Surface Adhesion Research Articles

Preparation and properties of sustainable superhydrophobic cotton fabrics modified with lignin nanoparticles, tannic acid and methyltrimethoxysilane

Functional superhydrophobic cotton fabrics find extensive applications in both textile and non-textile domains. Nonetheless, fabric treatment typically relies on fluorine-containing compounds, inorganic nanoparticles and potentially hazardous organic solvents, posing environmental risks during fabrication and disposal. To address this issue, endeavours are underway to develop environmentally sustainable and cost-effective methods and materials for imparting superhydrophobic properties to cotton fabric surfaces. Here, we prepared lignin nanoparticles (LNP) utilising deep eutectic solvents and facilitated their surface adhesion to cotton fabrics through the self-polymerisation of tannic acid (TA) under alkaline conditions for the construction of micro-/nanostructures on the fabric surface. Subsequently, methyltrimethoxysilane (MTMS) was employed to confer superhydrophobic properties to the fabrics using a combination of thermal chemical vapour deposition techniques, resulting in a contact angle of approximately 164.3° and a sliding angle of 8.52°. Owing to the combined effect of TA and LNP, the modified fabrics exhibited excellent ultraviolet (UV) shielding ability (UV transmittance < 1 %, UV protection factor = 50 + ) and photothermal conversion (54.2 °C in 150 s). In short, micro-/nanostructures with surface hydrophilicity were constructed on the surface of cotton fabrics using two hydrophilic biomaterials, i.e. TA, which is similar to polydopamine but lighter in colour and less expensive, and LNP as sustainable colloidal particles. Subsequently, their surface roughness was further enhanced, and superhydrophobic properties were imparted through modification with the low surface energy substance MTMS. This method not only promotes the high-value utilisation of lignin but also serves as a reference for constructing superhydrophobic structures using biomass hydrophilic materials on cellulose substrates. The prepared superhydrophobic fabric suggests potential applications in water and stain repellence, self-cleaning, outdoor UV protection and the management of marine oil spill pollution.

Sticky feet: a tribological study of climbing shoe rubber

This study examines the tribological properties of climbing shoe rubbers, challenging the common belief in the climbing community that softer rubbers are inherently grippier. This study investigates the mechanical and wear characteristics of climbing shoe rubbers by employing a high-precision modular mechanical testing environment (Bruker UMT TriboLab) and representative granite counter-surfaces. Key parameters, including surface roughness, Shore A hardness, interfacial adhesion, static and dynamic friction coefficients, and material wear patterns, were analyzed. The mechanical properties of each rubber compound were characterized through Shore A hardness testing and ball indentation–retraction tests, measuring indentation force, energy, and adhesive properties. Sliding friction tests, simulating real climbing conditions, were conducted to understand the tribological behavior of each rubber compound under different loads, further analyzing static and dynamic friction coefficients and wear characteristics. The findings of this study indicate that rubber performance is a convolution of several factors, including material hardness, surface roughness, and interfacial adhesion. Contrary to popular belief, softer rubbers did not consistently exhibit superior tribological characteristics. The findings of this study suggest that climbing shoe selection and design should consider a broader range of material characteristics beyond hardness, emphasizing the role of surface roughness and adhesion in determining overall frictional performance. This research offers valuable insights for the climbing community, providing methodologies to benchmark climbing rubber material characteristics.

Differentially expressed extracellular matrix genes functionally separate ameloblastoma from odontogenic keratocyst

BackgroundAmeloblastoma and odontogenic keratocyst (OKC) are odontogenic tumors that develop from remnants of odontogenic epithelium. Both display locally invasive growth characteristics and high predilection for recurrence after surgical removal. Most ameloblastomas harbor BRAFV600E mutation while OKCs are associated with PATCH1 gene mutation but distinctive indicators of ameloblastoma growth characteristics relative to OKC are still unclear. The aim of this study was to assess hub genes that underlie ameloblastoma growth characteristics using bioinformatic analysis, ameloblastoma samples and mouse xenografts of human epithelial-derived ameloblastoma cells.MethodsRNA expression profiles were extracted from GSE186489 gene expression dataset acquired from Gene Expression Ominibus (GEO) database. Galaxy and iDEP online analysis tools were used to identify differentially expressed genes that were further characterized by gene ontology (GO) and pathway analysis using ShineyGO. The protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was constructed for significantly upregulated differentially expressed genes using online database STRING. The PPI network visualization was performed using Cytoscape and hub gene identification with cytoHubba. Top ten nodes were selected using maximum neighborhood component, degree and closeness algorithms and analysis of overlap was performed to confirm the hub genes. Epithelial-derived ameloblastoma cells from conventional ameloblastoma were transplanted into immunocompromised mice to recreate ameloblastoma in vivo based on the mouse xenograft model. The top 3 hub genes FN1, COL I and IGF-1 were validated by immunostaining and quantitative analysis of staining intensities to ameloblastoma, OKC samples and mouse ameloblastoma xenografts tissues.ResultsSeven hub genes were identified among which FN1, COL1A1/COL1A2 and IGF-1 are associated with extracellular matrix organization, collagen binding, cell adhesion and cell surface interaction. These were further validated by positive immunoreactivity within the stroma of ameloblastoma samples but both ameloblastoma xenograft and OKC displayed only FN1 and IGF-1 immunoreactivity while COL 1 was unreactive. The expression levels of both FN1 and IGF-1 were much lower in OKC relative to ameloblastoma.ConclusionThis study further validates a differentially upregulated expression of matrix proteins FN1, COL I and IGF-1 in ameloblastoma relative to OKC. It suggests that differential stromal architecture and growth characteristics of ameloblastoma relative to OKC could be an interplay of differentially upregulated genes in ameloblastoma.

Patterned Hybrid Surfaces for Efficient Dew Harvesting.

Dew harvesting, minimally influenced by climate and geographical locations, is an ideal method for addressing water shortage problems. Superhydrophilic surfaces, characterized by their highest affinity for water, are particularly attractive for this purpose as they can attract more water molecules via condensation. However, a significant challenge arises from the high surface capillary force that impedes water from sliding down and being effectively collected. The resulting water film on the superhydrophilic surface tends to stay around the edge of the water collection surface, leading to evaporation loss and reduced collection efficacy. To overcome this problem, triangular patterns with low surface adhesion to water were introduced at the edge of superhydrophilic surfaces. This modification, achieved through a wet chemical method and masked oxygen plasma treatment, has significantly improved the efficiency of water collection. Results indicate that the hybrid surface reduced the time for the first water droplet to slide down by half and increased water collection efficiency by 78% compared to uniform superhydrophilic surfaces and by 536% compared to uniform superhydrophobic surfaces under a relative humidity of 55% with a temperature difference of 15 °C. The underlying principles were elucidated through computational simulations, and the mechanisms driving the enhancement in collection efficiency were explained.

Biofilm inhibition of Staphylococcus aureus by silver nanoparticles derived from Hellenia speciosa rhizome extract

Staphylococcus aureus is the most common cause of serious health conditions because of the formation of biofilm, which lowers antibiotic efficacy and enhances infection transmission and tenacious behavior. This bacteria is a major threat to the worldwide healthcare system. Silver nanoparticles have strong antibacterial characteristics and emerged as a possible alternative. This work is most relevant since it investigates the parameters influencing the biogenic nanoparticle-assisted control of bacterial biofilms by Staphylococcus aureus.Nanoparticles were fabricated utilizing Hellenia speciosa rhizome extracts, which largely comprised physiologically active components such as spirost-5-en-3-yl acetate, thymol, stigmasterol, and diosgenin, enhanced with the creation of silver nanocomposites. GC-MS, XRD, DLS, SEM, EDX, FTIR and TEM were used to investigate the characteristics of nanoparticles. The microtiter plate experiment showed that nanoparticles destroyed biofilms by up to 92.41 % at doses that ranged from 0 to 25 μg/ml. Fluorescence microscopy and SEM demonstrated the nanoparticles' capacity to prevent bacterial surface adhesion. EDX research revealed that the organic extract efficiently formed silver nanoparticles with considerable oxygen incorporation, which was attributed to phytochemicals that stabilize AgNPs and prevent accumulation. FTIR spectroscopy indicated the existence of hydroxyl, carbonyl, and carboxylate groups, which are essential for nanoparticle stability. TEM revealed that the AgNPs were spheroidal, with diameters ranging from 40 to 60 nm and an average of 46 nm. These results demonstrate the efficacy of H. speciosa extract in creating stable, well-defined AgNPs suited for a variety of applications. This work underlines the potential of green-synthesized AgNPs in biomedical applications, notably in the treatment of S. aureus biofilm-associated illnesses. The thorough characterization gives important information on the stability and efficiency of these biogenic nanoparticles.

Bubble adhesion dynamics on solid surfaces: Interfacial behavior, force, and energy perspectives using a self-developed dynamic force testing system

Bubble-solid surface adhesion is crucial for industrial processes such as wastewater treatment, and the separation of minerals, plastics, and biomass. In this paper, a novel dynamic force testing system was developed to provide a detailed understanding of bubble-solid adhesion dynamics by simultaneously collecting “time-displacement-force” signals and capturing real-time images. The interfacial behavior and force mechanisms of bubble adhesion to solid surfaces with varying hydrophobicity were investigated. Higher hydrophobicity results in more pronounced “snap-in” adhesion and greater adhesion strength. Instead of fully detaching, bubble breaks at the capillary neck and leaves a microbubble on the solid surface, whose size increases with hydrophobicity, indicating different interfacial behaviors in subsequent reaction. The evolution of Laplace force and surface tension force was further analyzed and the toroidal approximation shows over 60 μN error in Laplace force calculation for large bubble deformations. Thus, for the first time, the “gorge” method was employed to calculate the bubble adhesion force in the presence of a capillary neck. Error analysis indicates that this method, while maintaining simplicity, achieved higher accuracy (lower error) by calculating the Laplace force based on the neck area and accounting for the surface tension force along the tangent at the neck. Energy analysis show that the detachment energies in the stretching and sliding phases correspond to the energy barrier to be overcome for detachment and the “effective work” of interfacial change, respectively. This provides new insights into detachment mechanisms and industrial process modelling, such as flotation.

The utility of MOF-based materials in direct air capture (DAC) application to ppm-level CO2

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are well-suited materials for CO2 removal and have robust capture capacity and selectivity. Although the adsorption of CO2 in MOFs has been studied, the implementation of ppm-level CO2 uptake in MOFs and the effects of the pore size and charge have not been fully explored. We performed grand canonical Monte Carlo (GCMC) simulations combined with the Density Functional Theory plus U (DFT + U) charge method to investigate MOF screening for ppm-level CO2 uptake and its application in a direct air capture (DAC) system. Three types of MOFs containing eight members were studied: i.e., ZIF-68, 69, 70; UiO-66, 67, 68; CAU-10; and MIL-125. The pore landscape characterization, electrostatic field-induced enhancement, and preferential binding sites of these MOFs were examined for CO2 capture. MOFs with pore limited diameters (PLD) 1.5 times the size of CO2 molecules and with large cavity diameters (LCD) smaller than 10 Å exhibit robust confinement capacity. Polar functional groups and metal ions dominate the electrostatic contributions and subsequently enhance the surface adhesion of CO2 molecules. For a given framework, favorable CO2 binding occurs in the following order: small pores/cages > polar functional group/metal ions > larger pores/cages. ZIF-69 which comprises smaller pores (7.5 Å) and robust polar functional groups (–Cl) collectively enhances CO2 capture; thus, ZIF-69 outperforms other MOFs; the performance of ZIF-69 is followed by that of CAU-10 which has an optimal pore size of 6 Å. These findings are of fundamental and practical importance for the application of MOFs in DAC technologies for CO2 removal.

Hot-dip galvanizing process and coating corrosion behavior of fe-mn-al-c steel

The temperature of the zinc bath and the immersion duration are critical factors that significantly impact the surface quality and adhesion of batch hot-dip galvanizing coatings. This study focuses on the influence of different zinc bath temperatures (460, 490, and 520 °C) and immersion duration (1, 3, 5, and 10 min) on the hot-dip galvanized coatings of Fe-Mn-Al-C lightweight steel, which were characterized using scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray analysis. The results demonstrate that with the increasing zinc bath temperature and immersion duration, the coating thickness and bond strength initially increase and then decrease. The inhibition layer in the coating gradually fractures and thickens with the rising temperature, leading to changes in the alloy phases within the coating. The optimal batch hot-dip galvanizing condition for the experimental steel is immersing at 490 °C for 3 min. Furthermore, we conducted a neutral salt spray corrosion test on the specimens under the optimal batch hot-dip galvanizing condition to study their corrosion behavior and mechanism and evaluate the impact of batch hot-dip galvanizing on the corrosion resistance of Fe-Mn-Al-C steel.

Omniphobic Photoresist‐Assisted Patterning of Porous Polymethacrylate Films

AbstractPatterning of various surface properties, including roughness, wettability, adhesiveness, and mechanical properties, can markedly enhance the functionality of test systems. Thus, porous polymethacrylates prepared by polymerization‐induced phase separation (PIPS) represent a promising class of functional materials for the construction of miniaturized test systems. Different porosity, surface chemistry, and wettability are achieved in porous polymethacrylates with different precursor compositions. Nevertheless, only wettability microstructuring has been highlighted for these materials thus far. Here, the study presents a novel method for the direct and selective deposition of porous polymethacrylate films with different surface chemistry and porosity. The selective adhesion of omniphobic–omniphilic wettability patterns is used to facilitate the polymer pattern formation. The feasibility of patterning with different monomers and porogenic solvents is demonstrated. The topological study confirms the selective application of polymer structures with different thickness and roughness. The wettability characterization of the omniphobic material shows no significant changes caused by the operations performed. Thus, a new pattern with a greater difference in the wettability of the areas is produced in the process. Discontinuous dewetting of different liquids is performed. The use of poly(2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate‐co‐ethylene dimethacrylate) (HEMA‐EDMA) modified patterns for precise living cell patterning is also demonstrated.

Effect of the mechanical densification process in wood material on the surface adhesion strength of varnishes

This research aimed to determine the impact of the mechanical densifying process of wood material on the varnish surface adhesion strength. Specimens from black pine (Pinus nigra) and Uludag fir (Abies bornmuelleriana Mattf.) were subjected to densification in a hydraulic press at 140 °C to the extent of 25% and 50% in the radial direction. While densification increased the surface adhesion strength of the varnish layer in black pine, the value decreased in fir. Regarding the interaction between densification ratio, surface treatment, and wood type, the highest surface adhesion strength of the varnish layer was found in black pine + unsanded surface + 25% densification, and the lowest was in Uludag fir + unsanded surface + 50% densification. It can be stated that the densification process creates high adhesion values for the polyurethane varnish in the black pine wood type. The sanding process has an intensifying effect on these values, and the products that were obtained from the polyurethane varnished samples do not require sanding. Considering these situations can provide significant advantages in projects with wood materials subjected to the densification process.

Copper tannate nanosheets-embedded multifunctional coating for antifouling and photothermal bactericidal applications

Implant-associated infections (IAIs), triggered by pathogenic bacteria, are a leading cause of implant failure. The design of functionalized coatings on biomedical materials is crucial to address IAIs. Herein, a multifunctional coating with good antifouling effect and antibacterial photothermal therapy (aPTT) performance was developed. The copper tannate nanosheets (CuTA NSs) were formed via coordination bonding of Cu2+ ions and tannic acid (TA). The CuTA NSs were then integrated into the TA and poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) network to form the TCP coating for deposition on the titanium (Ti) substrates via surface adhesion of TA and gravitational effect. The resulting Ti-TCP substrate exhibited good antifouling property, reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging capability and cytocompatibility. The TCP coating exhibited antifouling efficacy in conjunction with aPTT, curtailing the surface adhesion and biofilm formation of pathogens, such as Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. Notably, the Ti-TCP substrate also exhibited the ability to prevent bacterial infection in vivo in a subcutaneous implantation model. The present work demonstrated a promising approach in designing high-performance antifouling and photothermal bactericidal coatings to combat IAIs.

Effects of Ribbed Crossflow Channel in a Turbine Blade on Film Cooling Performance of Diffusion Slot Holes with Various Cross Section Orientations

Abstract This paper investigates the influence of ribbed crossflow on the film cooling performance of a turbine rotor blade. A pressure-sensitive paint measurement technique was employed to measure the effectiveness of film cooling. The discharge coefficients were also measured to determine the flow resistance. A row of film holes was positioned at the pressure surface or suction surface with a spanwise hole spacing of 7.5D, which is half of the rib spacing. The experiments were carried out at a mainstream Reynolds number of 520,000, a turbulence intensity of 3.6%, and a density ratio of 0.97. The crossflow inlet velocity was 45% of the cascade inlet velocity. A fan-shaped hole with a 14 deg expansion angle (Fans-14), a horizontally oriented slot cross section diffusion hole with a 14 deg expansion angle (H1.7-14), and two vertically oriented slot cross section diffusion holes with 14 deg (V1.7-14) and 20 deg (V1.7-20) expansion angles were tested with/without crossflow. The results indicated that the slot cross-sectional orientation significantly changes the flow patterns inside the holes. H1.7-14 has stronger lateral expansion and better surface adhesion, while V1.7-14 and V1.7-20 yield more uniform lateral velocity distributions. Regardless of crossflow, H1.7-14 produces the highest film effectiveness and discharge coefficient on the pressure surface, while it changes to V1.7-20 on the suction surface. The ribbed crossflow increases the film effectiveness on both the pressure surface and suction surface, except for V1.7-20, as it is almost unaffected by the crossflow.

Impact of ultraviolet radiation energy curing UV primer on adhesion of bamboo lumber surfaces and colorimetry of UV inkjet coatings

ABSTRACT The application of UV digital inkjet printing technology in the home furnishing industry has greatly enriched the diversity of decorative panels. Controlling the UV radiation energy curing UV primers process has a significant impact on the performance of UV printing coatings on bamboo surfaces. The results showed that the UV radiation energy is in the range of 60∼300 mJ cm−2, the adhesion of the UV primer on the surface of bamboo is the best when it is controlled at 180 mJ cm−2, which reaches the standard of 0 level; when the radiation energy reaches 240 mJ cm−2, the content of oxygen-containing functional groups on the surface of the primer is higher, the surface wettability is the best, and the roughness is also relatively high. When the radiation energy reaches 360 mJ cm−2, radiation energy that is too high would reduce the adhesion performance of the UV primer on the surface of bamboo lumber. In addition, the gloss difference of the UV ink coatings between adjacent parameter samples is small, while the color difference is more obvious. The energy of UV radiation should be controlled in the range of 180∼240 mJ cm−2 in the actual production application.

To Analysis the Feasibility of Utilization of Modified Recycled Aggregate for Recycled Cement Bound Mixtures (A Review)

Construction and Demolition (C&amp;D) wastes are generated through the demolition of concrete structures, and they are often discarded into the open area causing environmental problems. Various components such as bricks, concrete, steel, wood, etc., are generated through the demolition of structures. Perhaps the necessity of construction materials, especially aggregates, increases rapidly due to urbanization and industrialization. Construction activities mainly depend on natural resources as a source of raw materials, leading to ecological imbalance. So, the construction industries tend to depend on alternative materials as the source of aggregates in concrete production. Recycling C&amp;D wastes and using them as aggregates will be a viable option to counteract the problems mentioned above. The recycled aggregates are broken fractions of C&amp;D wastes with smeared cement particles adhered to on the surface of natural aggregates. In this study, recycled aggregates were collected from a 20-year- old demolished building at the university and recycled into fractions of 1.18 mm~2.36 mm and 10 mm~20 mm and replaced for both fine aggregates and coarse aggregates. However, the poor quality of recycled aggregates resulting from the presence of adhered mortar affects the properties of the concrete. Thus, this paper aims to improve the property of recycled aggregates through surface treatments. Though various treatments were developed either to remove or coat the adhered mortar surface on the recycled aggregates, this study uses microbes in conjunction with advanced mixing approach techniques to improve the quality of recycled aggregates and properties of the recycled aggregate concrete (RAC). This paper finds Feasibility of Utilization of Modified Recycled Aggregate in various construction work by study the different Literature review and articles

Copper ions-photo dual-crosslinked alginate hydrogel for angiogenesis and osteogenesis.

Early healing of bone defects is still a clinical challenge. Many bone-filling materials have been studied, among which photocrosslinked alginate has received significant attention due to its good biocompatibility and morphological plasticity. Although it has been confirmed that photocrosslinked alginate can be used as an extracellular matrix for 3D cell culture, it lacks osteogenesis-related biological functions. This study constructed a copper ions-photo dual-crosslinked alginate hydrogel scaffold by controlling the copper ion concentration. The scaffolds were shaped by photocrosslinking and then endowed with biological functions by copper ions crosslinking. According to in vitro research, the dual-crosslinked hydrogel increased the compressive strength and favored copper dose-dependent osteoblast differentiation and cell surface adherence of rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells and the expression of type I collagen (Col1), runt-related transcription factor 2 (Runx2), osteocalcin (OCN), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). In addition, hydrogel scaffolds were implanted into rat skull defects, and more angiogenesis and osteogenesis could be observed in in vivo studies. The above results show that the copper-photo-crosslinked hydrogel scaffold has excellent osseointegration properties and can potentially promote angiogenesis and early healing of bone defects, providing a reference solution for bone tissue engineering materials.

The Optimal Parameter for Coating ZnO Nanoparticle on Orthodontic Molar Tube by Electrophoretic Deposition Method (An Invitro Study)

The fixed orthodontic appliance may enhance devious pathogens and increase biofilm accumulation around the orthodontic molar tube (OMT) surface, which may cause demineralization of the tooth surface. However, the stainless-steel OMT coated with ZnO nanoparticles may enhance antimicrobial efficacy and reduce biofilm accretion. The study aimed to identify the optimal parameter for coating orthodontic molar tubes with antimicrobial ZnO nanoparticles by the electrophoretic deposition (EPD)cell. 36 orthodontic molar tubes were included in this study. The coating process was carried out using an EPD cell. Various concentrations (7.5, 10, 20, 33) g/L of ZnO nanoparticles suspension were conducted in this study, in addition to multiple times and voltages. After the coating process, the samples were left to dry for 24 hours at room temperature. To confirm the coating and adhesion a qualitative tape test and the Scanning Electron microscope were used to study the morphological, topographical, and surface characteristics and the size of nanoparticles on the surface of the coated OMT. The innovative ZnO nanoparticles exhibit promising antibacterial properties against oral pathogens, leading to a decrease in plaque buildup, which may decrease tooth cavities and gingival irritation through orthodontic treatment. There was an increase in nanoparticle surface adhesion on the orthodontic molar tube surface at 2 mins deposition time while reduced surface adhesion as increased deposing time. The coating process was verified at a currency voltage of 30V, reducing nanoparticle agglomeration. A concentration of 10g/L of ZnO suspension shows the most stable and homogenous suspension.

AdheScan – adhesive failure surface inspection system

AbstractAdhesive bonding is an established joining technique with many applications in for example aerospace, lightweight construction, and the automotive industry. It places particularly high demands on materials, processes, and quality assurance, requiring extensive development and qualification procedures. Many process samples generated for testing are still evaluated manually by experts. The AdheScan provides a quantifiable, simplified and more accurate evaluation of adhesive failure surfaces.

Interfacial stability and electronic properties of YBCO/ABO3 heterostructures: A comparative DFT study

In this study, we utilized density functional theory (DFT) to analyze the interfacial properties of YBa2Cu3O7 (YBCO) with perovskite metal oxides LaAlO3 (LAO), KTaO3 (KTO), and SrTiO3 (STO). We focused on surface energies, lattice mismatches, strain energies, and adhesion energies to gauge the stability and compatibility of these interfaces. Our findings indicate that KTO exhibits the highest surface preference due to its lowest surface energy (0.054 eV/Å 2), suggesting superior surface stability. Moreover, LAO and STO show minor lattice mismatches with YBCO, implying effective interface integration, while YBCO/KTO interfaces experience significant strain due to extensive lattice mismatches. STO is distinguished by the lowest strain energy (0.07 eV), indicating minimal energy requirement for lattice mismatch accommodation, unlike KTO, which demonstrates high strain energy (0.42 eV) and potential structural distortions. The strongest interfacial bond, as indicated by an adhesion energy of −2.16 eV, was observed at YBCO/LAO, while the weakest was found at the YBCO/KTO interface, with an adhesion energy of −0.56 eV. Additionally, charge density difference (CDD) analysis highlighted electron density redistribution at the interfaces, predominantly around interfacial oxygen atoms, indicating a mix of ionic and covalent bonding. This study provides comparative insights into the interfacial characteristics of YBCO/ABO3 heterostructures, suggesting pathways for optimizing their design and performance.

Ti3+ self-doped TiO2 nanoparticles immobilized on self-pillared pentasil zeolite nanosheets: An efficient visible-light-driven degradation photocatalyst

Ti3+ defective TiO2 nanoparticles (TiO2-NPs) were synthesized through slow hydrolyzation of tetrabutyl titanate and low-temperature annealing, followed by loading on self-pillared pentasil (SPP) zeolite nanosheets to construct a TiO2/zeolite hybrid composite by solid-state dispersion. The obtained TiO2-NPs/SPP composite exhibited a distinct red-shift in the UV–vis absorption spectrum and a significantly reduced band gap due to the introduced Ti3+ defects and the consequent oxygen vacancies (VO), leading to an enhanced visible-light responsivity. The diverse porosity and house-of-cards nanosheet morphology of the SPP support not only promoted the efficient loading and stable immobilization of TiO2-NPs nanoparicles through micropore migration and surface adhesion but also endowed the adsorbability to the TiO2-NPs/SPP composite. The adsorptive photodegradation of methylene blue (MB) was used to evaluated the photocatalytic performance of TiO2-NPs/SPP, and a 95.6 % degradation rate of MB was observed after 3 h illumination with visible-light. The adsorptive effect strongly promoted the accessibility of MB molecules to the active TiO2 species, leading to a remarkable enhancement in degradation efficiency. Moreover, a superior recyclability embodied in the retention of 96.4 % photocatalytic activity after three regeneration cycles indicated the TiO2-NPs/SPP composite to be practical for water pollutant degradation.

Influence of Surface Pretreatment on the Bond Strength of a Resin Luting Cement to Saliva-contaminated Enamel and Dentin.

This study aimed to evaluate the influence of surface pretreatment on the shear bond strength (SBS) of a resin luting cement to enamel and dentin with saliva contamination. The surface free energies (SFE) of the adherent surfaces were also determined. Bovine enamel and dentin were used in this study. For the saliva-contamination, human saliva was applied to the adherent surface for 60 seconds and then air-dried, and the specimens without saliva contamination served as controls. One group of contaminated surfaces was untreated (SC), and the others were pretreated with Katana Cleaner (KC), Multi Etchant (ME), or Ultra-Etch (UE). Fifteen specimens were prepared to measure the SBS for each test group.The mixed resin luting cement paste was applied to the alumina-blasted surface of a stainless-steel rod and placed on the prepared tooth surface. The luting cement was light irradiated for 40 seconds. The bonded specimens were stored for 24 hours at 37°C and half of the bonded specimens underwent 10,000 thermal cycles. The SBS and SFE of the specimens after different pre-treatments were measured. The two-way ANOVA revealed that the factors of pretreatment agent and storage condition had a significant effect on the SBS to enamel and dentin. The SFE values of the SC group were significantly lower than those of the other groups in both enamel and dentin. The SFE of pretreated surface was material dependent. A pretreatment agent containing functional monomers was shown to be effective in removing saliva contaminants and in creating an effective bonding surface for the resin luting cement.