Polar Functional Groups Research Articles

Experimental investigation into coal wettability changes caused by reactions with scCO2-H2O

Geological CO2 sequestration (GCS) can help mitigate global warming and enhance methane recovery from coal beds. However, few studies have linked the effects of CO2 to surface chemistry changes controlling wetting behavior in deep coal beds. Contact angles (CAs) of CO2/N2-high volatile bituminous coal-water systems were measured under different temperatures and pressures. The surface chemistry and physical structure of coals were characterized to investigate changes in physicochemical properties and their relations with wettability after reactions. For N2 treatment, the time-dependence of static and dynamic CAs were insignificant, ranging within 4°. For gaseous CO2 treatment, the static CAs and the average advancing angles increased slightly. With supercritical (sc) CO2, both the static and dynamic CAs increased significantly, and θadv changed to intermediate-wet (92°). Reactions with minerals exposed to scCO2 resulted in greater surface roughness and heterogeneity, greater contact angle hysteresis and more surface sites occupied by scCO2 rather than H2O. Increases in hydrophobic functional groups and decreases in hydrophilicity were shown by FTIR spectra, reflecting the shedding of polar oxygen-containing functional groups, reduction of hydrogen bonds, and increasing percentage of hydrocarbons. XRD patterns obtained following scCO2-treatment showed that crystallite growth and molecular polymerization were higher toward graphite-like. The calculated structural parameters of functional groups and crystallites both showed elevated coal rank. Changes in crystallite structure, notably higher carbon content and decreased negative surface charge, are unfavorable for water-wetting. This study contributes to understanding surface chemistry changes responsible for decreased wettability during CO2-enhanced coal bed methane recovery and GCS in coal reservoirs.

Experimental and theoretical investigation of the effect of physical and chemical compatibilization on the properties of thermoplastic elastomers derived from natural rubber and polypropylene blends

The objective of this research was to improve the compatibility between Natural Rubber/Polypropylene NR/PP blends through physical and chemical compatibilization methods. The physical compatibilization involved the use of epoxidized natural rubber/maleic anhydride-grafted polypropylene (ENR50/PP-g-MA) as a dual compatibilizing agent (CA50), while the process of reactive compatibilization entailed chemically modifying NR and PP phases through the grafting maleic anhydride (MA). Several formulations were prepared by melt mixing using a Brabender plasti-corder. The effects of physical and chemical compatibilization on the technical properties were investigated. FTIR analysis revealed the emergence of two distinctive peaks corresponding to the CO group of MA grafted onto PP and NR chains. FTIR analysis has also confirmed the taking place of reactions between the polar functional groups of PP-g-MA and ENR50. The rheological properties indicated that the viscosity of the NR-g-MA/PP-g-MA is lower than those of the control blend and CA50-based NR/PP system. The mechanical and dynamic mechanical findings corroborated the improvement of interfacial adhesion between NR/PP phases, especially for the NR/PP/CA50 system. SEM examination demonstrated a more uniform dispersion of the PP phase in the CA50-based NR/PP, compared to the control blend and NR-g-MA/PP-MA. NR-g-MA/PP-g-MA exhibits greater miscibility and interaction potential compared to the control NR/PP, and less than NR/(ENR50/PP-g-MA)/PP system. DFT calculations further validate the effect of compatibilization methods on TPE blends. Specifically, Quantum molecular descriptors revealed the role of ENR50/PP-g-MA as an intermediary in facilitating compatibility between NR/PP. These findings indicate that the physical compatibilization method approach using ENR50/PP-g-MA as a dual compatibilizer is a potential compatibilizer for NR/PP.

From theory to application: Innovative ice-phobic polyurethane coatings by studying material parameters, mechanical insights, and additives

This investigation introduces new insights into the influence of material parameters on the anti-icing properties of polyurethane (PU) coatings, encompassing chemical characteristics, cross-link densities, mechanical analysis, and additive diversity. To comprehensively address these aspects, a meticulous exploration was conducted to delve into the effects of these parameters on wettability and icephobicity. To fabricate the PU coatings, three distinct acrylic polyols with various hydroxyl content along with two widely employed aliphatic isocyanates boasting diverse %NCO values were utilized. By employing stoichiometric and non-stoichiometric ratios, an array of coatings with different crosslink densities and mechanical properties was fabricated. The principal influence of crosslink density alterations in PU coatings on ice nucleation temperature and ice adhesion strength emerged distinctly, underpinned by the establishment of hydrogen bonds between water molecules and polar functional groups within the coating, coupled with the appearance of a quasi-liquid layer (QLL). The mechanical properties, wettability characteristics, and surface roughness of the coatings were examined and it was clearly demonstrated that Young's modulus and physicochemical properties play significant roles in the characteristics of ice adhesion strength. In particular, lower Young's modulus in the samples was associated with reduced ice adhesion, albeit with compromised durability. In the next step of this investigation, the matrix demonstrating optimal mechanical properties and icephobicity was subjected to surface energy adjustment. This was accomplished by introducing various concentrations of both fluorinated and non-fluorinated additives. This adjustment led to a significant reduction of ice adhesion strength, measuring less than 100 Kpa as an icephobic PU coating. Nevertheless, it was observed that the effectiveness of the fluorinated additives diminished after repetitive icing-deicing cycles, while the non-fluorinated additive maintained its influence on ice adhesion strength even after numerous cycles. The interplay between material attributes, mechanical properties, and additive influences has been meticulously unraveled, charting a course for further advancements in the pursuit of robust icephobic coating.

Aging effects on asphalt adhesive properties: molecular dynamics simulation of chemical composition and structural changes

ABSTRACT Asphalt aging is a natural process that causes changes in the properties of asphalt, particularly in asphalt adhesion. Previous studies show that the effect of aging on asphalt adhesion performance is not uniform and depends on the asphalt source and aging conditions. To investigate the effects of different SARA (saturates, aromatics, resins, and asphaltenes) ratios and structural changes on the adhesive properties of asphalt after aging, this study employs molecular dynamics simulation to calculate asphalt properties such as density, viscosity, and work of adhesion. The above properties were computed for 12 categories of asphalt molecules, individual SARA components, and asphalt models characterised by diverse SARA ratios, followed by a correlation analysis. The study reveals that asphalt aging increases density, viscosity, and adhesion to silica. The increase in polar functional groups, namely ketone and sulfoxide, is responsible for the enhanced adhesion of asphalt to silica due to the resulting increase in electrostatic potential energy. Different SARA ratios lead to different asphalt properties, with the RA/SA index ((asphaltene%+resin%)/(saturate% + aromatic%)) showing a better correlation with the properties. Positive correlations were observed among density, viscosity, and work of adhesion. This study advances our understanding of chemical and structural effects on aged asphalt properties.

A Fluorescent Furan-based Probe with Protected Functional Groups for Highly Selective and Non-Toxic Imaging of HT-29 Cancer Cells and 4T1 Tumors.

Most of the previously reported fluorescent organic probes for cancer cell and tumor imaging have significant limitations including chemical toxicity, structural instability, low Stokes shift value, and the inability for selective accumulations in tumors during in vivo imaging. To overcome the mentioned challenges, we synthesized the fluorescent probes with protected polar functional groups to enhance the non-toxicity nature and increase the selectivity toward tumors. In addition, the structural rigidity of the fluorescent probes was increased by embedding aromatic rings in the probe structure. This issue enables us to obtain ultrabright cell images due to enhanced fluorescence quantum yield (ΦFL) values. After synthesis and spectral characterizations, the applicability of two furan-based and imidazole-based fluorescent probes ( abbreviated as DCPEF and DBPPI, respectively) was investigated for ultrabright in vitro and in vivo imaging of cancer cells. The probe DCPEF shows the ΦFL value of 0.946 and the Stocks shift of 86 nm. In addition, probe DBPPI offers the ΦFL value of 0.400 and a Stocks shift of 150 nm. The MTT colorimetric cytotoxicity assay showed that probe DCPEF has minimal effects against HT-29 (cancer) and Vero (normal) cells. The probe DCPEF produced ultrabright fluorescence images from HT-29 cells. In addition, in vivo imaging of cancer cells showed that probe DCPEF selectively accumulates in the 4T1 tumor in mice. The spectral and chemical stability, minimal cytotoxicity, significant Stokes shift, and high degree of selectivity for tumor cells during in vivo imaging make DCPEF an appropriate candidate to be used as a standard probe for cancer cell imaging.

Elucidating the role of polar functional groups in fluorinated polymer artificial interphase for stable lithium anodes

The properties of solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) are pivotal for stable lithium (Li) metal anodes. However, the process of formation and ion transport behavior of lithium fluoride (LiF) through the polar groups of organic fluorinated artificial SEI has not been clearly elucidated. Herein we demonstrate that the key role of polar functional groups in fluorinated polymer artificial SEI (FPASEI) is elucidated by using 2,2,2-trifluoroethylacrylate (TFEA) through radical polymerization. Density functional theory and ab initio molecular dynamics calculations demonstrate that the abundant CO polar groups in TFEA contribute a large number of electrons, thereby facilitating the degradation kinetics of CF bond cleavage in lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide salt to yield LiF. Moreover, the presence of CF, COC, and CO groups in TFEA facilitate the migration of Li+ towards interchain regions through cation-dipole interaction, leading to dendrite-free Li deposition. The implementation of FPASEI in a Li||Li cell results in 500 h of Li plating/stripping cycling at 1 mA cm−2 and retains a capacity retention rate of 80 % after 265 cycles in Li||LiNi0.8Co0.1Mn0.1O2 cell. This study not only emphasizes the critical role of polar groups in artificial SEI but also presents a promising strategy for achieving stable Li metal batteries.

Optimization of hydrochar production from cigarette filters for enhanced CO2 adsorption

In this study, CO2 capture using Hydrochar adsorbents synthesized from Cigarette Filter, specifically H-208 and HA-204, was rigorously investigated. Optimization using RSM was applied to fit a quadratic model to the data with F-value of 184.95 and R2 of 0.9847. H-208 and HA-204 display maximum CO2 adsorption capacities of 1028.35 mg/g and 1003.35 mg/g, respectively, at 9 bar and 25 °C. Isotherm studies ranked Freundlich and Sips models as effective descriptors, highlighting differences in adsorption behavior between HCs synthesized at different conditions. Kinetic modeling identified the Elovich model as suitable for predicting time-dependent CO2 adsorption. Thermodynamic analysis revealed differences in adsorbent affinity and spontaneity between HCs, with higher enthalpy values for H-208 indicating stronger adsorbent-adsorbate interactions. ΔH° values of −61.863 kJ/mol for H-208 and -47.442 kJ/mol for HA-204, signifying an exothermic adsorption process. The CO2 adsorption mechanism involves physical and chemical processes influenced by the polar structure, surface area, and functional groups of HCs. The effect of HCl on CO2 adsorption is insignificant, and the use of HCl only reduces the synthesis time. Adsorbent reusability tests showed minor capacity declines over multiple cycles, indicating their potential in environmental remediation and industrial gas separation processes.

A Review of Methods to Modify the PDMS Surface Wettability and Their Applications.

Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) has attracted great attention in various fields due to its excellent properties, but its inherent hydrophobicity presents challenges in many applications that require controlled wettability. The purpose of this review is to provide a comprehensive overview of some key strategies for modifying the wettability of PDMS surfaces by providing the main traditional methods for this modification and the results of altering the contact angle and other characteristics associated with this property. Four main technologies are discussed, namely, oxygen plasma treatment, surfactant addition, UV-ozone treatment, and the incorporation of nanomaterials, as these traditional methods are commonly selected due to the greater availability of information, their lower complexity compared to the new techniques, and the lower cost associated with them. Oxygen plasma treatment is a widely used method for improving the hydrophilicity of PDMS surfaces by introducing polar functional groups through oxidation reactions. The addition of surfactants provides a versatile method for altering the wettability of PDMS, where the selection and concentration of the surfactant play an important role in achieving the desired surface properties. UV-ozone treatment is an effective method for increasing the surface energy of PDMS, inducing oxidation, and generating hydrophilic functional groups. Furthermore, the incorporation of nanomaterials into PDMS matrices represents a promising route for modifying wettability, providing adjustable surface properties through controlled dispersion and interfacial interactions. The synergistic effect of nanomaterials, such as nanoparticles and nanotubes, helps to improve wetting behaviour and surface energy. The present review discusses recent advances of each technique and highlights their underlying mechanisms, advantages, and limitations. Additionally, promising trends and future prospects for surface modification of PDMS are discussed, and the importance of tailoring wettability for applications ranging from microfluidics to biomedical devices is highlighted. Traditional methods are often chosen to modify the wettability of the PDMS surface because they have more information available in the literature, are less complex than new techniques, and are also less expensive.

Coupling physiochemical adsorption with biodegradation for enhanced removal of microcystin-LR in water

To innovate the design of water treatment technology for algal toxin removal, this research investigated the mechanisms of cyanotoxin microcystin-LR (MC-LR) removal by a coupled adsorption-biodegradation. Eight types of woody carbonaceous adsorbents with and without Sphingopyxis sp. m6, a MC-LR degrading bacterium, were tested for MC-LR removal in water. All adsorbents showed good adsorption capability, removing 40 % to almost 100 % of the MC-LR (4.5 mg/L) within 48 h in batch experiments. Adding Sphingopyxis sp. m6 continuously promoted MC-LR biological removal, and successfully broke the barrier of adsorption capacity of tested adsorbents, removing >90 % of the MC-LR in most of the coupled adsorption-biodegradation tests, especially for those adsorbents had low physiochemical adsorption capacity. Variance partitioning analysis indicated that mesopore was the dominant contributor to adsorption capacity of MC-LR in pure adsorption treatments, which acted synergistically with electrical conductivity, polarity and total functional groups on the absorbent. Pore structure was the key factor beneficial for the growth of Sphingopyxis sp. m6 (51% contribution) and subsequent MC-LR biological removal rate (80 % contribution). Overall, pinewood-based carbonaceous adsorbents (especially pinewood activated carbon) exhibited the highest adsorption capacity towards MC-LR and provided the most favorable conditions for biological removal of MC-LR, largely because of their high mesopore volume, total functional groups and electric conductivity. The research outcomes not only deepened the quantitative understanding of mechanisms for MC-LR removal by the coupled process, but also provided theoretical basis for future materials' selection and modification during the practical application of coupled process.

Agar‐Based Interface for Suppressing Parasitic Reactions toward High‐Performance Aqueous Zn‐Ion Batteries

AbstractWith advantages including high capacity, intrinsic safety and low cost, aqueous zinc‐ion batteries (AZIBs) are ideal electrochemical energy storage devices for large‐scale and portable energy storage. However, the development of AZIBs suffers from tricky challenges, such as the notorious Zn dendrite growth and severe parasitic reactions. Herein, as a low‐cost and nontoxic biomass, agar is adopted to construct an interface layer on Zn foil to mitigate side reactions and induce uniform Zn deposition on Zn anodes. The interaction between Zn2+ and polar functional groups of agar can regulate Zn2+ distribution and promote Zn2+ desolvation, thus simultaneously achieving homogenous Zn deposition and suppressed hydrogen evolution reaction. Meanwhile, SO42− anions are blocked from contacting Zn surface due to electrostatic repulsion, greatly restraining corrosion and passivation. Consequently, Zn||A‐Cu asymmetric cell operates normally for 590 cycles with an average coulombic efficiency of 99.5 %, suggesting good reversibility of Zn plating/stripping. Notably, A‐Zn symmetric cell exhibits a long lifespan of 1100 h at 2 mA cm−2. Furthermore, the A‐Zn||NVO full cell displays a superb capacity retention of 94.8 % after 3600 cycles at 5 A g−1. This work offers a novel interface modification method for constructing stable and dendrite‐free anodes of AZIBs.

Effect of Dicarboxylic Acid Chain Length on the Tribological Properties of Aqueous Polyether Esters

ABSTRACTThis article presents the preparation of environmentally friendly water‐soluble lubricant additives. Adipic acid (AA), sebacic acid (SA) and dodecanedioic acid (DA) were individually subjected to esterification reactions with polyethylene glycol 1500 (PEG1500) to prepare a class of water‐soluble polyether esters (AAPEE1500, SAPEE1500 and DAPEE1500) (referred to as XAPEE1500s) that exhibit excellent water solubility and do not contain environmentally harmful elements. First, the molecular structure characterisation and functional group analysis of these additives will be conducted using an infrared spectrometer and a nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometer. Subsequently, the frictional properties of the additives in the base liquid (deionised water) will be investigated using an SRV‐V tribometer, Falex pin‐on‐disc tribometer and screw torque tester. The surface morphology of wear scars will be characterised and analysed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and a non‐contact 3D profilometer. Finally, the lubrication mechanism of the DAPEE1500 additive will be analysed using X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The results indicate that the optimal lubrication performance is achieved when the added mass fraction of DAPEE1500 is at 3%. Compared with 0.5 wt% DAPEE1500, the average friction coefficient of 3 wt% DAPEE1500 decreased from 0.285 to 0.122, and the wear volume decreased from 25.52 × 10−5 μm3 to 10.96 × 10−5 μm3. The lubrication mechanism of polyether ester is the result of the combined action of its polar ester functional groups and long carboxylic acid chains in the structure. These polar functional groups can form a relatively firm adsorption film on the friction surface, while the long carboxylic acid chains act as a brush‐like isolating layer, thus demonstrating superior anti‐wear and anti‐friction performance.

Investigation on the hydrocarbon adsorption performance enhancement of the ZSM-5 zeolite with different Si/Al ratio in the cold start process of the gasoline engine

In response to the issue of hydrocarbon emissions during the cold start process of gasoline engines, a hydrocarbon catcher coated with ZSM-5 zeolite was manufactured. The post-treatment system of the prototype vehicle was modified to install the hydrocarbon catcher, and cold start experiments on the vehicle under World Light-vehicle Test Cycle (WLTC) conditions were conducted. The experimental results showed that the hydrocarbon emissions in the low-speed stage of WLTC were much higher than those in other stages. In the early stages of cold start, the hydrocarbon catcher can reduce hydrocarbon emissions by up to 61 %. The analysis results of engine emissions showed that the content of various hydrocarbon components during cold start was: 60.1 % butene, 13.6 % acetylene, 11.3 % propylene, 7.3 % ethylene, 7.1 % acetaldehyde, and 0.6 % other components. Further molecular simulation studies were conducted on zeolite of different types and Si/Al ratios. The results showed that the adsorption of hydrocarbons on pure Si-MFI and -FER zeolites were less affected by H2O and CO2, making them ideal hydrocarbon capture materials. Al substitution introduced compensating cations into zeolite, which increased the adsorption capacity of H2O, CO2, and C2H4O with polar functional groups. Reducing the degree of Si/Al substitution is beneficial for hydrocarbon adsorption.

Design and preparation of reticular superabsorbent hydrogel material with nutrient slow-release and high shear strength for ecological remediation of abandoned mines with steep slopes

In order to solve ecological remediation issues for abandoned mines with steep slopes, a kind of hydrogels with high cohesion and water-retaining were designed by inorganic mineral skeleton combining with polymeric organic network cavities. This eco-friendly hydrogel (MFA/HA-g-p(AA-co-AM)) was prepared with acrylic acid (AA)-acrylamide (AM) as network, which was grafted with humic acids (HA) as network binding point reinforcement skeleton and polar functional group donors, KOH-modified fly ash (MFA) as internal supporter. The maximum water absorption capacities were 1960 g/g for distilled water, which followed the pseudo-second-order model. This super water absorption was attributed to the first stage of 62 % fast absorption due to the high specific surface area, pore volume and low osmotic pressure, moreover, the multiple hydrophilic functional groups and network structure swell contributed to 36 % of the second stage slow adsorption. In addition, the pore filling of water in mesoporous channels contributed the additional 2 % water retention on the third stage. The high saline-alkali resistance correlated with the electrostatic attraction with MFA and multiple interactions with oxygen-containing functional groups in organic components. MFA and HA also enhanced the shear strength and fertility retention properties. After 5 cycles of natural dehydration and reabsorption process, these excellent characteristics of reusability and water absorption capacity kept above 97 %. The application of 0.6 wt% MFA/HA-g-p(AA-co-AM) at 15° slope could improve the growth of ryegrass by approximately 45 %. This study provides an efficient and economic superabsorbent material for ecological restoration of abandoned mines with steep slopes.

High versatility of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) waste for the development of batteries, biosensing and gas sensing devices

Continuously growing adoption of electronic devices in energy storage, human health and environmental monitoring systems increases demand for cost-effective, lightweight, comfortable, and highly efficient functional structures. In this regard, the recycling and reuse of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) waste in the aforementioned fields due to its excellent mechanical properties and chemical resistance is an effective solution to reduce plastic waste. Herein, we review recent advances in synthesis procedures and research studies on the integration of PET into energy storage (Li-ion batteries) and the detection of gaseous and biological species. The operating principles of such systems are described and the role of recycled PET for various types of architectures is discussed. Modifying the composition, crystallinity, surface porosity, and polar surface functional groups of PET are important factors for tuning its features as the active or substrate material in biological and gas sensors. The findings indicate that conceptually new pathways to the study are opened up for the effective application of recycled PET in the design of Li-ion batteries, as well as biochemical and catalytic detection systems. The current challenges in these fields are also presented with perspectives on the opportunities that may enable a circular economy in PET use.

Optimizing the electromagnetic wave absorption properties of core-shell Fe/FeN/Fe3C@GN nanoparticles by low-temperature NH3 plasma

Surface modification via low-temperature plasma has an extensive application prospect in different engineering fields due to its comprehensive merits in facilitating the introduction of functional groups and creating more heterogeneous interfaces. Herein, a simple high-temperature plasma method is developed to get novel multiple-phase nanocomposites of core-shell Fe/FeN/Fe3C@GN nanoparticles with bifunctional characteristics of microwave absorption (MA) and anti-corrosion. And then, we further investigate the MA properties of Fe/FeN/Fe3C@GN nanoparticles after low-temperature NH3 plasma etching. It is found that surface modification of Fe/FeN/Fe3C@GN nanoparticles can generate remarkable changes in specific surface areas, Raman features and MA properties of these nanocomposites. The Fe/FeN/Fe3C@GN nanoparticles after NH3 plasma etching possess excellent MA properties with an optimal reflection loss (RL) of −51.0 dB at an ultra-thin thickness of 1.9 mm with a low filling content of 30 wt% and the corresponding effective absorption bandwidth (EAB < −10 dB) up to 4.7 GHz (13.3–18.0 GHz). The fascinating MA properties of etched Fe/FeN/Fe3C@GN nanoparticles may be attributed to the cooperative effect of several points: (i) The NH3 plasma etch introduces a large number of polar functional groups, which can be regarded as the polarization center to produce more polarization loss; (ii) The appropriate dielectric loss and impedance matching achieve a good balance, and the abundant heterogeneous interface significantly enhances the polarization relaxation loss; (iii) The existence of hetero-nanostructure further improves the multiple reflections and scattering of the propagating microwaves. In addition, this work provides a new strategy for the design and fabrication of core-shell MA materials.

Using Silica Aerogel Layers for the Stabilization of Zn Metal Anodes in Zn‐Ion Batteries

AbstractAqueous zinc ion batteries have the advantages of low cost, high safety, high theoretical specific capacity. However, the charging and discharging process is usually accompanied by side reactions such as dendrite growth, hydrogenolysis, corrosion of electrodes, passivation, etc., which limits the development and application. In this work, the zinc anode is modified by constructing a silica aerogel layer with ultra‐high specific surface area and abundant polar functional groups (−OH, −COOH, −CH3), which not only provides abundant active sites for the uniform deposition of zinc ions, but also construct an artificial protective layer that acting as a desolvation layer and a zinc ion flux regulator. Consequently, the altered zinc anode exhibits an extremely durable zincophilic characteristic and a declining interfacial impedance. The constructed artificial layer can prevent side reactions and promote uniform zinc ion deposition to prevent the generation of zinc dendrites during the charge/discharge process. Results show that the symmetric cells composed of modified Zn anodes can be stably cycled for more than 1100 h at 0.5 mA cm−2 and 0.5 mAh cm−2, which is much higher than that of bare Zn. In addition, the life and capacity retention of the Zn/MnO2 full cells were also significantly improved.

Modulating solvated structure of Zn2+ and inducing surface crystallography by a simple organic molecule with abundant polar functional groups to synergistically stabilize zinc metal anodes for long-life aqueous zinc-ion batteries

Aqueous zinc-ion batteries (AZIBs) have attracted significant attention owing to their inherent security, low cost, abundant zinc (Zn) resources and high energy density. Nevertheless, the growth of zinc dendrites and side reactions on the surface of Zn anodes during repeatedly plating/stripping shorten the cycle life of AZIBs. Herein, a simple organic molecule with abundant polar functional groups, 2,2,2-trifluoroether formate (TF), has been proposed as a high-efficient additive in the ZnSO4 electrolyte to suppress the growth of Zn dendrites and side reaction during cycling. It is found that TF molecules can infiltrate the solvated sheath layer of the hydrated Zn2+ to reduce the number of highly chemically active H2O molecules owing to their strong binding energy with Zn2+. Simultaneously, TF molecules can preferentially adsorb onto the Zn surface, guiding the uniform deposition of Zn2+ along the crystalline surface of Zn(002). This dual action significantly inhibits the formation of Zn dendrites and side reactions, thus greatly extending the cycling life of the batteries. Accordingly, the Zn//Cu asymmetric cell with 2 % TF exhibits stable cycling for more than 3,800 cycles, achieving an excellent average Columbic efficiency (CE) of 99.81 % at 2 mA cm−2/1 mAh cm−2. Meanwhile, the Zn||Zn symmetric cell with 2 % TF demonstrates a superlong cycle life exceeding 3,800 h and 2,400 h at 2 mA cm−2/1 mAh cm−2 and 5 mA cm−2/2.5 mAh cm−2, respectively. Simultaneously, the Zn//VO2 full cell with 2 % TF possesses high initial capacity (276.8 mAh/g) and capacity retention (72.5 %) at 5 A/g after 500 cycles. This investigation provides new insights into stabilizing Zn metal anodes for AZIBs through the co-regulation of Zn2+ solvated structure and surface crystallography.

Effect drying process of white turmeric herb (Curcuma mangga) on antioxidant activity

Curcuma mangga is one of the herbal rhizome plants. It has good benefits as Curcuma longa, and it has advantage of having aroma like a mango. This study aims to determine the effect of drying process of Curcuma mangga herb toward antioxidant activity. There are eight drying variations (oven drying at 50, 60, 70, 80 and 90°C, sun drying, room temperature, and freeze drying). Extraction of Curcuma mangga powder was carried out by maceration using aquadest, this study didn’t used organic solvents because the solvent for herbal drink is water (aquadest). Curcuma mangga extract was analysed for its stability in room temperature, FTIR analysis, and antioxidant activity analysis using 0.02% DPPH. The entire process in this research was replicated three times and average results were obtained. Based on the results, it can be seen that Curcuma mangga extracts are not stable at room temperature (maximum at 6 hours). Based on spectra FTIR results, Curcuma mangga extracts have polar functional group because the solvent used for extraction is aquadest which is polar solvent. The best antioxidant activity results (%AA) of Curcuma mangga is vacuum freeze drying process with an IC50 value 106.95 ppm, it was classified as a moderate antioxidant.

FeSx/MoS2 heterostructure decorated S-coated hydroxylated carbon nanotubes for boosting catalytic activity and mitigating polysulfide shuttling in lithium-sulfur batteries

Heterostructure was widely study to figure out the inferior shuttle effect of intermediate lithium polysulfides and the sluggish kinetics of sulfur redox reaction in lithium-sulfur batteries (LSBs). However, they have low electrical conductivity and no clear discharge/charge catalytic mechanism as LSBs cathode. Combination of heterostructure and functional carbonaceous is a promising choice. Herein, FeSx/MoS2 heterostructure decorated S-coated hydroxylated carbon nanotubes (FSM/SHC) were successfully designed and the catalytic mechanism of FSM was elucidated by in-/ex- situ electrochemical characterizations. Compared to FeSx/MoS2 heterostructure decorated carbon nanotubes (FSM/C)-based sulfur cathode, the chemical adsorption capacity to anchor intermediate polysulfides and the Li-S conversion reaction kinetics of FSM/SHC has been enhanced ascribed to the introduction of polar bonds and functional groups. As a consequence, FSM/SHC-based sulfur modified cathode delivers a marked sulfur reversion (1280 mAh g−1 after 800 cycles at 0.2C and 1048 mAh g−1 after 300 cycles at 4C) and a high capacity retention of 6 mAh cm−2 over 70 cycles at 0.5C (8 mg cm−2). Moreover,the FSM heterostructuredemonstrates an accelerated electron transfer caused by the valence change of Fe0/Fe3+transition, Mo4+/Mo6+ transition and heterointerface, and thus facilitates the redox reaction kinetics of polysulfide. This work reveals the advantages of multi metal-based heterostructures and functional group modification in LSBs.

Experimental evaluation of atmospheric plasma treatment effects on different textures of CFRP composite for aircraft applications

This article examines the impact of Atmospheric Plasma Treatment (APL) on the chemical composition and fracture properties of various textured surfaces (tool and bag side) of carbon fiber/epoxy (CFRP) composites utilized in aircraft applications. For this purpose, parameters of atmospheric plasma (APL) surface treatment were evaluated in comparison to chemical cleaning and peel-ply applications, taking into account its effects on surface properties and adhesive bond strength. A comprehensive variety of surface characterization techniques were utilized to analyze surface modifications, including water and diiodomethane contact angle measurements for assessing surface hydrophilicity, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy with Attenuated Total Reflection (FTIR-ATR) and X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) for analyzing chemical composition and functional groups, and Profilometry, Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM), and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) for evaluating surface topography and morphology. Experimental results indicated that the reduction in the contact angle following plasma treatment correlated with the elevated oxygen concentration and the presence of polar functional groups (e.g. -OH, -NH2, -NH3, C=O, O-C=O) on the composite surface. Plasma treatment, especially at low nozzle speeds, increased surface roughness on the bag side surfaces. This prevented adhesive penetration and led to gas entrapment, resulting in adhesive failure mode and reduced single lap shear strength for the bag side. In contrast, on the tool side surfaces, the plasma treatment led to a remarkable 19.7% enhancement in shear strength, highlighting its effectiveness.