devices based on the novel FAI-post-treatment engineering exhibit significantly enhanced stability compared to non-treated devices. Therefore, this approach provides a novel methodology that offers a simple method for producing superior mixed perovskite films, potentially paving the way for the future exploitation of the boosted performance of perovskite solar cells.

Psychomodulatory and anxiolytic effects of ACTH(4-7)-Pro-Gly-Pro and ACTH(6-9)-Pro-Gly-Pro against the background of experimental model of thyroid hyperfunction

The experimental study is devoted to the identification of possible psychomodulatory and anxiolytic effects of ACTH(4- 7)-Pro-Gly-Pro and ACTH(6-9)-Pro-Gly-Pro under conditions of thyroid hyperfunction. Material and methods. The experiment was performed on white male rats, which were divided into groups: I – control; II – rats with hyperthyroidism model, III and IV – animals receiving ACTH(4-7)-Pro-Gly-Pro (Semax) and ACTH(6-9)-Pro-Gly-Pro at doses of 174 and 178 μg/kg/day, respectively, for 21 days against the background of hyperthyroidism. The development of experimental hyperthyroidism in animals was induced by administration of an aqueous solution of potassium iodide at a dose of 75 µg/kg by intragastric gavage, daily for 3 weeks. Behavioural activity was assessed using psychopharmacological tests “Lattice” and “Light-Dark box” in standard modification. Results and discussion. Under conditions of experimental hyperthyroidism in the “Lattice” test, changes in psychomotor behaviour of animals were observed in the form of suppression of orienteering and exploratory activity, namely, a decrease in the number of stands and exploratory “peeks” downwards. In the test “Light-Dark box” against the background of thyroid hyperfunction, an increase in the level of anxiety was observed, manifested in a decrease in the time spent in the light compartment, the number of transitions between compartments and racks, as well as an increase in the number of assessments of “risk” – “looking out” of the compartment. The studied substances ACTH(4-7)-Pro-Gly-Pro and ACTH(6-9)-Pro-Gly-Pro in conditions of experimental hyperthyroidism promoted the correction of the above-mentioned behavioural disorders, eliminating the anxiety-depressive state of laboratory animals. Conclusions. When studying the effect of ACTH(4-7)-Pro-Gly-Pro and ACTH(6-9)-Pro-Gly-Pro substances under conditions of experimental hyperthyroidism on behavioural activity of white rats in the tests “Lattice” and “Light-Dark box” it was revealed that the studied peptide compounds exhibit psychomodulatory and anxiolytic effects, correcting behavioural reactions.

Liquid iodine sensitization for enhanced mid-infrared detection of lead selenide films

In pursuit of addressing the inherent challenges associated with gas partial pressure control and non-uniform diffusion of solid iodine encountered in conventional sensitization methods, this study delves into the impact of liquid sensitization on the structural and electrical properties of lead selenide (PbSe) films. The sensitization process entails iodination of PbSe films within varying concentrations of potassium iodide (KI) solutions, followed by high-temperature sensitization. The phase composition, surface morphologies, carrier concentration and mobility, and detectivity of the PbSe films after sensitization were investigated systematically. Our findings illuminate the transformative potential of liquid iodine sensitization in the modification of the crystal boundary barrier within PbSe films, thereby engendering substantial enhancements in both structural and electrical attributes. Iodine assumes a pivotal role in the orchestration of this boundary barrier modulation, which, in turn, has birthed an innovative methodology for crafting high-performance PbSe photodetectors. Remarkably, when films were sensitized with a KI concentration of 0.05 M, the maximum detectivity achieved reached an impressive 2.27 × 109 Jones. This study not only deepens our understanding of the underlying mechanisms responsible for the optoelectronic response of PbSe films but also underscores the immense potential of liquid iodine sensitization as a promising way for elevating their overall performance.

Experimental study of turbulent flow in lower plenum with flow skirt of reactor pressure vessel of pressurized water reactor

The turbulent flow in lower plenum of reactor pressure vessel (RPV) of pressurized water reactor (PWR) is an important phenomenon for design of flow mixing device. A high-precision matched index of refraction (MIR) technique is requisite for time-resolved particle image velocimetry (TR-PIV) measurements in RPV with complicated internals. In this study, turbulent flow in a scaled-down RPV model was measured by TR-PIV under different Reynolds numbers (Re) and asymmetrical flow rate with aid of the high-precision MIR technique of sodium iodide (NaI) solution and acrylic. The time-averaged flow structures include flow separation at the corner of lower support plate, fluid bifurcation around the lower edge of flow skirt, flow turning upward below the vortex suppression plate, horizontal jets at holes of flow skirt, vertical jets at holes of vortex suppression plate, improving turbulent mixing and Reynolds stresses in the lower plenum. The coherent structures were studied by proper orthogonal decomposition (POD) analysis. The flow skirt and vortex suppression plate break down large vortices through them. With Re increasing, Reynolds stresses decrease fast, and the energy fractions of low-order modes transfer into high-order modes, because turbulent vortices break up. In the case of asymmetrical flow rate, the time-averaged velocity and Reynolds stress decrease slightly, and the cumulative energy fraction decreases at flow skirt and vortex suppression plate.

Surface engineering of Ag3PO4 using lithium iodide for enhanced photocatalytic activity

The surface engineering of Ag3PO4 using lithium iodide was successfully carried out to induce photocatalytic properties. The Ag3PO4 surface was treated using a lithium iodide solution from low to high concentration under stirring and continued with aging. The modified Ag3PO4 samples were characterized using XRD, SEM, BET, UV–Vis DRS, PL spectra, TRPL, Raman spectra, and XPS. LiI treatment on the Ag3PO4 surface decreases a symmetric stretching [PO4] tetrahedron, P/Ag atomic ratio, and FWHM of Ag3d and P2p, and increases the kinetic energy of AgMNN Auger electrons. These phenomena were due to the incorporation of iodine on the Ag3PO4 surface and defect formation on the Ag3PO4 surface. Treatment with a low concentration of LiI solution showed higher photocatalytic activity with a rate constant of 9.05 times faster than samples without LiI treatment. The high photocatalytic activity was due to the suppression of hole and electron recombination, stronger hole species, and high adsorption on the surface of Ag3PO4.

Using Low-cost Dyes to Visualize Glycogen Accumulation and Gut Integrity in Caenorhabditis elegans.

Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) is a transparent, non-parasitic nematode with a simple biology, which makes it a great tool for biological sciences teaching through the staining of the cells or their molecular content. Lugol dye (iodine-potassium iodide solution) has been widely used in biochemistry to stain glycogen stores. In this context, it is possible to observe differences between fed and starved animals, besides the effects of different conditions, such as different diets and oxygen levels. Erioglaucine is a blue dye that indicates the loss of the intestinal barrier. When the intestinal barrier is intact, the blue dye stains inside the lumen; however, when this integrity is disrupted, the dye leaks into the body cavity. Using a stereomicroscope or a microscope, teachers can demonstrate physiological and biochemical alterations, or they can instigate students to ask a scientific question and hypothesize and test their hypothesis using these assays. The present protocol describes two staining techniques in C. elegans that can be easily carried out by students.

Radiation exposure lymphocyte damage assessed by γ-H2AX level using flow cytometry

DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) are considered the most relevant lesions to the DNA damage of ionizing radiation (IR), and γ-H2AX foci in peripheral blood lymphocytes are regarded as an adequate marker for DSB quantitative studies. This study aimed to investigate IR-induced DNA damage in mice through γ-H2AX fluorescence analyses by flow cytometry (FCM). The levels of γ-H2AX in CD4/CD8/B220-positive lymphocytes were quantified by FCM through mean fluorescence intensity (MFI) values. Peripheral venous blood samples were collected for evaluation, and all the control groups were restrained from irradiation. For external irradiation experiments, the dose-dependency of MFI values and temporal alternations were assessed both in vitro and in vivo. External radiation exposure damage was positively correlated with the absorbed radiation dose, and the lymphocyte recovered from damage within 3 days. I-131 sodium iodide solution (74 MBq) was injected into the mice intraperitoneally for internal irradiation experiments. Gamma counting and γH2AX foci analyses were performed at 1 h and 24 h by the group. The blood-to-blood S values (Sblood←blood) were applied for the blood-absorbed dose estimation. Internal low-dose-irradiation-induced damage was proved to recover within 24 h. The FCM method was found to be an effective way of quantitatively assessing IR-induced DNA damage.

Enriching Iodine and Regulating Grain Aroma, Appearance Quality, and Yield in Aromatic Rice by Foliar Application of Sodium Iodide

Applying iodine fertilizers to cultivate iodine-rich crops for daily intake is an effective approach for iodine supplementation, especially for aromatic rice. Field experiments were conducted during the early growing seasons of 2021 and 2022 to evaluate the impacts of foliar application of iodine fertilizer on aromatic rice and to explore the optimal iodine fertilizer concentration. At the full heading stage, six different concentrations of sodium iodide solutions of 0% (CK), 0.010% (T1), 0.025% (T2), 0.050% (T3), 0.075% (T4), and 0.100% (T5) were applied to indica aromatic rice cultivars Meixiangzhan 2 and Xiangyaxiangzhan. The results showed that sodium iodide treatments significantly increased the iodine and sodium contents in both leaves and grains. Compared with the CK, the T1 and T2 treatments increased the 2-acetyl-1-pyrroline (2-AP) content in mature grains by 8.41%‒101.66% and 13.58%‒ 74.60%, respectively. Improvements in the contents of 1-pyrroline-5-carboxylic acid, proline, 1-pyrroline, and methylglyoxal, as well as the activity of proline dehydrogenase were also detected. Additionally, sodium iodide treatments remarkably decreased the chalky grain rate, chalkiness area, and chalkiness degree of aromatic rice, with the T2 treatment exhibiting a 17.79%‒47.42% decrease in chalkiness degree compared with the CK. Meanwhile, T1 and T2 treatments showed beneficial impacts on chlorophyll content, photosynthetic characteristics, and yield components, while T3, T4, and T5 treatments exhibited adverse effects on leaf and grain yields. The linear discriminant analysis revealed significant differences between treatments. The correlation analysis and piecewise structural equation modeling showed that the iodine and sodium influenced the photosynthetic characteristics and chlorophyll content of the leaves, thereby regulating the 2-AP biosynthesis and yield components, ultimately affecting the 2-AP content and yield. Overall, this study suggests that foliar application of 0.025% sodium iodide is an effective method to enrich the iodine content in rice grains, improve the grain aroma and appearance quality of aromatic rice, without detrimental effects on grain yield.

Plastic and anthropogenic microfiber pollution on exposed sandy beaches in Nova Scotia, Canada

Aim: To investigate the baseline abundance of microplastics on two sandy beaches along an exposed coastline in an understudied region of the Northwest Atlantic. Methods: Sandy sediments were sampled from two beaches along the eastern shore of Nova Scotia, Canada from High, Mid, and Low intertidal positions. Density floatation using a sodium iodide (NaI) solution was used to separate particles from 100 g of sediments in each sample. Particles were characterized by size, shape, and colour, and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy was conducted for polymer identification. Results: At both beaches, the majority of particles found were small (< 1.4 mm), transparent microfibers. Microplastics were polymers of polyethylene terephthalate (PET), nylon, or alkyds (paints). The mean concentrations at both beaches were similar, at 5.08 ± 3.20 and 5.58 ± 4.52 microplastics per 100 g of sediment. Non-plastic (i.e., natural and semi-synthetic cellulosic) microfibers were up to 19 times more abundant than microplastics, with mean concentrations of 75.9 ± 60.1 and 97.7 ± 87.9 per 100 g sediment. Mean particle counts did not differ significantly across tidal ranges due to their high variability over small spatial scales (10 s of m). Conclusion: Using new investigative tools yielded estimates of microplastic pollution 1-2 orders of magnitude lower than earlier research conducted at these sites, and was generally lower than values reported from other beaches globally. Sources of microfibers were potentially from high recreational use at these sites. Future monitoring could target these sites for time series analysis of microplastic change on exposed sandy beaches.

The influence of microelements on the yield and its quality of wheat grown under drought conditions on soil with different phosphorus supplies

The results of 2-year vegetation studies devoted to the study of the existing prerequisites for treating seeds (PTS) with solutions of flax selenium, vanadium, tungsten and iodine on the yield and its structure, as well as indicators of the quality of wheat grain are presented. The experimental crop was grown on soil with different supplies of available phosphorus and was grown in an artificially created drought. The effectiveness of microelements was most realized under conditions of low phosphate content in the soil. The use of solutions of sodium selenite, ammonium vanadate, ammonium tungstate and potassium iodide helps to increase the weight of wheat grain by 14, 11, 13 and 7% relative to seed treatment with distilled water. Under stress conditions, persistent sodium selenite has the best effectiveness - grain increase of 11%.

Characterization of a new fluorescence lifetime imaging ophthalmoscope

Aims/Purpose: Fluorescence lifetime imaging ophthalmoscopy (FLIO) allows in vivo measurement of autofluorescence intensity decays of endogenous fluorophores in the ocular fundus. So far, only devices from Heidelberg Engineering based on the Spectralis system have been used in FLIO research. Here, we present and characterize a new FLIO device based on the RETImap system from Roland Consult.Methods: The device is based on a confocal scanning laser ophthalmoscope (35° field, 512 × 512 px). A ps diode laser (BDL‐SMN 473 nm, Becker & Hickl GmbH, Berlin, Germany) excites autofluorescence. The fluorescence photons are split into a short (498–560 nm, SSC) and a long (560–720 nm, LSC) spectral channel (one HPM‐100‐40 detector [Becker & Hickl GmbH] each) and are detected by time‐correlated single photon counting (SPC‐160, Becker & Hickl GmbH). We determined the maximum laser power (ILT2400, International Light Technologies, Inc. Peabody, MA, USA) and analysed the instrument's behaviour at three different laser power levels (150 μW, 200 μW and max.) in terms of laser spectrum (CAS140CT, Instrument Systems GmbH, Munich, Germany) and instrument response function (IRF). The IRF was determined using a 25 μM Eosin Y solution, mixed with a 5 M solution of potassium iodide, placed in a flat cuvette (110‐OS, Hellma GmbH & Co. KG, Müllheim, Germany) in front of the objective lens of the FLIO device. Fluorescence measurements of approximately 1‐min duration were performed three times for all three laser powers. The IRF and the full width at half maximum (FWHM) were calculated using FLIMX software (www.flimx.de).Results: The max. laser power was 280 μW. The peak wavelengths of the laser spectra were 467.6 (150 μW), 467.9 (200 μW) and 468.0 nm (280 μW). IRF FWHM in SSC were 298.6 ± 1.1 ps (150 μW), 341.0 ± 2.5 ps (200 μW) and 347.5 ± 6.0 ps (280 μW). In LSC, the IRF FWHM were 290.4 ± 3.8 ps (150 μW), 344.0 ± 3.4 ps (200 μW) and 358.8 ± 1.3 ps (280 μW). Results are mean ± standard deviation.Conclusions: A new fluorescence lifetime imaging ophthalmoscope has been characterized. The device offers a high laser power for fluorescence excitation, a large field of view, a high spatial resolution, and a sufficiently high time resolution. Thus, it is suitable for fluorescence lifetime studies.

Preparation of two-dimensional perovskite layer by solution method for improving stability of FAPbI<sub>3</sub> perovskite solar cells

Organic-inorganic metal halide perovskite solar cells (PSCs) have been widely studied due to their excellent photoelectric conversion performance, but the inherent chemical instability of CH(NH<sub>2</sub>)<sub>2</sub>PbI<sub>3</sub> (FAPbI<sub>3</sub>) hinders its sustainable development. In particular, the surface interface of the membrane has prominent humidity sensitivity due to lower activation energy, the defect of the surface interface has a strong correlation with the film stability, and the treatment result of the defect is one of the key factors to improve the long-term stability. The FAPbI<sub>3</sub> suffers phase transition from black perovskite phase to yellow non-perovskite phase at room temperature, and the moisture will accelerate this phase transition. Interface engineering is one of the common methods to improve the stability of perovskite solar cells. In addition to interface engineering, there is a strategy of stacking a two-dimensional (2D) perovskite layer on the surface for interface passivation. However, most of the preparation methods of 2D perovskite layer have limitations. In this work, the full solution method and post-treatment mode of annealing are adopted, the hybrid perovskite solar cells of vitamin perovskite are successfully fabricated. The FAPbI<sub>3</sub> perovskite surface is uniformly spin-coated with butylamine iodide (BAI) solution, and the formation of 2D perovskite is driven on the surface of FAPbI<sub>3</sub> perovskite. Due to the passivation of surface interface defects by the 2D perovskite layer, the non-radiative recombination of charge carriers is reduced, greatly improving the carrier lifetime. Because of the hydrophobicity of long chain molecules in 2D perovskite, the long-term stability of the device is significantly improved. Consequently, the unencapsulated device containing 2D perovskite layer remains above 80% after operating at room temperature in ambient air with a relative humidity (RH) of 60% for nearly 1000 hours. The 2D perovskite layer can significantly improve the long-term stability of the film without affecting the charge carrier transport performance. This method of improving the stability of the device by constructing 2D perovskite layer is in line with the requirements and development trend of high-quality perovskite solar cells, and is a strategy with great development potential.

Synthesis of magnetic-responsive imidazole-based poly (ionic liquid)s as a recycle adsorbent for simultaneously removing iodine molecules and iodide ions

Nuclear waste management and nuclear energy generation require the proper disposal of 129I and 131I, which are radioactive isotopes of iodine. For recognition of different types’ iodine, a magnetic poly (ionic liquid)s (Fe3O4@SiO2-MPS-PILs) was formed by the selected imidazole ionic liquid monomer and core–shell Fe3O4@SiO2-MPS via free radical polymerization. The resulting adsorbent containing plenty of imidazole N-heterocycle units, benzene rings, and ionic bonds in the backbones was suitable for simultaneously adsorbing iodine molecules and iodide ions. The adsorption mechanisms for iodine in cyclohexane and iodide ions from aqueous solution were based on charge transfer and ion exchange mechanisms, respectively. The adsorption equilibrium for iodine in cyclohexane was attained at 12 h, and the kinetics of iodine adsorption closely followed the pseudo-second-order model. Iodine adsorption on Fe3O4@SiO2-MPS-PILs was best described by Langmuir model with a maximum iodine adsorption capacity of approximately 714.29 mg g−1. Iodide ions adsorption was best explained with Freundlich model and a maximum adsorption capacity of 335.80 mg g−1 was achieved in an iodide solution with a 500 mg L–1 concentration. Notably, Fe3O4@SiO2-MPS-PILs retained over 90 % of its original adsorption performance after the 5th cycle. This work proves that the adsorbent Fe3O4@SiO2-MPS-PILs was efficient and recyclable, and has good application prospects in the practical treatment of iodine and iodide.

Volumetric Flow Field inside a Gas Stirred Cylindrical Water Tank

Ladle metallurgy serves as a crucial component of the steelmaking industry, where it plays a pivotal role in manipulating the molten steel to exercise precise control over its composition and properties. Turbulence in ladle metallurgy influences various important aspects of the steelmaking process, including mixing and distribution of additives, alongside the transport and removal of inclusions within the ladle. Consequently, gaining a clear understanding of the stirred flow field holds the potential of optimizing ladle design, improving control strategies, and enhancing the overall efficiency and steel quality. In this project, an advanced Particle-Tracking-Velocimetry system known as “Shake-the-Box” is implemented on a cylindrical water ladle model while compressed air injections through two circular plugs positioned at the bottom of the model are employed to actively stir the flow. To mitigate the particle images distortion caused by the cylindrical plexi-glass walls, the method of refractive matching is utilized with an outer polygon tank filled with a sodium iodide solution. The volumetric flow measurement is achieved on a 6 × 6 × 2 cm domain between the two plugs inside the cylindrical container while the flow rate of gas injection is set from 0.1 to 0.4 L per minute. The volumetric flow field result suggests double gas injection at low flow rate (0.1 L per minute) produce the least disturbed flow while highly disturbed and turbulent flow can be created at higher flow rate of gas injection.

Monolithic Cu/Al2O3-palygorskite composite aerogel for high-efficiency iodine elimination in a multimedia environment

Radioactive iodine has highly radioactive and biological toxicity, and its effective recovery is of primary importance. However, few materials can show good iodine adsorption in different media. Herein, Cu/Al2O3-Pal aerogels with improved mechanical properties and hierarchical pore structures were prepared by constructing the three-dimensional support skeleton of the aerogel with palygorskite fibers. The Cu/Al2O3-Pal aerogel exhibited excellent adsorption properties for I− (aqueous phase, 264–411 mg/g) and I2 (organic phase, 503–744 mg/g), I2 vapor (459–1122 mg/g), and CH3I vapor (559–1032 mg/g). Notably, the aerogel also exhibited ultra-high removal rates for trace iodide in solution (>90 %) and was able to efficiently convert to stable CuI. Importantly, the Cu/Al2O3-Pal aerogel can be prepared directly for use as a monolithic material, allowing for an easy recovery process. Overall, our work demonstrates the great potential of Cu/Al2O3-Palx wt% aerogels for radioactive iodine elimination.