Materials Science Research Articles

Systematic literature review: effects of digital teaching materials on learning achievement

Systematic literature review: effects of digital teaching materials on learning achievement

Anisotropic spreading on chemically heterogeneous surfaces: Insights from contact line approach

Studying the spreading of droplets on heterogeneous surfaces is significant for understanding various phenomena, from petroleum engineering to material science, due to its implications for wetting behavior, surface interactions, and functional coating applications. In this work, we investigated the spread of droplets on heterogeneous surfaces using molecular dynamics simulations. The results showed that the contact line approach can predict the equilibrium contact angle of droplet well. We found significant differences in the spreading of droplets on heterogeneous surfaces with different lyophilic pattern sizes, and then we explained the difference in droplet spreading on different heterogeneous surfaces by the proportion of lyophobic and lyophilic regions covered by contact lines. This study emphasizes the importance of contact lines in droplet spreading dynamics and enhances our understanding of the relationship between contact lines and droplet spreading.

Bridging length scales in hard materials with ultra-small angle X-ray scattering - a critical review.

Owing to their exceptional properties, hard materials such as advanced ceramics, metals and composites have enormous economic and societal value, with applications across numerous industries. Understanding their microstructural characteristics is crucial for enhancing their performance, materials development and unleashing their potential for future innovative applications. However, their microstructures are unambiguously hierarchical and typically span several length scales, from sub-ångstrom to micrometres, posing demanding challenges for their characterization, especially for in situ characterization which is critical to understanding the kinetic processes controlling microstructure formation. This review provides a comprehensive description of the rapidly developing technique of ultra-small angle X-ray scattering (USAXS), a nondestructive method for probing the nano-to-micrometre scale features of hard materials. USAXS and its complementary techniques, when developed for and applied to hard materials, offer valuable insights into their porosity, grain size, phase composition and inhomogeneities. We discuss the fundamental principles, instrumentation, advantages, challenges and global status of USAXS for hard materials. Using selected examples, we demonstrate the potential of this technique for unveiling the microstructural characteristics of hard materials and its relevance to advanced materials development and manufacturing process optimization. We also provide our perspective on the opportunities and challenges for the continued development of USAXS, including multimodal characterization, coherent scattering, time-resolved studies, machine learning and autonomous experiments. Our goal is to stimulate further implementation and exploration of USAXS techniques and inspire their broader adoption across various domains of hard materials science, thereby driving the field toward discoveries and further developments.

Membrane-based technologies for removing emerging contaminants in urban water systems: Limitations, successes, and future improvements

Emerging contaminants (ECs) have been continuously discovered in recent years, posing high risks to human health and environmental safety. Due to their characteristics, such as environmental persistence and bioaccumulation, ECs have severe and often hidden hazards, necessitating effective control measures. Membrane-based technologies possess satisfactory feasibility in the treatment of ECs, which are considered green, efficient, and economically beneficial. Membrane technologies such as membrane separation and membrane bioreactor (MBR) treatment can efficiently remove some ECs. With the rapid development of materials science, membrane-based coupled technologies such as catalytic membranes and adsorption membranes have also achieved significant success, offering effective solutions for the treatment of refractory organic contaminants. This article systematically elucidated the effectiveness, progress, and shortcomings of membrane-based technologies in the field of ECs treatment in recent years. The trends of membrane-based technologies in the field of removal of ECs in the past two decades were described in detail, with a bibliometric analysis. The management situation of newly discovered microplastics (MPs) and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) was also discussed. This review provided reasonable insights into the application of membrane-based technologies in the removal of ECs and offers suggestions for future research directions.

The Development of Principles for Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) in Preclinical Spinal Cord Research: A Modified Delphi Study.

There is currently limited guidance for researchers on Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) for preclinical spinal cord research, leading to uncertainty about design and implementation. This study aimed to develop evidence-informed principles to support preclinical spinal cord researchers to incorporate PPI into their research. This study used a modified Delphi method with the aim of establishing consensus on a set of principles for PPI in spinal cord research. Thirty-eight stakeholders including researchers, clinicians and people living with spinal cord injury took part in the expert panel. Participants were asked to rate their agreement with a series of statements relating to PPI in preclinical spinal cord research over two rounds. As part of Round 2, they were also asked to rate statements as essential or desirable. Thirty-eight statements were included in Round 1, after which five statements were amended and two additional statements were added. After Round 2, consensus (> 75% agreement) was reached for a total of 27 principles, with 13 rated as essential and 14 rated as desirable. The principles with highest agreement related to diversity in representation among PPI contributors, clarity of the purpose of PPI and effective communication. This research developed a previously unavailable set of evidence-informed principles to inform PPI in preclinical spinal cord research. These principles provide guidance for researchers seeking to conduct PPI in preclinical spinal cord research and may also inform PPI in other preclinical disciplines. This study was conducted as part of a project aiming to develop PPI in preclinical spinal cord injury research associated with an ongoing research collaboration funded by the Irish Rugby Football Union Charitable Trust (IRFU CT) and the Science Foundation Ireland Centre for Advanced Materials and BioEngineering Research (SFI AMBER), with research conducted by the Tissue Engineering Research Group (TERG) at the RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences. The project aims to develop an advanced biomaterials platform for spinal cord repair and includes a PPI Advisory Panel comprising researchers, clinicians and seriously injured rugby players to oversee the work of the project. PPI is included in this study through the involvement of members of the PPI Advisory Panel in the conceptualisation of this research, review of findings, identification of key points for discussion and preparation of the study manuscript as co-authors.

Development of MnWO4:Ag Nanodilute Magnetic Semiconductors with Tunable Magnetic and Optoelectronic Properties

The bandgap engineered MnWO4 nanoparticles doped with Ag were developed using a facile one-pot synthesis method. The impurity doping concentration of Ag was varied from 1 to 5 weight percentages to tune the interactions between manganese tungstate and silver ions to obtain desirable magnetic and optoelectronic properties. The structural properties of the MnWO4 particles with various concentrations of Ag were investigated using X-ray diffraction. The optical properties of the pristine and Ag-doped MnWO4 particles were determined using UV‒Vis and photoluminescence spectroscopy. The impurity concentration-dependent structural transformations and changes in the vibrational modes, lattice dynamics, electronic transitions and optoelectronic properties of the prepared materials were analyzed using Raman spectroscopy. The topology, morphology and elemental analysis of the synthesized nanoparticles were elucidated using TEM, SEM, SEM and EDX techniques. The magnetic properties of the MnWO4:Ag nanoparticles were measured using a vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM). The obtained results suggested that Ag-doped MnWO4 nanosystems show enhanced and tunable magnetic properties suitable for nanodilute magnetic semiconductor (nDMS) applications. The presented work opens a range of possibilities for the development of advanced materials with applications in optoelctronics, nanomedicine, energy-efficient electronic devices and energy conversion.

Imaging Single Prussian Blue Nanoparticles with Extraordinary Low-Spin Iron Capacity.

In attempts to obtain high-capacity Prussian blue nanomaterials, current efforts are predominantly focused on the particle-ensemble-level understanding of their structure-activity relationships. Complementarily, it would be insightful to screen out extraordinary individuals from the nanoparticle population. Using a simple and efficient technique of bright-field microscopy, this work enables, for the first time, quantitative characterization of the overall two-redox-center electrochemistry of single Prussian blue nanoparticles many at a time. Quantitative optical voltammograms with little interference from solvent breakdown and non-Faradaic electrode charging/discharging are extracted for each single nanoparticle, revealing clear heterogeneity among them. On this basis, the microscopic method allows a detailed comparative analysis between the two redox-active sites. It is found that while the synthesized nanoparticles show a similar specific capacity of the high-spin (HS-Fe) sites with STD/mean = 30%, most individual nanoparticles exhibit monodispersedly small capacities of the low-spin iron (LS-Fe) sites, only about of the HS-Fe capacity. Most importantly, it is discovered that there is always a small fraction (∼8%) of the single nanoparticles showing an impressively tripled LS-Fe capacity. Facilitated by optical imaging, the discovery of this easily overlooked extraordinary subpopulation confers alternative opportunities for targeted efforts for material chemists to improve synthesis and material design based on these unusual individuals, which in turn implies the general significance of nanoparticle screening.

Changes in physical fitness and body build of women and men surveyed in 2004 and 2022-A longitudinal study.

Physical fitness plays a crucial role in determining human health and overall well-being. The objective of the study was to assess the changes in body structure and physical fitness among individuals examined in 2004 and 2022 (persons aged 32-34 and 50-52). The research material consists of data from the Krakow Continuous Study (KCS) of somatic development and physical fitness of people born in 1970 and 1972, conducted in Krakow in the years 1976-2022. In total, in 2004, 103 women and 122 men took part in the study, and in 2022-47 women and 67 men. Of these participants, 37 women and 53 men were present for both measurements. The following measurements were performed-physical fitness tests: handgrip strength of left and right hand, standing broad jump, sit-and-reach test and overhead medicine ball throw (2 kg); anthropometric measurements: body height, body weight and tissue composition, circumferences of the chest (relaxed and in deep inspiration), waist, hips, thigh, mid-upper-arm (MUAC, relaxed and in deep inspiration), forearm and calf, thickness of biceps, triceps, subscapular, abdominal, suprailiac and calf skinfolds; width of shoulders and hips, depth and width of the chest. A comparative analysis of the two series showed that all fitness test scores deteriorated. The percentage decrease was greater in women than in men in the tests of right and left handgrip strength and overhead medicine ball throw than in men, in the standing broad jump test similar in both sexes, in the sit-and-reach test-lower in women than in men. The greatest decreases were observed in the standing broad jump (by 14%) and the 2 kg medicine ball throw (15-12%), both in women and men. In contrast, the level of development of most of the somatic characteristics studied in 2022 was higher compared to the previous study, and, apart from body height, elbow and knee width and calf skinfold in both sexes, the differences in arithmetic means between the 2004 and 2022 series were statistically significant. Furthermore, the absence of involutionary changes in body height can be highlighted. In conclusion, the decrease in physical fitness occurring in adulthood and the increase in most somatic characteristics between 32 and 34 year-olds and 50 and 52 year-olds were confirmed.

Economic Optimization and Performance Enhancement of Rooftop Solar Power Systems Using Concentrated Solar Technology and Advanced Materials

Abstract: This research investigates the economic optimization and performance enhancement of rooftop solar power systems through the integration of concentrated solar technology and advanced materials. The aim is to assess the viability and effectiveness of these innovations in both residential and commercial settings. By focusing on improving energy efficiency and reducing costs, the study provides a comprehensive economic perspective on the adoption of these advanced solar technologies. Key aspects of the research include the evaluation of lifecycle costs, energy yield, and payback periods, offering insights into the long-term financial benefits and feasibility of implementing such systems. The integration of concentrated solar technology enhances the intensity of solar energy captured, thereby significantly boosting the efficiency of rooftop solar panels. Advanced materials, such as perovskites, multi-junction cells, and nanomaterials, are examined for their potential to improve energy absorption, durability, and overall performance of solar panels. The research employs simulation software to model the performance of these optimized systems under various environmental conditions, providing a detailed analysis of their energy output and efficiency.

Design of Digital Teaching Material of Sustainable Lifestyle Theme Integrated Ethno-PjBL for Independent Curriculum Learning

This study aims to produce digital teaching materials on the theme of sustainable lifestyle integrated with Ethno-PjBL that are valid, practical, and effective for independent curriculum learning. The type of research used is design research with the Plomp model, which consists of a preliminary research stage, a prototype stage, and an assessment stage. The research is limited only to the practicality stage at the assessment stage, with a trial on 36 students of SMAN Kota Jambi in 2023/2024. The research instruments include teacher interview guidelines, needs analysis questionnaires, knowledge tests, creative thinking tests, validation instruments, and practicality. The data analysis technique used is descriptive analysis, namely describing the validity of Aiken's V and its practicality. The results of the study show that the digital teaching materials on the Theme of Sustainable Lifestyle Integrated with Ethno-PjBL for Independent Curriculum Learning have valid criteria and a very good level of practicality, according to teachers and students. Thus, this digital teaching material is valid and practical for use in learning

Unleashing the Potential of Single-Atom Nanozymes: Catalysts for the Future.

Single-atom nanozymes (SANs) have become a breakthrough in atomically precise catalysis, which relies on the catalytic active site formed by the single-atom itself. From this angle, SANs and their advantages compared to natural enzymes as well as spaces for their application are emphasized. The SANs have outstanding control over their catalytic activities; this is compared with bulk materials and natural enzymes. The structure of the SANs has very promising potential for the next generation of biosensing and biomedical devices and environmental remediation. Although their capabilities are high, difficulties still arise. The specificity, scalability, biosafety, and catalysis mechanisms raise additional issues that require further research. We build up a vision of the perspectives of the better implementation of SANs, which are designed for diagnostic purposes, improving industrial technologies, and creating new sustainable technologies in the food processing industry. AI and machine learning systems may clarify the structure-performance relationship of SANs for improved material and process selectivity. The future of SANs is very promising, and by addressing these challenges and leveraging advancements in artificial intelligence and materials science, SANs have the potential to become powerful tools for a sustainable future.

Gas tungsten arc welding of a multiphase CoCuxFeMnNi (x=20,30) high entropy alloy system: Microstructural differences and their consequences on mechanical performance

With the current advancements in materials science, the development of high entropy alloys (HEAs) is progressively increasing. Hence, research on their processability is essential to make them competitive alternatives to common engineering alloys that are widely used in structural applications. One manufacturing technique commonly employed in this sector is gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW). This technique allows to obtain single monolithic parts from separate components, often at the cost of local microstructural and mechanical properties variation across the joint. As such, GTAW processing is capable of supplying relevant knowledge regarding the feasibility of joining new materials and their potential industry uptake. In this study, we present a comparative analysis on the use of GTAW on two distinct multiphase high entropy alloys: CoCu20FeMnNi and the CoCu30FeMnNi. Firstly, microstructural observations coupled with CalPhaD-based calculations and synchrotron X-ray diffraction analysis, allowed to delve, and compare, the microstructural evolution across both welds. It was possible to observe the dual phase nature of the microstructure throughout the welded joint alongside the nucleation of a B2 BCC phase in the heat affected zone (HAZ) of both HEAs. Considering the mechanical properties of the welded materials, results evidenced a poorer, yet still acceptable mechanical performance. The observed decrease in mechanical strength is attributed to the residual stress conditions and large grain size that developed owing to the process thermal cycle, which contrasted deeply with the microstructure of each base material.

Recent Advances in Catalytic Desymmetrization for the Synthesis of Axially Chiral Biaryls

AbstractAtropisomeric compounds have been discovered in pharmaceuticals and materials science, and their enantioselective syntheses have gained tremendous attention. Among strategies for catalytic atroposelective synthesis, desymmetrization provides robust and straightforward approaches to axially chiral biaryls. Due to the relative ease of substrate design compared to other atroposelective strategies, desymmetrization has emerged as a pivotal stage for converting fascinating chemistry into its atroposelective counterpart, despite challenges such as the formation of achiral products by subsequent catalytic reactions and the long distance between the reaction site and the stereogenic axis. This review offers a comprehensive overview of recent advancements in atroposelective desymmetrization using chiral organo‐ and metal catalysts, addressing challenges and solutions, and aims to provide insights into future developments in this field.

Hetero-polycyclic aromatic systems: A data-driven investigation of structure-property relationships.

Polycyclic aromatic systems (PASs) are pervasive compounds that have a substantial impact in chemistry and materials science. Although their specific structure-property relationships hold the key to the design of new functional molecules, a detailed understanding of these relationships remains elusive. To elucidate these relationships, we performed a data-driven investigation of the newly generated COMPAS-2 dataset, which contains ~500k molecules consisting of 11 types of aromatic and antiaromatic rings and ranging in size from one to ten rings. Our analysis explores the effects of electron count, geometry, atomic composition, and heterocyclic composition on a range of electronic molecular properties of PASs.

Sustainable Energy and Semiconductors: A Bibliometric Investigation

This study investigates the link between semiconductors and sustainability, focusing on their role in advancing energy sustainability from 1999 to 2023. Key research trends, collaboration patterns, and the evolving role of semiconductors in addressing energy sustainability challenges are identified. Semiconductor research significantly contributes to the United Nations’ sustainability goals, particularly in improving energy efficiency and promoting clean energy. The analysis reveals the predominance of primary research articles, highlighting the field’s interdisciplinary nature with major contributions from engineering and physics. Network visualization illustrates extensive global collaboration among institutions, with key players like the Chinese Academy of Sciences, MIT, and Stanford University. Clustering analysis identifies critical themes in semiconductor research, including manufacturing improvements, advanced materials, and sensing technologies. This study underscores the necessity for interdisciplinary and global collaboration to address sustainability challenges, paving the way for future innovations and sustainable practices in the semiconductor industry.

Faktor-Faktor yang Memengaruhi Ekspor Biji Kakao Indonesia ke Pasar Amerika Serikat

Cocoa is one of the leading commodities in the plantation sector which has an important role and contributes greatly to Indonesia's export activities. Cocoa has the potential to improve the country's economy through international trade between Indonesia and its destination market, the United States, which is known as a world cocoa beans importer. Part of the cocoa that is processed and used as this research material is cocoa beans. This study aims to identify and analyze the factors that influence the export of Indonesian cocoa beans to the United States. The method used is a multiple linear regression analysis method using SPSS software using variables that are processed. These variables are world cocoa bean prices, Indonesian cocoa bean export prices to the United States market, cocoa bean export prices to competing countries (Ecuador), Indonesia's real GDP, GDP real United States, Population of Indonesia and the United States, and Productivity of cocoa beans.

Характеристики эласмоидной чешуи рыб и ее фракций, по данным ИК-Фурье-спектроскопии

Elasmoid scales of pike-perch (Sander lucioperca), white amur (Ctenopharyngodon idella), carp (Cyprinus carpio), freshwater bream (Abramis brama) and crucian carp (Carassius carassius) were processed without hydrolysis by “dry” method in order to study the characteristics of the obtained finished product, which determine its further use as additives for food and other purposes. The essence of the method consisted in washing the scales, its subsequent drying, grinding and separation, with obtaining two fractions enriched with both organic (cotton-like product) and inorganic (powder) components. FT-IR spectroscopy was used to characterize the scale samples and their enriched fractions. Characteristic bands known for collagen, in particular for Amide I, Amide II, Amide III, Amide A, were observed in the IR spectra of all the samples studied. The bands (inorganic part) at ~1022 cm–1 and at ~599 cm–1 indicate valence asymmetric vibrations of PO43– groups. Numerous bands for all experimental samples in the wavelength region 3900-3500 cm–1 can be caused by vibrations of OH groups, which is associated with the presence of water in the tested samples. Comparison of the absorption intensity in the region of characteristic frequencies of collagen and hydroxyapatite calculated by the IR method can be one of the approaches for the development of a rapid method for the determination of their quantitative content in fractions obtained from fish scales. Organic and mineral additives from fish scales can be recommended as components of formulations of various food products, as well as raw materials in tissue engineering, orthopedics and dentistry.

Effect of Grinding Conditions on Clinker Grinding Efficiency: Ball Size, Mill Rotation Speed, and Feed Rate

The production of cement, an essential material in civil engineering, requires a substantial energy input, with a significant portion of this energy consumed during the grinding stage. This study addresses the gap in the literature concerning the collective impact of key parameters, including ball size, feed rate, and mill speed, on grinding efficiency. Nine spherical balls, ranging from 15–65 mm, were utilized in six distinct distributions, alongside varying feed rates and mill speeds. ANOVA, Taguchi, and regression analyses were employed to explore their influence on grinding efficiency and cement properties. The findings revealed that ball size variation significantly affects grinding performance, with smaller diameter balls yielding higher efficiency due to increased abrasion and fine formation. Conversely, elevating mill speed generally diminishes grinding efficiency, particularly at speeds approaching 90% of the critical speed, impacting ball shoulder and foot angles. Moreover, increasing the feed rate affects the grinding performance differently based on ball distribution, with finer distributions experiencing adverse effects. Signal-to-noise ratios facilitated determining the optimal control factor levels to minimize energy consumption. Quadratic regression models exhibited strong predictive capabilities for energy consumption in grinding. Ultimately, the optimal grinding performance was achieved with Bond-type ball distribution No. 6, considering ball size, mill speed, and feed-rate interactions, albeit with considerations regarding grinding time and energy efficiency.

An Investigation of Seismic Behaviour of Prestressed Concrete Frame Structures using Pushover Analysis

Abstract: The prestressed concrete system is a prominent material in civil engineering, with applications ranging from buildings, bridges, foundations, piling, silos, stadiums, roadways, and other infrastructure. However, this work is primarily concerned with its applicability to building frame constructions subjected to seismic loading. The prestressed concrete system for frame constructions not only reduces the amount of structural components, but it is also a cost-effective technology that provides outstanding strength and stiffness, as well as quick and simple site erection. Hence, we will be able to use these prestressed concrete components to their full capacity, unlocking engineering and social benefits that were previously impossible. Prestressed concrete designs, as opposed to reinforced concrete designs, can give structures with substantially longer spans, no cracks, or fewer cracks with tiny crack widths. Nonetheless, research on the seismic behaviour of prestressed concrete frame structures is relatively restricted, with the majority of studies focusing on reinforced concrete structures. Finally, the provisional versions of modern building codes such as ACI 318, GB50010, and EC2 do not provide thorough processes for seismic design of prestressed concrete structures. In this work, the seismic design and behaviour of prestressed concrete building frames are explored using the most recent design code. Three model-building codes will be investigated and compared, including ACI 318- 14, Eurocode 2004-2, and Chinese GB500010-2010. The 10-story prestressed concrete frame system is subjected to gravity and seismic loading, and the strong-column weak beam mechanism is archived to conform with the newly implemented building design code. To examine the behaviour of prestressed concrete frame structures, nonlinear static pushover analysis is used to capture the reaction under earthquake loading. The stiffness and strength needed will be designed in compliance with the three major building codes indicated. In addition, the finite element model will be created using CSI Sap200 to capture its actions.

Efficient electrochemical hydrogen peroxide production enabled by defect engineering of epoxy-rich carbon materials

Efficient electrochemical hydrogen peroxide production enabled by defect engineering of epoxy-rich carbon materials