Surface Area Research Articles

Sub‐1 nm Nanomaterials Applied in Energy Storage

AbstractSub‐1 nm nanomaterials (SNMs) present rapid electrons/ions transport and unique polymer‐analogue properties due to their ultrahigh specific surface area and nearly 100 % surface atomic exposure, which are very promising in the application of energy storage devices. However, there still lack of relative review about the SNMs applied in energy storage until now. This review focuses on the structural advantages of SNMs and their synthesis methods, and then discusses latest advances of employing SNMs for advanced battery systems. The superior functions of SNMs are emphasized for designing every single component in batteries, including electrode materials, separators and electrolytes, greatly improving the performance of batteries. Finally, the current challenges and future research directions of SNMs are proposed, aiming to provide a new insight into the design and manufacture of SNMs for the further development of high‐performance energy storage devices.

3D LAND-MARINE PROPERTIES ADMINISTRATION IN THE CONTEXT OF SEA LEVEL RISE (SLR) – ISSUES & CHALLENGES

Abstract. The current scenario of understanding spatial objects with regards to land and marine environment seems lacking. Inevitably, the scenario in line with the global warming issues as being highly mentioned by world-bodies such as the United Nations (UN) on climate change, etc. Recently the statistics on earth surface temperature point towards high record temperatures that lead to sea-level rise and degradation of land surface area, in general. These situations caused other spatial objects (land and marine properties) to be affected by their physical properties’ changes (including geometries and locations). Thus, this paper attempts to review various aspects related to digital twins of land and marine spatial objects with respect to issues and challenges of multiple data acquisition techniques considering accuracy, data standard, seamless and integrated georeferenced data within the scenario as being reported in the 6th IPCC document. The situation warrants us to explore different types of land and marine properties (static and dynamic) where static properties are defined as immovable objects and vice versa for the dynamic environment. This paper also discusses on a brief experiment utilizing MERIT DEM (Multi-Error-Removed Improved-Terrain Digital Elevation Model), existing building footprints, simulated bathymetry, and land use datasets. The experiment reveals the prediction of the sea level rise according to the IPCC report. The gist of this paper to serve a motivation for our near-future research in the context of geospatial components and sea level rise (SLR).

Morin loaded mesoporous molecular sieves as novel devices to the potential treatment of tumor pathologies.

Morin is an antioxidant and anticancer flavonoid, extracted from natural sources, that may exert beneficial effects for several pathologies. Despite this, the administration of morin represents a challenge due to its low aqueous solubility. Mesoporous silica materials have emerged as biocompatible tools for drug delivery, as their pore size can be modulated for maximum surface area to volume ratio. In this contribution, we evaluate the ability of iron-modified mesoporous materials, for morin loading and controlled delivery. The SBA-15 and MCM-41 sieves were synthesized and modified with iron (metal content 4.02 and 6.27 % wt, respectivily). Characterization by transmission electron microscopy, XRD and UV-Vis revealed adequate pore size and agglomerates of very small metallic nanospecies (nanoclusters), without larger iron oxide nanoparticles. FT-IR spectra confirmed the presence of silanol groups in the solid hosts, which can interact with different groups present in morin molecules. SBA-15 materials were more efficient in terms of morin loading capacity (LC) due to their larger pore diameter. LC was more than 35% for SBA-15 materials when adsorptions studies were carried out with 9mg of drug. Antioxidant activity were assayed by using DPPH test. Free iron materials presented a significate improvement as antioxidants after morin incorporation, reaching a scavenging activity of almost a 90%. On the other hand, in iron modified mesoporous materials, the presence of morin did not affect the scavenging activity. The results could be related with the formation of a complex between the flavonoid and the iron. Finally, biosafety studies using normal epithelial cells revealed that neither the loaded nor the unloaded materials exerted toxicity, even at doses of 1mg/ml. These findings expand knowledge about mesoporous materials as suitable carriers of flavonoids with the aim of improving therapies for a wide range of pathologies.

Synergistic tribological performance of Ti3C2Tx MXene functionalized with ionic liquids

Ti3C2Tx MXene nanosheets are employed to graft ionic liquids via Michael addition or Schiff base reactions, with polydopamine acting as a bridging agent. This process creates a robust and synergistic tribological interface when the hybrids are used as lubricating additives in oil. The structural hybridization harnesses the high surface area and weak interlayer forces of MXenes, along with the thermal stability and film-forming capabilities of ionic liquids. The study reveals that lubricants fortified with these functionalized nanosheets exhibit a notable reduction in the average coefficient of friction from 0.188 to 0.112 and an 81.7% decrease in wear volume. These results highlight the untapped potential of structurally optimized, ionic liquid-functionalized MXenes as a transformative advancement in the field of tribology.

Burden of Topical Treatments in Psoriasis and Preferred Criteria of Choice: A Survey-Based Evaluation of Patients in Europe.

Topical treatments (TT) are widely used in psoriasis management. While psoriasis itself has been associated with diminished quality of life and mental well-being, the impact of TT remains underexplored. This study aimed to evaluate the burden of TT on the daily lives of patients with psoriasis, the convenience of the TT, and the choice criteria. Patients were recruited across five countries (France, Germany, Italy, Spain, UK) by Wefight and the International Federation of Psoriasis Associations (IFPA) to complete a 29-item online survey. A total of 766 patients completed the survey (54% female, mean age of 53years). The mean body surface area covered by psoriasis was 7%, predominantly on the scalp and elbows. Participants had been living with psoriasis for a mean duration of 18years. Of the respondents, 34% reported feeling affected by their TT in their daily routines and activities. Those feeling affected were more likely to have a more complex disease, be using more treatments, or be diagnosed more recently compared to those less affected. Among those most affected by their TT, 27% reported a strong impact on mental health, 30% on sexual life, and 25% on physical activities, compared to 7%, 6% and 4% in those least affected, respectively. Both cohorts considered tolerability factors such as "does not cause itching/burning" and "good tolerability" as most important when choosing a topical. However, only least affected participants regarded convenience factors such as "does not run off," "ease of application," "does not leave stains" among others equally as important. Overall, one-third of patients report a significant burden of TT on their daily lives. These patients have different criteria of choice, highlighting the importance of communication between physicians and patients to tailor treatment to individual preferences, thereby enhancing adherence and treatment outcomes.

Novel CuBi2O4-BiOCl/rGO heterostructure nanocomposite as high-performance visible light photocatalyst for the disintegration of persistent antimicrobials in aquatic environment

The article highlights the fabrication of a novel CuBi2O4-BiOCl/rGO heterojunction nanocomposite as a renewable visible light photocatalyst for the quick disintegration of a persistent fluoroquinolone-based antimicrobial drug, i.e., enrofloxacin (ENF) in aquatics. CuBi2O4-BiOCl (CBO-BOC) nanocomposites (NCs) of varying BOC stoichiometric ratios were synthesized, of which CBO-(30%) BOC NC (CB-30) revealed top photocatalytic traits, which was analogously dispersed onto reduced graphene oxide (rGO) nanosheets, to serve as the visible light photon responsive materials. The electron microscopic and spectroscopic techniques were deployed to understand the CB-30/rGO heterostructure's surface topography and structural morphology. The FE-SEM, HR-TEM and XPS analysis confirmed the dispersion of CBO nanospheres onto the BOC nanoflakes and further confirmed the successful imbuement of CB-30 NCs onto the rGO nanosheets. The CB-30/rGO photocatalyst revealed excellent porosity and surface area for the fast dissipation of pharmaceutical pollutants. The impact of various operating parameters, such as solution pH, drug concentration, CBO-BOC stoichiometry, CB-30/rGO dosage, photosensitizers/electron acceptors, light intensity and matrix tolerance limits, were augmented to enhance the photocatalytic efficiency of the proposed new-age photocatalyst. Under optimized conditions, complete drug mineralization was achieved in ≤0.33 h for complete mineralization of 30 ppm of ENF, using 0.075 g of photocatalyst. The time-dependent profiling of photoproducts/intermediates derived from the photocatalytic degradation of ENF was monitored by HR-MS analysis. The acute and chronic toxicity effects of ENF and its organic intermediate were predicted using the ECOSAR model for selected aquatic life forms. The photocatalyst exhibited reusability up to seven cycles, with excellent thermal/chemical stability, for pollutant decontamination from industrial effluents and environmental samples.

Modified Clinoptilolite for the Removal of Rhodamine B Dye from Wastewater

This study reveals the modification of the surface area of natural zeolite Clinoptilolite (CLN) by implementing the ion exchange method. The ammonium chloride cation exchange method was adopted and was followed by calcination at 450 °C for 5 h. This procedure helps to increase the surface area of CLN and also enhances its adsorption efficiency. The modifications of the CLN were confirmed by Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. The efficiency and adsorption capacity of the modified CLN were determined by the adsorption of a Rhodamine B (Rh B) dye from an aqueous medium. The comparative analysis of the adsorption efficiency of raw CLN and the modified CLN revealed an enhanced adsorption of Rh B by the modified CLN at pH = 10. For desorption, different solvents were used. The results showed good desorption in ethanol and methanol, and poor desorption in acidic (HCl) and basic (NaOH) solutions. The kinetic study of the adsorption of Rh B by the modified CLN helped us to conclude that the adsorption follows a pseudo-second-order kinetics. For the surface study and to understand the mechanism of adsorption, several isotherm models were applied to the adsorption data at equilibrium. The data showed consistency with the Freundlich adsorption isotherm confirming that the process took place at its heterogeneous surface. The experimentally calculated adsorption capacity of the modified CLN was 2.81 mg g−1, showing a comparable value to certain other common adsorbents. Therefore, the modified CLN may also be considered a cost-effective and promising adsorbent for the removal of Rh B dye from wastewater.

Tecoma stans floral extract-mediated synthesis of MgFe2O4/ZnO nanoparticles for adsorption and photocatalytic degradation of coomassie brilliant blue dye.

Toxic organic dyes-containing wastewater treatment by adsorption and photocatalytic techniques is widely applied, but adsorbents and photocatalysts are often synthesized through chemical methods, leading to secondary pollution by released chemicals. Here, we report a benign method using Tecoma stans floral extract to produce MgFe2O4/ZnO (MGFOZ) nanoparticles for adsorption and photocatalytic degradation of coomassie brilliant blue (CBB) dye. Green MGFOZ owned a surface area of 9.65 m2/g and an average grain size of 54 nm. This bio-based nanomaterial showed higher removal percentage and better recyclability (up to five cycles) than green MgFe2O4 and ZnO nanoparticles. CBB adsorption by MGFOZ was examined by kinetic and isotherm models with better fittings of Bangham and Langmuir or Temkin. RSM-based optimization was conducted to reach an actual adsorption capacity of 147.68 mg/g. Moreover, MGFOZ/visible light system showed a degradation efficiency of 89% CBB dye after 120 min. CBB adsorption can be controlled by both physisorption and chemisorption while •O2- and •OH radicals are responsible for photo-degradation of CBB dye. This study suggested that MGFOZ can be a promising adsorbent and catalyst for removal of organic dyes in water.

The role of lncRNAKCNQ1OT1/miR-301b/Tcf7 axis in cardiac hypertrophy.

Cardiac hypertrophy, acting as a pathologic process of chronic hypertension and coronary disease, and its underlying mechanisms still need to be explored. Long non-coding RNA (LncRNA) potassium voltage-gated channel subfamily Q member 1 Transcript 1 (KCNQ1OT1) has been implicated in myocardial infarction. However, its role in cardiac hypertrophy remains reported. To explore the regulated effect of lncRNAKCNQ1OT1 and miR-301b in cardiac hypertrophy, gain-and-lose function assays were tested. The expression of lncRNAKCNQ1OT1 and miR-301b were tested by quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). The levels of transcription factor 7 (Tcf7), Proto-oncogene c-myc (c-myc), Brainnatriureticpeptide (BNP)and β-myosin heavy chain (β-MHC) were detected by Western blot. Additionally, luciferase analysis revealed interaction between lncRNAKCNQ1OT1, BNPβ-MHCmiR-301b, and Tcf7. LncRNAKCNQ1OT1 overexpression significantly induced cardiac hypertrophy. Furthermore, lncRNAKCNQ1OT1 acts as a sponge for microRNA-301b, which exhibited lower expression in cardiac hypertrophy model, indicating an anti-hypertrophic role. Furthermore, the BNP and β-MHC expression increased, as well as cardiomyocyte surface area, with Ang II treatment, while the effect was repealed by miR-301b. Moreover, the protein expression of Tcf7 was inversely regulated by miR-301b and Antisense miRNA oligonucleotides (AMO)-301b. Our study has shown that overexpression of lncRNAKCNQ1OT1 could promote the development of cardiac hypertrophy by regulating miR-301b and Tcf7. Therefore, inhibition of lncRNAKCNQ1OT1 might be a potential therapeutic strategy for cardiac hypertrophy.

Ecofriendly Application of Calabrese Broccoli Stalk Waste as a Biosorbent for the Removal of Pb(II) Ions from Aqueous Media

A new biosorbent obtained from Calabrese broccoli stalks has been prepared, characterised and used as an effective, low-cost and ecofriendly biomass to remove Pb(II) from aqueous solutions, without any complicated pretreatment. Structural and morphological characterisation were performed by TGA/DGT, FTIR and SEM/EDX; the main components are hemicellulose, starches, pectin, cellulose, lignin and phytochemicals, with important electron donor elements (such as S from glucosinolates of broccoli) involved in Pb(II) sorption. The biosorbent showed values of 0.52 and 0.65 g mL−1 for bulk and apparent densities, 20.6% porosity, a specific surface area of 15.3 m2 g−1, pHpzc 6.25, iodine capacity of 619 mg g−1 and a cation exchange capacity of 30.7 cmol kg−1. Very good sorption (88.3 ± 0.8%) occurred at pH 4.8 with a biomass dose of 10 g L−1 after 8 h. The Freundlich and Dubinin–Radushkevich isotherms and the pseudo-second-order kinetic models explained with good fits the favourable Pb(II) sorption on the heterogeneous surface of broccoli biomass. The maximum adsorption capacity was 586.7 mg g−1. The thermodynamic parameters evaluated showed the endothermic and spontaneous nature of the Pb(II) biosorption. The chemical mechanisms mainly involved complexation, ligand exchange and cation–π interaction, with possible precipitation.

Metal-Organic Frameworks Marry Sponge: New Opportunities for Advanced Water Treatment.

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have garnered attention across various fields due to their noteworthy features like high specific surface area, substantial porosity, and adjustable performance. In the realm of water treatment, MOFs exhibit great potential for eliminating pollutants such as organics, heavy metals, and oils. Nonetheless, the inherent powder characteristics of MOFs pose challenges in terms of recycling, pipeline blockage, and even secondary pollution in practical applications. Addressing these issues, the incorporation of MOFs into sponges proves to be an effective solution. Strategies like one-pot synthesis, in situ growth, and impregnation are commonly employed for loading MOFs onto sponges. This review comprehensively explores the synthesis strategies of MOFs and sponges, along with their applications in water treatment, aiming to contribute to the ongoing advancement of MOF materials.

Regulation of Electronic Structures of the Urchin-Like NiCoP/CoP Nanocatalysts for Fast Hydrogen Evolution.

The exploration of stable, efficient, and low-cost catalysts toward ammonia borane hydrolysis is of vital significance for the practical implementation of this hydrogen production technology. Integrating interface engineering and nano-architecture engineering is a favorable strategy to elevate catalytic performance, as it can modify the electronic structure and provide sufficient active sites simultaneously. In this work, urchin-like NiCoP/CoP heterostructures are prepared via a three-step hydrothermal-oxidation-phosphorization synthesis route. It is demonstrated that the original Ni/Co molar ratio and the amount of phosphorus are crucial for adjusting the morphology, enhancing the exposed surface area, facilitating charge transfer, and modulating the adsorption and activation of H2O molecules. Consequently, the optimal Ni1Co2P heterostructure displays remarkable catalytic properties in the hydrolysis of ammonia borane with a turnover frequency (TOF) value of 30.3 molH2 ⋅ min-1 ⋅ molmetal -1, a low apparent activation energy of 25.89 kJ ⋅ mol-1, and good stability. Furthermore, by combining infrared spectroscopy and isotope kinetics experiments, a possible mechanism for the hydrolysis of ammonia borane was proposed.

A novel ZnCo2O4/BiOBr p-n/Z-scheme heterojunction photocatalyst for enhancing photocatalytic activity.

In this study, we developed a novel p-n/Z-scheme heterojunction photocatalyst, ZnCo2O4/BiOBr (ZCo/BB), through a straightforward and safe hydrothermal-calcination-solvent thermal method. The composite photocatalyst demonstrated exceptional photocatalytic efficacy, particularly when the mass ratio of ZnCo2O4 was 25% (referred to as 25% ZCo/BB). Structural characterization and electrochemical analysis revealed that 25% ZCo/BB exhibited a larger specific surface area and a faster electron transfer rate. Under visible light exposure for 30min, methylene blue (MB) degradation reached 92%, and the reaction rate constants were 8.2 and 3.7 times higher than those observed for individual ZnCo2O4 and BiOBr, respectively. Furthermore, the 25% ZCo/BB demonstrated exceptional photocatalytic stability over four cycles, maintaining over 80% MB degradation after each cycle. The outstanding photocatalytic activity was attributed to the p-n/Z-scheme heterojunction construction, which promoted charge separation and inhibited carrier recombination. In addition, ·OH and h+ were the major active species in photocatalysis, and · was identified as a secondary active species. This work presents an efficient heterojunction photocatalyst for the degradation of organic wastewater.

Mesoporous Single Atom-Cluster Fe-N/C Oxygen Evolution Electrocatalysts Synthesized with Bottlebrush Block Copolymer-Templated Rapid Thermal Annealing.

Current electrocatalysts for oxygen evolution reaction (OER) are either expensive (such as IrO2, RuO2) or/and exhibit high overpotential as well as sluggish kinetics. This article reports mesoporous earth-abundant iron (Fe)-nitrogen (N) doped carbon electrocatalysts with iron clusters and closely surrounding Fe-N4 active sites. Unique to this work is that the mechanically stable mesoporous carbon-matrix structure (79 nm in pore size) with well-dispersed nitrogen-coordinated Fe single atom-cluster is synthesized via rapid thermal annealing (RTA) within only minutes using a self-assembled bottlebrush block copolymer (BBCP) melamine-formaldehyde resin composite template. The resulting porous structure and domain size can be tuned with the degree of polymerization of the BBCP backbone, which increases the electrochemically active surface area and improves electron transfer and mass transport for an effective OER process. The optimized electrocatalyst shows a required potential of 1.48 V (versus RHE) to obtain the current density of 10 mA/cm2 in 1 M KOH aqueous electrolyte and a small Tafel slope of 55 mV/decade at a given overpotential of 250 mV, which is significantly lower than recently reported earth-abundant electrocatalysts. Importantly, the Fe single-atom nitrogen coordination environment facilitates the surface reconstruction into a highly active oxyhydroxide under OER conditions, as revealed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and in situ Raman spectroscopy, while the atomic clusters boost the single atoms reactive sites to prevent demetalation during the OER process. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations support that the iron nitrogen environment and reconstructed oxyhydroxides are electrocatalytically active sites as the kinetics barrier is largely reduced. This work has opened a new avenue for simple, rapid synthesis of inexpensive, earth-abundant, tailorable, mechanically stable, mesoporous carbon-coordinated single-atom electrocatalysts that can be used for renewable energy production.

Adsorption of Ammonium, Nitrate, and Phosphate on Hydrochars and Biochars

Biochar (BC) and hydrochar (HC) have attracted considerable attention owing to their versatile characteristics and proven effectiveness in diverse technical fields. Solid BC is generated as a result of the dry carbonisation process of pyrolysis, in contrast to the slurry HC, which is produced during the hydrothermal carbonisation process. In this study, we evaluated the adsorption potential of two hydrochar samples (HCs) and three biochar samples (BCs) produced from sugar cane bagasse. The adsorption capacity of these samples was tested for ammonium, nitrate, and phosphate ions under various conditions. The BCs and HCs were subjected to characterisation using a CHNS/O analyser, the zeta potential, and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR). Elevating the pyrolysis temperature of the biochar resulted in changes in the fixed carbon and ash contents, while the volatile matter and H/C and O/C atomic ratios decreased. As the residence time increased, the H/C ratio and volatile matter content of the hydrochars (HCs) decreased. However, the fixed carbon content, ash content, and O/C and C/N ratios exhibited an increase. Thermodynamics, adsorption isotherms, and pH were also taken into consideration. The FTIR spectra analysis indicated that the carboxyl and ester functional groups present in both the BCs and HCs displayed reduced peak intensities subsequent to the adsorption of the three ions. While the adsorption was exothermic, we noticed that the adsorption capacity increased with temperature. The results indicate that sorption was homogenous across all binding sites, as evidenced by the optimal fit to the Langmuir isotherm. The research findings indicate that the adsorption capacity of various BC and HC adsorbents is significantly influenced by the surface area of the adsorbents in the case of nitrate and phosphate, but in the case of ammonia, adsorption is dictated by the functional polar groups present on the adsorbent surface.

Peri-wound skin lesions of allergic nature

Peri-wound dermatoses are a fairly common occurrence in clinical practice. In general, they are all allergic in nature and occur on the skin around the surface area of both primary and postoperative wounds. Peri-wound skin lesions can develop as paratraumatic eczema, simple contact or allergic dermatitis. All these dermatoses can be complicated by a secondary bacterial or mycotic infection, both exogenous and endogenous, which significantly complicates the course of the dermatitis itself and wound healing. The patient is exposed to a fairly large number of potential allergens in the course of surgical care provided at all stages: both in the pre- and postoperative period, and during the surgical intervention. Among them may be drugs and antiseptics, surgical sutures, implants, and even latex gloves of healthcare practitioners in some cases. When it comes to potential allergens, foci of chronic infection in the patient’s body, as well as secondary wound infections should be noted as a separate matter. The presence of peri-wound dermatoses is the most common cause of delayed surgical debridement, and can also become an obstacle to surgical treatment and healing of the wound surface. In addition, pre-existing paratraumatic eczema can progress to a chronic course and contribute to the further spread of the inflammatory process. Thus, peri-wound dermatoses are a pressing interdisciplinary issue. Patients with peri-wound dermatoses require a personalized selection of combination therapy and additional consultative assistance from highly specialized doctors. Fixed-dose topical glucocorticoids combined with antibiotics and antimycotics may be the drugs of choice for patients with peri-wound eczematous process, with due account for complex pathogenetic effects and ease of use. The article describes clinical cases of dermatoses developed in surgical patients.

A Closed-Loop Biorefinery Approach for the Valorization of Winery Waste: The Production of Iron-Sulfonated Magnetic Biochar Catalysts and 5-Hydroxymethyl Furfural from Grape Pomace and Stalks

In this work, a closed-loop strategy for the management and valorization of winery waste was proposed. The exhausted pomace and grape stalks that are typically obtained from white wine industries were used as a source of simple sugars, namely, glucose and fructose, and of lignocellulosic feedstock for the preparation of selective catalysts for the 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (5-HMF) production from fructose. A novel synthetic procedure was developed for the synthesis of iron-sulfonated magnetic biochar catalysts (Fe-SMBCs). Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX), BET surface area, porous structure analysis and determination of total amount of acid sites were performed in order to characterize the physico-chemical properties of the synthesized systems. Then, these heterogeneous catalysts were successfully tested via the dehydration of simple sugars into 5-HMF by using methyl isobutyl ketone (MIBK) and gamma valerolactone (GVL) as co-solvents. The optimum 5-HMF yield of 40.9 ± 1.1%mol with a selectivity of 59.8 ± 2.6%mol was achieved by adopting the following optimized conditions: 0.1 g of catalyst, volume ratio of GVL to H2O = 2 to 1, 403 K, 6 h. In addition, the catalyst was easily recycled using an external magnetic field and used for at least five reaction cycles without significant loss of catalytic activity.

The Synthesis and Reactivity of Mesoporous and Surface-Rough Vinyl-Containing ORMOSIL Nanoparticles

Silica nanoparticles synthesized solely from organosilanes naturally possess a greater number of organic functionalities than silica nanoparticles surface-modified with organosilanes. We report the synthesis of organically modified silica (ORMOSIL) nanoparticles with a mesoporous and surface-rough morphology and with a high surface area, made solely from vinyltrimethoxy silane. We chemically modified these vinyl silica nanoparticles using bromination and hydroboration, and demonstrated the high accessibility and reactivity of the vinyl groups with an ~85% conversion of the functional groups for the bromination of both particle types, a ~60% conversion of the functional groups for the hydroboration of surface-rough particles and a 90% conversion of the functional groups for the hydroboration of mesoporous particles. We determined that the mesoporous vinyl silica nanoparticles, while having a surface area that lies between the non-porous and surface-rough vinyl silica nanoparticles, provide the greatest accessibility to the vinyl groups for boronation and allow for the incorporating of up to 3.1 × 106 B atoms per particle, making the resulting materials attractive for boron neutron capture therapy.

The Spatial Characteristics of Intervertebral Foramina within the L4/L5 and L5/S1 Motor Segments of the Spine

The prevalence of lower back pain and radicular pain in the population requires more and more accurate diagnostic methods to more effectively prevent and treat patients with these ailments. In this paper, we focused on one of the causes of lower back pain and radicular pain—lumbar foraminal stenosis (LFS). The aim of the study is to assess the morphometry of the intervertebral canals in the lumbar spine at the levels of the L4/L5 and L5/S1 motor segments. The obtained results showed correlations between the circumference and the surface area on individual cross-sections of the intervertebral canals at the L4/L5 and L5/S1 levels and determined the approximate shape of the root canal and its variability. On this basis, we were able to determine the influences of the patient’s age and sex on the morphometric parameters of the intervertebral canals at the L4/L5 and L5/S1 levels. Further research is needed in this area, taking into account additional factors influencing the shape of intervertebral canals.

Two-in-one strategy for optimizing chemical and structural properties of carbon felt electrodes for vanadium redox flow batteries

ABSTRACT Vanadium redox flow batteries (VRFBs) have received significant attention for use in large-scale energy storage systems (ESSs) because of their long cycle life, flexible capacity, power design, and safety. However, the poor electrochemical activity of the conventionally used carbon felt electrode results in low energy efficiency of the VRFBs and consequently impedes their commercialization. In this study, a carbon felt (CF) electrode with numerous nanopores and robust oxygen-containing functional groups at its edge sites is designed to improve the electrochemical activity of a carbon felt electrode. To achieve this, Ni metal nanoparticles were initially precipitated on the surface of the CF electrode, followed by etching of the precipitated Ni nanoparticles on the CF electrode using sulfuric acid. The resulting CF electrode had a specific surface area eight times larger than that of the pristine CF electrode. In addition, the oxygen-containing functional groups anchored at the graphite edge sites of the nanopores can act as robust electrocatalysts for VO2+/VO2 + and V2+/V3+ redox reactions. Consequently, the VRFB cell with the resulting carbon felt electrode can deliver a high energy efficiency of 86.2% at the current density of 60 mA cm−2, which is 20% higher than that of the VRFB cell with the conventionally heat-treated CF electrode. Furthermore, the VRFB cell with the resultant carbon felt electrodes showed stable cycling performance with no considerable energy efficiency loss over 200 charge-discharge cycles. In addition, even at a high current density of 160 mA cm−2 , the developed carbon felt electrode can achieve an energy efficiency of 70.1%.