Vicinity Of Surface Research Articles

Assessment of Cavitation Erosion Using Combined Numerical and Experimental Approach

This paper aims to numerically assess the cavitation damage of hydrodynamic machines and hydraulic components and its development in time, based on cavitation erosion tests with samples of used materials. The theoretical part of this paper is devoted to the numerical simulation of unsteady multiphase flow by means of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and to the prediction of the erosive effects of the collapses of cavitation bubbles in the vicinity of solid surfaces. Compressible unsteady Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes equations (URANS) are solved together with the Zwart cavitation model. To describe the destructive collapses of vapor bubbles, the modeling of cavitation bubble dynamics along selected streamlines or trajectories is applied. The hybrid Euler–Lagrange approach with one-way coupling and the full Rayleigh–Plesset equation (R–P) are therefore utilized. This paper also describes the experimental apparatus with a rotating disc used to reach genuine hydrodynamic cavitation and conditions similar to those of hydrodynamic machines. The simulations are compared with the obtained experimental data, with good agreement. The proposed methodology enables the application of the results of erosion tests to the real geometry of hydraulic machines and to reliably predict the locations and magnitude of cavitation erosion, so as to select appropriate materials or material treatments for endangered parts.

Structural and Pasting Properties of Lentil Starch: A Comprehensive Review

ABSTRACTLentils are highly nutritious as they are rich in both proteins and starch, making them a crucial component of the human diet. This review article focuses on the morphology, microstructure, and pasting properties of lentil starch (LS). The LS exhibits poor crystallinity due to its high amylose‐to‐amylopectin ratio as reflected in its pasting behavior. The shapes of the LS granule range a wide variety, starting from huge ovals to small rounds, as captured in the scanning electron microscope (SEM). Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy displays the arrangement of starch molecules at the vicinity of the granule surface and detects the presence of additional functional groups in the modified starches. X‐ray diffraction (XRD) demonstrates both the qualitative and quantitative alterations in the crystalline domains of starch granules effectively. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), in particular 13C CP/MAS have successfully examined the structural order of amylolyzed LS concentrations and amylose–lipid complex at the molecular level. This review might be of interest to the professionals involved in food and pharmaceuticals on product development using lentil as one of the ingredients in their formulations.

Exploring Interatomic Electron Transfer and Metal-Ligand Binding Mechanism in Trimethylenemethane Iron Tricarbonyl: Insights from Potentials per Electron and Corresponding Force Density Fields.

This study employs an analysis of the per-electron potentials and the superposition of the electrostatic and kinetic force fields, Fes(r) and Fk(r), and the gradients of the potential energy and one-electron densities to investigate the binding mechanism in trimethylenemethane iron tricarbonyl complex (TMM)Fe(CO)3. Our approach permits the delineation of the "ligand-binding" force field generated by the metal nucleus but partially operating within the ligand atoms. A mechanical rationale for metal-ligand interactions is thus presented: In the corresponding area, the attractive force Fes(r) provides the backdrop against which the homotropic static force (r) and the heterotropic kinetic force Fk(r) exert attractive and repulsive influences, respectively, toward the metal nucleus on a portion of the electrons belonging to the ligand atoms. This area thus represents electron sharing, which emerges as a quantum chemical response against the metal-to-ligand electron transfer. It has been demonstrated that the response is facilitated by the decreased potential energy density in the vicinity of the interatomic surface. Our findings indicate that the polar coordination bonds in (TMM)Fe(CO)3 exhibit notable quantum chemical responses. However, the previously described nonbonded contact also features an unexpectedly pronounced response, despite the absence of a bond path. It can be proposed that the unforeseen response is a consequence of the formation of the 18-electron, closed valence shell, rather than an indication of the establishment of an organometallic chemical bond.

A response surface equation for the drag polar for an airplane flying in the vicinity of wavy sea surface

The drag polar equation is the key issue to calculate the performance-based parameters during various flight phases and determine the optimum conditions. This is an essential feature to be included in airplane flight control system to manage the flight. The aircraft under certain emergency conditions are instructed to land on sea water. This underlines the combinational role of ground effect and the surface wave shape on airplane aerodynamic responses. Up to now, many investigations have described the airfoil and wing aerodynamic behaviors near the ground but none was devoted to an airplane flying near a wavy surface. In this paper, intensive numerical simulations have been carried out on a general aviation airplane flying near the water wavy surface. The effects of ground proximity as well as the wave amplitude have been investigated on airplane 2D longitudinal forces and moment. Some limited wind tunnel tests have also been performed on the same model, in the vicinity of water surface to validate the numerical calculations. A statistical quadratic equation based on Response Surface Model, RSM, has been proposed for the airplane flying in the vicinity of the wavy water in which, the wave shape deterioration due to both the airplane flowfield and the viscous dissipation has been taken into account. The statistical measures approve the model quality and accuracy in comparison to the numerical simulation data. The results show that the oscillations in aerodynamic forces are strong functions of the wave amplitude. The time variations of both CL and CD follow the shape of the surface wave while it does not have any remarkable effect on their mean values.

Relaxation dynamics of a liquid in the vicinity of an attractive surface: The process of escaping from the surface.

We analyze the displacements of the particles of a glass-forming molecular liquid perpendicular to a confining solid surface using extensive molecular dynamics simulations with atomistic models. In the vicinity of an attractive surface, the liquid molecules are trapped. Transient localization of liquid molecules near the surface introduces a relaxation process related to the escape of molecules from the surface into the dynamics of the interfacial liquid layer. To describe this process, we analyze several dynamical observables of the confined liquid. The self-intermediate scattering function and the mean-squared displacement of the particles located in the interfacial layer are dominated by the process of escaping from the surface. This relaxation process is also associated with a strong heterogeneity in the mobility of the interfacial particles. The studied model liquid is hydrogenated methyl methacrylate. For the confining wall, we consider different models, namely a periodic single layer of graphene and a frozen amorphous configuration of the bulk liquid (frozen wall). Near graphene, where the liquid molecules form a layered structure and adopt parallel-to-surface orientation, a clear separation between small-scale movements of the molecules near the surface and the process of escaping from the surface is observed. This is reflected in the three-step relaxation of the interfacial layer. However, near the frozen wall, where the liquid molecules do not have a preferential alignment, a clear three-step relaxation is not seen, even though the dynamical quantities are controlled by the process of escaping from the surface.

Detecting the tidal heating with the generic extreme mass-ratio inspirals

The horizon of a classical black hole (BH), functioning as a one-way membrane, plays a vital role in the dynamic evolution of binary BHs, capable of absorbing fluxes entirely.Tidal heating, stemming from this phenomenon, exerts a notable influence on the production of gravitational waves (GWs). If at least one member of a binary is an exotic compact object (ECO) instead of a BH, the absorption of fluxes is expected to be incomplete and the tidal heating would be different. Thus, tidal heating can be utilized for model-independent investigations into the nature of compact object. In this paper, assuming that the extreme mass-ratio inspiral (EMRI) contains a stellar-mass compact object orbiting around a massive ECO with a reflective surface, we compute the GWs from the generic EMRI orbits. Using the accurate and analytic flux formulas in the black hole spacetime, we adapted these formulas in the vicinity of the ECO surface by incorporating a reflectivity parameter.Under the adiabatic approximation, we can evolve the orbital parameters and compute the EMRI waveforms. The effect of tidal heating for the spinning and non-spinning objects can be used to constrain the reflectivity of the surface at the level of 𝒪(10-6) by computing the mismatch and fisher information matrix.

Quantified active learning Kriging model for structural reliability analysis

A quantified active learning Kriging-based (qAK) methodology for structural reliability analysis is presented. The proposed approach is based on an updated probability density function (PDF), which is dominant in the vicinity of the limit-state surface. This PDF is created using weights based on an improved learning function called the most probable misclassification function. This function is used as a metric for efficiently updating the Kriging model, as it symmetrically quantifies the uncertainty of candidate points in terms of the model’s accuracy. The proposed approach accurately approximates the points that lie on the limit-state surface. Moreover, a probabilistic-based stopping criterion is proposed. The new support points are selected using the weighted K-means algorithm and the sample from the updated PDF. Thus, the method does not require solving an optimization problem or using a sampling algorithm. The proposed qAK methods are more reliable and robust than previous implementations of the Kriging method for structural reliability assessment. The proposed approach is presented within the framework of standard reliability methods, i.e., the Monte Carlo and the Subset Simulation methods. The efficiency of the proposed qAK methods is demonstrated with the aid of six case studies.

Hydrodynamics and mass transport in an anodic oxidation reactor: Influence of gas evolution and flow path through mesh electrodes

Removal of organic compounds by anodic oxidation requires a sufficiently high rate of mass transport of target compounds to the electrode surface. Since anodic oxidation is often accelerated by the formation of hydroxyl radicals from water oxidation at high anodic potential, the role of oxygen/hydrogen evolution reactions was investigated. Residence time distributions showed that formation of bubbles in zones where fluid velocity was minimal, allowed for strongly improving global hydrodynamics in the reactor. The role of bubbles was also discussed by comparing mass transport coefficients obtained from the limiting current technique to values obtained from kinetics of COD removal during treatment of a model pollutant (phenol). The use of mesh electrodes (with liquid flowing through the electrode) further promoted convection and mass transport of organic compounds compared to plates. However, large bubbles generated at plate electrodes also allowed for convection enhancement in the vicinity of surface of plate electrodes. In both cases, an adverse effect from bubble adhesion was observed because of the decrease in the active surface of electrodes. The mass transport coefficient obtained with the limiting current technique using mesh electrodes was 0.69 10−3 cm/s at 10.8 L/h with a mean velocity of electrolyte past the mesh surface (u¯mesh) of 0.37 cm/s. It decreased to 0.58 10−3 cm/s during the treatment of phenol at the same flow and reached 0.75 10−3 cm/s when increasing the flow to 32.4 L/h. By taking into consideration gas evolution at the surface of electrodes, this study allowed for accurate calibration of an advective – dispersive model with reaction that could be used for sizing such reactors according to the intended application.Abbreviations: Ae, the volumetric surface area (ratio between the geometric volume and the active surface area of the mesh electrodes) (cm−1); CA, aeration by a floor diffuser of fine bubbles and no current at the electrodes; CEP, polarization of the electrodes with a current intensity and no aeration; CW, no electrode polarization and no aeration; COD, chemical oxygen demand (mgO2 L−1);Di, diffusion coefficient of specie i (m2/s); D, dispersion coefficient (cm2 min−1); E(θ), residence time distribution function; EC, electrical energy consumption (kWh gCOD−1);F, Faraday constant (96485C mol−1); HER, hydrogen evolution reaction; IOA, index of agreement;km, mass transport coefficient (m/s); MCE, mineralization current efficiency; ME, model efficiency; OER, oxygen evolution reaction; OH, hydroxyl radical;Ql, liquid flow rate (L/h); rAO: anodic oxidation rate (mol/m−3 s−1); RTD: residence time distribution; ts¯: mean residence time or first moment order; u¯: mean flow velocity (m/s); VT: total volume (L); σ2: variance or second moment order; γ: skewness factor or third moment order; τ: residence time; μ: order moment.

Optimum Size and Heat Transfer and Velocity Correlations of the Outer and Inner Surfaces of Vertical Hollow Polygonal Cylinders in Natural Convection

Abstract Laminar natural convection heat transfer from vertical hollow polygonal cylinders with a wide range of cross-sectional areas is investigated. The buoyancy-driven three-dimensional (3D) flow around hollow polygonal cylinders immersed in quiescent ambient air with equal outer and inner surface temperatures is analyzed. The governing equations are numerically solved in nondimensional variables using the finite volume method. The numerical solution is validated using available experimental and numerical data. Results of the mean Nusselt number for the outer (Nu¯ho) and inner (Nu¯hi) surfaces are obtained by varying a number of key parameters. These parameters are the Rayleigh number based on the cylinder height (Rah) in the range 103≤ Rah≤ 107, the nondimensional cross-sectional area (AC) in the range 0.006 ≤ AC≤ 0.5, and the number of sides of the polygon (N) in the range 6 ≤ N ≤∞. In all cases, a Prandtl number (Pr) of 0.7 has been assumed. The study shows that at a certain Rayleigh number and a certain number of sides, the heat transfer rate from the inner surface decreases (by as much as 79.8%) as the polygon area decreases (by as much as 83.32%), whereas the heat transfer rate on the outer surface increases (by as much as 133.3%) as the polygon area decreases (by as much as 83.32%). It has also been found that the behavior of the buoyancy-driven flow in the vicinity of the outer surface is fundamentally different than that near the inner surface. Additional details about this fundamental difference are presented in the Results and Discussion section of the paper. New correlations to calculate the average velocity at the exit surface of the cylinder inner core and the mean Nusselt number for both the outer and inner surfaces have also been developed. Also, correlations have been developed for selecting the optimal cross-sectional area for purposes of identifying the regions where the thermal and velocity boundary layers overlap within the inner core of the cylinder.

Size polydisperse model ionic liquid under confinement: A molecular dynamics study

The performance of an electric double-layer capacitor is strongly influenced by the choice of electrolyte, and the use of ionic liquid (IL) mixtures as an electrolyte has shown great promise. In this study, a model IL made of a mixture of anions and size-polydisperse cations in equal numbers and confined between two electrodes is investigated by means of molecular dynamics simulations. In particular, using the extent of size-polydispersity (characterized by polydispersity index, δ) as a control parameter, we systematically explore its effect on the local structure, charge profile, ion size distribution in the vicinity of electrode surfaces, and differential capacitance. It is observed that the charge density profiles near cathode, i.e., region comprising both Stern and diffused layers, are significantly affected under the variation of δ in addition to the electrode charge density. Ion population, ordering of different-size cations, and its effective size in the vicinity of electrodes under neutral and applied potential conditions are also quantified. An interesting observation is that the effective cation size in the Stern layer decreases with increasing value of δ in the case of moderate to strong electrode surface charge density. This behaviour can be qualitatively understood from the interplay of enthalpic and entropic forces in the system. Finally, a non-monotomic dependence of capacitance on δ is observed with maximum value of capacitance at a rather small value of δ(≈3%) for the model system.

Influence of solar thermal radiations and convective boundary on Al2O3/H2O transient model efficiency

Riga plate is a new, sophisticated magnetic field device that may be created by adjusting a group of permanent magnets and a different electrode over a plane surface. The heat transport and fluid movement in such physical setup are of paramount interest and have numerous engineering and industrial application particularly in submarines technologies. Due to the fixed magnetics the field produced which imperatively affect the model dynamics. Keeping in mind the influential applications of such physical setup, the purpose of this study is to introduce a new model based scrutinization of heat transport of stagnation point flow of Al2O3/water along vertically oriented convectively heated Riga surface. The conventional stagnation point flow model extended for nanofluid via radiative heat flux, dissipation effects and the first order thermal slip. The values of thermal conductivity values estimated via Corcione model and achieved the final nanoliquid model. For the results interpretation, the numerical scheme used and portrayed the results using different parametric ranges. The fluid motion is observed very slow due to stronger mixed convection and higher concentration of Al2O3 nanoparticles. The temperature is determined very high against the stronger convection effects and radiation number. However, the fluid layers in the vicinity of Riga surface have high heat transmission ability. Further, thermal slip and viscous dissipation effects also boost the temperature of Al2O3/water. Further, buoyancy number δ resists the fluid movement and thermal boundary region reduces in the presence of buoyancy factor.

Nanoscale dosimetry for a radioisotope-labeled metal nanoparticle using MCNP6.2 and Geant4.

Metal nanoparticles (MNPs) labeled with radioisotopes (RIs) are utilized as radio-enhancers due to their ability to amplify the radiation dose in their immediate vicinity. A thorough understanding of nanoscale dosimetry around MNPs enables their effective application in radiotherapy. However, nanoscale dosimetry around MNPs still requires further investigation. This study aims to provide insight into the radio-enhancement effects of MNPs by elucidating nanoscale dosimetry surrounding MNPs labeled with Auger-emitting RIs. We particularly focus on distinguishing the respective dose contributions of photons and electrons emitted by Auger-emitting RIs in the context of dose enhancement. A 50nm diameter NP of silver (Ag) core and gold (Au) shell (Ag@Au NP) was assumed to emit mono-energetic electrons and photons (3, 5, 10, 20, and 30keV), or the energy spectrum corresponding to one of three Auger-emitting RIs (103Pd, 125I, and 131Cs) from the Ag core. Nanoscale radial dose distributions around a single radioactive Ag@Au NP were evaluated in spherical shells of water. Monte Carlo simulations were conducted using single-event and track structure transport methods implemented in MCNP6.2 and Geant4-DNA-Au physics, respectively. To evaluate the extent of radio-enhancement by the Ag@Au NP, two scenarios were considered: Ag@Au NPs (Au shell included) and Ag@water NPs (Au shell replaced by water). The radial doses of 10, 20, and 30keV electrons estimated by both codes were comparable. However, the radial doses of 3 and 5keV electrons by MCNP6.2 were much larger near the NP surface than those by Geant4. There was a dose enhancement of a few % to tens % by the Au shell in the region of the NP surface to 10µm, depending on the electron energy. The radial doses of photons with the Au shell were higher up to their secondary electron ranges than those without the Au shell. The maximum dose enhancement factor of photons occurred at 20keV and was 63.4 by MCNP6.2 and 50.5 by Geant4. The overall radial doses of electrons were 1-2 orders of magnitude larger than those of photons. As a result, in cases of RIs emitting both electrons and photons, the radial doses up to electron ranges were dominantly governed by electrons. The dose enhancement estimated by both codes for the RIs ranged from a few % except in the immediate vicinity of the NP surface. Given the dominant contribution of electrons to radial doses of MNP labeled with Auger-emitting RIs, physical dose enhancement expected by interactions with photons was hindered. Since there are no available RIs emitting exclusively photons, achieving enhanced physical doses within a cell through a combination of MNPs and RIs appears currently unattainable. The radial doses of photons near the NP surface exhibited considerable discrepancies between the codes, primarily attributed to low-energy electrons. The difference may arise from higher cross-sections of Au inelastic scattering in Geant4-DNA-Au compared to MCNP6.2.

Creep properties of heat-resistant ultrafine-grained Al (HITEMAL©) determined by small punch testing

The creep properties of thermally stable ultrafine-grained Al metal matrix composite strengthened and stabilized by continuous in situ amorphous Al2O3 network (named HITEMAL©) prepared by powder metallurgy (PM) were tested by small punch creep testing (SPCT) in the temperature range from 573 to 673 K. The experimental SPCT results were correlated and compared with the results obtained by conventional tensile creep testing. The mutual correlation between tensile and SPCT creep results based on the transition stress was proposed and used to correctly interpret the measured SPCT data. The creep behaviour of HITEMAL© is characterized by the high values of apparent stress exponents and by the presence of transition stress at which the apparent stress exponents significantly changed. The SPCT discs fractured by the radial cracks at low values of deflection with only limited creep deformation highly localized in the vicinity of the fracture surfaces. The detailed analysis of fractured SPCT discs by scanning electron microscopy showed ductile dimpled fracture surfaces with the presence of unusual high filament-like tearing edges. The comparison of obtained results with other PM Al-based alloys and composites confirmed a significantly higher creep performance of HITEMAL© at used testing conditions.

Equilibrium and non-equilibrium molecular dynamics simulation of thermo-osmosis: enhanced effects on polarised graphene surfaces

Thermo-osmotic flows, generated by applying a thermal gradient along a liquid-solid interface, could be harnessed to convert waste heat into electricity. While this phenomenon has been known for almost a century, there is a crucial need to gain a better understanding of the molecular origins of thermo-osmosis. In this paper, we start by detailing the multiple contributions to thermo-osmosis. We then showcase three approaches to computing the thermo-osmotic coefficient using molecular dynamics; a first method based on the computation of the interfacial enthalpy excess and Derjaguin's theoretical framework, a second approach based on the computation of the interfacial entropy excess using the so-called dry-surface method, and a novel non-equilibrium method to compute the thermo-osmotic coefficient in a periodic channel. We show that the three methods align with each other, in particular for smooth surfaces. In addition, for a polarised graphene-water interface, we observe large variations of thermo-osmotic responses, and multiple changes in flow direction with increasing surface charge. Overall, this study showcases the versatility of osmotic flows and calls for experimental investigation of thermo-osmotic behaviour in the vicinity of charged surfaces.

Chemical vapor deposition of hexagonal boron nitride on germanium from borazine.

The growth of hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) directly onto semiconducting substrates, like Ge and Ge on Si, promises to advance the integration of hBN into microelectronics. However, a detailed understanding of the growth and characteristics of hBN islands and monolayers on these substrates is lacking. Here, we present the growth of hBN on Ge and Ge epilayers on Si via high-vacuum chemical vapor deposition from borazine and study the effects of Ge sublimation, surface orientation, and vicinality on the shape and alignment of hBN islands. We find that suppressing Ge sublimation is essential for growing high quality hBN and that the Ge surface orientation and vicinality strongly affect hBN alignment. Interestingly, 95% of hBN islands are unidirectionally aligned on Ge(111), which may be a path toward metal- and transfer-free, single-crystalline hBN. Finally, we extend the growth time and borazine partial pressure to grow monolayer hBN on Ge and Ge epilayers on Si. These findings provide new insights into the growth of high-quality hBN on semiconducting substrates.

(Invited) The Influence of Magnetic Fields on the Oxygen Evolution Reaction Catalyzed By Cobalt-Iron Oxide Nanowire Arrays

To mitigate climate change through the establishment of a renewable energy infrastructure, advancements in energy storage technologies are imperative. Electrochemical water splitting via electrolyzers enables the conversion of electrical energy into chemical energy. However, the performance of these devices, particularly that of the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) occurring at the anode, still needs to be improved. Previous studies have demonstrated that magnetic fields can induce convective flow to the electrode through Lorentz and Kelvin force effects, thereby improving the mass transport.[1] In contrast to the Lorentz force, the Kelvin force can be substantially increased by introducing magnetic nanostructures to create high magnetic field gradients in the vicinity of the electrode surface.[2] Given the magnetic properties inherent to many earth-abundant metal-based and nanostructured electrocatalysts promising for the OER, there is potential for intelligently designing electrodes to leverage magnetic field effects in the future. However, a comprehensive understanding of these magnetic field effects is currently lacking. In the scope of this work, we aimed to systematically investigate the influence of magnetic fields on the oxygen evolution reaction. Considering the substantial magnetic field gradients generated by magnetic nanowires, we fabricated arrays of freestanding cobalt-iron oxide nanowires to explore the influence of magnetic fields on the oxygen evolution reaction catalyzed by these nanostructured electrocatalysts. Templated electrodeposition of cobalt-iron alloy into the pores of anodic aluminum oxide membranes enabled a straightforward control over nanowire diameter and length. Subsequent removal of the aluminum oxide template in alkaline solution yielded cobalt-iron oxide nanowires composed to 60% of Fe and 40% of Co standing freely on an electrochemically stable gold substrate. Superimposing a magnetic field during water oxidation on the so-prepared nanowire arrays resulted in an increase in the measured oxidation current (see Figure). To deconvolute the contributions of the Lorentz and Kelvin force, experiments were conducted in two different magnetic field orientations: either parallel or perpendicular to the electrode surface. In the parallel orientation, a linear correlation between the increase in current and the strength of the applied magnetic field was observed. In contrast, when the magnetic field was aligned perpendicular to the electrode surface, a plateau in the current enhancement manifested at higher magnetic field strengths, indicating different dominant effects in the two configurations.[1] K. Ngamchuea, K. Tschulik, R. G. Compton, Magnetic control: Switchable ultrahigh magnetic gradients at Fe3O4 nanoparticles to enhance solution-phase mass transport, Nano Res. 2015, 8, 3293–3306.[2] L. M. Monzon, J. Coey, Magnetic fields in electrochemistry: The Kelvin force. A mini-review, Electrochem. commun. 2014, 42, 42–45. Figure 1

Hydrophilic modification of feed spacer and its impacts on antifouling performance of reverse osmosis membrane

AbstractFeed spacers improve mixing and mass transfer in membrane modules. However, they also lead to foulant deposition in the vicinity of the spacer surface. In this paper, two hydrophilic monomers, namely, acrylic acid (AA) and 2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA), are respectively coated on the surface of a commercial feed spacer via a plasma‐enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) method. The resulting modified spacers are then evaluated alongside with a reverse osmosis (RO) membrane for its solute rejection, water permeability, and antifouling properties. Results show that the surface hydrophilicity of feed spacers has been enhanced upon the AA and HEMA deposition. During filtration test, the HEMA‐modified spacer demonstrates higher flux recovery rate (94.17%) and salt rejection (95.78%) for the RO membrane. In contrast, the membrane with the unmodified spacer only shows 89.44% and 92.46%, respectively. Additionally, the membrane with the HEMA‐modified spacer has a thinner fouling layer (200 nm) compared to the unmodified spacer (700 nm). The HEMA‐coated spacer outperforms all the tested spacers, demonstrating that feed spacer modification with a hydrophilic monomer via the PECVD method can effectively reduce membrane fouling.

Comprehensive study of Kinetic Trajectory Simulation method for multi-component magnetized plasma-wall interaction process

For a wide range of plasma applications across diverse fields, a comprehensive understanding of the plasma-wall interaction mechanism is indispensable due to its inherent connection with confined plasma. This work compilation delves into the Kinetic Trajectory Simulation (KTS) method for the interaction of multi-component magnetized plasma with wall, specifically focusing on its implications for the tungsten wall sputtering model. In the evolution of the 1d3v (one dimensional spatial coordinates and three dimensional velocity coordinates) KTS method, the coupled set of kinetic equations has been solved under specified boundary conditions which yields results of higher accuracy. At the particle injection boundary, we have assumed the velocity distribution function of particle species to be cut-off Maxwellians, meeting essential requirements for plasma-wall transition processes: quasineutrality, sheath edge singularity, continuity of macroscopic fluid variables, and the kinetic Bohm sheath condition. The kinetic Bohm sheath condition, a fundamental criterion for plasma sheath formation, is extended for multi-component plasmas, accounting for the cut-off Maxwellian distribution of negatively charged particles. A comparative study of the kinetic Bohm sheath condition for cut-off and Boltzmann distributions reveals a deviation of less than 2.0% in magnitude. The concentration ratio of positive or negative ion species and the presheath side electron temperature influence various plasma-wall transition characteristics, including wall potential, Debye sheath thickness, particle densities, potential distribution, particle fluxes towards the surface, particle drift velocity, phase-space trajectory evolution, and physical sputtering of the tungsten surface. Although lighter ions possess higher energy when striking the surface, the physical sputtering yield of the tungsten surface is greater for heavier ions due to their lower threshold energy and larger collision cross-section. Furthermore, a comparative study of plasma-wall transition properties using kinetic and fluid approaches demonstrates qualitative similarities, with a notable deviation of approximately 4.0% in the magnitude in the vicinity of the material surface.

Time-varying contributions of FeII and FeIII to AsV immobilization under anoxic/oxic conditions: The impacts of biochar and dissolved organic carbon

Engineering black carbon (e.g. biochar) has been widely found in natural environments due to natural processes and extensive applications in engineering systems, and could influence the geochemical processes of coexisting arsenic (AsV) and FeII, especially when they are exposed to oxic conditions. Here, we studied time-varying kinetics and efficiencies of AsV immobilization by solid-phase FeII (FeIIsolid) and FeIII (FeIIIsolid) in FeII-AsV-biochar systems under both anoxic and oxic conditions at pH 7.0, with focuses on the effects of biochar surface and biochar-derived dissolved organic carbon (DOC). Under anoxic conditions, FeII could rapidly immobilize AsV via co-adsorption onto biochar surfaces, which also serves as the dominant pathway of AsV immobilization at the initial stage of reaction (0–5 min) under oxic conditions at high biochar concentrations. Subsequently, with increasing biochar concentrations, FeIIIsolid precipitation from aqueous FeII (FeIIaq) oxidation (5–60 min) starts to play an important role in AsV immobilization but in decreased efficiencies of AsV immobilization per unit iron. In the following stage (60–300 min), FeIIsolid oxidation is suppressed and leads to AsV release into solutions at >1.0 g·L−1 biochar. The decreasing efficiency of AsV immobilization over time is attributed to the gradual release of DOC into solution from biochar particles, which significantly inhibit AsV immobilization when FeIIIsolid is generated from FeIIsolid oxidation in the vicinity of biochar surfaces. Specifically, 4.06 mg·L of biochar-derived DOC can completely inhibit the immobilization of AsV in the 100 μM FeII system under oxic conditions. The findings are crucial to comprehensively understand and predict the behavior of FeII and AsV with coexisting engineering black carbon in natural environments.

Synthesis and synergistic antibacterial efficiency of chitosan-copper oxide nanocomposites

Copper and chitosan are used for biomedical applications due to their antimicrobial properties. In this study, a facile method for the synthesis of chitosan-copper oxide nanocomposites (nCuO-CSs) was modified, yielding stable colloidal nCuO-CSs suspensions. Using this method, nCuO-CSs with different copper-to-chitosan (50–190 kDa) weight ratios (1:0.3, 1:1, 1:3) were synthesized, their physicochemical properties characterized, and antibacterial efficacy assessed against Gram-negative Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus. The nCuO-CSs with a primary size of ∼10 nm and a ζ-potential of >+40 mV proved efficient antibacterials, acting at concentrations around 1 mg Cu/L. Notably, against Gram-negative bacteria, this inhibitory effect was already evident after a 1-h exposure and surpassed that of copper ions, implying to a synergistic effect of chitosan and nano-CuO. Indeed, using flow cytometry and confocal laser scanning microscopy, we showed that chitosan promoted interaction between the nCuO-CSs and bacterial cells, facilitating the shedding of copper ions in the close vicinity of the cell surface. The synergy between copper and chitosan makes these nanomaterials promising for biomedical applications (e.g., wound dressings).