Particle Surface Research Articles

Open Cross-gap Gold Nanocubes with Strong, Large-Area, Symmetric Electromagnetic Field Enhancement for On-Particle Molecular-Fingerprint Raman Bioassays.

Plasmonic nanoparticles with an externally open nanogap can localize the electromagnetic (EM) field inside the gap and directly detect the target via the open nanogap with surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS). It would be beneficial to design and synthesize the open gap nanoprobes in a high yield for obtaining uniform and quantitative signals from randomly oriented nanoparticles and utilizing these particles for direct SERS analysis. Here, we report a facile strategy to synthesize open cross-gap (X-gap) nanocubes (OXNCs) with size- and EM field-tunable gaps in a high yield. The site-specific growth of Au budding structures at the corners of the AuNC using the principle that the Au deposition rate is faster than the surface diffusion rate of the adatoms allows for a uniform X-gap formation. The average SERS enhancement factor (EF) for the OXNCs with 2.6 nm X-gaps was 1.2 × 109, and the EFs were narrowly distributed within 1 order of magnitude for ∼93% of the measured OXNCs. OXNCs consistently displayed strong EM field enhancement on large particle surfaces for widely varying incident light polarization directions, and this can be attributed to the symmetric X-gap geometry and the availability of these gaps on all 6 faces of a cube. Finally, the OXNC probes with varying X-gap sizes have been utilized in directly detecting biomolecules with varying sizes without Raman dyes. The concept, synthetic method, and biosensing results shown here with OXNCs pave the way for designing, synthesizing, and utilizing plasmonic nanoparticles for selective, quantitative molecular-fingerprint Raman sensing and imaging applications.

A comparative analysis of compressive and wear failure of laser-powder bed fused Stainless Steel 316L produced with different hatch spacing in stripe and contour patterns

The selection of hatch spacing is crucial in additive manufacturing processes to produce a defect free Stainless Steel 316L (SS) components, especially in laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) process. Improper selection of hatch spacing could lead to various failure regimes (like vertical cracking, porosity, and un-melted particles) in Stainless Steel 316L (SS) component produced through laser powder bed fusion (LPBF). Further, the failure regimes have a direct impact on the hardness, compression strength, friction, and wear properties of LPBF SS components. The present study has taken substantial efforts to analyse the impact of various hatch spacing (0.08 mm, 0.10 mm. and 0.12 mm) in stripe and contour patterns, in terms of morphology, mechanical, and tribological properties of LPBF SS components. Also, the present study elucidates how variations in hatch spacing influences the features like particle fusion, crack formation, density, hardness, surface roughness, compression, and wear properties. The stripe pattern with low hatch spacing of 0.08 mm showed better particle fusion and high surface roughness; whereas the high hatch spacing has produced voids, un-melted powder particles, and cracks in the stripe and contour pattern. High densities and hardness values were attributed to the stripe patterns with more effective melting and fusing of powder particles. XRD analysis revealed the stable phase compositions across various hatch spacing with a predominant FCC crystal structure. Residual stress distribution was significantly influenced by the hatch spacing for both stripe and contour patterns. Importantly, the low hatch space leads has promoted the tensile residual stress formation and vice versa for the higher hatch spacing. Stripe patterns showed higher compression strengths with buckling and shear mode as a compression failure. The stripe pattern demonstrated a low specific wear rate (SWR) and coefficient of friction (COF) compared to the contour pattern, with respect to the various hatch spacing. Furthermore, the simulated body fluid (SBF) lubrication regime played a significant role in reducing the COF. Patches, groves, furrows, and craters demonstrated the abrasive and adhesive failure for both stripe and contour pattern, which is further detailed in the article.

Study on the effects of inorganic salts and ionic surfactants on the wettability of coal based on the experimental and molecular dynamics investigations

Through the evaluation and preparation of a novel inorganic salt composite solution consisting of sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate (SDBS), the nonionic surfactants polyethylene glycol pisooctyl phenyl ether (Triton X-100), and inorganic salt Na2SO4, based on surface tension, contact angle, settling time, wetting rate, and changes in the surface microstructure and functional groups of coal, this study analyzed the wetting behavior of the solution on coal dust and its adsorption capacity on the surface of coal particles. The results demonstrate that the composite solution of inorganic salts can significantly enhance the wettability of coal samples, reducing the contact angle to 21.54° and lowering the surface tension to 26.10 mN/m. After treatment with the solution, the relative content of oxygen-containing functional groups in the microscopic structure of the coal sample increased to 59.6 % and pores more prominent than 25 nm increased to 34.63 %. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of the water-inorganic salt composite solution-coal system are conducted using Materials Studio software, revealing that after the addition of the composite solution, the self-diffusion coefficient (D) of water molecules is 6.3 × 10-9 m2/s, the starting point of the composite solution is 15 Å, and the system's interaction energy increase to 14000 kcal/mol. It further elucidated the modification of the surface molecular structure of coal dust by the inorganic salt composite solution, increasing hydrogen bonds, enhancing wetting, and demonstrating a solid adsorption capability of the inorganic salt composite solution on the surface of coal dust.

Sphaerothrix gracilis gen. et sp. nov. (Nodosilineales, Cyanobacteria): a novel filamentous cyanobacterium isolated from tropical coastal microplastics

SUMMARYCyanobacteria are ancient organisms that contribute significantly to primary production in aquatic ecosystems. Although they are a group of microbes present in a wide range of environments, their diversity on anthropogenic substrates, namely microplastics, is still largely unknown. In the present study, we describe a new genus and species of cyanobacteria from the Nodosilineaceae family. Strains were isolated from foam microplastic particles obtained from beach sediments facing the Singapore Strait. This species is morphologically similar to the polyphyletic, cosmopolitan Leptolyngbya spp.; however, it forms an independent clade with 16S rRNA phylogeny and has a unique 16S–23S internal transcribed spacer secondary structure. To date, no cyanobacteria have been isolated and cultured from the surfaces of microplastic particles. Using a polyphasic approach combining morphological, phylogenetic and ecological traits, we describe a new genus and species Sphaerothrix gracilis. The presence of certain cyanobacteria rafting on microplastic surfaces can potentially indicate a long‐distance transport into new ecosystems with implications on toxicity and biodiversity.

Preparation of high-concentration coal-water slurry based on the bearing model method of spherical particles

ABSTRACT Coal-water slurry (CWS), a mixture of pulverized coal, water, and additives, is a clean liquid coal-based fuel for gasification. Superhydrophobic surface modification using a secondary particle-second liquid system is an effective CWS preparation method. In this study, the effect of the sphericity of the secondary particles on the rheological properties of CWS samples was investigated. Spherical secondary particles were found to roll in the film layer of the second liquid, resulting in a lower apparent viscosity of the CWS. The bearing model refers to the spherical secondary particle on the surface of the coal particle, similar to the balls in a bearing, which can transform sliding friction into rolling friction. The bearing model can effectively reduce frictional resistance. By modifying the coal particles with the suspension of secondary particles in the second liquid, a 73% CWS sample with good fluidity was prepared. The apparent viscosity of the 73% CWS prepared without any modification of the coal particles was 13,329.2 mPa·s, and the flow grade was C. The apparent viscosity of the 73% CWS prepared using coal particles modified with the spherical glass bead suspension was 2102.8 mPa·s, and its flow grade was A.

Mineralogical approach on laboratory weathering of uncontaminated Ryugu particles: Comparison with Orgueil and perspective for storage and analysis

AbstractAlthough CI chondrites are susceptible to terrestrial weathering on Earth, the specific processes are unknown. To elucidate the weathering mechanism, we conduct a laboratory experiment using pristine particles from asteroid Ryugu. Air‐exposed particles predominantly develop small‐sized euhedral Ca‐S‐rich grains (0.5–1 μm) on the particle surface and along open cracks. Both transmission electron microscopy and synchrotron‐based computed tomography combined with XRD reveal that the grains are hydrous Ca‐sulfate. Notably, this phase does not form in vacuum‐ or nitrogen‐stored particles, suggesting this result is due to laboratory weathering. We also compare the Orgueil CI chondrite with the altered Ryugu particles. Due to the weathering of pyrrhotite and dolomite, Orgueil contains a significant amount of gypsum and ferrihydrite. We suggest that mineralogical changes due to terrestrial weathering of particles returned directly from asteroid occur even after a short‐time air exposure. Consequently, conducting prompt analyses and ensuring proper storage conditions are crucial, especially to preserve the primordial features of organics and volatiles.

Manipulating Local Chemistry and Coherent Structures for High-Rate and Long-Life Sodium-Ion Battery Cathodes.

Layered sodium transition-metal (TM) oxides generally suffer from severe capacity decay and poor rate performance during cycling, especially at a high state of charge (SoC). Herein, an insight into failure mechanisms within high-voltage layered cathodes is unveiled, while a two-in-one tactic of charge localization and coherent structures is devised to improve structural integrity and Na+ transport kinetics, elucidated by density functional theory calculations. Elevated Jahn-Teller [Mn3+O6] concentration on the particle surface during sodiation, coupled with intense interlayer repulsion and adverse oxygen instability, leads to irreversible damage to the near-surface structure, as demonstrated by X-ray absorption spectroscopy and in situ characterization techniques. It is further validated that the structural skeleton is substantially strengthened through the electronic structure modulation surrounding oxygen. Furthermore, optimized Na+ diffusion is effectively attainable via regulating intergrown structures, successfully achieved by the Zn2+ inducer. Greatly, good redox reversibility with an initial Coulombic efficiency of 92.6%, impressive rate capability (86.5 mAh g-1 with 70.4% retention at 10C), and enhanced cycling stability (71.6% retention after 300 cycles at 5C) are exhibited in the P2/O3 biphasic cathode. It is believed that a profound comprehension of layered oxides will herald fresh perspectives to develop high-voltage cathode materials for sodium-ion batteries.

Self-diffusiophoretic propulsion of a spheroidal particle in a shear-thinning fluid

Shear-thinning viscosity is a non-Newtonian behaviour that active particles often encounter in biological fluids such as blood and mucus. The fundamental question of how this ubiquitous non-Newtonian rheology affects the propulsion of active particles has attracted substantial interest. In particular, spherical Janus particles driven by self-diffusiophoresis, a major physico-chemical propulsion mechanism of synthetic active particles, were shown to always swim slower in a shear-thinning fluid than in a Newtonian fluid. In this work, we move beyond the spherical limit to examine the effect of particle eccentricity on self-diffusiophoretic propulsion in a shear-thinning fluid. We use a combination of asymptotic analysis and numerical simulations to show that shear-thinning rheology can enhance self-diffusiophoretic propulsion of a spheroidal particle, in stark contrast to previous findings for the spherical case. A systematic characterization of the dependence of the propulsion speed on the particle's active surface coverage has also uncovered an intriguing feature associated with the propulsion speeds of a pair of complementarily coated particles not previously reported. Symmetry arguments are presented to elucidate how this new feature emerges as a combined effect of anisotropy of the spheroidal geometry and nonlinearity in fluid rheology.

Comparison of Newtonian and glycerol-water solution-based SiO2 nanofluid droplets impacting on heated spherical surfaces

The dynamic interactions of liquid droplets with heated spherical particles, relevant across various scientific and engineering disciplines, display intriguing collision behaviors whose principles are yet to be fully deciphered. This investigation utilizes high-speed photography to explore the wetting and non-wetting responses of different Newtonian and glycerol-water solution-based SiO2 nanofluid droplets upon contact with heated particles. Findings indicate that nanofluid droplets disrupt the thermal field and modify the surface morphology of particles more extensively under wetting than non-wetting conditions. Wetting conditions lead to significant alterations in the liquid film thickness and notable velocity field disruptions for droplets of deionized water and glycerol solution. Conversely, in the non-wetting phase, droplets nearing full rebound cause less disturbance to the velocity field, a behavior consistent across all fluid types and particle temperatures. The shape changes nanofluid droplets undergo when rebounding and separating from the particle surface are similar to those seen in glycerol solution and water droplets. Droplets in the breakup-rebound phase experience shorter contact times than those merely rebounding. A phase diagram is presented, detailing wetting (receding-deposition and boiling-breakup) and non-wetting (rebound and breakup-rebound) actions. An increase in the Weber number necessitates a higher particle temperature for the transition from rebound to breakup-rebound, which corroborates with theoretical insights. Furthermore, droplets achieve their maximum spreading area during the boiling-breakup mode.

Polybutylene adipate terephthalate (PBAT) composites for thermally conductive, fire retardant, high dielectric applications using BaTiO3 and MWCNTs as fillers

This study provides a comprehensive investigation of the fabrication of novel composite materials by blending polybutylene adipate terephthalate (PBAT) with barium titanate (BaTiO3) and multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) fillers. Prior to fabricating the composites, the filler surface treatments were tailored to enhance their compatibility with the PBAT matrix. Adipic acid (AA), a monomer for PBAT, was employed on the surface of the BaTiO3 particles, while butanediol (BD) also a monomer of PBAT was used to modify the surface of the MWCNTs to ensure effective interaction with the PBAT chains during the composite fabrication process. The composite samples were produced by melt-blending at 140 °C, followed by injection molding at the same operating temperature for subsequent analysis. The results revealed remarkable improvements in the dielectric constant, thermal conductivity, fire retardancy, and tensile strength of the 40 wt% BaTiO3 and MWCNT-PBAT blends compared to pure PBAT. The incorporation of BaTiO3 additionally contributed to enhanced fire retardancy, mechanical properties, and dielectric properties, making the composite material more resistant to ignition and flame spread, thus rendering it suitable for applications requiring elevated fire safety. In addition, the inclusion of MWCNT improved thermal conductivity, enabling promising and efficient heat dissipation in various applications.

The physicochemical characteristics and phenolic bioaccessibility of defatted millet bran powder prepared using superfine grinding

Since defatted millet bran (DMB) is considered unpalatable and its poor application performance means that it is only used as animal feed, this product is wasted and underutilized. This study altered the shapes of processed DMB particles using superfine grinding technology, physically overcoming the binding forces within the material. This reduced the particle sizes and surface roughness while increasing the tap density, peak temperature, and angles of repose and slide. Superfine grinding significantly disrupted the cell wall matrix, substantially increasing the total phenolic content (TPC) and antioxidant properties compared to coarse and fine powders. Additionally, the superfine powder exhibited high phenolic compound bioaccessibility (vanillic, protocatechuic, syringic, ferulic, and isoferulic acid, and 2,3-dihydroxybenzoic). These findings highlighted the potential use of superfine grinding technology to expand DMB application as a functional food.

Environmentally Friendly Synthesis of Polymer Nanoparticles in a Packed Reactor Using Glass Beads

AbstractPolymeric particles less than 100 nm in size (polymer nanoparticles), which are useful in the fields of medicine and so on, are synthesized through emulsion polymerization, wherein surfactants are essential for maintaining their dispersion stability, contaminating particle surfaces and causing high environmental pollution. The soap‐free emulsion polymerization (SFEP) of styrene in a packed reactor using microglass beads enables the synthesis of polymer nanoparticles without surfactants. Ultraviolet irradiation is used for radical polymerization using an initiator during the SFEP of styrene. The reaction space in the packed reactor is controlled by the size of glass beads to be filled in the reactor. A decrease in the size of the glass beads narrows the reaction space, causing the average polystyrene particle size to reach 27.3 nm and suppress convection flow by the wall of the glass beads, thereby limiting particle motion and preventing particle growth through particle collisions.This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved

Innovative production of phosphoric acid-hydrolyzed chitin nanocrystals for Pickering emulsion stabilization

Addressing the need for sustainable emulsification methods, this study introduces a novel approach by producing chitin nanocrystals (PA-ChNCs) through solid-state hydrolysis using minimal phosphoric acid. The aim was to assess the capability of PA-ChNCs to stabilize Pickering emulsions. Our investigation revealed a pH-responsive variation in particle size and surface charge of PA-ChNCs, critical for emulsion stability. They varied from 321.5 ± 10.5 nm to 2366.7 ± 171.6 nm and from 33.7 ± 1.2 mV to −19.9 ± 1.4 mV, respectively, when pH increased from 3 to 10. Notable, emulsions with a 50% oil-to-water (O:W) ratio presented larger droplets with increased viscosity, enhancing stability over 30 days significantly. In contrast, higher PA-ChNCs concentrations (2.0 wt%) at pH 10 resulted in smaller droplets and higher viscosity, indicating superior emulsion stability. This research contributes novel insights into eco-friendly emulsifier development, utilizing seafood byproducts and underscoring the use of PA-ChNCs as effective Pickering emulsion stabilizers in food applications.

Construction of ZIF/CS and ZIF/CS-derivatives with high-efficiency adsorption for dyes/antibiotics and strong microwave absorption performance

Bimetallic Zn/Co-ZIF was in situ loaded onto the surface of chitosan (CS) to form ZIF/CS composites with high-efficiency adsorption of antibiotics (tetracycline (TC)) and dyes (Congo Red (CR), Malachite Green (MG)). The particle size and surface roughness of Zn/Co-ZIF can be effectively adjusted by changing the mass ratio of Zn and Co in ZIF, which helps to regulate the adsorption active sites on the surface of the composites. Meanwhile, the introduction of CS changes the pore structure of the composites, making the molecules of TC, CR and MG easily enter into the pores of ZIF/CS. When the mass ratio of Zn to Co is 1:1, the ZIF/CS composite has the optimal adsorption performance with the ultra-high adsorption capacity qm of 781.3, 1644.2 and 3243.6 mg g−1 for TC, CR and MG, respectively. Impressively, the ZIF/CS-derivative (ZC3–700) from sample ZC3 after calcination at 700 °C under N2 atmosphere owns a good conductive network, which results in its superior microwave absorption performance. Herein, at 30 wt% filler loading, the effective absorption bandwidth and RLmin of ZC3–700 reach 5.28 GHz at 1.90 mm and −68.92 dB at 1.83 mm, respectively. Analyses on microwave absorption mechanism point out the synergistic effect of conduction loss, dipolar polarization and interfacial polarization and magnetic loss on the attenuation of electromagnetic wave. Therefore, ZIF/CS composites and ZIF/CS-derivatives exhibit superior performance on the removal of water pollutants and the absorption of electromagnetic wave, which essentially reveals a multifunctional application of the ZIF/CS composites in the field of environmental protect.

Uranium Single Particle Analysis for Simultaneous Fluorine and Uranium Isotopic Determinations via Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy/Laser Ablation-Multicollector-Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry.

Uranyl fluoride (UO2F2) particles (<20 μm) were subjected to first-of-its-kind analysis via simultaneous laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) and laser ablation multi-collector inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (LA-MC-ICP-MS). Briefly, a nanosecond pulsed high-energy laser was focused onto the sample (particle) surface. In a single laser pulse, the UO2F2 particle was excited/ionized within the microplasma volume, and the emission of light was collected via fiber optics such that emission spectroscopy could be employed for the detection of uranium (U) and fluorine (F). The ablated particle was simultaneously transported into the MC-ICP-MS for high precision isotopic (i.e., 234U, 235U, and 238U) analysis. This method, LIBS/LA-MC-ICP-MS was optimized and employed to rapidly measure 80+ UO2F2 particles, which were subjected to different calcination processes, which results in varying degrees of F loss from the individual particles. In measuring the particles, the average F/U ratios for the populations treated at 100 and 500 °C were 2.78 ± 1.28 and 1.01 ± 0.50, respectively, confirming loss of F through the calcination process. The average 235U/238U on the particle populations for the 100 and 500 °C were 0.007262 (22) and 0.007231 (23), which was determined to be <0.2% from the expected value. The 234U/238U ratios on the same particles were 0.000053 (11) and 0.000050 (10) for the 100 and 500 °C, respectively, <10% from the expected value. Notably, each population was analyzed in under 5 min, demonstrating the truly rapid analysis technique presented here.

Synthesis and characterization of Co3O4, CuO and NiO and nanoparticles: Evaluation of structural, vibrational, morphology and thermal properties

Green synthesis of CuO, NiO, and Co3O4 nanoparticles used biowaste (Gomutra). The physicochemical properties of metal oxide nanoparticles have been studied using various methods. Green synthesised metal oxide nanoparticle crystal properties were calculated using X-ray diffraction. It shows that all metal oxide crystallite sizes are nanoscale (27–31 nm). XRD spectra of CuO nanoparticles confirm their monoclinic structure, which matches JCPDS data. FTIR spectra reveal the existence of functional groups and associated vibrational modes in NiO and Co3O4 nanoparticles, confirming a cubic crystal structure with lattice parameters of 4.175 Å and 8.054 The surface appearance and particle size of three metal oxide nanoparticles were examined by SEM and TEM. XRD matches the average particle sizes of three metal oxide nanoparticles, which are 33–40 nm. Thermal stability of synthesized metal oxide nanoparticles was measured from 0 to 1000 °C using TG-DTA. It shows that the nanoparticles are stable and suited for various applications. Their unique properties make these metal oxide nanoparticles excellent for gas detection, antibacterial activity, photocatalysis, and biosensing.

Usefulness of percutaneous estradiol-loaded PLGA-PEG-PLGA nanoparticles for the treatment of osteoporosis

Compared with poly (dl-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) nanoparticles, triblock copolymer (PLGA-PEG-PLGA) nanoparticles composed of PLGA and polyethylene glycol (PEG) may improve the skin permeability of drugs. In this study, the usefulness of estradiol-loaded (E2-loaded) PLGA-PEG-PLGA nanoparticles in the treatment of osteoporosis was investigated by comparison with E2-loaded PLGA nanoparticles. The cumulative E2 permeation of each nanoparticle through rat skin was quantified using a Franz cell. The results showed that PLGA-PEG-PLGA nanoparticles had significantly higher permeation than PLGA nanoparticles. Next, in vivo treatment experiments were conducted using an ovariectomized rat model of osteoporosis. Nanoparticles were administered once per week in combination with iontophoresis. At 6 weeks after the initiation of treatment, significant improvement in bone density was observed in the treated group compared with the untreated group. The improvement in bone density tended to be greater in the PLGA-PEG-PLGA nanoparticle group versus the PLGA nanoparticle group. This may be attributed to the higher hydrophilicity of the particle surface of PLGA-PEG-PLGA nanoparticles compared with PLGA nanoparticles and the improved skin permeability of the particles through the trans-adnexal pathway.

From creep to flow: Granular materials under cyclic shear

When unperturbed, granular materials form stable structures that resemble the ones of other amorphous solids like metallic or colloidal glasses. Whether or not granular materials under shear have an elastic response is not known, and also the influence of particle surface roughness on the yielding transition has so far remained elusive. Here we use X-ray tomography to determine the three-dimensional microscopic dynamics of two granular systems that have different roughness and that are driven by cyclic shear. Both systems, and for all shear amplitudes Γ considered, show a cross-over from creep to diffusive dynamics, indicating that rough granular materials have no elastic response and always yield, in stark contrast to simple glasses. For the system with small roughness, we observe a clear dynamic change at Γ ≈ 0.1, accompanied by a pronounced slowing down and dynamical heterogeneity. For the large roughness system, the dynamics evolves instead continuously as a function of Γ. We rationalize this roughness dependence using the potential energy landscape of the systems: The roughness induces to this landscape a micro-corrugation with a new length scale, whose ratio over the particle size is the relevant parameter. Our results reveal the unexpected richness in relaxation mechanisms for real granular materials.

Nano-ZnO modified hydroxyapatite whiskers with enhanced osteoinductivity for bone defect repair

Abstract Hydroxyapatite (HA) whisker (HAw) represents a distinct form of HA characterized by its high aspect ratio, offering significant potential for enhancing the mechanical properties of bone tissue engineering scaffolds. However, the limited osteoinductivity of HAw hampers its widespread application. In this investigation, we observed HAw punctured osteoblast membranes and infiltrated the cell body, resulting in mechanical damage to cells that adversely impacted osteoblast proliferation and differentiation. To address this challenge, we developed nano-zinc oxide particle-modified HAw (nano-ZnO/HAw). Acting as a reinforcing and toughening agent, nano-ZnO/HAw augmented the compressive strength and ductility of the matrix materials. At the same time, the surface modification with nano-ZnO particles improved osteoblast differentiation by reducing the mechanical damage from HAw to cells and releasing zinc ion, the two aspects collectively promoted the osteoinductivity of HAw. Encouragingly, the osteoinductive potential of 5%nano-ZnO/HAw and 10%nano-ZnO/HAw was validated in relevant rat models, demonstrating the efficacy of this approach in promoting new bone formation in vivo. Our findings underscore the role of nano-ZnO particle surface modification in enhancing the osteoinductivity of HAw from a physical standpoint, offering valuable insights into the development of bone substitutes with favorable osteoinductive properties while simultaneously bolstering matrix material strength and toughness.

Engineering a Low-Strain Si@TiSi2@NC Composite for High-Performance Lithium-Ion Batteries.

The huge volume expansion/contraction of silicon (Si) during the lithium (Li) insertion/extraction process, which can lead to cracking and pulverization, poses a substantial impediment to its practical implementation in lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). The development of low-strain Si-based composite materials is imperative to address the challenges associated with Si anodes. In this study, we have engineered a TiSi2 interface on the surface of Si particles via a high-temperature calcination process, followed by the introduction of an outermost carbon (C) shell, leading to the construction of a low-strain and highly stable Si@TiSi2@NC composite. The robust TiSi2 interface not only enhances electrical and ionic transport but also, more critically, significantly mitigates particle cracking by restraining the stress/strain induced by volumetric variations, thus alleviating pulverization during the lithiation/delithiation process. As a result, the as-fabricated Si@TiSi2@NC electrode exhibits a high initial reversible capacity (2172.7 mAh g-1 at 0.2 A g-1), superior rate performance (1198.4 mAh g-1 at 2.0 A g-1), and excellent long-term cycling stability (847.0 mAh g-1 after 1000 cycles at 2.0 A g-1). Upon pairing with LiNi0.6Co0.2Mn0.2O2 (NCM622), the assembled Si@TiSi2@NC||NCM622 pouch-type full cell exhibits exceptional cycling stability, retaining 90.1% of its capacity after 160 cycles at 0.5 C.