Stainless Steel Mesh Research Articles

Diameter dependent performance of silicon nanowire anodes grown on 3D current collectors for lithium-ion batteries

Si nanowires (Si NWs) with diameters tuned from ∼35 to 100 nm were directly grown on large-area (30 cm2) stainless-steel mesh (SSM) substrates via a facile vapour–liquid–solid approach.

Facile preparation of marine carrageenan hydrogel-coated steel mesh with superhydrophilic and underwater superoleophobic performance for highly efficient oil-water separation.

The discharge of oil-laden wastewater from industrial processes and the frequent occurrence of oil spills pose severe threats to the ecological environment and human health. Membrane materials with special wettability have garnered attention for their ability to achieve efficient oil-water separation by leveraging the differences in wettability at the oil-water interface. These materials are characterized by their simplicity, energy efficiency, environmental friendliness, and reusability. Among them, superhydrophilic-underwater superoleophobic membranes inspired by biomimetic fish scale structures have become a focal point of oil-water separation research due to their ability to repel oil contaminants effectively and maintain self-cleaning properties during the separation process. In this study, a stainless steel microporous two-dimensional metal mesh was employed as the substrate, coated with a carrageenan solution, and gelled in situ using sodium periodate as a crosslinking agent to fabricate a membrane with oil-water separation capabilities. The robust hydrophilicity of the carrageenan hydrogel imparts the coated stainless steel mesh with superhydrophilicity and underwater superoleophobicity (underwater oil contact angle ≥ 158°), along with excellent antifouling properties and recyclability. Experimental results demonstrate that the membrane achieved separation efficiencies of 98.87%, 98.08%, 98.14%, and 97.98% for silicone oil, canola oil, cyclohexane, and liquid paraffin, respectively, with a water flux of 1380.75L/m2·h. Remarkably, the membrane retained its initial separation efficiency even after 20 cycles. Additionally, the hydrogel exhibited exceptional stability under highly alkaline conditions, making it suitable for the treatment of complex oil-contaminated wastewater. PRACTITIONER POINTS: This study extracted a biocompatible and renewable hydrogel from marine red algae for application in oil-water separation. A superhydrophilic/underwater superoleophobic oil-water separation membrane was developed based on biomimetic fish scale structures. The membrane exhibited exceptionally high separation efficiency under pure gravity-driven conditions. The resulting material exhibits excellent oil repellency, self-cleaning capability, and recyclability.

Retrofitting circular RC columns using UHPC jackets reinforced with stainless steel mesh in the plastic hinge region

Retrofitting circular RC columns using UHPC jackets reinforced with stainless steel mesh in the plastic hinge region

Flexible and binder-free nickel-cobalt layered double hydroxides for high specific capacity supercapacitor applications

The development of advanced energy storage materials is crucial for the evolution of high-performance supercapacitors. Recently, nickel-cobalt layered double hydroxides (NiCo LDHs) stand out due to their synergistic effects and abundant redox-active sites, which contribute to superior electrochemical performance. Herein, we design simple cyclic voltammetry-assisted electrochemical synthesis of thin-film NiCo LDHs on stainless steel mesh as a binder-free electrode, which demonstrates enhanced redox-type charge storage and excellent durability. Specifically, the synthesized NiCo LDHs exhibits a porous, sheet-like architecture, confirmed through various structural characterization techniques. Electrochemical measurements in 1M KOH electrolyte showed significant diffusion-contributed capacity in the NiCo LDHs thin films, demonstrating high specific capacitance of 1406.7 F/g (633 C/g) and excellent cycling stability 83%. Moreover, the NiCo LDHs exhibited high energy density of 97.6 Wh/g at a power density of 1666.7 W/kg, respectively. Our work provides the facile cyclic voltammetry method for direct, scalable deposition, providing a straightforward route to optimize redox-active LDHs for efficient supercapacitor applications, highlighting the potential for advanced energy storage solutions.

Highly Efficient Oil-Water Separation in Different Scenarios through Synergistic Self-Assembly of ZIF-67@PPy Coatings with Unique Wetting Properties.

In recent years, oil pollution and industrial organic pollutants discharge has become a major problem affecting the ecological and human living environment, and the removal of oil in oily wastewater is increasingly urgent, especially for emulsion separation. Therefore, it is crucial to develop efficient oil-water separation membranes with low cost, green sustainability, and ease of operation. Herein, an ingenious spraying hybrid coatings containing ZIF-67 (Zeolitic Imidazolate Framework-67) and polypyrrole (PPy) onto stainless steel mesh (SSM) and polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) was proposed. Through solidification and cooperative self-assembly to build rough structures, oil-water separation membranes ZIF-67@PPy SSM and ZIF-67@PPy PVDF have been obtained, which are hydrophilic and oleophilic in air and superoleophobic underwater. Depending on the scenario, on-demand separation of light oil/water mixtures and oil-in-water emulsions can be easily realized. The resulting oil-water separation membranes performed well that the separation efficiency of ZIF-67@PPy SSM can exceed 99.3% for all kinds of light oil/water mixtures, with a water flux of up to 66250 L/(m2·h), and maintains a separation efficiency of 98.5% even after 50 cycles. ZIF-67@PPy PVDF has a separation efficiency of more than 99.4% for various oil-in-water emulsions, and sustains outstanding performance despite undergoing 10 cycles. In addition, ZIF-67@PPy SSM and ZIF-67@PPy PVDF are sustainable in harsh environments, with good mechanical durability and some antimicrobial properties. The coatings prepared in this work that can be used for the separation of light oil/water mixtures and oil-in-water emulsions, and the proposed combination of multiple separation strategies are expected to improve the selectivity, improve efficiency, enhance contamination resistance, and increase accessibility of oil-water separation technologies.

Mechanical and dynamic response of epoxy based pineapple/flax fiber composites reinforced with steel and nylon wire meshes

Abstract This research investigates the mechanical and vibrational behaviour of a new class of hybrid composites. These composites utilize pineapple, flax fibers, nylon mesh, stainless steel wire mesh, and an epoxy resin matrix. For this experiment, three distinct composite samples of Pineapple/nylon mesh/Pineapple/wire mesh/pineapple (S1), Pineapple/nylon mesh/Flax/wire mesh/pineapple (S2), and Flax/nylon mesh/flax/wire mesh/flax (S3) were fabricated using a hand layup process. Mechanical properties, including hardness, impact resistance, flexural strength, and tensile strength, are evaluated according to established ASTM protocols. Additionally, free vibration studies are conducted under both clamp-clamp and clamp-free conditions. This study is expected to divulge a significant influence of fiber arrangement and composition on the mechanical properties of the composites. The S3 composites exhibited a 13.88% increase in tensile strength when compared to the other two composites (i.e., S1 and S2). This enhancement is attributed to the inclusion of flax fiber at both ends and at the center of the composite. Flax fibers not only possess desirable inherent qualities but also demonstrates strong adhesion to the nylon and stainless-steel wire mesh and S3 composites achieved the highest flexural strength due to its inherent flexibility and excellent bonding properties of the flax layers. Furthermore, the effective bonding between the center flax layer and the surrounding mesh in S2 composites contributed to its maximum impact resistance and hardness. Composite S3 unveiled higher rigidity in both unconstrained (241.3 Hz) and constrained (220.6 Hz) states. The Mode III vibration characteristics were found to be extremely sensitive in evaluating the stiffness properties of the composites.

Monitoring the Species Formed at High Cathode Potentials at Ni-Rich Cathodes in Lithium-Ion Batteries Using a Novel Dual Working Electrode

The pursuit to optimize cathode active materials (CAMs) stands as a paramount endeavor within academia and industry to push for higher energy densities in lithium-ion batteries (LiBs). Predominately, aims have focused on the increase of the Nickel content of CAMs to achieve Ni-rich (> 80%) layered transition metal oxides such as NCAs (LiNixCoyAlzO2, where x+y+z=1), owing to their higher achievable capacity at given cut-off voltages. With the increase in Ni-content, however, the structural stability of these CAMs is significantly decreased at high upper cut-off potentials, resulting in capacity fading.[1] The reduced structural stability is accompanied by the release of reactive oxygen species, occurring at ~80% delithiation.[2,3] The released oxygen can trigger a cascade of follow-up reactions, such as the chemical oxidation of electrolyte solvents, conduction salt decomposition, and transition metal (TM) dissolution.[4,5] Charging to even higher voltages (> 4.7 V vs. Li+/Li at 25°C) induces the so called electrochemical oxidation of the electrolyte, which as a result of its reactive reaction products, can induce further CAM degradation.[6-8] These reactions significantly impede the lifetime of batteries, and hence require in depth understanding of their underlying mechanisms to establish improved cell chemistries which enable high voltage operation of cells. On-line electrochemical mass spectrometry (OEMS) for the detection of gas evolution, or synchrotron operando X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) for the detection of TM-dissolution delivered valuable insights in the mechanistic understanding.[9] However, as these methods are very time and cost-intensive, a simplified cell design based on a dual working electrode setup was developed by our group, which enables the investigation of parasitic reactions without the use of complex auxiliary devices. In its first proof-of-concept application, it enabled the quantification of oxygen release via the measurement of reductive currents at an sense carbon electrode.[9] In the present study, we apply a three-electrode setup for the qualitative analysis of parasitic species formed when Ni-rich cathodes are charged to high cell voltages in LiBs. As in our previous study, the working electrode (WE) is based on LiNi0.80Co0.15Al0.05O2 (NCA; BASF TODA Battery Materials LLC, Japan) and the sense electrode (SE) is a carbon black based electrode (Vulcan-type carbon, XC-72, Tanaka, Japan), both coated on a stainless-steel mesh. As counter electrode (CE), a lithium iron phosphate (LFP) based electrode, delithiated to a degree of 90% and capacitively oversized was used, providing a constant CE potential (at ~3.43 V vs. Li+/Li). This setup allows us to cycle the NCA WE within a desired potential window, while holding the carbon SE at a constant voltage against the LFP CE. Hence, the SE can be used to reduce the species formed at the NCA WE, with the reduction current being a measure of their quantity. The experiments were conducted in a LP47 electrolyte (1 M LiPF6 in EC:DEC (3:7)).We apply the developed cell setup to study the formation of O2, H2O, H+, HF, and dissolved transition metal species (TMz+) while the NCA WE is charged to 5.0 V vs. Li+/Li via an intermittent CV charging protocol at temperatures of 10, 25, and 45°C by holding the sense electrode at potentials where the parasitic reactions of interest can be probed. The hereby derived reductive currents are compared to temperature dependent gassing traces determined via OEMS, as well as the TM dissolution behavior measured via operando XAS.

Science of Scale-up: Electrocatalysts from Lab to Pilot Scale

Electrocatalysts for several reactions and processes are actively developed and under development by multiple research groups around the globe. These materials include catalysts for Oxygen Reduction Reaction [1], carbon dioxide reduction [2], hydrogen oxidation [3], oxygen evolution [4] and many other classes. While there is a significant interest to these materials both from scientific and industrial point of view a serious question of their scalability and manufacturability had arisen.In this work aspects of materials scale-up through careful design of reactors, mixing conditions, reaction conditions monitoring and CFD modelling will be reported. A case study on the model system of unsupported silver nanoparticles will be discussed. Silver nanoparticles were synthesized on scale with variation of reagents concentration, different types of impellers and RPM. Materials were characterized by SEM, TEM, XRD, XPS and BET and the data were correlated to the scaleup variables. A CFD model was developed to model nanoparticles formation and was used to guid experimental scaleup effort. Acknowledgements and Statements. The authors acknowledge financial support from R2R and H2NEW consortia. This manuscript has been authored by UT-Battelle, LLC, under contract DE-AC05-00OR22725 with the US Department of Energy (DOE). References. [1] R. Ezhov, O. Maximova, X. Lyu, D. Leshchev, E. Stavitski, A. Serov, Y. Pushkar "Spectroscopic Characterization of Highly Active Fe–N–C Oxygen Reduction Catalysts and Discovery of Strong Interaction with Nafion Ionomer" ACS Applied Energy Materials 7 (2023) 604-613.[2] Z. Li, P. Wang, X. Lyu, V. Krishna Reddy Kondapalli, S. Xiang, J. D Jimenez, L. Ma, T. Ito, T. Zhang, J. Raj, Y. Fang, Y. Bai, J. Li, A. Serov, V. Shanov, A. I Frenkel, S. D Senanayake, S. Yang, T. P Senftle, J. Wu "Directing CO2 electroreduction pathways for selective C2 product formation using single-site doped copper catalysts" Nature Chemical Engineering 1 (2024) 159-169.[3] A. Roy, M. R. Talarposhti, S. Normile, I. V. Zenyuk, V. de Andrade, K. Artyushkova, A. Serov, P. Atanassov "Nickel-Copper Supported on Carbon Black Hydrogen Oxidation Catalyst Integrated into Anion-Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell" Sustainable Energy Fuels 2 (10) (2018) 2268-2275.[4] X. Lyu, Y. Bai, J. Li, R. Tao, J. Yang, A. Serov "Investigation of oxygen evolution reaction with 316 and 304 stainless-steel mesh electrodes in natural seawater electrolysis" J. of Environmental Chemical Engineering 11 (2023) 109667.

Atmospherically Plasma-Sprayed Macro Porous Layers for Anion Exchange Membrane Water Electrolysis Operating with Alkaline Supporting Electrolyte

Green hydrogen produced via water electrolysis plays an important role in the decarbonisation of the global energy economy. Besides reducing electricity prices and increasing electrolyser efficiency, lowering electrolyser investment cost is an important avenue to make electrolysis technology more economically attractive. Anion exchange membrane water electrolysis (AEMWE) combines the advantages of proton exchange membrane water electrolysis (PEMWE), i.e., high current density while maintaining high efficiency and fast dynamic response with the advantages of alkaline water electrolysis (AWE), i.e., low-cost materials. However, an optimised porous transport layer (PTL) component for AEMWE is yet to be developed.Typically, PTLs in commercial electrolysers are metallic foams, felts, meshes, sintered sheets or graphitic fibre laminates, although these structures either perform poorly or they are extremely expensive. Furthermore, a high number of low-resistance contact points at the interface between the catalyst layer and the PTL is required to enable high catalyst utilisation. At the same time, operation at high current densities requires an especially efficient liquid/gas exchange at this interface. Both important functions, good electrical contact and mass transport facilitation, are fulfilled by a macro porous layer (MPL). Stiber et al designed and characterized a titanium/niobium MPL deposited via vacuum plasma spraying (VPS) on a stainless-steel mesh substrate, vastly improving the performance of a PEMWE [1]. Similarly, Razmjooei et al deposited a nickel layer via atmospheric plasma spraying (APS) and demonstrated the performance-increasing effect in AEMWE operating with pure water [2].In this work, within the frame of the German project AEM-Direkt, a Ni-based MPL was developed to improve high current density operation in AEMWE working with a supporting alkaline electrolyte. For this, a Ni-C composite powder was deposited on a stainless-steel multi-mesh PTL via APS (Fig. a). The carbon acts as a pore forming agent and is subsequently removed by an ex-situ oxidation step in air at 700°C followed by a reduction step in ammonia at 500°C. A highly porous, smooth and flat Ni-MPL is formed. Using the MPL on the anode, the AEMWE single cell achieves 2 V at 3 A cm-2 (Fig. b), which is comparable to the performance of PEMWE. As anode catalyst layer a novel 20 nm thickness sputtered nickel layer designed and manufactured by Siemens-Energy was used, deposited on a DURAION® AEM, manufactured by Evonik Operations GmbH. As cathode, a Pt/C based catalyst coated substrate (CCS) was employed.In continuation of this study, the designed MPL will be further optimised and characterised as cathode MPL as well. Acknowledgement This work is carried out within the project AEM-Direkt (Förderkennzeichen 03HY130) funded by the German Ministry of Science and Education (BMBF). References Stiber S, Sata N, Morawietz T, Ansar SA, Jahnke T, Lee JK, et al. A high-performance, durable and low-cost proton exchange membrane electrolyser with stainless steel components. Energy & Environmental Science. 2022;15(1):109-22.Razmjooei F, Morawietz T, Taghizadeh E, Hadjixenophontos E, Mues L, Gerle M, et al. Increasing the performance of an anion-exchange membrane electrolyzer operating in pure water with a nickel-based microporous layer. Joule. 2021;5(7):1776-99. Figure 1

Recyclable Cardiac Biosensor Based on Light-Triggered Antibody Regeneration Method

Introduction: The diagnostic utility of heart failure biomarkers, particularly Brain Natriuretic Peptide (BNP), is well-documented. Yet, the clinical translation of BNP for tracking the progression of heart failure and assessing the therapeutic efficacy of drugs requires advancements in wearable sensor technology. Traditional antigen-antibody reaction-based biosensors, while effective, are hampered by the need for frequent reagent replenishment due to antibody regeneration challenges. We introduce a novel method employing laser irradiation to modulate pH levels, facilitating antibody regeneration and enabling the development of a wearable BNP sensor. Methodology: Our approach utilizes a photoacid (Hydroxypyrene Trisulfonic Acid or HPTS) immobilized around the capture antibody of a sensor. Irradiating the sample with visible light for seconds induces HPTS to acidify the local environment, dissociating the bound antigens and regenerating the antibodies for reuse. The biosensor design incorporates: (a) a stainless-steel mesh substrate with gold vapor-deposited on the surface (gold mesh substrate); (b) an anti-BNP antibody immobilized on the substrate via a self-assembled monolayer; (c) HPTS immobilized on the gold mesh substrate; (d) a chamber containing the gold mesh substrate for immunoreaction; (e) a photomultiplier tube for signal detection. We validated this methodology by measuring pH changes in a 1 mL HPTS solution irradiated with a 50 mW, 405 nm laser for 5 minutes. Subsequently, a calibration curve for the BNP immunosensor was established using BNP standards (0.1 - 100 pg/mL). Finally, the light-triggered regeneration method was employed to dissociate BNP from the anti-BNP antibody. Results: Laser irradiation triggered a decrease in HPTS solution pH, which rapidly returned to its baseline upon cessation of irradiation. This phenomenon was repeatable up to three times. The sensor captured BNP from a 50 µL sample via anti-BNP antibody interaction. Subsequent introduction of enzyme-labeled detection antibody formed a BNP sandwich complex. Luminescent substrate addition allowed for luminescence intensity (I) measurement at 450 nm. The resulting calibration curve fit the equation: I = 2980 ln (BNP) + 19713 (R2 = 0.86). The gold mesh substrate enabled visible light to penetrate the reaction area, facilitating detection by the photomultiplier tube. Finally, laser irradiation in the presence of 5 mM HPTS dissociated the antigen (BNP). Conclusion: We present a novel laser-based method for antibody regeneration in biosensors, facilitating the realization of wearable devices for continuous heart failure monitoring. Overcoming the limitations of traditional biosensor reagent replenishment, our technology paves the way for advanced heart failure management tools, potentially transforming diagnostic and therapeutic strategies in cardiovascular medicine. Figure 1

Energy-saving electrochemical green hydrogen production coupled with persulfate or hydrogen peroxide valorization at boron-doped diamond electrodes

Persulfate (S2O82−) and hydrogen (H2) electrosynthesis has gained prominence valorization in recent times. This study reports, for the first time, a techno-economic analysis of the electrochemical boron-doped diamond (BDD)-SO42−/SO4•−/S2O82−/H2O2||H2 system. BDD is an eco-friendly material for S2O82− and H2 formation, where S2O82− is economically attractive replacements for oxygen reaction in electrochemical H2 production to valorize it as an integrated-hybrid approach. The results clearly showed that current efficiencies of up to 75.3 % and 99.4 % at 45 mA cm−2 were observed for S2O82− and H2 production with anodic accumulation of 1.77 mmol L−1 and cathodic rate 0.3 µmol min−1, respectively. A techno-economic estimation indicated a significant levelized cost of H2 (∼$ 3.78 kg−1) for this hybrid-integrated process where it was improved decreasing the anode cost or increasing the current density (j). BDD||Ni-Fe based stainless-steel (SS) mesh system could be more appropriate to be commercialized for producing persulfate and green H2, according to the techno-economic analysis. This electrochemical strategy described here is a promising green alternative to conventional processes for the simultaneous electrogeneration of oxidants and green H2, both as high value-added products.

Robust and efficient oil-water separation using candle soot deposited stainless steel mesh

In recent years, the rising concerns regarding oil pollution and the emissions of organic pollutants from industrial activities have posed significant environmental and public health challenges. The treatment of oily wastewater and organic pollutants has emerged as pressing issue, necessitating the development of efficient solutions. Oil-water separation stands out as a promising approach to address these challenges. However, the effictiveness and robustness of the separating membranes have been identified as key limitations hindering the advancement of oil–water separation technologiess. This paper introduces a novel superhydrophilic/underwater superoleophobic membrane tailored specifically for oil–water separation with enhanced water flux. This film is prepared by depositing candle soot on a stainless steel mesh and then polymerizing phytic acid (CSM-PA). The contact angle of CSM-PA membranes underwater for a wide range of oils is above 140°, reaching a maximum of 152.73°. The CSM-PA membrane demonstrates excellent separation performance for various oils, achieving separation efficiencies flux surpassing 99.990 %, achieving separation efficiencies flux surpassing 18950.360 L·m−2·h−1. Notably, the membrane exhibits contact angles under water exceeding 142° for all oils tested. After conducting immersion, sand impact, and water impact tests, the underwater contact angle for both light and heavy oils was found to exceed 139°. The surface roughness of the CSM-PA film on the initial stainless steel mesh improved significantly, increasing from 106 nm to 452 nm. Impressively, even after 70 cycles, the CSM-PA membrane maintains an oil (n-hexane) water separation efficiency exceeding 99.997 % and a remarkable flux rate of 21055.956 L·m−2·h−1, the maximum separation flux is even 29154.400 L·m−2·h−1. Furthermore, the CSM-PA membrane shows significant stability and resistance to mechanical abrasion, ensuring long-term and reliable operational performance. The findings of this study hold significant implications for the advancement of oil–water separation technologies, offering a promising avenue for addressing oil pollution and organic pollutant emissions in a sustainable and effective manner.

Droplet impact dynamics on the surface of super-hydrophobic BNNTs stainless steel mesh

The ‘gas‒liquid‒solid’ mechanism annealing method was used to create a superhydrophobic boron nitride nanotube (BNNT) stainless steel mesh in a tube furnace at 1250 °C in an NH3 environment. Fe powder was used as a catalyst, and B:B2O3 = 4:1 was used as the raw material. The water droplets on the surface of the superhydrophobic material had a contact angle of approximately 150° and a slide angle of approximately 3°. By using molecular dynamics (MD) simulation technology, a three-dimensional braided physical model of nanodroplets and superhydrophobic BNNT mesh surfaces with the same contact angle and rolling angle was prepared via the function weaving method. The Weber number (We) was used as the entrance point to establish the relationship between macroscale experimental studies and nanoscale MD simulation analysis on the basis of these efforts. A study was conducted on the dynamic behaviour of droplets impacting a superhydrophobic BNNT filter surface. We suggest that the wettability, substrate structure, and impact velocity are connected to the impact dynamic behaviour of droplets on the basis of the data obtained at various scales. The findings demonstrate that when the droplet impact velocity increases, several droplet phenomena—such as impact–rebound, impact–spread–rebound, and impact–spread–breaking–polymerisation–spatter—appear on the substrate surface sequentially. The mechanism of impact behaviour at various scales is explained in light of these events. Furthermore, a better theoretical model is proposed to assess the droplet wetting transition at the nanoscale. This model accurately predicts the boundary Weber number that starts the wetting transition. Moreover, the connections among the impact velocity, spreading diameter, and contact time (or We) are examined. The tendencies found via MD simulations match the outcomes of the experiments. Our discoveries and outcomes broaden our understanding of how droplet impact affects the dynamic behaviour of superhydrophobic surfaces. A scientific foundation for examining the dynamic behaviour of droplets is provided by combining simulations and experiments.

Experimental investigation on the cooling performance of a solid hybrid gel with self-transpiration cooling at high temperature

Transpiration cooling technology represents a viable cooling method for ultra-high temperature or high heat flux environments, offering high cooling efficiency. In previous studies, coolants were primarily in the form of gases and liquids. Therefore, the exploration of solid coolants remains a promising avenue for further research. This paper utilizes a compound with a substantial heat absorption capacity upon decomposition to prepare a solid hybrid gel as a coolant, and constructs a transpiration cooling structure with a high porosity zirconia foam as the coolant carrier and a stainless-steel wire mesh panel as the outer porous panel. Subsequently, the cooling structure was subjected to a thermal load experiment at a high temperature of 1654 K for a period of 1600 s. The present study offers novel and valuable insights by comparing the results with those of previous studies on hydrogel and ammonium carbonate, which have been extensively investigated with strong applicability: Hybrid gel stored at room temperature demonstrate superior long-term stability compared to hydrogel and ammonium carbonate. Hybrid gel, ammonium carbonate, and hydrogel demonstrated the capacity to cool the underside of the structure with a level of efficiency exceeding 30 % for a duration exceeding 1000 s under the experiment conditions. Among the hybrid gel, ammonium carbonate, and hydrogel, the hybrid gel exhibited the most efficient cooling of the surface of the specimen, achieving a rate of 10.6 %. Following an increase in the porosity of the porous panel from 20 μm to 120 μm, the hybrid gel has been observed to enhance the cooling efficiency of the specimen surface by 1.6 %, whereas ammonium carbonate and hydrogel do not possess this capability.

Developing a separation system to enable real-time recovery of acetone-butanol during fermentation

Methods such as gas stripping and vacuum-assisted gas stripping (VAGS) result in significant removal of water from the bioreactor, thus requiring continuous water replenishment in the bioreactor. In this study, we developed a hydrophobic stainless steel meshes capable of selectively recovering concentrated ABE stream from the bioreactor during VAGS. Three stainless steel meshes with pore sizes of 180 µm, 300 µm, and 425 µm were made hydrophobic and oleophilic with zinc oxide (ZnO) and polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS). Butanol concentrations in the model solutions range from 3 to 10 g/L which mimic concentrations typically produced during batch ABE fermentation. The meshes were integrated in a 5-L bioreactor containing 2.5 L of operational ABE model solution followed by the evaluation of selective extraction of ABE from both cell-free and Clostridium beijerinckii-rich ABE model solutions. The results show that the 180-µm ZnO/PDMS-coated mesh retained 54–64% more water in the bioreactor without C. beijerinckii cells and 61–65% more water with cells compared to the uncoated mesh. Furthermore, the butanol concentration of condensates recovered with 180-µm ZnO-PDMS-coated mesh was up to 10.8-fold greater than that of uncoated counterpart. Our data demonstrate that the developed ZnO-PDMS mesh can recover high concentrations of ABE while selectively retaining water in the bioreactor. Additionally, this technology demonstrates the potential for real-time ABE recovery during the fermentation of lignocellulosic and colloidal materials, without the concern of clogging the separation system.Key points• Hydrophobic mesh enhanced water retention in the bioreactor by up to 1.65-fold.• Butanol concentration in the collected condensate was increased by up to 10.8-fold.• Hydrophobic mesh is compatible with fermentation of lignocellulose.

Enhancing resistance welding strength of carbon fiber/polycaprolactam thermoplastic composites through coupling agent‐modified metal heating elements

AbstractThis study investigates the impact of coupling agent‐modified resistance welding heating elements on the welding strength of carbon fiber‐reinforced polyamide 6 (PA6) thermoplastic composites. Silane coupling agent KH550 and titanate coupling agent UP‐201 were used to modify heating elements made of 304 stainless steel mesh. Optimal modification parameters for KH550‐modified stainless steel mesh (SSM) were determined using orthogonal experiments, resulting in maximum single lap shear strength (LSS) of 17.05 MPa under specific welding conditions. Comparative tests demonstrated the enhancement effect of UP‐201‐modified SSM on LSS. Additionally, two experimental schemes were used to study the synergistic enhancement effect of KH550 and UP‐201 on the LSS of resistance welded joints. The findings indicate that both coupling agents improve the welding strength, with significant differences in their individual and combined effects.Highlights This study explores carbon fiber reinforced Nylon 6, an innovative thermoplastic. Analyzed effects of modified heating elements on joint shear strength. Examined silane and titanate coupling agents' effects on weld joint shear strength. Investigated synergistic effects of silane and titanate agents on weld joint strength. Investigated the synergistic enhancement mechanism of silane and titanate agents.

Investigating Electrodeposition of Platinum Nanoparticles on Stainless-Steel Mesh Electrodes for Hydrogen Evolution Reaction

Abstract Hydrogen production through electrochemical water splitting is a promising approach for sustainable energy generation, yet developing efficient and durable electrocatalysts remains a critical challenge. This study successfully developed a highly active platinum nanoparticles-decorated stainless-steel mesh (Pt/SSM) electrocatalyst for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) using electrodeposition. The Pt nanoparticles exhibited a unique micro-leaf structure on the SSM surface. The Pt/SSM electrocatalyst demonstrated superior HER performance compared to bare SSM, with a remarkably low overpotential of 121 mV and a Tafel slope of 40 mV/dec in 0.5 M H2SO4. This performance was superior to their activity in 0.5 M KOH, attributed to the higher proton concentration, favorable Volmer kinetics, and improved catalyst-electrolyte interactions in the acidic medium. The electrodeposited Pt/SSM electrocatalyst also exhibited more stable HER performance in acidic electrolytes compared to alkaline ones, likely due to the preservation of its morphological integrity in acidic conditions. Overall, this work successfully developed a highly active and durable Pt/SSM electrocatalyst for practical hydrogen production, with the acidic medium providing optimal performance.

SYNTHESIS OF HYDROPHOBIC COATINGS ON STAINLESS-STEEL MESH AND ITS PERFORMANCE

Hydrophobic coatings were fabricated on 400-mesh 304 stainless steel by combining hydrothermal treatment and chemical modification. The hydrophobicity of the surfactant coatings was evaluated. The fabricated coatings were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, contact angle measurements and X-ray diffraction. The results revealed that a hydrophobic coating with a water contact angle of [Formula: see text] could be successfully synthesized under specific conditions: a concentration of 0.005[Formula: see text]mol⋅L[Formula: see text] C[Formula: see text]H[Formula: see text]SO4Na and subsequent modification with a 1[Formula: see text]mol⋅L[Formula: see text] ethanol stearate solution for 24[Formula: see text]h. This outcome highlights the potential of this methodology for producing highly efficient hydrophobic coatings for stainless steel mesh substrates.

Recycled PET foam core sandwich panels with reinforced hybrid composite facesheets: A sustainable approach for enhanced impact resistance

This research explores the Low-Velocity Impact behavior of thermoplastic composite sandwich panels with 100% recycled Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) foam sourced from post-consumer plastic water bottles. Being recognized as a reliable technique, hybridization using stainless-steel mesh layers was employed to reinforce the panels’ composite facesheets of sandwich panels accessible for modular housing, cold storage rooms and cargo trucks. Adequate impregnation of the reinforcement metallic mesh layer alongside proper skin-to-core adhesion was accomplished by optimizing a two-phase compression molding method. The effect of hybridization on impact response of sandwich panels with two different PET foam core thicknesses, and stacking sequence were evaluated. It was revealed that reinforcing the impacted surface of the composite sandwich panels significantly increased the perforation threshold. Moreover, analyzing the post-impact section view of the samples indicated that hybridization modified the damage propagation response of the PET foam core sandwich composites, through which the energy absorption capacity was improved.

A Ni-based metal hydroxide-organic framework mesh membrane with ultra-durable underwater superoleophobicity for high-efficient oil/water separation

Recently, MOF-based oil/water separation membranes with superwettability have attracted great attention in the treatment of oily wastewater due to their uniform chemical composition and intrinsic porosity. However, the real separation performance is still limited by broking the metal-ligand bonds of conventional MOF materials in extreme chemical and mechanical environments, such as acidic, alkaline, saline, organic, and abrasion. Herein, we provide a metal hydroxide-organic framework (MHOF) composite mesh membrane for high-efficient oil/water separation by simply growing Ni2(OH)2 clusters onto a polydopamine (PDA)-modified stainless-steel mesh (SSM). Compared with conventional MOF materials, our membrane possesses ultra-durable underwater superoleophobicity by taking advantages of its strong chemical bridging, rich hydrophilic groups, and rough surface morphology, which enables a 1 μL water droplet to spread to 0° contact angle within <100 ms and also obtains an ultra-low underwater oil adhesion force ∼1.9 μN. Separation of both oil/water mixtures and oil-in-water emulsions can be achieved by this Ni-based MHOF mesh membrane with high separation efficiency >99.7 % and large permeate flux >57,000 L m−2 h−1. Furthermore, the Ni2(OH)2@PDA-SSM mesh membrane exhibits excellent anti-oil-fouling, chemical stability and abrasion resistance, which shows a promising candidate for practical applications. This study provides a rational strategy to construct high-performance MHOF membranes for oil/water separation.