Surface Pore Research Articles

Investigation of the shape-changing property of X-ray computed tomography in the evaluation of pores

Porosity in additive manufacturing is one of the main quality characteristics for components. In processes such as laser-based powder bed fusion of metals (LPBF-M), correlations can be observed between the process parameters used, such as laser power, hatch distance or layer thickness, and the pore shape produced. Therefor the surface depending criterion sphericity is a crucial parameter for the classification of pores. In addition to methods like micrographs or Archimedes' density determination, industrial X-ray computed tomography (CT) is a key measurement method for the spatial but also shape-dependent assessment of pores in components. However, due to the lack of standards, no measurement uncertainty for shape, position, and volume can be given for CT measurements. With the help of CT simulations and models for detector and X-ray source to real CT system, investigations can be made on the dependencies and influence on the detectability of pores. This study shows that the CT measurements as well as the analysis have an influence on the detectable volume and surface of pores. By modelling pore models with cosine periodic spatial frequencies (peaks), the spatial influence of CT on detectability can be investigated and assessed as a form of slope distribution. The simulation-based measurement uncertainty information can be used to improve the separation of pore shape classifications and thus contribute to the development of additive manufacturing.

Preparation of mesoporous biogas residue biochar via a self-template strategy for efficient removal of ciprofloxacin: Effect of pyrolysis temperature

Biochar preparation and application is an anticipated pathway for the resource utilization of biogas residue. In this study, biochars were prepared by the pyrolysis of biogas residue from food waste anaerobic digestion (named as BRBCs) under various pyrolysis temperatures (300, 500, 700, and 900 °C), and the effect of pyrolysis temperatures on the physicochemical characteristics of BRBCs was examined. The adsorption performance toward ciprofloxacin (CIP), a typical antibiotic in waterbodies, was also investigated. The results showed that pyrolysis temperature significantly changed the physicochemical properties of BRBCs. In addition, the minerals in the biogas residue, especially SiO2, were rearranged to form a mesoporous structure in biochar through a self-template strategy (without activator). BRBC prepared at 900 °C exhibited a high specific surface area and pore volume, well-developed mesopore structure, and more carbon structure defects, and exhibited the largest CIP adsorption capacity with 70.29 mg g−1, which was ascribed to the combined interaction of pore diffusion, π–π interactions, hydrogen bonding, complexation, and electrostatic forces. Furthermore, the adsorption of CIP by BRBC900 was well described by two-compartment kinetic and Langmuir isotherm models. BRBC900 showed good adsorption performance toward CIP at pH 7–9. The adsorption of CIP by BRBC is a spontaneous, exothermic, entropy-increasing process. Moreover, BRBC also presented a good recycling potential. Therefore, the preparation of mesoporous biochar based on a self-template strategy not only provides an option for the resource utilization of biogas residue but also offers a new option for the treatment of antibiotic wastewater.

An investigation for optical, photocatalytic, photoluminescence and dielectric properties of Cd0.40Ni0.60ZnO2 annealed nanocomposites

We report here the optical, photoluminescence (PL), and dielectric properties of Cd0.40Ni0.60ZnO2 nanocomposites annealed between 200 and 600oC. An increase in annealing temperature (Tann) up to 600oC correlates with a gradual increase in the crystallite and particle sizes. The surface area, pore radius, and pore volume are increased as Tann increases from 200oC to 300oC, and then decreased, but still higher than of 200oC. Similar behaviors were obtained for the absorbance carrier density, photocatlytic efficiency, degradation rate, PL intensity, dielectric constant, dielectric loss, ac conductivity, F-factor, series resistance, and electronic polarizability. While the energy gap, binding energy, impedance of grains and their boundaries, and effective capacitance show an opposite behavior. The relaxation times at the peak of dielectric parameters are between 11.54 and 159.24ns and between 35.23 and 24273.73ns, respectively. The Cole-Cole plot shows a single semicircle at Tann < 400oC and two successive semicircles at Tann> 500oC. The energy of PL of visible emissions is independent on the chosen Tann. These findings indicated that the nanocomposite annealed at 300oC can be used for water purification, telecommunications, solar cells, supercapacitor, and white light-emitting diodes (LEDs).

A versatile surface micro structure design strategy for porous-based pressure sensors to enhance electromechanical performance

Pressure sensors based on porous structures offer comfortable user experiences and can adapt to the flexible movement of human limbs, which makes them attractive options for human–computer interaction and health monitoring. However, ascribed to the limitation of porous surfaces, foam-based pressure sensors are difficult to achieve accurate electric responses and stable signal output, limiting their great potential in wide application fields. Herein, a surface structure design strategy is proposed for improving the performance of porous foam-based pressure sensors. The coupling of microstructures and the collaboration of dual sensing mechanisms endow the sensor with high performance, achieving a ∼ 12 times signal fluctuation stability when compared to the sensor without any surface design. Even when working under complex vibration conditions, the developed sensor can also maintain a ∼ 7 times more stable output. An intelligent insole based on the algorithm model of a sensor array and multi-layer perceptron was developed for the diagnosis of human foot arch health. The sensors with surface structure could capture and differentiate signals more accurately, which results in a diagnostic accuracy of 99.75 % for the smart insole. The strategy for enhancement of sensor performance proposed in this work can be applied to foam sensors with multiple material systems, which is expected to broaden the potential application of porous flexible devices in fields like the Internet of Things, medical monitoring and brain-computer interface.

Improving Adsorption Efficiency of Recycled Activated Carbon from Household Water Purifiers through Sonication

Objectives:This study evaluated the potential of recycled activated carbon from household water purifiers as an adsorbent for removing methylene blue. It aimed to achieve resource recycling and dyeing wastewater treatment through the sonication modification of recycled activated carbon.Methods:After sieving recycled activated carbon from water purifiers to a particle size of 75-150μm, the material, in this paper referred to as PCB-S, was processed using sonication to enhance its adsorption capacity. The characteristics of PCB-S were analyzed using SEM, XRD and BET analysis. To evaluate its efficacy, adsorption experiments were carried out varying the following parameters: PCB-S dosage (0.05-0.6gL-1), pH (2.0-10.0), initial concentration of methylene blue (100mgL-1), reaction time (1440 min), and temperature (298 K). The data from these experiments were analyzed using first and second-order kinetic models to understand the reaction kinetics, and the adsorption efficiency was further compared using Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm models. Finally, the thermodynamic properties of the adsorption process between PCB-S and methylene blue were studied to determine its endothermic nature and spontaneity.Results and Discussion:The analysis of the surface characteristics of PCB and PCB-S revealed that sonication significantly altered the pore structure of the activated carbon, leading to increases in both the specific surface area and pore volume. XRD analysis, indicated that sonication had no impact on the crystalline or amorphous structure of the activated carbon. PCB-S demonstrated superior porosity and adsorption capabilities compared to PCB. With a dosage of 0.6gL-1, PCB-S was able to remove 65% of methylene blue from the solution. The adsorption kinetics were best described by a pseudo-second-order kinetic model, with the Langmuir adsorption isotherm fitting the data most accurately. The Gibbs free energy (-1.90~-1.32kJ mol-1) and enthalpy change (7.44 kJ mol-1) confirmed that the adsorption reaction was endothermic.Conclusion:This study confirmed that recycled activated carbon from water purifiers exhibits excellent effectiveness as a dye removal adsorbent when subjected to sonication treatment. Therefore, the possibility of utilizing recycled household water purifier filters as adsorbents is expected to contribute to reducing waste disposal costs by promoting resource recycling.

Establishment of Linear Stability Analysis Method of Hypersonic Boundary Layer Reflecting Porous Surface Effect

Establishment of Linear Stability Analysis Method of Hypersonic Boundary Layer Reflecting Porous Surface Effect

Macroscopic, microscopic, and immunofluorescent characterization of the Greek tortoise (Testudo graeca graeca) oropharyngeal floor with concern to its feed adaptation as a herbivorous land reptile.

The current investigation focuses on gross anatomy, light, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) of the Testudo graeca oropharyngeal floor, with particular reference to the immunofluorescence technique to examine its tongue. The T. graeca oropharyngeal floor showed many anatomical structures: the lower rhamphotheca, paralingual ridge, lower alveolar ridge, tongue, laryngeal mound, and glottis. The lower rhamphotheca appeared as a V-shaped jaw line with a highly serrated edge and a median tomium (beak). SEM observations of the lingual apex and the lingual body showed rectangular and conical filiform papillae with porous surfaces and taste pores. Meanwhile, the lingual root had two wings that carried papillae with different shapes: dagger-shaped, conical, bifurcated, and leaf-like papillae, and these papillae lacked taste pores. The laryngeal mound had openings for the laryngeal mucus gland and its secretions. Light microscopy findings showed mucous glands in the propria submucosa and near the mucosal surface of the lingual apex. The lingual root had lingual papillae and two hyaline cartilaginous skeletons between skeletal muscles, and the lingual papillae were elongated filiform, rectangular filiform papillae, and fungiform papillae. The lamina propria constituted the core of the lingual papillae and the mucous gland, they had a positive reaction with the periodic acid schiff (PAS) reagent. The apical surface of the fungiform papillae had taste pores. Under immunofluorescence, the vimentin was detected in taste bud cells, and synaptophysin reacted to the taste buds and nerve bundles. The current study of the Greek tortoise oropharyngeal floor investigated its herbivorous eating habits using its serrated lower rhamphotheca, a large tongue with differently shaped papillae, and numerous mucous glands. RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS: The Greek tortoise (T. graeca graeca) oropharyngeal floor showed many anatomical structures: lower rhamphotheca, paralingual ridge, lower alveolar ridge, tongue, laryngeal mound, and glottis. SEM and light microscopy observations of the tongue revealed varied types and shapes of lingual papillae with a porous surface on the tongue apex (rectangular or conical filiform papillae), on the tongue body (filiform and fungiform papillae), and on the tongue root (dagger-shaped, conical, bifurcated, and leaf-like papillae). Light microscopy findings: the lamina propria constituted the core of the lingual papillae and had numerous mucous glands that had a slightly magenta-red color with PAS reagent. The apical surface of the fungiform papillae had taste pores. Vimentin and synaptophysin gave a reaction to the taste buds.

Thermal decomposition kinetics and aging lifetime prediction of waste rubbers in porous elastic road surface

The waste rubbers used as partly aggregates in porous elastic road surface (PERS) mixture are more easily to be attacked by the heat and oxygen during the service process. This study aims to investigate the thermal decomposition kinetics of waste rubbers in PERS and propose a method to predict the lifetime of waste rubbers. Firstly, the PERS mixtures containing unaged and aged waste rubbers were prepared with void ratio of 25 % and rubber particle content of 25 %. Then, from the water residual results, it can be seen that the residual stability and freezing-thawing splitting strength ratio of PERS mixtures containing waste rubbers being aged for 7 days significantly decreased to 65 % and 59 % compared with that of the unaged PERS mixture, which cannot be used as pavement. The thermal decomposition kinetics of waste rubbers fixed with the first-order reaction, which was related with the road performance of PERS mixtures by the mass loss rate of 17 % after being aged for 7 days. Based on that, the lifetime prediction equation of waste rubbers was established. It is expected that this work provides a new strategy for predicting the lifetime of waster rubbers in PERS pavement during the service process.

The impact of Activation on the Performance of Optical Oxygen Sensing with the Luminescent Metal–Organic Framework MOF‐76(Eu)

AbstractThe influence of activation as key parameter for oxygen sensing by luminescent metal–organic frameworks has been investigated and quantified for the archetype MOF‐76(Eu). Activation at different conditions (regarding temperature and solvent‐exchange for distinct vacuum pressure and heating time), shows an influence on the overall quenching, response time and cyclability due to different pore accessibility and surface area and therefore on the overall performance of the sensor. The optical sensing process is based on luminescence quenching, analyzed from high vacuum (10−7 bar) to ambient pressure by dosing oxygen from 0.01 bar to 1 bar. Strong influence of the different activation parameters is observed, as MOF‐76(Eu) activated at 50 °C shows limited quenching of the luminescence intensity within 30 min, while methanol‐exchange and subsequent activation at 250 °C leads to a quenching rate of 98.6 %. In addition, the sensor response occurs more than 1000 times faster within 0.2 s. These results correlate well with physisorption data, which reveal a significant change in porosity and surface area according to the degree of activation. For a better understanding of the involved processes, adsorption isotherms were recorded, surface areas determined and correlated to the photophysical parameters, including Stern‐Volmer kinetics and cycling experiments for the differently activated MOF sensors.

Effect of graphene coating on flow boiling in a minichannel at sub-atmospheric pressures

Flow boiling in a mini-channel with graphene-coated sintered porous copper surface was investigated at sub-atmospheric pressures by analyzing bubble motion and flow patterns. A method of surface modification based on graphene coating was presented for thermal management systems operating at lower temperatures. The experiments were carried out at mass fluxes of 60 kg.m–2.s–1 and 120 kg.m–2.s–1 and sub-atmospheric pressures of 48 kPa and 68 kPa in a mini-channel with dimensions of 50 mm × 15 mm × 2 mm using HFE-7100 coolant as the working fluid. At sub-atmospheric pressures, the bubble nucleation site density decreases, and the bubble diameter increases while the bubble release frequency decreases. The existence of porous surfaces and HFE-7100 coolant with lower surface tension leads to the inception of boiling at lower wall superheats. The graphene coating promotes microlayer evaporation and consequently increases the nucleation site density by enhancing the thermal conductivity and wicking rate. Additionally, it provides stable annular flow at high heat fluxes, whereas intermittent-annular flow is observed for the untreated surface under the same condition. This enhancement results in a more pronounced increase in the boiling heat transfer for the graphene-coated surface. As a result, this study provides the high potential of graphene coatings for phase change heat transfer enhancement at sub-atmospheric pressures.

Oxidised porous starch carrier for caffeine delivery: preparation, characterisation, and in vitro release

SummaryThis work established an oxidised porous starch carrier system for the administration of caffeine by selectively oxidising the main hydroxyl groups at the C6 positions of porous starch to carboxyl groups using 2,2,6,6‐tetramethylpiperidoxyl (TEMPO) oxidation. The loading capacity and encapsulation efficiency of oxidised porous starch on caffeine rose as the oxidation degree (0%–90%) increased, increasing by 4.66 and 4.95 times, respectively, at 90% oxidation. The crystallinity of porous starch diminished after TEMPO oxidation, while the crystalline caffeine transferred into an amorphous state when loaded onto oxidised porous starch. Following oxidation, the absolute value of porous starch surface potential rose, enabling the granules avoided aggregation. Caffeine formed tighter bonds with oxidised porous starch in acidic conditions due to the dissociation of carboxyl groups, which lead to a peak loading capacity (8.02%) of oxidised porous starch with 90% oxidation at pH 4. Electrostatic interactions and hydrogen bonds were the driving forces. Long‐term gastrointestinal release of caffeine was achieved utilising oxidised porous starch as carriers.

Hydrogen peroxide electrosynthesis using commercial carbon blacks as catalysts: the influence of surface properties and adsorption performance

AbstractBACKGROUNDSurface properties and adsorption performance of carbon materials play a crucial role in the electrochemical two‐electron oxygen reduction to produce H2O2. However, there is still a lack of in‐depth research on commercial carbon blacks in this area. Herein, four typical commercial carbon blacks (Acetylene black (AB), Ketjen black EC 600JD, Vulcan XC 72 and Black Pearls 2000) were used as cathode catalysts to generate H2O2. Surface chemistry and pore structure of electrodes of the four carbon blacks were systematically characterized, and their effects on H2O2 adsorption, electrochemical generation and degradation were investigated.RESULTSAmong the four carbon blacks, AB has the highest content of C–O–C/COOH and CO, which are active groups catalyzing the two‐electron oxygen reduction reaction to generate H2O2. AB has the lowest level of defects and highest degree of graphitization, and AB‐modified graphite felt electrode (AB‐Ele) has the largest average pore diameter, smallest specific surface area and smaller charge transfer resistance. H2O2 production using AB‐Ele is the largest and reaches 567.7 mg L−1 at 180 min under a current density of 5 mA cm−2, and only decreases by 17.6% after 10 repeated uses.CONCLUSIONOverall, rich oxygen‐containing functional groups such as C–O–C, COOH and CO, high degree of graphitization, suitable surface area and porosity as well as weak H2O2 adsorption performance are beneficial for the two‐electron oxygen reduction reaction to generate H2O2. AB‐modified graphite felt electrode exhibits good catalytic activity and reusability in H2O2 electrosynthesis, demonstrating promising application prospects. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry (SCI).

Effect of solid acid catalyst coupled decolorization process on the physicochemical properties and bioactive and volatile compounds of sesame oil

SummaryIn this study, the effects of citric acid‐loaded Hβ zeolite (F), activated clay and their modified decolorizers on the nutrients, volatile compounds and harmful substances of sesame oil in the decolorization process were evaluated. The results showed that the decolorization effect of F was second only to that of activated clay, the yield of F‐treated sesame oil sample was not significantly different from that of other decolorizers. The formation of asarinin was detected only in the sesame oil samples treated with F and H (zinc chloride‐activated clay). Compared with the activated clay‐treated sesame oil samples, the retention of tocopherols in the F‐treated sesame oil sample was significantly increased by 23.11%, and the retention of phytosterols was increased by 4.85%. The removal rate of the harmful substances Norharman and Harman in the F‐treated sesame oil sample was 96.79%, which was second only to that of the activated clay. Additionally, the removal rate of the total volatile compounds was the highest at 69.47%. The effects of different decolorizers on the sesame oil samples were closely related to the specific surface area, pore size and surface acidic sites of these decolorizers. This study could provide ideas for the industrial application of leached sesame oil, such as cosmetics and base oils.

Selective Use of Modern Cementless Total Knee Arthroplasty is Not Associated with Increased Risk of Revision in Patients Aged 65 or Greater: An Analysis from the American Joint Replacement Registry.

Introduction Modern highly porous surfaces have increased confidence and use of cementless total knee arthroplasty (TKA) in the United States. As cementless TKA use increases, there remains a paucity of literature regarding associated risk of revision in patients aged 65 or older. Methods We analyzed American Joint Replacement Registry (AJRR) data from January 2012 to March 2020 identifying patients aged 65 and older undergoing primary TKA with linked cases to supplemental Centers for Medicare and Medicaid data. Patients with hybrid fixation, reverse hybrid fixation, missing component data, highly constrained implants, and stem extension/augmentation were excluded. We identified 442,745 cemented TKAs and 19,841 modern cementless TKAs with minimum 2-year follow-up. Cumulative Incident Function (CIF) curves and cause-specific Cox models evaluated the risk of all-cause revision and revision for mechanical loosening, adjusting for BMI, sex, age, cruciate retaining (CR) vs posterior stabilized (PS) femoral design, patellar resurfacing, and Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI). Results Patients with cementless compared to cemented TKA were younger (mean age 71.9 vs 73.2, p <0.001), more likely to be male sex (48.8% vs 39.0%, p<0.001), more likely to have a CR femoral design (81.1% vs 45.7%, p<0.001), less likely to have patellar resurfacing (92.7% vs 95.0%, P<0.001), and had a lower CCI (mean 2.9 vs 3.1, p<0.001). Adjusted Hazard Ratios (HRs) showed no difference in associated risk for all-cause revision (HR 1.07, 95% CI 0.92-1.24, p=0.382) or revision for mechanical loosening (HR 1.38, 95% CI 0.9-2.12, p=0.14) for cementless vs cemented TKA. Conclusion Our results suggest that current selective use of cementless fixation for TKA in patients aged 65 and older in the United States is not associated with an increased risk of revision. While encouraging, further study is necessary to establish indications for use in this age group prior to broader adoption in this patient population.

Influence of Normal-to-High Anodizing Voltage on AAO Surface Hardness from 1050 Aluminum Alloy in Oxalic Acid

Anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) has been widely applied for the surface protection of electronic component packaging through a pore-sealing process, with the enhanced hardness value reaching around 400 Vickers hardness (HV). However, the traditional AAO fabrication at 0~10 °C for surface protection takes at least 3–6 h for the reaction or other complicated methods used for the pore-sealing process, including boiling-water sealing, oil sealing, or salt-compound sealing. With the increasing development of nanostructured AAO, there is a growing interest in improving hardness without pore sealing, in order to leverage the characteristics of porous AAO and surface protection properties simultaneously. Here, we investigate the effect of voltage on hardness under the same AAO thickness conditions in oxalic acid at room temperature from a normal level of 40 V to a high level of 100 V and found a positive correlation between surface hardness and voltage. The surface hardness values of AAO formed at 100 V reach about 423 HV without pore sealing in 30 min. By employing a hybrid pulse anodization (HPA) method, we are able to prevent the high-voltage burning effect and complete the anodization process at room temperature. The mechanism behind this can be explained by the porosity and photoluminescence (PL) intensity of AAO. For the same thickness of AAO from 40~100 V, increasing the anodizing voltage decreases both the porosity and PL intensity, indicating a reduction in pores, as well as anion and oxygen vacancy defects, due to rapid AAO growth. This reduction in defects in the AAO film leads to an increase in hardness, allowing us to significantly enhance AAO hardness without a pore-sealing process. This offers an effective hardness enhancement in AAO under economically feasible conditions for the application of hard coatings and protective films.

Rational design of nitrogen-doping Ti3C2Tx microspheres with enhanced polysulfide catalytic activity for lithium-sulfur batteries

The primary challenges that impede the practical applications of lithium-sulfur batteries are the significant shuttle effect of polysulfides, huge volume expansion, and slow redox kinetics. In this work, three-dimensional nitrogen doping Ti3C2Tx MXenes (3D N-Ti3C2Tx ) were successfully synthesized by spray drying and subsequent annealing, and hydrochloric acid-treated melamine effectively reduces the oxidation of MXenes in these processes. The formation of a unique nanoflower-shaped microsphere endows 3D N-Ti3C2Tx with a significant specific surface area and pore volume. The combination of nitrogen doping and the large specific surface area increased adsorption capacity and catalytic conversion ability for polysulfide intermediates. Consequently, the obtained 3D N-Ti3C2Tx /S cathode exhibited high-capacity retention (578.5 mAh g-1 after 500 cycles at 0.5 C and 462.5 mAh g-1 after 1,000 cycles at 1 C), superior rate performance (651.2 mAh g-1 at 3 C), and excellent long-term cycling performance (capacity fading rate of 0.076% per cycle at 0.5 C and 0.046% per cycle at 1 C). This work expands the potential applications of MXenes for lithium-sulfur batteries.

Engineering Biodegradable Polyurethanes with Precisely Controlled Hierarchical Structures to Access Shape Memory Effect and Enhanced Bioactivities.

Biodegradable polymers with shape memory effects (SMEs) offer promising solutions for short-term medical interventions, facilitating minimally invasive procedures and subsequent degradation without requiring secondary surgeries. However, achieving a good balance among desirable SMEs, mechanical performance, degradation rate, and bioactivities remains a significant challenge. To address this issue, we established a strategy to develop a versatile biodegradable polyurethane (PPDO-PLC) with tunable hierarchical structures via precise chain segment control. Initial copolymerization of l-lactide and ε-caprolactone sets a tunable Tg close to body temperature, followed by block copolymerization with poly(p-dioxanone) to form a hard domain. This yields a uniform microphase-separation morphology, ensuring robust SME and facilitating the development of roughly porous surface structures in alkaline environments. Cell experiments indicate that these rough surfaces significantly enhance cellular activities, such as adhesion, proliferation, and osteogenic differentiation. Our approach provides a methodology for balancing biodegradability, SMEs, three-dimensional (3D) printability, and bioactivity in materials through hierarchical structure regulation.

Physiochemical and electrical activities of nano copper oxides synthesised via hydrothermal method utilising natural reduction agents for solar cell application

Abstract The aim of this study is to explore the potential compatibility of copper oxide nano-powders synthesised via hydrothermal method for solar cell applications by triggering a reaction between copper acetate and various reducing agents derived from natural resources, including Arabic gum, molasses, starch, and vinegar. X-ray diffraction analysis revealed the crystalline phases of the synthesised materials, indicating the successful synthesis of copper oxide material, which was confirmed by identifying patterns that matched specific copper oxide phases. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy was employed to analyse the molecular vibrations and chemical compounds present in the reducing agents. The reducing properties of the selected materials and their capacity to convert copper acetate into copper oxide were validated. Field-emission microscopy and transmission electron microscopy analyses of the synthesised copper oxide nanoparticles (NPs) revealed variations in particle size and morphology. These variations were dependent on the particular reducing agent utilised during synthesis. Moreover, the carrier concentration, mobility, and resistivity were evaluated as the electrical properties of the spin-coated copper oxide thin films. Hall effect analysis determined that the choice of reducing agent significantly influenced the carrier concentration (n) and mobility (µ) of the films. Remarkably, nano copper oxide films synthesised using starch exhibited irregular spherical grains with porous surfaces. Starch-synthesised samples showed the highest conductivity of n = 1.2 × 1019 cm−3 when compared with those synthesised with other reducing agents. This suggests that the porous surfaces in the starch-synthesised films may have contributed to their enhanced conductivity compared to films synthesised with alternative reducing agents. In summary, the findings emphasised the influence of the reducing agent on the size, morphology, and electrical conductivity of the copper oxide NPs.

Advanced Pelvic Girdle Reconstruction with three dimensional-printed Custom Hemipelvic Endoprostheses following Pelvic Tumour Resection.

Resection of pelvic bone tumours and subsequent pelvic girdle reconstruction pose formidable challenges due to the intricate anatomy, weight-bearing demands, and significant defects. 3D-printed implants have improved pelvic girdle reconstruction by enabling precise resections with customized guides, offering tailored solutions for diverse bone defect morphology, and integrating porous surface structures to promote osseointegration. Our study aims to evaluate the long-term efficacy and feasibility of 3D-printed hemipelvic reconstruction following resection of malignant pelvic tumours. A retrospective review was conducted on 96 patients with primary pelvic malignancies who underwent pelvic girdle reconstruction using 3D-printed custom hemipelvic endoprostheses between January 2017 and May 2022. Follow-up duration was median 48.1 ± 17.9months (range, 6 to 76months). Demographic data, imaging examinations, surgical outcomes, and oncological evaluations were extracted and analyzed. The primary endpoints included oncological outcomes and functional status assessed by the Musculoskeletal Tumor Society (MSTS-93) score. Secondary endpoints comprised surgical duration, intraoperative bleeding, pain control and complications. In 96 patients, 70 patients (72.9%) remained disease-free, 15 (15.6%) had local recurrence, and 11 (11.4%) succumbed to metastatic disease. Postoperatively, function improved with MSTS-93 score increasing from 12.2 ± 2.0 to 23.8 ± 3.8. The mean operating time was 275.1 ± 94.0min, and the mean intraoperative blood loss was 1896.9 ± 801.1ml. Pain was well-managed, resulting in substantial improvements in VAS score (5.3 ± 1.8 to 1.4 ± 1.1). Complications occurred in 13 patients (13.5%), including poor wound healing (6.3%), deep prosthesis infection (4.2%), hip dislocation (2.1%), screw fracture (1.0%), and interface loosening (1.0%). Additionally, all patients achieved precise implantation of customized prosthetics according to preoperative plans. T-SMART revealed excellent integration at the prosthesis-bone interface for all patients. The use of a 3D-printed custom hemipelvic endoprosthesis, characterized by anatomically designed contours and a porous biomimetic surface structure, offers a potential option for pelvic girdle reconstruction following internal hemipelvectomy in primary pelvic tumor treatment. Initial results demonstrate stable fixation and satisfactory mid-term functional and radiographic outcomes.

High-efficient removal of methylene blue by zirconium-based organic frameworks modified with 1,3,5-benzenetricarboxylic acid: Characterization, performances, and mechanisms

The vast discharge of methylene blue (MB) dye in industrial effluent, risks the ecological environment, thus making its removal unavoidable. Recently, metal organic frameworks (MOFs) due to their larger pore volume, surface area and easy synthesis have proved to be exceptionally promising materials for contaminant treatment. Based on 1,3,5-benzenetricarboxylic acid (BTC) as a modifier, a new composite material consisting of BTC and Zr-based MOF (UIO-66-BTC) was fabricated for the effective removal of MB from the effluent. Its synthesis and efficient application has been confirmed by characterization analysis. The influencing factors, adsorption isotherms, and adsorption kinetics of MB adsorption by adsorbent were studied. It was demonstrated that the removal rate of MB adsorption by UIO-66-BTC reached 98.45% and the adsorption amount reached 393.80 mg g−1 at temperature (298 K), pH 7, adsorbent dosage (0.5 g L−1), MB initial concentration (200 mg L−1), and contact time of 720 min, respectively. The maximum adsorption of MB by UIO-66-BTC was 20.827 times higher than that of UIO-66 (18.908 mg g−1). The experimental data fits with the pseudo-second-order kinetic model and Langmuir isotherm, implying that the adsorption process is a monolayer chemisorption process. The thermodynamic and regeneration experiments showed that the spontaneous process enhanced the adsorption of MB at lower temperatures and the adsorption efficiency of MB remained above 68% after five successive cycles. The mechanism of MB adsorption on adsorbents is mainly based on electrostatic interactions, pore filling, hydrogen bonding and π-π interactions. It is concluded that this new adsorbent can be effectively used to treat MB in effluents.