Tip Curvature Research Articles

NiFe-based electrocatalyst anchored on nanocone with tip-field effect for improved oxygen evolution reaction

The development of high efficiency oxygen evolution electrocatalyst is of great significance for water splitting reaction. Herein, an efficient cone-structured NiFe-LDH/Nicone/Ti catalyst is fabricated by electrodeposition method towards enhanced oxygen evolution reaction (OER). The featured tip curvature of nanocone structure can accelerate the reaction kinetics of OER by offering a field-enhanced aggregation of local hydroxide ion reactant on the catalyst surface, and thus improves the performance of the NiFe catalyst. Accordingly, NiFe-LDH/Nicone/Ti requires only a low overpotential of 292 mV to achieve 50 mA cm−2, and with high stability under continuous high-current operations. In addition, the alkali-electrolyzer using NiFe-LDH/Nicone/Ti electrode exhibits good performance with a voltage of 1.73 V at 50 mA cm−2 and displays excellent stability in long-term stability test. This cone-structured catalyst design with field-enhanced local hydroxide ion aggregation effect provides a promising method for the development of highly active OER electrocatalysts.

Experimental study on positive corona discharge characteristics in plane-single/double earthed rods air gaps under negative DC voltage

In order to analyze the corona discharge characteristics at the grounding object tip under the thundercloud electric field environment, scaled simulation test has been conducted on corona discharge in the plane-single/double earthed rods air gap. Five gap configurations with three different grounding rods were built during experiments. Factors as rod tip curvature, voltage and gap configuration have been considered in detail. Corona voltage, corona current and the number of ultraviolet photons were all recorded. The grounding rod tip curvature radius can affect corona discharge processes at grounding rod tip. With increasing applied negative DC voltage, five typical corona processes of dark discharge, burst streamer corona, periodic streamer corona, glow corona and brush discharge occurred at conical and spherical grounding rod tip (r=0.75cm), but under d=5cm and d=10cm no glow corona and brush corona appeared at spherical grounding rod tip (r=1.25cm). It is much easier for grounding rod tip with smaller curvature to form glow corona phenomenon. The mean value Iav of periodic streamer corona current pulse amplitude decreases with grounding rod tip curvature radius, while the mean corona current pulse width and pulse interval increases. For grounding rod with conical tip, there is little difference of average current pulse amplitude between periodic streamer corona and brush corona; for grounding rod with spherical tip (r=0.75cm), the mean value Iav of brush corona pulse amplitude increases to 3595.8 μA which has increased by a factor of about 36. The photon number at conical grounding rod tip is larger than that at spherical grounding rod tip at low voltage but the relation reverses as the applied voltage exceeds a critical value. The shielding effect of two grounding rods in plane-double rods air gaps increased with spherical grounding rod curvature radius and decreases with the lateral gap distance between two grounding rods.

Nanoscale crack propagation in clay with water adsorption through reactive MD modeling

AbstractThe atomic‐scale cracking mechanism in clay is vital in discovering the cracking mechanism of clay at the continuum scale in that clay is a nanomaterial. In this article, we investigate mechanisms of modes I and II crack propagations in pyrophyllite and Ca‐montmorillonite with water adsorption through reactive molecular dynamics (MD) with a bond‐order force field. Clay water adsorption is considered by adding water molecules to the clay surface. During the equilibration stage, water adsorption could cause bending deformation of the predefined edge crack region. The relatively small orientating angle of water molecules indicates the formation of hydrogen bonds in the crack propagation process. The peak number density of adsorbed water decreases with the increasing strains. The atomistic structure evolution of the crack tip under loading is analyzed to interpret the nanoscale crack propagation mechanism. The numerical results show that the crack tip first gets blunted with a significant increase in the radius of the curvature of the crack tip and a slight change in crack length. The crack tip blunting is studied by tracking the crack tip opening distance and O–Si–O angle in the tetrahedral Si–O cell in modes I and II cracks. We compare bond‐breaking behaviors between Al–O and Si–O. It is found that Si–O bond breaking is primarily responsible for crack propagation. The critical stress intensity factor and critical energy release rate are determined from MD simulation results.

Evolution of Negative Corona in the Discharge-Current Limitation Mode: Transition from the Pulsed-Periodic Mode to Steady-State Burning

The evolution of burning modes of a weak-current corona discharge in a diode filled with atmospheric air, having a pointed cathode and a flat anode, has been investigated. A theoretical description is performed in terms of an axisymmetric multifluid plasma model, including the kinetics of 9 types of particles and 25 plasma-chemical reactions. A discharge in a gap 10 mm long, with a needle-like cathode having a tip curvature radius of 100 μm, a source voltage of 8 kV, a ballast capacitance of 100 pF and a circuit ballast resistance of 1 MΩ, is described in detail. It is shown, both experimentally and theoretically, that the discharge has a lifetime of 180 μs and occurs in four clearly different stages under these conditions: (1) dark breakdown delay phase (0–20 μs); (2) Trichel pulse phase with a variable on–off time ratio and quasi-steady-state corona current component (20–80 μs); and (3) intermediate phase of monotonically rising weak current (80–130 μs), which ends with a vibrational transition to the (4) steady-state phase (130–180 μs), having a typical structure of glow discharge. The tendencies to a change in the corona discharge parameters with a variation in the feed voltage are analyzed. The results of theoretical calculations are in good agreement with the experimental data.

Low-Speed Clinorotation of Brachypodium distachyon and Arabidopsis thaliana Seedlings Triggers Root Tip Curvatures That Are Reminiscent of Gravitropism.

Clinostats are instruments that continuously rotate biological specimens along an axis, thereby averaging their orientation relative to gravity over time. Our previous experiments indicated that low-speed clinorotation may itself trigger directional root tip curvature. In this project, we have investigated the root curvature response to low-speed clinorotation using Arabidopsis thaliana and Brachypodium distachyon seedlings as models. We show that low-speed clinorotation triggers root tip curvature in which direction is dictated by gravitropism during the first half-turn of clinorotation. We also show that the angle of root tip curvature is modulated by the speed of clinorotation. Arabidopsis mutations affecting gravity susception (pgm) or gravity signal transduction (arg1, toc132) are shown to affect the root tip curvature response to low-speed clinorotation. Furthermore, low-speed vertical clinorotation triggers relocalization of the PIN3 auxin efflux facilitator to the lateral membrane of Arabidopsis root cap statocytes, and creates a lateral gradient of auxin across the root tip. Together, these observations support a role for gravitropism in modulating root curvature responses to clinorotation. Interestingly, distinct Brachypodium distachyon accessions display different abilities to develop root tip curvature responses to low-speed vertical clinorotation, suggesting the possibility of using genome-wide association studies to further investigate this process.

Crack propagation and arrests in gelatin hydrogels are linked to tip curvatures.

Gelatin hydrogels are attractive scaffold materials for tissue engineering applications as they provide motifs for cell attachment, undergo large deformations, and are tunable. Low toughness and brittle fractures however limit their use in load bearing applications. An investigation of crack tip processes and mechanisms of crack propagation is warranted to link fracture properties with material microstructure. We cross-linked gelatin using glutaraldehyde to obtain low cross-linked control hydrogels and used an additional cross-linker, methylglyoxal, to fabricate MGO hydrogels with higher cross-links. We quantified fractures in the gelatin hydrogels from both groups using pure shear notch tests and characterized strain fields near the crack tip using 2-D digital image correlation. We used a numerical method based on Taylor's series expansion to measure the crack tip curvatures in the hydrogels. This method captures tip curvatures better than the parabolic method routinely used in studies. Results from our study show that cracks in gelatin hydrogels underwent frequent arrests during propagation through the specimen width in both groups. MGO hydrogels had 85% enhanced fracture toughness and a significantly higher number of stalls compared to the control group. Crack initiations following stalls in the sample correlated with low tip curvatures in both hydrogel groups. We also show that mechanical stretching blunts the crack tip before crack propagation; the degree of blunting was independent of the cross-link density and elastic modulus of the gelatin hydrogels. These results show a link between crack growth and the tip curvature in cross-linked gelatin hydrogels, and offer potential insights for the development of tougher hydrogels.

Presenting a New Version of the RObotic System for Angioplasty

This paper describes the new version of RObotic System for Angioplasty (ROSA), which was developed from a simplified version of the RObotic System for Endovascular Surgery (ROSES). ROSES itself arose from the original ROSA device and has been tested for clinical use on patients. The new version of ROSA offers several advantages over the previous versions. First, it allows the measurement of forces used to track catheters during the endovascular procedure. This process only requires standard mechanical disposables, since the measuring system is embedded in a special cart that controls the movement of various robotic actuators. Second, it uses a new hemostasis valve that rotates with the angioplasty disposable, making it easier to guide rotations. Finally, it offers the possibility of positioning the initial catheter using a system that includes two robotic actuators found on the cart. The first of these is simpler and has an internal disposable, whereas the second is new and contains two gear trains, which control five independent parameters (two rotations and three advancements). This makes it possible to control advancement and rotation of the initial catheter, while straightening its curvature using a movable core guidewire. Once the first catheter is correctly positioned, it is possible to perform all procedures without changing the position of the guiding catheter by replacing the disposable for the 0.035" guidewire with movable core with the disposable for angioplasty, which drives both the angioplasty balloons or stents and the 0.016” wire, which instead needs to turn on its axis in order to ease penetration of the small guide wire which has to penetrate the winding path of the coronaries. And this is allowed by the presence of the two independent gear trains of the recent robotic actuator, which can block rotations of the gear train on which the initial catheter is positioned, while allowing all rotations needed for the angioplasty disposable. However, in the near future it will also be possible to change the position of the guiding catheter using a special 6 French catheter with controlled tip curvature, for example, to perform an additional angioplasty on a different coronary artery, should this be required.

NANOINDENTATION OF SOFT MATERIALS. ANALYSIS OF THE EXPERIMENTAL FACTORS IN CONSTRUCTING A MATHEMATICAL MODEL

The authors call for attention to the specifics of conducting experiments on nanoindentation of soft materials (elastomers, polymers), the features of the experimental setup, the material itself, the interaction of the material under study with the scanning elements of the setup, and environmental conditions. The paper shows which of them require to be taken into account in mathematical models, and which can be neglected, or can be almost completely compensated for by others. The following topics are considered: influence of cantilever bending and its inclination, humidity, plasticity, and viscosity, probe jump to the surface, determining the radius of the probe tip curvature, plastics, destruction of the sample during double indentation, size (scale) effect, sample drift, preservation of the probe shape before and after the experiment, time-varying surface properties, and surface energy during contact formation. This work is intended both to simplify further research and to focus efforts on solving acute problems.

Tip effect assisted high active sites for oxygen evolution reaction tuned using transition metals (Cr, Fe and Mo) doped with CoP

Transition metal (Cr, Fe and Mo) doping into CoP array nanocone alters the tip curvature of CoP to achieve the strengthened tip effect with increasing curvature. The strengthened tip effect is conducive to the high-efficiency catalysis.

Research on the effect of micro-voids on the deformation behavior and crack initiation lifetime of titanium alloy under cyclic loading by crystal plasticity finite element method

Micro-voids defects associated with materials formed by diffusion bonding and super-plastic connection limit their usage in the aerospace industry. A crystal plasticity finite element (CPFE) model was established in the current work to investigate the relationship between local stress concentration and the micro-void defects, and predict the fatigue crack initiation lifetime. Based on the concept of the curvature of the crack tip, the shape and size of the voids are strictly separated, so that the influence of the single parameter of voids on the microplasticity deformation behavior is better obtained. It's found that the micro-voids lead to the stress concentration phenomenon in the material, the effect of the curvature of the void tip surface is greater than that of the void size. Stress concentration tends to occur in the hard grains. When L/d is greater than 2.0, stress concentration factor reaches a constant small value. The simulated results based on the Manson-Collin law and Fatemi-Socie parameter show that when the void tip curvature is greater than 0.4 μm−1 or L/d is less than 2.0, the fatigue crack initiation lifetime is less than 106 cycles, indicating that the influence of such micro-voids on fatigue crack initiation is small. This work has a good guiding significance for properties and lifetime prediction of the material with defects.

Quantifying Edge Sharpness on Stone Flakes: Comparing Mechanical and Micro-Geometric Definitions Across Multiple Raw Materials from Olduvai Gorge (Tanzania)

In line with engineering research focusing on metal tools, techniques to record the attribute of ‘edge sharpness’ on stone tools can include both mechanical and micro-geometric approaches. Mechanically-defined sharpness techniques used in lithic studies are now well established and align with engineering research. The single micro-geometrically-defined technique—tip curvature—is novel relative to approaches used elsewhere, and has not explicitly been tested for its ability to describe the attribute of sharpness. Here, using experimental flakes produced on basalt, chert, and quartzite sourced at Olduvai Gorge (Tanzania), we investigate the relationship between tip curvature and the force and work required to initiate a cut. We do this using controlled cutting tests and analysis of high-resolution microCT scans. Results indicate cutting force and work to display significant dependent relationships with tip curvature, suggesting the latter to be an appropriate metric to record the sharpness of lithic tools. Differences in relationship strength were observed dependent on the measurement scales and edge distances used. Tip curvature is also demonstrated to distinguish between the sharpness of different raw materials. Our data also indicate the predictive relationship between tip curvature and cutting force/work to be one of the strongest yet identified between a stone tool morphological attribute and its cutting performance. Together, this study demonstrates tip curvature to be an appropriate attribute for describing the sharpness of a stone tool’s working edge in diverse raw material scenarios, and that it can be highly predictive of a stone tool’s functional performance.

Reticular chemistry for the rational design of mechanically robust mesoporous merged-net metal-organic frameworks

Reticular chemistry for the rational design of mechanically robust mesoporous merged-net metal-organic frameworks

Parametric Research and Optimization of Ducted Propeller Aerodynamic Configuration

In this paper, the ducted propeller configuration is optimized using the geometry parameterization method and proposed Newton method with the total system thrust as the optimization objective and the maximum torque as the constraint. Based on the initial model, the propeller geometry is optimized by decoupling the ducted propeller, and iterations are carried out until the optimization converges. The propeller optimization primarily consists of an increase in the thickness of the propeller root wing and the torsion angle of the middle wing, and a reduction in the curvature of the propeller tip. The ducted propeller system has a 6.29% improvement in thrust after aerodynamic optimization.

Numerical study of the effect of winglet on the aerodynamic performance of sinusoidal and simple leading-edge wings

PurposeThis study aims to investigate the effectiveness of two types of winglets, multi-tip and raked, on the performance of sinusoidal and simple leading-edge wings and compares it by a numerical method.Design/methodology/approachThe wing configuration in this study is rectangular and uses NACA0020 section, and all simulations are performed by a numerical method based on finite volume and base pressure algorithm in Reynolds 2 × [10]^5. In the mentioned numerical method, the flow is considered turbulent, and the k-ω-SST model is used. To calculate the stresses on the wing surface, the mesh is extended to below the viscous layer, and a second-order upstream accuracy is used to calculate the convection flux.FindingsThe use of raked and multi-tip winglets for the sinusoidal edge of the wing improved aerodynamic performance by 5.12 and 2.28%, respectively, and the greatest effect of these two winglets was on increasing the lifting force and reducing the inductive drag, respectively. Also, by examining the distribution of induced vortices around the configurations, it was found that the curvature of the sinusoidal wing tip at the angles of attack before stall reduced the strength of the induced vortices and, the use of winglet during and after stall, caused increased aerodynamic performance of the sinusoidal wing.Practical implicationsThe whale is an international species of aquatic animal found in most of the world’s oceans. It has large fin aspect ratios that have a series of bulges at the edge of the attack, which improves the aerodynamic performance near and after stall. Today, one of the fields of research is the use of this idea in the wings of micro air vehicle.Originality/valueWinglet reduces induced drag in simple wings. So far, the effect of winglets on wings with sinusoidal attack edges has not been investigated.

Magnetic Force Probe Characterizations of Nanoscaled Ferromagnetic Domains: Finite-Element Magnetostatic Simulations.

Microscopic characterization of magnetic nanomaterials by magnetic probe interacting with ferromagnetic nano-domains is proposed according to finite-element magnetostatic field simulations. Magnetic forces detected by microscopic probe are systematically investigated on magnetic moment orientation, magnetization intensity and geometry of ferromagnetic nano-domains, and especially on permanent magnetic coating thickness and tilting angle of probe, to provide a theoretical basis for developing magnetic force microscopy. Magnetic force direction is primarily determined by magnetic moment orientation of nanosample, and the tip curvature dominates magnetic force intensity that is meanwhile positively correlated with nanosample magnetization and probe magnetic coating thickness. Nanosample should reach a critical thickness determined by its transverse diameter to be capable of accurately detecting the magnetic properties of ferromagnetic nanomaterials. Magnetic force signal relies on probe inclination when the sample magnetic moment is along probe tilting direction, which, however, is not disturbed by probe inclination when sample magnetic moment is perpendicular to probe tilting plane. Within the geometry of satisfying a critical size requirement, the magnetic force can successfully image the ferromagnetic nano-domains by characterizing their sizes and magnetic moment orientations. The present study is expected to provide effective analyzing schemes and theoretical evidences for magnetic force microscopy of characterizing magnetic structures in ferromagnetic nanomaterials.

Improvement of electrospark deposition technology of steel units for drilling rigs and mining equipment

Introduction. The development of modern equipment and technologies for geological exploration and mining processes raises the problem of ensuring the reliability and durability of mechanic units operating under the conditions of elevated temperatures and pressures in the presence of aggressive external environments. In this regard, there is a need to create functional coatings with unique physical, mechanical and operational properties.Aim. To improve the performance of electrospark coatings based on an analysis of a cause-andeffect diagram and a regression study of the technological modes of processing steel units of geological exploration equipment (on the example of hydraulic cylinder rods of drilling pumps).Materials and methods. To harden the steel surfaces of hydraulic equipment parts, the technology of electrospark deposition (ESD) was used on an IMES-1001 mechanized installation using carbide electrodes and various gas media. In order to identify causal relationships between the factors affecting the hardened surface and to establish the most important factors affecting the quality of the formed coating, the Ishikawa diagram method was used and a regression analysis was performed. The adhesion activity of the obtained coatings was assessed by atomic force microscopy on a Solver PRO scanning probe microscope in a semi-contact air scanning mode using NSG10probe sensors with a resonance frequency of 219 kHz and a radius of curvature of the probe tip of 10 nm. When determining the strength of the adhesive interaction of the probe and the surface at one point, the absolute error was 15 nN. Tribological tests were carried out on a 2070-СМТ-1 standard friction machine according to the “disk-shoe” scheme.Results. The obtained cause-and-effect diagram showed that the technological modes of an electrospark deposition installation comprise a determining factor affecting the quality of the formed layers and coatings. In order to identify those process parameters that had the greatest effect, a regression analysis was carried out. The capacitance of the unit capacitors was found to have the greatest impact on the adhesion force formed by the ESD coating. Therefore, in order to reduce the strength of the adhesive interaction of surfaces and, as a result, increase their wear resistance, it is necessary to increase the capacitance of capacitors while reducing the voltage and processing time when implementing the ESD technology. On the basis of tribological tests, it is concluded that the minimum wear rate of coatings can be obtained by alloying the steel surface in an oxygen environment with a carbide electrode based on tungsten carbide with additives of elements that form unlimited solid solutions with the surface material and perform the role of fluxes (Ni-Cr-B-Si).Conclusion. Due to strict requirements to the performance of metal surfaces of units that enter into frictional interaction during the implementation of mining and exploration processes, there is a need to improve existing technologies for creating functional (wear-resistant) coatings.

Probing ND7/23 neuronal cells before and after differentiation with SERS using Sharp-tipped Au nanopyramid arrays

The development of local plasmonic nano sensors which are sensitive, whilst remaining non-invasive with high cell viability is challenging but of great interest for the investigation of cellular processes. With this aim, we developed an effective SERS active biointerface to monitor cell activity and discriminate between undifferentiated and differentiated neurons through principal component analysis. We propose a plasmonic tipped Au nanopyramids (Au NPs) array, which benefits from high aspect ratios and sharp tips that are excellent SERS sensors. To realise the structure, we developed a large-scale inexpensive fabrication route based on the assembly of charged nanospheres used as a mask by means of a colloidal lithography technique, to better space and shape the NPs. Here we show that Au NPs with tip curvatures of 10 nm and localized plasmon resonance at 785 nm can non-destructively probe ND7/23 neurons. We prove that these tips allow us to track ND7/23 neurons on the SERS substrate, detecting both the membrane constituents, proteins and lipids, and even intracellular DNA/RNA fragments.

Ultrafast Growth of Highly Conductive Graphene Films by a Single Subsecond Pulse of Microwave.

Currently, graphene films are expected to achieve real applications in various fields. However, the conventional synthesis methods still have intrinsic limitations, especially not being applicable on a surface with high curvature. Herein, an ultrafast synthesis method was developed for graphene and turbostratic graphite growth by a single subsecond pulse of microwaves generated by a household magnetron. We succeeded in growing high-quality around 10-layered turbostratic graphite in 0.16 s directly on the surface of an atomic force microscope probe and maintaining a tip curvature radius of less than 30 nm. The thus-produced probes showed high conductivity and tip durability. Moreover, turbostratic graphite film was also demonstrated to grow on the surface of dielectric Si flat substrates in a full coverage. Graphene can also grow on metallic Ni tips by this method. Our microwave ultrafast method can be used to grow high-quality graphene in a facile, efficient, and economical way.

Defective dimerization of FoF1-ATP synthase secondary to glycation favors mitochondrial energy deficiency in cardiomyocytes during aging.

Aged cardiomyocytes develop a mismatch between energy demand and supply, the severity of which determines the onset of heart failure, and become prone to undergo cell death. The FoF1‐ATP synthase is the molecular machine that provides >90% of the ATP consumed by healthy cardiomyocytes and is proposed to form the mitochondrial permeability transition pore (mPTP), an energy‐dissipating channel involved in cell death. We investigated whether aging alters FoF1‐ATP synthase self‐assembly, a fundamental biological process involved in mitochondrial cristae morphology and energy efficiency, and the functional consequences this may have. Purified heart mitochondria and cardiomyocytes from aging mice displayed an impaired dimerization of FoF1‐ATP synthase (blue native and proximity ligation assay), associated with abnormal mitochondrial cristae tip curvature (TEM). Defective dimerization did not modify the in vitro hydrolase activity of FoF1‐ATP synthase but reduced the efficiency of oxidative phosphorylation in intact mitochondria (in which membrane architecture plays a fundamental role) and increased cardiomyocytes’ susceptibility to undergo energy collapse by mPTP. High throughput proteomics and fluorescence immunolabeling identified glycation of 5 subunits of FoF1‐ATP synthase as the causative mechanism of the altered dimerization. In vitro induction of FoF1‐ATP synthase glycation in H9c2 myoblasts recapitulated the age‐related defective FoF1‐ATP synthase assembly, reduced the relative contribution of oxidative phosphorylation to cell energy metabolism, and increased mPTP susceptibility. These results identify altered dimerization of FoF1‐ATP synthase secondary to enzyme glycation as a novel pathophysiological mechanism involved in mitochondrial cristae remodeling, energy deficiency, and increased vulnerability of cardiomyocytes to undergo mitochondrial failure during aging.

Role of Initial Crack Tip Shape, Plastic Compressibility and Strain Softening on Near-Tip Stress-Strain State in Fatigue Cracks during Simulation of a Finite Deformation based Elastic-Viscoplastic Constitutive Model

This paper deals with the effect of initial crack tip shape, plastic compressibility, and strain softening on near-tip stress-strain fields for a mode I crack subjected to fatigue loading under plane strain and small scale yielding. A finite strain-based elastic-viscoplastic constitutive equation with bilinear hardening and hardening-softening-hardening hardness functions is taken up for simulation. It is observed that plastic compressibility and strain softening have a significant impact on crack tip opening displacement (CTOD) and tip propagation. Furthermore, it has been viewed that the initial shape of a crack tip can significantly influence both the CTOD and the crack tip extension for the bilinear hardening material; however, with identical conditions for the hardening-softening-hardening material, the initial crack tip shape affects the fatigue crack growth much lesser though the CTOD is influenced considerably. In comparison to the crack growth in the plastically incompressible hardening-softening-hardening solids, the variation of the crack growth (with respect to the tip curvature radius) is more and peculiar in the corresponding plastically compressible solid. To explain and to get a better insight of the crack tip deformation, the near-tip plastic strain and hydrostatic stress have been illustrated.