Single-step Process Research Articles

Silver decoration of Cr2O3 nanoparticles: Facile preparation of Cr2O3 nanoparticles and Ag–Cr2O3 nanocomposites and characterization of their antibacterial activity and ability to photocatalytically degrade organic wastes under visible light

An eco-friendly, single-step process was adopted for the preparation of Cr2O3 nanoparticles (CR-NPs), and different concentrations of Ag were doped into the CR-NPs through liquid impregnation to synthesize a series of Ag-CRNPs composites. In order to prevent agglomeration, chemical transformation, and weak adhesion of Ag to CR-NPs, a mechanical process of circular-motion grinding and high-temperature treatment in a sealed condition were used. Well-defined heterojunctions were successfully formed between Ag and CR-NPs. In comparison to the CR-NPs, the Ag-doped CR-NP composites exhibited excellent performance in photocatalytic and antibacterial applications. Under visible light (VL), the best-performing composite (2 %-Ag decorated CR-NPs) showed 96 %, 79 %, and 57 % decomposition of methylene blue, Congo red, and tetracycline, respectively, in 100 min, which was attributed to a synergetic effect in the composites. The rate constant of the photocatalytic reaction is 14 times higher than that of the reaction without a photocatalyst. The enhanced efficiency was attributed to a reduced bandgap, prolonged retention of photogenerated electron–hole pairs, an increased amount of active spots, and increased absorption of VL. Similarly, the best-performing composite exhibited excellent antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus with zones of inhibition of 15.4 and 15.1 mm, respectively. The 2 %-Ag decorated CR-NPs were the most efficient and exhibited robust recyclability until the fifth cycle (≥90 %). The photocatalytic activity was primarily driven by reactive oxygen species, holes and hydroxyl radicals.

Semi-closed synthesis of mesoporous carbon supported metal oxide nanoparticles

Common methods for preparing mesoporous carbon (MC)-supported metal oxide nanoparticles include chemical vapor deposition, sol-gel, hydrothermal, and microemulsion methods. It is necessary to first prepare carbon materials and thereafter load the metal oxide nanoparticles. In recent years, simple one-pot methods to prepare mesoporous carbon-supported metal and metal oxide nanoparticles has received a lot of attention. Inspired by the semi-closed method for preparing MC materials, in this study, we report a method for preparing MC-supported metal oxide nanoparticles in a single-step process in a muffle furnace after adding a one-step in situ synthesized precursor in a semi-closed system. The porous carbon-supported metal oxide nanoparticles prepared using this method have the advantages of a small particle size, uniform distribution, stable structure, and applicability to various metal oxides. The MoO3/MC catalysts prepared using this method exhibited excellent catalytic performance for the selective oxidation of benzyl alcohol. Only 5 mg of MoO3/MC-2 was used to convert 0.5 mmol benzyl alcohol to benzaldehyde in 2 mL DMSO with a conversion of 99% under air. The catalytic reaction is carried out at a high TON and TOF of 181 and 30.2 h−1, respectively. Furthermore, the MoO3/MC catalysts exhibited high selectivity, wide substrate universality, and excellent stability.

Effects of Mg/Zn ratio and pre-aging on microstructure and mechanical properties of Al–Mg–Zn–Cu alloys

The alloy composition and aging process are significant factors determining the type of precipitates in Al alloys. In this work, the effects of Mg/Zn ratio and pre-aging process on the microstructure and mechanical properties of Al–Mg–Zn–Cu alloys were systematically investigated using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), hardness measurements and tensile tests. The results show that reducing the Mg/Zn ratio significantly increases the density of T′-Mg32(AlZnCu)49 precipitates, thereby enhancing and accelerating the aging response. A detailed comparison has been made between Al–Mg–Zn–Cu alloys aged by single-step and two-step artificial aging processes. With the same composition, the alloy exhibits a higher yield strength under the two-stage aging process, resulting from the higher precipitation strengthening effect (Orowan dislocation bypassing mechanism) due to the smaller size and higher density of precipitates. Furthermore, it is particularly interesting that there may be two evolution paths for GPII zones with (111)Al habit plane: one is that the GPII zones are dissolved into the matrix, and the other is that the GPII zones gradually evolve into the T′ precipitates. This work sheds some light on the precipitation sequence in Al–Mg–Zn–Cu alloys and is greatly helpful for designing age-hardening Al–Mg based alloys.

The Electrochemical Behavior of Zr(IV) and Y(III) in NaCl-KCl-K2ZrF6-YCl3 Molten Salt

In this paper, the electrochemical behavior of Zr(IV) and Y(III) in NaCl-KCl-K2ZrF6-YCl3 molten salts is studied by cyclic voltammetry, linear sweep voltammetry, and chronopotentiometry methods, which will provide a theoretical foundation for the preparation of Zr-Y alloy coating by molten salt electrodeposition method. Results show that the reduction of Zr(IV) on molybdenum electrode is a three-step charge-transfer process, while the reduction of Y(III) is a single-step diffusion-controlled three-electron quasi-reversible process at −0.30 V vs Pt. In addition, the diffusion coefficient of Y(III) in the melt at 750 °C is calculated as 2.15 × 10−5 cm2·s−1. The reduction of Zr(IV) and Y(III) on molybdenum electrode in NaCl-KCl-K2ZrF6-YCl3 molten salts has also been studied by cyclic voltammetry method. Results indicate that the Zr-Y alloy coating can be obtained on molybdenum electrode by galvanostatic electrolysis at −1.50 V vs Pt for 30 min.

Comparative Evaluation of Unpeeled Cassava (Manihot esculenta) and Tacca (Tacca involucrata) Tuber Flours as Substrates for Bioethanol Production

The ever-increasing demand for alternatives to fossil fuel due to its negative impacts on the environment and high prices have resulted in the search for feedstock for bioethanol production. Cassava is one of the major staple foods that is processed into various preservative forms in Nigeria, while tacca is a plant growing in the wild and is eaten by a few people during scarcity of food. Unpeeled cassava and tacca tubers were processed into flour. The flour was hydrolyzed using Aspergillus niger and Saccharomyces cerevisiae, separately. The bioethanol potentials of tuber flours were evaluated using a single-step process. Hydrolysis of 10g of cassava tuber flour separately by Aspergillus niger and Saccharomyces cerevisiae produced (g/100mL) 0.720 and 0.765 of sugar, respectively, while hydrolysis of 10g of tacca tuber flour separately by Aspergillus niger and Saccharomyces cerevisiae produced (g/100mL) 0.392 and 0.367 of sugar respectively. Evaluation of the effect of time during hydrolysis of cassava tuber flour for 24h by Aspergillus niger and Saccharomyces cerevisiae separately produced (g/100mL) 1.44 and 0.737 of sugar, while hydrolysis of tacca tuber flour for 24h produced (g/100mL) 0.768 and 0.493 of sugar. Evaluation of the effect of varying pH values during hydrolysis of the tuber flours revealed that pH 5.6 produced the highest concentration of sugar (0.240g/100mL) and (0.803g/100mL) when Aspergillus niger and Saccharomyces cerevisiae were separately used to hydrolyze cassava tuber flour. When Aspergillus niger and Saccharomyces cerevisiae were separately used to hydrolyze tacca tuber flour at pH 5.6, 0.626g and 0.436g of sugar was produced. Fermentation of cassava tuber flour by mixed culture of Aspergillus niger and Saccharomyces cerevisiae for 48h produced 3.851%(w/v) bioethanol at 24h of fermentation, while fermentation of tacca tuber flour by mixed culture of Aspergillus niger and Saccharomyces cerevisiae produced 3.236% (w/v) bioethanol at 48h. Cassava tuber flour produced a higher concentration of bioethanol than tacca tuber flour. These results have shown that tacca tuber is a potential feedstock for bioethanol production, hence exploitation of nonfood materials such as tacca tuber for bioprocesses can reduce the over _dependence on cassava tuber.

In situ growth of nickel ammonium phosphate ribbons on nickel foam for supercapacitor applications

We report the in-situ growth of the nickel ammonium phosphate (NAP) ribbons on nickel (Ni) foam in a single step process using hydrothermal approach. The morphology, structure and elemental analysis of the NAP-ribbons grown on Ni foam were analyzed by scanning electron microscope (SEM), energy-dispersive x-ray analysis (EDX) and x-ray diffraction. The NAP-coated Ni foam sample was sonicated in ethanol and the obtained suspension was observed through AFM analysis to analyze the lateral dimensions of the NAP-ribbons. The obtained NAP ribbons powder was also characterized by x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and Raman spectroscopy. Further, the NAP ribbons based electrodes were electrochemically characterized by cyclic voltammetry (CV), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and galvanostatic charge discharge analysis (GCD). NAP ribbons grown on Ni foam as electrodes achieved a specific capacitance (Csp) of 1196 Fg−1 at 1 mVs−1 and 1188 Fg−1 at 1 Ag−1. The charge storage mechanism was identified and quantified by evaluating the CV data in 1–10 mVs−1 scan rate range. It was established that at low scan rate the charge was dominantly stored by diffusion of electrolyte ions within the gaps of the NAP ribbons resulting in high energy density of 105.5 WhKg−1 at 1 Ag−1. NAP electrodes also demonstrated good cyclic stability by showing 92 % charge retention after 5000 cycles. A symmetric 2-electrode device comprised of NAP ribbons electrodes gave Csp of 309 Fg−1 at 1 mVs−1 with energy density of 42.06 Wh/Kg and power density of 0.5 KW/Kg at 1 A/g current density, which is an exceptional for a symmetric supercapacitor device. The study confirms that NAP ribbons have a promising potential to be employed in the next-generation energy storage devices.

The Fast and One-Step Growth of ZnO Nanorods on Cellulose Nanofibers for Highly Sensitive Photosensors.

Cellulose is the most abundant organic material on our planet which has a key role in our daily life (e.g., paper, packaging). In recent years, the need for replacing fossil-based materials has expanded the application of cellulose and cellulose derivatives including into electronics and sensing. The combination of nanostructures with cellulose nanofibers (CNFs) is expected to create new opportunities for the development of innovative electronic devices. In this paper, we report on a single-step process for the low temperature (<100 °C), environmentally friendly, and fully scalable CNF-templated highly dense growth of zinc oxide (ZnO) nanorods (NRs). More specifically, the effect of the degree of substitution of the CNF (enzymatic CNFs and carboxymethylated CNFs with two different substitution levels) on the ZnO growth and the application of the developed ZnO NRs/CNF nanocomposites in the development of UV sensors is reported herein. The results of this investigation show that the growth and nature of ZnO NRs are strongly dependent on the charge of the CNFs; high charge promotes nanorod growth whereas with low charge, ZnO isotropic microstructures are created that are not attached to the CNFs. Devices manufactured via screen printing/drop-casting of the ZnO NRs/CNF nanocomposites demonstrate a good photo-sensing response with a very stable UV-induced photocurrent of 25.84 µA. This also exhibits excellent long-term stability with fast ON/OFF switching performance under the irradiance of a UV lamp (15 W).

Achieving Discharge Limits in Single-Stage Domestic Wastewater Treatment by Combining Urban Waste Sources and Phototrophic Mixed Cultures.

This work shows the potential of a new way of co-treatment of domestic wastewater (DWW) and a liquid stream coming from the thermal hydrolysis of the organic fraction of municipal solid waste (OFMSW) mediated by a mixed culture of purple phototrophic bacteria (PPB) capable of assimilating carbon and nutrients from the medium. The biological system is an open single-step process operated under microaerophilic conditions at an oxidative reduction potential (ORP) < 0 mV with a photoperiod of 12/24 h and fed during the light stage only so the results can be extrapolated to outdoor open pond operations by monitoring the ORP. The effluent mostly complies with the discharge values of the Spanish legislation in COD and p-values (<125 mg/L; <2 mg/L), respectively, and punctually on values in N (<15 mg/L). Applying an HRT of 3 d and a ratio of 100:7 (COD:N), the presence of PPB in the mixed culture surpassed 50% of 16S rRNA gene copies, removing 78% of COD, 53% of N, and 66% of P. Furthermore, by increasing the HRT to 5 d, removal efficiencies of 83% of COD, 65% of N, and 91% of P were achieved. In addition, the reactors were further operated in a membrane bioreactor, thus separating the HRT from the SRT to increase the specific loading rate. Very satisfactory removal efficiencies were achieved by applying an HRT and SRT of 2.3 and 3 d, respectively: 84% of COD, 49% of N, and 93% of P despite the low presence of PPB due to more oxidative conditions, which step-by-step re-colonized the mixed culture until reaching >20% of 16S rRNA gene copies after 49 d of operation. These results open the door to scaling up the process in open photobioreactors capable of treating urban wastewater and municipal solid waste in a single stage and under microaerophilic conditions by controlling the ORP of the system.

Biotransformation of protein-rich waste by Yarrowia lipolytica IPS21 to high-value products-amino acid supernatants.

The yeast strain Yarrowia lipolytica IPS 21 was tested for its ability to degrade potentially toxic chrome-tanned leather shavings (CTLS) in a liquid environment. Biological and chemical parameters were monitored during a 48-h period of biotransformation of the protein-rich waste. CTLS was added at a concentration of 0.1-4% (wt/wt) to a modified YPG medium (15 g L-1 yeast extract and 5 g L-1 NaCl). Biodegradation and bioconversion were performed in a one-step process. It was found that the higher degradation rate depended on the activity of the proteases and the pH of the medium, but not on the initial inoculum ratio and the activity of the dehydrogenase. The highest efficiency of the process was obtained for 4% (wt/wt) CTLS on day 2 (degradation rate 58-67%, biomass production 2.11-2.20 g L-1, protease activity 312 U mg-1 protein, and pH 9.20). Our results showed that total chromium was probably not transported across the cytoplasmic membrane of Y. lipolytica IPS21 and that chromium (III) was not oxidized to chromium (VI). The phytotoxicity of selected amino acid supernatants [2.5% (vol/vol)] was tested after the bioconversion process. It was found that the supernatants had a stimulating effect on the plants tested. The root elongation was 29-28% higher than that of the reference samples. This result makes Y. lipolytica IPS21 a potential candidate for safely converting potentially toxic protein-rich wastes into valuable products without enzyme isolation, e.g., amino acid fertilizers. IMPORTANCE Enzyme technologies have the greatest practical relevance to environmental trends. Overcoming the barrier of the high cost of carbon substrates used for biotransformation is the main challenge of these methods. The huge potential of the use of extracellular proteases of Yarrowia species or amino acids in various industries indicates the need for the extension of basic research on waste as a carbon source for this yeast. The experiments demonstrated that it is possible to use Y. lipolytica IPS21 for bioconversion of chrome-tanned leather shavings (CTLS) in a single-step process and to produce high-value amino acid supernatant without having an isolated enzyme. In our study, we show the effect of 2.5% (vol/vol) CTLS supernatant obtained from Y. lipolytica IPS21 on the elongation of the root system of selected plants and provide information on the effect of environmental factors on the efficiency of the bioconversion and the migration of chromium.

Fabrication of nanoclay embedded adsorptive electrospun nanofiber membrane for removal of trace organic molecules

This study aims to fabricate nanoclay (NC) embedded polyacrylonitrile (PAN) adsorptive electrospun nanofibers (Ads-ESNs) as high performance membranes for organic micropollutants (OMPs) removal. Ads-ESN were tested using a comprehensive protocol included adsorption in batches (static) and during filtration (dynamic). The filtration performance of Ads-ESNs was tested using gravity driven membrane (GDM) filtration using methylene blue (MB) as an adsorbate of similar characteristics to OMPs. The characterization was carried using SEM-EDS, FTIR and BET N2 adsorption/desorption technique. Addition of NC increased fiber diameters from 164 to 355 nm and surface areas from 12.9 to 45.9 m2/g. Accordingly, Ads-ESNs had 7 times higher adsorption capacity than PAN-ESN with isotherms fitting to Langmuir model (R2 = 0.9511–0.9899). The kinetics showed that adsorption in Ads-ESNs followed pseudo 1st and 2nd order indicating the occurrence of physisorption and chemisorption mechanisms simultaneously. pH and temperature effect were investigated and the results showed that highest adsorption occurred at pH 7 and 25 °C. The GDM system was operated at constant permeate flow rates of 1.0, 2.0 and 4.0 mL/min at 50mbar. MB rejection was over 90% at 1.0 and 2.0 mL/min of flow rates indicating the effect of applying lower flow rate and higher contact time. The adsorption capacities of Ads-ESN were different at static and dynamic adsorption due to different equilibrium states achieved at both adsorption modes. The fabricated Ads-ESNs showed outstanding removal performance for trace organic molecules even after four adsorption+filtration/regeneration cycles. Overall, this study demonstrated the potentials of combining membrane filtration and adsorption in a single-step process at same entity.

Balancing Near-Field Enhancement and Hot Carrier Injection: Plasmonic Photocatalysis in Energy-Transfer Cascade Assemblies.

Photocatalysis stands as a very promising alternative to photovoltaics in exploiting solar energy and storing it in chemical products through a single-step process. A central obstacle to its broad implementation is its low conversion efficiency, motivating research in different fields to bring about a breakthrough in this technology. Using plasmonic materials to photosensitize traditional semiconductor photocatalysts is a popular strategy whose full potential is yet to be fully exploited. In this work, we use CdS quantum dots as a bridge system, reaping energy from Au nanostructures and delivering it to TiO2 nanoparticles serving as catalytic centers. The quantum dots can do this by becoming an intermediate step in a charge-transfer cascade initiated in the plasmonic system or by creating an electron-hole pair at an improved rate due to their interaction with the enhanced near-field created by the plasmonic nanoparticles. Our results show a significant acceleration in the reaction upon combining these elements in hybrid colloidal photocatalysts that promote the role of the near-field enhancement effect, and we show how to engineer complexes exploiting this approach. In doing so, we also explore the complex interplay between the different mechanisms involved in the photocatalytic process, highlighting the importance of the Au nanoparticles' morphology in their photosensitizing capabilities.

Direct amination of benzene with ammonia by flow plasma chemistry.

Amine derivatives, including aniline and allylic amines, can be formed in a single-step process from benzene and an ammonia plasma in a micro-reactor. Different process parameters such as temperature, residence time, and plasma power were evaluated to improve the reaction yield and its selectivity toward aminated products and avoid hydrogenated or oligomerized products. In parallel, simulation studies of the process have been carried out to propose a global mechanism and gain a better understanding of the influence of the different process parameters. The exploration of diverse related alkenes showed that the double bonds, conjugation, and aromatization influenced the amination mechanism. Benzene was the best reactant for amination based on the lifetime of radical intermediates. Under optimized conditions, benzene was aminated in the absence of catalyst with a yield of 3.8% and a selectivity of 49% in various amino compounds.

Enabling Jet-Electrochemical Discharge Machining on Niobium-Like Passivating Metal and the Single Step Fabrication of Coated Microstructures

Analogous to difficult-to-cut materials in mechanical machining, Niobium (Nb) is a difficult-to-dissolve metal by electrochemical machining (ECM) due to its prone-to-passivation nature. Jet-electrochemical discharge machining (Jet-ECDM), which uses anodic discharge rather than the cathodic discharge as in traditional ECDM, has been previously demonstrated as an efficient method for machining inert semiconductors like Si, 4H-SiC. However, applying Jet-ECDM on Nb-like passivating metal is very challenging because plasma electrolytic oxidation (PEO) is very prone to occur in the machining area due to anodic discharges, forming an insoluble, highly stable oxide coating that prevents material removal. This study reveals the principles of overcoming PEO to enable Jet-ECDM on metals. The findings show that the discharge intensity, affected by the electric field and pulse frequency, is decisive in achieving Nb material removal. The electrolyte chemistry significantly influences material removal fashions, depending on the electrolyte’s chemical activity. NaOH is the preferred choice for higher removal efficiency (maximum 1.92 mm min−1) and machining localization, while NaCl ensures better surface quality (Sa 99.4 nm). Moreover, the Jet-ECDM generated microstructure surface presents a thin layer of PEO coatings (<1 μm). This demonstrates the high potential of Jet-ECDM technology for efficient fabrication of coated microstructures in a single-step process.

Engineering the Metabolic Landscape of Microorganisms for Lignocellulosic Conversion.

Bacteria and yeast are being intensively used to produce biofuels and high-added-value products by using plant biomass derivatives as substrates. The number of microorganisms available for industrial processes is increasing thanks to biotechnological improvements to enhance their productivity and yield through microbial metabolic engineering and laboratory evolution. This is allowing the traditional industrial processes for biofuel production, which included multiple steps, to be improved through the consolidation of single-step processes, reducing the time of the global process, and increasing the yield and operational conditions in terms of the desired products. Engineered microorganisms are now capable of using feedstocks that they were unable to process before their modification, opening broader possibilities for establishing new markets in places where biomass is available. This review discusses metabolic engineering approaches that have been used to improve the microbial processing of biomass to convert the plant feedstock into fuels. Metabolically engineered microorganisms (MEMs) such as bacteria, yeasts, and microalgae are described, highlighting their performance and the biotechnological tools that were used to modify them. Finally, some examples of patents related to the MEMs are mentioned in order to contextualize their current industrial use.

A More Controllable Laser Reduction of Graphene Oxide Membrane for Electrode Applications

Reduced graphene oxide (rGO) has attracted significant attention as an active electrode material for sensors and flexible energy devices due to its high electric conductivity and large surface area. rGO is usually obtained from graphene oxide(GO) through a thermal, chemical, photochemical, and electrochemical reduction process. Compared to the other reduction strategy, laser reduction is a single-step, precise, low cost, and chemical-free processing that can be directly applied on the GO membrane at room temperature in an ambient condition.The laser irradiation parameter, such as laser source, power, speed, and frequency, plays an important role in reduction optimization. In general, the quality of the rGO is not as high as that of pristine graphene because of incomplete reduction, and oxygenated defects involved in the reduction process.The not fully removed oxygenated function group not only influence the sensitivity and selectivity of the electrode, but also influences response time and recovery time during sensing and the electrochemical window of the supercapacitor made with those rGO electrode.This study aims to develop reduced graphene oxide (rGO) through laser irradiation for application in supercapacitors and electrochemical sensors as electrodes. GO membranes were fabricated with a layer-by-layer assembly process first then further reduced through conventional CO2 laser reduction. The laser irradiation parameters including intensity, frequency, and scan speed will be optimized to achieve the reduction up to maximi, C/O ratio. The effects of the reduction will be characterized and evaluated using scanning electron microscope (SEM), Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD)spectroscopy, and four-point probe station. The influence of the humidity on the impedance of the rGO electrode and the capacitance of the planar supercapacitor made with rGO electrode will also be analyzed for potential application of as-prepared rGO electrodes in supercapacitors and humidity sensors.

Ultra-rapid debinding and sintering of additively manufactured ceramics by ultrafast high-temperature sintering

In recent years, additive manufacturing (AM) of ceramics has significantly advanced in terms of the range of equipment available, printing resolution and productivity. Most techniques involve the use of ceramic powders embedded in an organic binder which is typically removed through a slow thermal debinding process.Herein, we prove for the first time that ultra-rapid debinding and sintering are possible for complex 3YSZ components produced using material extrusion technology. The printed components were first chemically debinded in acetone thus removing about one-half of the binder, and then thermally debinded and densified by ultrafast high-temperature sintering (UHS) in a single-step process (30–120 s). Fully dense components were obtained with tailored microstructure and nanometric grain size. The sintered artefacts were crack-free even at the microscopic level.This approach paves the way for rapid processing (debinding and sintering) of additively manufactured ceramics with reduced energy consumption and carbon footprint.

Removal of hardness and silicon by precipitation from reverse osmosis influent: Process optimization and economic analysis

The removal of hardness and silicon in the reverse osmosis influent is urgently desirable in view of wastewater purification and reuse. However, the development of cost-effective method reducing the hardness and silicon to low level is challenging. Herein, the single step process and double step precipitation process were proposed, aiming at minimize the adverse effect of influent wastewater on reverse osmosis membranes. The optimal dosages of precipitants (FeCl3 and MgCl2) and the effects of pH values and time were investigated. In the double step process, the concentrations of total hardness and silicon reached the lowest values (11.0 mg·L−1 and 2.1 mg·L−1) by adding 400 mg·L−1 MgCl2 and 300 mg·L−1 FeCl3. Subsequently, four schemes for the wastewater treatment were proposed, which scheme D using both FeCl3 and MgCl2 as precipitants obtained the lowest cost (1.20 $·t−1). This work could provide technological support for removing total hardness and silicon from industrial wastewater and industrial wastewater recycling.

FoilTrack: a package to increase strain-resolution by improved X-radiographic image processing

ABSTRACT In high pressure multi-anvil experiments X-radiography is used to ascertain strain in deforming samples because the tooling prevents optical or other direct observations of the sample. The processing of these X-radiographic images to determine bulk sample strain is one of the limiting factors to making measurements closer to the strains and strain-rates that occur during mantle convection or the passage of seismic waves. Typically, sample deformation in these experiments is tracked by the displacement of high-contrast marker foils in X-radiographs. X-radiographs are treated individually or pairwise in a multi-step process that tracks the displacement of marker foils during experiments. Here I develop a new algorithm, FoilTrack, that treats all the X-radiographic observations in a single-step process, resulting in improved accuracy and consistency of length changes determined from X-radiographic images, as well as providing more realistic parameter uncertainty. The improvements are demonstrated using data from small-strain sinusoidal deformation experiments.

Green synthesis of copper oxide nanoparticles from Murraya koenigii and its corrosion resistivity on Ti-6Al-4V dental alloy

The present work describes green-mediated copper oxide nanoparticles as a potential corrosion inhibitor for the dental alloy Ti-6Al-4V. The salt of copper was reduced to metal nanoparticles using Murraya koenigii leaves, which helps with the agglomeration and nanocluster formation through a reduction mechanism. The current synthesis is a single-step process and is cost-effective. The synthesized nanoparticle was characterized using UV, FTIR, XRD, Zeta potential and Particle size analyzer, SEM, and EDX. The particles were then electrodeposited on Ti-6Al-4V alloy, and the corrosion resistivity in the dental medium was analyzed using Electrochemical parameters such as Corrosion current, Corrosion potential, and anodic and cathodic intercepts through the Tafel and Nyquist plots. The synthesized nanoparticles showed characteristic absorbance at 359 nm. FTIR peaks confirm the phytochemical constituents present in the Murraya koenigii that accounts for the formation of nanoparticles. The XRD predicts the crystalline nature, which is further studied using SEM and EDX. The Zeta potential and Particle size analyzer confirms the negative-negative interactive nature of the synthesized CuO NPs. The NPs showed explicit corrosion inhibition properties with an overall inhibition efficiency of 58.15% and 25.6%, respectively. The study confirms the advantage of using Copper Oxide nanoparticles as a potential coating agent in dental implant alloys in increasing its corrosion efficiency.

Utilization of PET derived hard carbon as a battery-type, higher plateau capacity anode for sodium-ion and potassium-ion batteries

Trash to Treasure is a less energy-intensive approach for upcycling plastic waste into value-added products to generate sustainable, cost-effective, eco-friendly materials. The carbonization of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) via a single-step process into hard carbon (HC) delivers a high-performing anode material for sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) and potassium-ion batteries (PIBs). Direct pyrolysis of PET waste increases the interlayer spacing with partially closed slit-shaped micro and mesopores that significantly improves the lower potential plateau-based capacity to 68% of the total capacity, validating a battery-type anode material. The HC carbonized at 1000℃ delivers a reversible capacity of 337 mAh/g with capacity retention of 88% after 100 cycles at 30 mAh/g. The HC exhibits 80% capacity retention even after 1000 cycles at a 1C rate and is promising for fast cycling-high power density applications. In PIBs, the HC carbonized at 800℃ performs the best and shows a reversible capacity of 305 mAh/g, with a battery-type low voltage plateau contribution of 32%. The charge storage mechanism in SIBS and PIBs follows a three-stage storage mechanism, i.e., adsorption, intercalation, and pore-filling.