Materials Science Research Articles

Pautas para la creación de videos educativos para estudiantes y docentes universitario

This article presents a guide for the creation of educational videos for students and teachers which was based on the search for information on specialized literature, as well as on an instrument carried out for a group of university students to know their knowledge about the subject. The study has a diagnostic scope and based on its results and the documentary analysis of the specialized literature, a proposal for a guide for the creation of educational videos is made. The results of the questionnaire reveal that videos are used and created with great frequency for educational purposes, but there is no methodology or systematized process for their creation, a need that coincides with other studies in the discussion. Therefore, we conclude with the design of the guide that aims to give general recommendations for carrying them out, identifying the ideal context to use it and what tools are needed to create this Digital Teaching Material and facilitate the teaching and learning process.

Characterising molecular interactions of [Emim][triflate] with 2-methoxyethanol and 1-methyl-2-pyrrolidone: a refractive index and IR spectral study

ABSTRACT This study investigates the molecular interactions in mixtures of 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium trifluoromethanesulfonate ([Emim][triflate]) with 2-methoxyethanol (2-ME) and N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP). Understanding these interactions is crucial for optimising the physicochemical properties of ionic liquid-based systems. Refractive indices were measured at temperatures ranging from 298.15 K to 318.15 K and at a pressure of 101.3 kPa across various mole fractions to analyse the behaviour of these mixtures. Additionally, infrared (IR) spectral studies were conducted, focusing on the C2-H and C4,5-H stretches to identify hydrogen bonding and other interactions within the mixtures. By calculating excess refractive index values, the strength and type of molecular interactions were assessed. The study revealed that the differing functional groups in 2-ME and NMP lead to distinct interaction patterns with [Emim][triflate], providing valuable insights for advanced material development and chemical process optimisation.

THE PHENOMENON OF MARKETING STRATEGIES IN DIGITAL ERA TODAY

Marketing strategy changes need to be made to face challenges in the digital era. The main factor influencing changes in marketing strategy is changes in consumer behavior. Organizations must change their methods of understanding consumer preferences and desires because consumers now have greater access to information through the internet and social media. The purpose of this study is to analyze what phenomena change marketing strategies in facing challenges in the digital era. The research method is a literature study. The results of this study are Marketing strategies must be innovative and creative because they change consumer behavior, industry problems, and assess technological advances. In the digital era, managing change is very important to overcome challenges and take advantage of opportunities. In addition, the government encourages business owners to use technology to help their company management procedures succeed in today's very tight digital market by using creative and data-based marketing methods. Organizations are expected to be able to manage change effectively, adopt new technologies, and take advantage of new possibilities. Future business success depends not only on mastery of technology, but also on the ability to innovate, adapt, and have comprehensive understanding of market dynamics.

A systematic review of plastic recycling: technology, environmental impact and economic evaluation.

In this systematic review, advancements in plastic recycling technologies, including mechanical, thermolysis, chemical and biological methods, are examined. Comparisons among recycling technologies have identified current research trends, including a focus on pretreatment technologies for waste materials and the development of new organic chemistry or biological techniques that enable recycling with minimal energy consumption. Existing environmental and economic studies are also compared. The findings highlight differences in the environmental characteristics of various recycling methods, including their ability to recover plastic resins, carbon footprint, electricity consumption and gas emissions. The comparisons also reveal the challenges associated with these methods: mechanical recycling often encounters economic barriers due to contamination and inefficiencies in sorting and cleaning processes; thermolysis is constrained by high energy demands and operational costs, whereas chemical and biological recycling faces limitations related to scalability and material costs. Additionally, current challenges, emerging research areas and future directions in plastic recycling are discussed. For example, the role of innovative techniques, such as artificial intelligence, in refining recycling processes is emphasized. The importance of incorporating circular economy principles in the integrated sustainable analysis of recycling processes is also highlighted. The innovative contribution of this review is to address both technological developments and their environmental and economic implications. The focus is placed on literature from the past 10 years to ensure coverage of the most recent advancements. Overall, the insights of this review article aim to guide researchers, policymakers and industry stakeholders in improving sustainable management practices for plastic waste.

New Architecture Design of Magnetic Field Monitoring System Based on HIAF

The High-Intensity Heavy Ion Accelerator Facility (HIAF) is one of China's major scientific and technological infrastructure projects, aimed at providing an internationally leading research platform for nuclear physics, nuclear astrophysics, nuclear energy development, nuclear safety, and materials science. During the operation of HIAF, the high-precision measurement and control of magnetic fields are crucial for the stable operation of core equipment. To meet the high demands of HIAF for precision, real-time performance, and system autonomy in magnetic field measurement, this research designs and implements a high-precision magnetic field measurement system based on the LACCS (Large-scale Accelerator Cluster Control System) architecture. The system integrates advanced hardware and software designs, enabling it to efficiently and accurately complete distributed magnetic field measurement tasks, thus providing technical support for the smooth operation of HIAF.

On-Surface Synthesis and Characterization of Pentadecacene and Its Gold Complexes.

Acenes are an important class of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons that have gained considerable attention from chemists, physicists, and material scientists, due to their exceptional potential for organic electronics. They serve as an ideal platform for studying the physical and chemical properties of sp2 carbon frameworks in the one-dimensional limit and also provide a fertile playground to explore magnetism in graphenic nanostructures due to their zigzag edge topology. While higher acenes up to tridecacene have been successfully generated by means of on-surface synthesis, it is imperative to extend their synthesis toward even longer homologues to comprehensively understand the evolution of their electronic ground state. Here, we demonstrate the on-surface synthesis of pentadecacene (15ac) from a trietheno-bridged precursor via the atom-manipulation-induced dissociation of protecting groups or the elimination of adatoms in a gold-pentadecacene complex. The generated 15ac was investigated by scanning tunneling microscopy (STM)/spectroscopy (STS) and noncontact atomic force microscopy (nc-AFM), in combination with first-principles spin-polarized density functional theory (DFT) calculations. We found that 15ac exhibits an open-shell singlet ground state with an experimental singlet-triplet gap of 124 meV and an STS transport gap of ∼1.12 eV. The formation of Au-pentadecacene complexes suggested a considerable contribution of polyradical character to the electronic ground state of 15ac. Our work contributes to a fundamental understanding of the electronic properties of long acenes and to the development of a versatile STM tip-assisted methodology for the synthesis of elusive compounds.

A safe highway driving surface using an open graded concrete

The use of open graded asphalt wearing courses for highway pavements is established technology but the opportunities to use a similar cementitious based surface type for concrete pavements has been limited by material technology and costs. Research work in Australia using new generation concrete admixtures and placing techniques has allowed the development of a stiff open graded concrete material which is expected to meet the same durability requirements as standard concrete used for roads. Open graded surface textures absorb vehicle noise emissions and minimise water film build up during rain events, thus resulting in quieter and safer driving conditions. In addition, experience has shown that high void contents at the surface assist in reducing water spray generation and glare reflection. This paper details the laboratory mix design test results and three field trials using hand placing techniques to define the limits of a wet on wet construction process. The concrete developed in the trials has high compressive strength with air voids in the range of 20 to 30%. The next stage in the development of the open graded concrete surfacing is in the use of mechanised placing techniques to make the process cost competitive to other asphalt alternatives and yet meet similar durability requirements to those currently expected in concrete road surfaces over a 40 year design period.

Gold-Modified Covalent Organic Frameworks-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization Mass Spectrometry for Analysis of Metabolites Induced by Triclosan Exposure.

Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) mass spectrometry (MS) holds great promise for the rapid and sensitive detection of biomolecules, but its precise detection of small molecule metabolites is hindered by severe background interference from the organic matrix in the low molecular weight range. To address this issue, nanomaterials have commonly been utilized as substrates in LDI-MS. Among them, covalent organic frameworks (COFs), known for their unique optical absorption and structural properties, have garnered significant attention. Despite these advantages, their low ionization efficiency remains a challenge. Herein, a composite material of COF-S@Au nanoparticles (NPs), by incorporating Au NPs into a sulfur-functionalized COF (COF-S) through postsynthetic modification, was designed and adopted as substrates. This hybrid material leverages the synergistic effects of COF-S and Au NPs to improve the desorption/ionization efficiency and minimize background interference. The COF-S@Au NPs demonstrated a 5-16-fold improvement in MS signals of small biomolecules along with a clean background and excellent resistance to salt and protein interference. Their corresponding limits of detection (LODs) were achieved at ∼pmol. Furthermore, the COF-S@Au NPs were applied to analyze metabolites in a triclosan (TCS)-exposed mouse model, successfully identifying 10 differential metabolites associated with TCS toxicity. This work provides a foundation for developing advanced LDI-MS materials for high-performance metabolic analysis and offers valuable insights into TCS metabolic toxicity with potential applications in environmental toxicology.

Optimizing agricultural downstream supply chain: addressing information asymmetry and losses

PurposeThis study aims to understand the significant issues in the downstream supply chain of agricultural commodities and find out the improved strategy.Design/methodology/approachA value chain analysis on a downstream supply chain is performed to understand all ground-level issues related to information asymmetry and material losses. The study maps processes, actors, activities, product flow, information flow, material volume flow, technology adoption and value share. The study is performed by doing a qualitative survey using a semi-structured questionnaire and face-to-face interviews with 120 farmers, six aggregators, six traders in APMC mandis, six processors, six distributors and six retailers. A case study is performed on the mustard supply chain in Rajasthan to relate the results more comprehensively. After identifying the prominent issues, a cause-and-effect analysis is done to generate suggestions for improvement in the paper.FindingsThe study reveals that the downstream supply chain has 8–12% losses of agricultural produce, and 5–7% of that is at the farmer’s end as post-harvesting losses. Farmers cannot access all available options for marketing their produce because of poor information exchange and poor reach. It suggests farmer empowerment for the optimum benefit of the entire supply chain.Research limitations/implicationsThis is an exploratory study conducted by field visits and lacks statistical evidence for some findings. The dataset can be more extensive, diversified, and analyzed for various commodities.Practical implicationsThe study’s outcome will guide the stakeholders in finding more optimum options in the downstream agriculture supply chain. Research methodology can be used as a template for studying the supply chain of any agricultural commodity in different countries.Originality/valueThe study reveals the prominent issues, causes, effects and solutions throughout the agriculture downstream supply chain. The study is a bundle of foremost observations altogether. The study has been conducted in-depth in the field with actual scenarios that unlayered the hidden issues at the root. This study addresses a relatively underexplored area and provides actionable recommendations, which significantly contribute to the existing literature on the agriculture supply chain.

The effectiveness of learning media based on digital augmented reality (AR) technology on the learning outcomes of martial arts

Introduction and Objectives : The educational potential of Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) technologies has gained significant attention in recent years. Understanding teachers' willingness to adopt new technologies is crucial for supporting their integration into education. This study aims to assess the effectiveness of AR-based digital technology applications as learning media for improving martial arts learning outcomes in the Basic Engineering Materials course at the Faculty of Sports Science, Padang State University. Methodology : This experimental study used a quantitative approach. The sample consisted of 62 students from the Faculty of Sports Science, Padang State University, selected through cluster random sampling. The subjects were divided into a control group and an experimental group. Data was collected using a pretest-posttest design. Statistical analysis was performed using the Shapiro-Wilk and Wilcoxon tests in SPSS software. Results: The results showed a significant difference in learning outcomes between students using AR-based learning media and those who did not. The p-value of 0.000 (< 0.05) indicates that the use of AR-based learning media significantly improved students' learning outcomes at the Faculty of Sports Science, Padang State University. Conclusion: The study concludes that AR-based learning media are effective in enhancing students’ learning outcomes, particularly in martial arts education. This finding contributes to the development of mobile-assisted learning and technology-enhanced education. arts teaching

Modieslab Innovative Concrete Pavement Structure: From Idea through Research to Implementation

In 1996 the Dutch Ministry of Transport, Public Works and Water Management launched the innovation program ‘Roads to the Future’. One of the developed innovative pavement structures is a Modular Pavement Structure called Modieslab. This structure is designed as a bridge and it merely consists of precast concrete elements. Since 2001 several researches were performed. Along the motorway A50 in the Netherlands a low-risk and not heavily loaded test section was constructed and monitored during 16 months. On this test section mainly the functional properties as well as construction and maintenance techniques were investigated. The main findings of this test section are reported. The structural integrity of the structure was investigated by Accelerated Load Testing of another instrumented test section by means of LINTRACK. Some characteristic measurement results are presented. Insight into the structural behaviour of both the total pavement structure and the most critical upper part of it was further obtained by means of 3D finite element modelling. Some typical calculation results are compared to measurement results. Finally the materials research is briefly described. This research concentrates on the porous concrete wearing course. Research is ongoing to find solutions for skid resistance and ravelling problems that occurred to some extent on the test sections. Given the rather positive experiences, both from a technical and an economical point of view, it was decided to actually construct an in-service road section of the radically innovative Modieslab pavement structure after only 4 to 5 years of research. Probably this project will be realized in 2005 or 2006 in an area with very poor subsoil.

Oxygen-Driven Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization.

In traditional atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP), oxygen must be meticulously eliminated due to its propensity to quench radical species and halt the polymerization process. Additionally, oxygen oxidizes the lower-valent Cu catalyst, compromising its ability to activate alkyl halides and propagate polymerization. In this study, we present an oxygen-driven ATRP utilizing alkylborane compounds, a method that not only circumvents the need for stringent oxygen removal but also exploits oxygen as an essential cofactor to promote polymerization. This approach exhibits broad compatibility in organic or aqueous media, yielding well-defined polymers with low dispersity (Đ as low as 1.11) and molecular weights closely aligned with theoretical values. Triethylborane (Et3B) and its air-stable triethylborane-amine complex (Et3B-DMAP) facilitate controlled polymerization under open-to-air conditions, demonstrating efficiency across a wide range of monomers. Moreover, the technique enables the successful synthesis of protein-polymer conjugates and supports surface modifications of nanoparticles and silicon wafers under aerobic conditions. This oxygen-driven ATRP represents a robust and versatile platform for precision polymerization with far-reaching implications in materials science, biomedicine, and advanced surface engineering.

Transition of Perovskite Solar Technologies to Being Flexible.

Perovskite technologies has taken giant steps on its advances in only a decade time, from fundamental science to device engineering. The possibility to exploit this technology on a thin flexible substrate gives an unbeatable power to weight ratio compares to similar photovoltaic systems, opening new possibilities and new integration concepts, going from building integrated and applied photovoltaics (BIPV, BAPV) to internet of things (IoT). In this perspective, the recent progress of perovskite solar technologies on flexible substrates are summarized, focusing on the challenges that researchers face upon using flexible substrates. A dig into material science is necessary to understand what kind of mechanisms are limiting its efficiency compare to rigid substrates, and which physical mechanism limits the upscaling on flexible substrate. Furthermore, an overview of stability test on flexible modules will be described, suggesting common standard procedure and guidelines to follow, showing additional issues that flexible modules face upon bending, and how to prevent device degradation providing an ad-hoc encapsulation. Finally, the recent advances of flexible devices in the perovskite market will be shown, giving an outline of how this technology is exploited on flexible substrates, and what are still missing that need stakeholders' attention.

Dual-Grid and Mixed-Precision Methods for Accelerating Plane-Wave Hybrid Functional Electronic Structure Calculations.

Hybrid functionals that incorporate exact Hartree-Fock exchange (HFX) into density functional theory (DFT) are crucial for accurately predicting the electronic structures of extended systems in condensed-matter physics and materials science. Although the exact exchange contributes only a small fraction of the total energy, HFX calculations in hybrid functionals demand significant computational resources. Here, we introduce dual-grid and mixed-precision techniques, based on two low-rank approximations, adaptively compressed exchange (ACE) and interpolative separable density fitting (ISDF) methods, to significantly improve the computational efficiency of plane-wave hybrid functional calculations in the software package PWDFT (plane wave density functional theory). The dual-grid method introduces a smaller cutoff energy, thereby reducing the number of Fourier and real-space grids involved in the HFX calculations. The mixed-precision method reduces the computational cost by shifting from double precision to single precision during the HFX construction while maintaining double precision for other DFT processes. Numerical results demonstrate that both the dual-grid and mixed-precision techniques can accelerate plane-wave hybrid functional calculations several times, with an acceptable trade-off in accuracy compared to the original low-rank approximations. Furthermore, by utilizing a hybrid MPI and OpenMP parallel implementation, we successfully perform large-scale plane-wave hybrid functional calculations with up to 8,000 silicon atoms using 16,000 CPU cores.

Photochromic Sodalites: From Natural Minerals to Advanced Applied Materials.

ConspectusWhile photochromic natural sodalites, an aluminosilicate mineral, were originally considered as curiosities, articles published in the past ten years have radically changed this perspective. It has been proven that their artificial synthesis was easy and allowed compositional tuning. Combined with simulations, it has been shown that a wide range of photochromic properties were achievable for synthetic sodalites (color, activation energy, reversibility, etc.), making them interesting as alternatives to organic photochromes but with the stability offered only by inorganic materials.The photochromism in this mineral originates from a photoinduced electron transfer from a sulfur based impurity toward a chlorine vacancy generating a trapped electron called an F-center. This F-center gives the color of the mineral. To investigate further the mechanism of the coloration and design artificial forms of these minerals, we built a multidisciplinary international consortium (Finland, Norway, United Kingdom, Belgium, and France). By combining experimental and computational characterizations, specifically designed for these minerals, we discovered that the stability of the F-center is due to the motion of a single sodium atom, able to move by more than 1 Å inside the structure to stabilize the trapped electron.Our international consortium, combining expertise in geology, material science, spectroscopy, and computational chemistry, has leveraged this understanding to design artificial sodalites for targeted applications. By adjusting their chemical composition, we can now fine-tune their photochromic properties (activation energy, color, thermal stability, etc.). As a result, photochromic sodalites have emerged as a highly promising platform for inorganic photonics, inspiring exciting new research directions. Notably, we have already demonstrated proof-of-concept applications as detectors and sensors for UV, X-ray, and α-, β-, or γ-irradiation. The first tests to use them as photosensitive films toward visible light and X-rays have also been performed to open the way of new imaging technologies.Beyond the development of technological applications for synthetic sodalites, their investigation was a driving force in the design of new experimental and computational techniques to study photochromism in the solid state. For instance, the "thermotenebrescence" technique was formulated to extract the stabilization energy of the F-center, and a methodology to compute excited states by quantum chemistry based on a multilayer electrostatic embedding was conceived for these systems. The latter has already been applied to understand other optical properties in other minerals, such as the photochromism in scapolite and tugtupite, the polychromism of cordierite and alexandrite, or the persistent luminescence in sodalites.This Account highlights the strength of a multidisciplinary approach to tackle the investigation of complex phenomena.

Prof. George Whitesides’ Contributions to Self-Assembled Monolayers (SAMs): Advancing Biointerface Science and Beyond

Prof. George Whitesides’ pioneering contributions to the field of self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) have profoundly influenced biointerface science and beyond. This review explores the development of SAMs as highly organized molecular structures, focusing on their role in advancing surface science, biointerface research, and biomedical applications. Prof. Whitesides’ systematic investigations into the effects of SAMs’ terminal group chemistries on protein adsorption and cell behavior culminated in formulating “Whitesides’ Rules”, which provide essential guidelines for designing bioinert surfaces. These principles have driven innovations in anti-fouling coatings for medical devices, diagnostics, and other biotechnological applications. We also discuss the critical role of interfacial water in SAM bioinertness, with studies demonstrating its function as a physical barrier preventing protein and cell adhesion. Furthermore, this review highlights how data science and machine learning have expanded the scope of SAM research, enabling predictive models for bioinert surface design. Remarkably, Whitesides’ Rules have proven applicable not only to SAMs but also to polymer-brush films, illustrating their broad relevance. Prof. Whitesides’ work provides a framework for interdisciplinary advancements in material science, bioengineering, and beyond. The enduring legacy of his contributions continues to inspire innovative approaches to addressing challenges in biomedicine and biotechnology.

Unilateral and Bilateral Disulfurating Reagents for the Synthesis of Unsymmetrical Polysulfides.

Polysulfides play an essential role across a variety of fields, including life sciences, pharmaceuticals, food science, and materials science. However, the controlled sequential installation of groups at both ends of an S-S motif poses enormous challenges due to the reversible nature of the covalent S-S bond. The application of unique disulfide reagents presents one of the most straightforward approaches for constructing diverse polysulfides. This concept highlights the initiatives and advancements in polysulfide synthesis facilitated by unilateral or bilateral disulfide reagents. Furthermore, ongoing research is focused on recently reported methodologies for synthesizing unsymmetrical disulfides.

Applications of Nanomaterial Coatings in Solid-Phase Microextraction (SPME)

This review explores the advances in developing adsorbent materials for solid-phase microextraction (SPME), focusing on nanoparticles, nanocomposites, and nanoporous structures. Nanoparticles, including those of metals (e.g., gold, silver), metal oxides (e.g., TiO2, ZnO), and carbon-based materials (e.g., carbon nanotubes, graphene), offer enhanced surface area, improved extraction efficiency, and increased selectivity compared to traditional coatings. Nanocomposites, such as those combining metal oxides with polymers or carbon-based materials, exhibit synergistic properties, further improving extraction performance. Nanoporous materials, including metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) and ordered mesoporous carbons, provide high surface area and tunable pore structures, enabling selective adsorption of analytes. These advanced materials have been successfully applied to various analytes, including volatile organic compounds (VOCs), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), pesticides, and heavy metals, demonstrating improved sensitivity, selectivity, and reproducibility compared to conventional SPME fibers. The incorporation of nanomaterials has significantly expanded the scope and applicability of SPME, enabling the analysis of trace-level analytes in complex matrices. This review highlights the significant potential of nanomaterials in revolutionizing SPME technology, offering new possibilities for sensitive and selective analysis in environmental monitoring, food safety, and other critical applications.

Local Structure Regulation for Oxygen Redox and Structure Stability of P2-Type Cathodes.

The local structure plays a crucial role in oxygen redox reactions, which boosts the capacity of layered oxide cathodes for sodium-ion batteries. While studies on local structural ordering have primarily focused on the intra-layer ordering, there has been limited research on the inter-layer stacking for the layered cathode materials for sodium-ion batteries. In this work, the impact of the intra-layer and inter-layer local structural regulation on anionic kinetics and the structure stability are explored through experimental analysis and theoretical calculations. Cu2+ substitution is introduced to adjust the transition metal inter-layer structure of P2-Na0.67Mg0.28Mn0.72O2, obtaining a zig-zag stacked honeycomb superlattice structure in P2- Na0.67Cu0.14Mg0.14Mn0.72O2. The local structure regulation mitigates the cation migration, improves the structure reversibility even at a deeply desodiation state of Na0.05, and the reductive coupling between cationic and anionic redox processes facilitates electron transfer from oxygen to copper ions and governs the properties of electrochemical kinetics and hysteresis. A full cell with hard carbon anode shows commendable energy density at high power density. This study paves an optional path for enhancing the structure stability and dynamics of oxygen redox chemistry in P2-type cathode materials for sodium-ion battery systems.

Unlocking the potential of azide-phosphine Staudinger reaction for the synthesis of poly(arylene iminophosphorane)s and materials therefrom

Iminophosphoranes with the general formula (R3P═NR′) have great potential in synthetic chemistry as valuable precursors/intermediates in organic synthesis or as building blocks for various organic compounds. However, the synthetic approaches and conditions to prepare iminophosphoranes are still poorly understood, limiting the utility of this chemistry for organic materials. In this article, a simple and efficient synthesis of previously unattainable poly(arylene iminophosphoranes) is reported. The azide-phosphine Staudinger polycondensation is used, and the reaction conditions are carefully studied, including consideration of light and air, the influence of solvent and temperature, and investigation of the electronic and steric effects of multiazides. The newly defined reaction conditions appear to be highly versatile, allowing the use of both electron-rich and electron-deficient arylazides for reaction with phosphines to synthesize a library of poly(arylene iminophosphorane) networks that exhibit exceptional thermal and oxidative stability. Interestingly, despite the ylidic-form of the iminophosphorane linkage as shown by theoretical calculations, these newly developed poly(arylene-iminophosphorane) networks exhibit semiconducting properties, such as absorption band edges up to 800 nm and optical band gaps in the range of 1.70 to 2.40 eV. Finally, we demonstrate the broad applicability of these polymers by processing them into glassy films, creating foam-like structures and synthesizing metallo-polymer hybrids.