Three-dimensional Surface Morphology Research Articles

Application of multilevel immobilized carbon nanotube/sulfur doped carbon nitride composite photocatalytic coating for Cr6+(aq.) reduction

The difficulty in immobilizing carbon nitride (GCN), and the decrease in sorption capacity and photocatalytic performance after immobilization process have become two major bottlenecks limiting the practical application of carbon nitride in photocatalysis field. Herein, sulfur doped carbon nitride and carbon nanotube composite photocatalysts (CNT/SCN) with high sorption, light harvesting capacity, and reduction efficiency was synthesized by two-step solvothermal method. Furthermore, CNT/SCN composite photocatalytic coating with porous three-dimensional surface morphology was prepared using double liquid phase high speeding spray-deposition method. The coverage rate of CNT/SCN coating was calculated to be 55 %, which was 1.57 times higher than that of GCN coating. The introduction of carbon nanotube (CNT) significantly improved the sorption capacity of photocatalytic coating for hexavalent chromium (Cr6+(aq.)). The reduction efficiency of the composite coating towards Cr6+(aq.) under flowing water conditions was further investigated. The CNT/SCN coating exhibited a high removal efficiency of 84.7 % for Cr6+(aq.) (500 mL, 10 mgL−1) within 8 h, which was 29 times than that of GCN coating. The reduction efficiency of CNT/SCN photocatalytic coating remained above 75 % after three cycles of testing. This research provides theoretical basis and data support for the immobilization application of photocatalysts.

Surface roughness evolution law in full-aperture chemical mechanical polishing

Ultra-high precision revolution surfaces are crucial to mechanical components like bearings but are difficult to achieve using conventional machining. Meanwhile, it is challenging to predict the surface roughness evolution law during processing. Accordingly, this study proposed an ultra-precision full-aperture chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) method for processing revolution surfaces. More importantly, a theoretical surface roughness Ra model was established by assuming that the three-dimensional surface morphology can be simplified to two-dimensional identical triangles, each peak can be uniformly removed, and the material removal at the valleys can be neglected compared to that at the peaks. The model provides an intuitive understanding of the Ra evolution law during the full-aperture CMP. Interestingly, Ra first decreases parabolically, determined by the initial surface roughness Ra0, the material volume removal rate MRRV, and the polishing time t. Then, it stabilizes. In addition, the theoretical MRRV model was summarized. The cylindrical guiding surface of a bearing was polished with the developed full-aperture CMP method. In 6 min, Ra can be significantly reduced from the initial 201.09 nm to 1.50 nm almost parabolically and stabilizes. Experimental results basically validate the theoretical Ra model, except that a slow decreasing stage appears intermediately because the real surface cannot be perfectly uniform. Additionally, the roundness error RONt is reduced by 34 %. Furthermore, the full-aperture CMP method and Ra model are successfully applied to other revolution surfaces. This study provides mechanistic insight into Ra evolution modelling pertaining to the manufacturing process.

Effects of abrasive grain size of flexible body-armor-like abrasive tool (BAAT) on high-shear and low-pressure grinding for zirconia ceramics

Zirconia ceramics exhibit remarkable performance. However, the high hardness and brittleness poses enormous challenges for machining. This study is integrally focused on preparing a flexible body-armor-like abrasive tool (BAAT) with enhanced tangential-to-normal force ratio. The rheological characteristics of the BAAT abrasive system with different abrasive grain were investigated. A series of grinding tests were conducted on a precision grinding machine. The grinding performance of the BAAT with different abrasive grain sizes was examined. Surface roughness (Ra) variation and tangential-to-normal force ratio were analyzed, together with the investigation of the three-dimensional surface morphology and surface hydrophilicity. It was found that smaller abrasive grain sizes ultimately generated lower surface roughness values after grinding. Under the optimal grinding conditions, the surface roughness (Ra) of zirconia ceramics decreased from 102 nm to 1.7 nm after 5 grinding strokes (∼1 min). Meanwhile, uniform grinding textures were obtained.

Coupling Michelson-like lateral shear interferometric microscopy with self-referencing numerical phase calibration for quantitative measurement of 3D surface morphology of biological cells

A Michelson interferometer is commonly used for evaluating the morphology of a cell. However, the interference imaging with reference and object beams is easily affected by external vibrations and environmental disturbances, leading to unstable interference patterns. In this paper, the three-dimensional surface morphology of the biological cell is evaluated by a new quantitative phase imaging method, which couples Michelson-like lateral shear interferometric microscopy with self-referencing numerical phase calibration. The Michelson-like lateral shear interferometric microscopy is constructed by replacing the two plane mirrors of the traditional Michelson interferometer with two common right-angle prisms and generates interference fringe patterns. The lateral shear is created and freely adjustable by simply translating/or rotating one right-angle prism. To calculate the phase information of the biological cells quantitatively, the classical Fourier transform method is used to process the recorded interferogram, and then the self-referencing numerical phase calibration method is utilized for acquiring accurate phase information. Successfully achieving quantitative phase imaging of a cell verifies the feasibility and practicability of the proposed method.

Electrical Resistivity Tomography (ERT) Investigation for Landslides: Case Study in the Hunan Province, China

Electrical resistivity tomography is a non-destructive and efficient geophysical exploration method that can effectively reveal the geological structure and sliding surface characteristics inside landslide bodies. This is crucial for analyzing the stability of landslides and managing associated risks. This study focuses on the Lijiazu landslide in Zhuzhou City, Hunan Province, employing the electrical resistivity tomography method to detect effectively the surrounding area of the landslide. The resistivity data of the deep strata were obtained, and the corresponding geophysical characteristics are inverted. At the same time, combined with the existing drilling data, the electrical structure of the landslide body is discussed in detail. The inversion results reveal significant vertical variations in the landslide body’s resistivity, reflecting changes in rock and soil physical properties. Combined with geological data analysis, it can be concluded that the sliding surface is located in the sandy shale formation. Meanwhile, by integrating various geological data, we can conclude that the landslide is currently in a creeping stage. During the rainy season, with rainfall infiltration, the landslide will further develop, posing a risk of instability. It should be promptly addressed through appropriate remediation measures. Finally, based on the results of two-dimensional inversion, this article constructs a three-dimensional surface morphology of the landslide body, which can more intuitively compare and observe the internal structure and material composition of the landslide body. This also serves as a foundation for the subsequent management and stability assessment of landslides, while also paving the way for exploring new perspectives on the formation mechanisms and theories of landslides.

Elastic and inelastic strain in submicron-thick ZnO epilayers grown on r-sapphire substrates by metal-organic vapour phase deposition.

A significant part of the present and future of optoelectronic devices lies on thin multilayer heterostructures. Their optical properties depend strongly on strain, being essential to the knowledge of the stress level to optimize the growth process. Here the structural and microstructural characteristics of sub-micron a-ZnO epilayers (12 to 770 nm) grown on r-sapphire by metal-organic chemical vapour deposition are studied. Morphological and structural studies have been made using scanning electron microscopy and high-resolution X-ray diffraction. Plastic unit-cell distortion and corresponding strain have been determined as a function of film thickness. A critical thickness has been observed as separating the non-elastic/elastic states with an experimental value of 150-200 nm. This behaviour has been confirmed from ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy measurements. An equation that gives the balance of strains is proposed as an interesting method to experimentally determine this critical thickness. It is concluded that in the thinnest films an elongation of the Zn-O bond takes place and that the plastic strained ZnO films relax through nucleation of misfit dislocations, which is a consequence of three-dimensional surface morphology.

Load Distribution Analysis and Contact Stiffness Prediction of the Dual-Drive Ball Screw Pair Considering Guide Rail Geometric Error and Slide Position

The dual-drive ball screw pair serves as a crucial element within the fixed gantry machine tool with cross-rail movement. When in service, the dual-drive ball screw pair experiences variations in axial load, impacting the contact load distribution of the ball screw pair. A calculation model for determining the axial load offset of the dual-drive ball screw pair is proposed to investigate the variation in axial load. The impact of the geometric error associated with the guide rail and the position of the slide are considered. This paper presents the contact load distribution model for the dual-drive ball screw pair. This study investigates the contact load and contact angle distribution of the dual-drive ball screw pair during the machine tool in service. Additionally, based on fractal theory, the stiffness models of individual micro-convex body and contact surfaces have been established. This study provides a comprehensive analysis of the contact stiffness of the ball screw pair, considering the influence of guide rail geometric error and slide position. In addition, the three-dimensional surface morphology of ball screw pair is obtained by experiments. This paper investigates the contact stiffness distribution of dual-drive ball screw pair during service.

Diffusion and Creep in Lithium Metal Anodes Induced by Plating and Stripping Reactions

Electrodeposition of lithium on lithium metal negative electrodes (anodes) of liquid cells produces filamentary deposits, resulting in poor cycling efficiency. Experiments suggest that filaments grow by extrusion of metal from the substrate, due to compressive stress introduced during deposition. A model is presented that explores the origin of stress generated in the anode during plating-stripping cycles. According to the model, plating or stripping reactions insert or remove lithium atoms at the interface between the metal and the solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) layer. Stress is induced by the resulting diffusion processes, with diffusion-induced strain accommodated by inelastic creep. Stress distributions during cycling are calculated, and are used in turn to predict curvature transients that would be measured in beam-deflection experiments. The calculations account for the three-dimensional surface morphology, since surface features that protrude above the surface plane do not contribute to curvature changes. Comparisons with recent curvature measurements demonstrate detailed agreement, with diffusion and creep parameters close to literature values. The results support the hypothesis that electrochemical reactions intrinsically generate stress. The model can serve as a framework for analysis of morphogical instability of the lithium anode interface in both liquid and solid-state cells.

Direct growth of MnCoSe2 nanoneedles on 3D nickel foam for supercapacitor application

The present work reports the fabrication and performance studies of supercapacitors using MnCoSe2 nanoneedles-based electrodes. The MnCoSe2 nanoneedles-based supercapacitor electrode with a unique nanostructure exhibits an enhanced specific capacitance of 820 F g−1 and 386 F g−1 at 1 A g−1 in three-electrode and symmetric two-electrode configurations, respectively. The MnCoSe2 nanoneedles-based supercapacitor device has a specific energy of 54 Wh kg−1 at a specific power of 1 kW kg−1 and a superior cyclic stability of 95% retention after 10,000 charge-discharge cycles at 5 A g−1. Additionally, an asymmetric supercapacitor (ASC) device has been developed employing an anode based on rGO and a cathode based on MnCoSe2 nanoneedles. The asymmetric supercapacitor demonstrates an excellent gravimetric capacitance of 71 F g−1 at 1 A g−1 and an exceptional cycle life of 96% after 10,000 cycles. At a gravimetric power density of 227 W kg−1, the device produces a gravimetric energy density of 32 W h kg−1. The increased electrochemical performance can be ascribed to the three-dimensional nanowire-like surface morphology with a large electroactive site for enhanced redox reaction. Furthermore, high conductivity due to the presence of selenium provides rapid electron transfer and improves the electrochemical properties of supercapacitors. Accordingly, the present work indicates that the MnCoSe2 nanoneedles can be used as a potential electrode material for electrochemical energy storage applications.

Preparation and Performance of H-PDMS/PMHS/OTS Hybrid Nanosilica Hydrophobic and Self-Cleaning Coatings on Phosphogypsum Surface.

Hemihydrate phosphogypsum, an industrial solid waste product of phosphoric acid production, is abundant and inexpensive. If the problem of poor water resistance is solved, this material could be substituted for cement and other traditional energy-consuming cementitious materials in the construction industry. This approach would confer important economic and environmental benefits while promoting the resource utilization of phosphogypsum (PG). In this study, hydrophobic and self-cleaning coatings of H-PDMS/PMHS/OTS hybrid nanosilica were prepared on a post-hydroxylated PG surface using sol-gel and impregnation methods. The water contact angle, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, Three-dimensional surface morphology and roughness analysis, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, surface abrasion tests, and tape adhesion tests were used to evaluate the hydrophobicity of the coatings. The results demonstrated that the in situ reaction produced a hydrophobic siloxane/nanosilica hybrid network that bonded to the PG surface via hydrogen bonding, making the otherwise completely hydrophilic PG hydrophobic (PGH-3, contact angle (CA) = 144.1°). The PGH-3 sample exhibited excellent chemical stability, maintaining a contact angle greater than 135° under strongly acidic or alkaline conditions. The contact angle remained at 123.7° after 50 tape-bonding tests. After 100 wear cycles, the contact angle remained at 121.9°. This study presents an environmentally friendly method and a straightforward application procedure to impart hydrophobicity to solid waste PG. Its potential is thus demonstrated in the field of PG-based construction materials and the comprehensive utilization of solid waste.

Tribological behavior of the friction film of polycrystalline diamond compact and different matching materials in drilling fluid

The tribological properties of polycrystalline diamond compact (PDC) with different matching pairs (Al2O3, ZrO2, and GCr15 balls) in drilling fluid were studied. The friction coefficient, microstructure, wear rate, three-dimensional surface morphology, and transfer behavior of the friction film of different balls and PDC were analyzed experimentally. The results showed that there are significant differences in friction and wear behavior between PDC and different balls in the drilling fluid environment. In addition, the surface of PDC will form a friction-protective film in the presence of drilling fluid. Different friction pairs exhibit different degrees of damage to the protective film and form a transfer film during the friction process. When the protective film on PDC is destroyed, small particles in the drilling fluid can fill the groove area to repair and prevent further friction and wear.

Geometric phase analysis for characterization of 3D morphology of carbon fiber reinforced composites

In carbon fiber-reinforced resin matrix composites, differences in the mechanical properties of carbon fibers and matrix resins can lead to differences in height, causing step faults at the interphase during grinding and polishing. Accurately and efficiently characterizing the step height at the interphase is crucial for analyzing the mechanical properties and residual stress distribution of the composite materials. In this paper, an orthogonal grating, with a frequency of 10,000 lines/mm, was prepared on the surface of the composite material using the SEM electron beam grating technique. The surface morphology of the T700 carbon fiber-reinforced epoxy resin matrix composite was analyzed using the geometric phase analysis method. The average step height between the fiber and matrix was found to be 128.6 nm. Moreover, the geometric phase analysis method can provide a morphology distribution map within the range of 155 × 100 μm2. This research will provide an effective way to quantitative characterization of three-dimensional surface morphology of composite materials.

Reduction of dislocation density in α-Ga2O3 epilayers via rapid growth at low temperatures by halide vapor phase epitaxy

We demonstrate that the dislocation density in α-Ga2O3 epilayers is markedly reduced via rapid growth at low temperatures by halide vapor-phase epitaxy. An α-Ga2O3 epilayer grown on (0001) sapphire at a high growth rate of 34 μm h−1 and a low temperature of 463 °C exhibited a dislocation density of 4 × 108 cm−2, which was approximately 1/100 of that in a conventional film. It is likely that the three-dimensional surface morphology developed during the growth enhanced the bending of the dislocations to increase the probability of pair annihilation. The combination of this technique with thick film growth and epitaxial lateral overgrowth resulted in a further low dislocation density of 1.1 × 107 cm−2.

An innovative method for measuring the three-dimensional water surface morphology of unsteady flow using light detection and ranging technology

High-resolution free-surface elevation measurement is challenging due to the rapid evolution of unsteady flow. In this study, using dam-break flow as an example, the applicability of a low-cost sensor, the Intel® RealSense™ L515 solid-state light detection and ranging (LiDAR) probe, for the free-surface elevation measurement was evaluated. A white inorganic pigment was added to the water to improve the water's laser reflection. A series of dam-break flow experiments were systematically conducted, including asymmetric flow with obstacles in downstream rivers. The results demonstrate that the single-point time-domain process and water surface profile as measured by the LiDAR probe showed good consistency with acoustic displacement meter measurements with uniform correction of the free-surface elevation deviation. The proposed method's advantage is that the unsteady flow's free surface can be obtained with high temporal and spatial resolution; in addition, the volume flow rate and cross-sectional average velocity can be indirectly obtained, thus providing a useful reference for measuring the free surface of unsteady flow under laboratory conditions.

Filtration Capacity and Radiation Cooling of Cellulose Aerogel Derived from Natural Regenerated Cellulose Fibers

ABSTRACT Natural cellulosic materials are attractive biopolymers for their naturally abundant source, mechanical toughness, bioactivity, etc. However, porosity and flexibility remain challenges for the preparation of aerogels from natural cellulose. To maintain the characteristics of cellulose aerogels possessing the toughness of fibers and high porosity of aerogels, cellulose aerogels with three-dimensional void structures and high compressive resilience were prepared by mixing cellulose fiber suspension and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA). The PM 2.5 removal rate and thermal conductivity of cellulose aerogel reached 92.4% and 0.028 W/mK, respectively, when a PVA content of 0.7% was added, and the radiation cooling temperature was about 10.0°C lower than that of PE foam. The three-dimensional void structure and surface morphology of the cellulose aerogels were investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The cellulose aerogel porosity and pore size distribution were evaluated by a mercury intrusion meter. The crystal structure of cellulose was analyzed by X-ray diffraction (XRD). UV-Vis-NIR spectroscopy was used to investigate the infrared reflectance of cellulose aerogels. Then the air purification efficiency and radiation cooling effect of porous cellulose aerogels were evaluated in a homemade device, respectively.

Analysis of damage evolution and causative factors of outer raceway micromorphology of small needle roller bearings under impact load

Purpose This paper aims to investigate the damage evolution of bearing raceways under impact conditions from the perspective of three-dimensional (3D) surface morphology changes and to analyze the causal factors with the aid of simulation. Design/methodology/approach An experimental device containing an impact generating mechanism, a transmission mechanism and a torque load is designed for the experiments of impact damage to the outer raceway of a small needle roller bearing HK1208 without an inner ring. Microscopic images and height color maps of each experimental stage were obtained using a 3D laser measurement microscope. The characterization parameters of the surface 3D morphology were extracted and analyzed. Dynamics simulations of the impact condition were performed using the finite element method to investigate the variations and distribution characteristics of the roller forces on the raceway. Findings The changes in roughness and 3D micromorphology show that the surface flattening phenomenon caused by the flattening effect occurs before the surface of the bearing raceway is damaged. The result of dynamic simulations shows that the maximum load of the bearing under the impact state is obviously greater than that under a steady state, and the load distribution under the two conditions is significantly different. Originality/value This paper provides new ideas for analyzing the damage of bearings under impact conditions by analyzing the real 3D morphology of bearing raceways in combination with the finite element method.

Microtomography of Soil and Soot Deposits: Analysis of Three-Dimensional Structures and Surface Morphology

Abstract The detrimental effects generated by the gas turbine fouling phenomenon are well known. Due to soil and soot particles ingestion, gas turbines experience performance drops related to greater fuel consumption and even lower efficiency. These effects are related to the modification of the shape and surface roughness of relevant surfaces (compressor and turbine blades and vanes, especially) due to the presence of a thin layer generated by micro/nanosized particle adhesion. Such contaminants are swallowed by the unit and, as a function of the operating conditions, adhere to the surface, causing a sort of dangerous coating to the surface. In this work, a microtomography analysis of the deposited layer is reported. The deposited layer has been generated using microsized soil and soot powders under specific impact conditions and substrate surface roughness similar to those in the cold section of a gas turbine compressor. The microtomography analysis has been carried out using the beamline at the ELETTRA Sincrotrone research center. Thanks to the resolution of the beamline, the detection of the three-dimensional internal structure of the soil and soot layers have revealed that within the layer, the structure is characterized by discontinuities. Soot and soil particles, even characterized by similar diameter distributions and test conditions, generate layer structures that differ by the magnitude, orientation, location of the internal discontinuities, and surface morphology (i.e., roughness). The comprehension of the packing process allows us to understand the adhesion process and define general guidelines to predict the fouling phenomenon.

Characteristics Description of Shale Fracture Surface Morphology: A Case Study of Shale Samples from Barnett Shale

Shale reservoirs are the hot issue in unconventional resources. The key to the development of shale reservoirs lies in the complex fractures, which are the only path for fluid to migrate from the matrix to the wellbore in shale reservoirs. Therefore, the characteristics of shale fracture surface morphology directly affect fluid migration in shale reservoirs. However, there are few reports about the characteristics of shale fracture surface morphology as the parallel plate model was commonly used to characterize the fracture, neglecting its surface morphology characteristics and leading to great deviation. Thus, description methods were introduced to characterize shale fracture surface morphology with the aim to provide a foundation for the development of shale resources. Three shale samples were fractured by the Brazilian test, and the height distribution of the fracture surface was captured by a three-dimensional profilometer. Then, three-dimensional fracture surface morphology was regarded as a set of two-dimensional profiles, which converted three-dimensional information into two-dimensional data. Roughness, joint roughness coefficient, fractal dimension, tortuosity, and dip angle were employed to characterize shale fracture surface morphology, and their calculation methods were also, respectively, proposed. It was found that roughness, joint roughness coefficient, fractal dimension, tortuosity, and dip angle were all directional, and they varied greatly along with different directions. Roughness, joint roughness coefficient, fractal dimension, tortuosity, absolute dip angle, and overall trend dip angle were among 0.0834–0.2427 mm, 2.5715–10.9368, 2.1000–2.1364, 1.0732–1.1879, 17.7498°–24.5941°, and −3.7223°–13.3042°, respectively. Joint roughness coefficient, fractal dimension, tortuosity, and dip angle were all positively correlated with roughness.

Influence of Ion Source Geometry on the Repeatability of Topographically Guided LAESI-MSI.

Spatially resolving the relative distribution of analyte molecules in biological matter holds great promise in the life sciences. Mass spectrometry imaging (MSI) is a technique that can provide such spatial resolution but remains underused in fields such as chemical ecology, as traditional MSI sample preparation is often chemically or morphologically invasive. Laser ablation electrospray ionization (LAESI)-MSI is a variation of MSI particularly well-suited for situations where chemical sample preparation is too invasive but provides new challenges related to the repeatability of measurement outcomes. We assess the repeatability of LAESI-MSI by sampling a droplet of [ring-13C6]l-phenylalanine with known concentration and expressing the resulting variability as a coefficient of variation, cv. In doing so, we entirely eliminate variability caused by surface morphology or underlying true sample gradients. We determine the limit of detection (LOD) for13C6-Phe by sampling from droplets with successively decreasing but known concentration. We assess the influence of source geometry on the LOD and repeatability by performing these experiments using four distinct variations of sources: one commercial and three custom-built ones. Finally, we extend our study to leaf and stem samples Arabidopsis thaliana and Gossypium hirsutum. We overcome the challenges of LAESI associated with three-dimensional surface morphology by relying on work previously published. Our measurements on both controlled standard and realistic samples give strong evidence that LAESI-MSI’s repeatability in current implementations is insufficient for MSI in chemical ecology.

Measurement and Analysis of Three-Dimensional Surface Topography of Sawn Timber Based on Scanning Probe Method

In order to explore the characteristics of the three-dimensional surface morphology of sawn timber, a threedimensional wood surface morphology tester based on the scanning probe method and the principle of atomic force microscope was used to test the three-dimensional surface morphology of three kinds of sawn timber and calculate its surface roughness. This study also analyzed the reasonable plan for the value of wood surface roughness and the advantages of the three-dimensional shape tester, as well as the influence of tree species, three sections, air-dry density and other factors on the surface roughness of the specimen after mechanical processing. The results have shown that it is a more appropriate method to select the calculated values of Sa and Sq as the evaluation of the surface roughness of wood with random surface characteristics. The three-dimensional wood surface topography tester can efficiently, conveniently and accurately display the three-dimensional topography of wood at a micron-level resolution, and is characterized by high efficiency and good durability. The three-dimensional surface morphology characteristics of the three sawn woods correspond to their roughness. The surface roughness of woods is arranged as follows: Sitka spruce > Larch > Beech. For the same tree species, the roughness of the corresponding section after sawing is as follows: chordwise section > crosswise section > radial section. The radial section has lower roughness than the other surfaces. The surface roughness of the wood after sawing is mainly related to its air-dry density. The above is intended to provide a useful reference for the application of measuring and evaluating the surface roughness of sawn timber using the three-dimensional surface topography test method.