Changes In Surface Structure Research Articles

The Interplay between Dynamics and Structure on the Dielectric Tensor of Nanoconfined Water: Surface Charge and Salinity Effect.

Under confinement, the water dielectric constant is a second-order tensor with an abnormally low out-of-plane element. In our work, we investigate the dielectric tensor of an aqueous NaCl solution confined by a quartz slit-pore. The static dielectric constant is determined from local polarization density fluctuations via molecular dynamics simulations. In a pioneering investigation, we evaluate not only the effect of salinity but also surface charge. The parallel dielectric constant decreases with salinity due to dielectric saturation. From a dynamic perspective, the relaxation of water dipoles is slower within the hydration shells of ions. An anisotropic arrangement on the quartz surface results in preferred orientations of interfacial water molecules. By embedding charge, the surface structure changes, and extra dipole fluctuations in one direction may develop anisotropy in the parallel dielectric constant at the interface. Both surface charge and salinity increase the perpendicular dielectric constant. Nevertheless, the surface charge effect is more pronounced and may even recover the bulk dielectric constant value. The electric field established by the charged surface may disturb the planar hydrogen bond network at the interface, increasing out-of-plane dipolar fluctuations. Our work advances the knowledge of confined dielectric behavior, shedding light on the key role that charged surfaces play.

Deflection characteristics of semi-rigid base asphalt pavement under traffic speed deflectometer loading

The three-dimensional viscoelastic finite element simulation and on-site validation was combined, so as to study the characteristics of the traffic speed deflection slope curve of the semi-rigid base asphalt pavement. Results show that there is an inert point in the deflection slope curve when only the surface or base structural state changes. With the loading center approaching transverse crack, the ‘three extreme values’ attribute transitions gradually to ‘single extreme value’. For the surface-base penetrating longitudinal crack caused by uneven subgrade settlement, the peak value of deflection slope curve increases significantly as the crack approaches the loading center, reaching an order of magnitude difference, and the attribute transforms from ‘three extreme values’ to ‘single extreme value’. Indicators characterizing the layered structural state were proposed, and the indicator change rules and applicability for the pavement with different surface and base layer thicknesses, under different deflectometer speeds, with or without cracks, were discussed.

Adsorption Removal of Organophosphates from Water by Steel Slag: Modification, Performance, and Energy Site Analysis

Organophosphates are a type of emerging environmental contaminant, which can be removed effectively by adsorption. Here, modified steel slag was examined for its adsorptive performance in the removal of hydroxyethylidene diphosphonic acid (HEDP) from water. Compared to acid (55.3%, maximum removal rate) and base (85.5%) modification, high-temperature modification (90.6%) significantly enhanced steel slag’s adsorption capacity for HEDP, surpassing that of unmodified slag (71.2%). Kinetic analyses elucidated a two-phase adsorption process—initial rapid adsorption followed by a slower equilibrium phase. The results of adsorption energy analysis showed that modified steel slag preferentially occupied the sites with higher energy, which promoted the adsorption. After five regeneration cycles, the adsorption properties of the material were not significantly reduced, which indicates that the material has good application potential. Microscopic and spectroscopic techniques, including SEM-EDS, FTIR, and XPS, were employed to uncover the surface chemistry and structural changes responsible for the enhanced adsorption efficiency. The adsorption mechanism of HEDP on steel slag is a complete process guided by hydrogen bonding interactions, strengthened surface complexation, and optimized ligand exchange. This study advances the sustainable utilization of industrial waste materials and contributes significantly to the development of innovative water treatment technologies.

The evolution of granular surface structure and functional properties in rice starch during grain filling

The developmental changes in the granular surface structure and functional properties of starch during the entire grain filling period of rice (around 40 days) were investigated. The specific surface area of rice starch significantly decreased firstly then stabilized during growth due to increasing granular size. The pore volume decreased from 5.40 cm3/g at 6th day after anthesis (DAA-6) to 3.02 cm3/g (DAA-46). More starch granule-associated proteins (SGAPs) accumulated on the surface and in channels. Swelling power decreased by 46 %, whereas the flow behavior index (n) decreased by 32 % in upward curve during starch development from DAA-6 to DAA-30. Tan δ first dropped then remained steady at DAA 22–34 and lightly rebounded at the final stage, indicating that starch in the middle stage tended to have greater viscoelastic gel behavior at all sweeps. Mature starch showed lower in vitro hydrolysis rate and exhibited stronger enzymatic resistance. The results showed that granular surface features of rice starch may be an essential factor in determining rheological behavior and resistance to hydrolysis.

Time-dependent 532 nm laser irradiation for tuning in optical, structural, and surface wettability changes of Te/In2Se3 thin films for optoelectronic applications

Laser irradiation for tuning the optoelectronic parameters of semiconducting thin films is widely applicable and has many benefits. The aim of the study is 532 nm laser irradiation of Te/In2Se3 film at different laser exposure time scales. The bilayer structure and its conversion to a single layer with laser annealing were confirmed from cross-sectional scanning electron microscopy. At the same time, the element's appearance was found in the EDX analysis. FESEM probed the corresponding surface structure change. XRD and Raman's spectroscopy analyzed the increase in crystallinity with laser irradiation by mixing Te into the In2Se3 layer and related microstructural changes. The shift in Raman peak with lasing time signifies the effect of time of exposure. There is a systematic decrement in the transmittance of the films. Also, the absorption edge shift resulted in the decrement in bandgap with laser irradiation. The static refractive index and optical density increased as well. The skin depth was decreased with a minimal change in the optical electronegativity. The nonlinear refractive index increased from 1.638 × 10–9 esu to 1.773 × 10–9 esu by 60 min laser irradiation. Similarly, there was an increment in 3rd-order nonlinear susceptibility from 1.58 × 10–10 esu to 1.73 × 10–10 esu. The surface wettability test confirmed the hydrophilic nature of the samples with decreasing hydrophilicity by laser irradiation. The tuning in different properties of the Te/In2Se3 film by laser irradiation is suitable for various optoelectronic applications.

Enhanced heterogeneous electro-Fenton degradation of salicylic acid by different Fe3O4 loaded carriers

Different types of materials were used as catalyst carriers to enhance the degradation of salicylic acid in the heterogeneous electro-Fenton system. During the experiments, activated carbon, carbon felt and carbon cloth were selected as carbon based materials, and sodium alginate, chitosan and polyvinyl alcohol were chosen as polymer matrix, and foam metal included zinc foam, iron foam and nickel foam (NF). The changes of surface structure and morphology of the above carriers were studied, and combined with the effects of the carriers on the degradation of salicylic acid in the electro-Fenton system. The NF was the best carrier materials for the heterogeneous electro-Fenton system, and Ni and Fe3O4 had synergistic effect in enhancing redox reactivity. With salicylic acid concentration of 100 mg/L, the temperature of 25 ℃ and the pH of 7, the NF@Fe3O4 achieved the best salicylic acid degradation performance after reaction for 2 h. The NF@Fe3O4 enhanced the performance of the electro-Fenton system, which provided a valuable reference for the application of heterogeneous catalyst carriers in the electro-Fenton system.

Surface modification of polyethylene terephthalate films by direct fluoridation for flexible electronic applications

In this study, a comprehensive investigation was carried out to analyse the effects of direct fluorination on the structural, morphological, wettability, thermal and optical properties of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) films. The results show significant changes in surface composition and structure, as well as changes in surface morphology induced by fluorination. In addition, an increase in surface hydrophilicity and surface free energy were observed after fluorination. Although there appeared to be a slight decrease in thermal stability of the fluorinated PET films, they exhibited increased optical transmittance in the UV–visible spectrum compared to the original PET films. These findings demonstrate how fluorinated PET films have better surface qualities, which makes them appropriate for a range of uses including printing, coating, and optoelectronics.

Structural Instability of NiFe‐Layered Double Hydroxide Nanosheets during Water Oxidation Operation

AbstractNiFe‐layered double hydroxide (NiFe‐LDH) stands out as a promising electrocatalyst for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER), but the structural transformations under OER conditions are not well understood. The structural evolution of highly crystalline NiFe‐LDH on nickel foam during OER testing in 1 M KOH solution was analyzed using IR, Raman, XRD, XPS techniques, and DFT calculations. Instability of interlayer species within the NiFe‐LDH, including protons, anions, and water molecules, was found to cause the crystal structure to undergo expansion or contraction during OER operation, decreasing crystallinity and roughening the LDH surface. This dynamic structural evolution is crucial for determining OER activity, and it was observed that surface structural changes of the LDH, along with Fe content, jointly determined the degree of change in its OER activity. Our findings provide insights into designing active water‐splitting electrocatalysts and highlight the relationship between OER activity and the structure of NiFe‐LDH.

Study of damage mechanism on single crystal 4H-SiC surface layer by picosecond laser modification (PLM)

The stable structure, high hardness, and brittleness of single-crystal 4H-SiC present challenges in achieving efficient and damage-free polishing processing. Ultra-short pulsed laser-induced surface modification provides a new solution to enhance the manufacturability of 4H-SiC. This paper aims to investigate the underlying mechanism of the picosecond laser-induced surface structural changes in 4H-SiC and the process of material removal from solid to vapour, elucidating the interaction mechanism between picosecond laser and 4H-SiC. A temperature gradient distribution model for picosecond laser irradiation on 4H-SiC was built to reveal the formation mechanism of subsurface crack damage. The results show that a combination of phase explosion and thermal effects controlled picosecond laser-modified 4H-SiC surfaces deposited spherical SiO2 particles and the process. The study demonstrates that the cracking behaviour in the subsurface of picosecond laser-modified SiC predominantly occurs in the recast region. The fundamental cause of cracking is attributed to the tensile stresses generated by thermal effects and the volumetric changes in the molten material resulting from the overlapping of neighbouring spots in alternating hot–cold cycles. The nanoindentation demonstrated that laser modification can effectively enhance the machinability of SiC. The findings of this study can provide a theoretical basis for efficient non-destructive machining of hard and brittle materials.

Combustion of ammonium perchlorate fo near adiabatic condition at high pressures and elevated Initial temperature

AbstractThis paper addresses the combustion of ammonium perchlorate (AP) near adiabatic conditions at high pressures and higher initial temperatures. The AP pellets were coated with a thin layer of silica grease to simulate the near adiabatic condition. The experiments were performed at initial temperatures of 30 and 70 °C in the pressure range of 2.5–30 MPa for coated and bare pellets. The bare pellets were found to exhibit mesa burning as reported in the literature. However, the coated pellets did not exhibit mesa burning. The burn rates of coated AP pellets increased linearly for the entire pressure range of 2.5–30 MPa with 0.64 pressure index. Further, the experiments were carried out for the first time at an initial temperature of 90 °C for 14–30 MPa pressure range, wherein, AP combustion did not display any characteristics of mesa burning (pressure index of 0.33). The surface morphology of quenched samples of both bare and coated pellets of AP were studied, by quenching (rapid depressurization technique) pellets at 6, 12, and 18 MPa pressures. The surface structure of quenched samples for near adiabatic conditions was similar for all three pressures. However, for bare pellets the changes in surface structure were observed with change in pressure, similar to the literature. Mesa burning was found to be an effect of convective heat loss from the periphery of the pellets and it was not observed when heat loss was reduced or initial temperature was higher than the critical initial temperature.

Refining catalytic oxidation of volatile organic compounds over Gd-Sr-Co perovskite-based oxides fabricated via viscous mixture induction: Unveiling the crucial factors influencing catalytic activity

A series of Gd-Sr-Co perovskite-based oxides have been successfully synthesized by thermally driving viscous mixture, wherein only very trace amounts of water need and the metal salts powders do not need to be thoroughly mixed. By the characterization of XRD, XPS, EPR, and Raman, the levels of oxygen vacancies, lattice oxygen, and adsorbed oxygen in the catalyst are controlled by varying the amount of Sr doping. Unlike traditional conclusions, we found that the catalytic activities of the catalysts did not enhance with the increase in the contents of adsorbed oxygen and oxygen vacancies. H2-TPR and O2-TPD confirmed that the migration of lattice oxygen in catalysts determined their activities. Comparative activity of individual catalysts was evaluated by catalytic oxidation of toluene. The best active catalyst also showed superior catalytic activity for the oxidation of acetone, ethyl acetate, and chlorobenzene. The effects of humidity and weight hourly space velocity on the stability of the catalyst were also evaluated. Catalyst’s surface structural changes in toluene oxidation were also analyzed by in-situ DRIFTS. This study provides a simple approach to tailor perovskite-based oxide structures, crucial for effective catalytic oxidation of VOCs.

The Impact of Surface Structure Changes on the Aerodynamic Characteristics of Modern Soccer Balls

PURPOSE This study comprehensively examined the aerodynamic and flight characteristics of modern soccer balls, focusing on their design evolution and performance attributes. METHODS The aerodynamic characteristics of five types of World Cup balls (2006 Germany World Cup, 2010 South Africa World Cup, 2014 Brazil World Cup, 2018 Russia World Cup, 2022 Qatar World Cup) and five types of Euro tournament balls (EURO2008, EURO2012, EURO2016, EURO2020, EURO2024) were examined, along with their respective design changes. RESULTS Through detailed analysis, significant variations in aerodynamic properties among soccer balls used in various tournaments were identified. Recent advancements have resulted in faster transitions towards critical Reynolds numbers, indicating improved stability in flight trajectories. This enhancement was attributed to the augmentation of surface roughness, which plays a crucial role in enhancing aerodynamic stability and overall performance. 2D simulations simulating powerful goalkeeper kicks revealed distinct differences in flight distances among different soccer balls; the Jabulani ball used in the 2010 World Cup exhibited the longest flight distance, while that of the 2024 Euro ball was the shortest. CONCLUSIONS Variations in surface texture significantly impact aerodynamic properties, affecting flight distance, arrival time, and height. This study underscores the significant design enhancements in modern soccer balls that optimize aerodynamic stability and performance, with modifications aimed at improving flight characteristics and enriching player experience.

Enhanced Marine Biodegradation of Polycaprolactone through Incorporation of Mucus Bubble Powder from Violet Sea Snail as Protein Fillers.

Microplastics' spreading in the ocean is currently causing significant damage to organisms and ecosystems around the world. To address this oceanic issue, there is a current focus on marine degradable plastics. Polycaprolactone (PCL) is a marine degradable plastic that is attracting attention. To further improve the biodegradability of PCL, we selected a completely new protein that has not been used before as a functional filler to incorporate it into PCL, aiming to develop an environmentally friendly biocomposite material. This novel protein is derived from the mucus bubbles of the violet sea snail (VSS, Janthina globosa), which is a strong bio-derived material that is 100% degradable in the sea environment by microorganisms. Two types of PCL/bubble composites, PCL/b1 and PCL/b5, were prepared with mass ratios of PCL to bubble powder of 99:1 and 95:5, respectively. We investigated the thermal properties, mechanical properties, biodegradability, surface structure, and crystal structure of the developed PCL/bubble composites. The maximum biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) degradation for PCL/b5 reached 96%, 1.74 times that of pure PCL (≈55%), clearly indicating that the addition of protein fillers significantly enhanced the biodegradability of PCL. The surface morphology observation results through scanning electron microscopy (SEM) definitely confirmed the occurrence of degradation, and it was found that PCL/b5 underwent more significant degradation compared to pure PCL. The water contact angle measurement results exhibited that all sheets were hydrophobic (water contact angle > 90°) before the BOD test and showed the changes in surface structure after the BOD test due to the newly generated indentations on the surface, which led to an increase in surface toughness and, consequently, an increase in surface hydrophobility. A crystal structure analysis by wide-angle X-ray scattering (WAXS) discovered that the amorphous regions were decomposed first during the BOD test, and more amorphous regions were decomposed in PCL/b5 than in PCL, owing to the addition of the bubble protein fillers from the VSS. The differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) and thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) results suggested that the addition of mucus bubble protein fillers had only a slight impact on the thermal properties of PCL. In terms of mechanical properties, compared to pure PCL, the mucus-bubble-filler-added composites PCL/b1 and PCL/b5 exhibited slightly decreased values. Although the biodegradability of PCL was significantly improved by adding the protein fillers from mucus bubbles of the VSS, enhancing the mechanical properties at the same time poses the next challenging issue.

Continuous Strain Regulation of Palladium-Gold at the Atomic Level.

Revealing the effect of surface structure changes on the electrocatalytic performance is beneficial to the development of highly efficient catalysts. However, precise regulation of the catalyst surface at the atomic level remains challenging. Here, we present a continuous strain regulation of palladium (Pd) on gold (Au) via a mechanically controllable surface strain (MCSS) setup. It is found that the structural changes induced by the strain setup can accelerate electron transfer at the solid-liquid interface, thus achieving a significantly improved performance toward hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). In situ X-ray diffraction (XRD) experiments further confirm that the enhanced activity is attributed to the increased interplanar spacing resulting from the applied strain. Theoretical calculations reveal that the tensile strain modulates the electronic structure of the Pd active sites and facilitates the desorption of the hydrogen intermediates. This work provides an effective approach for revealing the relationships between the electrocatalyst surface structure and catalytic activity.

Study on the inactivation effect and mechanism of EGCG disinfectant on Bacillus subtilis

The widespread use of chlorine-based disinfectants in drinking water treatment has led to the proliferation of chlorine-resistant bacteria and the risk of disinfection byproducts (DBPs), posing a serious threat to public health. This study aims to explore the effectiveness and potential applications of epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) against chlorine-resistant Bacillus and its spores in water, providing new insights for the control of chlorine-resistant bacteria and improving the biological stability of distribution systems. The inactivation effects of EGCG on Bacillus subtilis (B. subtilis) and its spores were investigated using transmission electron microscopy, ATP measurement, and transcriptome sequencing analysis to determine changes in surface structure, energy metabolism, and gene expression levels, thereby elucidating the inactivation mechanism. The results demonstrate the potential application of EGCG in continuously inhibiting chlorine-resistant B. subtilis in water, effectively improving the biological stability of the distribution system. However, EGCG is not suitable for treating raw water with high spore content and is more suitable as a supplementary disinfectant for processes with strong spore removal capabilities, such as ozone, ultraviolet, or ultrafiltration. EGCG exhibits a disruptive effect on the morphological structure and energy metabolism of B. subtilis and suppresses the synthesis of substances, energy metabolism, and normal operation of the antioxidant system by inhibiting the expression of multiple genes, thereby achieving the inactivation of B. subtilis.

Long-term plasma exposure of ITER-like W/Cu monoblocks with pre-damaged surfaces in EAST experiments

In the ITER and future fusion devices, W/Cu monoblocks will be used as divertor target which are exposed to both steady state heat load and transient heat flux. Especially, the transient heat flux up to 10 GW m−2 during plasma disruption, is expected to induce the shallow surface damages, such as melting, and even boiling of W/Cu monoblocks. Thus, the performance of damaged W/Cu monoblocks under subsequent long-term plasma discharges is a key concern that needs to be verified and tested on existing tokamaks. Since 2022, a new type of main limiter composed of ITER-like W/Cu monoblocks has been installed and tested in EAST. The surface of W/Cu monoblocks of the limiter was damaged by the transient heat flux during the early stages of plasma construction. Subsequently, they were subjected to long-term plasma discharges over 2600 shots in normal plasma discharge conditions. This circumstance conveniently facilitates the discussion of the performance of W/Cu monoblocks with damaged surfaces especially a melting edge with hill structure under prolonged exposure to plasma. In general, the shallow damage resulting from transient heat flux on W/Cu monoblocks appears to have minimal impact on the heat exhaust capacity under steady-state heat loads, as indicated by both experimental monitoring and numerical simulation results. However, shallow melting, leading to a change in surface structure and the formation of hills, could theoretically increase local temperatures, creating potential hot spots. This phenomenon requires further validation through dedicated experiments. Moreover, the brittleness of the near-surface layer may give rise to brittle destructions, such as cracks and even dust particles, posing an additional concern. These findings yield unique qualitative conclusions that can be referenced for ITER and other fusion devices.

Physiochemical and Electrochemical Properties of a Heat-Treated Electrode for All-Iron Redox Flow Batteries.

Iron redox flow batteries (IRFBs) are cost-efficient RFBs that have the potential to develop low-cost grid energy storage. Electrode kinetics are pivotal in defining the cycle life and energy efficiency of the battery. In this study, graphite felt (GF) is heat-treated at 400, 500 and 600 °C, and its physicochemical and electrochemical properties are studied using XPS, FESEM, Raman and cyclic voltammetry. Surface morphology and structural changes suggest that GF heat-treated at 500 °C for 6 h exhibits acceptable thermal stability while accessing the benefits of heat treatment. Specific capacitance was calculated for assessing the wettability and electrochemical properties of pristine and treated electrodes. The 600 °C GF has the highest specific capacitance of 34.8 Fg-1 at 100 mV s-1, but the 500 °C GF showed the best battery performance. The good battery performance of the 500 °C GF is attributed to the presence of oxygen functionalities and the absence of thermal degradation during heat treatment. The battery consisting of 500 °C GF electrodes offered the highest voltage efficiency of ~74%, Coulombic efficiency of ~94%, and energy efficiency of ~70% at 20 mA cm-2. Energy efficiency increased by 7% in a battery consisting of heat-treated GF in comparison to pristine GF. The battery is capable of operating for 100 charge-discharge cycles with an average energy efficiency of ~ 67% for over 100 cycles.

Tailoring surface properties of Poly(caprolactone)/Hydroxyapatite scaffolds through aminolysis and multi-walled carbon nanotube coating for bone tissue engineering

In this study, the effects of surface modification on the physicochemical properties, degradation behavior, and cellular responses of poly(caprolactone) (PCL)/hydroxyapatite (HAp) scaffolds using carboxylated multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were investigated. The scaffolds were prepared using the fused deposition modeling (FDM) technique, followed by aminolysis for 15, 30, and 60 minutes. Subsequently, the scaffolds were immersed in MWCNT solutions with concentrations of 0.1 %, 0.5 %, and 1 % g/mL to achieve the desired coating. Various characterization techniques were employed to evaluate the surface morphology, chemical composition, and structural changes induced by the coating. FESEM images revealed a uniform MWCNT coating on the PCL/HAp scaffolds at an optimal concentration of 0.5 % g/mL, while lower concentrations resulted in incomplete coating and higher concentrations led to MWCNT agglomerations. The MWCNT coating successfully enhanced the conductivity of the scaffolds, with electrical conductivity increasing from near zero for the non-coated PCL/HAp scaffolds to 5 × 10−5 S/m for the MWCNT-coated scaffolds. Additionally, the coating exhibited improved wettability, as demonstrated by decreased water contact angles from 67.71° for non-coated surfaces to 51.50° for the MWCNT-coated surfaces. Furthermore, the in vitro degradation studies showed that HAp in the PCL matrix accelerated the hydrolysis rate, resulting in higher degradation rates for the PCL/HAp scaffolds than pure PCL scaffolds. The MWCNT coating further influenced the degradation behavior, with variations in degradation rates depending on the MWCNT concentration. Cell viability assays using MG-63 cells revealed improved cell viability and adhesion on the MWCNT-coated PCL/HAp scaffolds compared to plain PCL and PCL/HAp scaffolds. The cell viability increased from 84 % for plain PCL and 103 % for PCL/HAp to 109 % for the MWCNT-coated scaffolds. Moreover, FESEM images showed increased cell adhesion on the MWCNT-coated surfaces, with optimal adhesion observed on the scaffolds coated with 0.5 % g/mL MWCNTs. The results of this study highlight the potential of MWCNT coatings to improve the surface properties of PCL/HAp scaffolds, making them excellent choices for bone tissue engineering applications.

Particle Size Modification of Breadfruit Starch (Artocarpus altilis) into Nanoparticle Size Through Top Down Technique using Acid Hydrolysis

<br /><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;" lang="EN-US">Breadfruit (<em>Artocarpus altilis</em>) is a significant starch source, comprising up to 70.25% of its composition, and holds extensive industrial applications. However, the physicochemical properties of natural starch pose several challenges to its direct use as an industrial raw material. These challenges include high viscosity, substantial swelling power, low solubility, significant retrogradation, limited digestibility, and poor thermal stability. To address these issues, modification of the starch particle size to the nanometer scale is proposed, which is anticipated to enhance both functional and physicochemical properties. This study employs a top-down approach through 2.2 N HCl acid hydrolysis at 38°C for 24 hours. This method offers simplicity, efficiency for scale-up in industrial applications, and relatively higher stability than alternative approaches. Particle size analysis using Particle Size Analysis (PSA) revealed an average particle size of 215 nm. Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy showed characteristic bands similar to natural starch, with slight variations in peak intensity, indicating successful acid hydrolysis and structural disruption of the molecular order. Morphological analysis revealed minimal changes in the granules' surface structure, with clumping observed due to acid hydrolysis. The resultant starch nanoparticles exhibited decreased viscosity and swelling while solubility was enhanced. Therefore, nanoparticle starch holds promising applications in food and non-food industries</span><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-ID; mso-fareast-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">.</span>

Сушка зернового материала с предварительной обработкой слаботочным плазменным каналом искрового разряда

The food industry and agriculture use such electrophysical technologies as ozonation, pulsed electric field, and low-temperature plasma. They increase the shelf-life of food products, as well as help to advance food processing. This article features pretreatment with a low-voltage spark-discharge plasma channel as a means to increase the efficiency of grain drying.
 The grain material involved three samples of soft wheat seeds. Sample 1 was subjected to direct contact with the electrodes while sample 2 underwent treatment on a dielectric substrate. The control remained untreated. The kinetics of grain-drying in the open air was studied using a thermal agent at 110°C after pre-treatment with a low-voltage spark-discharge plasma channel. This experiment also involved scanning electron microscopy tools to detect changes in surface structure. 
 The electron microscopy showed that the dielectric substrate accelerated moisture removal, probably as a result of the emerging surface effects that developed a new continuum in the grain structure. This treatment made it possible to reduce the drying time by 15–25%, compared to the control sample. The drying rate curves demonstrated acceleration in the initial period, associated with additional electroosmotic forces and changes in the absorption properties. The samples treated with low-voltage spark-discharge plasma channel showed a 20% reduction in total energy consumption.
 Electrophysical technology based on a low-voltage spark-discharge plasma channel proved to be an effective pre-drying procedure. Further research is needed to scale the technology in a flow mode and to identify its effect on shelf-life.