Low Resistance Research Articles

3D printing of liquid metal circuits on fabric for stretchable heater application

Abstract Liquid metals (LMs), due to their excellent stretchability, low resistance, and high thermal conductivity, has become an ideal material for preparing stretchable circuits. 3D printing technology can produce patterns with complex structures with high precision and is suitable for low-cost large-scale production of circuits. However, the high surface tension of liquid metals limits the practical application of 3D printing of LMs. In this work, we proposed a method for preparing a mixed ink based on thermoplastic polyurethane, Cyrene solvent, and LMs, and producing stretchable LMs-based electrodes through 3D printing on a fabric substrate. The stretchable LMs-based electrode prepared by this method shows a wide range of strain response and excellent tensile recovery performance, providing theoretical guidance for the application of LMs electrodes. In addition, the LMs-based heaters showed good Joule thermal response at low voltages, as well as good tensile stability, providing a new strategy for wearable heaters.

Flexible transparent ITO thin film with high conductivity and high-temperature resistance

ITO thin films exhibit superior optical characteristics. However, their electrical properties are somewhat less optimal, and they demonstrate limited tolerance under high-temperature conditions. These limitations significantly constrain their potential applications in the domain of optical and electronic devices. In this study, ITO thin films with a thickness of 20 nm were prepared on a flexible Mica substrate. The film has an atomic-level flat surface, high optical transparency (around 85%), and low resistivity. The stability of the film's surface chemical structure in high-temperature applications was confirmed through XPS characterization. Furthermore, the ITO/Mica flexible thin film demonstrates exceptional durability and recyclability, retaining its optical and electronic properties under a high bending radius of 5 mm and 1000 bending cycles. It is particularly noteworthy that the film's maintenance of good structural and electrical stability (sheet resistance stabilized at 35∼37.5 Ω/sq) under bending cycles at high-temperature (up to 800 °C) conditions, which is crucial for high-temperature resistance in commercial and industrial applications. This study will provide an important experimental basis for the further development and application of ITO thin films in flexible transparent electronic devices with high temperatures and low energy consumption.

Leveraging calcium-NOM complexation phenomenon as RO fouling mitigation strategy during treatment of lake water

Organic fouling during reverse osmosis (RO) is exacerbated by the presence of calcium up to a limit where extremely high calcium concentration results in lesser fouling due to formation of large organic-calcium aggregates with lower cake resistance. Therefore, this work leveraged on this phenomenon and used calcium chloride as coagulant (at varying concentration) to reduce membrane fouling while enhancing NOM removal. Membrane cleaning efficiency through calcium-EDTA chelation which disintegrates the fouling layers was explored. RO fouling was performed with sodium alginate solutions and lake water. The fouled membranes were soaked in 0.1 mM EDTA (1 h) and backwashed with water to remove the fouling layer. Alginate fouling was worsened (45–85%) by increase in calcium concentration up to 5 mM but lessened at ˃ 5 mM calcium concentration (35–15%). Similar observations were made when filtering lake water, except that lesser fouling was observed at calcium concentrations greater than 15 mM. Membrane soaking in EDTA enhanced cleaning efficiency leading to over 90% flux recovery for both alginate and late water. However, prolonged membrane exposure to 10 mM calcium resulted in slight decline in membrane salt rejection (<2% change) and tensile stress (1.3–1.1 N/mm2), while the membrane flux increased (<3% change). Finally, NOM removal improved with calcium addition (up to 90%) – key in reducing potential formation of disinfection by-products due to addition of disinfection agents. The proposed use of calcium as a common coagulant/chelating agent for fouling mitigation/remediation during advanced membrane filtration has a potential for wider application and commercialization.

Unravelling the anionic stability of an ether-based electrolyte with a hard carbon or metallic sodium anode for high-performance sodium-ion batteries

In hard carbon (HC) anodes, elucidating the relationship between the solid electrolyte interphase formation and the solvated Na+ co-intercalation mechanism is crucial, particularly considering different anionic salts in ether-based electrolytes. Here, we comprehensively explore the impact of different anionic salts on the electrochemical performance of HC/Na half-cell and elucidate the underlying mechanism through experimental studies and theoretical calculations. The surface morphology of the HC anode and its interphasial property are further investigated to evaluate the differences endowed by the presence of various anionic salts in diglyme (2G). The HC/Na half-cells with NaPF6-2G and sodium trifluoromethanesulfonate (NaCF3SO3)-2G display superior electrochemical performance with faster kinetics and lower interfacial resistance than those with NaClO4-2G, sodium bis-(fluorosulfonyl) imide (NaFSI)-2G and sodium bis-(trifluoromethanesulfonyl) imide (NaTFSI)-2G. NaClO4-2G forms a relatively thick interphase layer with high resistance at the electrode/electrolyte interface owing to its insufficient stability. NaFSI-2G and NaTFSI-2G exhibit severe side reactions with Na metal, producing a thick interphase layer on the HC surface with high interfacial resistance from excess electrolyte decomposition, thus deteriorating the electrochemical performance. In summary, the study on the stability of different anionic salts in ether-based electrolyte for the HC anode with the intercalation mechanism provides valuable insights for screening appropriate conductive salts for high-performance sodium-ion batteries, especially when considering Na metal counter/reference electrodes.

Microstructure, Hardness, and Wear Resistance of High-carbon Hypereutectic High Chromium Irons Containing W for Use as Roller Sleeves

High chromium irons(HCI) have rarely been investigated the impact of varying W content on the microstructure and performance of high-carbon irons by scholars. In this study, after calculating by Java-based Materials Properties software (JMatPro), the casting alloying method was applied to explore the effect of adding W (0-15wt.%), Mo 3wt.%, and C 6wt.% on HCI to prepare highly wear-resistant and hard materials. The results showed that the maximum volume fraction of carbide was 38% at C 6wt.%. The addition of W promoted the formation of M6C with a maximum volume fraction of 21%, which increased the hardness to 64.5 HRC and reduced the weight loss to 0.062 g. Since W10 (the iron with W 10wt%) and W15 (the iron with W 15wt%) exhibited similar wear resistance but lower impact resistance, the W10 samples were heat-treated. W10 after QT550 (quench and temper heat treatment at 550°C) sample developed a large number of M6C-type carbides and martensite in the matrix, which improved the properties of the matrix by diffusion strengthening, leading to a hardness of 70.0 HRC and a reduction in weight loss to 0.035 g. Compared to the Cr20 reference iron, W10 after QT550 was 22.8% higher in hardness and 76.8% lower in abrasion. Concurrently, an experiment was conducted on the production of roller sleeves. With the use of W10 after QT550, the lifetime of the roller sleeve was increased by 1.6 times.

Preparation of C@CuNi/TiO2 with a Local surface plasmon resonance for photocatalytic degradation of organic dyes and antibiotics under visible light irradiation

A composite photocatalyst with carbon-coated CuNi nanoparticles-loaded TiO2 nanotubes (C@CuNi/TiO2) was synthesized via a microwave hydrothermal alkali stripping method combined with subsequent in-situ carbothermal reduction. The structure, morphology, and surface chemical composition were investigated using X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The findings demonstrate that the microwave hydrothermal alkali peeling enables the formation of a three-dimensional C@CuNi/TiO2 composite structure. The results of transient photocurrent response (i-t) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy under visible light demonstrate that C@CuNi/TiO2 exhibits a reduced rate of electron-hole recombination and lower surface resistance compared to C@TiO2, C@Cu/TiO2, and C@Ni/TiO2. After a two-hour exposure to visible light, the composite photocatalyst C@CuNi/TiO2, featuring a molar ratio of 2% CuNi nanoparticles to TiO2 nanotubes, exhibited remarkable degradation activity towards organic dyes (Rhodamine B (RhB), Methylene Blue (MB), Methyl Orange (MO)), as well as antibiotics (tetracycline (TC) and levofloxacin (LVFX)). After 5 cycles of photocatalytic reaction, the photodegradation activity of RhB remained above 79%. It is indicated that CuNi nanoparticles effectively trap and enrich photoelectrons through the photoexcitation of TiO2 nanotubes. Additionally, the local surface plasmonic resonance (LSPR) effect of CuNi nanoparticles reduces the recombination rate of photogenerated electron/hole and the electron transport resistance in the composite photocatalyst, thereby enhancing its overall photocatalytic activity.

Promotion of aromatic amino acids of extracellular polymeric substance targeted transformation via sulfite mediated iron redox cycling in sludge solid-liquid separation

Highly hydrophilic extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) with gel-like structure seriously plagues the development of sludge deep dewatering. Oxysulfur radicals-based oxidation driven by iron-bearing mineral proposes a promising strategy for effective EPS decomposition. However, the transformation and involved interaction mechanisms of aromatic proteins are still controversial due to the complex EPS structure. Herein, sulfite mediated siderite (denoted as Fe(II)/S(IV)) was developed for targeted transformation aromatic amino acids in EPS oxidation to strengthen sludge solid-liquid separation. The enhanced sludge dewaterability were benefited from the Fe(II)/S(IV) bonded interaction assisted by Fe3+/Fe2+ as redox interface that facilitating the release of intracellular bound water via diminish the hydrophily and bind strength with solid protons. The amide region nitrogen of aromatic amino acids (especially tyrosine and tryptophan) originating from EPS presented looser structure and lower spatial site resistance, which were attributed to the exposure of hydrophobic sites in amino groups after Fe(II)/S(IV) treatment. Furthermore, the effective decline of aromatic amino acids in inner layer-EPS (loosely bound EPS and tightly bound EPS) was directed from Fe-N targeted interaction by triggering a series of sulfate-based radical chain reactions. The good correlation between electron transfer amount (R2 = 0.926) and Fe-N (R2 = 0.925) with bonding interaction demonstrated that the complexation of aromatic amino acids with Fe sites on siderite/sulfite via Fe-N bonds, accounting for efficient sludge solid-liquid separation. This study deepens the understanding of sludge organic matter targeted transformation and provides a tactic for iron-based conditioning of sludge.

Characterization of (Zr,Ti)B2-SiC composites obtained by hot press sintering of ZrB2-SiC-TiO2 powder mixtures

The ability to enhance mechanical and oxidation properties for severe environmental applications has led to substantial academic interest in multiphase ultra-high temperature ceramics (UHTC). The purpose of this work is to study the in-situ solid solution formation of (Zr,Ti)B2 from ZrB2 and TiO2 in a ZrB2-SiC composite using hot pressing reaction sintering. For this, a mixture of 10, 20, and 30% vol% SiC with ZrB2 was mixed with 2.0 wt% TiO2. Hot pressing sintering was performed with a load of 20 MPa at a final temperature of 1850 °C/30 min in an argon atmosphere. The microstructures, crystalline phases, densities, mechanical properties, and oxidation resistance of the composites were examined and compared with ZrB2-SiC samples lacking TiO2. In samples where TiO2 was added, the matrix grain size slightly decreased, the fracture mode was mainly intergranular, and the SiC grain morphology changed the aspect ratio to be more equiaxed. The solid solution (Zr,Ti)B2 was produced, and it was demonstrated by EDS elemental map images and the XRD analysis that Ti atoms incorporate into the ZrB2 crystalline structure. The development of solid solutions showed no impact on relative densities or Vickers hardness. However, the solid solution formation favored an improvement in fracture toughness, probably owing to the smaller matrix grain size and intergranular fracture mode. Samples exhibiting (Zr,Ti)B2 formation presented lower oxidation resistance than undoped samples in the same oxidizing condition.

A practical method for the in-situ estimation of the effective thermal resistance of gas diffusion layers in PEMFC

The membrane electrode assembly of a PEM fuel cell is hotter than the gas feeding plates because heat is generated within it, and the diffusion layers are thermally resistive. The temperature gradient created, which increases as a function of the current density, is useful for evacuating the water produced in vapor form. This water transport mechanism is known as the “heat pipe effect”. The temperature gradient produces a saturation vapour pressure gradient, which in turn produces a diffusive vapor flow. Mastering water management, coupled with heat management, requires knowledge of the temperature of the MEA and therefore the effective thermal resistance of the diffusion layers. In this paper, we present an original method for estimating this thermal resistance in situ, without using heat flux sensors or directly measuring the temperature of the MEA. The method requires the ability to impose a temperature gradient between the anode and cathode plates, and to perform a hot-side water balance. Thermal resistance is deduced from the coupling between heat and water transfer. Two diffusion layers widely used by the community are tested. The GDL Sigracet 22 BB (from SGL Carbon) has a lower effective thermal resistance than the GDL Freudenberg H15C14. Variations in these thermal resistances are measured as a function of the temperature gradient imposed and of the compression ratio.

Compost incorporation and wildflowers introduction for stormwater infiltration and erosion-control vegetation cover establishment in post-construction landscapes

Urban and suburban development frequently disturbs and compacts soils, reducing infiltration rates and fertility, posing challenges for post-development vegetation establishment, and contributing to soil erosion. This study investigated the effectiveness of compost incorporation in enhancing stormwater infiltration and vegetation establishment in urban landscapes. Experimental treatments comprised a split-split plot design of vegetation mix (grass, wildflowers, and grass-wildflowers) as main plot, ground cover (hydro-mulch and excelsior) as subplot, and compost (30% Compost and No-Compost) as sub-subplot factors. Wildflower inclusion was motivated by their recognized ecological benefits, including aesthetics, pollinator habitat, and deep root systems. Vegetation cover was assessed using RGB (Red-Green-Blue) imagery and ArcGIS-based supervised image classification. Over a 24-month period, bulk density, infiltration rate, soil penetration resistance, vegetation cover, and root mass density were assessed. Results highlighted that Compost treatments consistently reduced bulk density by 19–24%, lowered soil penetration resistance to under 2 MPa at both field-capacity and water-stressed conditions, and increased infiltration rate by 2–3 times compared to No-Compost treatments. Vegetation cover assessment revealed rapid establishment with 30% compost and 60:40 grass-wildflower mix, persisting for an initial 12 months. Subsequently, all treatments exhibited similar vegetation coverage from 13 to 24 months, reaching 95–100% cover. Compost treatments had significantly higher root mass density within the top 15 cm than No-Compost, but compost addition did not alter the root profile beyond the 15 cm depth incorporation depth. The findings suggest that incorporating 30% compost and including a wildflower or grass-wildflower mix appears to be effective in enhancing stormwater infiltration and provides rapid erosion control vegetation cover establishment in post-construction landscapes.

Pathophysiologic Vasodilation in Cardiogenic Shock and Its Impact on Mortality.

Cardiogenic shock (CS) mortality remains near 40%. In addition to inadequate cardiac output, patients with severe CS may exhibit vasodilation. We aimed to examine the prevalence and consequences of vasodilation in CS. We analyzed all patients hospitalized at a CS referral center who were diagnosed with CS stages B to E and did not have concurrent sepsis or recent cardiac surgery. Vasodilation was defined by lower systemic vascular resistance (SVR), higher norepinephrine equivalent dose, or a blunted SVR response to pressors. Threshold SVR values were determined by their relation to 14-day mortality in spline models. The primary outcome was death within 14 days of CS onset in multivariable-adjusted Cox models. This study included 713 patients with a mean age of 60 years and 27% females; 14-day mortality was 28%, and 38% were vasodilated. The median SVR was 1308 dynes•s•cm-5 (interquartile range, 870-1652), median norepinephrine equivalent was 0.11 µg/kg per minute (interquartile range, 0-0.2), and 28% had a blunted pressor response. Each 100-dynes•s•cm-5 decrease in SVR below 800 was associated with 20% higher mortality (adjusted hazard ratio, 1.23; P=0.004). Each 0.1-µg/kg per minute increase in norepinephrine equivalent dose was associated with 15% higher mortality (adjusted hazard ratio, 1.12; P<0.001). A blunted pressor response was associated with a nearly 2-fold mortality increase (adjusted hazard ratio, 1.74; P=0.003). Pathophysiologic vasodilation is prevalent in CS and independently associated with an increased risk of death. CS vasodilation can be identified by SVR <800 dynes•s•cm-5, high doses of pressors, or a blunted SVR response to pressors. Additional studies exploring mechanisms and treatments for CS vasodilation are needed.

ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING OF SYNTHETIC RUBBER INK WITH HIGH SOLID CONTENT REINFORCED BY NETWORKED SILICA

ABSTRACT Silica is a reinforcing filler commonly used in the production of environmentally friendly tires, because tires reinforced with silica have lower rolling resistance that translates into reduced energy consumption and improved fuel economy. However, achieving the optimal dispersion of silica within the rubber matrix is crucial for maximizing its reinforcing effects. In this study, a three-dimensionally networked silica (NS) was introduced in various amounts to rubber inks to improve their tensile strength and increase miscibility to enable their use in additive manufacturing. The results show that synthetic rubber ink with a high content of SBR (90%) and reinforced by NS possesses adequate viscosity for use in the direct ink write (DIW) process. NS was confirmed to have an impact on the rheological properties and printability of the rubber ink as well as improve the tensile strength of the printed parts. Different formulations were tested to study and facilitate the vulcanization process and identify the optimal curing conditions as well as the print parameters to use in DIW printing. The successful printing and vulcanization of various printed structures demonstrate the potential for using the developed printable ink in additive manufacturing. This study opens up new possibilities for creating rubber products (such as tire treads) with adequate flexibility and high tensile strength.

Tribological performance of ZrO2 nanoparticles as friction and wear reduction additives in aviation lubricant

Abstract High-performance aircraft engines require superior aviation oils to enhance their lubricating performance and prolong service life. Addition of nano-sized ceramic particles has been considered as a useful way to improve the tribological performance of base fluids. Up to now, few previous studies focused on the tribological properties of ZrO2 nanoparticles in aviation oil. The current study dispersed ZrO2 nanoparticles into PAO20 aviation base oil as lubricant additives. A dual-step method comprised of physical blending and ultrasonic dispersing was applied in the preparation of ZrO2 nanofluids. Oleic acid was utilized as surfactant to enhance the stability of ZrO2 nanofluids. Ball-on-plate reciprocating sliding wear tests were conducted to obtain the coefficient of friction and wear volumes. It was found that the PAO20 base oil produced the highest coefficient of friction of 0.278 and wear volumes of 2.305╳10-2 mm3. 5wt% ZrO2 nanofluids with 5wt% oleic acid showed the best lubricating performance. The coefficient of friction was reduced by 31.29%, and wear volume was reduced by 42.95%. In the examination of wear tracks, a physically embedded tribo-layer of ZrO2 nanoparticles and an oleic acid tribo-film with low shearing resistance were formed, which lowered the friction, and protected the mating surfaces against abrasive and adhesive wear. The results obtained in this study have applicable values in the development of high-performance aviation lubricants.

A wave-transparent electrothermal sandwich composite for high-efficient anti-icing/de-icing

Light-weight composite materials with multifunction are widely used on aircrafts, antennas and wind turbines. Its anti-icing/de-icing is still a great challenge due to its poor heat transmission and low heat resistance. To address these issues, a novel electrothermal sandwich composite (NESC) was prepared by hot pressing an electrothermal film into load-bearing composite materials. By optimizing the ingredient of boron nitride nanoparticle, the heat diffusion rate was improved by 86 %, saving ∼14 % of energy consumption for complete anti-icing in dynamic icing conditions compared to samples without thermal conductivity enhancement. Furthermore, high electromagnetic transmittance up to 80 % of NESC was ensured through electromagnetic design. Besides the high-efficient and electromagnetic compatible anti-icing performance, NESC also performs high resistance to acid/alkali, abrasion and impact, good heating uniformity, stable photothermal effect, and potential of large-area manufacture. This paper presents a promising solution for durable, multi-functional, compatible, and energy-saving composites for anti-icing and de-icing.

Enhancing electrical insulation and thermal conductivity in polydimethylsiloxane polymer nanocomposites through silica coating on carbon fibers

Mesophase pitch-based carbon fibers (MPCFs) exhibit high thermal conductivity (∼900Wm−1K−1) and are considered to be an important candidate for future thermal management. However, MPCFs lead to an increase in the electrical conductivity of nanocomposites due to the low volume electrical resistivity (∼10−3 Ω cm). The development of MPCFs nanocomposites with high thermal conductivity and good electrical insulation remains a challenging problem. In order to solve the problem, we utilized the surfactant cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) as an anchor for hydrolysis, and employed a sol-gel method to deposit a silica coating on MPCFs (silica@MPCFs). Silica@MPCFs was used as the filler for polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) matrix. The nanocomposites exhibit commendable thermal conductivity (achieving 1.52 Wm−1K−1) and excellent volume electrical insulation (exceeding 1013 Ω cm) at a 30 vol% concentration. Notably, both the thermal conductivity and volume electrical insulation exceed MPCFs/PDMS. This approach to electrical insulation treatment holds substantial potential for the future preparation of high-performance nanocomposites of electronic devices.

An efficient electrode for reversible oxygen reduction/evolution and ethylene electro-production on protonic ceramic electrochemical cells

Protonic ceramic electrochemical cells (PCECs) have demonstrated great promise for applications in the generation of electricity, and the synthesis of chemicals (for example, ethylene). However, enhancing the electrochemical reactions kinetics and stability of PCECs electrodes is one grand challenge. Here, we present a novel electrode material via a co-doping of cesium (Cs) and niobium (Nb) on PrBaCo2O6−δ with the composition of PrBa0.9Cs0.1Co1.9Nb0.1O6−δ (PBCCN), which naturally decomposes into dual phases of a double-perovskite PBCCN (DP-PBCCN, ∼92.3 wt%) and a single-perovskite Ba0.9Cs0.1Co0.95Nb0.05O3−δ (SP-BCCN, ∼7.7 wt%) under typical powder processing conditions. PBCCN exhibits a low area-specific resistance (ASR) value of 0.107 Ω cm2, an outstanding performance of 2.04 W cm−2 in fuel cell (FC) mode, a current density of −2.84 A cm−2 at 1.3 V in electrolysis cell (EC) mode, and promising reversible operational durability of 53 cycles in ∼212 h at +/− 0.5 A cm−2 and 650 °C. Cs doping generates more oxygen vacancies and accelerates the oxygen exchange kinetics, while Nb doping effectively enhances the stability, as illustrated by the analyses of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and electrical conductivity relaxations. When applied as the positrode for electrochemical non-oxidative dehydrogenation of ethane (C2H6) to ethylene (C2H4) on PCECs, it displays an encouraging C2H6 conversion of 12.75% and a C2H4 selectivity of 98.4% at 1.2 V.

Treatability of odorous dioxanes/dioxolanes in source water: How does molecular flexibility and pre-oxidation affect odorant adsorption

Odorous dioxanes and dioxolanes, a class of cyclic acetals often produced as byproducts in polyester resin manufacturing, are problematic in drinking water treatment due to their low odor thresholds and resistance to conventional treatment technology. Our research focuses on the removal of ten dioxane/dioxolane compounds through oxidation and adsorption processes, exploring the key molecular properties that govern the treatmentability. We discovered that both chlorination and permanganate oxidation were largely ineffective at degrading cyclic acetals, achieving less than 20% removal even at high applicable doses. Conversely, powdered activated carbon (PAC) adsorption proved to be a more effective method, with a removal of > 90% at a PAC dosage of 10 mg/L for seven out of ten compounds. The presence of natural organic matter (NOM) reduced PAC adsorbability for all odorants, but the deterioration level substantially varied and mostly affected by structural flexibility as indicated by the number of rotatable bonds. The results of both the experimental investigation and molecular simulation corroborated the hypothesis that more rotatable bonds (from one to three here) are indicative of greater structural flexibility, which in consequence determines the susceptibility of cyclic acetals to NOM competitive adsorption. Increased structural flexibility could facilitate greater entry into silt-like micropores or achieve preferential adsorption sites with more compatible morphology against NOM competition. When pre-oxidation (chlorination and permanganate oxidation) and adsorption were applied sequentially, additional low molecular weight NOM components produced by pre-oxidation resulted in intensified NOM competition and decreased odorant adsorbability. If this combination is inevitably required for algae and odorant control, it would be beneficial to utilize a wise screen for oxidants and a reduced oxidant dose (less than 2 mg/L) to mitigate the deterioration of odorant adsorption. This study elucidates the roles of structural flexibility in influencing the treatability of dioxanes and dioxolanes, extending beyond the solely well-established effects of hydrophobicity. It also presents rational practice guidelines for the combination of pre-oxidation and adsorption in addressing odor incidents associated with dioxane and dioxolane compounds.

Synergistic Enhancements of Zn-ZIF with Nano Zinc Oxide for Hydrogen adsorption, energy storage, and photocatalytic technologies

Creating the porous Zinc-Zeolitic Imidazolate Framework (Zn-ZIF) using a solvothermal technique addresses the need for advanced materials with distinctive properties and cost-effectiveness in modern applications. The PXRD, SEM, UV-DRS, TEM, and TGA/DTG are used to characterize different concentrations of Zn-ZIF. Zn-ZIF's crystalline structure and phase purity have been verified by PXRD. Using diffuse reflectance spectra, the Kubelka-Monk function determined the band gaps of the Zn-ZIF samples, and scanning electron microscopy revealed a more porous structure. At 77 K and 1 bar, the Zn-ZIF solution with a 2:1 ratio had the highest hydrogen storage capacity (1.71 wt%). The electrochemical behavior of several Zn-ZIF electrodes in a 6 M KOH electrolyte was evaluated by cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) experiments. The Zn-ZIF electrode with a 2:1 ratio exhibits a low charge transfer resistance and a high proton diffusion coefficient (D) of 1.687 × 10−4 cm2 s−1. The characteristics of the 2:1 synthesized Zn-ZIF electrode as a supercapacitor were investigated. Our analysis of the generated Zn-ZIF material's specific capacitance values after 2000 cycles revealed an impressive retention rate of nearly 89 %, with values of 296.6 Fg-1. In addition, we examined the photocatalytic activities of the as-synthesized material by exposing it to ultraviolet light and seeing how it degraded organic dyes such as Cango-Red (CR) dye. With a photocatalytic efficacy of 95.06 % for CR dye, Zn-ZIF (2:1 ratio) is the most effective. These findings should provide new knowledge for researchers interested in developing novel Zn-ZIF materials for photocatalytic, energy storage, and hydrogen storage applications.

Flexible and anisotropically conductive film by assembly of silicone rubber and cobalt-coated glass fiber composites

In this study, we prepared electromagnetic cobalt-coated glass fiber (Co@GF) composites via an electroless plating method. Subsequently, a conductive sandwich flexible film consisting of Co@GF composites and liquid silicone rubber (RTV-2) was successfully formed using the tape casting method at room temperature. Based on the perfect coating and excellent electrical conductivity of the Co@GF composites, the resultant RTV-2/Co@GF/RTV-2 sandwich flexible film showed a low volume resistivity of 0.264 Ω·cm and could stretch to 100% (of 4.40 Ω·cm) without obvious fracture. When a magnetic field was applied during the curing process, the electromagnetic Co@GF composites were aligned automatically in the RTV-2 matrix because of their ferromagnetic nature. The as-prepared film exhibited anisotropy in its electrical performance. The volume resistivity parallel to the magnetic field direction is approximately two times lower than that in the perpendicular direction. The maximum difference in the volume resistivity (ρ∥ = 0.768 Ω·cm and ρ⊥ = 1.549 Ω·cm) was obtained at a magnetic field intensity of 800 mT. In addition, a magnetic field intensity of 100 mT helps improve the electrical conductivity of the as-obtained sandwich film. The anisotropic RTV-2/Co@GF/RTV-2 sandwich flexible film is considered a promising flexible electronic sensor, where discrepant inductive sensitivity is required in orthogonal directions.

Adsorption performance with field emission scanning electron microscopy of fruit peel induced Silver Nanoparticles in C16H18ClN3S for waste water treatment

There is a growing demand for cost-effective and sustainable technologies for treating wastewater as water consumption increases and conventional technologies become more expensive. Nanoparticles have a great deal of potential for use in the treatment of waste water. Their unique surface area allows them to effectively remove toxic metal ions, pathogenic microorganisms, organic and inorganic solutes from water. This study investigated the potential of orange and banana peels as renewable nano adsorbents for removing dyes and dissolved organic compounds from textile wastewater. Orange and banana peels are an optimal selection due to their favourable chemical characteristics, namely the presence of cellulose, pectic, hemicellulose, and lignin. Their capacity to adsorb diverse anionic and cationic compounds on their surface-active sites is attributed to their unique functional group compositions. Silver nanoparticles are able to adsorb heavy metals due to their exceptionally low electrical and thermal resistance and surface plasmon resonance. The samples were thoroughly characterised using field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), UV–Visible spectrometry, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and XRD. The nanoparticles were prepared (10 gm,50 gm,100 gm) and subsequently introduced to the wastewater sample. The optical density values were recorded at various time points. The optical density values demonstrate a decline over the course of the experiment, with a notable decrease observed over time. The results of this study provide valuable insights into the efficacy of these natural adsorbents and their potential for sustainable water purification technologies. For the purpose of this research, high performance instrumentation methods were performed as follows:•Field emission scanning electron microscopy for surface morphology studies.•Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC–MS) for analytical technique that combines gas chromatography (GC) and mass spectrometry (MS) to identify unknown substances or contaminants.•Optical density values were measured for different timings of degradation.