Simple Method For Production Research Articles

A high-quality aqueous graphene conductive slurry applied in anode of lithium-ion batteries

Through a combination of mechanical agitation, ultrasonic dispersion, and modification by different dispersants, including polyvinyl pyrrolidone, sodium lignin sulfonate, and carboxymethylcellulose sodium (CMC), a graphene conductive slurry for lithium-ion batteries anode is prepared. These dispersants can inhibit the agglomeration of graphene and help to build the conductive network when graphene slurry used as a conductive agent for lithium-ion batteries. The SiOx/graphene-CMC electrode shows an excellent electrochemical performance with a first charge/discharge capacity of 1273.8/1723.7 mAh/g and a Coulomb efficiency of 73.9% at a constant current of 100 mA/g. The capacity retention rate of the lithium-ion battery is 84% (1070.2 mAh/g) after 100 cycles under current of 200 mA/g. The results indicate that the dispersant treatment provides a simple mass production method to disperse graphene stably, and the graphene conductive slurry can employ for high-performance SiOx anodes conductive agent.

An investigation on the influence of nano silica morphology on the characteristics of cement composites

Nanosilica is produced with various methods and each product has particular applications in the industry. The differences between the nanosilicas are mainly attributed to their morphology. For instance, some types of nanosilicas such as nanosilica gels have large agglomerates, while some others like nanosilica sols may be produced in the monodispersed form. The main objective of this article is investigating the differences between the influences of agglomeration state of nanosilica, as an aspect of morphology, on the characteristics of cement composites. Among the nanosilica types, nanosilica gel has been scarcely investigated in the cement based materials researches. Thus, a simple method for production of nanosilica gel is presented. Then, the characteristics of cement mixtures containing this material have been compared with those incorporating a monodispersed nanosilica sol and silica fume. The properties investigated in this study include shrinkage measurements, compressive strength, water sorptivity, cement hydration, flow ability, setting times and rapid chloride migration coefficient. The results indicate that, despite the agglomeration state, at early ages, nanosilica gel outperformed the silica sol and silica fume in improving the characteristics such as compressive strength. It confirms that the monodispersed form of nanosilica sol could not provide higher levels of nucleation centers in the mixture; in other words, coagulation of nano particles is inevitable in the environment of cement-based materials. Likewise, at long term, nanosilica gel incorporated concretes had improved durability in terms of chloride penetration and water sorptivity compared to those with monodispersed nanosilica sol.

Green synthesis of ultrapure La(OH)3 nanoparticles by one-step method through spark ablation and electrospinning and its application to phosphate removal

La(OH)3 metal engineered nanoparticles (MENPs) are efficient phosphate binders; however, complex synthesis procedures and purity as well as agglomeration issues impede their development and practical applications. Herein, a green and a one-step method in combination with the spark ablation aerosol technology and electrospinning is proposed for the synthesis of La(OH)3 MENPs; further, their application as phosphate binders are elucidated as a proof the concept. Material characterization results confirm the successful synthesis of ultrapure La(OH)3 MENPs, which has not been achieved before via an environmentally friendly one-step procedure. Small angle X-ray scattering and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy etching results show that La(OH)3 MENPs loading on the electrospun nanofibers are uniform in both two and three dimensions. The comparative tests revealed a high phosphate adsorption capacity (110.8 mg P/g La) and indicted that the La(OH)3 MENPs perform well; this was observed even under the interference of coexisting ions (Cl−, SO42−, NO3−, and F−) at different pH values. After three cycles of solution-shaking treatment, the release of La(OH)3 was less than 1 wt% (0.5 wt%), which was acceptable for an adsorbent. These results indicate that the La(OH)3 MENP-loaded nanofibers are practical phosphate binders due to the simple production methods, low manufacturing cost, and impressive capacity. The proposed method significantly shortens the loading process and is a promising alternative for not only the synthesis of the adsorbent, but also for other engineering materials where loading is needed.

Rapid One-Step 18F-Labeling of Peptides via Heteroaromatic Silicon-Fluoride Acceptors.

A new class of organosilicon-based radiosynthons, heteroaromatic silicon-fluoride acceptors, namely, HetSiFAs, that readily undergo isotope exchange with dry [18F]fluoride at room temperature in high radiochemical yield (up to 94%) with good molar activity is reported. Radiofluorination proceeds in a single step in 2 min without high-performance liquid chromatography purification to provide an operationally simple method for 18F-PET tracer production. This method was used to prepare an 18F-labeled commercial tetrapeptide, andpositron emission tomography imaging confirmed in vivo stability.

Enhanced photocatalytic hydrogen production and degradation of organic pollutants from Fe (III) doped TiO2 nanoparticles

In the present work, bare TiO2 and different molar concentrations of iron (Fe3+)-doped TiO2 photocatalysts (0.05−1 mol % Fe) were prepared by a simple precipitation method for photocatalytic hydrogen production and degradation of organic pollutants (MO and 4-CP) under light irradiation of λ ≥ 320 nm. XRD revealed the presence of anatase phase for both bare TiO2 and Fe doped titania. Based on the XPS results, Fe3+ ions are hardly seen may be attributed to the location of iron inside the titania matrix rather than their appearance at the surface. UV–vis-DRS of the doped titania demonstrated a redshift toward visible region owing to the reduced bandgap energy. N2 adsorption results showed that the doped materials have higher surface area compared to bare TiO2 due to decrease particle size. Importantly, electrochemical experiments (electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), photocurrent (PC), and photoluminescence (PL)) revealed that higher photogenerated charge carrier separation efficiency of iron-doped titania. Results showed that the 0.1 mol % Fe doped TiO2 exhibited the highest photocatalytic activity for both degradation and H2 evolution reactions. Furthermore, high surface area, small particle size and enhanced visible-light absorption as well as improved charge transfer and separation are believed to be responsible for the improvement of photocatalytic activity of the doped materials.

Azo-dye degradation by Mn–Al powders

Manganese–Aluminum powders were recently reported to show high efficiency and fast reaction rates as decolorization materials for azo-dye aqueous solutions. This work presents a detailed study of different aspects of this material. Firstly, the influence of the crystalline phase and the microstructure was studied by comparing the efficiency of powders obtained by different production protocols. Secondly, the decolorization efficiency was investigated on various types of dyes, including real textile wastewater samples. The analysis of the treated water and the particles showed that the main reaction mechanism was the breaking of the azo-dye molecules, although important adsorption on the metallic surface was observed for some colorants. Finally, the reusability of the particles and the reduction of toxicity achieved during the treatments were assessed. The simple production and application methods, the high efficiency and the use of environmentally friendly metallic elements are the main advantages of Manganese–Aluminum powders compared to other high-efficient decolorizing metallic materials.

A simple method for production of hydrophilic, rigid, and sterilized multi-layer 3D integrated polydimethylsiloxane microfluidic chips.

Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) has many desirable features for microfluidics applications, particularly in diagnostics and pharmaceuticals, but its hydrophobicity and the lack of a practical method for bonding PDMS layers limit its use. Moreover, the flexibility of PDMS causes unwanted deformation during use in some applications. Here, we report a simple method for solving these problems simultaneously using an electron beam (EB) or γ-rays, which are commonly used for sterilizing medical products. Simply by applying EB or γ-ray irradiation to stacked PDMS layers, we can not only bond the interfaces between the layers by forming Si-O-Si covalent bonds but also achieve long-lasting hydrophilization and sterilization of the internal microchannels and chambers, prevent nonspecific adsorption and absorption of hydrophobic small molecules, and enhance the mechanical strength of the material by converting bulk PDMS into a Si-Ox-rich (where x is 3 or 4) structure though crosslinking. Unlike the one-at-a-time plasma process, EBs and γ-rays can penetrate through many stacked layers of PDMS sealed in their final package, enabling batch modification and bonding. The method requires no chemical crosslinkers, adhesive agents, or fillers; hence, it does not undermine the advantages of PDMS such as ease of molding in soft lithography, biocompatibility, and optical transparency. Furthermore, bonding is achieved with high-throughput yield because it occurs after re-adjustable alignment. We demonstrate that this method is applicable in the mass production of 3D integrated PDMS microfluidic chips with some glass-like properties as well as for 3D structures with complex shapes that are difficult to fabricate with plastic or glass.

Amine Functionalized Metal-Organic Framework Coordinated with Transition Metal Ions: d-d Transition Enhanced Optical Absorption and Role of Transition Metal Sites on Solar Light Driven H2 Production.

Design and development of efficient photocatalysts for H2 production from water and sunlight have gained significant attention as the solar assisted approach is considered to be a promising approach for the generation of clean fuel. However, the poor charge carrier separation and light harvesting ability of existing photocatalysts limits the efficiency of photoconversion of water. In this work, the synthesis of transition metal ions (M2+ = Co2+ , Cu2+ , and Ni2+ ) coordinated with Ti-metal organic frameworks (Ti-MOFs) through a simple post-synthetic coordination method for efficient solar light-driven H2 production is reported. Notably, coordination of M2+ ions with Ti-MOF significantly improves the optical absorption by d-d transitions and the multimetal sites facilitate the fast charge carrier separation, thereby enhancing the solar light-driven H2 production activity. Very interestingly, the rate of solar light-driven H2 production is varied with respect to different metal ions coordination due to the position of d-d bands absorption in the solar spectrum, and the complexing tendency of M2+ ions with sacrificial electron donors. A maximum solar H2 production rate of 1583.55 µmol h-1 g-1 is achieved with a Cu2+ coordinated Ti-MOF, which is ≈13 fold higher than that of the pristine Ti-MOF.

An analysis of the construction elements of the “oversized” look in fashion collection since 2015

Oversized fashion is again in the spotlight due to the influence of retro fashion. This has created new fashion trends with methods different from those of the past. This analysis examines recent trends by sorting these looks according to new and different methods of judging their appearance. A new categorization of the oversized look and its configurations has been created, one which separates “big” looks, partial changes, and layered looks. This research was based on historical review and previous studies. Three thousand one hundred thirty-six photos of oversized looks that have appeared in collections over the past five years were gathered, and their appearance was categorized according to type. The categorization results showed that big looks (55.1%) were most prevalent, followed by partial alterations (36.35%), and layered looks (8.45%). In comparison to prior oversized clothing production, new permutations of the “Big” look expanded the silhouettes of torso, shoulders, neckline and collar. Partial changes have expanded from the broadened shoulders of the 1980s. Today these styles expand the shoulders and armholes vertically or horizontally, which dramatically exaggerates the sleeves and collar. The layered look no longer simply features overlapping layers but takes the form of over-layering through cuts and insertions. Through such analysis it is clear that modern oversized looks break away from the simple expanded forms and production methods of the past. They now attempt to realize an exaggerated beauty of form regarding each clothing component and also maximize decorative effects through innovative drafting or sewing methods.

Highly Conductive Carbon Nanotube-Thermoplastic Polyurethane Nanocomposite for Smart Clothing Applications and Beyond.

The following paper presents a simple, inexpensive and scalable method of production of carbon nanotube-polyurethane elastomer composite. The new method enables the formation of fibers with 40% w/w of nanotubes in a polymer. Thanks to the 8 times higher content of nanotubes than previously reported for such composites, over an order of magnitude higher electrical conductivity is also observed. The composite fibers are highly elastic and both their electrical and mechanical properties may be easily controlled by changing the nanotubes content in the composite. It is shown that these composite fibers may be easily integrated with traditional textiles by sewing or ironing. However, taking into account their light-weight, high conductivity, flexibility and easiness of molding it may be expected that their potential applications are not limited to the smart textiles industry.

Solution‐Processed Laminated Perovskite Layers for High‐Performance Solar Cells

AbstractLaminated multilayers of perovskite films with different optical and electronic characteristics will easily realize high‐performance optoelectronic devices because it is widely demonstrated that differential distribution of film properties in the vertical direction of devices plays particularly important roles in device performance. However, the existing laminated perovskite films are hardly prepared by a solution process because there is no solvent with sufficient selectivity of solubility for different perovskite materials. Here, it is demonstrated that aniline (AN) has a largely different solubility toward the perovskite MAPbI3 and the MAPbI3 blend with an additive of hydrochloride diethylammonium chloride. By using AN as the solvent in the perovskite precursor solution, two laminated perovskite layers with different crystal size and optical and electrical characteristics are achieved. Inverted perovskite solar cells with the laminated films as active layers achieve an averaged power conversion efficiency of 20.65% originating from the high VOC 1.112 V and fill factor of 80.8%. The devices maintain 98% efficiency after 400 h under 65% RH. This work provides a very simple and feasible method for production of laminated perovskite films to achieve high‐performance perovskite solar cells.

An Improved Phenotyping Protocol for Panama Disease in Banana.

Fusarium oxysporum (Fo) belongs to a group of soil-borne hyphomycetes that are taxonomically collated in the Fusarium oxysporum Species Complex (FOSC). Hitherto, those infecting bananas were placed in the forma specialis cubense (Foc). Recently, however, these genetically different Foc lineages were recognized as new Fusarium spp. placed in the Fusarium of Banana Complex (FOBC). A member of this complex F. odoratissimum II-5 that uniquely comprises the so-called Tropical Race 4 (TR4), is a major problem sweeping through production zones of Cavendish banana in several regions of the world. Because of this, there is an urgent need for a phenotyping method that allows the screening for resistance to TR4 of large numbers of banana genotypes. Most Fusarium species produce three types of spores: macroconidia, microconidia and the persistent chlamydospores that can contaminate soils for many years. Inoculum production has been an important bottleneck for efficient phenotyping due to the low or variable number of conidia and the elaborate laboratory procedures requiring specific infrastructure. Here, we report a rapid, simple and high-yielding spore production method for nine F. oxysporum formae speciales as well as the biocontrol species Fo47 and Fo618-12. For Fusarium spp. causing Fusarium wilt or Panama disease of banana, we used the protocol for four species comprising the recognized physiological races, including Tropical Race 4 (TR4). We subsequently tested the produced inoculum in comparative inoculation trials on banana plants to evaluate their efficiency. All assays resulted in typical symptoms within 10 weeks; significant differences in final disease ratings were observed, depending on inoculum concentration. Pouring inoculum directly onto banana plants showed the most consistent and reproducible results, as expressed in external wilting, internal discoloration and determined by real-time PCR assays on entire rhizomes. Moreover, this method allows the inoculation of 250 plants per hour by one individual thereby facilitating the phenotyping of large mutant and breeding populations.

Continuous Production of Water‐Soluble Nanocrystals through Anti‐Solvent Precipitation in a Fluidic Device

AbstractThis paper describes a simple and robust method for the continuous production of water‐soluble nanocrystals using anti‐solvent precipitation under diffusion control in a fluidic device. We use sodium chloride (NaCl) as an example to demonstrate the concept. In a typical process, aqueous NaCl and ethanol (the anti‐solvent) serve as the focused and focusing phases, respectively, for the generation of a coaxial‐flow system. Upon contact with each other, the rapid diffusion between water and ethanol leads to the formation of NaCl nanocrystals at the interface while a gradient in NaCl concentration is created along the flow direction. The nucleation and growth of NaCl nanocrystals can be readily tuned by varying the hydrodynamic parameters such as the ratio between the flow rates of the two phases and the total volumetric rate. By optimizing these parameters, we are able to produce NaCl nanocubes and nanospheres as small as 20 nm and 6 nm, respectively, while attaining a narrow distribution in size. We have also successfully generated KCl nanocrystals with similar controls, demonstrating the generality of this method for the production of water‐soluble nanocrystals.

A C-Doped TiO2/Fe3O4 Nanocomposite for Photocatalytic Dye Degradation under Natural Sunlight Irradiation

Magnetically recyclable C-doped TiO2/Fe3O4 (C-TiO2/Fe3O4) nanocomposite was successfully synthesized via a sol–gel method. The synthesized samples were characterized using SEM, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), FTIR, and UV-VIS diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS) techniques. The results clearly showed that a C-TiO2/Fe3O4 nanocomposite was produced. The photocatalytic activities of the prepared pristine (TiO2), C-doped TiO2 (C-TiO2) and C-TiO2/Fe3O4 were evaluated by the photodegradation of methyl orange (MO) under natural sunlight. The effect of catalyst loading and MO concentration were studied and optimized. The C-TiO2/Fe3O4 nanocomposite exhibited an excellent photocatalytic activity (99.68%) that was higher than the TiO2 (55.41%) and C-TiO2 (70%) photocatalysts within 150 min. The magnetic nanocomposite could be easily recovered from the treated solution by applying external magnetic field. The C-TiO2/Fe3O4 composite showed excellent photocatalytic performance for four consecutive photocatalytic reactions. Thus, this work could provide a simple method for the mass production of highly photoactive and stable C-TiO2/Fe3O4 photocatalyst for environmental remediation.

Fabrication of Bioscaffolds Using Bubbling Technique for Bone Tissue Engineering

A simple and green method for scaffold production was introduced here. The method is based on bubbling process of PVA solution. This process is superior to other conventional techniques in the matter of controllable pore size and without using of any other organic solvents. Microstructure of the scaffold was examined by a stereo microscope. Pore size and size-distribution were determined using a scanning electron microscope. Interconnected cells with uniform pores were observed without any other impurities within the pores. Average pore size was about 220 microns which is in the range required for bone tissue engineering application.

Optimizing a Simple Natural Dye Production Method for Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells: Examples for Betalain (Bougainvillea and Beetroot Extracts) and Anthocyanin Dyes

We present a study about the sensitizers extracted from natural resources. This paper focuses on how to select, extract and characterize natural dyes, giving some guides to establish a protocol for the whole process of fabricating and using these dyes. The influence of the extraction solvent and method, and of parameters such as pH are analyzed. Also, dye precursor and dye extract stability have been studied, as well as how the dye adsorbs onto substrates and the effect of mixing or concentrating the extracts. Results concerning betalain pigments present in bougainvillea and beetroot extracts, and anthocyanins in eggplant extracts, analyzed by using UV-Vis spectrometry, are included. As an example of application, we report procedures intended to test and enhance the dye potential as a main component of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). DSSCs mimic nature’s photosynthesis and have some advantages like an easy and low-cost fabrication procedure. Their efficiency depends on its design and fabrication process and also on the different components involved. Hence, optimizing each component is essential to achieve the best performance, and thus the dye used as a sensitizer is crucial. We fabricate cells by using a simple procedure: As the interest is focused on the sensitizer, the same consecutive steps are followed, varying only the dye extract. Among all the natural-dyes tested, beetroot extract reaches up to 0.47% cell efficiency, which is near the highest values found in literature for this pigment.

Bipolar Exfoliation and in Situ Deposition of High-Quality Graphene for Supercapacitor Application

Developing a reliable, simple, cost-efficient, and eco-friendly method for scale-up production of high-quality graphene-based materials is essential for the broad applications of graphene. In this study, bipolar electrochemistry concept is utilized to design a single-step and controllable process for simultaneously exfoliating a graphite source and depositing both graphene oxide and reduced graphene oxide layers on conductive substrates. The electrochemical analysis carried out on symmetric cells revealed an areal capacitance of 1.932 mF cm–2 for the high-quality reduced graphene oxide deposited on the negative feeding electrode, and 0.404 mF cm–2 for the graphene oxide deposited on the positive feeding electrode at a scan rate of 2 mV s–1. The devices also showed high stability for periodic and repeated constant current charging/discharging cycles which is suitable for energy storage in supercapacitors. In the frequency domain, cutoff frequencies of 1820 and 1157 Hz at −45° impedance phase angle were obt...

Electrochemically Exfoliated Graphene Electrode for High-Performance Rechargeable Chloroaluminate and Dual-Ion Batteries.

The current state-of-the-art positive electrode material for chloroaluminate ion batteries (AIBs) or dual-ion batteries (DIBs) is highly crystalline graphite; however, the rate capability of this material at high discharge currents is significantly reduced by the modest conductivity of graphite. This limitation is addressed through the use of graphene-based positive electrodes, which can improve the rate capability of these batteries due to their higher conductivity. However, conventional methods of graphene production induce a significant number of defects, which impair the performance of AIBs and DIBs. Herein, we report the use of a defect-free graphene positive electrode, which was produced using the electrochemical exfoliation of graphite in an aqueous solution with the aid of Co2+ as an antioxidant. The Co-treated graphene electrode achieved high capacities of 150 mAh g-1 in DIBs and 130 mAh g-1 in AIBs with high rate capability for both batteries. The charge-discharge mechanism of the batteries is examined using in situ Raman spectroscopy, and the results revealed that the intercalation density of [AlCl4]- or [PF6]- increased from a dilute staging index graphite intercalation compound (GIC) to a stage 1 GIC within the operating voltage window. The simple production method of high-quality graphene in conjunction with its high performance in DIBs should enable the use of graphene for DIB technologies.

Narrow linewidth DBR laser based on high order Bragg grating defined by i-line lithography

In order to obtain narrow linewidth semiconductor laser around 1564 nm, we design a distributed Bragg reflector (DBR) laser with high-order Bragg gratings (HOBGs) using butterfly encapsulation. The DBR laser is fabricated only by i-line lithography technology with grating period of 4. 84μm, groove width of 1. 5μm and grating length of 72μm on a strip width of 4μm. The 1mm-long devices achieved an output power of 9.9 mW and a side mode suppression ratio (SMSR) more than 30 dB without facet coating at an injection current of 80 mA. The lasers showed ultra-narrow Lorentz linewidth of 70 kHz. This paper provides a simple method for large-scale production of narrow linewidth semiconductor lasers.

Nitrogen and oxygen dual-doped activated carbon as electrode material for high performance supercapacitors prepared by direct carbonization of amaranthus

With supercapacitors application promotion, looking for simple, energy efficient and environment-friendly method for expandable production of carbon materials with uniform heteroatoms doping as high-performance electrode materials for supercapacitors becomes the keystone of current research. Here, we present a simple, not costly, low environmental pollution method for preparation of nitrogen and oxygen dual-doped activated carbons via one step direct carbonization of natural, renewable and abundant amaranthus followed by ultrasonic treatment with nitric acid. Most noteworthy is XC-700-50, which exhibits high conductivity, moderate surface area, reasonable pore size distribution and high O and N doping contents (12.05% and 5.31% respectively). Benefiting from these features, it displays high gravimetric capacitance (326 F g−1 and 294 F g−1 at 0.5 A g−1 and 1 A g−1, respectively), good rate capability, as well as excellent cycling stability (about 97.1% and 94.4% of capacitance retention after 10000 cycles at 2 A g−1 and 10 A g−1, respectively) in the high mass loading electrode (8 mg cm−2), making it a promising electrode material for supercapacitors.