Structural properties 3,16-bis triisopropylsilylethynyl (pentacene) (TIPS-pentacene) thin films onto organic dielectric layer using slide coating method

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Rusnan, Fara Naila; Mohamad, Khairul Anuar; Seria, Dzul Fahmi Mohd Husin

3,16-bis triisopropylsilylethynyl (Pentacene) (TIPS-Pentacene) compactable interface property is important in order to have a good arrangement of molecular structure. Comparison for TIPS-Pentacene deposited between two different surface layers conducted. 0.1wt% TIPS-Pentacene diluted in chloroform were deposited onto poly(methylmeaclyrate) (PMMA) layered transparent substrates using slide coating method. X-ray diffraction (XRD) used to determine crystallinity of thin films. Series of (00l) diffraction peaks obtained with sharp first peaks (001) for TIPS-Pentacene deposited onto PMMA layer at 5.35° and separation of 16.3 Å. Morphology and surface roughness were carried out using scanning electron microscope (SEM) and surface profilemeter LS500, respectively.TIPS-Pentacene deposited onto PMMAmore » layer formed needled-like-shape grains with 10.26 nm surface roughness. These properties were related as thin film formed and its surface roughness plays important role towards good mobility devices.« less

Experimental investigation on photoelectric properties of ZAO thin film deposited on flexible substrate by magnetron sputtering

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hao, Ming; Liu, Kun; Liu, Xinghua; Wang, Dongyang; Ba, Dechun; Xie, Yuanhua; Du, Guangyu; Ba, Yaoshuai

2016-12-01

Transparent conductive ZAO (Zinc Aluminum Oxide) films on flexible substrates have a great potential for low-cost mass-production solar cells. ZAO thin films were achieved on flexible PET (polyethylene terephthalate) substrates by RF magnetron sputtering technology. The surface morphology and element content, the transmittance and the sheet resistance of the films were measured to determine the optical process parameters. The results show that the ZAO thin film shows the best parameters in terms of photoelectric performance including sputtering power, working pressure, sputtering time, substrate temperature (100 W, 1.5 Pa, 60 min, 125 °C). The sheet resistance of 510 Ω and transmittance in visible region of 92% were obtained after characterization. Surface morphology was uniform and compact with a good crystal grain.

Nanomanufacturing of titania interfaces with controlled structural and functional properties by supersonic cluster beam deposition

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Podestà, Alessandro; Borghi, Francesca; Indrieri, Marco; Bovio, Simone; Piazzoni, Claudio; Milani, Paolo

2015-12-01

Great emphasis is placed on the development of integrated approaches for the synthesis and the characterization of ad hoc nanostructured platforms, to be used as templates with controlled morphology and chemical properties for the investigation of specific phenomena of great relevance in interdisciplinary fields such as biotechnology, medicine, and advanced materials. Here, we discuss the crucial role and the advantages of thin film deposition strategies based on cluster-assembling from supersonic cluster beams. We select cluster-assembled nanostructured titania (ns-TiO2) as a case study to demonstrate that accurate control over morphological parameters can be routinely achieved, and consequently, over several relevant interfacial properties and phenomena, like surface charging in a liquid electrolyte, and proteins and nanoparticles adsorption. In particular, we show that the very good control of nanoscale morphology is obtained by taking advantage of simple scaling laws governing the ballistic deposition regime of low-energy, mass-dispersed clusters with reduced surface mobility.

Nanomanufacturing of titania interfaces with controlled structural and functional properties by supersonic cluster beam deposition

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Podestà, Alessandro, E-mail: alessandro.podesta@mi.infn.it, E-mail: pmilani@mi.infn.it; Borghi, Francesca; Indrieri, Marco

Great emphasis is placed on the development of integrated approaches for the synthesis and the characterization of ad hoc nanostructured platforms, to be used as templates with controlled morphology and chemical properties for the investigation of specific phenomena of great relevance in interdisciplinary fields such as biotechnology, medicine, and advanced materials. Here, we discuss the crucial role and the advantages of thin film deposition strategies based on cluster-assembling from supersonic cluster beams. We select cluster-assembled nanostructured titania (ns-TiO{sub 2}) as a case study to demonstrate that accurate control over morphological parameters can be routinely achieved, and consequently, over several relevantmore » interfacial properties and phenomena, like surface charging in a liquid electrolyte, and proteins and nanoparticles adsorption. In particular, we show that the very good control of nanoscale morphology is obtained by taking advantage of simple scaling laws governing the ballistic deposition regime of low-energy, mass-dispersed clusters with reduced surface mobility.« less

Protonation of Different Goethite Surfaces - Unified Models for NaNO3 and NaCl Media.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Lutzenkirchen, Johannes; Boily, Jean F.; Gunneriusson, Lars

2008-01-01

Acid-base titration data for two goethites samples in sodium nitrate and sodium chloride media are discussed. The data are modelled based on various surface complexation models in the framework of the MUlti SIte Complexation (MUSIC) model. Various assumptions with respect to the goethite morphology are considered in determining the site density of the surface functional groups. The results from the various model applications are not statistically significant in terms of goodness of fit. More importantly, various published assumptions with respect to the goethite morphology (i.e. the contributions of different crystal planes and their repercussions on the “overall” site densities ofmore » the various surface functional groups) do not significantly affect the final model parameters. The simultaneous fit of the chloride and nitrate data results in electrolyte binding constants, which are applicable over a wide range of electrolyte concentrations including mixtures of chloride and nitrate. Model parameters for the high surface area goethite sample are in excellent agreement with parameters that were independently obtained by another group on different goethite titration data sets.« less

Role of carbon impurities on the surface morphology evolution of tungsten under high dose helium ion irradiation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Al-Ajlony, A.; Tripathi, J. K.; Hassanein, A.

2015-11-01

The effect of carbon impurities on the surface evolution (e.g., fuzz formation) of tungsten (W) surface during 300 eV He ions irradiation was studied. Several tungsten samples were irradiated by He ion beam with a various carbon ions percentage. The presence of minute carbon contamination within the He ion beam was found to be effective in preventing the fuzz formation. At higher carbon concentration, the W surface was found to be fully covered with a thick graphitic layer on the top of tungsten carbide (WC) layer that cover the sample surface. Lowering the ion beam carbon percentage was effective in a significant reduction in the thickness of the surface graphite layer. Under these conditions the W surface was also found to be immune for the fuzz formation. The effect of W fuzz prevention by the WC formation on the sample surface was more noticeable when the He ion beam had much lower carbon (C) ions content (0.01% C). In this case, the fuzz formation was prevented on the vast majority of the W sample surface, while W fuzz was found in limited and isolated areas. The W surface also shows good resistance to morphology evolution when bombarded by high flux of pure H ions at 900 °C.

From sphere to polyhedron: a hypothesis on the formation of high-index surfaces in nanocrystals.

PubMed

Zhou, Yan; Zhang, Junyan; Su, Gang; Li, Jiangong

2014-10-06

The morphology of tetrahexahedral nanocrystals could be understood on the basis of a hypothesis that the atoms or molecules on or near spherical surfaces can migrate till reaching their equilibrium positions. Such migration of atoms/molecules is shown to be closely related to the formation of high-index surfaces in nanopolyhedrons. On account of this hypothesis, a theoretical calculation about the indices of the surfaces in tetrahexahedrons is found in good agreement with the empirical results. A group of high-index surfaces for nanocrystals that can be formed under certain environments are thus predicted. This study may provide a novel idea for preparing the catalysts at nanoscale.

Quantification of Marangoni flows and film morphology during solid film formation by inkjet printing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ishizuka, Hirotaka; Fukai, Jun

2018-01-01

We visualized experimentally the internal flow inside inkjet droplets of polystyrene-anisole solution during solid film formation on substrates at room temperature. The effects of contact angle and evaporation rate on the internal flow and film morphology were quantitatively investigated. The transport process during film formation was examined by measuring the relationship between internal flow and film morphology, which provided three remarkable findings. First, self-pinning and the strength of outward flow on the free surface under 2.3 Pa s determined film morphology. The solute distribution, corresponding to rim areas in ring-like films and a convex trough in dot-like films, had already developed at self-pinning. Second, the mass fraction at self-pinning close to the contact line converged to one, regardless of the film morphology. This implies that self-pinning is independent of parameters such as the contact angle and evaporation rate. Third, at room temperature, the solutal Marangoni numbers were 20-30 times larger than the thermal ones. Thus, the outward flow on the free surface caused by the solutal Marangoni effect dominates in droplets before self-pinning. The solutal Marangoni number at self-pinning and thickness variation at the center of the film displayed a good relationship for droplets with different contact angles and evaporation rates. This suggests that film morphology can be technically controlled by solutal Marangoni number at room temperature.

In vitro mesenchymal stem cell responses on laser-welded NiTi alloy.

PubMed

Chan, C W; Hussain, I; Waugh, D G; Lawrence, J; Man, H C

2013-04-01

The biocompatibility of NiTi after laser welding was studied by examining the in vitro (mesenchymal stem cell) MSC responses at different sets of time varying from early (4 to 12h) to intermediate phases (1 and 4 days) of cell culture. The effects of physical (surface roughness and topography) and chemical (surface Ti/Ni ratio) changes as a consequence of laser welding in different regions (WZ, HAZ, and BM) on the cell morphology and cell coverage were studied. The results in this research indicated that the morphology of MSCs was affected primarily by the topographical factors in the WZ: the well-defined and directional dendritic pattern and the presence of deeper grooves. The morphology of MSCs was not significantly modulated by surface roughness. Despite the possible initial Ni release in the medium during the cell culture, no toxic effect seemed to cause to MSCs as evidenced by the success of adhesion and spreading of the cells onto different regions in the laser weldment. The good biocompatibility of the NiTi laser weldment has been firstly reported in this study. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

An Investigation into the Effects of Additives on Crystal Characteristics and Impact Sensitivity of RDX

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Dong-Xu; Chen, Shu-Sen; Li, Yan-Yue; Yang, Jia-Yun; Wei, Tian-Yu; Jin, Shao-Hua

2014-07-01

Additives are one of the most important factors that greatly affect the crystal characteristics of the high energy compound hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-s-triazine (RDX, C3H6N6O6) and they have an influence on impact sensitivity. In this article, a growth morphology method was applied to obtain the crystal habit of RDX in a vacuum as well as the morphologically important faces, and molecular dynamics simulations were applied to calculate the interaction energy between these crystal faces and additive molecules for prediction of the additive-effect crystal habits of RDX. On this basis, crystal characteristics including crystal morphology, aspect ratio, and total surface charge were investigated. Then the particle size and surface electrostatic voltage of the samples from recrystallization were analyzed experimentally. The impact sensitivity test indicated that acrylamide, which could enhance the regularity and degree of sphericity of RDX crystals and effectively reduce the surface static electricity of RDX, was successful in reducing the impact sensitivity of RDX as an additive for crystallization. The above experimental results were in good agreement with the conclusions based on the theoretical calculations.

Regulation the morphology of cationized gold nanoparticles for effective gene delivery.

PubMed

Zhang, Peng; Li, Bangbang; Du, Jianwei; Wang, Youxiang

2017-09-01

Recent research indicated that the morphology of nanoparticles could result in distinct biological behaviors, thus played an important role in designing efficient gene delivery systems. Among them, gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) with various shapes were widely studied due to the good biocompatibility and easy modification ability. Our recent research indicated that polyethyleneimine-g-bovine serum albumin (BSA-PEI) as non-viral gene vector showed good colloid stability and high transfection efficiency. In this work, BSA-PEI was utilized to modify gold nanospheres (AuNSs) and gold nanorods (AuNRs) to investigate the influence of the morphology on gene delivery. Both AuNS@BSA-PEI and AuNR@BSA-PEI nanoparticles condensed DNA effectively at N/P ratio above 5 and maintained spherical or rod-like morphology respectively. Due to the higher surface charge density at the tips, the rod-like gene complexes were prone to use the tips to contact with cell membrane, which facilitated to be uptaked by HepG2 cells. The endocytosis inhibition experiments showed some differences in the endocytic pathway. Gene transfection experiment showed that the rod-like complexes had almost 100-fold higher of transfection level than that of spherical complexes at the N/P ratio of 20. This work provided a potential strategy for further design of gene vectors with improved transfection results by adjusting the morphology of gene vectors. Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier B.V.

An ethanol-based fixation method for anatomical and micro-morphological characterization of leaves of various tree species.

PubMed

Chieco, C; Rotondi, A; Morrone, L; Rapparini, F; Baraldi, R

2013-02-01

The use of formalin constitutes serious health hazards for laboratory workers. We investigated the suitability and performance of the ethanol-based fixative, FineFIX, as a substitute for formalin for anatomical and cellular structure investigations of leaves by light microscopy and for leaf surface and ultrastructural analysis by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). We compared the anatomical features of leaf materials prepared using conventional formalin fixation with the FineFIX. Leaves were collected from ornamental tree species commonly used in urban areas. FineFIX was also compared with glutaraldehyde fixation and air drying normally used for scanning electron microscopy to develop a new method for evaluating leaf morphology and microstructure in three ornamental tree species. The cytological features of the samples processed for histological analysis were well preserved by both fixatives as demonstrated by the absence of nuclear swelling or shrinkage, cell wall detachment or tissue flaking, and good presentation of cytoplasmic vacuolization. In addition, good preservation of surface details and the absence of shrinkage artefacts confirmed the efficacy of FineFIX fixation for SEM analysis. Cuticular wax was preserved only in air dried samples. Samples treated with chemical substances during the fixation and dehydration phases showed various alterations of the wax structures. In some air dried samples a loss of turgidity of the cells was observed that caused general wrinkling of the epidermal surfaces. Commercial FineFIX is an adequate substitute for formalin in histology and it can be applied successfully also for SEM investigation, while reducing the health risks of glutaraldehyde or other toxic fixatives. To investigate the potential for plants to absorb and capture particulates in air, which requires preservation of the natural morphology of trichomes and epicuticular waxes, a combination of FineFIX fixation and air drying is recommended.

Artificial receptor-functionalized nanoshell: facile preparation, fast separation and specific protein recognition

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ouyang, Ruizhuo; Lei, Jianping; Ju, Huangxian

2010-05-01

This work combined molecular imprinting technology with superparamagnetic nanospheres as the core to prepare artificial receptor-functionalized magnetic nanoparticles for separation of homologous proteins. Using dopamine as a functional monomer, novel surface protein-imprinted superparamagnetic polydopamine (PDA) core-shell nanoparticles were successfully prepared in physiological conditions, which could maintain the natural structure of a protein template and achieved the development of molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) from one dimension to zero dimension for efficient recognition towards large biomolecules. The resultant nanoparticles could be used for convenient magnetic separation of homologous proteins with high specificity. The nanoparticles possessed good monodispersibility, uniform surface morphology and high saturation magnetization value. The bound amounts of template proteins measured by both indirect and direct methods were in good agreement. The maximum number of imprinted cavities on the surface of the bovine hemoglobin (Hb)-imprinted nanoshell was 2.21 × 1018 g - 1, which well matched their maximum binding capacity toward bovine Hb. Both the simple method for preparation of MIPs and the magnetic nanospheres showed good application potential in fast separation, effective concentration and selective biosensing of large protein molecules.

High-Temperature Shape Memory Alloys

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Biffi, C. A.; Tuissi, A.

2014-10-01

In this paper, an experimental study of laser micro-processing on a Cu-Zr-based shape memory alloy (SMA), which is suitable for high-temperature (HT) applications, is discussed. A first evaluation of the interaction between a laser beam and Zr50Cu28Ni7Co15 HT SMA is highlighted. Single laser pulses at various levels of power and pulse duration were applied to evaluate their effect on the sample surfaces. Blind and through microholes were produced with sizes on the order of a few hundreds of microns; the results were characterized from the morphological viewpoint using a scanning electron microscope. The high beam quality allows the holes to be created with good circularity and little melted material around the hole periphery. An analysis of the chemical composition was performed using energy dispersive spectroscopy, revealing that compositional changes were limited, while important oxidation occurred on the hole surfaces. Additionally, laser micro-cutting tests were also proposed to evaluate the cut edge morphology and dimensions. The main result of this paper concerned the good behavior of the material upon interaction with the laser beam, which suggests that microfeatures can be successfully produced in this alloy.

In vitro and in vivo characterization of anodised zirconium as a potential material for biomedical applications.

PubMed

Katunar, Maria R; Gomez Sanchez, Andrea; Santos Coquillat, Ana; Civantos, Ana; Martinez Campos, Enrique; Ballarre, Josefina; Vico, Tamara; Baca, Matias; Ramos, Viviana; Cere, Silvia

2017-06-01

In vitro studies offer the insights for the understanding of the mechanisms at the tissue-implant interface that will provide an effective functioning in vivo. The good biocompatibility of zirconium makes a good candidate for biomedical applications and the attractive in vivo performance is mainly due to the presence of a protective oxide layer. The aim of this study is to evaluate by in vitro and in vivo approach, the influence of surface modification achieved by anodisation at 30 and 60V on zirconium implants on the first steps of the osseointegration process. In this study cell attachment, proliferation and morphology of mouse myoblast C2C12-GFP and in mouse osteoprogenitor MC3T3-E1 cells was evaluated. Also, together with the immune system response, osteoclast differentiation and morphology with RAW 264.7 murine cell line were analysed. It was found that anodisation treatment at 60V enhanced cell spreading and the osteoblastic and osteoclastic cells morphology, showing a strong dependence on the surface characteristics. In vivo tests were performed in a rat femur osteotomy model. Dynamical and static histological and histomorphometric analyses were developed 15 and 30days after surgery. Newly formed bone around Zr60V implants showed a continuous newly compact and homogeneous bone just 15 after surgery, as judged by the enhanced thickness and mineralization rate. The results indicate that anodising treatment at 60V could be an effective improvement in the osseointegration of zirconium by stimulating adhesion, proliferation, morphology, new bone thickness and bone mineral apposition, making zirconium an emerging candidate material for biomedical applications. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

[Apatite-forming ability of pure titanium implant after micro-arc oxidation treatment].

PubMed

Tian, Zhihui; Zhang, Yu; Wang, Lichao; Nan, Kaihui

2013-10-01

To investigate the apatite forming ability of pure titanium implant after micro-arc oxidation treatment in simulated body fluid (SBF) and obtain implants with calcium phosphate (Ca-P) layers. The implants were immersed in (SBF) after micro-arc oxidation treatment for different time lengths, and their apatite forming ability and the morphology and constituents of the Ca-P layers formed on the sample surface were analyzed using X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and energy dispersive electron probe. After immersion in SBF, large quantities of Ca-P layers were induced on the surface of the samples. The Ca-P layers were composed of octacalcium phosphate and carbonated hydroxyapatite, and the crystals showed a plate-like morphology with an oriented growth. The implants with micro-arc oxidation treatment show good apatite forming ability on the surface with rich calcium and phosphorus elements. The formed layers are composed of bone-like apatite including octacalcium phosphate and carbonated hydroxyapatite.

Using tethered triblock copolymers to mediate the interaction between substrates

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chern, Shyh-Shi; Zhulina, Ekaterina B.; Pickett, Galen T.; Balazs, Anna C.

1998-04-01

Using scaling analysis and a self-consistent field (SCF) theory, we compress two copolymer-coated surfaces and isolate conditions that yield multiple, distinct minima in the interaction profile. We focus on planar surfaces that are coated with ABC triblock copolymers. Tethered to the surface by the last monomer in the C block, the copolymers are grafted at relatively low densities. The surrounding solution is a poor solvent for both the A and C blocks, and is a good solvent for the B blocks. Through scaling theory, we pinpoint the parameters that yield two minima in the interaction profile. The SCF calculations reveal the changes in the morphology of the polymers as the layers are compressed. Through both studies, we determine how the morphological changes give rise to the observed surface interactions. The results provide guidelines for creating polymer-coated colloidal systems that can form two stable crystal structures. Such systems could be used for bistable, optical switches. The findings also yield a prescription for creating systems that exhibit additional minima in the free energy of interaction.

On the Surface Mapping using Individual Cluster Impacts

PubMed Central

Fernandez-Lima, F.A.; Eller, M.J.; DeBord, J.D.; Verkhoturov, S.V.; Della-Negra, S.; Schweikert, E.A.

2011-01-01

This paper describes the advantages of using single impacts of large cluster projectiles (e.g. C60 and Au400) for surface mapping and characterization. The analysis of co-emitted time-resolved photon spectra, electron distributions and characteristic secondary ions shows that they can be used as surface fingerprints for target composition, morphology and structure. Photon, electron and secondary ion emission increases with the projectile cluster size and energy. The observed, high abundant secondary ion emission makes cluster projectiles good candidates for surface mapping of atomic and fragment ions (e.g., yield >1 per nominal mass) and molecular ions (e.g., few tens of percent in the 500 < m/z < 1500 range). PMID:22393269

Groundwater sapping channels: Summary of effects of experiments with varied stratigraphy

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kochel, R. Craig; Simmons, David W.

1987-01-01

Experiments in the recirculating flume sapping box have modeled valley formation by groundwater sapping processes in a number of settings. The effects of the following parameters on sapping channel morphology were examined: surface slope; stratigraphic variations in permeability cohesion and dip; and structure of joints and dikes. These kinds of modeling experiments are particularly good for: testing concepts; developing a suite of distinctive morphologies and morphometries indicative of sapping; helping to relate process to morphology; and providing data necessary to assess the relative importance of runoff, sapping, and mass wasting processes on channel development. The observations from the flume systems can be used to help interpret features observed in terrestrial and Martian settings where sapping processes are thought to have played an important role in the development of valley networks.

Geometrical and morphological optimizations of plasmonic nanoarrays for high-performance SERS detection

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, W. Q.; Wang, G.; Zhang, X. N.; Geng, H. P.; Shen, J. L.; Wang, L. S.; Zhao, J.; Xu, L. F.; Zhang, L. J.; Wu, Y. Q.; Tai, R. Z.; Chen, G.

2015-09-01

Here we present an in-depth and comprehensive study of the effect of the geometry and morphology of nanoarray (NA) substrates on their surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) performance. The high-quality SERS-active NA substrates of various unit shapes and pitches are assembled through electron beam lithography and fabricated by electron beam physical vapor deposition. Good agreement is found on comparing the Raman scattering results with the integrals of the fourth power of local electric fields from the three-dimensional numerical simulations. A novel type of hybrid NA substrate composed of disordered nanoparticles and a periodic NA is fabricated and characterized. The morphology of NAs has little influence on the SERS performance of hybrid NA substrates and they perform better than both their counterparts pure NA and disordered nanoparticle substrates.

Geometrical and morphological optimizations of plasmonic nanoarrays for high-performance SERS detection.

PubMed

Li, W Q; Wang, G; Zhang, X N; Geng, H P; Shen, J L; Wang, L S; Zhao, J; Xu, L F; Zhang, L J; Wu, Y Q; Tai, R Z; Chen, G

2015-10-07

Here we present an in-depth and comprehensive study of the effect of the geometry and morphology of nanoarray (NA) substrates on their surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) performance. The high-quality SERS-active NA substrates of various unit shapes and pitches are assembled through electron beam lithography and fabricated by electron beam physical vapor deposition. Good agreement is found on comparing the Raman scattering results with the integrals of the fourth power of local electric fields from the three-dimensional numerical simulations. A novel type of hybrid NA substrate composed of disordered nanoparticles and a periodic NA is fabricated and characterized. The morphology of NAs has little influence on the SERS performance of hybrid NA substrates and they perform better than both their counterparts pure NA and disordered nanoparticle substrates.

Morphological modification of alpha-MnO2 catalyst for use in Li/air batteries.

PubMed

Park, Min-Sik; Kim, Jae-Hun; Kim, Ki Jae; Jeong, Goojin; Kim, Young-Jun

2013-05-01

Single crystal alpha-MnO2 nanowires and nanopowders have been successfully synthesized in order to facilitate a comparison of their catalytic activity for use in Li-air batteries. The importance of the morphological modification of the alpha-MnO2 catalyst for facilitating electrochemical reactions between Li and O2 is addressed. Distinctive catalytic activity of alpha-MnO2 is observed, which is in line with its different morphologies. The catalytic activity significantly affects the reversible capacity of Li-air batteries. A high aspect ratio, large surface area and good dispersibility of alpha-MnO2 in the nanowire form are advantageous providing larger active surfaces for promoting the fundamental reactions in Li-air batteries. We also introduce a robustly designed air-electrode composed of highly porous carbon and nanostructured alpha-MnO2 catalysts, with employs a metal foam current collector to ensure sufficient air-permeability and to maximize electronic conduction during cycles. Our suggestions should prove helpful in forming a basis for further investigations in developing advanced Li-air batteries.

n-type doping and morphology of GaAs nanowires in Aerotaxy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Metaferia, Wondwosen; Sivakumar, Sudhakar; Persson, Axel R.; Geijselaers, Irene; Reine Wallenberg, L.; Deppert, Knut; Samuelson, Lars; Magnusson, Martin H.

2018-07-01

Controlled doping in semiconductor nanowires modifies their electrical and optical properties, which are important for high efficiency optoelectronic devices. We have grown n-type (Sn) doped GaAs nanowires in Aerotaxy, a new continuous gas phase mass production technique. The morphology of Sn doped nanowires is found to be a strong function of dopant, tetraethyltin to trimethylgallium flow ratio, Au–Ga–Sn alloying, and nanowire growth temperatures. High temperature and high flow ratios result in low morphological quality nanowires and in parasitic growth on the wire base and surface. Alloying and growth temperatures of 400 °C and 530 °C, respectively, resulted in good morphological quality nanowires for a flow ratio of TESn to TMGa up to 2.25 × 10‑3. The wires are pure zinc-blende for all investigated growth conditions, whereas nanowires grown by metal-organic vapor phase epitaxy with the same growth conditions are usually mainly Wurtzite. The growth rate of the doped wires is found to be dependent more on the TESn flow fraction than on alloying and nanowire growth temperatures. Our photoluminescence measurements, supported by four-point probe resistivity measurements, reveal that the carrier concentration in the doped wires varies only slightly (1–3) × 1019 cm‑3 with TESn flow fraction and both alloying and growth temperatures, indicating that good morphological quality wires with high carrier density can be grown with low TESn flow. Carrier concentrations lower than 1019 cm‑3 can be grown by further reducing the flow fraction of TESn, which may give better morphology wires.

n-type doping and morphology of GaAs nanowires in Aerotaxy.

PubMed

Metaferia, Wondwosen; Sivakumar, Sudhakar; Persson, Axel R; Geijselaers, Irene; Wallenberg, L Reine; Deppert, Knut; Samuelson, Lars; Magnusson, Martin H

2018-04-17

Controlled doping in semiconductor nanowires modifies their electrical and optical properties, which are important for high efficiency optoelectronic devices. We have grown n-type (Sn) doped GaAs nanowires in Aerotaxy, a new continuous gas phase mass production technique. The morphology of Sn doped nanowires is found to be a strong function of dopant, tetraethyltin to trimethylgallium flow ratio, Au-Ga-Sn alloying, and nanowire growth temperatures. High temperature and high flow ratios result in low morphological quality nanowires and in parasitic growth on the wire base and surface. Alloying and growth temperatures of 400 °C and 530 °C, respectively, resulted in good morphological quality nanowires for a flow ratio of TESn to TMGa up to 2.25 × 10 -3 . The wires are pure zinc-blende for all investigated growth conditions, whereas nanowires grown by metal-organic vapor phase epitaxy with the same growth conditions are usually mainly Wurtzite. The growth rate of the doped wires is found to be dependent more on the TESn flow fraction than on alloying and nanowire growth temperatures. Our photoluminescence measurements, supported by four-point probe resistivity measurements, reveal that the carrier concentration in the doped wires varies only slightly (1-3) × 10 19 cm -3 with TESn flow fraction and both alloying and growth temperatures, indicating that good morphological quality wires with high carrier density can be grown with low TESn flow. Carrier concentrations lower than 10 19 cm -3 can be grown by further reducing the flow fraction of TESn, which may give better morphology wires.

Effect of polyamide 6 on the morphology and electrical conductivity of carbon black-filled polypropylene composites

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Xuewei; Liu, Jiang; Wang, Yi; Wu, Wei

2017-12-01

Carbon black (CB)-filled polypropylene (PP) with surface resistivity between 106 and 109 Ω sq-1 is the ideal antistatic plastic material in the electronics and electric industry. However, a large amount of CB may have an adverse effect on the mechanical properties and processing performance of the material, thus an improved ternary system is developed. Blends of CB-filled PP and polyamide 6 (PA6) have been prepared by melt blending in order to obtain electrically conductive polymer composites with a low electrical percolation threshold based on the concept of double percolation. The morphological developments of these composites were studied by scanning electron microscopy. The results showed that CB particles were selectively dispersed in PA6 phases due to the good interaction and interfacial adhesion between CB and PA6. At the same CB loadings, the surface resistivity of PP/PA6/CB composite was smaller than that of PP/CB composite system, which indicated the better conductivity in the former composite. The increasing amount of PA6 in the composites changed the morphology from a typical sea-island morphology to a co-continuous morphology. What is more, with 8 wt% of CB and PP/PA6 phase ratio of 70/30 in which the PP and PA6 phases formed a co-continuous structure, the electrical conductivity of the composite peaked at 2.01 × 105 Ω sq-1.

Surface morphology of ultrathin graphene oxide films obtained by the SAW atomization

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Balachova, Olga V.; Balashov, Sergey M.; Costa, Carlos A. R.; Pavani Filho, A.

2015-08-01

Lately, graphene oxide (GO) thin films have attracted much attention: they can be used as humidity-sensitive coatings in the surface acoustic wave (SAW) sensors; being functionalized, they can be used in optoelectronic or biodevices, etc. In this research we study surface morphology of small-area thin GO films obtained on Si and quartz substrates by deposition of very small amounts of H2O-GO aerosols produced by the SAW atomizer. An important feature of this method is the ability to work with submicrovolumes of liquids during deposition that provides relatively good control over the film thickness and quality, in particular, minimization of the coffee ring effect. The obtained films were examined using AFM and electron microscopy. Image analysis showed that the films consist of GO sheets of different geometry and sizes and may form discrete or continuous coatings at the surface of the substrates with the minimum thickness of 1.0-1.8 nm which corresponds to one or two monolayers of GO. The thickness and quality of the deposited films depend on the parameters of the SAW atomization (number of atomized droplets, a volume of the initial droplet, etc.) and on sample surface preparation (activation in oxygen plasma). We discuss the structure of the obtained films, uniformity and the surface coverage as a function of parameters of the film deposition process and sample preparation. Qualitative analysis of adhesion of GO films is made by rinsing the samples in DI water and subsequent evaluation of morphology of the remained films.

Computational approach to the study of morphological properties of polymer/fullerene blends in photovoltaics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gaitho, Francis M.; Mola, Genene T.; Pellicane, Giuseppe

2018-02-01

Organic solar cells have the ability to transform solar energy efficiently and have a promising energy balance. Producing these cells is economical and makes use of methods of printing using inks built on solvents that are well-matched with a variety of cheap materials like flexible plastic or paper. The primary materials used to manufacture organic solar cells include carbon-based semiconductors, which are good light absorbers and efficient charge generators. In this article, we review previous research of interest based on morphology of polymer blends used in bulk heterojunction (BHJ) solar cells and introduce their basic principles. We further review computational models used in the analysis of surface behavior of polymer blends in BHJ as well as the trends in the field of polymer surface science as applied to BHJ photovoltaics. We also give in brief, the opportunities and challenges in the area of polymer blends on BHJ organic solar cells.

Radiation-Induced Grafting with One-Step Process of Waste Polyurethane onto High-Density Polyethylene

PubMed Central

Park, Jong-Seok; Lim, Youn-Mook; Nho, Young-Chang

2015-01-01

The recycling of waste polyurethane (PU) using radiation-induced grafting was investigated. The grafting of waste PU onto a high-density polyethylene (HDPE) matrix was carried out using a radiation technique with maleic anhydride (MAH). HDPE pellets and PU powders were immersed in a MAH-acetone solution. Finally, the prepared mixtures were irradiated with an electron beam accelerator. The grafted composites were characterized by Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), surface morphology, and mechanical properties. To make a good composite, the improvement in compatibility between HDPE and PU is an important factor. Radiation-induced grafting increased interfacial adhesion between the PU domain and the HDPE matrix. When the absorbed dose was 75 kGy, the surface morphology of the irradiated PU/HDPE composite was nearly a smooth and single phase, and the elongation at break increased by approximately three times compared with that of non-irradiated PU/HDPE composite. PMID:28787813

Novel method for controllable fabrication of a superhydrophobic CuO surface on AZ91D magnesium alloy.

PubMed

She, Zuxin; Li, Qing; Wang, Zhongwei; Li, Longqin; Chen, Funan; Zhou, Juncen

2012-08-01

A novel method for controllable fabrication of a superhydrophobic CuO surface on AZ91D magnesium alloy is reported in this paper. Hierarchical structure composed of micro/nano-featherlike CuO was obtained by electrodeposition of Cu-Zn alloy coating and subsequently an electrochemical anodic treatment in alkaline solution. After modification with lauric acid, the surface became hydrophobicity/superhydrophobicity. The formation of featherlike CuO structures was controllable by varying the coating composition. By applying SEM, ICP-AES, and water contact angle analysis, the effects of coating composition on the surface morphology and hydrophobicity of the as-prepared surfaces were detailedly studied. The results indicated that at the optimal condition, the surface showed a good superhydrophobicity with a water contact angle as high as 155.5 ± 1.3° and a sliding angle as low as about 3°. Possible growth mechanism of featherlike CuO hierarchical structure was discussed. Additionally, the anticorrosion effect of the superhydrophobic surface was studied by potentiodynamic polarization and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) measurements. The interface model for anticorrosion mechanism of superhydrophobic surface in corrosive medium was proposed. Besides, the mechanical stability test indicated that the resulting superhydrophobic surfaces have good mechanical stability.

Selective Oxidation and Reactive Wetting during Galvanizing of a CMnAl TRIP-Assisted Steel

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bellhouse, E. M.; McDermid, J. R.

2011-09-01

A transformation induced plasticity (TRIP)-assisted steel with 0.2 pct C, 1.5 pct Mn, and 1.5 pct Al was successfully galvanized using a thermal cycle previously shown to produce an excellent combination of strength and ductility. The steel surface chemistry and oxide morphology were determined as a function of process atmosphere oxygen partial pressure. For the 220 K (-53 °C) dew point (dp) + 20 pct H2 atmosphere, the oxide morphology was a mixture of films and nodules. For the 243 K (-30 °C) dp + 5 pct H2 atmosphere, nodules of MnO were found primarily at grain boundaries. For the 278 K (+5 °C) dp + 5 pct H2 atmosphere, nodules of metallic Fe were found on the surface as a result of alloy element internal oxidation. The steel surface chemistry and oxide morphology were then related to the reactive wetting behavior during continuous hot dip galvanizing. Good wetting was obtained using the two lower oxygen partial pressure process atmospheres [220 K dp and 243 K dp (-53 °C dp and -30 °C dp)]. An increase in the number of bare spots was observed when using the higher oxygen partial pressure process atmosphere (+5 °C dp) due to the increased thickness of localized oxide films.

Bubble structure evaluation method of sponge cake by using image morphology

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kato, Kunihito; Yamamoto, Kazuhiko; Nonaka, Masahiko; Katsuta, Yukiyo; Kasamatsu, Chinatsu

2007-01-01

Nowadays, many evaluation methods for food industry by using image processing are proposed. These methods are becoming new evaluation method besides the sensory test and the solid-state measurement that have been used for the quality evaluation recently. The goal of our research is structure evaluation of sponge cake by using the image processing. In this paper, we propose a feature extraction method of the bobble structure in the sponge cake. Analysis of the bubble structure is one of the important properties to understand characteristics of the cake from the image. In order to take the cake image, first we cut cakes and measured that's surface by using the CIS scanner, because the depth of field of this type scanner is very shallow. Therefore the bubble region of the surface has low gray scale value, and it has a feature that is blur. We extracted bubble regions from the surface images based on these features. The input image is binarized, and the feature of bubble is extracted by the morphology analysis. In order to evaluate the result of feature extraction, we compared correlation with "Size of the bubble" of the sensory test result. From a result, the bubble extraction by using morphology analysis gives good correlation. It is shown that our method is as well as the subjectivity evaluation.

A novel self-catalyzed photoATRP strategy for preparation of fluorescent hydroxyapatite nanoparticles and their biological imaging

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jiang, Ruming; Liu, Meiying; Huang, Hongye; Huang, Long; Huang, Qiang; Wen, Yuanqing; Cao, Qian-yong; Tian, Jianwen; Zhang, Xiaoyong; Wei, Yen

2018-03-01

Hydroxyapatite (HAp), as an important biomaterial for the regeneration and reconstruction of bone tissue, has attracted more and more attention of researchers and scientists due to its unique structure and compositions. However, the preparation of fluorescent HAp with controllable morphology has achieved only limited success. In this work, we reported a novel strategy to construct the water dispersible fluorescent HAp nanorods via the combination of ligand exchange and metal-free atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). The Br-containing fluorescent HAp nanorods with controllable size and morphology were first prepared through hydrothermal treatment. A multifunctional organic molecule (named as PTH-Br) with aggregation-induced emission feature was immobilized on the surface of hydrophobic HAp nanorods through ligand exchange reaction. The PTH-Br could be used as the initiator and catalyst for surface-initiated metal-free ATRP using poly(ethylene glycol) methacrylate as monomer to obtain hydrophilic fluorescent HAp polymer nanoparticles. This strategy successfully endowed HAp nanorods excellent fluorescence properties and favorable water dispersibility but well preserved their regular morphology. Biological assays demonstrated that the HAp-PTH-poly(PEGMA) nanoparticles exhibited good biocompatibility and efficient cell uptake performance. Taken together, we have developed a rather facile strategy based on the surface ligand exchange reaction and metal-free photoATRP to fabricate fluorescent HAp with controllable size and morphology, high water dispersibility and biological properties. These HAp-PTH-poly(PEGMA) nanoparticles should be novel and promising candidates for biomedical applications.

Growth and characterization of molecular beam epitaxial GaAs layers on porous silicon

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lin, T. L.; Liu, J. K.; Sadwick, L.; Wang, K. L.; Kao, Y. C.

1987-01-01

GaAs layers have been grown on porous silicon (PS) substrates with good crystallinity by molecular beam epitaxy. In spite of the surface irregularity of PS substrates, no surface morphology deterioration was observed on epitaxial GaAs overlayers. A 10-percent Rutherford backscattering spectroscopy minimum channeling yield for GaAs-on-PS layers as compared to 16 percent for GaAs-on-Si layers grown under the same condition indicates a possible improvement of crystallinity when GaAs is grown on PS. Transmission electron microscopy reveals that the dominant defects in the GaAs-on-PS layers are microtwins and stacking faults, which originate from the GaAs/PS interface. GaAs is found to penetrate into the PS layers. n-type GaAs/p-type PS heterojunction diodes were fabricated with good rectifying characteristics.

3-D Structure and Morphology of the S-reflector Detachment Fault, Offshore Galicia, Spain

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schuba, C. N.; Sawyer, D. S.; Gray, G. G.; Morgan, J.; Bull, J.; Shillington, D. J.; Jordan, B.; Reston, T. J.

2017-12-01

The crustal architecture of passive continental margins provides valuable clues for understanding rift initiation and evolution. The Galicia margin is an archetypal magma-poor margin displaying exhumed serpentinized mantle, and is an optimal setting in which to examine rift-related processes. A new 3-D seismic reflection volume images this margin in great detail. The S-reflector detachment fault, one of the most prominent structural features associated with the Galicia margin, is imaged as a continuous interface over an area of 600 km2. The top and base of the fault zone can be mapped independently, which enables seismic attribute analysis of this significant structure. RMS amplitude maps extracted from this interface show localized patches of high amplitude stripes that coincide with thickness variations of the fault zone and undulations in the bounding surfaces of the fault. These variations bear similarities to grooves on the fault surface such as slickensides, and appear to have developed as the fault zone evolved. These features thus represent good indicators of the kinematics of the fault system. In general, there is good correlation between S-reflector morphology and the overriding fault intersections; however this relationship does not appear to be present with the fault gouge thickness.

Polyolefin Nanocomposites with Enhanced Photostability Weathering Effect on Morphology and Mechanical Properties

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Panda, Bishnu P.; Mohanty, Smita; Nayak, Sanjay K.

2014-09-01

This research aims to study the effect of accelerated weathering conditions on the photodegradation characteristics for fibrillar silicate clay-filled Polypropylene (PP) nanocomposites in the presence of metallocene linear low density polyethylene (m-LLDPE). Silane-treated attapulgite (ATP) clay along with ethylene octene elastomer-grafted maleic anhydride (POE-g-MAH) was used to compatibilize both blend and nanocomposite system. The result showed that developed PP/m-LLDPE nanocomposites displayed good UV resistance with little change in retained stress-at-break and elongation-at-break values. Balanced loss of toughness values noted maintaining higher fracture toughness values for nanocomposites containing 5 phr ATP clay. Infrared analysis was used to detect progress of degradation followed by change in carbonyl index revealed predominated chain scission in late irradiation, while crosslinking was dominant for initial irradiation period. An increase in crystallinity during UV exposure (chemi-crystallization) was detected with exposure time for all compositions and virtually independent of initial structure of the polymer. The highest value of crystallization observed for PP and the lowest one for nanocomposites containing 5 phr of ATP clay revealed good oxidation stability. Surface morphology revealed induced degradation throughout cross-section of PP, while severity of the surface degradation was significantly reduced for developed nanocomposites.

Multitask Imidazolium Salt Additives for Innovative Poly(l-lactide) Biomaterials: Morphology Control, Candida spp. Biofilm Inhibition, Human Mesenchymal Stem Cell Biocompatibility, and Skin Tolerance.

PubMed

Schrekker, Clarissa M L; Sokolovicz, Yuri C A; Raucci, Maria G; Selukar, Balaji S; Klitzke, Joice S; Lopes, William; Leal, Claudio A M; de Souza, Igor O P; Galland, Griselda B; Dos Santos, João Henrique Z; Mauler, Raquel S; Kol, Moshe; Dagorne, Samuel; Ambrosio, Luigi; Teixeira, Mário L; Morais, Jonder; Landers, Richard; Fuentefria, Alexandre M; Schrekker, Henri S

2016-08-24

Candida species have great ability to colonize and form biofilms on medical devices, causing infections in human hosts. In this study, poly(l-lactide) films with different imidazolium salt (1-n-hexadecyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride (C16MImCl) and 1-n-hexadecyl-3-methylimidazolium methanesulfonate (C16MImMeS)) contents were prepared, using the solvent casting process. Poly(l-lactide)-imidazolium salt films were obtained with different surface morphologies (spherical and directional), and the presence of the imidazolium salt in the surface was confirmed. These films with different concentrations of the imidazolium salts C16MImCl and C16MImMeS presented antibiofilm activity against isolates of Candida tropicalis, Candida parapsilosis, and Candida albicans. The minor antibiofilm concentration assay enabled one to determine that an increasing imidazolium salt content promoted, in general, an increase in the inhibition percentage of biofilm formation. Scanning electron microscopy micrographs confirmed the effective prevention of biofilm formation on the imidazolium salt containing biomaterials. Lower concentrations of the imidazolium salts showed no cytotoxicity, and the poly(l-lactide)-imidazolium salt films presented good cell adhesion and proliferation percentages with human mesenchymal stem cells. Furthermore, no acute microscopic lesions were identified in the histopathological evaluation after contact between the films and pig ear skin. In combination with the good morphological, physicochemical, and mechanical properties, these poly(l-lactide)-based materials with imidazolium salt additives can be considered as promising biomaterials for use in the manufacturing of medical devices.

Nanofibers grafted on titanium alloy: the effects of fiber alignment and density on osteoblast mineralization.

PubMed

Lin, Hsin-Yi; Peng, Zhao-Xiang

2017-08-17

The surface of medical implant alloy Ti-6Al-4V was chemically modified to allow it to covalently bond with collagen/PVA nanofibers. These nanofibers were successfully attached to the Ti-6Al-4V surface in three different morphologies: randomly oriented high-density fiber, COL(H); randomly oriented low-density fiber, COL(L); and aligned high-density fiber, COL(A). The effects of the morphology of these covalently-bound collagen nanofibers on the growth and differentiation of osteoblasts were studied for 21 days. The low-density nanofibers covered approximately 80% of the Ti64 surface, while the high-density nanofibers covered nearly 100%. These covalently attached fibrous coatings remained attached to the metal surface after 3 weeks of cell culture. In the first week the aligned fibers of COL(A) allowed the osteoblasts to stretch and elongate in the direction of the fibers. This directional elongation was not seen in the cells on the randomly-oriented samples. Cells proliferated and differentiated on all three surfaces over time. By the end of the test, the amount of type I collagen secreted by the cells on COL(H) was the highest, while the degree of mineralization was highest on COL(A) among the three samples (p < 0.05). Different nanofiber morphologies changed the cell morphology and the secretion of cellular products. The mechanisms remained to be investigated. The surface of medical implant alloy Ti-6Al-4V was chemically modified to allow it to covalently bond with collagen/PVA nanofibers. The SEM micrographs in the top row show the random and aligned morphology of the collagen-PVA nanofibers. The nanofibers on COL(A) were aligned in the general direction indicated by the arrow. The second row are images from EDX titanium element mapping. The location of the titanium elements are shown as bright dots. The low-density nanofibers, COL(L), covered approximately 80% of the Ti64 surface, while the high-density nanofibers, COL(H) and COL(A), covered nearly 100%. All three surfaces demonstrated good biocompatibility for the cultured osteoblasts. The fiber alignment seemed to have an effect on early cellular morphology (day 7), collagen secretion and calcium deposition, while the density of the fibers seemed to have no significant effect on cell behavior. SEM micrographs of osteoblasts after 7 and 14 days of cell culture are shown in the third and fourth rows. The surface of COL(L) has more cell-free spots indicated by (*) on day 7 as other two surfaces were covered by cells. The nanofibers could no longer be observed and were covered with mineralized granules (circles) after 14 days of cell culture. The cells appear stretched out on the mineralized granules.

Calculation of surface potentials at the silica–water interface using molecular dynamics: Challenges and opportunities

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lowe, Benjamin M.; Skylaris, Chris-Kriton; Green, Nicolas G.; Shibuta, Yasushi; Sakata, Toshiya

2018-04-01

Continuum-based methods are important in calculating electrostatic properties of interfacial systems such as the electric field and surface potential but are incapable of providing sufficient insight into a range of fundamentally and technologically important phenomena which occur at atomistic length-scales. In this work a molecular dynamics methodology is presented for interfacial electric field and potential calculations. The silica–water interface was chosen as an example system, which is highly relevant for understanding the response of field-effect transistors sensors (FET sensors). Detailed validation work is presented, followed by the simulated surface charge/surface potential relationship. This showed good agreement with experiment at low surface charge density but at high surface charge density the results highlighted challenges presented by an atomistic definition of the surface potential. This methodology will be used to investigate the effect of surface morphology and biomolecule addition; both factors which are challenging using conventional continuum models.

Self-assembled highly ordered ethane-bridged periodic mesoporous organosilica and its application in HPLC.

PubMed

Huang, Lili; Lu, Juan; Di, Bin; Feng, Fang; Su, Mengxiang; Yan, Fang

2011-09-01

Monodisperse spherical periodic mesoporous organosilicas (PMOs) with ethane integrated in the framework were synthesized and their application as stationary phase for chromatographic separation is demonstrated. The ethane-PMOs were prepared by condensation of 1,2-bis(triethoxysilyl)ethane (BTSE) in basic condition using octadecyltrimethylammonium chloride (C(18)TMACl) as template and ethanol as co-solvent. The morphology and mesoporous structure of ethane-PMOs were controlled under different concentrations of sodium hydroxide (NaOH) and EtOH. The results of scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), nitrogen sorption measurement, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and elemental analysis showed that ethane-PMOs have spherical morphology, uniform particle distribution, highly ordered pore structure, high surface area and narrow pore-size distribution. The column packed with these materials exhibits good permeability, high chemical stability and good selectivity of mixtures of aromatic hydrocarbons in normal phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Copyright © 2011 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Facile growth of barium oxide nanorods: structural and optical properties.

PubMed

Ahmad, Naushad; Wahab, Rizwan; Alam, Manawwer

2014-07-01

This paper reports a large-scale synthesis of barium oxide nanorods (BaO-NRs) by simple solution method at a very low-temperature of - 60 degrees C. The as-grown BaO-NRs were characterized in terms of their morphological, structural, compositional, optical and thermal properties. The morphological characterizations of as-synthesized nanorods were done by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) which confirmed that the synthesized products are rod shaped and grown in high density. The nanorods exhibits smooth and clean surfaces throughout their lengths. The crystalline property of the material was analyzed with X-ray diffraction pattern (XRD). The compositional and thermal properties of synthesized nanorods were observed via Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and thermogravimetric analysis which confirmed that the synthesized nanorods are pure BaO and showed good thermal stability. The nanorods exhibited good optical properties as was confirmed from the room-temperature UV-vis spectroscopy. Finally, a plausible mechanism for the formation of BaO-NRs is also discussed in this paper.

Highly effective field-effect mobility amorphous InGaZnO TFT mediated by directional silver nanowire arrays.

PubMed

Liu, Hung-Chuan; Lai, Yi-Chun; Lai, Chih-Chung; Wu, Bing-Shu; Zan, Hsiao-Wen; Yu, Peichen; Chueh, Yu-Lun; Tsai, Chuang-Chuang

2015-01-14

In this work, we demonstrate sputtered amorphous indium-gallium-zinc oxide thin-film transistors (a-IGZO TFTs) with a record high effective field-effect mobility of 174 cm(2)/V s by incorporating silver nanowire (AgNW) arrays to channel electron transport. Compared to the reference counterpart without nanowires, the over 5-fold enhancement in the effective field-effect mobility exhibits clear dependence on the orientation as well as the surface coverage ratio of silver nanowires. Detailed material and device analyses reveal that during the room-temperature IGZO sputtering indium and oxygen diffuse into the nanowire matrix while the nanowire morphology and good contact between IGZO and nanowires are maintained. The unchanged morphology and good interfacial contact lead to high mobility and air-ambient-stable characteristics up to 3 months. Neither hysteresis nor degraded bias stress reliability is observed. The proposed AgNW-mediated a-IGZO TFTs are promising for development of large-scale, flexible, transparent electronics.

Reconditioning perovskite films in vapor environments through repeated cation doping

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Boonthum, Chirapa; Pinsuwan, Kusuma; Ponchai, Jitprabhat; Srikhirin, Toemsak; Kanjanaboos, Pongsakorn

2018-06-01

Perovskites have attracted considerable attention for application as high-efficiency photovoltaic devices owing to their low-cost and low-temperature fabrication. A good surface and high crystallinity are necessary for high-performance devices. We examine the negative effects of chemical ambiences on the perovskite crystal formation and morphology. The repeated cation doping (RCD) technique was developed to remedy these issues by gradually dropping methylammonium ions on top of about-to-form perovskite surfaces to cause recrystallization. RCD promotes pinhole-free, compact, and polygonal-like surfaces under various vapor conditions. Furthermore, it enhances the electronic properties and crystallization. The benefits of RCD extend beyond perovskites under vapor ambiences, as it can improve regular and wasted perovskites.

Deposition of Cubic AlN Films on MgO (100) Substrates by Laser Molecular Beam Epitaxy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mo, Z. K.; Yang, W. J.; Weng, Y.; Fu, Y. C.; He, H.; Shen, X. M.

2017-12-01

Cubic AlN (c-AlN) films were deposited on MgO (100) substrates by laser molecular beam epitaxy (LMBE) technique. The crystal structure and surface morphology of deposited films with various laser pulse energy and substrate temperature were investigated. The results indicate that c-AlN films exhibit the (200) preferred orientation, showing a good epitaxial relationship with the substrate. The surface roughness of c-AlN films increases when the laser pulse energy and substrate temperature increase. The film grown at laser pulse energy of 150 mJ and substrate temperature of 700 °C shows the best crystalline quality and relatively smooth surface.

Electrical and optical properties of binary CNx nanocone arrays synthesized by plasma-assisted reaction deposition.

PubMed

Liu, Xujun; Guan, Leilei; Fu, Xiaoniu; Zhao, Yu; Wu, Jiada; Xu, Ning

2014-03-21

Light-absorbing and electrically conductive binary CNx nanocone (CNNC) arrays have been fabricated using a glow discharge plasma-assisted reaction deposition method. The intact CNNCs with amorphous structure and central nickel-filled pipelines could be vertically and neatly grown on nickel-covered substrates according to the catalyst-leading mode. The morphologies and composition of the as-grown CNNC arrays can be well controlled by regulating the methane/nitrogen mixture inlet ratio, and their optical absorption and resistivity strongly depend on their morphologies and composition. Beside large specific surface area, the as-grown CNNC arrays demonstrate high wideband absorption, good conduction, and nice wettability to polymer absorbers.

Nanomaterials derived from metal-organic frameworks

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dang, Song; Zhu, Qi-Long; Xu, Qiang

2018-01-01

The thermal transformation of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) generates a variety of nanostructured materials, including carbon-based materials, metal oxides, metal chalcogenides, metal phosphides and metal carbides. These derivatives of MOFs have characteristics such as high surface areas, permanent porosities and controllable functionalities that enable their good performance in sensing, gas storage, catalysis and energy-related applications. Although progress has been made to tune the morphologies of MOF-derived structures at the nanometre scale, it remains crucial to further our knowledge of the relationship between morphology and performance. In this Review, we summarize the synthetic strategies and optimized methods that enable control over the size, morphology, composition and structure of the derived nanomaterials. In addition, we compare the performance of materials prepared by the MOF-templated strategy and other synthetic methods. Our aim is to reveal the relationship between the morphology and the physico-chemical properties of MOF-derived nanostructures to optimize their performance for applications such as sensing, catalysis, and energy storage and conversion.

Zinc oxide films chemically grown onto rigid and flexible substrates for TFT applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Suchea, M.; Kornilios, N.; Koudoumas, E.

2010-10-01

This contribution presents some preliminary results regarding the use of a chemical route for the growth of good quality ZnO thin films that can be used for the fabrication of thin film transistors (TFTs). The films were grown at rather low temperature (60 °C) on glass and PET substrates using non-aqueous (zinc acetate dihydrate in methanol) precursor solution and their surface morphology, crystalline structure, optical transmittance and electrical characteristics were studied. The study indicated that good quality films with desirable ZnO structure onto rigid and flexible substrates can be obtained, using a simple, cheap, low temperature chemical growth method.

Structure, composition and morphology of bioactive titanate layer on porous titanium surfaces

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Jinshan; Wang, Xiaohua; Hu, Rui; Kou, Hongchao

2014-07-01

A bioactive coating was produced on pore surfaces of porous titanium samples by an amendatory alkali-heat treatment method. Porous titanium was prepared by powder metallurgy and its porosity and average size were 45% and 135 μm, respectively. Coating morphology, coating structure and phase constituents were examined by SEM, XPS and XRD. It was found that a micro-network structure with sizes of <200 nm mainly composed of bioactive sodium titanate and rutile phases of TiO2 covered the interior and exterior of porous titanium cells, and redundant Ca ion was detected in the titanate layer. The concentration distribution of Ti, O, Ca and Na in the coating showed a compositional gradient from the intermediate layer toward the outer surface. These compositional gradients indicate that the coating bonded to Ti substrate without a distinct interface. After immersion into the SBF solution for 3 days, a bone-like carbonate-hydroxylapatite showing a good biocompatibility was detected on the coating surface. And the redundant Ca advanced the bioactivity of the coating. Thus, the present modification is expected to allow the use of the bioactive porous titanium as artificial bones even under load-bearing conditions.

Facile preparation of dendritic Ag-Pd bimetallic nanostructures on the surface of Cu foil for application as a SERS-substrate

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yi, Zao; Tan, Xiulan; Niu, Gao; Xu, Xibin; Li, Xibo; Ye, Xin; Luo, Jiangshan; Luo, Binchi; Wu, Weidong; Tang, Yongjian; Yi, Yougen

2012-05-01

Dendritic Ag-Pd bimetallic nanostructures have been synthesized on the surface of Cu foil via a multi-stage galvanic replacement reaction (MGRR) of Ag dendrites in a Na2PdCl4 solution. After five stages of replacement reaction, one obtained structures with protruding Ag-Pd flakes; these will mature into many porous structures with a few Ag atoms that are left over dendrites. The dendritic Ag-Pd bimetallic nanostructures were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX), selected area electron diffraction (SAED) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The morphology of the products strongly depended on the stage of galvanic replacement reaction and reaction temperature. The morphology and composition-dependent surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) of the as-synthesized Ag-Pd bimetallic nanostructures were investigated. The effectiveness of these dendritic Ag-Pd bimetallic nanostructures on the surface of Cu foil as substrates toward SERS detection was evaluated by using rhodamine 6G (R6G) as a probe molecule. The results indicate that as-synthesized dendritic Ag-Pd bimetallic nanostructures are good candidates for SERS spectroscopy.

Influence of the silane modifiers on the surface thermodynamic characteristics and dispersion of the silica into elastomer compounds.

PubMed

Castellano, Maila; Conzatti, Lucia; Turturro, Antonio; Costa, Giovanna; Busca, Guido

2007-05-03

A good dispersion of silica into elastomers, typically used in tire tread production, is obtained by grafting of the silica with multifunctional organosilanes. In this study, the influence of the chemical structure of a triethoxysilane (TES), octadecyltriethoxysilane (ODTES), and ODTES/bistriethoxysilylpropyltetrasulfane (TESPT) mixture was investigated by inverse gas chromatography (IGC) at infinite dilution. Thermodynamic results indicate a higher polarity of the silica surface modified with TES as compared to that of the unmodified silica due to new OH groups deriving from the hydrolysis of ethoxy groups of the silane; the long hydrocarbon substituent of the ODTES lies on the surface of silica and reduces the dispersive component of the silica surface tension. A comparison with silica modified with TESPT is discussed. An accurate morphological investigation by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and automated image analysis (AIA) was carried out on aggregates of silica dispersed into a SBR compound loaded with 35 phr (per hundred rubber) of untreated and TESPT-treated silica. Morphological descriptors such as the projected area/perimeter ratio (A/P) and roundness (P2/4piA) provided direct and quantitative indications about the distribution of the filler into the rubber matrix.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Eaton, Craig; Brahlek, Matthew; Engel-Herbert, Roman, E-mail: rue2@psu.edu

The authors report the growth of stoichiometric SrVO{sub 3} thin films on (LaAlO{sub 3}){sub 0.3}(Sr{sub 2}AlTaO{sub 6}){sub 0.7} (001) substrates using hybrid molecular beam epitaxy. This growth approach employs a conventional effusion cell to supply elemental A-site Sr and the metalorganic precursor vanadium oxytriisopropoxide (VTIP) to supply vanadium. Oxygen is supplied in its molecular form through a gas inlet. An optimal VTIP:Sr flux ratio has been identified using reflection high-energy electron-diffraction, x-ray diffraction, atomic force microscopy, and scanning transmission electron microscopy, demonstrating stoichiometric SrVO{sub 3} films with atomically flat surface morphology. Away from the optimal VTIP:Sr flux, characteristic changes inmore » the crystalline structure and surface morphology of the films were found, enabling identification of the type of nonstoichiometry. For optimal VTIP:Sr flux ratios, high quality SrVO{sub 3} thin films were obtained with smallest deviation of the lattice parameter from the ideal value and with atomically smooth surfaces, indicative of the good cation stoichiometry achieved by this growth technique.« less

Self-healing coatings containing microcapsule

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhao, Yang; Zhang, Wei; Liao, Le-ping; Wang, Si-jie; Li, Wu-jun

2012-01-01

Effectiveness of epoxy resin filled microcapsules was investigated for healing of cracks generated in coatings. Microcapsules were prepared by in situ polymerization of urea-formaldehyde resin to form shell over epoxy resin droplets. Characteristics of these capsules were studied by 3D measuring laser microscope, particle size analyzer, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) to investigate their surface morphology, size distribution, chemical structure and thermal stability, respectively. The results indicate that microcapsules containing epoxy resins can be synthesized successfully. The size is around 100 μm. The rough outer surface of microcapsule is composed of agglomerated urea-formaldehyde nanoparticles. The size and surface morphology of microcapsule can be controlled by selecting different processing parameters. The microcapsules basically exhibit good storage stability at room temperature, and they are chemically stable before the heating temperature is up to approximately 200 °C. The model system of self-healing coating consists of epoxy resin matrix, 10 wt% microencapsulated healing agent, 2 wt% catalyst solution. The self-healing function of this coating system is evaluated through self-healing testing of damaged and healed coated steel samples.

Activated Carbon Fibers with Hierarchical Nanostructure Derived from Waste Cotton Gloves as High-Performance Electrodes for Supercapacitors.

PubMed

Wei, Chao; Yu, Jianlin; Yang, Xiaoqing; Zhang, Guoqing

2017-12-01

One of the most challenging issues that restrict the biomass/waste-based nanocarbons in supercapacitor application is the poor structural inheritability during the activating process. Herein, we prepare a class of activated carbon fibers by carefully selecting waste cotton glove (CG) as the precursor, which mainly consists of cellulose fibers that can be transformed to carbon along with good inheritability of their fiber morphology upon activation. As prepared, the CG-based activated carbon fiber (CGACF) demonstrates a surface area of 1435 m 2  g -1 contributed by micropores of 1.3 nm and small mesopores of 2.7 nm, while the fiber morphology can be well inherited from the CG with 3D interconnected frameworks created on the fiber surface. This hierarchically porous structure and well-retained fiber-like skeleton can simultaneously minimize the diffusion/transfer resistance of the electrolyte and electron, respectively, and maximize the surface area utilization for charge accumulation. Consequently, CGACF presents a higher specific capacitance of 218 F g -1 and an excellent high-rate performance as compared to commercial activated carbon.

Supertoughened renewable PLA reactive multiphase blends system: phase morphology and performance.

PubMed

Zhang, Kunyu; Nagarajan, Vidhya; Misra, Manjusri; Mohanty, Amar K

2014-08-13

Multiphase blends of poly(lactic acid) (PLA), ethylene-methyl acrylate-glycidyl methacrylate (EMA-GMA) terpolymer, and a series of renewable poly(ether-b-amide) elastomeric copolymer (PEBA) were fabricated through reactive melt blending in an effort to improve the toughness of the PLA. Supertoughened PLA blend showing impact strength of ∼500 J/m with partial break impact behavior was achieved at an optimized blending ratio of 70 wt % PLA, 20 wt % EMA-GMA, and 10 wt % PEBA. Miscibility and thermal behavior of the binary blends PLA/PEBA and PLA/EMA-GMA, and the multiphase blends were also investigated through differential scanning calorimetric (DSC) and dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA). Phase morphology and fracture surface morphology of the blends were studied through scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) to understand the strong corelation between the morphology and its significant effect on imparting tremendous improvement in toughness. A unique "multiple stacked structure" with partial encapsulation of EMA-GMA and PEBA minor phases was observed for the PLA/EMA-GMA/PEBA (70/20/10) revealing the importance of particular blend composition in enhancing the toughness. Toughening mechanism behind the supertoughened PLA blends have been established by studying the impact fractured surface morphology at different zones of fracture. Synergistic effect of good interfacial adhesion and interfacial cavitations followed by massive shear yielding of the matrix was believed to contribute to the enormous toughening effect observed in these multiphase blends.

Effect of polyamide 6 on the morphology and electrical conductivity of carbon black-filled polypropylene composites

PubMed Central

Zhang, Xuewei; Liu, Jiang; Wang, Yi

2017-01-01

Carbon black (CB)-filled polypropylene (PP) with surface resistivity between 106 and 109 Ω sq−1 is the ideal antistatic plastic material in the electronics and electric industry. However, a large amount of CB may have an adverse effect on the mechanical properties and processing performance of the material, thus an improved ternary system is developed. Blends of CB-filled PP and polyamide 6 (PA6) have been prepared by melt blending in order to obtain electrically conductive polymer composites with a low electrical percolation threshold based on the concept of double percolation. The morphological developments of these composites were studied by scanning electron microscopy. The results showed that CB particles were selectively dispersed in PA6 phases due to the good interaction and interfacial adhesion between CB and PA6. At the same CB loadings, the surface resistivity of PP/PA6/CB composite was smaller than that of PP/CB composite system, which indicated the better conductivity in the former composite. The increasing amount of PA6 in the composites changed the morphology from a typical sea–island morphology to a co-continuous morphology. What is more, with 8 wt% of CB and PP/PA6 phase ratio of 70/30 in which the PP and PA6 phases formed a co-continuous structure, the electrical conductivity of the composite peaked at 2.01 × 105 Ω sq−1. PMID:29308223

n-type doping and morphology of GaAs nanowires in Aerotaxy

DOE PAGES

Metaferia, Wondwosen; Sivakumar, Sudhakar; Persson, Axel R.; ...

2018-05-10

Controlled doping in semiconductor nanowires modifies their electrical and optical properties, which are important for high efficiency optoelectronic devices. We have grown n-type (Sn) doped GaAs nanowires in Aerotaxy, a new continuous gas phase mass production technique. The morphology of Sn doped nanowires is found to be a strong function of dopant, tetraethyltin to trimethylgallium flow ratio, Au-Ga-Sn alloying, and nanowire growth temperatures. High temperature and high flow ratios result in low morphological quality nanowires and in parasitic growth on the wire base and surface. Alloying and growth temperatures of 400 and 530 degrees C, respectively, resulted in good morphologicalmore » quality nanowires for a flow ratio of TESn to TMGa up to 2.25 x 10 -3. The wires are pure Zinc-blende for all investigated growth conditions, whereas nanowires grown by MOVPE with the same growth conditions are usually mainly Wurtzite. The growth rate of the doped wires is found to be dependent more on the TESn flow fraction than on alloying and nanowire growth temperatures. Our photoluminescence measurements, supported by four-point probe resistivity measurements, reveal that the carrier concentration in the doped wires varies only slightly (1- 3) x 10 19 cm -3 with TESn flow fraction and both alloying and growth temperatures, indicating that good morphological quality wires with high carrier density can be grown with low TESn flow. Carrier concentrations lower than 1019 cm-3 can be grown by further reducing the flow fraction of TESn, which may give better morphology wires.« less

n-type doping and morphology of GaAs nanowires in Aerotaxy

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Metaferia, Wondwosen; sivakumar, sudhakar; R. Persson, Axel

2018-04-17

Controlled doping in semiconductor nanowires modifies their electrical and optical properties, which are important for high efficiency optoelectronic devices. We have grown n-type (Sn) doped GaAs nanowires in Aerotaxy, a new continuous gas phase mass production technique. The morphology of Sn doped nanowires is found to be a strong function of dopant, tetraethyltin to trimethylgallium flow ratio, Au-Ga-Sn alloying, and nanowire growth temperatures. High temperature and high flow ratios result in low morphological quality nanowires and in parasitic growth on the wire base and surface. Alloying and growth temperatures of 400 and 530 degrees C, respectively, resulted in good morphologicalmore » quality nanowires for a flow ratio of TESn to TMGa up to 2.25 x 10-3. The wires are pure Zinc-blende for all investigated growth conditions, whereas nanowires grown by MOVPE with the same growth conditions are usually mainly Wurtzite. The growth rate of the doped wires is found to be dependent more on the TESn flow fraction than on alloying and nanowire growth temperatures. Our photoluminescence measurements, supported by four-point probe resistivity measurements, reveal that the carrier concentration in the doped wires varies only slightly (1- 3) x 1019 cm-3 with TESn flow fraction and both alloying and growth temperatures, indicating that good morphological quality wires with high carrier density can be grown with low TESn flow. Carrier concentrations lower than 1019 cm-3 can be grown by further reducing the flow fraction of TESn, which may give better morphology wires.« less

n-type doping and morphology of GaAs nanowires in Aerotaxy

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Metaferia, Wondwosen; Sivakumar, Sudhakar; Persson, Axel R.

Controlled doping in semiconductor nanowires modifies their electrical and optical properties, which are important for high efficiency optoelectronic devices. We have grown n-type (Sn) doped GaAs nanowires in Aerotaxy, a new continuous gas phase mass production technique. The morphology of Sn doped nanowires is found to be a strong function of dopant, tetraethyltin to trimethylgallium flow ratio, Au-Ga-Sn alloying, and nanowire growth temperatures. High temperature and high flow ratios result in low morphological quality nanowires and in parasitic growth on the wire base and surface. Alloying and growth temperatures of 400 and 530 degrees C, respectively, resulted in good morphologicalmore » quality nanowires for a flow ratio of TESn to TMGa up to 2.25 x 10 -3. The wires are pure Zinc-blende for all investigated growth conditions, whereas nanowires grown by MOVPE with the same growth conditions are usually mainly Wurtzite. The growth rate of the doped wires is found to be dependent more on the TESn flow fraction than on alloying and nanowire growth temperatures. Our photoluminescence measurements, supported by four-point probe resistivity measurements, reveal that the carrier concentration in the doped wires varies only slightly (1- 3) x 10 19 cm -3 with TESn flow fraction and both alloying and growth temperatures, indicating that good morphological quality wires with high carrier density can be grown with low TESn flow. Carrier concentrations lower than 1019 cm-3 can be grown by further reducing the flow fraction of TESn, which may give better morphology wires.« less

Tuning the morphology of silver nanostructures photochemically coated on glass substrates: an effective approach to large-scale functional surfaces

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zaier, Mohamed; Vidal, Loic; Hajjar-Garreau, Samar; Bubendorff, Jean-Luc; Balan, Lavinia

2017-03-01

This paper reports on a simple and environmentally friendly photochemical process capable of generating nano-layers (8-22 nm) of silver nanostructures directly onto glass surfaces. This approach opens the way to large-scale functionalized surfaces with plasmonic properties through a single light-induced processing. Thus, Ag nanostructures top-coated were obtained through photo-reduction, at room temperature, of a photosensitive formulation containing a metal precursor, free from extra toxic stabilizers or reducing agents. The reactive formulation was confined between two glass slides and exposed to a continuous near-UV source. In this way, stable silver nano-layers can be generated directly on the substrate with a very good control of the morphology of as-synthesized nanostructures that allows tailoring the optical properties of the coated layers. The position and width of the corresponding surface plasmon resonance bands can be adjusted over a broad spectral window. By extension, this low-cost and easy-to-apply process can also be used to coat ultra thin layers of metal nanostructures on a variety of substrates. The possibility of controlling of nanostructures shape should achieve valuable developments in many fields, as diverse as plasmonics, surface enhanced Raman scattering, nano-electronic circuitry, or medical devices.

Transparent and Self-Supporting Graphene Films with Wrinkled- Graphene-Wall-Assembled Opening Polyhedron Building Blocks for High Performance Flexible/Transparent Supercapacitors.

PubMed

Li, Na; Huang, Xuankai; Zhang, Haiyan; Li, Yunyong; Wang, Chengxin

2017-03-22

Improving mass loading while maintaining high transparency and large surface area in one self-supporting graphene film is still a challenge. Unfortunately, all of these factors are absolutely essential for enhancing the energy storage performance of transparent supercapacitors for practical applications. To solve the above bottleneck problem, we produce a novel self-supporting flexible and transparent graphene film (STF-GF) with wrinkled-wall-assembled opened-hollow polyhedron building units. Taking advantage of the microscopic morphology, the STF-GF exhibits improved mass loading with high transmittance (70.2% at 550 nm), a large surface area (1105.6 m 2 /g), and good electrochemical performance: high energy (552.3 μWh/cm 3 ), power densities (561.9 mW/cm 3 ), a superlong cycle life, and good cycling stability (the capacitance retention is ∼94.8% after 20,000 cycles).

Volcanism of the Eastern Snake River Plain, Idaho: A comparative planetary geology-guidebook

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Greeley, R.; King, J. S.

1977-01-01

The Planetary Geology Field Conference on the central Snake River Plain was conceived and developed to accomplish several objectives. Primarily, field conferences are sponsored by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration to draw attention to aspects of terrestrial geology that appear to be important in interpreting the origin and evolution of extraterrestrial planetary surfaces. Another aspect is to present results of recent research in a region. A final objective of this conference is to bring together investigators of diverse backgrounds who share a common interest in the Snake River Plain. The Snake River Plain appears to be similar in surface morphology to many volcanic regions on the Moon, Mars, and possibly Mercury. Therefore, the Snake River Plain, in combination with the relatively good state of preservation, the lack of forests or other heavy vegetation, and the good network of jeep trails, is an area nearly ideal for analog studies.

A Chromium-Free Coating System for DoD Applications

DTIC Science & Technology

2008-05-01

Cu -Mg and Al - Cu -Fe-Mn intermetallics, lead to good mechanical properties of the alloy by strengthening the Al matrix [2]. Aluminum and its alloys ...pretreatment; target performances were resistance in the B-117 salt spray test of the primer only of 2000 hours for Al alloys , 1000 hours for HDG...silanes. The films deposited on Al substrate and silicon wafer have similar bulk properties and top surface morphology. We conclude that

Immobilization Effect of Morphological, Thermal and Optical Properties in Biotemplate on Zinc Oxide Nanocomposite from Chitosan

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Karpuraranjith, M.; Thambidurai, S.

Biotemplate-based zinc oxide nanocomposite was effectively prepared via simple chemical precipitation route. The functional groups of amino (-NH2), hydroxyl (-OH) and O-Zn-O were confirmed and characterized by FTIR spectroscopy. The structural and morphological properties were confirmed by XRD, UV-Vis DRS, HR-SEM and TEM analyses. The elemental composition of carbon, nitrogen, zinc and oxygen was confirmed by energy-dispersive X-ray analysis (EDAX) and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller high surface area of materials was estimated to be 52.49m2/g, respectively. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) shows that biotemplate on zinc oxide nanocomposite has higher thermal stability than chitosan matrix. The results demonstrate that biotemplate on zinc oxide matrix causes immobilization effect among the two components. Therefore, chitosan-ZnO nanocomposite has a microcrystalline morphological structure and also good thermal stability, so it can be a promising material for sensors, medical, tissue engineering and wastewater treatment applications.

The relationship between morphological and behavioral mimicry in hover flies (Diptera: Syrphidae).

PubMed

Penney, Heather D; Hassall, Christopher; Skevington, Jeffrey H; Lamborn, Brent; Sherratt, Thomas N

2014-02-01

Palatable (Batesian) mimics of unprofitable models could use behavioral mimicry to compensate for the ease with which they can be visually discriminated or to augment an already close morphological resemblance. We evaluated these contrasting predictions by assaying the behavior of 57 field-caught species of mimetic hover flies (Diptera: Syrphidae) and quantifying their morphological similarity to a range of potential hymenopteran models. A purpose-built phylogeny for the hover flies was used to control for potential lack of independence due to shared evolutionary history. Those hover fly species that engage in behavioral mimicry (mock stinging, leg waving, wing wagging) were all large wasp mimics within the genera Spilomyia and Temnostoma. While the behavioral mimics assayed were good morphological mimics, not all good mimics were behavioral mimics. Therefore, while the behaviors may have evolved to augment good morphological mimicry, they do not advantage all good mimics.

Quantitative evaluation method of the bubble structure of sponge cake by using morphology image processing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tatebe, Hironobu; Kato, Kunihito; Yamamoto, Kazuhiko; Katsuta, Yukio; Nonaka, Masahiko

2005-12-01

Now a day, many evaluation methods for the food industry by using image processing are proposed. These methods are becoming new evaluation method besides the sensory test and the solid-state measurement that are using for the quality evaluation. An advantage of the image processing is to be able to evaluate objectively. The goal of our research is structure evaluation of sponge cake by using image processing. In this paper, we propose a feature extraction method of the bobble structure in the sponge cake. Analysis of the bubble structure is one of the important properties to understand characteristics of the cake from the image. In order to take the cake image, first we cut cakes and measured that's surface by using the CIS scanner. Because the depth of field of this type scanner is very shallow, the bubble region of the surface has low gray scale values, and it has a feature that is blur. We extracted bubble regions from the surface images based on these features. First, input image is binarized, and the feature of bubble is extracted by the morphology analysis. In order to evaluate the result of feature extraction, we compared correlation with "Size of the bubble" of the sensory test result. From a result, the bubble extraction by using morphology analysis gives good correlation. It is shown that our method is as well as the subjectivity evaluation.

Corroded surface roughness of copper analyzed by Fourier transform infrared mapping microscopy and optical profilometric study.

PubMed

Kasperek, J; Lefez, B; Beucher, E

2004-02-01

This study shows the effects of roughness on infrared spectra shapes of thin corrosion products on metallic substrates. The calculated spectra show that the baseline is mainly affected by increasing roughness and that such effects do not shift the position of the absorption bands. The model obtained has been used to extract data of artificial patina on a copper surface. Surface defects of copper substrates can be distinguished on the whole surface, from the morphological and chemical points of view, using optical profilometry and infrared microspectroscopy. An homogeneous layer of cuprite covers the surface except in the linear defects. Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) analysis indicates that a mixture of atacamite and clinoatacamite is mainly located in these scratches. The width of these particular areas is in good agreement with profilometric observations.

Fabrication of Bendable Circuits on a Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) Surface by Inkjet Printing Semi-Wrapped Structures

PubMed Central

Sun, Jiazhen; Jiang, Jieke; Bao, Bin; Wang, Si; He, Min; Zhang, Xingye; Song, Yanlin

2016-01-01

In this work, an effective method was developed to fabricate bendable circuits on a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) surface by inkjet printing semi-wrapped structures. It is demonstrated that the precured PDMS liquid film could influence the depositing morphology of coalesced silver precursor inkjet droplets. Accordingly, continuous and uniform lines with a semi-wrapped structure were fabricated on the PDMS surface. When the printed silver precursor was reduced to Ag nanoparticles, the fabricated conductive film exhibited good transparency and high bendability. This work presented a facile way to fabricate flexible patterns on a PDMS surface without any complicated modification or special equipment. Meanwhile, an in situ hydrazine reduction of Ag has been reported using the vapor phase method in the fabricating process. PMID:28773374

Development of Morphological Awareness in Young Chinese Readers: Comparing Poor Comprehenders and Good Comprehenders

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Zhang, Haomin

2017-01-01

The present study explored the relationship between reading comprehension skill and morphological awareness among young Chinese readers. The objectives were to investigate whether morphological awareness is a critical cognitive and linguistic ability to differentiate poor comprehenders and good comprehenders and to further scrutinize the…

3D surface topography study of the biofunctionalized nanocrystalline Ti-6Zr-4Nb/Ca-P

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Jakubowicz, J., E-mail: jaroslaw.jakubowicz@put.poznan.pl; Adamek, G.; Jurczyk, M.U.

2012-08-15

In this work surface of the sintered Ti-6Zr-4Nb nanocrystalline alloy was electrochemically biofunctionalized. The porous surface was produced by anodic oxidation in 1 M H{sub 3}PO{sub 4} + 2%HF electrolyte at 10 V for 30 min. Next the calcium-phosphate (Ca-P) layer was deposited, onto the formed porous surface, using cathodic potential - 5 V kept for 60 min in 0.042 M Ca(NO{sub 3}){sub 2} + 0.025 M (NH{sub 4}){sub 2}HPO{sub 4} + 0.1 M HCl electrolyte. The deposited Ca-P layer anchored in the pores. The biofunctionalized surface was studied by XRD, SEM and EDS. In vitro tests culture of normalmore » human osteoblast (NHOst) cells showed very good cells proliferation, colonization and multilayering. Using optical profiler, roughness and hybrid 3D surface topography parameters were estimated. Correlation between surface composition, morphology, roughness and biocompatibility results was done. It has been shown by us that surface with appropriate chemical composition and topography, after combined electrochemical anodic and cathodic surface treatment, supports osteoblast adhesion and proliferation. 3D topography measurements using optical profiler play a key role in the biomaterials surface analysis. - Highlights: Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Nanocrystalline Ti-6Zr-4Nb/Ca-P material was produced for hard tissue implant applications. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Calcium-phosphate results in surface biofunctionalization. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer The biofunctionalized surface shows good in-vitro behavior.« less

The effect of polyether functional polydimethylsiloxane on surface and thermal properties of waterborne polyurethane

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zheng, Guikai; Lu, Ming; Rui, Xiaoping

2017-03-01

Waterborne polyurethanes (WPU) modified with polyether functional polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) were synthesized by pre-polymerization method using isophorone diisocyanate (IPDI) and 1,4-butanediol (BDO) as hard segments and polybutylene adipate glycol (PBA) and polyether functional PDMS as soft segments. The effect of polyether functional PDMS on phase separation, thermal properties, surface properties including surface composition, morphology and wettability were investigated by FTIR, contact angle measurements, ARXPS, SEM-EDS, AFM, TG and DSC. The results showed that the compatibility between urethane hard segment and PDMS modified with polyether was good, and there was no distinct phase separation in both bulk and surface of WPU films. The degradation temperature and low temperature flexibility increased with increasing amounts of polyether functional PDMS. The enrichment of polyether functional PDMS with low surface energy on the surface imparted excellent hydrophobicity to WPU films.

SEMICONDUCTOR TECHNOLOGY Texturization of mono-crystalline silicon solar cells in TMAH without the addition of surfactant

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Weiying, Ou; Yao, Zhang; Hailing, Li; Lei, Zhao; Chunlan, Zhou; Hongwei, Diao; Min, Liu; Weiming, Lu; Jun, Zhang; Wenjing, Wang

2010-10-01

Etching was performed on (100) silicon wafers using silicon-dissolved tetramethylammonium hydroxide (TMAH) solutions without the addition of surfactant. Experiments were carried out in different TMAH concentrations at different temperatures for different etching times. The surface phenomena, etching rates, surface morphology and surface reflectance were analyzed. Experimental results show that the resulting surface covered with uniform pyramids can be realized with a small change in etching rates during the etching process. The etching mechanism is explained based on the experimental results and the theoretical considerations. It is suggested that all the components in the TMAH solutions play important roles in the etching process. Moreover, TMA+ ions may increase the wettability of the textured surface. A good textured surface can be obtained in conditions where the absorption of OH-/H2O is in equilibrium with that of TMA+/SiO2 (OH)22-.

Characterization and Properties of Electroless Nickel Plated Poly (ethylene terephthalate) Nonwoven Fabric Enhanced by Dielectric Barrier Discharge Plasma Pretreatment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Geng, Yamin; Lu, Canhui; Liang, Mei; Zhang, Wei

2010-12-01

In order to develop a more economical pretreatment method for electroless nickel plating, a dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma at atmospheric pressure was used to improve the hydrophilicity and adhesion of poly (ethylene terephthalate) (PET) nonwoven fabric. The properties of the PET nonwoven fabric including its liquid absorptive capacity (WA), aging behavior, surface chemical composition, morphology of the surface, adhesion strength, surface electrical resistivity and electromagnetic interference (EMI)- shielding effectiveness (SE) were studied. The liquid absorptive capacity (WA) increased due to the incorporation of oxygen-containing and nitrogen-containing functional groups on the surface of PET nonwoven fabric after DBD air-plasma treatment. The surface morphology of the nonwoven fibers became rougher after plasma treatment. Therefore, the surface was more prone to absorb tin sensitizer and palladium catalyst to form an active layer for the deposition of electroless nickel. SEM and X-ray diffraction (XRD) measurements indicated that a uniform coating of nickel was formed on the PET nonwoven fabric. The average EMI-SE of Ni-plating of PET nonwoven fabric maintained a relatively stable value (38.2 dB to 37.3 dB) in a frequency range of 50 MHz to 1500 MHz. It is concluded that DBD is feasible for pretreatment of nonwoven fabric for electroless nickel plating to prepare functional material with good EMI-SE properties.

Tuning Surface Chemistry of Polyetheretherketone by Gold Coating and Plasma Treatment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Novotná, Zdeňka; Rimpelová, Silvie; Juřík, Petr; Veselý, Martin; Kolská, Zdeňka; Hubáček, Tomáš; Borovec, Jakub; Švorčík, Václav

2017-06-01

Polyetheretherketone (PEEK) has good chemical and biomechanical properties that are excellent for biomedical applications. However, PEEK exhibits hydrophobic and other surface characteristics which cause limited cell adhesion. We have investigated the potential of Ar plasma treatment for the formation of a nanostructured PEEK surface in order to enhance cell adhesion. The specific aim of this study was to reveal the effect of the interface of plasma-treated and gold-coated PEEK matrices on adhesion and spreading of mouse embryonic fibroblasts. The surface characteristics (polarity, surface chemistry, and structure) before and after treatment were evaluated by various experimental techniques (gravimetry, goniometry, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and electrokinetic analysis). Further, atomic force microscopy (AFM) was employed to examine PEEK surface morphology and roughness. The biological response of cells towards nanostructured PEEK was evaluated in terms of cell adhesion, spreading, and proliferation. Detailed cell morphology was evaluated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Compared to plasma treatment, gold coating improved PEEK wettability. The XPS method showed a decrease in the carbon concentration with increasing time of plasma treatment. Cell adhesion determined on the interface between plasma-treated and gold-coated PEEK matrices was directly proportional to the thickness of a gold layer on a sample. Our results suggest that plasma treatment in a combination with gold coating could be used in biomedical applications requiring enhanced cell adhesion.

Atomic-scale analysis of deposition and characterization of a-Si:H thin films grown from SiH radical precursor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sriraman, Saravanapriyan; Aydil, Eray S.; Maroudas, Dimitrios

2002-07-01

Growth of hydrogenated amorphous silicon films (a-Si:H) on an initial H-terminated Si(001)(2 x1) substrate at T=500 K was studied through molecular-dynamics (MD) simulations of repeated impingement of SiH radicals to elucidate the effects of reactive minority species on the structural quality of the deposited films. The important reactions contributing to film growth were identified through detailed visualization of radical-surface interaction trajectories. These reactions include (i) insertion of SiH into Si-Si bonds, (ii) adsorption onto surface dangling bonds, (iii) surface H abstraction by impinging SiH radicals through an Eley-Rideal mechanism, (iv) surface adsorption by penetration into subsurface layers or dissociation leading to interstitial atomic hydrogen, (v) desorption of interstitial hydrogen into the gas phase, (vi) formation of higher surface hydrides through the exchange of hydrogen, and (vii) dangling-bond-mediated dissociation of surface hydrides into monohydrides. The MD simulations of a-Si:H film growth predict an overall surface reaction probability of 95% for the SiH radical that is in good agreement with experimental measurements. Structural and chemical characterization of the deposited films was based on the detailed analysis of evolution of the films' structure, surface morphology and roughness, surface reactivity, and surface composition. The analysis revealed that the deposited films exhibit high dangling bond densities and rough surface morphologies. In addition, the films are abundant in voids and columnar structures that are detrimental to producing device-quality a-Si:H thin films.

KECK/LRIS SPECTROSCOPIC CONFIRMATION OF COMA CLUSTER DWARF GALAXY MEMBERSHIP ASSIGNMENTS

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Chiboucas, Kristin; Tully, R. Brent; Marzke, Ronald O.

2010-11-01

Keck/LRIS multi-object spectroscopy has been carried out on 140 of some of the lowest and highest surface brightness faint (19 < R < 22) dwarf galaxy candidates in the core region of the Coma Cluster. These spectra are used to measure redshifts and establish membership for these faint dwarf populations. The primary goal of the low surface brightness sample is to test our ability to use morphological and surface brightness criteria to distinguish between Coma Cluster members and background galaxies using high resolution Hubble Space Telescope/Advanced Camera for Surveys images. Candidates were rated as expected members, uncertain, or expected background.more » From 93 spectra, 51 dwarf galaxy members and 20 background galaxies are identified. Our morphological membership estimation success rate is {approx}100% for objects expected to be members and better than {approx}90% for galaxies expected to be in the background. We confirm that low surface brightness is a very good indicator of cluster membership. High surface brightness galaxies are almost always background with confusion arising only from the cases of the rare compact elliptical (cE) galaxies. The more problematic cases occur at intermediate surface brightness. Many of these galaxies are given uncertain membership ratings, and these were found to be members about half of the time. Including color information will improve membership determination but will fail for some of the same objects that are already misidentified when using only surface brightness and morphology criteria. cE galaxies with B-V colors {approx}0.2 mag redward of the red sequence in particular require spectroscopic follow up. In a sample of 47 high surface brightness, ultracompact dwarf candidates, 19 objects have redshifts which place them in the Coma Cluster, while another 6 have questionable redshift measurements but may also prove to be members. Redshift measurements are presented and the use of indirect means for establishing cluster membership is discussed.« less

High-Throughput Fabrication of Quality Nanofibers Using a Modified Free Surface Electrospinning.

PubMed

Shao, Zhongbiao; Yu, Liang; Xu, Lan; Wang, Mingdi

2017-12-01

Based on bubble electrospinning (BE), a modified free surface electrospinning (MFSE) using a cone-shaped air nozzle combined with a solution reservoir made of copper tubes was presented to increase the production of quality nanofibers. In the MFSE process, sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonates (SDBS) were added in the electrospun solution to generate bubbles on a liquid surface. The effects of applied voltage and generated bubbles on the morphology and production of nanofibers were investigated experimentally and theoretically. The theoretical analysis results of the electric field were in good agreement with the experimental data and showed that the quality and production of nanofibers were improved with the increase of applied voltage, and the generated bubbles would decrease the quality and production of nanofibers.

Surface-enhanced Raman scattering from silver nanostructures with different morphologies

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, W. C.; Wu, X. L.; Kan, C. X.; Pan, F. M.; Chen, H. T.; Zhu, J.; Chu, Paul K.

2010-07-01

Scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction reveal that four different types of crystalline silver nanostructures including nanoparticles, nanowires, nanocubes, and bipyramids are synthesized by a solvothermal method by reducing silver nitrate with ethylene glycol using poly(vinylpyrrolidone) as an adsorption agent and adding different quantities of sodium chloride to the solution. These nanostructures which exhibit different surface plasma resonance properties in the ultraviolet-visible region are shown to be good surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) substrates using rhodamine 6G molecules. Our results demonstrate that the silver nanocubes, bipyramids with sharp corners and edges, and aggregated silver nanoparticles possess better SERS properties than the silver nanowires, indicating that they can serve as high-sensitivity substrates in SERS-based measurements.

Synthesis and characterization of MoS2/Ti composite coatings on Ti6Al4V prepared by laser cladding

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yang, Rongjuan; Liu, Zongde; Wang, Yongtian; Yang, Guang; Li, Hongchuan

2013-02-01

The MoS2/Ti composite coating with sub-micron grade structure has been prepared on Ti6Al4V by laser method under argon protection. The morphology, microstructure, microhardness and friction coefficient of the coating were examined. The results indicated that the molybdenum disulfide was decomposed during melting and resolidification. The phase organization of composite coating mainly consisted of ternary element sulfides, molybdenum sulfides and titanium sulfides. The friction coefficient of and the surface roughness the MoS2/Ti coating were lower than those of Ti6Al4V. The composite coating exhibits excellent adhesion to the substrates, less surface roughness, good wear resistance and harder surface.

High-Throughput Fabrication of Quality Nanofibers Using a Modified Free Surface Electrospinning

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shao, Zhongbiao; Yu, Liang; Xu, Lan; Wang, Mingdi

2017-07-01

Based on bubble electrospinning (BE), a modified free surface electrospinning (MFSE) using a cone-shaped air nozzle combined with a solution reservoir made of copper tubes was presented to increase the production of quality nanofibers. In the MFSE process, sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonates (SDBS) were added in the electrospun solution to generate bubbles on a liquid surface. The effects of applied voltage and generated bubbles on the morphology and production of nanofibers were investigated experimentally and theoretically. The theoretical analysis results of the electric field were in good agreement with the experimental data and showed that the quality and production of nanofibers were improved with the increase of applied voltage, and the generated bubbles would decrease the quality and production of nanofibers.

Deep-Red Fluorescent Gold Nanoclusters for Nucleoli Staining: Real-Time Monitoring of the Nucleolar Dynamics in Reverse Transformation of Malignant Cells.

PubMed

Wang, Xiaojuan; Wang, Yanan; He, Hua; Ma, Xiqi; Chen, Qi; Zhang, Shuai; Ge, Baosheng; Wang, Shengjie; Nau, Werner M; Huang, Fang

2017-05-31

Nucleoli are important subnuclear structures inside cells. We report novel fluorescent gold nanoclusters (K-AuNCs) that are able to stain the nucleoli selectively and make it possible to explore the nucleolar morphology with fluorescence imaging technique. This novel probe is prepared through an easy synthesis method by employing a tripeptide (Lys-Cys-Lys) as the surface ligand. The properties, including deep-red fluorescence emission (680 nm), large Stocks shift, broad excitation band, low cytotoxicity, and good photostability, endow this probe with potential for bioanalytical applications. Because of their small size and their positively charged surface, K-AuNCs are able to accumulate efficiently at the nucleolar regions and provide precise morphological information. K-AuNCs are also used to monitor the nucleolar dynamics along the reverse-transformation process of malignant cells, induced by the agonist of protein A, 8-chloro-cyclic adenosine monophosphate. This gives a novel approach for investigating the working mechanism of antitumor drugs.

Copper-Doped Bioactive Glass as Filler for PMMA-Based Bone Cements: Morphological, Mechanical, Reactivity, and Preliminary Antibacterial Characterization.

PubMed

Miola, Marta; Cochis, Andrea; Kumar, Ajay; Arciola, Carla Renata; Rimondini, Lia; Verné, Enrica

2018-06-06

To promote osteointegration and simultaneously limit bacterial contamination without using antibiotics, we designed innovative composite cements containing copper (Cu)-doped bioactive glass powders. Cu-doped glass powders were produced by a melt and quenching process, followed by an ion-exchange process in a Cu salt aqueous solution. Cu-doped glass was incorporated into commercial polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA)-based cements with different viscosities. The realized composites were characterized in terms of morphology, composition, leaching ability, bioactivity, mechanical, and antibacterial properties. Glass powders appeared well distributed and exposed on the PMMA surface. Composite cements showed good bioactivity, evidencing hydroxyapatite precipitation on the sample surfaces after seven days of immersion in simulated body fluid. The leaching test demonstrated that composite cements released a significant amount of copper, with a noticeable antibacterial effect toward Staphylococcus epidermidis strain. Thus, the proposed materials represent an innovative and multifunctional tool for orthopedic prostheses fixation, temporary prostheses, and spinal surgery.

Two-step fabrication of nanoporous copper films with tunable morphology for SERS application

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Diao, Fangyuan; Xiao, Xinxin; Luo, Bing; Sun, Hui; Ding, Fei; Ci, Lijie; Si, Pengchao

2018-01-01

It is important to design and fabricate nanoporous metals (NPMs) with optimized microstructures for specific applications. In this contribution, nanoporous coppers (NPCs) with controllable thicknesses and pore sizes were fabricated via the combination of a co-sputtering of Cu/Ti with a subsequent dealloying process. The effect of dealloying time on porous morphology and the corresponding surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) behaviors were systematically investigated. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) identified the presences of the gaps formed between ligaments and also the nanobumps on the nanoparticle-aggregated ligament surface, which were likely to contribute as the ;hot spots; for electromagnetic enhancement. The optimal NPC film exhibited excellent SERS performance towards Rhodamine 6G (R6G) with a low limiting detection (10-9 M), along with good uniformity and reproducibility. The calculated enhancement factor of ca. 4.71 × 107 was over Au substrates and comparable to Ag systems, promising the proposed NPC as a cheap candidate for high-performance SERS substrate.

Determination of morphological characteristics of metallic nanoparticles based on modified Maxwell-Garnett fitting of optical responses

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Battie, Y., E-mail: yann.battie@univ-lorraine.fr; Resano-Garcia, A.; En Naciri, A.

2015-10-05

A modified effective medium theory (MEMT) is introduced to determine morphological characteristics and the volume fraction of colloidal metallic nanoparticles. By analyzing the optical absorption spectra of gold nanoparticles (NPs), this model is used to determine the distribution of prolate and oblate NPs and to demonstrate the presence of spherical NPs. In addition to interband transition, the model takes into account the longitudinal and transversal surface plasmon resonances. The results predicted by the MEMT theory were found to be in very good agreement with the shape distributions obtained by transmission electron microscopy. We found that fitting optical absorption spectra usingmore » MEMT provides a robust tool for measuring the shape and concentration of metallic NPs.« less

Self-organized pattern formation at organic-inorganic interfaces during deposition: Experiment versus modeling

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Szillat, F.; Mayr, S. G.

2011-09-01

Self-organized pattern formation during physical vapor deposition of organic materials onto rough inorganic substrates is characterized by a complex morphological evolution as a function of film thickness. We employ a combined experimental-theoretical study using atomic force microscopy and numerically solved continuum rate equations to address morphological evolution in the model system: poly(bisphenol A carbonate) on polycrystalline Cu. As the key ingredients for pattern formation, (i) curvature and interface potential driven surface diffusion, (ii) deposition noise, and (iii) interface boundary effects are identified. Good agreement of experiments and theory, fitting only the Hamaker constant and diffusivity within narrow physical parameter windows, corroborates the underlying physics and paves the way for computer-assisted interface engineering.

Optimization of formaldehyde concentration on electroless copper deposition on alumina surface

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shahidin, S. A. M.; Fadil, N. A.; Yusop, M. Zamri; Tamin, M. N.; Osman, S. A.

2018-05-01

The effect of formaldehyde concentration on electroless copper plating on alumina wafer was studied. The main composition of plating bath was copper sulphate (CuSO4) as precursor and formaldehyde as a reducing agent. The copper deposition films were assessed by varying the ratio of CuSO4 and formaldehyde. The plating rate was calculated from the weight gained after plating process whilst the surface morphology was observed by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM). The results show that 1:3 ratio of copper to formaldehyde is an optimum ratio to produce most uniform coating with good adhesion between copper layer and alumina wafer substrate.

Pulsed laser diffusion of thin hole-barrier contacts in high purity germanium for gamma radiation detectors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Maggioni, G.; Carturan, S.; Raniero, W.; Riccetto, S.; Sgarbossa, F.; Boldrini, V.; Milazzo, R.; Napoli, D. R.; Scarpa, D.; Andrighetto, A.; Napolitani, E.; De Salvador, D.

2018-03-01

A new method for the formation of hole-barrier contacts in high purity germanium (HPGe) is described, which consists in the sputter deposition of a Sb film on HPGe, followed by Sb diffusion produced through laser annealing of the Ge surface in the melting regime. This process gives rise to a very thin ( ≤ 100 nm) n-doped layer, as determined by SIMS measurement, while preserving the defect-free morphology of HPGe surface. A small prototype of gamma ray detector with a Sb laser-diffused contact was produced and characterized, showing low leakage currents and good spectroscopy data with different gamma ray sources.

On the kinetics of pack aluminization

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Gupta, B. K.; Sarkhel, A. K.; Seigle, L. L.

1975-01-01

A theory of pack aluminization has been formulated by combining gaseous and solid-state diffusion rates. This theory relates the surface composition of the coating and therefore, in principle, the phase morphology and the growth rate of the coating, to pack operating parameters such as pack aluminum density, type of activator, temperature and others. Experimental data on the aluminization of unalloyed nickel in pure aluminum packs obtained to date are in good agreement with the predictions of the theory.

The effect of amino acid excipients on morphology and solid-state properties of multi-component spray-dried formulations for pulmonary delivery of biomacromolecules.

PubMed

Sou, Tomás; Kaminskas, Lisa M; Nguyen, Tri-Hung; Carlberg, Renée; McIntosh, Michelle P; Morton, David A V

2013-02-01

For a dry powder carrier platform to be suitable for pulmonary delivery of potent biomacromolecules, it has to be aerosolisable and capable of stabilising the biomacromolecules. In the present study, strategies aiming to produce a multi-component spray-dried powder formulation with a stable amorphous glassy matrix containing mannitol, trehalose, glycine and alanine, while using leucine as a particle formation and aerosolisation enhancing agent were investigated. The results from in vitro aerosolisation studies demonstrated high fine particle fractions (FPFs) from several formulations. Scanning electronic micrographs (SEMs) revealed distinct morphological features of these formulations in response to increasing leucine concentration: from the apparent insufficiency for discrete particle formation, to reduced particle agglomeration, to increased surface corrugation. X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD) results indicated that partially ordered leucine resulting from self-assembly on the particle surface is important for the amino acid to function effectively as an encapsulating agent. This may also play a role in inhibiting crystallisation of other components within the formulation. In conclusion, the results suggest that with suitable particle size, good dispersibility and solid-state properties, selected trehalose/leucine combinations appear to have good potential for development into a universal carrier platform for pulmonary delivery of potent biomacromolecules and the work highlights areas deserving further investigation. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Functionalized coatings by cold spray: An in vitro study of micro- and nanocrystalline hydroxyapatite compared to porous titanium.

PubMed

Vilardell, A M; Cinca, N; Garcia-Giralt, N; Dosta, S; Cano, I G; Nogués, X; Guilemany, J M

2018-06-01

Three different surface treatments on a Ti6Al4V alloy have been in vitro tested for possible application in cementless joint prosthesis. All of them involve the novelty of using the Cold Spray technology for their deposition: (i) an as-sprayed highly rough titanium and, followed by the deposition of a thin hydroxyapatite layer with (ii) microcrystalline or (iii) nanocrystalline structure. Primary human osteoblasts were extracted from knee and seeded onto the three different surfaces. Cell viability was tested by MTS and LIVE/DEAD assays, cell differentiation by alkaline phosphatase (ALP) quantification and cell morphology by Phalloidin staining. All tests were carried out at 1, 7 and 14 days of cell culture. Different cell morphologies between titanium and hydroxyapatite surfaces were exhibited. At 1 day of cell culture, cells on the titanium coating were spread and flattened, expanding the filopodia actin filaments in all directions, while cells on the hydroxyapatite coatings showed round like-shape morphology due to slower attachment. Higher cell viability was detected at all times of cell culture on titanium coating due to a better attachment at 1 day. However, from 7 days of cell culture, cells on hydroxyapatite showed good attachment onto surfaces and highly increased their proliferation, mostly on nanocrystalline, achieving similar cell viability levels than titanium coatings. ALP levels were significantly higher in titanium, in part, because of greatest cell number. Overall, the best cell functional results were obtained on titanium coatings whereas microcrystalline hydroxyapatite presented the worst cellular parameters. However, results indicate that nanocrystalline hydroxyapatite coatings may achieve promising results for the faster cell proliferation once cells are attached on the surface. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

An easy and environmentally-friendly approach to superamphiphobicity of aluminum surfaces

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Deng, R.; Hu, Y. M.; Wang, L.; Li, Zh. H.; Shen, T.; Zhu, Y.; Xiang, J. Zh.

2017-04-01

Superamphiphobic Al surfaces were achieved via an easy and environmentally-friendly approach. Aqueous mixed solution of 0.7 M CuSO4 and 1 M NaCl was used to etch polished Al surfaces to fabricate a rough morphology distributed with microscale step-like pits. The uniformly distributed nanoscale petals covered on the microscale pits were obtained by subsequent 96 °C hot deionized water bathing for 13 min. Thus, the hierarchical micro/nanometer scale roughness was formed which provided the structural basic of superamphiphobic Al surfaces. By 1H, 1H, 2H, 2H-Perfluorodecyl-triethoxysilane (PFDTS) derivatization, desirable superamphiphobic Al surfaces were achieved with the highest static contact angles of 162° for water, 156° for peanut oil, respectively. Meanwhile, the sliding angles were lower than 10° for both water and peanut oil droplets. The as-prepared Al surfaces were investigated by field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and optical contact angle measurements. The FE-SEM images of as-prepared Al surfaces showed a hierarchical micro/nanometer scale morphology. XPS analyses demonstrated the PFDTS derivitization on Al surfaces. The superamphiphobic Al surfaces presented good mechanical durability and chemical stability which have a wide range of applications in fields such as self-cleaning, anti-icing, anti-corrosion, oil transportation, energy harvesting, microfluidics, and so forth. The approach reported in this paper may easily realize the industrial production of superamphiphobic Al surfaces owing to the advantage of facile, low cost and environmentally-friendly.

Super-SERS-active and highly effective antimicrobial Ag nanodendrites

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, H. B.; Liu, P.; Liang, Y.; Xiao, J.; Yang, G. W.

2012-07-01

We have developed simple and green electrochemistry to synthesize Ag nanostructures with high purity, good crystallinity and smooth surface for applications as super-SERS (surface-enhanced Raman scattering), SERS-active substrates and with highly effective antimicrobial activities. This synthesis takes place in a clean and slow reaction environment without any chemical additives, which ensures an ultrahigh active surface of the as-synthesized Ag nanostructures owing to their purity, good crystallinity and smooth morphology. Using this method, we synthesized nearly perfect Ag nanodendrites (NDs), which exhibit super-SERS sensitivity when they are used to detect the SERS spectra of rhodamine 6G at concentrations as low as 5 × 10-16 M, and have an ultrahigh electromagnetic (EM) enhancement factor of the order of 1013, breaking through the theoretical limit of EM enhancement. Meanwhile, the as-synthesized Ag NDs possess highly effective antimicrobial activities for Escherichia coli, Candida albicans and Staphylococcus aureus, which are over 10 times that of silver nanoparticles. Additionally, the basic physics and chemistry involved in the fabrication of Ag nanostructures are pursued. These investigations show that silver nanostructures with highly active surfaces can make the most of Ag nanostructures functioning as super-SERS-active substrates and multiple antibiotics.

Processing and Characterization of Graphene/Polyimide-Nickel Oxide Hybrid Nanocomposites for Advanced Energy Storage in Supercapacitor Applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Okafor, Patricia A.

This research is focused on enhancing electrochemical properties/energy storage capabilities of graphene-polyimide composites. The composite's dense morphology/structure limits ionic penetration owing to high bulk resistances resulting in poor electrochemical performance. Modification of the composite's morphology by incorporation of facile pores during curing increases total available surface area to electrolyte species. Presence of pores increases adsorption sites for double layer formation and increases overall capacitance. In this work, aromatic polyimide precursors were reacted in the presence of nano-graphene fillers to synthesize graphene-polyimide composite films. The resulting composite was very stiff and dense with a high glass transition temperature (Tg) of 400 °C and storage modulus of 7.20 GPa. Selective decomposition of a thermally labile poly(acrylic ester) resin introduced into the composite during synthesis creates pores of varying size and shapes which increases available surface area of embedded stacked graphene sheets available for ion adsorption and double layer formation. Proper control over pore size and specific surface area of pores was required to ensure good performance in terms of both power delivery rate and energy storage capacity. Dynamic mechanical studies on modified composite showed very good mechanical property while shifts in imide peaks to lower wave numbers in Raman and Fourier transform spectroscopy (FTIR) confirms presence of chemical interaction between graphene filler and polymer matrix confirming uniform dispersion of fillers in the material. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) shows thermal stability for the composite systems at temperatures above 700°C. To further optimize material's energy storage capabilities, a hybrid composite was formed by depositing relatively cheap nickel oxide onto the modified porous composite system by a two-step process. A remarkable improvement in electrochemical properties up to an order of magnitude was observed. Electrochemical performance of the hybrid system showed strong dependence on deposition current density, deposition time and substrate pore morphology. Increased NiO particle size (aggregates) was observed with increased deposition time and current density which had a significant impact on charge transfer resistance and specific capacitance. Several correlations were made between composite's morphology and obtained properties. The material's morphology showed direct correlation with double layer capacitance, charge capacity, bulk resistance and sheet conductivity measured using cyclic voltammetry (CV), cyclic charge discharge (CCD), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and four probe measurements respectively. It was observed that smaller well distributed pores showed enhanced properties compared to larger pores. Material's overall performance shows a linear dependence on porosity. The overall electrochemical and electrical behavior of the system is directly linked to the composite's morphology and structure as will be demonstrated in this thesis work.

Effects of electrode surface structure on the mechanoelectrical transduction of IPMC sensors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Palmre, Viljar; Pugal, David; Kim, Kwang

2014-03-01

This study investigates the effects of electrode surface structure on the mechanoelectrical transduction of IPMC sensors. A physics-based mechanoelectrical transduction model was developed that takes into account the electrode surface profile (shape) by describing the polymer-electrode interface as a Koch fractal structure. Based on the model, the electrode surface effects were experimentally investigated in case of IPMCs with Pd-Pt electrodes. IPMCs with different electrode surface structures were fabricated through electroless plating process by appropriately controlling the synthesis parameters and conditions. The changes in the electrode surface morphology and the corresponding effects on the IPMC mechanoelectrical transduction were examined. Our experimental results indicate that increasing the dispersion of Pd particles near the membrane surface, and thus the polymer-electrode interfacial area, leads to a higher peak mechanoelectrically induced voltage of IPMC. However, the overall effect of the electrode surface structure is relatively low compared to the electromechanical transduction, which is in good agreement with theoretical prediction.

Preparation of Pd-loaded La-doped TiO2 nanotubes and investigation of their photocatalytic activity under visible light

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zong, Lanlan; Li, Qiuye; Zhang, Jiwei; Wang, Xiaodong; Yang, Jianjun

2013-11-01

Orthorhombic titanic acid nanotubes (TAN) have large BET surface area and small-diameter one-dimensional nanotubular morphology, so they can work as a good supporter and a precursor of TiO2. However, in our former research, we found that calcination of TAN to anatase TiO2 would destroy the nanotubular structure and decrease the BET surface area sharply. In this work, we utilized the pillar effect of the foreign nanoparticles (La2O3) to keep the nanotubular morphology of TiO2, and obtained the anatase TiO2 nanotubes with large BET surface area. For improving the photocatalytic activity, Pd nanoparticles were loaded as the electron traps on the surface of La-doped TiO2 by photo-deposition method. The photocatalysts were characterized by X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, diffuse reflectance spectra, and N2 adsorption-desorption isotherms measurement. Their photocatalytic activities were evaluated by the removal of propylene under visible light irradiation ( λ ≥ 420 nm). The results showed that the photocatalytic activity of Pd-loaded La-doped TiO2 nanotubes improved effectively compared with that of La-doped TiO2 and pure TiO2.

Statistical analysis of whole-body absorption depending on anatomical human characteristics at a frequency of 2.1 GHz.

PubMed

Habachi, A El; Conil, E; Hadjem, A; Vazquez, E; Wong, M F; Gati, A; Fleury, G; Wiart, J

2010-04-07

In this paper, we propose identification of the morphological factors that may impact the whole-body averaged specific absorption rate (WBSAR). This study is conducted for the case of exposure to a front plane wave at a 2100 MHz frequency carrier. This study is based on the development of different regression models for estimating the WBSAR as a function of morphological factors. For this purpose, a database of 12 anatomical human models (phantoms) has been considered. Also, 18 supplementary phantoms obtained using the morphing technique were generated to build the required relation. This paper presents three models based on external morphological factors such as the body surface area, the body mass index or the body mass. These models show good results in estimating the WBSAR (<10%) for families obtained by the morphing technique, but these are still less accurate (30%) when applied to different original phantoms. This study stresses the importance of the internal morphological factors such as muscle and fat proportions in characterization of the WBSAR. The regression models are then improved using internal morphological factors with an estimation error of approximately 10% on the WBSAR. Finally, this study is suitable for establishing the statistical distribution of the WBSAR for a given population characterized by its morphology.

Statistical analysis of whole-body absorption depending on anatomical human characteristics at a frequency of 2.1 GHz

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

El Habachi, A.; Conil, E.; Hadjem, A.; Vazquez, E.; Wong, M. F.; Gati, A.; Fleury, G.; Wiart, J.

2010-04-01

In this paper, we propose identification of the morphological factors that may impact the whole-body averaged specific absorption rate (WBSAR). This study is conducted for the case of exposure to a front plane wave at a 2100 MHz frequency carrier. This study is based on the development of different regression models for estimating the WBSAR as a function of morphological factors. For this purpose, a database of 12 anatomical human models (phantoms) has been considered. Also, 18 supplementary phantoms obtained using the morphing technique were generated to build the required relation. This paper presents three models based on external morphological factors such as the body surface area, the body mass index or the body mass. These models show good results in estimating the WBSAR (<10%) for families obtained by the morphing technique, but these are still less accurate (30%) when applied to different original phantoms. This study stresses the importance of the internal morphological factors such as muscle and fat proportions in characterization of the WBSAR. The regression models are then improved using internal morphological factors with an estimation error of approximately 10% on the WBSAR. Finally, this study is suitable for establishing the statistical distribution of the WBSAR for a given population characterized by its morphology.

Investigation on single walled carbon nanotube thin films deposited by Langmuir Blodgett method

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Vishalli,, E-mail: vishalli-2008@yahoo.com; Dharamvir, Keya; Kaur, Ramneek

2015-05-15

Langmuir Blodgett is a technique to deposit a homogeneous film with a fine control over thickness and molecular organization. Thin films of functionalized SWCNTs have been prepared by Langmuir Blodgett method. The good surface spreading properties of SWCNTs at air/water interface are indicated by surface pressure-area isotherm and the monolayer formed on water surface is transferred onto the quartz substrate by vertical dipping. A multilayer film is thus obtained in a layer by layer manner. The film is characterized by Atomic Force Microscope (AFM), UV-Vis-NIR spectroscopy and FTIR.AFM shows the surface morphology of the deposited film. UV-Vis-NIR spectroscopy shows themore » characteristic peaks of semiconducting SWCNTs. The uniformity of LB film can be used further in understanding the optical and electrical behavior of these materials.« less

Preparation of Ag superhydrophobic surface on metal substrates

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, J. Y.; Lu, S. X.; Xu, W. G.; Duan, Y. Q.; Yang, X. C.; Cheng, Y. Y.; He, G.; Cui, S.

2018-01-01

In this work, the facile approaches are developed for preparation the Ag superhydrophobic surfaces (SHSs) on zinc (Zn), copper (Cu) and aluminium (Al) substrates. The water contact angles (WCAs) of the Ag SHSs on Zn, Cu and Al substrates are 167°, 165° and 154°, respectively. Furthermore, the water sliding angle (WSA) of each surface is less than 1°. The morphology and chemical composition of the samples are characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction pattern (XRD). The as-prepared three kinds of SHSs possess the self-cleaning performance, which can quickly take the chalk away when the water droplets fall down the SHSs. In addition, the superhydrophobicity of the SHSs can well maintain after exposure to the air for 6 months, indicating that the surfaces can sustain good stability.

Short frontal plane fractures involving the dorsoproximal articular surface of the proximal phalanx: Description of the injury and a technique for repair.

PubMed

Wright, I M; Minshall, G J

2018-01-01

Chip fractures of the dorsoproximal articular margin of the proximal phalanx are common injuries in racehorses. Large fractures can extend distal to the joint capsule insertion and have been described as dorsal frontal fractures. To report the location and morphology of short frontal plane fractures involving the dorsoproximal articular surface of the proximal phalanx and describe a technique for repair under arthroscopic and radiographic guidance. Single centre retrospective case study. Case records of horses with frontal plane fractures restricted to the dorsoproximal epiphysis and metaphysis of the proximal phalanx referred to Newmarket Equine Hospital were retrieved, images reviewed and lesion morphology described. A technique for repair and the results obtained are reported. A total of 22 fractures in 21 horses commencing at the proximal articular surface exited the dorsal cortex of the proximal phalanx distal to the metacarpophalangeal/metatarsophalangeal joint capsule in 17 hind- and five forelimbs. All were in Thoroughbred racehorses. In 16 cases these were acute racing or training injuries; 20 fractures were medial, one lateral and one was midline. All were repaired with a single lag screw using arthroscopic and radiographically determined landmarks. A total of 16 horses raced after surgery with performance data similar to their preinjury levels. The study demonstrates substantial morphological similarities between individual lesions supporting a common pathophysiology, but does not identify precise causation. There are no cases managed differently that might permit assessment of the comparative efficacy of the treatment described. Short frontal plane fractures involving the dorsoproximal margin of the proximal phalanx that exit the bone distal to the metacarpophalangeal/metatarsophalangeal joint capsule have substantial morphological similarities, are amenable to minimally invasive repair and carry a good prognosis for return to training and racing. © 2017 EVJ Ltd.

Early Stage Anodic Instability of Glassy Carbon Electrodes in Propylene Carbonate Solvent Containing Lithium Hexafluorophosphate.

PubMed

Carino, Emily V; Newman, Daniel J; Connell, Justin G; Kim, Chaerin; Brushett, Fikile R

2017-10-31

Irreversible changes to the morphology of glassy carbon (GC) electrodes at potentials between 3.5 and 4.5 V vs Li/Li + in propylene carbonate (PC) solvent containing lithium hexafluorophosphate (LiPF 6 ) are reported. Analysis of cyclic voltammetry (CV) experiments in the range of 3.0 to 6.0 V shows that the capacitance of the electrochemical double-layer increased irreversibly beginning at potentials as low as 3.5 V. These changes resulted from nonfaradaic interactions, and were not due to oxidative electrochemical decomposition of the electrode and electrolyte, anion intercalation, nor caused by the presence of water, a common impurity in organic electrolyte solutions. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) images revealed that increasing the potential of a bare GC surface from 3.0 to 4.5 V resulted in a 6× increase in roughness, in good agreement with the changes in double-layer capacitance. Treating the GC surface via exposure to trichloromethylsilane vapors resulted in a stable double-layer capacitance between 3.0 and 4.5 V, and this treatment also correlated with less roughening. These results inform future efforts aimed at controlling surface composition and morphology of carbon electrodes.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Carino, Emily V.; Newman, Daniel J.; Connell, Justin G.

In this paper, irreversible changes to the morphology of glassy carbon (GC) electrodes at potentials between 3.5 and 4.5 V vs Li/Li + in propylene carbonate (PC) solvent containing lithium hexafluorophosphate (LiPF 6) are reported. Analysis of cyclic voltammetry (CV) experiments in the range of 3.0 to 6.0 V shows that the capacitance of the electrochemical double -layer increased irreversibly beginning at potentials as low as 3.5 V. These changes resulted from nonfaradaic interactions, and were not due to oxidative electrochemical decomposition of the electrode and electrolyte, anion intercalation, nor caused by the presence of water, a common impurity inmore » organic electrolyte solutions. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) images revealed that increasing the potential of a bare GC surface from 3.0 to 4.5 V resulted in a 6X increase in roughness, in good agreement with the changes in double -layer capacitance. Treating the GC surface via exposure to trichloromethylsilane vapors resulted in a stable double -layer capacitance between 3.0 and 4.5 V, and this treatment also correlated with less roughening. Lastly, these results inform future efforts aimed at controlling surface composition and morphology of carbon electrodes.« less

Synthesis and characterization of Ni NPs-doped silica-titania nanocomposites: structural, optical and photocatalytic properties

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Islam, S.; Bidin, N.; Osman, S. S.; Krishnan, G.; Salim, A. A.; Riaz, S.; Suan, L. P.; Naseem, S.; Sanagi, M. M.

2017-01-01

The synthesis of Ni-doped silica-titania nanocomposite is performed by sol-gel method. The samples prior and after heat treatment at 300 °C for 1 h are characterized by analytical instrumental techniques. FE-SEM and AFM results indicate the regular morphology with low surface roughness without any cracks. EDX analysis verifies the formation of nanocomposites. XRD of the films reveals crystalline titania phases after annealing at 300 °C. The FTIR confirms the bond linkage between silica, titania and nickel molecules. High surface area 155 m2/g, pore volume of 0.2 cm3/g and pore diameter of 48.10 Å are obtained after heat treatment. The magnetic results show that the composite content is reminiscent of ferromagnetic hysteresis loop, with remanence magnetization Mr of 45.35 and 13.20 emu/g for both samples. The organic dye phenol red is used for the evaluation of photocatalytic activity of the synthesized magnetic material. The homogeneous surface morphology, crystalline nature, good solubility of magnetic nanoparticles into the silica-titania matrix show that the Ni/SiO2-TiO2 magnetic photocatalyst can be efficient and reusable.

Characteristics and in vitro response of thin hydroxyapatite–titania films produced by plasma electrolytic oxidation of Ti alloys in electrolytes with particle additions

PubMed Central

Yeung, W. K.; Sukhorukova, I. V.; Shtansky, D. V.; Levashov, E. A.; Zhitnyak, I. Y.; Gloushankova, N. A.; Kiryukhantsev-Korneev, P. V.; Petrzhik, M. I.; Matthews, A.

2016-01-01

The enhancement of the biological properties of Ti by surface doping with hydroxyapatite (HA) is of great significance, especially for orthodontic applications. This study addressed the effects of HA particle size in the electrolyte suspension on the characteristics and biological properties of thin titania-based coatings produced on Ti–6Al–4V alloy by plasma electrolytic oxidation (PEO). Detailed morphological investigation of the coatings formed by a single-stage PEO process with two-step control of the electrical parameters was performed using the Minkowski functionals approach. The surface chemistry was studied by glow discharge optical emission spectroscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, whereas mechanical properties were evaluated using scratch tests. The biological assessment included in vitro evaluation of the coating bioactivity in simulated body fluid (SBF) as well as studies of spreading, proliferation and osteoblastic differentiation of MC3T3-E1 cells. The results demonstrated that both HA micro- and nanoparticles were successfully incorporated in the coatings but had different effects on their surface morphology and elemental distributions. The micro-particles formed an irregular surface morphology featuring interpenetrated networks of fine pores and coating material, whereas the nanoparticles penetrated deeper into the coating matrix which retained major morphological features of the porous TiO2 coating. All coatings suffered cohesive failure in scratch tests, but no adhesive failure was observed; moreover doping with HA increased the coating scratch resistance. In vitro tests in SBF revealed enhanced bioactivity of both HA-doped PEO coatings; furthermore, the cell proliferation/morphometric tests showed their good biocompatibility. Fluorescence microscopy revealed a well-organised actin cytoskeleton and focal adhesions in MC3T3-E1 cells cultivated on these substrates. The cell alkaline phosphatase activity in the presence of ascorbic acid and β-glycerophosphate was significantly increased, especially in HA nanoparticle-doped coatings. PMID:27019704

SeO2 adsorption on CaO surface: DFT and experimental study on the adsorption of multiple SeO2 molecules

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fan, Yaming; Zhuo, Yuqun; Li, Liangliang

2017-10-01

SeO2 adsorption mechanisms on CaO surface were firstly investigated by both density functional theory (DFT) calculations and adsorption experiments. Adsorption of multiple SeO2 on the CaO (001) surface was investigated using slab model. Based on the results of adsorption energy and surface property, a double-layer adsorption mechanisms were proposed. In experiments, the SeO2 adsorption products were prepared in a U-shaped quartz reactor at 200 °C. The surface morphology was investigated by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM). The superficial and total SeO2 mass fractions were measured by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES), respectively. The surface valence state and bulk structure are determined by XPS and X-Ray Diffraction (XRD). The experimental results are in good agreement with the DFT results. In conclusion, the fundamental SeO2 chemisorption mechanisms on CaO surface were suggested.

Relationship between sediment morphology and oil pollution along the Suez Canal beaches, Egypt

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Barakat, M.A.K.; Shimy, T.M.; Mostafa, Y.M.

1996-10-01

In this study, marine surface sediments are collected from nine locations along the Suez Canal in order to investigate the relationship between the morphology of sands in the studied beaches and pollution by oil. Basically, the studied samples were analyzed by three techniques: grains-size analysis, microscopic examination, and gas chromatographic (GC) analysis. This study concluded that medium sand is the major class represented in the studied marine sediments. Pollution in these sand grains increases in the irregular grains more so than in the more rounded grains. Also, deep surface points, pitting, and fissures are considered to be good sites tomore » precipitate oil contamination. Also, the presence of iron oxides may be taken as evidence for tanker ballast washings. The heavy fraction (zircon) shows more contamination than the light fraction (quartz) in these samples. Finally, GC profiles have shown two types of samples: one typical of weathered or highly weathered crude oil patterns and the other for samples with very highly weathered profiles. The relationship obtained between morphology studies and both oil content and GC chromatogram profiles indicates that all of the studied locations are suffering from pollution of oil that is spilled while shipping petroleum through the Suez Canal.« less

The preparation of nanosized polyethylene particles via novel heterogeneous non-metallocene catalyst (m-CH3PhO)TiCl3/CNTs/AlEt3

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, J.; Guo, J. P.; Yi, J. J.; Huang, Q. G.; Li, H. M.; Li, Y. F.; Gao, K. J.; Yang, W. T.

2014-08-01

This paper reports the preparation of coral-shaped topological morphology nascent polyethylene (PE) particles promoted by the novel heterogeneous non-metallocene catalyst (m-CH3PhO)TiCl3/carbon nanotubes (CNTs), with AlEt3 used as a cocatalyst. Scanning electron microscope (SEM), high resolution transmission electron microscope (HR-TEM) and inductively coupled plasma (ICP) emission spectroscopy were used to determine the morphology of the catalyst particles and the content of (m-CH3PhO)TiCl3. The carbon nanotube surface was treated with Grignard Reagent prior to reacting with (m-CH3PhO)TiCl3. The catalyst system could effectively catalyze ethylene polymerization and ethylene with 1- hexene copolymerization, the catalytic activity could reach up to 5.8 kg/((gTi)h). Morphology of the obtained polymer particles by SEM and HR-TEM technique revealed that the nascent polyethylene particles looked like coral shape in micro-size. The multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) supported catalysts polymerized ethylene to form polymer nanocomposite in situ. The microscopic examination of this nanocomposite revealed that carbon nanoparticles in PE matrix had a good distribution and the cryogenically fractured surface was ductile-like when polymerization time was 2 min.

Bi-stage time evolution of nano-morphology on inductively coupled plasma etched fused silica surface caused by surface morphological transformation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jiang, Xiaolong; Zhang, Lijuan; Bai, Yang; Liu, Ying; Liu, Zhengkun; Qiu, Keqiang; Liao, Wei; Zhang, Chuanchao; Yang, Ke; Chen, Jing; Jiang, Yilan; Yuan, Xiaodong

2017-07-01

In this work, we experimentally investigate the surface nano-roughness during the inductively coupled plasma etching of fused silica, and discover a novel bi-stage time evolution of surface nano-morphology. At the beginning, the rms roughness, correlation length and nano-mound dimensions increase linearly and rapidly with etching time. At the second stage, the roughening process slows down dramatically. The switch of evolution stage synchronizes with the morphological change from dual-scale roughness comprising long wavelength underlying surface and superimposed nano-mounds to one scale of nano-mounds. A theoretical model based on surface morphological change is proposed. The key idea is that at the beginning, etched surface is dual-scale, and both larger deposition rate of etch inhibitors and better plasma etching resistance at the surface peaks than surface valleys contribute to the roughness development. After surface morphology transforming into one-scale, the difference of plasma resistance between surface peaks and valleys vanishes, thus the roughening process slows down.

Surface-functionalized cockle shell–based calcium carbonate aragonite polymorph as a drug nanocarrier

PubMed Central

Mohd Abd Ghafar, Syairah Liyana; Hussein, Mohd Zobir; Rukayadi, Yaya; Abu Bakar Zakaria, Md Zuki

2017-01-01

Calcium carbonate aragonite polymorph nanoparticles derived from cockle shells were prepared using surface functionalization method followed by purification steps. Size, morphology, and surface properties of the nanoparticles were characterized using transmission electron microscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy, dynamic light scattering, zetasizer, X-ray powder diffraction, and Fourier transform infrared spectrometry techniques. The potential of surface-functionalized calcium carbonate aragonite polymorph nanoparticle as a drug-delivery agent were assessed through in vitro drug-loading test and drug-release test. Transmission electron microscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy, and particle size distribution analyses revealed that size, morphology, and surface characterization had been improved after surface functionalization process. Zeta potential of the nanoparticles was found to be increased, thereby demonstrating better dispersion among the nanoparticles. Purification techniques showed a further improvement in the overall distribution of nanoparticles toward more refined size ranges <100 nm, which specifically favored drug-delivery applications. The purity of the aragonite phase and their chemical analyses were verified by X-ray powder diffraction and Fourier transform infrared spectrometry studies. In vitro biological response of hFOB 1.19 osteoblast cells showed that surface functionalization could improve the cytotoxicity of cockle shell–based calcium carbonate aragonite nanocarrier. The sample was also sensitive to pH changes and demonstrated good abilities to load and sustain in vitro drug. This study thus indicates that calcium carbonate aragonite polymorph nanoparticles derived from cockle shells, a natural biomaterial, with modified surface characteristics are promising and can be applied as efficient carriers for drug delivery. PMID:28572724

Effect of the morphology of adsorbed oleate on the wettability of a collophane surface

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ye, Junjian; Zhang, Qin; Li, Xianbo; Wang, Xianchen; Ke, Baolin; Li, Xianhai; Shen, Zhihui

2018-06-01

The adsorption of surfactants on a solid surface could alter its wettability, which offers a wide range of relevant applications such as mineral flotation, hydrophobic material preparation and nanomaterial dispersion. The morphology of adsorbed oleate on a collophane surface was visualized using the peakforce tapping mode of atomic force microscopy (AFM), and its effect on the wettability of collophane was analysed by contact angle measurements, adsorption measurements and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. The AFM images demonstrated that the adsorbed structure varied with different oleate concentrations. First, the small cylindrical micelles with concomitant monolayer and bilayer structures were observed above the hemimicelle concentration (hmc) of 1 × 10-5 mol/L, which enhanced the hydrophobicity of the collophane surface, and the collophane surface was not completely covered with the oleate monolayer due to surface heterogeneity. Then, large cylindrical micelles with a major bilayer were formed as the critical micelle concentration (cmc) of 1 × 10-3 mol/L was approached, which decreased its hydrophobicity, and finally the formation of large cylindrical micelles with multilayer at the cmc caused the hydrophilicity of the collophane surface. Therefore, there was a suitable equilibrium concentration between the hmc and cmc for oleate as a collector during mineral flotation, and oleate could also be used as a dispersant for colloidal stability when its equilibrium concentration reached the cmc. The effect of the adsorbed structure on the wettability of collophane was also confirmed by MD simulations. This study provides a good understanding of the surface modification of particles by surfactants for flotation and dispersion applications.

Swarming: flexible roaming plans.

PubMed

Partridge, Jonathan D; Harshey, Rasika M

2013-03-01

Movement over an agar surface via swarming motility is subject to formidable challenges not encountered during swimming. Bacteria display a great deal of flexibility in coping with these challenges, which include attracting water to the surface, overcoming frictional forces, and reducing surface tension. Bacteria that swarm on "hard" agar surfaces (robust swarmers) display a hyperflagellated and hyperelongated morphology. Bacteria requiring a "softer" agar surface (temperate swarmers) do not exhibit such a dramatic morphology. For polarly flagellated robust swarmers, there is good evidence that restriction of flagellar rotation somehow signals the induction of a large number of lateral flagella, but this scenario is apparently not relevant to temperate swarmers. Swarming bacteria can be further subdivided by their requirement for multiple stators (Mot proteins) or a stator-associated protein (FliL), secretion of essential polysaccharides, cell density-dependent gene regulation including surfactant synthesis, a functional chemotaxis signaling pathway, appropriate cyclic (c)-di-GMP levels, induction of virulence determinants, and various nutritional requirements such as iron limitation or nitrate availability. Swarming strategies are as diverse as the bacteria that utilize them. The strength of these numerous designs stems from the vantage point they offer for understanding mechanisms for effective colonization of surface niches, acquisition of pathogenic potential, and identification of environmental signals that regulate swarming. The signature swirling and streaming motion within a swarm is an interesting phenomenon in and of itself, an emergent behavior with properties similar to flocking behavior in diverse systems, including birds and fish, providing a convenient new avenue for modeling such behavior.

Swarming: Flexible Roaming Plans

PubMed Central

Partridge, Jonathan D.

2013-01-01

Movement over an agar surface via swarming motility is subject to formidable challenges not encountered during swimming. Bacteria display a great deal of flexibility in coping with these challenges, which include attracting water to the surface, overcoming frictional forces, and reducing surface tension. Bacteria that swarm on “hard” agar surfaces (robust swarmers) display a hyperflagellated and hyperelongated morphology. Bacteria requiring a “softer” agar surface (temperate swarmers) do not exhibit such a dramatic morphology. For polarly flagellated robust swarmers, there is good evidence that restriction of flagellar rotation somehow signals the induction of a large number of lateral flagella, but this scenario is apparently not relevant to temperate swarmers. Swarming bacteria can be further subdivided by their requirement for multiple stators (Mot proteins) or a stator-associated protein (FliL), secretion of essential polysaccharides, cell density-dependent gene regulation including surfactant synthesis, a functional chemotaxis signaling pathway, appropriate cyclic (c)-di-GMP levels, induction of virulence determinants, and various nutritional requirements such as iron limitation or nitrate availability. Swarming strategies are as diverse as the bacteria that utilize them. The strength of these numerous designs stems from the vantage point they offer for understanding mechanisms for effective colonization of surface niches, acquisition of pathogenic potential, and identification of environmental signals that regulate swarming. The signature swirling and streaming motion within a swarm is an interesting phenomenon in and of itself, an emergent behavior with properties similar to flocking behavior in diverse systems, including birds and fish, providing a convenient new avenue for modeling such behavior. PMID:23264580

Morpho-z: improving photometric redshifts with galaxy morphology

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Soo, John Y. H.; Moraes, Bruno; Joachimi, Benjamin; Hartley, William; Lahav, Ofer; Charbonnier, Aldée; Makler, Martín; Pereira, Maria E. S.; Comparat, Johan; Erben, Thomas; Leauthaud, Alexie; Shan, Huanyuan; Van Waerbeke, Ludovic

2018-04-01

We conduct a comprehensive study of the effects of incorporating galaxy morphology information in photometric redshift estimation. Using machine learning methods, we assess the changes in the scatter and outlier fraction of photometric redshifts when galaxy size, ellipticity, Sérsic index, and surface brightness are included in training on galaxy samples from the SDSS and the CFHT Stripe-82 Survey (CS82). We show that by adding galaxy morphological parameters to full ugriz photometry, only mild improvements are obtained, while the gains are substantial in cases where fewer passbands are available. For instance, the combination of grz photometry and morphological parameters almost fully recovers the metrics of 5-band photometric redshifts. We demonstrate that with morphology it is possible to determine useful redshift distribution N(z) of galaxy samples without any colour information. We also find that the inclusion of quasar redshifts and associated object sizes in training improves the quality of photometric redshift catalogues, compensating for the lack of a good star-galaxy separator. We further show that morphological information can mitigate biases and scatter due to bad photometry. As an application, we derive both point estimates and posterior distributions of redshifts for the official CS82 catalogue, training on morphology and SDSS Stripe-82 ugriz bands when available. Our redshifts yield a 68th percentile error of 0.058(1 + z), and a outlier fraction of 5.2 per cent. We further include a deep extension trained on morphology and single i-band CS82 photometry.

Simple fabrication process for 2D ZnO nanowalls and their potential application as a methane sensor.

PubMed

Chen, Tse-Pu; Chang, Sheng-Po; Hung, Fei-Yi; Chang, Shoou-Jinn; Hu, Zhan-Shuo; Chen, Kuan-Jen

2013-03-20

Two-dimensional (2D) ZnO nanowalls were prepared on a glass substrate by a low-temperature thermal evaporation method, in which the fabrication process did not use a metal catalyst or the pre-deposition of a ZnO seed layer on the substrate. The nanowalls were characterized for their surface morphology, and the structural and optical properties were investigated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and photoluminescence (PL). The fabricated ZnO nanowalls have many advantages, such as low growth temperature and good crystal quality, while being fast, low cost, and easy to fabricate. Methane sensor measurements of the ZnO nanowalls show a high sensitivity to methane gas, and rapid response and recovery times. These unique characteristics are attributed to the high surface-to-volume ratio of the ZnO nanowalls. Thus, the ZnO nanowall methane sensor is a potential gas sensor candidate owing to its good performance.

Simple Fabrication Process for 2D ZnO Nanowalls and Their Potential Application as a Methane Sensor

PubMed Central

Chen, Tse-Pu; Chang, Sheng-Po; Hung, Fei-Yi; Chang, Shoou-Jinn; Hu, Zhan-Shuo; Chen, Kuan-Jen

2013-01-01

Two-dimensional (2D) ZnO nanowalls were prepared on a glass substrate by a low-temperature thermal evaporation method, in which the fabrication process did not use a metal catalyst or the pre-deposition of a ZnO seed layer on the substrate. The nanowalls were characterized for their surface morphology, and the structural and optical properties were investigated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and photoluminescence (PL). The fabricated ZnO nanowalls have many advantages, such as low growth temperature and good crystal quality, while being fast, low cost, and easy to fabricate. Methane sensor measurements of the ZnO nanowalls show a high sensitivity to methane gas, and rapid response and recovery times. These unique characteristics are attributed to the high surface-to-volume ratio of the ZnO nanowalls. Thus, the ZnO nanowall methane sensor is a potential gas sensor candidate owing to its good performance. PMID:23519350

Corrosion resistance of the microarc oxidation coatings prepared on magnesium alloy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lv, Ying; Li, Jun Gang; Wu, Ming Zhong; Ma, Zhen; Zhang, Jing Qiang; Wang, Le Le

2018-06-01

Ceramic coatings were prepared on the surface of AZ91D magnesium alloy by microarc oxidation technology. The effects of different voltages on morphology, phase composition and thickness of the coatings were characterized by SEM and XRD. The corrosion resistance of the coatings was measured by electrochemical workstation. Results indicated that the microarc oxidation coatings prepared in sodium silicate electrolyte exhibited porous surface and mainly comprised MgO, Mg2SiO4 and a small amount of MgAl2O4. The thickness of the oxide coatings increased rapidly with the increase of voltage. The coating prepared at 400V voltage had good electrochemical corrosion resistance in 3.5wt% NaCl solution.

A rapid green strategy for the synthesis of Au "meatball"-like nanoparticles using green tea for SERS applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wu, Shichao; Zhou, Xi; Yang, Xiangrui; Hou, Zhenqing; Shi, Yanfeng; Zhong, Lubin; Jiang, Qian; Zhang, Qiqing

2014-09-01

We report a simple and rapid biological approach to synthesize water-soluble and highly roughened "meatball"-like Au nanoparticles using green tea extract under microwave irradiation. The synthesized Au meatball-like nanoparticles possess excellent monodispersity and uniform size (250 nm in diameter). Raman measurements show that these tea-generated meatball-like gold nanostructures with high active surface areas exhibit a high enhancement of surface-enhanced Raman scattering. In addition, the Au meatball-like nanoparticles demonstrate good biocompatibility and remarkable in vitro stability at the biological temperature. Meanwhile, the factors that influence the Au meatball-like nanoparticles morphology are investigated, and the mechanisms behind the nonspherical shape evolution are discussed.

The influence of rock strength on erosion processes and river morphology in central Arizona: the accumulation of damage from macro-abrasion

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Larimer, J. E.; Yanites, B.

2017-12-01

River morphology reflects the interaction between the driving forces of erosion and the resisting properties of bedrock that limit erosion. Changes in energy dissipation at the riverbed are indicated by differences in channel geometry. To erode at the same rate, stronger rocks require more energy, and thus, an adjustment in river slope or width is necessary to accomplish this work. Therefore, morphological changes should reflect differences in the rock strength properties most relevant to the dominant erosion process. We investigate this hypothesis by comparing river morphology and rock-strength properties of reaches subject to different processes. Streams in Prescott National Forest, AZ expose bedrock through a variety of lithologies, which provides a natural testing ground. Measurements include channel geometry, surface P-wave velocity, fracture spacing, and bedload grain size distribution of 150 individual reaches, as well as 260 tensile and compressive-strength tests and P-wave velocity of cores up to depths of 20 cm. Based on observations, we infer that fluvial erosion processes in this region generally fall into three domains: (1) grain by grain abrasion, (2) progressive failure by damage accumulation due to bedload impacts or `macro-abrasion', and (3) `plucking' of jointed rocks. We focus analyses on the accumulation of damage from sub-critical stresses that weakens the surface of the bedrock, potentially leading to macroscopic fractures, fatigue, and rock failure. This plays a dual role facilitating the ease with which abrasion removes material and increasing the rate of production of pluck-able particles. We estimate the `damage potential' of saltating bedload using water discharge time-series, sediment transport models and grain size distribution. To determine the resistance to damage accumulation among different rocks, we measure the evolution of damage in core samples under uniaxial loading using strain energy and inherent flaw theory. Preliminary results suggest that tensile strength is a good predictor of channel morphology in abrasion dominated reaches, morphology is better predicted through a damage perspective in macro-abrasion dominated reaches, and reduction in P-wave velocity near the surface correlates with damage susceptibility.

Recent progress in mesoporous titania materials: adjusting morphology for innovative applications.

PubMed

Vivero-Escoto, Juan L; Chiang, Ya-Dong; Wu, Kevin; Yamauchi, Yusuke

2012-02-01

This review article summarizes recent developments in mesoporous titania materials, particularly in the fields of morphology control and applications. We first briefly introduce the history of mesoporous titania materials and then review several synthesis approaches. Currently, mesoporous titania nanoparticles (MTNs) have attracted much attention in various fields, such as medicine, catalysis, separation and optics. Compared with bulk mesoporous titania materials, which are above a micrometer in size, nanometer-sized MTNs have additional properties, such as fast mass transport, strong adhesion to substrates and good dispersion in solution. However, it has generally been known that the successful synthesis of MTNs is very difficult owing to the rapid hydrolysis of titanium-containing precursors and the crystallization of titania upon thermal treatment. Finally, we review four emerging fields including photocatalysis, photovoltaic devices, sensing and biomedical applications of mesoporous titania materials. Because of its high surface area, controlled porous structure, suitable morphology and semiconducting behavior, mesoporous titania is expected to be used in innovative applications.

On the influence of substrate morphology and surface area on phytofauna

USGS Publications Warehouse

Becerra-Munoz, S.; Schramm, H.L.

2007-01-01

The independent effects and interactions between substrate morphology and substrate surface area on invertebrate density or biomass colonizing artificial plant beds were assessed in a clear-water and a turbid playa lake in Castro County, Texas, USA. Total invertebrate density and biomass were consistently greater on filiform substrates than on laminar substrates with equivalent substrate surface areas. The relationship among treatments (substrates with different morphologies and surface areas) and response (invertebrate density or biomass) was assessed with equally spaced surface areas. Few statistically significant interactions between substrate morphology and surface area were detected, indicating that these factors were mostly independent from each other in their effect on colonizing invertebrates. Although infrequently, when substrate morphology and surface area were not independent, the effects of equally spaced changes in substrate surface area on the rate of change of phytofauna density or biomass per unit of substrate surface area were dependent upon substrate morphology. The absence of three-way interactions indicated that effects of substrate morphology and substrate area on phytofauna density or biomass were independent of environmental conditions outside and inside exclosures. ?? 2006 Springer Science+Business Media B.V.

Cellulose nanomaterials emulsion coatings for controlling physiological activity, modifying surface morphology, and enhancing storability of postharvest bananas (Musa acuminate).

PubMed

Deng, Zilong; Jung, Jooyeoun; Simonsen, John; Zhao, Yanyun

2017-10-01

Cellulose nanomaterials (CNs)-incorporated emulsion coatings with improved moisture barrier, wettability and surface adhesion onto fruit surfaces were developed for controlling postharvest physiological activity and enhancing storability of bananas during ambient storage. Cellulose nanofiber (CNF)-based emulsion coating (CNFC: 0.3% CNF/1% oleic acid/1% sucrose ester fatty acid (w/w wet base)) had low contact angle, high spread coefficient onto banana surfaces, and lower surface tension (ST, 25.4mN/m) than the critical ST (35.2mN/m) of banana peels, and exhibited good wettability onto banana surfaces. CNFC coating delayed the ethylene biosynthesis pathway and reduced ethylene and CO 2 production, thus delaying fruit ripening. As the result, CNFC coating minimized chlorophyll degradation, weight loss, and firmness of bananas while ensuring the properly fruit ripening during 10d of ambient storage. This study demonstrated the effectiveness of CNF based emulsion coatings for improving the storability of postharvest bananas. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Covalent attachment of a bioactive hyperbranched polymeric layer to titanium surface for the biomimetic growth of calcium phosphates

PubMed Central

Tsiourvas, D.; Arkas, M.; Diplas, S.; Mastrogianni, E.

2010-01-01

This work is investigating the chemical grafting on Ti surface of a polymer/calcium phosphate coating of improved adhesion for enhanced bioactivity. For this purpose, a whole new methodology was developed based on covalently attaching a hyperbranched poly(ethylene imine) layer on Ti surface able to promote calcium phosphate formation in a next deposition stage. This was achieved through an intermediate surface silanization step. The research included optimization both of the reaction conditions for covalently grafting the intermediate organosilicon and the subsequent hyperbranched poly(ethylene imine) layers, as well as of the conditions for the mechanical and chemical pretreatment of Ti surface before coating. The reaction steps were monitored employing FTIR and XPS analyses, whereas the surface morphology and structure of the successive coating layers were studied by SEM combined with EDS. The analysis confirmed the successful grafting of the hybrid layer which demonstrated very good ability for hydroxyapatite growth in simulated body fluid. PMID:21069559

Covalent attachment of a bioactive hyperbranched polymeric layer to titanium surface for the biomimetic growth of calcium phosphates.

PubMed

Tsiourvas, D; Tsetsekou, A; Arkas, M; Diplas, S; Mastrogianni, E

2011-01-01

This work is investigating the chemical grafting on Ti surface of a polymer/calcium phosphate coating of improved adhesion for enhanced bioactivity. For this purpose, a whole new methodology was developed based on covalently attaching a hyperbranched poly(ethylene imine) layer on Ti surface able to promote calcium phosphate formation in a next deposition stage. This was achieved through an intermediate surface silanization step. The research included optimization both of the reaction conditions for covalently grafting the intermediate organosilicon and the subsequent hyperbranched poly(ethylene imine) layers, as well as of the conditions for the mechanical and chemical pretreatment of Ti surface before coating. The reaction steps were monitored employing FTIR and XPS analyses, whereas the surface morphology and structure of the successive coating layers were studied by SEM combined with EDS. The analysis confirmed the successful grafting of the hybrid layer which demonstrated very good ability for hydroxyapatite growth in simulated body fluid.

A new, bright and hard aluminum surface produced by anodization

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hou, Fengyan; Hu, Bo; Tay, See Leng; Wang, Yuxin; Xiong, Chao; Gao, Wei

2017-07-01

Anodized aluminum (Al) and Al alloys have a wide range of applications. However, certain anodized finishings have relatively low hardness, dull appearance and/or poor corrosion resistance, which limited their applications. In this research, Al was first electropolished in a phosphoric acid-based solution, then anodized in a sulfuric acid-based solution under controlled processing parameters. The anodized specimen was then sealed by two-step sealing method. A systematic study including microstructure, surface morphology, hardness and corrosion resistance of these anodized films has been conducted. Results show that the hardness of this new anodized film was increased by a factor of 10 compared with the pure Al metal. Salt spray corrosion testing also demonstrated the greatly improved corrosion resistance. Unlike the traditional hard anodized Al which presents a dull-colored surface, this newly developed anodized Al alloy possesses a very bright and shiny surface with good hardness and corrosion resistance.

Fabrication of hydrophobic structures on coronary stent surface based on direct three-beam laser interference lithography

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gao, Long-yue; Zhou, Wei-qi; Wang, Yuan-bo; Wang, Si-qi; Bai, Chong; Li, Shi-ming; Liu, Bin; Wang, Jun-nan; Cui, Cheng-kun; Li, Yong-liang

2016-05-01

To solve the problems with coronary stent implantation, coronary artery stent surface was directly modified by three-beam laser interference lithography through imitating the water-repellent surface of lotus leaf, and uniform micro-nano structures with the controllable period were fabricated. The morphological properties and contact angle (CA) of the microstructure were measured by scanning electron microscope (SEM) and CA system. The water repellency of stent was also evaluated by the contact and then separation between the water drop and the stent. The results show that the close-packed concave structure with the period of about 12 μm can be fabricated on the stent surface with special parameters (incident angle of 3°, laser energy density of 2.2 J·cm-2 and exposure time of 80 s) by using the three-beam laser at 1 064 nm, and the structure has good water repellency with CA of 120°.

Two-dimensional wetting: the role of atomic steps on the nucleation of thin water films on BaF2(111) at ambient conditions.

PubMed

Cardellach, M; Verdaguer, A; Santiso, J; Fraxedas, J

2010-06-21

The interaction of water with freshly cleaved BaF(2)(111) surfaces at ambient conditions (room temperature and under controlled humidity) has been studied using scanning force microscopy in different operation modes. The images strongly suggest a high surface diffusion of water molecules on the surface indicated by the accumulation of water at step edges forming two-dimensional bilayered structures. Steps running along the 110 crystallographic directions show a high degree of hydrophilicity, as evidenced by small step-film contact angles, while steps running along other directions exhibiting a higher degree of kinks surprisingly behave in a quite opposite way. Our results prove that morphological defects such as steps can be crucial in improving two-dimensional monolayer wetting and stabilization of multilayer grown on surfaces that show good lattice mismatch with hexagonal ice.

2D simulations of orthogonal cutting of CFRP: Effect of tool angles on parameters of cut and chip morphology

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Benhassine, Mehdi; Rivière-Lorphèvre, Edouard; Arrazola, Pedro-Jose; Gobin, Pierre; Dumas, David; Madhavan, Vinay; Aizpuru, Ohian; Ducobu, François

2018-05-01

Carbon-fiber reinforced composites (CFRP) are attractive materials for lightweight designs in applications needing good mechanical properties. Machining of such materials can be harder than metals due to their anisotropic behavior. In addition, the combination of the fibers and resin mechanical properties must also include the fiber orientation. In the case of orthogonal cutting, the tool inclination, rake angle or cutting angle usually influence the cutting process but such a detailed investigation is currently lacking in a 2D configuration. To address this issue, a model has been developed with Abaqus Explicit including Hashin damage. This model has been validated with experimental results from the literature. The effects of the tool parameters (rake angle, clearance angle) on the tool cutting forces, CFRP chip morphology and surface damage are herewith studied. It is shown that 90° orientation for the CFRP increases the surface damage. The rake angle has a minimal effect on the cutting forces but modifies the chip formation times. The feed forces are increased with increasing rake angle.

Electrophoretic-deposited novel ternary silk fibroin/graphene oxide/hydroxyapatite nanocomposite coatings on titanium substrate for orthopedic applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Ming; Xiong, Pan; Mo, Maosong; Cheng, Yan; Zheng, Yufeng

2016-09-01

The combination of graphene oxide (GO) with robust mechanical property, silk fibroin (SF) with fascinating biological effects and hydroxyapatite (HA) with superior osteogenic activity is a competitive approach to make novel coatings for orthopedic applications. Herein, the feasibility of depositing ternary SF/GO/HA nanocomposite coatings on Ti substrate was firstly verified by exploiting electrophoretic nanotechnology, with SF being used as both a charging additive and a dispersion agent. The surface morphology, microstructure and composition, in vitro hemocompatibility and in vitro cytocompatibility of the resulting coatings were investigated by SEM, Raman, FTIR spectra and biocompatibility tests. Results demonstrated that GO, HA and SF could be co-deposited with a uniform, smooth thin-film morphology. The hemolysis rate analysis and the platelet adhesion test indicated good blood compatibility of the coatings. The human osteosarcoma MG63 cells displayed well adhesion and proliferation behaviors on the prepared coatings, with enhanced ALP activities. The present study suggested that SF/GO/HA nanocomposite coatings could be a promising candidate for the surface functionalization of biomaterials, especially as orthopedic implant coating.

Preparation and application of microcapsule-encapsulated color electrophortic fluid in Isopar M system for electrophoretic display

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sun, Cui; Feng, Ya-Qing; Zhang, Bao; Li, Xiang-Gao; Shao, Ji-Zhou; Han, Jing-Jing; Chen, Xu

2013-05-01

The use of Isopar M as a liquid suspending fluid for electrophoretic display was studied. The dispersion stability and chargeability of pigments suspended in Isopar M were investigated. Polyisobutylene monosuccinimide (T-151) as the charge control additive in Isopar M electrophoretic fluid can provide a good electrophoretic mobility to the particles. The wall materials of a series of blue-white, red-white and yellow-white dual-particle microcapsules were prepared by in situ polymerization of urea and formaldehyde. The mass ratio of wall/core material was a key factor in influencing the yield of microcapsules. The concentration of resorcinol has an impact on the surface morphology and mechanical strength of microcapsule wall. Microcapsules' surface morphologies were characterized by optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The performance of the microcapsules with different binder materials and adhesive layers were investigated. Contrast ratio of microcapsules display device were tested every 10 days for a period of 90 days. The compatibility of Isopar M with both the electrophoretic particles and bounding capsule was studied.

Enhancement of Mechanical and Thermal Properties of Polycaprolactone/Chitosan Blend by Calcium Carbonate Nanoparticles

PubMed Central

Abdolmohammadi, Sanaz; Siyamak, Samira; Ibrahim, Nor Azowa; Yunus, Wan Md Zin Wan; Rahman, Mohamad Zaki Ab; Azizi, Susan; Fatehi, Asma

2012-01-01

This study investigates the effects of calcium carbonate (CaCO3) nanoparticles on the mechanical and thermal properties and surface morphology of polycaprolactone (PCL)/chitosan nanocomposites. The nanocomposites of PCL/chitosan/CaCO3 were prepared using a melt blending technique. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) results indicate the average size of nanoparticles to be approximately 62 nm. Tensile measurement results show an increase in the tensile modulus with CaCO3 nanoparticle loading. Tensile strength and elongation at break show gradual improvement with the addition of up to 1 wt% of nano-sized CaCO3. Decreasing performance of these properties is observed for loading of more than 1 wt% of nano-sized CaCO3. The thermal stability was best enhanced at 1 wt% of CaCO3 nanoparticle loading. The fractured surface morphology of the PCL/chitosan blend becomes more stretched and homogeneous in PCL/chitosan/CaCO3 nanocomposite. TEM micrograph displays good dispersion of CaCO3 at lower nanoparticle loading within the matrix. PMID:22605993

Theophylline cocrystals prepared by spray drying: physicochemical properties and aerosolization performance.

PubMed

Alhalaweh, Amjad; Kaialy, Waseem; Buckton, Graham; Gill, Hardyal; Nokhodchi, Ali; Velaga, Sitaram P

2013-03-01

The purpose of this work was to characterize theophylline (THF) cocrystals prepared by spray drying in terms of the physicochemical properties and inhalation performance when aerosolized from a dry powder inhaler. Cocrystals of theophylline with urea (THF-URE), saccharin (THF-SAC) and nicotinamide (THF-NIC) were prepared by spray drying. Milled THF and THF-SAC cocrystals were also used for comparison. The physical purity, particle size, particle morphology and surface energy of the materials were determined. The in vitro aerosol performance of the spray-dried cocrystals, drug-alone and a drug-carrier aerosol, was assessed. The spray-dried particles had different size distributions, morphologies and surface energies. The milled samples had higher surface energy than those prepared by spray drying. Good agreement was observed between multi-stage liquid impinger and next-generation impactor in terms of assessing spray-dried THF particles. The fine particle fractions of both formulations were similar for THF, but drug-alone formulations outperformed drug-carrier formulations for the THF cocrystals. The aerosolization performance of different THF cocrystals was within the following rank order as obtained from both drug-alone and drug-carrier formulations: THF-NIC>THF-URE>THF-SAC. It was proposed that micromeritic properties dominate over particle surface energy in terms of determining the aerosol performance of THF cocrystals. Spray drying could be a potential technique for preparing cocrystals with modified physical properties.

Morphology and Surface Reactivity Relationship in the Li1+xMn2-xO4 Spinel with x = 0.05 and 0.10: A Combined First-Principle and Experimental Study.

PubMed

Quesne-Turin, Ambroise; Vallverdu, Germain; Flahaut, Delphine; Allouche, Joachim; Croguennec, Laurence; Ménétrier, Michel; Baraille, Isabelle

2017-12-27

This article focuses on the surface reactivity of two spinel samples with different stoichiometries and crystal morphologies, namely Li 1+x Mn 2-x O 4 with x = 0.05 and 0.10. LiMn 2 O 4 compounds are good candidates as positive electrode of high-power lithium-ion batteries for portable devices. The samples were investigated using both experimental and theoretical approaches. On the experimental point of view, they were characterized in depth from X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analyses. Then, the reactivity was investigated through the adsorption of (SO 2 ) gaseous probes, in controlled conditions, followed by XPS characterization. First-principle calculations were conducted simultaneously to investigate the electronic properties and the reactivity of relevant surfaces of an ideal LiMn 2 O 4 material. The results allow us to conclude that the reactivity of the samples is dominated by an acido-basic reactivity and the formation of sulfite species. Nonetheless, on the x = 0.05 sample, both sulfite and sulfate species are obtained, the later, in lesser extent, corresponding to a redox reactivity. Combining experimental and theoretical results, this redox reactivity could be associated with the presence of a larger quantity of Mn 4+ cations on the last surface layers of the material linked to a specific surface orientation.

From honeycomb- to microsphere-patterned surfaces of poly(lactic acid) and a starch-poly(lactic acid) blend via the breath figure method.

PubMed

Duarte, Ana Rita C; Maniglio, Devid; Sousa, Nuno; Mano, João F; Reis, Rui L; Migliaresi, Claudio

2017-01-26

This study investigated the preparation of ordered patterned surfaces and/or microspheres from a natural-based polymer, using the breath figure and reverse breath figure methods. Poly(D,L-lactic acid) and starch poly(lactic acid) solutions were precipitated in different conditions - namely, polymer concentration, vapor atmosphere temperature and substrate - to evaluate the effect of these conditions on the morphology of the precipitates obtained. The possibility of fine-tuning the properties of the final patterns simply by changing the vapor atmosphere was also demonstrated here using a range of compositions of the vapor phase. Porous films or discrete particles are formed when the differences in surface tension determine the ability of polymer solution to surround water droplets or methanol to surround polymer droplets, respectively. In vitro cytotoxicity was assessed applying a simple standard protocol to evaluate the possibility to use these materials in biomedical applications. Moreover, fluorescent microscopy images showed a good interaction of cells with the material, which were able to adhere on the patterned surfaces after 24 hours in culture. The development of patterned surfaces using the breath figure method was tested in this work for the preparation of both poly(lactic acid) and a blend containing starch and poly(lactic acid). The potential of these films to be used in the biomedical area was confirmed by a preliminary cytotoxicity test and by morphological observation of cell adhesion.

Protection of Conductive and Non-conductive Advanced Polymer-based Paints from Highly Aggressive Oxidative Environments

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Gudimenko, Y.; Ng, R.; Iskanderova, Z.; Kleiman, J.; Grigorevsky, A.; Kiseleva, L.; Finckenor, M.; Edwards, D.

2005-01-01

Research has been continued to further improve the space durability of conductive and non-conductive polymer-based paints and of conductive thermal control paints for space applications. Efforts have been made to enhance the space durability and stability of functional Characteristics in ground-based space environment imitating conditions, using specially developed surface modification treatment. The results of surface modification of new conductive paints, including the ground-based testing in aggressive oxidative environments, such as atomic oxygen/UV and oxygen plasma, and performance evaluation are presented. Functional properties and performance characteristics, such as thermal optical properties (differential solar absorptance and thermal emittance representing the thermal optical performance of thermal control paints) and surface resistivity characteristics of pristine, surface modified, and tested materials were verified. Extensive surface analysis studies have been performed using complementary surface analyses including SEM/EDS and XPS. Test results revealed that the successfully treated materials exhibit reduced mass loss and no surface morphology change, thus indicating good protection from the severe oxidative environment. It was demonstrated that the developed surface modification treatment could be applied successfully to charge dissipative and conductive paints.

Tuning the Morphology of Li2O2 by Noble and 3d metals: A Planar Model Electrode Study for Li-O2 Battery.

PubMed

Yang, Yao; Liu, Wei; Wu, Nian; Wang, Xiaochen; Zhang, Tao; Chen, Linfeng; Zeng, Rui; Wang, Yingming; Lu, Juntao; Fu, Lei; Xiao, Li; Zhuang, Lin

2017-06-14

In this work, a planar model electrode method has been used to investigate the structure-activity relationship of multiple noble and 3d metal catalysts for the cathode reaction of Li-O 2 battery. The result shows that the battery performance (discharge/charge overpotential) strongly depends not only on the type of catalysts but also on the morphology of the discharge product (Li 2 O 2 ). Specifically, according to electrochemical characterization and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) observation, noble metals (Pd, Pt, Ru, Ir, and Au) show excellent battery performance (smaller discharge/charge overpotential), with wormlike Li 2 O 2 particles with size less than 200 nm on their surfaces. On the other hand, 3d metals (Fe, Co, Ni, and Mn) offered poor battery performance (larger discharge/charge overpotential), with much larger Li 2 O 2 particles (1 μm to a few microns) on their surfaces after discharging. Further research shows that a "volcano plot" is found by correlating the discharging/charging plateau voltage with the adsorption energy of LiO 2 on different metals. The metals with better battery performance and worm-like-shaped Li 2 O 2 are closer to the top of the "volcano", indicating adsorption energy of LiO 2 is one of the key characters for the catalyst to reach a good performance for the oxygen electrode of Li-O 2 battery, and it has a strong influence on the morphology of the discharge product on the electrode surface.

Morphological, structural and optical properties of MEH-PPV: PC70BM nanocomposite film

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mhamdi, Asya; Sweii, Fatma ben Slama; Saidi, Hamza; Saidi, Faouzi; Bouazizi, Abdelaziz

2018-05-01

In this report, the influence of annealing temperature and spin coating speed on the structural and morphological properties of a blend of poly (2-methoxy-5-(2-ethyl-oxy)-p-phenylene-vinylene) (MEH-PPV) and [6-6]-phenyl-C71-butyric acid methyl ester (PC70BM) layer has been investigated. The photoactive layer (MEH-PPV: PC70BM) was deposited on ZnO film deposited on top of indium tin oxide (ITO) substrate by spin-coating. The effect of spin coating speed via atomic force microscope (AFM) leads to conclude that high speed is favorable for a good homogeneity of the film surface and good aggregates dispersion. The optimized structure was studied by varying the annealing temperatures using X-ray diffraction (XRD). The XRD analysis indicates that annealing treatment promoted the ordered aggregation and crystallization of MEH-PPV: PC70BM films. Indeed, the blend ratio effect on the optical properties of MEH-PPV: PC70BM thin film was investigated. While, the effect of incorporation of PC70BM on the optical properties was studied using UV-Vis and photoluminescence (PL) measurement. We conclude that MEH-PPV: PC70BM (1:3) film leads to high charge transfer rate.

Pulsed laser synthesis in liquid of efficient visible-light-active ZnO/rGO nanocomposites for improved photo-catalytic activity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Moqbel, Redhwan A.; Gondal, Mohammed A.; Qahtan, Talal F.; Dastageer, Mohamed A.

2018-03-01

In this work the synthesis of visible light active zinc oxide/reduced graphene oxide (ZnO/rGO) nanocomposite by laser induced fragmentation of particulates in liquid, its morphological/optical characterizations, and its application in the process of photo-catalytic degradation of toxic Rhodamine B (RhB) dye under visible radiation were studied. It is observed from the optical and morphological characterization that the anchoring of ZnO on the rGO sheets in ZnO/rGO nanocomposite considerably reduced the aggregation of ZnO (increased surface area), reduced the recombination of photo-induced charge carriers, promoted more adsorption of reactants on the catalytic surface and also enhanced and extended the light absorption in the visible spectral region. With all these improved characteristics of ZnO/rGO nanocomposite, it was found that this material as a photo-catalyst yielded an RhB degradation efficiency of 86%, as compared to the 40% degradation with pure ZnO NPs under the same experimental conditions. In the ZnO/rGO nanocomposite, rGO functions as an electron acceptor to promote charge separation, an aggregation inhibitor to enhance the active surface area, a co-catalyst, a good dye adsorber and also as a supporting matrix for ZnO.

Wearable Resistive Pressure Sensor Based on Highly Flexible Carbon Composite Conductors with Irregular Surface Morphology.

PubMed

Kim, Kang-Hyun; Hong, Soon Kyu; Jang, Nam-Su; Ha, Sung-Hun; Lee, Hyung Woo; Kim, Jong-Man

2017-05-24

Wearable pressure sensors are crucial building blocks for potential applications in real-time health monitoring, artificial electronic skins, and human-to-machine interfaces. Here we present a highly sensitive, simple-architectured wearable resistive pressure sensor based on highly compliant yet robust carbon composite conductors made of a vertically aligned carbon nanotube (VACNT) forest embedded in a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) matrix with irregular surface morphology. A roughened surface of the VACNT/PDMS composite conductor is simply formed using a sandblasted silicon master in a low-cost and potentially scalable manner and plays an important role in improving the sensitivity of resistive pressure sensor. After assembling two of the roughened composite conductors, our sensor shows considerable pressure sensitivity of ∼0.3 kPa -1 up to 0.7 kPa as well as stable steady-state responses under various pressures, a wide detectable range of up to 5 kPa before saturation, a relatively fast response time of ∼162 ms, and good reproducibility over 5000 cycles of pressure loading/unloading. The fabricated pressure sensor can be used to detect a wide range of human motions ranging from subtle blood pulses to dynamic joint movements, and it can also be used to map spatial pressure distribution in a multipixel platform (in a 4 × 4 pixel array).

Lunar regolith thickness determination from 3D morphology of small fresh craters

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Di, Kaichang; Sun, Shujuan; Yue, Zongyu; Liu, Bin

2016-03-01

The lunar regolith can provide critical information about the Moon and the space environment. In the study of lunar regolith, thickness is one of its most important parameters because of the significance in estimating the relative geologic age and the quantities of solar wind implanted volatiles. In this research, an improved morphological method for determining the lunar regolith thickness is proposed by directly measuring the distance from the lunar ground surface to the floor (flat-bottomed and central-mound craters) or bench (concentric craters) of indicative small fresh craters. The pre-impact ground surface is first modeled with crater edge points through plane fitting, avoiding crater ejecta. Then the lunar regolith thickness is calculated as the distance between the modeled ground surface and the crater floor or bench. The method has been verified at the landing sites of Chang'E-3 rover with high-resolution stereo images from Chang'E-2 orbiter, and the landing sites of Apollo 11, 12, 14, 15, 16, and 17 missions with high-resolution Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter DEM data. All the results are in good agreement with results from in-situ measurements, demonstrating the reliability of the proposed method. This method can be applied to estimate lunar regolith thickness where high-precision topographic data is available.

Early Stage Anodic Instability of Glassy Carbon Electrodes in Propylene Carbonate Solvent Containing Lithium Hexafluorophosphate

DOE PAGES

Carino, Emily V.; Newman, Daniel J.; Connell, Justin G.; ...

2017-09-19

In this paper, irreversible changes to the morphology of glassy carbon (GC) electrodes at potentials between 3.5 and 4.5 V vs Li/Li + in propylene carbonate (PC) solvent containing lithium hexafluorophosphate (LiPF 6) are reported. Analysis of cyclic voltammetry (CV) experiments in the range of 3.0 to 6.0 V shows that the capacitance of the electrochemical double -layer increased irreversibly beginning at potentials as low as 3.5 V. These changes resulted from nonfaradaic interactions, and were not due to oxidative electrochemical decomposition of the electrode and electrolyte, anion intercalation, nor caused by the presence of water, a common impurity inmore » organic electrolyte solutions. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) images revealed that increasing the potential of a bare GC surface from 3.0 to 4.5 V resulted in a 6X increase in roughness, in good agreement with the changes in double -layer capacitance. Treating the GC surface via exposure to trichloromethylsilane vapors resulted in a stable double -layer capacitance between 3.0 and 4.5 V, and this treatment also correlated with less roughening. Lastly, these results inform future efforts aimed at controlling surface composition and morphology of carbon electrodes.« less

Delayed condensation and frost formation on superhydrophobic carbon soot coatings by controlling the presence of hydrophilic active sites

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Esmeryan, Karekin D.; Castano, Carlos E.; Mohammadi, Reza; Lazarov, Yuliyan; Radeva, Ekaterina I.

2018-02-01

Condensation frosting is an undesired natural phenomenon that could be impeded efficiently using appropriate wettability and morphologically patterned surfaces. The icephobic properties of carbon soot and the fabrication scalability of its synthesis method are a good foundation for anti-frosting applications; however, the fundamentals of frost growth and spreading on sooted surfaces have not been examined yet. In this study, we investigate the anti-frosting performance of three groups of superhydrophobic soot coatings by means of 16 MHz quartz crystal microbalances (QCMs). The analysis of the real-time sensor signal of each soot coated QCM pattern shows that frost formation and its propagation velocity depend on the quantity of oxygen functionalities and structural defects in the material. In turn, the reduction of both parameters shifts the onset of frost growth to temperatures below  -20 °C, whereas the interdroplet ice bridging is slowed by a factor of four. Moreover, high-resolution scanning electron micrographs of the samples imply delamination upon defrosting of the soot with spherical-like morphology via polar interactions driven mechanism. These results reveal an opportunity for control of frost incipiency on sooted surfaces by adjusting the synthesis conditions and depositing soot coatings with as low as possible content of hydrophilic active sites.

Improving the efficiency of an Er:YAG laser on enamel and dentin.

PubMed

Rizcalla, Nicolas; Bader, Carl; Bortolotto, Tissiana; Krejci, Ivo

2012-02-01

To evaluate the influence of air pressure, water flow rate, and pulse frequency on the removal speed of enamel and dentin as well as on their surface morphology. Twenty-four bovine incisors were horizontally cut in slices. Each sample was mounted on an experimental assembly, allowing precise orientation. Eighteen cavities were prepared, nine in enamel and nine in dentin. Specific parameters for frequency, water flow rate, and air pressure were applied for each experimental group. Three groups were randomly formed according to the air pressure settings. Cavity depth was measured using a digital micrometer gauge, and surface morphology was checked by means of scanning electron microscopy. Data was analyzed with ANOVA and Duncan post hoc test. Irradiation at 25 Hz for enamel and 30 Hz for dentin provided the best ablation rates within this study, but efficiency decreased if the frequency was raised further. Greater tissue ablation was found with water flow rate set to low and dropped with higher values. Air pressure was found to have an interaction with the other settings, since ablation rates varied with different air pressure values. Fine-tuning of all parameters to get a good ablation rate with minimum surface damage seems to be key in achieving optimal efficiency for cavity preparation with an Er:YAG laser.

Fabrication of self-organized conical microstructures by excimer laser irradiation of cyanoacrylate-carbon nanotube composites

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Liu Yuming; Liu Liang; Fan Shoushan

2005-02-07

Self-organized conical microstructures are fabricated by 308 nm XeCl excimer laser irradiation of cyanoacrylate-carbon nanotube composites in air. The morphology of the surface on the composite films is studied, varying the total number and fluence of the applied laser pulses. A simple mechanism of the fabrication based on the evaporation of cyanoacrylate and the burning of carbon nanotubes is proposed. The conical peak structures of cyanoacrylate-carbon nanotube composite films show good field-emission properties. Similar structures are also observed on carbon nanotube arrays.

Tuning Surface Properties of Poly(methyl methacrylate) Film Using Poly(perfluoromethyl methacrylate)s with Short Perfluorinated Side Chains.

PubMed

Sohn, Eun-Ho; Ha, Jong-Wook; Lee, Soo-Bok; Park, In Jun

2016-09-27

To control the surface properties of a commonly used polymer, poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), poly(perfluoromethyl methacrylate)s (PFMMAs) with short perfluorinated side groups (i.e., -CF3, -CF2CF3, -(CF3)2, -CF2CF2CF3) were used as blend components because of their good solubility in organic solvents, low surface energies, and high optical transmittance. The surface energies of the blend films of PFMMA with the -CF3 group and PMMA increased continuously with increasing PMMA contents from 17.6 to 26.0 mN/m, whereas those of the other polymer blend films remained at very low levels (10.2-12.6 mN/m), similar to those of pure PFMMAs, even when the blends contained 90 wt %PMMA. Surface morphology and composition measurements revealed that this result originated from the different blend structures, such as lateral and vertical phase separations. We expect that these PFMMAs will be useful in widening the applicable window of PMMA.

Preparation and Characterization of Fluorescent SiO2 Microspheres

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xu, Cui; Zhang, Hao; Guan, Ruifang

2018-01-01

Fluorescent compound without typical fluorophores was synthesized with citric acid (CA) and aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTS) firstly, and then it was grafted to the surface of the prepared SiO2 microspheres by chemical reaction. The fluorescent SiO2 microspheres with good fluorescent properties were obtained by optimizing the reaction conditions. And the morphology and structure of the fluorescent SiO2 microspheres have been characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The results showed that the preparation of fluorescent SiO2 microspheres have good monodispersity and narrow particle size distribution. Moreover, the fluorescent SiO2 microspheres can be applied to detect Fe3+ in aqueous solution, prepare fluorescent SiO2 rubber, and have potential to be applied in the fluorescent labeling and fingerprint appearing technique fields.

Highly reflective Ag-Cu alloy-based ohmic contact on p-type GaN using Ru overlayer.

PubMed

Son, Jun Ho; Jung, Gwan Ho; Lee, Jong-Lam

2008-12-15

We report on a metallization scheme of high reflectance, low resistance, and smooth surface morphology ohmic contact on p-type GaN. Ag-Cu alloy/Ru contact showed low contact resistivity as low as 6.2 x 10(-6) Ohms cm(2) and high reflectance of 91% at 460 nm after annealing at 400 degrees C in air ambient. The oxidation annealing promoted the out-diffusion of Ga atoms to dissolve in an Ag-Cu layer with the formation of an Ag-Ga solid solution, lowering the contact resistivity. The Ru overlayer acts as a diffusion barrier for excessive oxygen incorporation during oxidation annealing, resulting in high reflectance, good thermal stability, and smooth surface quality of the contact.

Biocompatibility of nano-hydroxyapatite/polyetheretherketone composite materials with osteoblasts cultured in vitro

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Lin; Huang, Feijuan; Wu, Zhengzhi; Ma, Rui

2017-04-01

The biocompatibility of the Sprague Dawley (SD) rat osteoblasts, which were cultured on the surfaces of nano-hydroxyapatite/polyetheretherketone (n-HA/PEEK) composites were investigated in this work. The osteoblasts of 24- hour old SD rats were cultured and identified by modified enzymatic digestion in vitro. The morphology and proliferation of cells were observed in CCK-8 regent staining, inverted microscopes, and by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) respectively. The results show that n-HA/PEEK composites have good biocompatibility with SD osteoblasts and that they can promote the growth of the cells that were cultured on the surfaces of the composites. The content of HA in n- HA/PEEK composites plays an important role in cell proliferation.

Surface morphology diagram for cylinder-forming block copolymer thin films.

PubMed

Zhang, Xiaohua; Berry, Brian C; Yager, Kevin G; Kim, Sangcheol; Jones, Ronald L; Satija, Sushil; Pickel, Deanna L; Douglas, Jack F; Karim, Alamgir

2008-11-25

We investigate the effect of the ordering temperature (T) and film thickness (h(f)) on the surface morphology of flow-coated block copolymer (BCP) films of asymmetric poly(styrene-block-methyl methacrylate). Morphology transitions observed on the ordered film surface by atomic force microscopy (AFM) are associated with a perpendicular to a parallel cylinder BCP microphase orientation transition with respect to the substrate with increasing h(f). "Hybrid" surface patterns for intermediate h(f) between these limiting morphologies are correspondingly interpreted by a coexistence of these two BCP microphase orientations so that two "transitional" h(f) exist for each T. This explanation of our surface patterns is supported by both neutron reflectivity and rotational SANS measurements. The transitional h(f) values as a function of T define upper and lower surface morphology transition lines, h(fu) (T) and h(fl) (T), respectively, and a surface morphology diagram that should be useful in materials fabrication. Surprisingly, the BCP film surface morphology depends on the method of film formation (flow-coated versus spun-cast films) so that nonequilibrium effects are evidently operative. This morphological variability is attributed primarily to the trapping of residual solvent (toluene) within the film (quantified by neutron reflectivity) due to film vitrification while drying. This effect has significant implications for controlling film structure in nanomanufacturing applications based on BCP templates.

Surface modification to prevent oxide scale spallation

DOEpatents

Stephens, Elizabeth V; Sun, Xin; Liu, Wenning; Stevenson, Jeffry W; Surdoval, Wayne; Khaleel, Mohammad A

2013-07-16

A surface modification to prevent oxide scale spallation is disclosed. The surface modification includes a ferritic stainless steel substrate having a modified surface. A cross-section of the modified surface exhibits a periodic morphology. The periodic morphology does not exceed a critical buckling length, which is equivalent to the length of a wave attribute observed in the cross section periodic morphology. The modified surface can be created using at least one of the following processes: shot peening, surface blasting and surface grinding. A coating can be applied to the modified surface.

The surface stability and morphology of tobermorite 11 Å from first principles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mutisya, Sylvia M.; Miranda, Caetano R.

2018-06-01

Tobermorite minerals are important in many industrial processes typically occurring in hydrous environment. Their functionality is therefore governed in various aspects by their morphology and surface stability/reactivity. Here, we present the results of the surface energies and morphology of normal tobermorite 11 Å in a water vapor environment investigated by employing first principles atomistic thermodynamic calculations. For the low index tobermorite surfaces studied, the calculated surface energies fall within a narrow range (0.41-0.97 J/m2) with the (0 0 4) surface being the most stable. The equilibrium morphology is a thin pseudohexagonal plate elongated along the b axis. The hydrated surfaces are more stable at high water vapor chemical potentials with the stability enhanced as the water partial pressures are varied from ambient to supercritical hydrothermal conditions. Increasing the water vapor chemical potential gives rise to a smaller size of the tobermorite crystal, with the equilibrium morphology remaining unaltered.

Impact of cleaning methods on the structural properties and morphology of SrTiO3 surface

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Arnay, Iciar; Rubio-Zuazo, Juan; Castro, German R.

2018-01-01

SrTiO3 is a widely used substrate for the epitaxial growth of complex systems. Nevertheless, in order to get good quality interface and avoid the formation of defects in the adsorbed layer it is essential to prepare the surface of the substrate prior to the deposition. Thermal and chemical treatments are mostly used to eliminate superficial contamination and improve the surface quality. However, there is a lack of information regarding the impact of these treatments on the formation of structural defects at the SrTiO3 surface. In this work we present a detailed characterization of the SrTiO3 surface for the different cleaning methods paying special attention to the formation of oxygen vacancies, large surface mosaicity and roughness. We prove that thermal treatment induces large surface roughness and that chemical etching produces important structural defects at the surface. Our results show that mechanical polishing provided the best compromise in terms of large surface domains, low roughness, absence of oxygen vacancies and absence of atomic structure modification, although with the presence of low level of contaminants at the SrTiO3 surface.

In vivo testing of porous Ti-25Nb alloy serving as a femoral stem prosthesis in a rabbit model

PubMed Central

Weng, Xiaojun; Yang, Hailin; Xu, Jian; Li, Xiaosheng; Liao, Qiande; Wang, Jing

2016-01-01

The aim of the present study was to observe the performance of Ti-25Nb alloys with various porosities as femoral stem prostheses in a rabbit model, thus providing basic experimental evidence for the development of porous prostheses. The porous Ti-25Nb alloy prostheses were designed according to the morphology of the medullary cavity. These prostheses were placed into the femoral medullary cavities in 36 New Zealand white rabbits. Postoperative X-ray films, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) of the implant interface, energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) analysis of the implant surface, pulling-out test and general observations were conducted. The specimens showed good biocompatibility; there was no obvious bone absorption in porous Ti-25Nb specimens with different porosities at different time points observed using X-ray films. Under SEM examination, calcium deposits were observed inside the pores and in the interface between bone and prostheses. The EDS analysis demonstrated that calcium deposits were present on the surface of the prostheses at the eight-week point postoperatively. The pulling-out test showed good bonding strength between bone and implant; after pulling out, the surface and inside the pores of the prostheses all presented bone mass. Porous Ti-25Nb alloy implants presents good biocompatibility as well as providing a biological fixation between the bone and implant. A porosity of 70% is more advantageous to the newborn bone ingrowth, combined with achieving a more solid bone-implant interface. PMID:27602063

Carbonate fabrics in the modern microbialites of Pavilion Lake: two suites of microfabrics that reflect variation in microbial community morphology, growth habit, and lithification.

PubMed

Theisen, C Harwood; Sumner, D Y; Mackey, T J; Lim, D S S; Brady, A L; Slater, G F

2015-07-01

Modern microbialites in Pavilion Lake, BC, provide an analog for ancient non-stromatolitic microbialites that formed from in situ mineralization. Because Pavilion microbialites are mineralizing under the influence of microbial communities, they provide insights into how biological processes influence microbialite microfabrics and mesostructures. Hemispherical nodules and micrite-microbial crusts are two mesostructures within Pavilion microbialites that are directly associated with photosynthetic communities. Both filamentous cyanobacteria in hemispherical nodules and branching filamentous green algae in micrite-microbial crusts were associated with calcite precipitation at microbialite surfaces and with characteristic microfabrics in the lithified microbialite. Hemispherical nodules formed at microbialite surfaces when calcite precipitated around filamentous cyanobacteria with a radial growth habit. The radial filament pattern was preserved within the microbialite to varying degrees. Some subsurface nodules contained well-defined filaments, whereas others contained only dispersed organic inclusions. Variation in filament preservation is interpreted to reflect differences in timing and amount of carbonate precipitation relative to heterotrophic decay, with more defined filaments reflecting greater lithification prior to degradation than more diffuse filaments. Micrite-microbial crusts produce the second suite of microfabrics and form in association with filamentous green algae oriented perpendicular to the microbialite surface. Some crusts include calcified filaments, whereas others contained voids that reflect the filamentous community in shape, size, and distribution. Pavilion microbialites demonstrate that microfabric variation can reflect differences in lithification processes and microbial metabolisms as well as microbial community morphology and organization. Even when the morphology of individual filaments or cells is not well preserved, the microbial growth habit can be captured in mesoscale microbialite structures. These results suggest that when petrographic preservation is extremely good, ancient microbialite growth structures and microfabrics can be interpreted in the context of variation in community organization, community composition, and lithification history. Even in the absence of distinct microbial microfabrics, mesostructures can capture microbial community morphology. © 2015 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Influence of non-thermal TiCl4/Ar+O2 plasma-assisted TiOx based coatings on the surface of polypropylene (PP) films for the tailoring of surface properties and cytocompatibility.

PubMed

Pandiyaraj, K N; Kumar, A Arun; Ramkumar, M C; Sachdev, A; Gopinath, P; Cools, Pieter; De Geyter, N; Morent, R; Deshmukh, R R; Hegde, P; Han, C; Nadagouda, M N

2016-05-01

The superior bulk properties (corrosion resistance, high strength to weight ratio, relatively low cost and easy processing) of hydrocarbon based polymers such as polypropylene (PP) have contributed significantly to the development of new biomedical applications such as artificial organs and cell scaffolds. However, low cell affinity is one of the main draw backs for PP due to its poor surface properties. In tissue engineering, physico-chemical surface properties such as hydrophilicity, polar functional groups, surface charge and morphology play a crucial role to enrich the cell proliferation and adhesion. In this present investigation TiOx based biocompatible coatings were developed on the surface of PP films via DC excited glow discharge plasma, using TiCl4/Ar+O2 gas mixture as a precursor. Various TiOx-based coatings are deposited on the surface of PP films as a function of discharge power. The changes in hydrophilicity of the TiOx/PP film surfaces were studied using contact angle analysis and surface energy calculations by Fowke's approximation. X-ray photo-electron spectroscopy (XPS) was used to investigate the surface chemical composition of TiOx/PP films. The surface morphology of the obtained TiOx/PP films was investigated by scanning electron and transmission electron microscopy (SEM &TEM). Moreover, the surface topography of the material was analyzed by atomic force microscopy (AFM). The cytocompatibility of the TiOx/PP films was investigated via in vitro analysis (cell viability, adhesion and cytotoxicity) using NIH3T3 (mouse embryonic fibroblast) cells. Furthermore the antibacterial activities of TiOx/PP films were also evaluated against two distinct bacterial models namely Gram positive Staphylococcus aureus (S.aureus) and Gram negative Escherichia coli DH5α. (E.coli) bacteria. XPS results clearly indicate the successful incorporation of TiOx and oxygen containing polar functional groups on the surface of plasma treated PP films. Moreover the surface of modified PP films exhibited nano structured morphology, as confirmed by SEM, TEM and AFM. The physico-chemical changes have improved the hydrophilicity of the PP films. The in-vitro analysis clearly confirms that the TiOx coated PP films performs as good as the standard tissue culture plates and also are unlikely to impact the bacterial cell viability. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Adsorbate-driven morphological changes on Cu(111) nano-pits

DOE PAGES

Mudiyanselage, K.; Xu, F.; Hoffmann, F. M.; ...

2014-12-09

Adsorbate-driven morphological changes of pitted-Cu(111) surfaces have been investigated following the adsorption and desorption of CO and H. The morphology of the pitted-Cu(111) surfaces, prepared by Ar + sputtering, exposed a few atomic layers deep nested hexagonal pits of diameters from 8 to 38 nm with steep step bundles. The roughness of pitted-Cu(111) surfaces can be healed by heating to 450-500 K in vacuum. Adsorption of CO on the pitted-Cu(111) surface leads to two infrared peaks at 2089-2090 and 2101-2105 cm -1 for CO adsorbed on under-coordinated sites in addition to the peak at 2071 cm -1 for CO adsorbedmore » on atop sites of the close-packed Cu(111) surface. CO adsorbed on under-coordinated sites is thermally more stable than that of atop Cu(111) sites. Annealing of the CO-covered surface from 100 to 300 K leads to minor changes of the surface morphology. In contrast, annealing of a H covered surface to 300 K creates a smooth Cu(111) surface as deduced from infrared data of adsorbed CO and scanning tunnelling microscopy (STM) imaging. The observation of significant adsorbate-driven morphological changes with H is attributed to its stronger modification of the Cu(111) surface by the formation of a sub-surface hydride with a hexagonal structure, which relaxes into the healed Cu(111) surface upon hydrogen desorption. These morphological changes occur ~150 K below the temperature required for healing of the pitted-Cu(111) surface by annealing in vacuum. In contrast, the adsorption of CO, which only interacts with the top-most Cu layer and desorbs by 160 K, does not significantly change the morphology of the pitted-Cu(111) surface.« less

Synthesis of hydrothermally reduced graphene/MnO2 composites and their electrochemical properties as supercapacitors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Zhangpeng; Wang, Jinqing; Liu, Sheng; Liu, Xiaohong; Yang, Shengrong

2011-10-01

Hydrothermally reduced graphene/MnO2 (HRG/MnO2) composites were synthesized by dipping HRG into the mixed aqueous solution of 0.1 M KMnO4 and 0.1 M K2SO4 for different periods of time at room temperature. The morphology and microstructure of the as-prepared composites were characterized by field-emission scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, Raman microscope, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The characterizations indicate that MnO2 successfully deposited on HRG surfaces and the morphology of the HRG/MnO2 shows a three-dimensional porous structure with MnO2 homogenously distributing on the HRG surfaces. Capacitive properties of the synthesized composite electrodes were studied using cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy in a three-electrode experimental setup using 1 M Na2SO4 aqueous solution as electrolyte. The main results of electrochemical tests are drawn as follows: the specific capacitance value of HRG/MnO2-200 (HRG dipped into the mixed solution of 0.1 M KMnO4 and 0.1 M K2SO4 for 200 min) electrode reached 211.5 F g-1 at a potential scan rate of 2 mV s-1; moreover, this electrode shows a good cyclic stability and capacity retention. It is anticipated that the synthesized HRG/MnO2 composites will find promising applications in supercapacitors and other devices in virtue of their outstanding characters of good cycle stability, low cost and environmentally benign nature.

Electrical current at micro-/macro-scale of undoped and nitrogen-doped MWPECVD diamond films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cicala, G.; Velardi, L.; Senesi, G. S.; Picca, R. A.; Cioffi, N.

2017-12-01

Chemical, structural, morphological and micro-/macro-electrical properties of undoped and nitrogen-(N-)doped diamond films are determined by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Raman and photoluminescence spectroscopies, field emission scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, scanning capacitance microscopy (SCM) and two points technique for I-V characteristics, respectively. The characterization results are very useful to examine and understand the relationship among these properties. The effect of the nitrogen incorporation in diamond films is investigated through the evolution of the chemical, structural, morphological and topographical features and of the electrical behavior. The distribution of the electrical current is first assessed at millimeter scale on the surface of diamond films and then at micrometer scale on small regions in order to establish the sites where the carriers preferentially move. Specifically, the SCM images indicate a non-uniform distribution of carriers on the morphological structures mainly located along the grain boundaries. A good agreement is found by comparing the electrical currents at the micro- and macro-scale. This work aims to highlight phenomena such as photo- and thermionic emission from N-doped diamond useful for microelectronic engineering.

Facilely prepared, N, O-codoped nanosheet derived from pre-functionalized polymer as supercapacitor electrodes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Jun; Yang, Ting; Zeng, Zheling; Deng, Shuguang

2018-04-01

Nitrogen and oxygen codoped carbon nanosheets derived from pre-functionalized polymer were prepared using a facile direct pyrolysis method. The carbon microstructures are tunable with micro- and mesopore size distribution and a large specific surface area (1628.9-2146.1 m2 g-1). Furthermore, a significant morphology change, from carbon granules to carbon nanosheets, occurred at an annealing temperature of 1273 K. The unique carbon sheet morphology guaranteed a good specific capacitance of 246.4 F g-1 at 0.5 A g-1 in 1 M H2SO4 aqueous solution and an excellent rate capability with a retention of 87.9% at 5 A g-1 as coin cell. The outstanding capacitance attributes to the combination of pseudocapacitance due to the N,O dual-doping and unique nanosheet morphology. Moreover, its outstanding cycling performance with 95% retention over 10,000 cycles at 10 A g-1 and an acceptable energy density of 8.6 Wh kg-1 at 0.2 A g-1 make the N,O-codoped carbon nanosheet potent and promising electrode material for high performance supercapacitors.

A simple large-scale synthesis of mesoporous In2O3 for gas sensing applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Su; Song, Peng; Yan, Huihui; Yang, Zhongxi; Wang, Qi

2016-08-01

In this paper, large-scale mesoporous In2O3 nanostructures were synthesized by a facile Lewis acid catalytic the furfural alcohol resin (FAR) template route for the high-yield. Their morphology and structure were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), differential thermal and thermogravimetry analysis (DSC-TG) and the Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) approach. The as-obtained mesoporous In2O3 nanostructures possess excellent mesoporous and network structure, which increases the contact area with the gases, it is conducive for adsorption-desorption of gas on the surface of In2O3. The In2O3 particles and pores were both about 15 nm and very uniform. In gas-sensing measurements with target gases, the gas sensor based on mesoporous In2O3 nanostructures showed a good response, short response-recovery time, good selectivity and stability to ethanol. These properties are due to the large specific surface area of mesoporous structure. This synthetic method could use as a new design concept for functional mesoporous nanomaterials and for mass production.

The effect of TiO2 coating on biological NiTi alloys after micro-arc oxidation treatment for corrosion resistance.

PubMed

Sukuroglu, Ebru Emine; Sukuroglu, Suleyman; Akar, Kubra; Totik, Yasar; Efeoglu, Ihsan; Arslan, Ersin

2017-08-01

NiTi alloys exhibit good properties, such as shape memory behavior, high corrosion resistant, having the closest elasticity modulus of a human bone and superior biocompatibility properties. However, the surface problems that arise during the use of this alloy limit the usage in the industry and health sector. In recent years, micro-arc oxidation method is used to improve the surface properties and increase the usage of these alloys. In this study, the TiO 2 coatings were deposited on the NiTi substrates. The surface topography, morphology, crystallographic structure, and thickness of the coatings were determined using scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction. The corrosion properties were investigated using potentiostat test unit in two different media such as NaCl solution and simulated body fluid. The results show that the coated samples have higher corrosion resistance than uncoated samples in the two different media.

Use of natural particles for the removal of paint from aeronautical composite materials

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Guy, Thu-Ha; Lankarani, Hamid M.; Talia, Jorge E.

Paint removal by blasting and its effects on the surface morphology of aeronautical composite materials are investigated. An ideal combination of the parameters for mechanical paint removal by blasting such as particle type, size, velocity and angle of incidence yields a stripped aircraft skin substrate with minimal or no damage. Natural particles, specifically white corn flour, seem to be a good choice for paint removal by blasting. Since they are softer as well as smaller in size than other particles used for paint removal, they minimize the amount of damage to the surface of the composite. They are also cheaper and produce no harm to environment. The variation of the degree of surface roughness and the amount of broken fibers were correlated with some stripping parameters, such as particle impact angle and velocity. This defined an optimum environment for paint removal by blasting.

A simple method to synthesize modified Fe3O4 for the removal of organic pollutants on water surface

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhu, Ling; Li, Chuanhao; Wang, Juan; Zhang, Hui; Zhang, Jian; Shen, Yuhua; Li, Cun; Wang, Cuiping; Xie, Anjian

2012-06-01

In this article, a simple, economic and environment-friendly approach is explored to prepare Fe3O4 nanoparticles by using air oxidation at room temperature. Furthermore, the Fe3O4 magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) have been modified with sodium oleate successfully to form super-hydrophobic surfaces. The alkali source played an important role in controlling the morphologies of Fe3O4 MNPs. Either Fe3O4 MNPs or sodium oleate modified Fe3O4 MNPs possessed good magnetic property, and the as-prepared modified Fe3O4 nanoparticles are both hydrophobic and lipophilic. Therefore, Fe3O4/sodium oleate could be dispersed stable in the oil medium and have been applied in the cleanup engine oil from the water surface. It will open up a potential and broad application in wastewater treatment.

Asymmetric organic-inorganic hybrid membrane formation via block copolymer-nanoparticle co-assembly.

PubMed

Gu, Yibei; Dorin, Rachel M; Wiesner, Ulrich

2013-01-01

A facile method for forming asymmetric organic-inorganic hybrid membranes for selective separation applications is developed. This approach combines co-assembly of block copolymer (BCP) and inorganic nanoparticles (NPs) with non-solvent induced phase separation. The method is successfully applied to two distinct molar mass BCPs with different fractions of titanium dioxide (TiO2) NPs. The resulting hybrid membranes exhibit structural asymmetry with a thin nanoporous surface layer on top of a macroporous fingerlike support layer. Key parameters that dictate membrane surface morphology include the fraction of inorganics used and the length of time allowed for surface layer development. The resulting membranes exhibit both good selectivity and high permeability (3200 ± 500 Lm(-2) h(-1) bar(-1)). This fast and straightforward synthesis method for asymmetric hybrid membranes provides a new self-assembly platform upon which multifunctional and high-performance organic-inorganic hybrid membranes can be formed.

Theoretical, thermodynamic and electrochemical analysis of biotin drug as an impending corrosion inhibitor for mild steel in 15% hydrochloric acid

PubMed Central

Xu, Xihua; Sun, Zhipeng; Ansari, K. R.; Lin, Yuanhua

2017-01-01

The corrosion mitigation efficiency of biotin drug for mild steel in 15% hydrochloric acid was thoroughly investigated by weight loss and electrochemical methods. The surface morphology was studied by the contact angle, scanning electrochemical microscopy, atomic force microscopy and scanning electron microscopy methods. Quantum chemical calculation and Fukui analysis were done to correlate the experimental and theoretical data. The influence of the concentration of inhibitor, immersion time, temperature, activation energy, enthalpy and entropy has been reported. The mitigation efficiency of biotin obtained by all methods was in good correlation with each other. Polarization studies revealed that biotin acted as a mixed inhibitor. The adsorption of biotin was found to obey the Langmuir adsorption isotherm. Surface studies showed the hydrophobic nature of the steel with inhibitor and vindicated the formation of a film on the metal surface that reduced the corrosion rate. PMID:29308235

Development of albumin-based nanoparticles for the delivery of abacavir.

PubMed

Wilson, Barnabas; Paladugu, Latishkumar; Priyadarshini, S R Brahmani; Jenita, J Josephine Leno

2015-11-01

The study was designed to prepare and evaluate albumin nanoparticles containing antiviral drug abacavir sulphate. Various batches of albumin nanoparticles containing abacavir sulphate were prepared by desolvation method. The abacavir loaded particles were characterized for their yield, percentage of drug loading, surface morphology, particle size, surface charge, pattern of in vitro drug release and release mechanism studies. Drug loading ranged from 1.2 to 5.9%w/w. The mean particle size and the surface charge were 418.2nm and -40.8mV respectively. The in vitro drug release varied between 38.73 and 51.36%w/w for 24h. The n value for Korsmeyer-Peppas was 0.425 indicating Fickian type drug release. The preliminary findings indicated that albumin nanoparticles of abacavir can be prepared by desolvation method with good yield, high drug loading and sustained release. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Inkjet-printed Polyvinyl Alcohol Multilayers.

PubMed

Salaoru, Iulia; Zhou, Zuoxin; Morris, Peter; Gibbons, Gregory J

2017-05-11

Inkjet printing is a modern method for polymer processing, and in this work, we demonstrate that this technology is capable of producing polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH) multilayer structures. A polyvinyl alcohol aqueous solution was formulated. The intrinsic properties of the ink, such as surface tension, viscosity, pH, and time stability, were investigated. The PVOH-based ink was a neutral solution (pH 6.7) with a surface tension of 39.3 mN/m and a viscosity of 7.5 cP. The ink displayed pseudoplastic (non-Newtonian shear thinning) behavior at low shear rates, and overall, it demonstrated good time stability. The wettability of the ink on different substrates was investigated, and glass was identified as the most suitable substrate in this particular case. A proprietary 3D inkjet printer was employed to manufacture polymer multilayer structures. The morphology, surface profile, and thickness uniformity of inkjet-printed multilayers were evaluated via optical microscopy.

Ethanol chemiresistor with enhanced discriminative ability from acetone based on Sr-doped SnO2 nanofibers.

PubMed

Jiang, Ziqiao; Jiang, Tingting; Wang, Jinfeng; Wang, Zhaojie; Xu, Xiuru; Wang, Zongxin; Zhao, Rui; Li, Zhenyu; Wang, Ce

2015-01-01

We demonstrated a new metal oxides based chemiresistor (MOC), which exhibits fast response/recovery behavior, large sensitivity, and good selectivity to ethanol, enabled by Sr-doped SnO2 nanofibers via simple electrospinning and followed by calcination. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and X-ray photoelectron spectra (XPS) were carefully used to characterize their morphology, structure, and composition. The ethanol sensing performances based on Sr-doped SnO2 nanofibers were investigated. Comparing with the pristine SnO2 nanofibers, enhanced ethanol sensing performances (more rapid response/recovery behavior and larger response values) have been achieved owing to the basic SnO2 surface caused by Sr-doping, whereas the acetone sensing performances have been weakened. Thus, good discriminative ability to ethanol from acetone has been realized. Additionally, Sr-doped SnO2 nanofibers also exhibit good selectivity. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Surface modification of polyethylene/graphene composite using corona discharge

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Popelka, Anton; Noorunnisa Khanam, P.; AlMaadeed, Mariam Ali

2018-03-01

Polyethylene/graphene composites are suitable for electromagnetic interference shielding applications and are often fabricated as sandwich structures. However, the hydrophobic character of these composites can lead to delamination. Corona treatment was used to enhance the surface hydrophilicity of composites prepared from linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE) and graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) with different content (2, 4, 6, and 8 wt.%). This enhancement of wettability also led to good adhesion properties. The presence of GNPs in LLDPE had a positive effect on the surface properties after corona treatment. The surface free energy of the LLDPE/GNP composites increased by almost 64.6% for 2 wt.% of GNPs in the LLDPE/GNP composite, while the surface free energy of neat LLDPE increased by only 38.1%. The best improvement in adhesion properties after corona treatment was observed for 2 wt.% of GNPs in the LLDPE/GNP composite, while peel resistance increased by 137.9%. Various analytical techniques and methods proved that the changes in the surface morphology and chemical composition of the LLDPE/GNP composite after this treatment resulted in an improvement of adhesion.

Preparation of micro/nano-structure superhydrophobic film on aluminum plates using galvanic corrosion method.

PubMed

Wu, Ruomei; Chao, Guang Hua; Jiang, Haiyun; Pan, Anqiang; Chen, Hong; Yuan, Zhiqing; Liu, Qilong

2013-10-01

A simple and novel approach has been developed to obtain a microporous film with compound nanoparticles on the surface of aluminum alloy substrate using the galvanic corrosion method. The wettability of the surface changes from hydrophilicity to superhydrophobicity after chemical modification with stearic acid (SA). The water contact angle (WCA) and sliding angle (WSA) of superhydrophobic aluminum alloy surface (SAAS) are 154 degrees and 9 degrees, respectively. The roughness of the aluminum substrate increases after the oxidation reaction. The porous aluminum matrix surface is covered with irregularly shaped holes with a mean radius of about 15 microm, similar to the surface papillae of natural Lotus leaf, with villus-like nanoparticles array on pore surfaces. The superhydrophobic property is attributed to this special surface morphology and low surface energy SA. X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) pattern and Energy Dispersive X-Ray Spectroscopy (EDS) spectrum indicate that Al2O3, Al(OH)3 and AIO(OH) has been formed on the surface of aluminum substrate after the oxidation reaction. The Raman spectra indicate that C-H bond from SA and the Al-O are formed on the SAAS. The as-formed SAAS has good stability.

Study on fabrication of the superhydrophobic sol-gel films based on copper wafer and its anti-corrosive properties

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fan, Youhua; Li, Changzhu; Chen, Zejun; Chen, Hong

2012-06-01

In the present study, superhydrophobic copper wafer was prepared by a sol-gel deposition method. Different molar ratios of vinyltrimethoxysilane (VTES), ethanol (EtOH), water (H2O) and ammonia water (NH3·OH) were involved in this research. The morphologies, chemical compositions and hydrophobicity of the films were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray detector (EDX), Fourier transfer infrared spectrometer (FTIR) and water contact angle measurement (CA). It was shown by the surface morphological study that different structures, such as pyramid-shaped protrusions, nipple-shaped protrusions or ball-shaped silica particles, were distributed on the copper substrate. The films had a high water contact angle larger than 155.4°. The durability properties revealed that the films had a good superhydrophobicity deposited in 3.5 wt.% sodium chloride solution for up to 14 days.

Influence of the Additives and The pH On the Cobalt-Molybdenum (Co-Mo) Alloy Electrodeposited On n-TypeSilicon

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fekih, Z.; Ghellai, N.; Fortas, G.; Chiboub, N.; Sam, S.; Chabanne-sari, N. E.; Gabouze, N.

In this work, thin films of metal alloys (Co-Mo) have been electrodeposited onto silicon (Si) surface. The effects of two different additives (H3BO3 and Na2CO3) and the pH of the solution on the electrochemically deposited films (morphology, stochiometry…) have been investigated. The properties of the deposits were characterized by using X-Rays Diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDS). The results show that the morphology and the film composition depend on both the pH of the solution and the additives. The presence of boric acid favors the Mo deposition. Crack-free homogeneous deposits with a low percentage of molybdenum can be easily obtained from high pH bath. The deposits were shown to exhibits a good crystalline structure.

Improved Adhesion of Gold Thin Films Evaporated on Polymer Resin: Applications for Sensing Surfaces and MEMS

PubMed Central

Moazzez, Behrang; O'Brien, Stacey M.; Merschrod S., Erika F.

2013-01-01

We present and analyze a method to improve the morphology and mechanical properties of gold thin films for use in optical sensors or other settings where good adhesion of gold to a substrate is of importance and where controlled topography/roughness is key. To improve the adhesion of thermally evaporated gold thin films, we introduce a gold deposition step on SU-8 photoresist prior to UV exposure but after the pre-bake step of SU-8 processing. Shrinkage and distribution of residual stresses, which occur during cross-linking of the SU-8 polymer layer in the post-exposure baking step, are responsible for the higher adhesion of the top gold film to the post-deposition cured SU-8 sublayer. The SU-8 underlayer can also be used to tune the resulting gold film morphology. Our promoter-free protocol is easily integrated with existing sensor microfabrication processes. PMID:23760086

Effects of inherent/enhanced solid acidity and morphology of diatomite templates on the synthesis and porosity of hierarchically porous carbon.

PubMed

Liu, Dong; Yuan, Peng; Tan, Daoyong; Liu, Hongmei; Fan, Mingde; Yuan, Aihua; Zhu, Jianxi; He, Hongping

2010-12-21

The inherent or enhanced solid acidity of raw or activated diatomite is found to have significant effects on the synthesis of hierarchically porous diatomite-templated carbon with high surface area and special porous structure. The solid acidity makes raw/activated diatomite a catalyst for the generation of porous carbon, and the porous parameters of the carbon products are strongly dependent on the solid acidity of diatomite templates. The morphology of diatomite also dramatically affects the textural structure of porous carbon. Two types of macroporous structures in the carbon product, the partially solid pillars and the ordered hollow tubes, derive from the replication of the central and the edge pores of diatom shell, respectively. The hierarchically porous carbon shows good capability for the adsorption of solvent naphtha and H(2), enabling potential applications in adsorption and gas storage.

X-ray morphological study of galaxy cluster catalogues

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Democles, Jessica; Pierre, Marguerite; Arnaud, Monique

2016-07-01

Context : The intra-cluster medium distribution as probed by X-ray morphology based analysis gives good indication of the system dynamical state. In the race for the determination of precise scaling relations and understanding their scatter, the dynamical state offers valuable information. Method : We develop the analysis of the centroid-shift so that it can be applied to characterize galaxy cluster surveys such as the XXL survey or high redshift cluster samples. We use it together with the surface brightness concentration parameter and the offset between X-ray peak and brightest cluster galaxy in the context of the XXL bright cluster sample (Pacaud et al 2015) and a set of high redshift massive clusters detected by Planck and SPT and observed by both XMM-Newton and Chandra observatories. Results : Using the wide redshift coverage of the XXL sample, we see no trend between the dynamical state of the systems with the redshift.

Morphological features of Miocene submarine coherent lavas from the ``Green Tuff'' basins: examples from basaltic and andesitic rocks from the Shimokita Peninsula, northern Japan

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yamagishi, Hiromitsu

1991-04-01

Basaltic and andesitic volcanic rocks of Miocene age exposed in the Shimokita Peninsula, northern Japan, illustrate morphological features of typical submarine coherent lavas of the “Green Tuff” basins in Japan. They are pillow lobes with surface structures, such as ropey wrinkles, corrugations, spreading cracks and tensional cracks, and lava lobes composed of a lithic core and glassy border zone or rim with an in-situ breccia zone grading outward into surrounding hyaloclastite. In addition they include massive lavas with columnar joints, and jointed dykes. The submarine coherent lavas and dykes are commonly associated with hyaloclastic breccias, such as pillow fragment breccia and angular fragment breccia. The descriptions of the Miocene volcanic rocks in the Shimokita Peninsula provide good criteria for recognition of submarine coherent lavas of basalt and andesite.

Stress distribution and topography of Tellus Regio, Venus

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Williams, David R.; Greeley, Ronald

1989-01-01

The Tellus Regio area of Venus represents a subset of a narrow latitude band where Pioneer Venus Orbiter (PVO) altimetry data, line-of-sight (LOS) gravity data, and Venera 15/16 radar images have all been obtained with good resolution. Tellus Regio also has a wide variety of surface morphologic features, elevations ranging up to 2.5 km, and a relatively low LOS gravity anomaly. This area was therefore chosen in order to examine the theoretical stress distributions resulting from various models of compensation of the observed topography. These surface stress distributions are then compared with the surface morphology revealed in the Venera 15/16 radar images. Conclusions drawn from these comparisons will enable constraints to be put on various tectonic parameters relevant to Tellus Regio. The stress distribution is calculated as a function of the topography, the equipotential anomaly, and the assumed model parameters. The topography data is obtained from the PVO altimetry. The equipotential anomaly is estimated from the PVO LOS gravity data. The PVO LOS gravity represents the spacecraft accelerations due to mass anomalies within the planet. These accelerations are measured at various altitudes and angles to the local vertical and therefore do not lend themselves to a straightforward conversion. A minimum variance estimator of the LOS gravity data is calculated, taking into account the various spacecraft altitudes and LOS angles and using the measured PVO topography as an a priori constraint. This results in an estimated equivalent surface mass distribution, from which the equipotential anomaly is determined.

Study of nanostructure and ethanol vapor sensing performance of WO3 thin films deposited by e-beam evaporation method under different deposition angles: application in breath analysis devices

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Amani, E.; Khojier, K.; Zoriasatain, S.

2018-01-01

This paper studies the effect of deposition angle on the crystallographic structure, surface morphology, porosity and subsequently ethanol vapor sensing performance of e-beam-evaporated WO3 thin films. The WO3 thin films were deposited by e-beam evaporation technique on SiO2/Si substrates under different deposition angles (0°, 30°, and 60°) and then post-annealed at 500 °C with a flow of oxygen for 4 h. Crystallographic structure and surface morphology of the samples were checked using X-ray diffraction method and atomic force microscopy, respectively. Physical adsorption isotherm was also used to measure the porosity and effective surface area of the samples. The electrical response of the samples was studied to different concentrations of ethanol vapor (10-50 ppm) at the temperature range of 140-260 °C and relative humidity of 80%. The results reveal that the WO3 thin film deposited under 30° angle shows more sensitivity to ethanol vapor than the other samples prepared in this work due to the more crystallinity, porosity, and effective surface area. The investigations also show that the sample deposited at 30° can be a good candidate as a breath analysis device at the operating temperature of 240 °C because of its high response, low detection limit, and reliability at high relative humidity.

A high-sensitivity fiber-optic evanescent wave sensor with a three-layer structure composed of Canada balsam doped with GeO2.

PubMed

Zhong, Nianbing; Zhao, Mingfu; Zhong, Lianchao; Liao, Qiang; Zhu, Xun; Luo, Binbin; Li, Yishan

2016-11-15

In this paper, we present a high-sensitivity polymer fiber-optic evanescent wave (FOEW) sensor with a three-layer structure that includes bottom, inter-, and surface layers in the sensing region. The bottom layer and inter-layer are POFs composed of standard cladding and the core of the plastic optical fiber, and the surface layer is made of dilute Canada balsam in xylene doped with GeO2. We examine the morphology of the doped GeO2, the refractive index and composition of the surface layer and the surface luminous properties of the sensing region. We investigate the effects of the content and morphology of the GeO2 particles on the sensitivity of the FOEW sensors by using glucose solutions. In addition, we examine the response of sensors incubated with staphylococcal protein A plus mouse IgG isotype to goat anti-mouse IgG solutions. Results indicate very good sensitivity of the three-layer FOEW sensor, which showed a 3.91-fold improvement in the detection of the target antibody relative to a conventional sensor with a core-cladding structure, and the novel sensor showed a lower limit of detection of 0.2ng/l and a response time around 320s. The application of this high-sensitivity FOEW sensor can be extended to biodefense, disease diagnosis, biomedical and biochemical analysis. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Self-organized TiO2 nanotube arrays in the photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue under UV light irradiation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chung, Eun Hyuk; Baek, Seong Rim; Yu, Seong Mi; Kim, Jong Pil; Hong, Tae Eun; Kim, Hyun Gyu; Bae, Jong-Seong; Jeong, Euh Duck; Khan, F. Nawaz; Jung, Ok-sang

2015-04-01

Nanostructured titanium dioxide (NTiO2) is known to possess efficient photocatalytic activity and to have diverse applications in many fields due to its chemical stability, high surface area/volume ratio, high transmittance, and high refractive index in the visible and the near-ultraviolet regions. These facts prompted us to develop TiO2 nanotube (TiO2 NT) arrays through electrochemical anodic oxidation involving different electrolytes comprised of phosphoric acid — hydrofluoric acid aqueous systems by varying the voltage and the time. The annealing temperature of the nanotubes, TiO2 NTs, were varied to modify the surface morphology and were characterized by using X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. Scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction results showed that the samples had uniform morphologies and good crystalline structures of the anatase phase at lower annealing temperatures and of the rutile phase at higher annealing temperatures. A secondary-ion mass-spectrometry analysis was used to investigate the surface atoms and to conduct a depth profile analysis of the TiO2 NTs. The efficiency of the photocatalytic activity of the TiO2 NT arrays in degrading methylene blue (MB) was investigated under UV-Vis light irradiation. The maximum photocatalytic activity was achieved for the samples with lower annealing temperatures due to their being in the anatase phase and having a higher surface area and a smaller crystal size, which play important roles in the degradation of organic pollutants.

Characterization of Polyethylene-Graft-Sulfonated Polyarylsulfone Proton Exchange Membranes for Direct Methanol Fuel Cell Applications.

PubMed

Kim, Hyung Kyu; Zhang, Gang; Nam, Changwoo; Chung, T C Mike

2015-12-04

This paper examines polymer film morphology and several important properties of polyethylene-graft-sulfonated polyarylene ether sulfone (PE-g-s-PAES) proton exchange membranes (PEMs) for direct methanol fuel cell applications. Due to the extreme surface energy differences between a semi-crystalline and hydrophobic PE backbone and several amorphous and hydrophilic s-PAES side chains, the PE-g-s-PAES membrane self-assembles into a unique morphology, with many proton conductive s-PAES channels embedded in the stable and tough PE matrix and a thin hydrophobic PE layer spontaneously formed on the membrane surfaces. In the bulk, these membranes show good mechanical properties (tensile strength >30 MPa, Young's modulus >1400 MPa) and low water swelling (λ < 15) even with high IEC >3 mmol/g in the s-PAES domains. On the surface, the thin hydrophobic and semi-crystalline PE layer shows some unusual barrier (protective) properties. In addition to exhibiting higher through-plane conductivity (up to 160 mS/cm) than in-plane conductivity, the PE surface layer minimizes methanol cross-over from anode to cathode with reduced fuel loss, and stops the HO• and HO₂• radicals, originally formed at the anode, entering into PEM matrix. Evidently, the thin PE surface layer provides a highly desirable protecting layer for PEMs to reduce fuel loss and increase chemical stability. Overall, the newly developed PE-g-s-PAES membranes offer a desirable set of PEM properties, including conductivity, selectivity, mechanical strength, stability, and cost-effectiveness for direct methanol fuel cell applications.

Characterization of Polyethylene-Graft-Sulfonated Polyarylsulfone Proton Exchange Membranes for Direct Methanol Fuel Cell Applications

PubMed Central

Kim, Hyung Kyu; Zhang, Gang; Nam, Changwoo; Chung, T.C. Mike

2015-01-01

This paper examines polymer film morphology and several important properties of polyethylene-graft-sulfonated polyarylene ether sulfone (PE-g-s-PAES) proton exchange membranes (PEMs) for direct methanol fuel cell applications. Due to the extreme surface energy differences between a semi-crystalline and hydrophobic PE backbone and several amorphous and hydrophilic s-PAES side chains, the PE-g-s-PAES membrane self-assembles into a unique morphology, with many proton conductive s-PAES channels embedded in the stable and tough PE matrix and a thin hydrophobic PE layer spontaneously formed on the membrane surfaces. In the bulk, these membranes show good mechanical properties (tensile strength >30 MPa, Young’s modulus >1400 MPa) and low water swelling (λ < 15) even with high IEC >3 mmol/g in the s-PAES domains. On the surface, the thin hydrophobic and semi-crystalline PE layer shows some unusual barrier (protective) properties. In addition to exhibiting higher through-plane conductivity (up to 160 mS/cm) than in-plane conductivity, the PE surface layer minimizes methanol cross-over from anode to cathode with reduced fuel loss, and stops the HO• and HO2• radicals, originally formed at the anode, entering into PEM matrix. Evidently, the thin PE surface layer provides a highly desirable protecting layer for PEMs to reduce fuel loss and increase chemical stability. Overall, the newly developed PE-g-s-PAES membranes offer a desirable set of PEM properties, including conductivity, selectivity, mechanical strength, stability, and cost-effectiveness for direct methanol fuel cell applications. PMID:26690232

Effect of calcium-ozone treatment on chemical and biological properties of polyethylene terephthalate.

PubMed

Rashid, Ahmed Nafis; Tsuru, Kanji; Ishikawa, Kunio

2015-05-01

Ozone (O3 ) treatment of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) in distilled water was performed in the presence and absence of calcium (Ca(2+) ). PET was oxidized and thus carboxylic and hydroxyl functional groups were introduced on its surface after O3 treatment, regardless of the presence or absence of Ca(2+) . In the case of O3 treatment with Ca(2+) , PET surface was modified with Ca(2+) . Ca(2+) immobilization was confirmed by X-ray photoelectron spectrometric analysis. Hydrophilicity was investigated by measuring contact angles (CA). CA of PET decreased significantly after ozonation. Surface topography of PET before and after ozone treatment was observed by scanning electron microscopy, and showed no morphological changes. In vitro studies showed enhanced rat bone marrow cell responses on the O3 -treated PET surface. Ca(2+) -O3 oxidation at 37°C for 6 h is expected to be an effective method to fabricate PET with good biocompatibility. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Bio-functionalization of biomedical metals.

PubMed

Xiao, M; Chen, Y M; Biao, M N; Zhang, X D; Yang, B C

2017-01-01

Bio-functionalization means to endow biomaterials with bio-functions so as to make the materials or devices more suitable for biomedical applications. Traditionally, because of the excellent mechanical properties, the biomedical metals have been widely used in clinic. However, the utilized functions are basically supporting or fixation especially for the implantable devices. Nowadays, some new functions, including bioactivity, anti-tumor, anti-microbial, and so on, are introduced to biomedical metals. To realize those bio-functions on the metallic biomedical materials, surface modification is the most commonly used method. Surface modification, including physical and chemical methods, is an effective way to alter the surface morphology and composition of biomaterials. It can endow the biomedical metals with new surface properties while still retain the good mechanical properties of the bulk material. Having analyzed the ways of realizing the bio-functionalization, this article briefly summarized the bio-functionalization concepts of six hot spots in this field. They are bioactivity, bony tissue inducing, anti-microbial, anti-tumor, anticoagulation, and drug loading functions. Copyright © 2016. Published by Elsevier B.V.

Selected aspects of lunar mare geology from Apollo orbital photography. [of lunar craters

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Young, R. A.; Brennan, W. J.

1976-01-01

Crater size-frequency distributions were studied (100-500 m) and are shown to provide significant integrated information concerning mare surface ages, subsurface stratigraphy, and surficial geology. Equilibrium cratering is discussed gradually reducing the relative numbers of craters smaller than 300-400 m in diameter as surfaces age and regolith thickens. Results for surface ages are in good agreement with other published crater ages. The existing correlations of large ring structures among various circular mare basins are shown to be based on criteria that are inconsistent and nonstandardized. A means of comparing equivalent ring structures in the different maria is proposed which takes into account the important characteristics of young unflooded basins (Orientale) as well as the progressive development of tectonic and volcanic features within the older flooded maria. Specific geologic aspects of several of the lunar maria are discussed and especially Mare Smythii, because of its great age and significantly different surface morphology. Lunar photographs and maps are shown.

[Corrosion resistant properties of different anodized microtopographies on titanium surfaces].

PubMed

Fangjun, Huo; Li, Xie; Xingye, Tong; Yueting, Wang; Weihua, Guo; Weidong, Tian

2015-12-01

To investigate the corrosion resistant properties of titanium samples prepared by anodic oxidation with different surface morphologies. Pure titanium substrates were treated by anodic oxidation to obtain porous titanium films in micron, submicron, and micron-submicron scales. The surface morphologies, coating cross-sectional morphologies, crystalline structures, and surface roughness of these samples were characterized. Electrochemical technique was used to measure the corrosion potential (Ecorr), current density of corrosion (Icorr), and polarization resistance (Rp) of these samples in a simulated body fluid. Pure titanium could be modified to exhibit different surface morphologies by the anodic oxidation technique. The Tafel curve results showed that the technique can improve the corrosion resistance of pure titanium. Furthermore, the corrosion resistance varied with different surface morphologies. The submicron porous surface sample demonstrated the best corrosion resistance, with maximal Ecorr and Rp and minimal Icorr. Anodic oxidation technology can improve the corrosion resistance of pure titanium in a simulated body fluid. The submicron porous surface sample exhibited the best corrosion resistance because of its small surface area and thick barrier layer.

An Improved Representation of Regional Boundaries on Parcellated Morphological Surfaces

PubMed Central

Hao, Xuejun; Xu, Dongrong; Bansal, Ravi; Liu, Jun; Peterson, Bradley S.

2010-01-01

Establishing the correspondences of brain anatomy with function is important for understanding neuroimaging data. Regional delineations on morphological surfaces define anatomical landmarks and help to visualize and interpret both functional data and morphological measures mapped onto the cortical surface. We present an efficient algorithm that accurately delineates the morphological surface of the cerebral cortex in real time during generation of the surface using information from parcellated 3D data. With this accurate region delineation, we then develop methods for boundary-preserved simplification and smoothing, as well as procedures for the automated correction of small, misclassified regions to improve the quality of the delineated surface. We demonstrate that our delineation algorithm, together with a new method for double-snapshot visualization of cortical regions, can be used to establish a clear correspondence between brain anatomy and mapped quantities, such as morphological measures, across groups of subjects. PMID:21144708

Three-dimensional kinetic Monte Carlo simulations of cubic transition metal nitride thin film growth

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nita, F.; Mastail, C.; Abadias, G.

2016-02-01

A three-dimensional kinetic Monte Carlo (KMC) model has been developed and used to simulate the microstructure and growth morphology of cubic transition metal nitride (TMN) thin films deposited by reactive magnetron sputtering. Results are presented for the case of stoichiometric TiN, chosen as a representative TMN prototype. The model is based on a NaCl-type rigid lattice and includes deposition and diffusion events for both N and Ti species. It is capable of reproducing voids and overhangs, as well as surface faceting. Simulations were carried out assuming a uniform flux of incoming particles approaching the surface at normal incidence. The ballistic deposition model is parametrized with an interaction parameter r0 that mimics the capture distance at which incoming particles may stick on the surface, equivalently to a surface trapping mechanism. Two diffusion models are implemented, based on the different ways to compute the site-dependent activation energy for hopping atoms. The influence of temperature (300-500 K), deposition flux (0.1-100 monolayers/s), and interaction parameter r0 (1.5-6.0 Å) on the obtained growth morphology are presented. Microstructures ranging from highly porous, [001]-oriented straight columns with smooth top surface to rough columns emerging with different crystallographic facets are reproduced, depending on kinetic restrictions, deposited energy (seemingly captured by r0), and shadowing effect. The development of facets is a direct consequence of the diffusion model which includes an intrinsic (minimum energy-based) diffusion anisotropy, although no crystallographic diffusion anisotropy was explicitly taken into account at this stage. The time-dependent morphological evolution is analyzed quantitatively to extract the growth exponent β and roughness exponent α , as indicators of kinetic roughening behavior. For dense TiN films, values of α ≈0.7 and β =0.24 are obtained in good agreement with existing experimental data. At this stage a single lattice is considered but the KMC model will be extended further to address more complex mechanisms, such as anisotropic surface diffusion and grain boundary migration at the origin of the competitive columnar growth observed in polycrystalline TiN-based films.

Critical Role of Surface Energy in Guiding Crystallization of Solution-Coated Conjugated Polymer Thin Films

DOE PAGES

Zhang, Fengjiao; Mohammadi, Erfan; Luo, Xuyi; ...

2017-10-02

It is well-known that substrate surface properties have a profound impact on morphology of thin films solution coated atop and the resulting solid-state properties. However, design rules for guiding the substrate selection have not yet been established. Such design rules are particularly important for solution coated semiconducting polymers, as the substratedirected thin film morphology can impact charge transport properties by orders of magnitude. We hypothesize that substrate surface energies dictate the thin film morphology by modulating the free energy barrier to heterogeneous nucleation. To test this hypothesis, we systematically vary the substrate surface energy via surface functionalization techniques. We performmore » in-depth morphology and device characterizations to establish the relationship between substrate surface energy, thin film morphology and charge transport properties, employing a donor-accepter (D-A) conjugated polymer. Here, we find that decreasing the substrate surface energy progressively increases thin film crystallinity, degree of molecular ordering and extent of domain alignment. Notably, the enhanced morphology on the lowest surface energy substrate lead to a 10-fold increase in the charge carrier mobility. We further develop a free energy model relating the substrate surface energy to the penalty of heterogeneous nucleation from solution in the thin film geometry. The model correctly predicts the experimental trend, thereby validating our hypothesis. This work is a significant step towards establishing design rules and understanding the critical role of substrates in determining morphology of solution coated thin films.« less

Critical Role of Surface Energy in Guiding Crystallization of Solution-Coated Conjugated Polymer Thin Films

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Zhang, Fengjiao; Mohammadi, Erfan; Luo, Xuyi

It is well-known that substrate surface properties have a profound impact on morphology of thin films solution coated atop and the resulting solid-state properties. However, design rules for guiding the substrate selection have not yet been established. Such design rules are particularly important for solution coated semiconducting polymers, as the substratedirected thin film morphology can impact charge transport properties by orders of magnitude. We hypothesize that substrate surface energies dictate the thin film morphology by modulating the free energy barrier to heterogeneous nucleation. To test this hypothesis, we systematically vary the substrate surface energy via surface functionalization techniques. We performmore » in-depth morphology and device characterizations to establish the relationship between substrate surface energy, thin film morphology and charge transport properties, employing a donor-accepter (D-A) conjugated polymer. Here, we find that decreasing the substrate surface energy progressively increases thin film crystallinity, degree of molecular ordering and extent of domain alignment. Notably, the enhanced morphology on the lowest surface energy substrate lead to a 10-fold increase in the charge carrier mobility. We further develop a free energy model relating the substrate surface energy to the penalty of heterogeneous nucleation from solution in the thin film geometry. The model correctly predicts the experimental trend, thereby validating our hypothesis. This work is a significant step towards establishing design rules and understanding the critical role of substrates in determining morphology of solution coated thin films.« less

Synthesis of nanoporous TiO2 materials using a doubly surfactant system and applying them as useful adsorbents

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Anbia, Mansoor; Khosravi, Faezeh

Hydrothermal and non-hydrothermal nanoporous TiO2 materials were synthesized via a doubly surfactant route by using cationic cetyltrimethylammonium bromide and anionic sodium dodecyl sulfate surfactants as the molecular template/structure directing agent. Hydrothermal treatment was performed for comparison. The bulk chemical and phase compositions, crystalline structures, particle morphologies, thermal stabilities and surface texturing were determined by means of X-ray powder analysis, SEM and N2 sorptiometry. The nanoporous TiO2 materials were found to have a spherical morphology with a diameter range of 50-200 nm and a high surface area (390 m2 g-1). Hydrothermal and non-hydrothermal nanoporous TiO2 materials were applied for adsorption of heavy metal cations and the toxic organic compound, copper phthalocyanine, from water for evaluation of their adsorption properties. Both nanoporous TiO2 materials were found to have similar adsorption capacities toward heavy metal cations and CuPc. Both hydrothermal and non-hydrothermal TiO2 nanoporous materials were found to have very good potential for application as a new adsorbent especially for adsorbing heavy metal cations from wastewaters.

Effects of poly (3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) microparticles on morphological, mechanical, thermal, and barrier properties in thermoplastic potato starch films.

PubMed

Malmir, Sara; Montero, Belén; Rico, Maite; Barral, Luis; Bouza, Rebeca; Farrag, Yousof

2018-08-15

Biocomposites of potato starch/poly (3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) microparticles were prepared through the solvent casting method. Glycerol was used as a plasticizer. The effects of concentrations of PHBV microparticles as filler and glycerol on crystallinity behavior, surface morphology, dynamic mechanical properties, and thermal stability were studied. Humidity absorption and the water vapor transmission rate (WVTR) were investigated as well. Wide angle X-ray scattering (WAXS) patterns revealed that the plasticizing process occurred successfully. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) micrographs exhibited good homogeneity of the surfaces for the biocomposites with a lower glycerol concentration. Dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) results confirmed the reinforcing effect of PHBV microparticles inside the matrix. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) indicated that the presence of PHBV microparticles increased the thermal stability of the starch. Results of humidity absorption tests showed that the high hydrophilicity of the starch was reduced once the PHBV microparticles had been incorporated. Also, increasing PHBV microparticles reduced the water vapor transmission rate. However, samples with reduced glycerol content absorbed less humidity and showed a lower water vapor transmission rate. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Comparison of cell behavior on pva/pva-gelatin electrospun nanofibers with random and aligned configuration

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Huang, Chen-Yu; Hu, Keng-Hsiang; Wei, Zung-Hang

2016-12-01

Electrospinning technique is able to create nanofibers with specific orientation. Poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) have good mechanical stability but poor cell adhesion property due to the low affinity of protein. In this paper, extracellular matrix, gelatin is incorporated into PVA solution to form electrospun PVA-gelatin nanofibers membrane. Both randomly oriented and aligned nanofibers are used to investigate the topography-induced behavior of fibroblasts. Surface morphology of the fibers is studied by optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) coupled with image analysis. Functional group composition in PVA or PVA-gelatin is investigated by Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR). The morphological changes, surface coverage, viability and proliferation of fibroblasts influenced by PVA and PVA-gelatin nanofibers with randomly orientated or aligned configuration are systematically compared. Fibroblasts growing on PVA-gelatin fibers show significantly larger projected areas as compared with those cultivated on PVA fibers which p-value is smaller than 0.005. Cells on PVA-gelatin aligned fibers stretch out extensively and their intracellular stress fiber pull nucleus to deform. Results suggest that instead of the anisotropic topology within the scaffold trigger the preferential orientation of cells, the adhesion of cell membrane to gelatin have substantial influence on cellular behavior.

MOCVD of Bi2Te3 and Sb2Te3 on GaAs substrates for thin-film thermoelectric applications.

PubMed

Kim, Jeong-Hun; Jung, Yong-Chul; Suh, Sang-Hee; Kim, Jin-Sang

2006-11-01

Metal organic chemical vapour deposition (MOCVD) has been investigated for growth of Bi2Te3 and Sb2Te3 films on (001) GaAs substrates using trimethylbismuth, triethylantimony and diisopropyltelluride as metal organic sources. The surface morphologies of Bi2Te3 and Sb2Te3 films were strongly dependent on the deposition temperatures as it varies from a step-flow growth mode to island coalescence structures depending on deposition temperature. In-plane carrier concentration and electrical Hall mobility were highly dependent on precursor ratio of VI/V and deposition temperature. By optimizing growth parameters, we could clearly observe an electrically intrinsic region of the carrier concentration over the 240 K in Bi2Te3 films. The high Seebeck coefficient (of -160 microVK(-1) for Bi2Te3 and +110 microVK(-1) for Sb2Te3 films, respectively) and good surface morphologies of these materials are promising for the fabrication of a few nm thick periodic Bi2Te3/Sb2Te3 super lattice structures for thin film thermoelectric device applications.

Morphology Engineering of Co3O4 Nanoarrays as Free-Standing Catalysts for Lithium-Oxygen Batteries.

PubMed

He, Mu; Zhang, Peng; Xu, Shan; Yan, Xingbin

2016-09-14

The effective shape-controlled synthesis of Co3O4 nanoarrays on nickel foam substrates has been achieved through a simple hydrothermal strategy. When they served as the binder- and conductive-agent-free porous cathodes for nonaqueous Li-O2 batteries, they sufficiently reflect the favorable catalytic characteristic of Co3O4 and alleviate the problems of serious pore blocking and surface passivation caused by insoluble and insulating discharge products. In particular, Co3O4 rectangular nanosheets exhibit superior electrocatalytic performance comparing with Co3O4 nanowires and hexagonal nanosheets, leading to higher specific capacity and better cycling stability over 54 cycles at 100 mA g(-1), which relate to their good pore structure, large specific surface area, and highly active {112} exposed plane, effectively promoting the mass transport and reversible formation and decomposition of discharge products in the cathode. These comparisons further indicate the morphology effect of nanostructured Co3O4 on their performances as free-standing catalysts for Li-O2 batteries, which also have been proved through the further analysis of discharge products on different shapes of Co3O4 nanoarrays electrodes.

Structure and electromagnetic properties of FeSiAl particles coated by MgO

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Yu; Zhou, Ting-dong

2017-03-01

FeSiAl particles with a layer of MgO surface coating have excellent soft magnetic and electromagnetic properties. In order to obtain the FeSiAl/MgO composites, Mg(OH)2 sol prepared by sol-gel process was well-mixed with FeSiAl flake particles, and then treated by calcination at 823 K in vacuum. The microstructural, morphological and electromagnetic parameters of FeSiAl/MgO particles were tested. Accordingly, the electromagnetic wave reflection loss in the frequency range of 0.5-18 GHz was calculated. The results show that the surface coating increases coercivity Hc and decreases complex permittivity, leading to a good impedance matching. When the coating amount was 7.5%, reflection loss of the composite particles can reach to -33 dB.

Morphology of size-selected Ptn clusters on CeO2(111)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shahed, Syed Mohammad Fakruddin; Beniya, Atsushi; Hirata, Hirohito; Watanabe, Yoshihide

2018-03-01

Supported Pt catalysts and ceria are well known for their application in automotive exhaust catalysts. Size-selected Pt clusters supported on a CeO2(111) surface exhibit distinct physical and chemical properties. We investigated the morphology of the size-selected Ptn (n = 5-13) clusters on a CeO2(111) surface using scanning tunneling microscopy at room temperature. Ptn clusters prefer a two-dimensional morphology for n = 5 and a three-dimensional (3D) morphology for n ≥ 6. We further observed the preference for a 3D tri-layer structure when n ≥ 10. For each cluster size, we quantitatively estimated the relative fraction of the clusters for each type of morphology. Size-dependent morphology of the Ptn clusters on the CeO2(111) surface was attributed to the Pt-Pt interaction in the cluster and the Pt-O interaction between the cluster and CeO2(111) surface. The results obtained herein provide a clear understanding of the size-dependent morphology of the Ptn clusters on a CeO2(111) surface.

Morphology of size-selected Ptn clusters on CeO2(111).

PubMed

Shahed, Syed Mohammad Fakruddin; Beniya, Atsushi; Hirata, Hirohito; Watanabe, Yoshihide

2018-03-21

Supported Pt catalysts and ceria are well known for their application in automotive exhaust catalysts. Size-selected Pt clusters supported on a CeO 2 (111) surface exhibit distinct physical and chemical properties. We investigated the morphology of the size-selected Pt n (n = 5-13) clusters on a CeO 2 (111) surface using scanning tunneling microscopy at room temperature. Pt n clusters prefer a two-dimensional morphology for n = 5 and a three-dimensional (3D) morphology for n ≥ 6. We further observed the preference for a 3D tri-layer structure when n ≥ 10. For each cluster size, we quantitatively estimated the relative fraction of the clusters for each type of morphology. Size-dependent morphology of the Pt n clusters on the CeO 2 (111) surface was attributed to the Pt-Pt interaction in the cluster and the Pt-O interaction between the cluster and CeO 2 (111) surface. The results obtained herein provide a clear understanding of the size-dependent morphology of the Pt n clusters on a CeO 2 (111) surface.

Influence of mechanical and chemical surface treatments on the formation of bone-like structure in cpTi for endosseous dental implants

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Parsikia, Farhang; Amini, Pupak; Asgari, Sirous

2012-10-01

Commercially pure titanium samples were exposed to grit blasting and acid-alkali treatments to obtain a variety of surface compositions and morphologies. Contact roughness test and microstructural studies were employed to study the surface topography of the samples. The nature and chemical composition of surface phases were evaluated using X-ray diffraction and microanalysis techniques. Selected samples first exposed to in vitro environment were then tested to determine the surface morphology and surface microstructure. Based on the data presented in this work, it is suggested that grit blasting process utilized prior to chemical treatment stage, yields a high quality surface morphology. Such a surface morphology is expected to have superior tribological characteristics after osseointegration. Also, it appeared that the reverse sequence of processing resulted in a better biocompatibility of the product manifested by negligible amount of residual alumina on the sample surface.

Linking lowermost mantle structure, core-mantle boundary heat flux and mantle plume formation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Mingming; Zhong, Shijie; Olson, Peter

2018-04-01

The dynamics of Earth's lowermost mantle exert significant control on the formation of mantle plumes and the core-mantle boundary (CMB) heat flux. However, it is not clear if and how the variation of CMB heat flux and mantle plume activity are related. Here, we perform geodynamic model experiments that show how temporal variations in CMB heat flux and pulses of mantle plumes are related to morphologic changes of the thermochemical piles of large-scale compositional heterogeneities in Earth's lowermost mantle, represented by the large low shear velocity provinces (LLSVPs). We find good correlation between the morphologic changes of the thermochemical piles and the time variation of CMB heat flux. The morphology of the thermochemical piles is significantly altered during the initiation and ascent of strong mantle plumes, and the changes in pile morphology cause variations in the local and the total CMB heat flux. Our modeling results indicate that plume-induced episodic variations of CMB heat flux link geomagnetic superchrons to pulses of surface volcanism, although the relative timing of these two phenomena remains problematic. We also find that the density distribution in thermochemical piles is heterogeneous, and that the piles are denser on average than the surrounding mantle when both thermal and chemical effects are included.

Electron mobility enhancement in metalorganic-vapor-phase-epitaxy-grown InAlN high-electron-mobility transistors by control of surface morphology of spacer layer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yamada, Atsushi; Ishiguro, Tetsuro; Kotani, Junji; Nakamura, Norikazu

2018-01-01

We demonstrated low-sheet-resistance metalorganic-vapor-phase-epitaxy-grown InAlN high-electron-mobility transistors using AlGaN spacers with excellent surface morphology. We systematically investigated the effects of AlGaN spacer growth conditions on surface morphology and electron mobility. We found that the surface morphology of InAlN barriers depends on that of AlGaN spacers. Ga desorption from AlGaN spacers was suppressed by increasing the trimethylaluminum (TMA) supply rate, resulting in the small surface roughnesses of InAlN barriers and AlGaN spacers. Moreover, we found that an increase in the NH3 supply rate also improved the surface morphologies of InAlN barriers and AlGaN spacers as long as the TMA supply rate was high enough to suppress the degradation of GaN channels. Finally, we realized a low sheet resistance of 185.5 Ω/sq with a high electron mobility of 1210 cm2 V-1 s-1 by improving the surface morphologies of AlGaN spacers and InAlN barriers.

Assembling strategy to synthesize palladium modified kaolin nanocomposites with different morphologies

PubMed Central

Li, Xiaoyu; Ouyang, Jing; Zhou, Yonghua; Yang, Huaming

2015-01-01

Nanocomposites of aluminosilicate minerals, kaolins (kaolinite and halloysite) with natural different morphologies assembling with palladium (Pd) nanoparticles have been successfully synthesized through strong electrostatic adsorption and chemical bonding after surface modification with 3-aminopropyl triethoxysilane (APTES). Meanwhile, the influence of different morphologies supports on catalytic hydrogenation properties was explored. The surface concentration of amino groups on the kaolins was related to the morphology and surface nature. Electronmicroscopy revealed that the monodisperse Pd nanoparticles were uniformly deposited onto the surface of kaolins, ranging in diameter from 0.5 nm to 5.5 nm. The functional groups could not only improve the dispersion of kaolins with different morphologies in solution, but also enhance the interaction between Pd precursors and kaolins, thus preventing small Pd nanoparticles from agglomerating and leading to high activity for the catalytic hydrogenation of styrene. Pd-FK@APTES was more active compared to other samples. Selecting the kaolin morphology with a different surface nature allows the selective surface modification of a larger fraction of the reactive facets on which the active sites can be enriched and tuned. This desirable surface coordination of catalytically active atoms could substantially improve catalytic activity. PMID:26333629

Assembling strategy to synthesize palladium modified kaolin nanocomposites with different morphologies

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Xiaoyu; Ouyang, Jing; Zhou, Yonghua; Yang, Huaming

2015-09-01

Nanocomposites of aluminosilicate minerals, kaolins (kaolinite and halloysite) with natural different morphologies assembling with palladium (Pd) nanoparticles have been successfully synthesized through strong electrostatic adsorption and chemical bonding after surface modification with 3-aminopropyl triethoxysilane (APTES). Meanwhile, the influence of different morphologies supports on catalytic hydrogenation properties was explored. The surface concentration of amino groups on the kaolins was related to the morphology and surface nature. Electronmicroscopy revealed that the monodisperse Pd nanoparticles were uniformly deposited onto the surface of kaolins, ranging in diameter from 0.5 nm to 5.5 nm. The functional groups could not only improve the dispersion of kaolins with different morphologies in solution, but also enhance the interaction between Pd precursors and kaolins, thus preventing small Pd nanoparticles from agglomerating and leading to high activity for the catalytic hydrogenation of styrene. Pd-FK@APTES was more active compared to other samples. Selecting the kaolin morphology with a different surface nature allows the selective surface modification of a larger fraction of the reactive facets on which the active sites can be enriched and tuned. This desirable surface coordination of catalytically active atoms could substantially improve catalytic activity.

Assembling strategy to synthesize palladium modified kaolin nanocomposites with different morphologies.

PubMed

Li, Xiaoyu; Ouyang, Jing; Zhou, Yonghua; Yang, Huaming

2015-09-03

Nanocomposites of aluminosilicate minerals, kaolins (kaolinite and halloysite) with natural different morphologies assembling with palladium (Pd) nanoparticles have been successfully synthesized through strong electrostatic adsorption and chemical bonding after surface modification with 3-aminopropyl triethoxysilane (APTES). Meanwhile, the influence of different morphologies supports on catalytic hydrogenation properties was explored. The surface concentration of amino groups on the kaolins was related to the morphology and surface nature. Electronmicroscopy revealed that the monodisperse Pd nanoparticles were uniformly deposited onto the surface of kaolins, ranging in diameter from 0.5 nm to 5.5 nm. The functional groups could not only improve the dispersion of kaolins with different morphologies in solution, but also enhance the interaction between Pd precursors and kaolins, thus preventing small Pd nanoparticles from agglomerating and leading to high activity for the catalytic hydrogenation of styrene. Pd-FK@APTES was more active compared to other samples. Selecting the kaolin morphology with a different surface nature allows the selective surface modification of a larger fraction of the reactive facets on which the active sites can be enriched and tuned. This desirable surface coordination of catalytically active atoms could substantially improve catalytic activity.

A facile approach to prepare porous cup-stacked carbon nanotube with high performance in adsorption of methylene blue.

PubMed

Gong, Jiang; Liu, Jie; Jiang, Zhiwei; Wen, Xin; Mijowska, Ewa; Tang, Tao; Chen, Xuecheng

2015-05-01

Novel porous cup-stacked carbon nanotube (P-CSCNT) with special stacked morphology consisting of many truncated conical graphene layers was synthesized by KOH activating CSCNT from polypropylene. The morphology, microstructure, textural property, phase structure, surface element composition and thermal stability of P-CSCNT were investigated by field-emission scanning electron microscope, transmission electron microscope (TEM), high-resolution TEM, N2 sorption, X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and thermal gravimetric analysis. A part of oblique graphitic layers were etched by KOH, and many holes with a diameter of several to a doze of nanometers connecting inner tube with outside were formed, which endowed P-CSCNT with high specific surface area (558.7 m(2)/g), large pore volume (1.993 cm(3)/g) and abundant surface functional groups. Subsequently, P-CSCNT was used for adsorption of methylene blue (MB) from wastewater. Langmuir model closely fitted the adsorption results, and the maximum adsorption capacity of P-CSCNT was as high as 319.1mg/g. This was ascribed to multiple adsorption mechanisms including pore filling, hydrogen bonding, π-π and electrostatic interactions. Pseudo second-order kinetic model was more valid to describe the adsorption behavior. Besides, P-CSCNT showed good recyclablity and reusability. These results demonstrated that P-CSCNT had potential application in wastewater treatment. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Synthesis of cobalt alloy through smelting method and its characterization as prosthesis bone implant

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Aminatun, Putri, N. S. Efinda; Indriani, Arista; Himawati, Umi; Hikmawati, Dyah; Suhariningsih

2014-09-01

Cobalt-based alloys are widely used as total hip and knee replacements because of their excellent properties, such as corrosion resistance, fatigue strength and biocompatibility. In this work, cobalt alloys with variation of Cr (28.5; 30; 31.5; 33, and 34.5% wt) have been synthesized by smelting method began with the process of compaction, followed by smelting process using Tri Arc Melting Furnace at 200A. Continued by homogenization process at recrystallization temperature (1250° C) for 3 hours to allow the atoms diffuses and transform into γ phase. The next process is rolling process which is accompanied by heating at 1200° C for ± 15 minutes and followed by quenching. This process is repeated until the obtained thickness of ± 1 mm. The evaluated material properties included microstructure, surface morphology, and hardness value. It was shown that microstructure of cobalt alloys with variation of Cr is dominant by γ phase, thus making the entire cobalt alloys have high hardness. It was also shown from the surface morphology of entire cobalt alloys sample indicated the whole process of synthesis that had good solubility were at flat surface area. Hardness value test showed all of cobalt alloys sample had high hardness, just variation of 33% Cr be in the range of ASTMF75, it were 345,24 VHN which is potential to be applied as an implant prosthesis.

STRUCTURAL, SURFACE MORPHOLOGICAL AND MAGNETIC STUDIES OF Zn1-xFexS (x=0.00-0.10) DILUTED MAGNETIC SEMICONDUCTORS GROWN BY CO-PRECIPITATION METHOD

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hassan, M.; Ghazanfar, M.; Arooj, N.; Riaz, S.; Hussain, S. Sajjad; Naseem, S.

We have fabricated Zn1-xFexS (x=0.00, 0.02, 0.04, 0.06, 0.08 and 0.10) diluted magnetic semiconductors using co-precipitation method. X-ray diffraction patterns depict that Zn1-xFexS appears as a dominant phase with cubic zinc blende structure and nanoscale crystallite size. In addition, a secondary phase of rhombohedral ZnS also appears; however, no additional phase arises that primarily belongs to Fe dopant. Using Debye-Scherrer relation, the crystallite size is found to be in the range of 20-27nm, which is in good agreement with the crystallite size calculated using the Williamson-Hall (WH) plot method. The appearance of secondary phase provoked to study the residual strain using Stokes-Wilson equation, which is nearly consistent to that observed using WH plot method. The surface morphology, revealed using scanning electron microscopy, depicts non-uniform surface structure with a variety of grains and void dimensions. Hysteresis loops measured for Zn1-xFexS at room temperature (RT) illustrate a paramagnetic behavior at higher fields; however, small ferromagnetic behavior is evident due to the small openings of the measured hysteresis loops around the origin. The measured RT ferromagnetism reveals the potential spintronic device applications of the studied diluted magnetic semiconductors.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Aminatun,, E-mail: ami-sofijan@yahoo.co.id; Putri, N.S Efinda, E-mail: ami-sofijan@yahoo.co.id; Indriani, Arista, E-mail: ami-sofijan@yahoo.co.id

Cobalt-based alloys are widely used as total hip and knee replacements because of their excellent properties, such as corrosion resistance, fatigue strength and biocompatibility. In this work, cobalt alloys with variation of Cr (28.5; 30; 31.5; 33, and 34.5% wt) have been synthesized by smelting method began with the process of compaction, followed by smelting process using Tri Arc Melting Furnace at 200A. Continued by homogenization process at recrystallization temperature (1250° C) for 3 hours to allow the atoms diffuses and transform into γ phase. The next process is rolling process which is accompanied by heating at 1200° C formore » ± 15 minutes and followed by quenching. This process is repeated until the obtained thickness of ± 1 mm. The evaluated material properties included microstructure, surface morphology, and hardness value. It was shown that microstructure of cobalt alloys with variation of Cr is dominant by γ phase, thus making the entire cobalt alloys have high hardness. It was also shown from the surface morphology of entire cobalt alloys sample indicated the whole process of synthesis that had good solubility were at flat surface area. Hardness value test showed all of cobalt alloys sample had high hardness, just variation of 33% Cr be in the range of ASTMF75, it were 345,24 VHN which is potential to be applied as an implant prosthesis.« less

Halide perovskite solar cells using monocrystalline TiO2 nanorod arrays as electron transport layers: impact of nanorod morphology

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Thakur, Ujwal Kumar; Askar, Abdelrahman M.; Kisslinger, Ryan; Wiltshire, Benjamin D.; Kar, Piyush; Shankar, Karthik

2017-07-01

This is the first report of a 17.6% champion efficiency solar cell architecture comprising monocrystalline TiO2 nanorods (TNRs) coupled with perovskite, and formed using facile solution processing without non-routine surface conditioning. Vertically oriented TNR ensembles are desirable as electron transporting layers (ETLs) in halide perovskite solar cells (HPSCs) because of potential advantages such as vectorial electron percolation pathways to balance the longer hole diffusion lengths in certain halide perovskite semiconductors, ease of incorporating nanophotonic enhancements, and optimization between a high contact surface area for charge transfer (good) versus high interfacial recombination (bad). These advantages arise from the tunable morphology of hydrothermally grown rutile TNRs, which is a strong function of the growth conditions. Fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy of the HPSCs demonstrated a stronger quenching of the perovskite PL when using TNRs as compared to mesoporous/compact TiO2 thin films. Due to increased interfacial contact area between the ETL and perovskite with easier pore filling, charge separation efficiency is dramatically enhanced. Additionally, solid-state impedance spectroscopy results strongly suggested the suppression of interfacial charge recombination between TNRs and perovskite layer, compared to other ETLs. The optimal ETL morphology in this study was found to consist of an array of TNRs ∼300 nm in length and ∼40 nm in width. This work highlights the potential of TNR ETLs to achieve high performance solution-processed HPSCs.

Crystal morphology optimization of thiamine hydrochloride in solvent system: Experimental and molecular dynamics simulation studies

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yang, Yang; Han, Dandan; Du, Shichao; Wu, Songgu; Gong, Junbo

2018-01-01

Thiamine hydrochloride (THCL) was produced in methanol accompanied with agglomeration in industry, the plate like morphology of THCL in methanol was not deserve to have a good quality. Selecting a suitable solvent should be considered because solvent could be one of the essential factors to impact morphology. Methanol and methanol/ethyl acetate solvent (0.2 vol fraction of methanol) was selected as the solvent system in reactive crystallization of THCL. The experiment results show the THCL crystal morphology in methanol/ethyl acetate solvent system was granular and more regular than that in methanol. In order to explicate the different crystal morphology in different solvents, molecular dynamics (MD) simulation was introduced to simulate crystal morphology in different solvents. The attachment energy (AE) model was employed to investigate the morphology of THCL under vacuum conditions, methanol and methanol/ethyl acetate solvent conditions, respectively. The simulation crystal morphology was in a good agreement with that of experimented. The particle of THCL in methanol/ethyl acetate solvent has less tendency to agglomeration, and then it is favorable to the downstream process, such as filtration, storage and transportation.

Influence of sulfurization temperature on Cu2ZnSnS4 absorber layer on flexible titanium substrates for thin film solar cells

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gokcen Buldu, Dilara; Cantas, Ayten; Turkoglu, Fulya; Gulsah Akca, Fatime; Meric, Ece; Ozdemir, Mehtap; Tarhan, Enver; Ozyuzer, Lutfi; Aygun, Gulnur

2018-02-01

In this study, the effect of sulfurization temperature on the morphology, composition and structure of Cu2ZnSnS4 (CZTS) thin films grown on titanium (Ti) substrates has been investigated. Since Ti foils are flexible, they were preferred as a substrate. As a result of their flexibility, they allow large area manufacturing and roll-to-roll processes. To understand the effects of sulfurization temperature on the CZTS formation on Ti foils, CZTS films fabricated with various sulfurization temperatures were investigated with several analyses including x-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and Raman scattering. XRD measurements showed a sharp and intense peak coming from the (112) planes of the kesterite type lattice structure (KS), which is strong evidence for good crystallinity. The surface morphologies of our thin films were investigated using SEM. Electron dispersive spectroscopy was also used for the compositional analysis of the thin films. According to these analysis, it is observed that Ti foils were suitable as substrates for the growth of CZTS thin films with desired properties and the sulfurization temperature plays a crucial role for producing good quality CZTS thin films on Ti foil substrates.

Effect of Cu Alloying on S Poisoning of Ni Surfaces and Nanoparticle Morphologies Using Ab-Initio Thermodynamics Calculations.

PubMed

Kim, Ji-Su; Kim, Byung-Kook; Kim, Yeong-Cheol

2015-10-01

We investigated the effect of Cu alloying on S poisoning of Ni surfaces and nanoparticle morphologies using ab-initio thermodynamics calculations. Based on the Cu segregation energy and the S adsorption energy, the surface energy and nanoparticle morphology of pure Ni, pure Cu, and NiCu alloys were evaluated as functions of the chemical potential of S and the surface orientations of (100), (110), and (111). The constructed nanoparticle morphology was varied as a function of chemical potential of S. We find that the Cu added to Ni for NiCu alloys is strongly segregated into the top surface, and increases the S tolerance of the NiCu nanoparticles.

Thermal infrared imagery as a tool for analysing the variability of surface saturated areas at various temporal and spatial scales

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Glaser, Barbara; Antonelli, Marta; Pfister, Laurent; Klaus, Julian

2017-04-01

Surface saturated areas are important for the on- and offset of hydrological connectivity within the hillslope-riparian-stream continuum. This is reflected in concepts such as variable contributing areas or critical source areas. However, we still lack a standardized method for areal mapping of surface saturation and for observing its spatiotemporal variability. Proof-of-concept studies in recent years have shown the potential of thermal infrared (TIR) imagery to record surface saturation dynamics at various temporal and spatial scales. Thermal infrared imagery is thus a promising alternative to conventional approaches, such as the squishy boot method or the mapping of vegetation. In this study we use TIR images to investigate the variability of surface saturated areas at different temporal and spatial scales in the forested Weierbach catchment (0.45 km2) in western Luxembourg. We took TIR images of the riparian zone with a hand-held FLIR infrared camera at fortnightly intervals over 18 months at nine different locations distributed over the catchment. Not all of the acquired images were suitable for a derivation of the surface saturated areas, as various factors influence the usability of the TIR images (e.g. temperature contrasts, shadows, fog). Nonetheless, we obtained a large number of usable images that provided a good insight into the dynamic behaviour of surface saturated areas at different scales. The images revealed how diverse the evolution of surface saturated areas can be throughout the hydrologic year. For some locations with similar morphology or topography we identified diverging saturation dynamics, while other locations with different morphology / topography showed more similar behaviour. Moreover, we were able to assess the variability of the dynamics of expansion / contraction of saturated areas within the single locations, which can help to better understand the mechanisms behind surface saturation development.

Effect of dry heating and ionic gum on the physicochemical and release properties of starch from Dioscorea.

PubMed

Vashisht, Deepika; Pandey, Anima; Hermenean, Anca; Yáñez-Gascón, Maria Josefa; Pérez-Sánchez, Horacio; Kumar, K Jayaram

2017-02-01

To meet the ever increasing industrial demand for excipients with desirable properties, modified starch is regarded as an alternative to it. With this in mind, the present study focuses on the modification of starches of Dioscorea from Jharkhand (India) using dry heat treatment with and without ionic gum. Modified starches were prepared using sodium alginate (1% w/w). Native and modified starches were subjected to heat treatment at 130°C for 2h and 4h. The effect of heating and ionic gum on the properties of Dioscorea starch was investigated. The amylose content, water holding capacity, micromeritic properties, swelling power, solubility and morphology of starches were evaluated. Dry heat treatment of starches without gum showed an increment in water-holding capacity after two-hours heating, but no such increment was found after four-hours heating. Oil binding capacity of starches modified with gum varied from 62% to 78%. Strongest effect of heat treatment occurred on the morphology of starches and thereby modified starches showed distorted surface morphology. Amylose content (21.09-21.89%) found to be decreased with the addition of gum which lead to decrease in paste clarity. Starches heated with gum at high-temperature resulted in restrict swelling and slight increase in solubility. Micromeritic properties of the modified starches showed the good flow properties. Further, the modified starches were investigated for in-vitro release studies and that the thermally modified derivatives can be a good prospect in slow release formulations. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Experimental evaluation of ALS point cloud ground extraction over different land cover in the Malopolska Province

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Korzeniowska, Karolina; Mandlburger, Gottfried; Klimczyk, Agata

2013-04-01

The paper presents an evaluation of different terrain point extraction algorithms for Airborne Laser Scanning (ALS) point clouds. The research area covers eight test sites in the Małopolska Province (Poland) with varying point density between 3-15points/m² and surface as well as land cover characteristics. In this paper the existing implementations of algorithms were considered. Approaches based on mathematical morphology, progressive densification, robust surface interpolation and segmentation were compared. From the group of morphological filters, the Progressive Morphological Filter (PMF) proposed by Zhang K. et al. (2003) in LIS software was evaluated. From the progressive densification filter methods developed by Axelsson P. (2000) the Martin Isenburg's implementation in LAStools software (LAStools, 2012) was chosen. The third group of methods are surface-based filters. In this study, we used the hierarchic robust interpolation approach by Kraus K., Pfeifer N. (1998) as implemented in SCOP++ (Trimble, 2012). The fourth group of methods works on segmentation. From this filtering concept the segmentation algorithm available in LIS was tested (Wichmann V., 2012). The main aim in executing the automatic classification for ground extraction was operating in default mode or with default parameters which were selected by the developers of the algorithms. It was assumed that the default settings were equivalent to the parameters on which the best results can be achieved. In case it was not possible to apply an algorithm in default mode, a combination of the available and most crucial parameters for ground extraction were selected. As a result of these analyses, several output LAS files with different ground classification were achieved. The results were described on the basis of qualitative and quantitative analyses, both being in a formal description. The classification differences were verified on point cloud data. Qualitative verification of ground extraction was made on the basis of a visual inspection of the results (Sithole G., Vosselman G., 2004; Meng X. et al., 2010). The results of these analyses were described as a graph using weighted assumption. The quantitative analyses were evaluated on a basis of Type I, Type II and Total errors (Sithole G., Vosselman G., 2003). The achieved results show that the analysed algorithms yield different classification accuracies depending on the landscape and land cover. The simplest terrain for ground extraction was flat rural area with sparse vegetation. The most difficult were mountainous areas with very dense vegetation where only a few ground points were available. Generally the LAStools algorithm gives good results in every type of terrain, but the ground surface is too smooth. The LIS Progressive Morphological Filter algorithm gives good results in forested flat and low slope areas. The surface-based algorithm from SCOP++ gives good results in mountainous areas - both forested and built-up because it better preserves steep slopes, sharp ridges and breaklines, but sometimes it fails to remove off-terrain objects from the ground class. The segmentation-based algorithm in LIS gives quite good results in built-up flat areas, but in forested areas it does not work well. Bibliography: Axelsson, P., 2000. DEM generation from laser scanner data using adaptive TIN models. International Archives of the Photogrammetry, Remote Sensing and Spatial Information Sciences XXXIII (Pt. B4/1), 110- 117 Kraus, K., Pfeifer, N., 1998. Determination of terrain models in wooded areas with airborne laser scanner data. ISPRS Journal of Photogrammetry & Remote Sensing 53 (4), 193-203 LAStools website http://www.cs.unc.edu/~isenburg/lastools/ (verified in September 2012) Meng, X., Currit, N., Zhao, K., 2010. Ground Filtering Algorithms for Airborne LiDAR Data: A Review of Critical Issues. Remote Sensing 2, 833-860 Sithole, G., Vosselman, G., 2003. Report: ISPRS Comparison of Filters. Commission III, Working Group 3. Department of Geodesy, Faculty of Civil Engineering and Geosciences, Delft University of technology, The Netherlands Sithole, G., Vosselman, G., 2004. Experimental comparison of filter algorithms for bare-Earth extraction form airborne laser scanning point clouds. ISPRS Journal of Photogrammetry & Remote Sensing 59, 85-101 Trimble, 2012 http://www.trimble.com/geospatial/aerial-software.aspx (verified in November 2012) Wichmann, V., 2012. LIS Command Reference, LASERDATA GmbH, 1-231 Zhang, K., Chen, S.-C., Whitman, D., Shyu, M.-L., Yan, J., Zhang, C., 2003. A progressive morphological filter for removing non-ground measurements from airborne LIDAR data. IEEE Transactions on Geoscience and Remote Sensing, 41(4), 872-882

Surface morphology of chitin highly related with the isolated body part of butterfly (Argynnis pandora).

PubMed

Kaya, Murat; Bitim, Betül; Mujtaba, Muhammad; Koyuncu, Turgay

2015-11-01

This study was conducted to understand the differences in the physicochemical properties of chitin samples isolated from the wings and the other body parts except the wings (OBP) of a butterfly species (Argynnis pandora). The same isolation method was used for obtaining chitin specimens from both types of body parts. The chitin content of the wings (22%) was recorded as being much higher than the OBP (8%). The extracted chitin samples were characterized via FT-IR, TGA, XRD, SEM, and elemental analysis techniques. Results of these characterizations revealed that the chitins from both structures (wings and OBP) were very similar, except for their surface morphologies. SEM results demonstrated one type of surface morphology for the wings and four different surface morphologies for the OBP. Therefore, it can be hypothesized that the surface morphology of the chitin is highly related with the body part. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Atomic force microscopy visualization of injuries in Enterococcus faecalis surface caused by Er,Cr:YSGG and diode lasers

PubMed Central

López-Jiménez, Lidia; Viñas, Miguel; Vinuesa, Teresa

2015-01-01

Aim: To visualize by Atomic Force Microscopy the alterations induced on Enterococcus. faecalis surface after treatment with 2 types of laser: Erbium chromium:yttrium-scandium-gallium-garnet (Er,Cr:YSGG) laser and Diode laser. Material and Methods: Bacterial suspensions from overnight cultures of E. faecalis were irradiated during 30 seconds with the laser-lights at 1 W and 2 W of power, leaving one untreated sample as control. Surface alterations on treated E. faecalis were visualized by Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) and its surface roughness determined. Results: AFM imaging showed that at high potency of laser both cell morphology and surface roughness resulted altered, and that several cell lysis signs were easily visualized. Surface roughness clearly increase after the treatment with Er,Cr:YSGG at 2W of power, while the other treatments gave similar values of surface roughness. The effect of lasers on bacterial surfaces visualized by AFM revealed drastic alterations. Conclusions: AFM is a good tool to evaluate surface injuries after laser treatment; and could constitute a measure of antimicrobial effect that can complete data obtained by determination of microbial viability. Key words:Atomic force microscopy, Er,Cr:YSGG laser, diode laser, Enterococcus faecalis, surface roughness. PMID:25475770

Modeling the characteristic etch morphologies along specific crystallographic orientations by anisotropic chemical etching

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Kun-Dar; Miao, Jin-Ru

2018-02-01

To improve the advanced manufacturing technology for functional materials, a sophisticated control of chemical etching process is highly demanded, especially in the fields of environment and energy related applications. In this study, a phase-field-based model is utilized to investigate the etch morphologies influenced by the crystallographic characters during anisotropic chemical etching. Three types of etching modes are inspected theoretically, including the isotropic, <100> and <111> preferred oriented etchings. Owing to the specific etching behavior along the crystallographic directions, different characteristic surface structures are presented in the simulations, such as the pimple-like, pyramidal hillock and ridge-like morphologies. In addition, the processing parameters affecting the surface morphological formation and evolution are also examined systematically. According to the numerical results, the growth mechanism of surface morphology in a chemical etching is revealed distinctly. While the etching dynamics plays a dominant role on the surface formation, the characteristic surface morphologies corresponding to the preferred etching direction become more apparent. As the atomic diffusion turned into a determinative factor, a smoothened surface would appear, even under the anisotropic etching conditions. These simulation results provide fundamental information to enhance the development and application of anisotropic chemical etching techniques.

2  μm laser oscillation of Ho3+:Tm3+-codoped silica microspheres.

PubMed

Peng, Longxiang; Huang, Yantang; Duan, Yafan; Zhuang, Shijian; Liao, Tingdi; Xu, Canhua

2017-09-10

2 μm laser oscillation with a low threshold has been achieved in Ho 3+ :Tm 3+ -codoped silica microspheres (HTCSMs). Ho 3+ :Tm 3+ -codoped solgel functionalization film is applied to the surface of a silica microsphere, and an optical tapered fiber is adopted to couple an 808 nm continuous-wave laser to serve as the pump light source. Multimode and single-mode laser oscillations around 2 μm within the eye-safe wave band are observed due to the I 7 5→I 8 5 transitions of Ho 3+ ions sensitized by Tm 3+ . The morphology characteristics of microspheres determine the multimode laser oscillation spectrum. The free spectral range is in good accordance with the calculated value based on Mie scattering theory. The HTCSM laser oscillation shows characteristics of good capability, simple process, high flexibility, and low cost.

Ultrasonic-assisted dyeing of Nylon-6 nanofibers.

PubMed

Jatoi, Abdul Wahab; Ahmed, Farooq; Khatri, Muzamil; Tanwari, Anwaruddin; Khatri, Zeeshan; Lee, Hoik; Kim, Ick Soo

2017-11-01

We first time report ultrasonic dyeing of the Nylon 6 nanofibers with two disperse dyes CI Disperse blue 56 and CI Disperse Red 167:1 by utilising ultrasonic energy during dyeing process. The Nylon 6 nanofibers were fabricated via electrospinning and dyed via batchwise method with and without sonication. Results revealed that ultrasonic dyeing produce higher color yield (K/S values) and substantially reduces dyeing time from 60min for conventional dyeing to 30min can be attributed to breakage of dye aggregate, transient cavitation near nanofiber surface and mass transfer within/between nanofibers. Color fastness results exhibited good to very good dye fixation. SEM images exhibit insignificant effect of sonication on morphology of the nanofibers. Our research results demonstrate ultrasonic dyeing as a better dyeing technique for Nylon 6 nanofibers with higher color yield and substantially reduced dyeing time. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Tensile strength of ramie yarn (spinning by machine)/HDPE thermoplastic matrix composites

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Banowati, Lies, E-mail: liesbano@gmail.com; Hadi, Bambang K., E-mail: bkhadi@ae.itb.ac.id; Suratman, Rochim, E-mail: rochim@material.itb.ac.id

2016-03-29

Technological developments should be trooped to prevent a gap between technology and environmental sustainability, then it needs to be developed “Green technology”. In this research is making of green composites which use natural fiber ramie as reinforcement. Whereas the matrix used was HDPE (High Density Polyethylene) thermoplastic polymer which could be recycled and had a good formability and flexibility. The ramie yarns and fibers for unidirectional (0°) direction respectively were mixed with HDPE powder and processed using hot compression molding. The surface morphology was observed by SEM (Scanning Electrone Microscopy). Results showed that both tensile strength of the ramie fiber/HDPEmore » composites increased in comparison with the ramie yarn (spinning by machine)/HDPE composites. However, the ramie yarn (spinning by machine)/HDPE composites have a good producibility for wider application. Analysis of the test results using the Weibull distribution as approaches to modeling the reliability of the specimens.« less

[The first experience with the concurrent effect of YAG-neodymium and YAG-erbium laser on experimental animal tissues and the possibility of its use in surgery].

PubMed

Roshal', L M; Gorbatova, N E; Livshits, Iu L; Parkhomenko, Iu G; Osiko, V V; Danileĭko, Iu K; Sidorin, A V; Tylaĭkova, T B; Ivanov, A D

1991-08-01

To guarantee the necessary rate of cutting live tissues with adequate hemostasis along the line of the incision, the authors studied isolated and joint effect of radiations of AIG-neodymium and AIG-erbium lasers on the tissues of laboratory animals. The possibility of accomplishing intraoperative hemostasis on the parenchymal organs was studied in experiments with AIG-neodymium laser. A good dissection effect in cutting various tissues was produced in the second series of experiments with AIG-erbium laser. The simultaneous action of AIG-neodymium and AIG-erbium beams converged at one point on the surface of the biological object was studied in the third series of experiments. It was found that the effect ensures a good dissection of tissues with sufficient hemostasis. The results of dynamic morphological studies are shown. The possibility of using the device in surgery is discussed.

Development of segmented polyurethane elastomers with low iodine content exhibiting radiopacity and blood compatibility.

PubMed

Dawlee, S; Jayabalan, Muthu

2011-10-01

Biofunctionally active and inherently radiopaque polymers are the emerging need for biomedical applications. Novel segmented polyurethane elastomer with inherent radiopacity was prepared using aliphatic chain extender 2,3-diiodo-2-butene-1,4-diol, polyol polytetramethylene glycol and 4,4'-methylenebis(phenyl isocyanate) (MDI) for blood compatible applications. Aliphatic polyurethane was also prepared using hexamethylene diisocyanate for comparison. X-ray analysis of the polyurethanes revealed good radiopacity even at a relatively low concentration of 3% iodine in aromatic polyurethane and 10% in aliphatic polyurethane. The polyurethanes also possessed excellent thermal stability. MDI-based polyurethane showed considerably higher tensile strength than the analogous HDI-based polyurethane. MDI-based aromatic polyurethane exhibited a dynamic surface morphology in aqueous medium, resulting in the segregation of hydrophilic domains which was more conducive to anti-thrombogenic properties. The polyurethane was cytocompatible with L929 fibroblast cells, non-hemolytic, and possessed good blood compatibility.

Advanced Lithium-ion Batteries with High Specific Energy and Improved Safety for Nasa's Missions

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

West, William; Smart, Marshall; Soler, Jess; Krause, Charlie; Hwang, Constanza; Bugga, Ratnakumar

2012-01-01

High Energy Materials ( Cathodes, anodes and high voltage and safe electrolyte are required to meet the needs of the future space missions. A. Cathodes: The layered layered composites of of Li2MnO3 and LiMO2 are promising Power capability of the materials, however requires further improvement. Suitable morphology is critical for good performance and high tap (packing) density. Surface coatings help in the interfacial kinetics and stability. B. Electrolytes: Small additions of Flame Retardant Additives improves flammability without affecting performance (Rate and cycle life). 1.0 M in EC+EMC+TPP was shown to have good performance against the high voltage cathode; Performance demonstrated in large capacity prototype MCMB- LiNiCoO2 Cells. Formulations with higher proportions are looking promising. Still requires further validation through abuse tests (e.g., on 18650 cells).

Preparation and characterization of antibacterial electrospun chitosan/poly (vinyl alcohol)/graphene oxide composite nanofibrous membrane

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yang, Shuai; Lei, Peng; Shan, Yujuan; Zhang, Dawei

2018-03-01

In this paper, chitosan (CS)/poly (vinyl alcohol) (PVA)/graphene oxide (GO) composite nanofibrous membranes were prepared via electrospinning. Such nanofibrous membranes have been characterized and investigated for their morphological, structural, thermal stability, hydrophilic and antibacterial properties. SEM images showed that the uniform and defect-free nanofibers were obtained and GO sheets, shaping spindle and spherical, were partially embedded into nanofibers. FTIR, XRD, DSC and TGA indicated the good compatibility between CS and PVA. There were strong intermolecular hydrogen bonds between the chitosan and PVA molecules. Contact angle measurement indicated that while increasing the content of GO, the distance between fibers increased and water drop showed wetting state on the surface of nanofibrous membranes. As a result, the contact angle decreased significantly. Meanwhile, good antibacterial activity of the prepared nanofibrous membranes were exhibited against Gram-negative Escherichia coli and Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus.

Interaction of Au with thin ZrO2 films: influence of ZrO2 morphology on the adsorption and thermal stability of Au nanoparticles.

PubMed

Pan, Yonghe; Gao, Yan; Kong, Dandan; Wang, Guodong; Hou, Jianbo; Hu, Shanwei; Pan, Haibin; Zhu, Junfa

2012-04-10

The model catalysts of ZrO(2)-supported Au nanoparticles have been prepared by deposition of Au atoms onto the surfaces of thin ZrO(2) films with different morphologies. The adsorption and thermal stability of Au nanoparticles on thin ZrO(2) films have been investigated using synchrotron radiation photoemission spectroscopy (SRPES) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The thin ZrO(2) films were prepared by two different methods, giving rise to different morphologies. The first method utilized wet chemical impregnation to synthesize the thin ZrO(2) film through the procedure of first spin-coating a zirconium ethoxide (Zr(OC(2)H(5))(4)) precursor onto a SiO(2)/Si(100) substrate at room temperature followed by calcination at 773 K for 12 h. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) investigations indicate that highly porous "sponge-like nanostructures" were obtained in this case. The second method was epitaxial growth of a ZrO(2)(111) film through vacuum evaporation of Zr metal onto Pt(111) in 1 × 10(-6) Torr of oxygen at 550 K followed by annealing at 1000 K. The structural analysis with low energy electron diffraction (LEED) of this film exhibits good long-range ordering. It has been found that Au forms smaller particles on the porous ZrO(2) film as compared to those on the ordered ZrO(2)(111) film at a given coverage. Thermal annealing experiments demonstrate that Au particles are more thermally stable on the porous ZrO(2) surface than on the ZrO(2)(111) surface, although on both surfaces, Au particles experience significant sintering at elevated temperatures. In addition, by annealing the surfaces to 1100 K, Au particles desorb completely from ZrO(2)(111) but not from porous ZrO(2). The enhanced thermal stability for Au on porous ZrO(2) can be attributed to the stronger interaction of the adsorbed Au with the defects and the hindered migration or coalescence resulting from the porous structures. © 2012 American Chemical Society

Immobilization and direct electrochemistry of glucose oxidase on a tetragonal pyramid-shaped porous ZnO nanostructure for a glucose biosensor.

PubMed

Dai, Zhihui; Shao, Guojian; Hong, Jianmin; Bao, Jianchun; Shen, Jian

2009-01-01

A tetragonal pyramid-shaped porous ZnO (TPSP-ZnO) nanostructure is used for the immobilization, direct electrochemistry and biosensing of proteins. The prepared ZnO has a large surface area and good biocompatibility. Using glucose oxidase (GOD) as a model, this shaped ZnO is tested for immobilization of proteins and the construction of electrochemical biosensors with good electrochemical performances. The interaction between GOD and TPSP-ZnO is examined by using AFM, N(2) adsorption isotherms and electrochemical methods. The immobilized GOD at a TPSP-ZnO-modified glassy carbon electrode shows a good direct electrochemical behavior, which depends on the properties of the TPSP-ZnO. Based on a decrease of the electrocatalytic response of the reduced form of GOD to dissolved oxygen, the proposed biosensor exhibits a linear response to glucose concentrations ranging from 0.05 to 8.2mM with a detection limit of 0.01mM at an applied potential of -0.50V which has better biosensing properties than those from other morphological ZnO nanoparticles. The biosensor shows good stability, reproducibility, low interferences and can diagnose diabetes very fast and sensitively. Such the TPSP-ZnO nanostructure provides a good matrix for protein immobilization and biosensor preparation.

Formation of halloysite from feldspar: Low temperature, artificial weathering versus natural weathering

USGS Publications Warehouse

Parham, Walter E.

1969-01-01

Weathering products formed on surfaces of both potassium and plagioclase feldspar (An70), which were continuously leached in a Soxhlet extraction apparatus for 140 days with 7.21 of distilled water per day at a temperature of approximately 78°C, are morphologically identical to natural products developed on potassium feldspars weathered under conditions of good drainage in the humid tropics. The new products, which first appear as tiny bumps on the feldspar surface, start to develop mainly at exposed edges but also at apparently random sites on flat cleavage surfaces. As weathering continues, the bumps grow outward from the feldspar surface to form tapered projections, which then develop into wide-based thin films or sheets. The thin sheets of many projections merge laterally to form one continuous flame-shaped sheet. The sheets formed on potassium feldspars may then roll to form tubes that are inclined at a high angle to the feldspar surface. Etch pits of triangular outline on the artificially weathered potassium feldspars serve as sites for development of continuous, non-rolled, hollow tubes. It is inferred from its morphology that this weathering product is halloysite or its primitive form. The product of naturally weathered potassium feldspars is halloysite . 4H2O.The flame-shaped films or sheets formed on artificially weathered plagioclase feldspar do not develop into hollow tubes, but instead give rise to a platy mineral that is most probably boehmite. These plates form within the flame-shaped films, and with continued weathering are released as the film deteriorates. There is no indication from this experiment that platy pseudohexagonal kaolinite forms from any of these minerals under the initial stage of weathering.

Mechanically durable carbon nanotube-composite hierarchical structures with superhydrophobicity, self-cleaning, and low-drag.

PubMed

Jung, Yong Chae; Bhushan, Bharat

2009-12-22

Superhydrophobic surfaces with high contact angle and low contact angle hysteresis exhibit a self-cleaning effect and low drag for fluid flow. The lotus (Nelumbo nucifera) leaf is one of the examples found in nature for superhydrophobic surfaces. For the development of superhydrophobic surfaces, which is important for various applications such as glass windows, solar panels, and microchannels, materials and fabrication methods need to be explored to provide mechanically durable surfaces. It is necessary to perform durability studies on these surfaces. Carbon nanotube (CNT), composite structures which would lead to superhydrophobicity, self-cleaning, and low-drag, were prepared using a spray method. As a benchmark, structured surfaces with lotus wax were also prepared to compare with the durability of CNT composite structures. To compare the durability of the various fabricated surfaces, waterfall/jet tests were conducted to determine the loss of superhydrophobicity by changing the flow time and pressure conditions. Wear and friction studies were also performed using an atomic force microscope (AFM) and a ball-on-flat tribometer. The changes in the morphology of the structured surfaces were examined by AFM and optical imaging. We find that superhydrophobic CNT composite structures showed good mechanical durability, superior to the structured surfaces with lotus wax, and may be suitable for real world applications.

Co nanocrystals engineering

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fontaiña-Troitiño, N.; Ciuculescu-Pradines, D.; Correa-Duarte, M. A.; Salgueiriño, V.; Amiens, C.

2017-06-01

Organometallic chemistry plays an increasing role in the synthesis of nanoparticles, as it provides a reliable access to metal nanoparticles with efficient control over their morphology, organization and surface chemistry. In case of magnetic nanoparticles, the synthetic tools provided by organometallic chemistry allow access to nanomaterials of high magnetization, meaning that no dead surface magnetic layer is observed. These objects are thus good candidates to be used as building blocks in composite materials of high added value. This paper reports on the organometallic synthesis of composites made of cobalt nanoparticles and carbon nanotubes. TEM investigations show that attachment of cobalt spheres and rods along the carbon nanotubes is achieved, the rods and tube long axis being aligned parallel to one another. Invited talk at 8th Int. Workshop on Advanced Materials Science and Nanotechnology (Ha Long City, Vietnam, 8-12 November 2016).

Synthesis of renewable diesel through hydrodeoxygenation reaction from nyamplung oil (Calophyllum Inophyllum oil) using NiMo/Z and NiMo/C catalysts with rapid heating and cooling method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Susanto, B. H.; Prakasa, M. B.; Shahab, M. H.

2016-11-01

The synthesis of metal nanocrystal was conducted by modification preparation from simple heating method which heating and cooling process run rapidly. The result of NiMo/Z 575 °C characterizations are 33.73 m2/gram surface area and 31.80 nm crystal size. By used NiMo/C 700 °C catalyst for 30 minutes which had surface area of 263.21 m2/gram, had 31.77 nm crystal size, and good morphology, obtained catalyst with high activity, selectivity, and stability. After catalyst activated, synthesis of renewable diesel performed in hydrogenation reactor at 375 °C, 12 bar, and 800 rpm. The result of conversion was 81.99%, yield was 68.08%, and selectivity was 84.54%.

Sputtered gold-coated ITO nanowires by alternating depositions from Indium and ITO targets for application in surface-enhanced Raman scattering

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Setti, Grazielle O.; Mamián-López, Mónica B.; Pessoa, Priscila R.; Poppi, Ronei J.; Joanni, Ednan; Jesus, Dosil P.

2015-08-01

Indium Tin oxide (ITO) nanowires were deposited by RF sputtering over oxidized silicon using ITO and Indium targets. The nanowires grew on the substrate with a catalyst layer of Indium by the vapor-liquid-solid (VLS) mechanism. Modifications in the deposition conditions affected the morphology and dimensions of the nanowires. The samples, after being covered with gold, were evaluated as surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) substrates for detection of dye solutions and very good intensifications of the Raman signal were obtained. The SERS performance of the samples was also compared to that of a commercial SERS substrate and the results achieved were similar. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time ITO nanowires were grown by the sputtering technique using oxide and metal targets.

Tethering of hyperbranched polyols using PEI as a building block to synthesize antifouling PVDF membranes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Xushan; Wang, Zihong; Wang, Zhe; Cao, Yu; Meng, Jianqiang

2017-10-01

Antifouling PVDF membranes were prepared by grafting hyperbranched polyols on the membrane surface via a three-step modification method. The membrane was first prepared by alkaline treatment to introduce alkenyl groups, then chemically immobilizing hyperbranched poly(ethyleneimine) (HPEI) on membrane surface through Michael reaction followed by ring opening reaction of the glycidol with amine groups. Chemical compositions, surface morphology and physicochemical properties of the original and modified membranes were characterized via attenuated total refection-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), water contact angle (WCA) and zeta potential measurements. The antifouling property of the modified membrane was assessed by the static bovine serum albumin (BSA) and lysozyme (LZM) adsorption as well as cross-flow filtration of BSA aqueous solution. The results explicate that surface modification using hyperbranched polymers can alter membrane chemistry and morphology significantly. In contrast to the original PVDF membrane, the modified membrane shows superhydrophilic property and relatively high capability to resist nonspecific protein adsorption. Three HPEIs were used for modification and the obtained PVDFA-g-PG60,000 membrane has a static BSA protein adsorption of 45 μg/cm2 and shows the highest protein resistance. However, the PVDF-g-PG membrane is positively charged due to the unreacted amine groups. As a result, the PVDF-g-PG membranes also show high flux decline during the filtration of BSA aqueous solution due to the electrostatic interaction. In spite of that, the PVDF-g-PG membranes still maintain high flux recovery ratio and good washing properties.

Morphology characterization and biocompatibility study of PLLA (Poly-L-Llactid-Acid) coating chitosan as stent for coronary heart disease

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Widiyanti, Prihartini; Paramadini, Adanti W.; Jabbar, Hajria; Fatimah, Inas; Nisak, Fadila N. K.; Puspitasari, Rahma A.

2016-03-01

Cardiovascular disease is a global disease with high urgency. In the severe case of coronary heart disease while a blockage in the coronary arteries reach 75% or more, the patient required stent implantation. Stents are made of metal which has many limitations that can lead to blood clots and stent incompatibility toward the size of the blood vessels. There is a metal stent replacement solution that made from polymer material which is biocompatible. PLLA also has biocompatibility and good mechanical strength. PLLA stent will be coated with chitosan as a candidate for drug-coated stents which is able to work as a drug carrier. The aim of this study is to know the morphology information and biocompability status of PLLA coating chitosan as candidate of heart stent. Morphological results using SEM showed a smooth surface structure which reinforced clinical standard of stent material. Results of cytotoxicity test by MTT Assay method showed that the result of four samples in this experiment living cells is reached 90% which is non toxic and safe to use in the human body. %). The conclusion of this study is PLLA is polymer has potency to be used as stent material.

Role of Crystallization in the Morphology of Polymer: Non-fullerene Acceptor Bulk Heterojunctions

DOE PAGES

O’Hara, Kathryn A.; Ostrowski, David P.; Koldemir, Unsal; ...

2017-05-22

Many high efficiency organic photovoltaics use fullerene-based acceptors despite their high production cost, weak optical absorption in the visible range, and limited synthetic variability of electronic and optical properties. To circumvent this deficiency, non-fullerene small-molecule acceptors have been developed that have good synthetic flexibility, allowing for precise tuning of optoelectronic properties, leading to enhanced absorption of the solar spectrum and increased open-circuit voltages ( V OC). We examined the detailed morphology of bulk heterojunctions of poly(3-hexylthiophene) and the small-molecule acceptor HPI-BT to reveal structural changes that lead to improvements in the fill factor of solar cells upon thermal annealing. Themore » kinetics of the phase transformation process of HPI-BT during thermal annealing were investigated through in situ grazing incidence wide-angle X-ray scattering studies, atomic force microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. The HPI-BT acceptor crystallizes during film formation to form micron-sized domains embedded within the film center and a donor rich capping layer at the cathode interface reducing efficient charge extraction. Thermal annealing changes the surface composition and improves charge extraction. In conclusion, this study reveals the need for complementary methods to investigate the morphology of BHJs.« less

Role of Crystallization in the Morphology of Polymer: Non-fullerene Acceptor Bulk Heterojunctions

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

O’Hara, Kathryn A.; Ostrowski, David P.; Koldemir, Unsal

Many high efficiency organic photovoltaics use fullerene-based acceptors despite their high production cost, weak optical absorption in the visible range, and limited synthetic variability of electronic and optical properties. To circumvent this deficiency, non-fullerene small-molecule acceptors have been developed that have good synthetic flexibility, allowing for precise tuning of optoelectronic properties, leading to enhanced absorption of the solar spectrum and increased open-circuit voltages ( V OC). We examined the detailed morphology of bulk heterojunctions of poly(3-hexylthiophene) and the small-molecule acceptor HPI-BT to reveal structural changes that lead to improvements in the fill factor of solar cells upon thermal annealing. Themore » kinetics of the phase transformation process of HPI-BT during thermal annealing were investigated through in situ grazing incidence wide-angle X-ray scattering studies, atomic force microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. The HPI-BT acceptor crystallizes during film formation to form micron-sized domains embedded within the film center and a donor rich capping layer at the cathode interface reducing efficient charge extraction. Thermal annealing changes the surface composition and improves charge extraction. In conclusion, this study reveals the need for complementary methods to investigate the morphology of BHJs.« less

Engineering of Metal Oxide Nanoparticles for Application in Electrochemical Devices

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Santos, Lidia Sofia Leitao

The growing demand for materials and devices with new functionalities led to the increased interest in the field of nanomaterials and nanotechnologies. Nanoparticles, not only present a reduced size as well as high reactivity, which allows the development of electronic and electrochemical devices with exclusive properties, when compared with thin films. This dissertation aims to explore the development of several nanostructured metal oxides by solvothermal synthesis and its application in different electrochemical devices. Within this broad theme, this study has a specific number of objectives: a) research of the influence of the synthesis parameters to the structure and morphology of the nanoparticles; b) improvement of the performance of the electrochromic devices with the application of the nanoparticles as electrode; c) application of the nanoparticles as probes to sensing devices; and d) production of solution-pro-cessed transistors with a nanostructured metal oxide semiconductor. Regarding the results, several conclusions can be exposed. Solvothermal synthesis shows to be a very versatile method to control the growth and morphology of the nanoparticles. The electrochromic device performance is influenced by the different structures and morphologies of WO3 nanoparticles, mainly due to the surface area and conductivity of the materials. The deposition of the electrochromic layer by inkjet printing allows the patterning of the electrodes without wasting material and without any additional steps. Nanostructured WO3 probes were produced by electrodeposition and drop casting and applied as pH sensor and biosensor, respectively. The good performance and sensitivity of the devices is explained by the high number of electrochemical reactions occurring at the surface of the na-noparticles. GIZO nanoparticles were deposited by spin coating and used in electrolyte-gated transistors, which promotes a good interface between the semiconductor and the dielectric. The produced transistors work at low potential and with improved ON-OFF current ratio, up to 6 orders of mag-nitude. To summarize, the low temperatures used in the production of the devices are compatible with flexible substrates and additionally, the low cost of the techniques involved can be adapted for disposable devices.

Effect of EtOH/MgCl(2) molar ratios on the catalytic properties of MgCl(2)-SiO(2)/TiCl(4) Ziegler-Natta catalyst for ethylene polymerization.

PubMed

Patthamasang, Supanan; Jongsomjit, Bunjerd; Praserthdam, Piyasan

2011-09-29

MgCl(2)-SiO(2)/TiCl(4) Ziegler-Natta catalysts for ethylene polymerization were prepared by impregnation of MgCl(2) on SiO(2) in heptane and further treatment with TiCl(4). MgCl(2)·nEtOH adduct solutions were prepared with various EtOH/MgCl(2) molar ratios for preparation of the MgCl(2)-supported and MgCl(2)-SiO(2)-supported catalysts in order to investigate the effect on polymerization performance of both catalyst systems. The catalytic activities for ethylene polymerization decreased markedly with increased molar ratios of [EtOH]/[MgCl(2)] for the MgCl(2)-supported catalysts, while for the bi-supported catalysts, the activities only decreased slightly. The MgCl(2)-SiO(2)-supported catalyst had relatively constant activity, independent of the [EtOH]/[MgCl(2)] ratio. The lower [EtOH]/[MgCl(2)] in MgCl(2)-supported catalyst exhibited better catalytic activity. However, for the MgCl(2)-SiO(2)-supported catalyst, MgCl(2) can agglomerate on the SiO(2) surface at low [EtOH]/[MgCl(2)] thus not being not suitable for TiCl(4) loading. It was found that the optimized [EtOH]/[MgCl(2)] value for preparation of bi-supported catalysts having high activity and good spherical morphology with little agglomerated MgCl(2) was 7. Morphological studies indicated that MgCl(2)-SiO(2)-supported catalysts have good morphology with spherical shapes that retain the morphology of SiO(2). The BET measurement revealed that pore size is the key parameter dictating polymerization activity. The TGA profiles of the bi-supported catalyst also confirmed that it was more stable than the mono-supported catalyst, especially in the ethanol removal region.

Simultaneous tuning of chemical composition and topography of copolymer surfaces: micelles as building blocks.

PubMed

Zhao, Ning; Zhang, Xiaoyan; Zhang, Xiaoli; Xu, Jian

2007-05-14

A simple method is described for controlling the surface chemical composition and topography of the diblock copolymer poly(styrene)-b-poly(dimethylsiloxane)(PS-b-PDMS) by casting the copolymer solutions from solvents with different selectivities. The surface morphology and chemical composition were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), respectively, and the wetting behavior was studied by water contact angle (CA) and sliding angle (SA) and by CA hysteresis. Chemical composition and morphology of the surface depend on solvent properties, humidity of the air, solution concentration, and block lengths. If the copolymer is cast from a common solvent, the resultant surface is hydrophobic, with a flat morphology, and dominated by PDMS on the air side. From a PDMS-selective solvent, the surface topography depends on the morphology of the micelles. Starlike micelles give rise to a featureless surface nearly completely covered by PDMS, while crew-cut-like micelles lead to a rough surface with a hierarchical structure that consists partly of PDMS. From a PS-selective solvent, however, surface segregation of PDMS was restricted, and the surface morphology can be controlled by vapor-induced phase separation. On the basis of the tunable surface roughness and PDMS concentration on the air side, water repellency of the copolymer surface could be tailored from hydrophobic to superhydrophobic. In addition, reversible switching behavior between hydrophobic and superhydrophobic can be achieved by exposing the surface to solvents with different selectivities.

Fast modification on wheat straw outer surface by water vapor plasma and its application on composite material.

PubMed

Chen, Weimin; Xu, Yicheng; Shi, Shukai; Cao, Yizhong; Chen, Minzhi; Zhou, Xiaoyan

2018-02-02

The presence of non-poplar extracts, cutin, and wax layer in the wheat straw outer surface (WOS) greatly limit its application in bio-composite preparation. In this study, a dielectric-barrier-discharge plasma using water vapor as feeding gas was used to fast modify the WOS. The morphology, free radical concentrations, surface chemical components, and contact angles of WOS before and after plasma modification were investigated. Wheat straw was further prepared into wheat straw-based composites (WSC) and its bonding strength was evaluated by a paper tension meter. The results showed that water vapor plasma leads to the appearance of surface roughness, the generation of massive free radicals, and the introduction of oxygen-containing groups. In addition, both initial and equilibrium contact angle and the surface total free energy were significantly increased after plasma modification. These results synergistically facilitate the spread and permeation of adhesive onto the WOS and thus improve the bonding strength of all prepared WSCs. A good linear relationship between bonding strength and surface roughness parameters, contact angles, and total free energy were observed. In general, this study provided a time-saving and cost-effective modification method to realize WSC manufacture.

Au/n-ZnO rectifying contact fabricated with hydrogen peroxide pretreatment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gu, Q. L.; Cheung, C. K.; Ling, C. C.; Ng, A. M. C.; Djurišić, A. B.; Lu, L. W.; Chen, X. D.; Fung, S.; Beling, C. D.; Ong, H. C.

2008-05-01

Au contacts were deposited on n-type ZnO single crystals with and without hydrogen peroxide pretreatment for the ZnO substrate. The Au/ZnO contacts fabricated on substrates without H2O2 pretreatment were Ohmic and those with H2O2 pretreatment were rectifying. With an aim of fabricating a good quality Schottky contact, the rectifying property of the Au/ZnO contact was systemically investigated by varying the treatment temperature and duration. The best performing Schottky contact was found to have an ideality factor of 1.15 and a leakage current of ˜10-7 A cm-2. A multispectroscopic study, including scanning electron microscopy, positron annihilation spectroscopy, deep level transient spectroscopy, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and photoluminescence, showed that the H2O2 treatment removed the OH impurity and created Zn-vacancy related defects hence decreasing the conductivity of the ZnO surface layer, a condition favorable for forming good Schottky contact. However, the H2O2 treatment also resulted in a deterioration of the surface morphology, leading to an increase in the Schottky contact ideality factor and leakage current in the case of nonoptimal treatment time and temperature.

Preparation and characterization of intelligent starch/PVA films for simultaneous colorimetric indication and antimicrobial activity for food packaging applications.

PubMed

Liu, Bin; Xu, Han; Zhao, Huiying; Liu, Wei; Zhao, Liyun; Li, Yuan

2017-02-10

We have developed an intelligent starch/poly-vinyl alcohol (PVA) film that is capable of monitoring pH changes and inhibiting undesired microbial growth in foods. Starch and PVA polymers in the film were doubly cross-linked by sodium trimetaphosphate and boric acid to improve their water-resistance and mechanical strength. Anthocyanins (ANT) and limonene (LIM) were used to achieve simultaneous colorimetric indication and antimicrobial activity. Firstly, the characterization of surface morphology using SEM confirmed that the starch-PVA-ANT-LIM film possessed a smooth surface. Secondly, the results of the mechanical strength test showed that starch-PVA-ANT-LIM possesses the highest mechanical strength. Additionally, there was a distinguishable change of colors as the film was immersed in solutions of pH ranging from 1.0 to 14.0. Moreover, the film showed excellent antimicrobial activity for three typical undesired microorganisms in foods, Bacillus subtilis, Aspergillus niger, and Staphylococcus aureus. Finally, the film exhibited good color indication and antimicrobial activity on pasteurized milk. The results suggest that the intelligent film reported here shows good capability for both alerting and inhibiting food spoilage. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

In vitro and in vivo evaluation of SLA titanium surfaces with further alkali or hydrogen peroxide and heat treatment.

PubMed

Zhang, E W; Wang, Y B; Shuai, K G; Gao, F; Bai, Y J; Cheng, Y; Xiong, X L; Zheng, Y F; Wei, S C

2011-04-01

The present study aimed to evaluate the bioactivity of titanium surfaces sandblasted with large-grit corundum and acid etched (SLA) plus further alkali or hydrogen peroxide and heat treatment for dental implant application. Pure titanium disks were mechanically polished as control surface (Ti-control) and then sandblasted with large-grit corundum and acid etched (SLA). Further chemical modifications were conducted using alkali and heat treatment (ASLA) and hydrogen peroxide and heat treatment (HSLA) alternatively. The surface properties were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and contact angle and roughness measurements. Further evaluation of surface bioactivity was conducted by MC3T3-E1 cell attachment, proliferation, morphology, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity and calcium deposition on the sample surfaces. After insertion in the beagle's mandibula for a specific period, cylindrical implant samples underwent micro-CT examination and then histological examination. It was found that ASLA and HSLA surfaces significantly increased the surface wettability and MC3T3-E1 cell attachment percentage, ALP activity and the quality of calcium deposition in comparison with simple SLA and Ti-control surfaces. Animal studies showed good osseointegration of ASLA and HSLA surfaces with host bone. In conclusion, ASLA and HSLA surfaces enhanced the bioactivity of the traditional SLA surface by integrating the advantages of surface topography, composition and wettability.

Development of antifouling surfaces to reduce bacterial attachment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Graham, Mary Viola

Bacteria are exceptionally good at adhering to surfaces and forming complex structures known as biofilms. This process, known as biofouling, can cause problems for infrastructure (eg, clogging and damaging pipes), for the food industry (eg, contamination of processing surfaces and equipment, and for the medical industry (eg, contamination of indwelling medical devices). Accordingly, multiple strategies have been explored to combat biofouling, including chemical modification of surfaces, development of antibiotic coatings, and more recently, the use of engineered surface topography. When designed properly, engineered surface topographies can significantly reduce bacterial surface attachment, ultimately limiting surface colonization. In this work, we hypothesized that the morphology, size, spacing, and surface pre-treatment of topographical features should directly correlate with the size and shape of target organisms, in order to reduce biofouling. Topographical features with size and spacing from 0.25 to 2 mum were fabricated in silicone elastomer and tested against rod shaped bacteria with an average size of 0.5 x 2 mum and spherical bacteria (cocci) ranging from 0.5 - 1 μm in diameter. Antifouling properties of the different topographical features were tested in both static and flow-based assays, and under oxygen plasma-treated (hydrophilic) and untreated (hydrophobic) surface conditions. We found that surface pre-treatment universally affects the ability bacteria to attach to surfaces, while surface topography limits attachment in a manner dependent on the bacterial size/shape and the size/spacing of the topography.

AFM study of the morphologic change of HDPE surface photografted with glycidyl methacrylate.

PubMed

Wang, Huiliang; Han, Jianmei

2009-05-01

The UV-induced grafting of glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) onto high-density polyethylene (HDPE) and the atomic force microscopy (AFM) study of the morphologic change of the grafted surface are reported. The grafting was carried out in GMA acetone solutions with different monomer concentrations. Grafting was much faster in a solution with a higher monomer concentration. FTIR analyses proved that GMA had been successfully grafted onto HDPE. The morphologies of grafted HDPE surfaces changed with UV irradiation time. The monomer concentration had a significant effect on the morphologies of the grafted HDPE surfaces. The HDPE surface grafted in a solution with a higher monomer concentration was much rougher than that grafted in a solution with a lower monomer concentration. The growth models of the grafted granules or clusters are also proposed.

Specific peptide for functionalization of GaN

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Estephan, E.; Larroque, C.; Cloitre, T.; Cuisinier, F. J. G.; Gergely, C.

2008-04-01

Nanobiotechnology aims to exploit biomolecular recognition and self-assembly capabilities for integrating advanced materials into medicine and biology. However frequent problems are encountered at the interface of substrate-biological molecule, as the direct physical adsorption of biological molecules is dependent of unpredictable non-specific interactions with the surface, often causing their denaturation. Therefore, a proper functionalization of the substrate should avoid a loss of biological activity. In this work we address the functionalization of the semiconductor GaN (0001) for biosensing applications. The basic interest of using III-V class semiconductors is their good light emitting properties and a fair chemical stability that allows various applications of these materials. The technology chosen to elaborate GaN-specific peptides is the combinatorial phage-display method, a biological screening procedure based on affinity selection. An M13 bacteriophage library has been used to screen 10 10 different peptides against the GaN (0001) surface to finally isolate one specific peptide. The preferential attachment of the biotinylated selected peptide onto the GaN (0001), in close proximity to a surface of different chemical and structural composition has been demonstrated by fluorescence microscopy. Further physicochemical studies have been initiated to evaluate the semiconductor-peptide interface and understand the details in the specific recognition of peptides for semiconductor substrates. Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy in Attenuated Total Reflection mode (FTIR-ATR) has been employed to prove the presence of peptides on the surface. Our Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) studies on the morphology of the GaN surface after functionalization revealed a total surface coverage by a very thin, homogeneous peptide layer. Due to its good biocompatibility, functionalized GaN devices might evolve in a new class of implantable biosensors for medical applications.

Atomic Layer Deposited Thin Films for Dielectrics, Semiconductor Passivation, and Solid Oxide Fuel Cells

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xu, Runshen

Atomic layer deposition (ALD) utilizes sequential precursor gas pulses to deposit one monolayer or sub-monolayer of material per cycle based on its self-limiting surface reaction, which offers advantages, such as precise thickness control, thickness uniformity, and conformality. ALD is a powerful means of fabricating nanoscale features in future nanoelectronics, such as contemporary sub-45 nm metal-oxide-semiconductor field effect transistors, photovoltaic cells, near- and far-infrared detectors, and intermediate temperature solid oxide fuel cells. High dielectric constant, kappa, materials have been recognized to be promising candidates to replace traditional SiO2 and SiON, because they enable good scalability of sub-45 nm MOSFET (metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistor) without inducing additional power consumption and heat dissipation. In addition to high dielectric constant, high-kappa materials must meet a number of other requirements, such as low leakage current, high mobility, good thermal and structure stability with Si to withstand high-temperature source-drain activation annealing. In this thesis, atomic layer deposited Er2O3 doped TiO2 is studied and proposed as a thermally stable amorphous high-kappa dielectric on Si substrate. The stabilization of TiO2 in its amorphous state is found to achieve a high permittivity of 36, a hysteresis voltage of less than 10 mV, and a low leakage current density of 10-8 A/cm-2 at -1 MV/cm. In III-V semiconductors, issues including unsatisfied dangling bonds and native oxides often result in inferior surface quality that yields non-negligible leakage currents and degrades the long-term performance of devices. The traditional means for passivating the surface of III-V semiconductors are based on the use of sulfide solutions; however, that only offers good protection against oxidation for a short-term (i.e., one day). In this work, in order to improve the chemical passivation efficacy of III-V semiconductors, ultra-thin layer of encapsulating ZnS is coated on the surface of GaSb and GaSb/InAs substrates. The 2 nm-thick ZnS film is found to provide a long-term protection against reoxidation for one order and a half longer times than prior reported passivation likely due to its amorphous structure without pinholes. Finally, a combination of binary ALD processes is developed and demonstrated for the growth of yttria-stabilized zirconia films using alkylamido-cyclopentadiengyls zirconium and tris(isopropyl-cyclopentadienyl)yttrium, as zirconium and yttrium precursors, respectively, with ozone being the oxidant. The desired cubic structure of YSZ films is apparently achieved after post-deposition annealing. Further, platinum is atomic layer deposited as electrode on YSZ (8 mol% of Yttria) within the same system. In order to control the morphology of as-deposited Pt thin structure, the nucleation behavior of Pt on amorphous and cubic YSZ is investigated. Three different morphologies of Pt are observed, including nanoparticle, porous and dense films, which are found to depend on the ALD cycle number and the structure and morphology of they underlying ALD YSZ films.

Morphology and mechanism of the very large dunes in the tidal reach of the Yangtze River, China

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shuwei, Zheng; Heqin, Cheng; Shuaihu, Wu; Shengyu, Shi; Wei, Xu; Quanping, Zhou; Yuehua, Jiang

2017-05-01

High-resolution multibeam data was used to interpret the surface morphology of very large dunes (VLDs) in the tidal reach of the Yangtze River, China. These VLDs can be divided into three categories according to their surface morphological characteristics. (1) VLDs-I: those with a smooth surface and cross-section; (2) VLDs-II: those accompanied by secondary dunes; (3) VLDs-III: those accompanied by secondary dunes and numerous elliptical pits. Parameters and spatial distribution of VLDs, and bed surface sediment were analyzed in the laboratory. Overall, channel morphology is an important factor affecting the development of VLDs, and channels with narrow and straight and certain water surface slope are facilitating the development of VLDs by constraining stream power. Meanwhile, distribution density of VLDs depicts a decreasing trend from Chizhou towards the estuary, are probably influenced by channel morphology and width. Associated pits in VLDs-III change the 3D dune morphology by distributing in secondary dunes as beads. The Three Gorges Dam project (TGP) leads to the bed surface sediment activity frequently and leads to the riverbed surface sediment coarsens, which promotes the further development of dunes. Moreover, other human activities, such as river regulation project, sand mining and Deep Water Channel Regulation Project have changed the regional river boundary conditions and hydrodynamic conditions are influential on the development of VLDs.

Design and characterization of sustained release ketoprofen entrapped carnauba wax microparticles.

PubMed

Oliveira, Rodinelli B; Nascimento, Thais L; Lima, Eliana M

2012-01-01

Ketoprofen is a non-steroid anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) used in the treatment of rheumatic diseases and in mild to moderate pain. Ketoprofen has a short biological half-life and the commercially available conventional release formulations require dosages to be administered at least 2-3 times a day. Due to these characteristics, ketoprofen is a good candidate for the preparation of controlled release formulations. In this work, a multiparticulate-sustained release dosage form containing ketoprofen in a carnauba wax matrix was developed. Particles were prepared by an emulsion congealing technique. System variables were optimized using fractional factorial and response surface experimental design. Characterization of the particles included size and morphology, flow rate, drug loading and in vitro drug release. Spherical particles were obtained with high drug load and sustained drug release profile. The optimized particles had an average diameter of approximately 200 µm, 50% (w/w) drug load, good flow properties and prolonged ketoprofen release for more than 24 h. Carnauba wax microspheres prepared in this work represent a new multiparticulate-sustained release system for the NSAID ketoprofen, exhibiting good potential for application in further pharmaceutical processes.

Molecular basis of crystal morphology-dependent adhesion behavior of mefenamic acid during tableting.

PubMed

Waknis, Vrushali; Chu, Elza; Schlam, Roxana; Sidorenko, Alexander; Badawy, Sherif; Yin, Shawn; Narang, Ajit S

2014-01-01

The molecular basis of crystal surface adhesion leading to sticking was investigated by exploring the correlation of crystal adhesion to oxidized iron coated atomic force microscope (AFM) tips and bulk powder sticking behavior during tableting of two morphologically different crystals of a model drug, mefenamic acid (MA), to differences in their surface functional group orientation and energy. MA was recrystallized into two morphologies (plates and needles) of the same crystalline form. Crystal adhesion to oxidized iron coated AFM tips and bulk powder sticking to tablet punches was assessed using a direct compression formulation. Surface functional group orientation and energies on crystal faces were modeled using Accelrys Material Studio software. Needle-shaped morphology showed higher sticking tendency than plates despite similar particle size. This correlated with higher crystal surface adhesion of needle-shaped morphology to oxidized iron coated AFM probe tips, and greater surface energy and exposure of polar functional groups. Higher surface exposure of polar functional groups correlates with higher tendency to stick to metal surfaces and AFM tips, indicating involvement of specific polar interactions in the adhesion behavior. In addition, an AFM method is identified to prospectively assess the risk of sticking during the early stages of drug development.

Reactive solid surface morphology variation via ionic diffusion.

PubMed

Sun, Zhenchao; Zhou, Qiang; Fan, Liang-Shih

2012-08-14

In gas-solid reactions, one of the most important factors that determine the overall reaction rate is the solid morphology, which can be characterized by a combination of smooth, convex and concave structures. Generally, the solid surface structure varies in the course of reactions, which is classically noted as being attributed to one or more of the following three mechanisms: mechanical interaction, molar volume change, and sintering. Here we show that if a gas-solid reaction involves the outward ionic diffusion of a solid-phase reactant then this outward ionic diffusion could eventually smooth the surface with an initial concave and/or convex structure. Specifically, the concave surface is filled via a larger outward diffusing surface pointing to the concave valley, whereas the height of the convex surface decreases via a lower outward diffusion flux in the vertical direction. A quantitative 2-D continuum diffusion model is established to analyze these two morphological variation processes, which shows consistent results with the experiments. This surface morphology variation by solid-phase ionic diffusion serves to provide a fourth mechanism that supplements the traditionally acknowledged solid morphology variation or, in general, porosity variation mechanisms in gas-solid reactions.

Experimental and theoretical study to explain the morphology of CaMoO4 crystals

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Oliveira, F. K. F.; Oliveira, M. C.; Gracia, L.; Tranquilin, R. L.; Paskocimas, C. A.; Motta, F. V.; Longo, E.; Andrés, J.; Bomio, M. R. D.

2018-03-01

CaMoO4 crystals were prepared by a controlled co-precipitation method and processed in a domestic microwave-assisted hydrothermal system with two different surfactants (ethyl 4-dimethylaminobenzoate and 1,2,4,5-benzenetetracarboxylic dianhydride). The corresponding structures were characterized by X-ray diffraction and Rietveld refinement techniques, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, ultraviolet-visible absorption spectroscopy, and photoluminescence measurements. Field emission scanning electron microscopy was used to investigate the morphology of the as-synthesized aggregates. The structure, the surface stability of the (001), (112), (100), (110), (101), and (111) surfaces of CaMoO4, and their morphological transformations were investigated through systematic first-principles calculations within the density functional theory method at the B3LYP level. Analysis of the surface structures showed that the electronic properties were associated with the presence of undercoordinated [CaOx] (x = 5 and 6) and [MoOy] (y = 4 and 3) clusters. The relative surfaces energies were tuned to predict a complete map of the morphologies available through a Wulff construction approach. The results reveal that the experimental and theoretical morphologies obtained coincide when the surface energies of the (001) and (101) surfaces increase, while the surface energy of the (100) facet decreases simultaneously. The results provide a comprehensive catalog of the morphologies most likely to be present under realistic conditions, and will serve as a starting point for future studies on the surface chemistry of CaMoO4 crystals.

A novel strategy for durable superhydrophobic coating on glass substrate via using silica chains to fix silica particles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Huang, Qi-Zhang; Fang, Yue-Yun; Liu, Peng-Yi; Zhu, Yan-Qing; Shi, Ji-Fu; Xu, Gang

2018-01-01

The practical application of superhydrophobic coatings on glass is usually restricted by their poor wear resistance due to the insufficient adhesion. A double-silica-layered structure was proposed to reinforce the coating adhesion on glass substrate. The wettability, surface morphologies, and chemical composition were investigated by water contact angle measurement, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and fourier transformed infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The prepared superhydrophobic coating displays a good wear-resistance by emery paper and sand abrasion, which also has excellent thermal stability and UV resistance. This strategy shows a bright future for durable superhydrophobic coating on glass.

Synthesis, characterization and adsorption properties of magnetite/reduced graphene oxide nanocomposites.

PubMed

Qi, Tingting; Huang, Chenchen; Yan, Shan; Li, Xiu-Juan; Pan, Si-Yi

2015-11-01

Three kinds of magnetite/reduced graphene oxide (MRGO) nanocomposites were prepared by solvothermal, hydrothermal and co-precipitation methods. The as-prepared nanocomposites were characterized and compared by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction and zeta potential. The results showed that MRGO made by different methods differed in surface functional groups, crystal structure, particle sizes, surface morphology and surface charge. Due to their unlike features, these nanocomposites displayed dissimilar performances when they were used to adsorb drugs, dyes and metal ions. The MRGO prepared by the co-precipitation method showed special adsorption ability to negative ions, but those synthesized by the solvothermal method obtained the best extraction ability and reusability to the others and showed a good prospective in magnetic solid-phase extraction. Therefore, it is highly recommended to use the right preparation method before application in order to attain the best extraction performance. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Preliminary Evaluation of Polyarylate Dielectric Films for Cryogenic Applications

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Patterson, Richard L.; Hammoud, Ahmad; Fialla, Peter

2002-01-01

Polymeric materials are used extensively on spacecraft and satellites in electrical power and distribution systems, as thermal blankets and optical surface coatings, as well as mechanical support structures. The reliability of these systems when exposed to the harsh environment of space is very critical to the success of the mission and the safety of the crew in manned-flight ventures. In this work, polyarylate films were evaluated for potential use as capacitor dielectrics and wiring insulation for cryogenic applications. Two grades of the film were characterized in terms of their electrical and mechanical properties before and after exposure to liquid nitrogen (-196 C). The electrical characterization consisted of capacitance and dielectric loss measure Cents in the frequency range of 50 Hz to 100 kHz, and volume and surface resistivities. The mechanical measurements performed included changes in tensile (Young's modulus, elongation-at-break, and tensile strength) and structural properties (dimensional change, weight, and surface morphology). The preliminary results, which indicate good stability of the polymer after exposure to liquid nitrogen, are presented and discussed.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Zhang, Da-Quan; Sun, Tian-Ying; Yu, Xue-Feng, E-mail: yxf@whu.edu.cn

Highlights: • The morphology and properties of Ce-doped yttrium hydroxide fluoride nanotubes (YHF:Ce NTs) were investigated. • YHF:Ce NTs were conjugated with Au nanoparticles to produce Au-YHF:Ce nanocomposites. • Au-YHF:Ce NTs showed excellent capability and efficiency in removing Congo red from solutions. • Au-YHF:Ce NTs were utilized to determine the concentration of Congo red based on SERS. - Abstract: Ce-doped yttrium hydroxide fluoride nanotubes (YHF:Ce NTs) with large surface area are synthesized and conjugated with Au nanoparticles (NPs) to produce Au-YHF:Ce nanocomposites. The Au-YHF:Ce NTs have a hollow structure, rough surface, polymer coating, and good surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) properties.more » They are applied to wastewater treatment to remove Congo red as a typical pollutant. The materials not only remove pollutants rapidly from the wastewater, but also detect trace amounts of the pollutants quantitatively. The multifunctional Au-YHF:Ce NTs have commercial potential as nano-absorbents and nano-detectors in water treatment and environmental monitoring.« less

Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles-Encapsulated Agarose and Heparin as Anticoagulant and Resisting Bacterial Adhesion Coating for Biomedical Silicone.

PubMed

Wu, Fan; Xu, Tingting; Zhao, Guangyao; Meng, Shuangshuang; Wan, Mimi; Chi, Bo; Mao, Chun; Shen, Jian

2017-05-30

Silicone catheter has been widely used in peritoneal dialysis. The research missions of improving blood compatibility and the ability of resisting bacterial adhesion of silicone catheter have been implemented for the biomedical requirements. However, most of modification methods of surface modification were only able to develop the blood-contacting biomaterials with good hemocompatibility. It is difficult for the biomaterials to resist bacterial adhesion. Here, agarose was selected to resist bacterial adhesion, and heparin was chosen to improve hemocompatibility of materials. Both of them were loaded into mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs), which were successfully modified on the silicone film surface via electrostatic interaction. Structures of the mesoporous coatings were characterized in detail by dynamic light scattering, transmission electron microscopy, Brunauer-Emmett-Teller surface area, thermogravimetric analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscope, and water contact angle. Platelet adhesion and aggregation, whole blood contact test, hemolysis and related morphology test of red blood cells, in vitro clotting time tests, and bacterial adhesion assay were performed to evaluate the anticoagulant effect and the ability of resisting bacterial adhesion of the modified silicone films. Results indicated that silicone films modified by MSNs had a good anticoagulant effect and could resist bacterial adhesion. The modified silicone films have potential as blood-contacting biomaterials that were attributed to their biomedical properties.

Controlled drug release on amine functionalized spherical MCM-41

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Szegedi, Agnes, E-mail: szegedi@chemres.hu; Popova, Margarita; Goshev, Ivan

2012-10-15

MCM-41 silica with spherical morphology and small particle sizes (100 nm) was synthesized and modified by post-synthesis method with different amounts of 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES). A comparative study of the adsorption and release of a model drug, ibuprofen, was carried out. The modified and drug loaded mesoporous materials were characterized by XRD, TEM, N{sub 2} physisorption, elemental analysis, thermal analysis and FT-IR spectroscopy. A new method was developed for the quantitative determination of amino groups in surface modified mesoporous materials by the ninhydrin reaction. Good correlation was found between the amino content of the MCM-41 materials determined by the ninhydrin methodmore » and their ibuprofen adsorption capacity. Amino modification resulted in high degree of ibuprofen loading and slow release rate in comparison to the parent non-modified MCM-41. - Graphical abstract: Determination of surface amino groups by ninhidrin method. Highlights: Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Spherical MCM-41 modified by different amounts of APTES was studied. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Ibuprofen (IBU) adsorption and release characteristics was tested. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer The ninhydrin reaction was used for the quantitative determination of amino groups. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Stoichiometric amount of APTES is enough for totally covering the surface with amino groups. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Good correlation was found between the amino content and IBU adsorption capacity.« less

Preparation and characterization of polymeric nanocomposite films for application as protective coatings

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gagliardi, S.; Rondino, F.; D'Erme, C.; Persia, F.; Menchini, F.; Santarelli, M. L.; Paulke, B.-R.; Enayati, A. L.; Falconieri, M.

2017-08-01

Addiction of ceramic nanoparticles to acrylic polymers provides a simple and effective means to produce paints with important properties, such as mechanical resistance and tailored wettability, even though for optimal performances, an engineered nanoparticle distribution would be desirable. In this paper we report on the realization and on the morphological and functional characterization of nanocomposites where the nanophase is distributed on the surface of acrylic polymer films, in order to enhance the expression of surface-related properties. To this aim, commercial titanium oxide and silicon oxide nanopowders were dispersed in water and the suspensions were air-sprayed on polymeric films prepared by paint brushing, thus producing a nanostructured ceramic surface coating. Control of the pH of suspensions and acrylic acid functionalization of the surface of titania were used together with high power ultrasonic treatments in order to control dimension of the aggregates in the sprayed suspensions. Optical microscopy, mechanical profilometry, and atomic force microscopy were used to characterize the nanocomposite surface morphology and correlate it to the coating functional properties, evaluated through mechanical abrasion tests and contact angle measurements; also, colorimetry on coated stones was performed in order to test the impact of the coatings on the aesthetical appearance and their photostability under UV irradiation. Results show that the nanostructured ceramic layer slightly improves the resistance of coatings to mechanical abrasion in case of polymer films prepared from latexes. The nanocomposite surface layer does not affect the wettability of the polymer, which remained slightly hydrophilic; this behavior is likely due to inadequate distribution of the nanophase. On the other hand UV-induced superhydrophilicity was observed when the concentration of surface titania nanoparticles is about 0.6 mg/cm2. Colorimetric analysis on historical and Carrara marbles before and after coating evidenced the good transparency of the nanocomposites. Accelerated aging tests permitted to demonstrate that, on the historical marbles, the presence of the nanoparticles has a protective action against UV-induced damage of the underlying polymer film, preventing photodegradation.

Double-shell Fe2O3 hollow box-like structure for enhanced photo-Fenton degradation of malachite green dye

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jiang, De Bin; Liu, Xiaoying; Xu, Xuan; Zhang, Yu Xin

2018-01-01

In this work we demonstrate the synthesis of novel Fe2O3 nanosheets with double-shell hollow morphology by replica molding from diatomite framework. The nanostructures of Fe2O3 nanosheets were examined by focused-ion-beam scanning electron microscopy (FIB/SEM), X-ray diffraction spectroscopy (XRD), Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) specific surface area measurements and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy. The results reveal that (1) Pure Fe2O3 nanosheets were successfully obtained; (2) The double-shell Fe2O3 hollow structure achieved via the NaOH etching silica method was observed; (3) Fe2O3 nanosheets possessed uniformly distributed porous nanosheets. Such structural features enlarged the specific surface area of Fe2O3 nanosheets and led to more catalytic active sites. In the heterogeneous photo-Fenton reaction, the double-shell Fe2O3 hollow morphology exhibited excellent catalytic capability for the degradation of malachite green (MG) at circumneutral pH condition. Under optimum condition, MG solution was almost completely decolorized in 60 min (99.9%). The Fe2O3 nanosheets also showed good stability and recyclability, demonstrating great potential as a promising photo-Fenton catalyst for the effective degradation of MG dye in wastewater.

Photocatalytic activity of ZnWO₄: band structure, morphology and surface modification.

PubMed

Zhang, Cuiling; Zhang, Hulin; Zhang, Kaiyou; Li, Xiaoyan; Leng, Qiang; Hu, Chenguo

2014-08-27

Photocatalytic degradation of organic contaminants is an important application area in solar energy utilization. To improve material photocatalytic properties, understanding their photocatalytic mechanism is indispensable. Here, the photocatalytic performance of ZnWO4 nanocrystals was systematicly investigated by the photodegradation of tetraethylated rhodamine (RhB) under simulated sunlight irradiation, including the influence of morphology, AgO/ZnWO4 heterojunction and comparison with CoWO4 nanowires. The results show that the photocatalytic activity of ZnWO4 is higher than that of CoWO4, and the ZnWO4 nanorods exhibit better photocatalytic activity than that of ZnWO4 nanowires. In addition, the mechanism for the difference of the photocatalytic activity was also investigated by comparison of their photoluminescence and photocurrents. AgO nanoparticles were assembled uniformly on the surface of ZnWO4 nanowires to form a heterojunction that exhibited enhanced photocatalytic activity under irradiation at the initial stage. We found that a good photocatalyst should not only have an active structure for electrons directly to transfer from the valence band to the conduction band without the help of phonons but also a special electronic configuration for the high mobility, to ensure more excited electrons and holes in a catalytic reaction.

Room-temperature growth of thin films of niobium on strontium titanate (0 0 1) single-crystal substrates for superconducting joints

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shimizu, Yuhei; Tonooka, Kazuhiko; Yoshida, Yoshiyuki; Furuse, Mitsuho; Takashima, Hiroshi

2018-06-01

With the eventual aim of forming joints between superconducting wires of YBa2Cu3O7-δ (YBCO), thin films of Nb were grown at room-temperature on SrTiO3 (STO) (0 0 1), a single-crystal substrate that shows good lattice matching with YBCO. The crystallinity, surface morphology, and superconducting properties of the Nb thin films were investigated and compared with those of similar films grown on a silica glass substrate. The Nb thin films grew with an (hh0) orientation on both substrates. The crystallinity of the Nb thin films on the STO substrate was higher than that on the silica glass substrate. X-ray diffraction measurements and observation of the surface morphology by atomic-force microscopy indicated that Nb grew in the plane along the [1 0 0] and [0 1 0] directions of the STO substrate. This growth mode relaxes strain between Nb and STO, and is believed to lead to the high crystallinity observed. As a result, the Nb thin films on the STO substrates showed lower electric resistivity and a higher superconducting transition temperature than did those on the silica glass substrates. The results of this study should be useful in relation to the production of superconducting joints.

Role of Co-Vapors in Vapor Deposition Polymerization

PubMed Central

Lee, Ji Eun; Lee, Younghee; Ahn, Ki-Jin; Huh, Jinyoung; Shim, Hyeon Woo; Sampath, Gayathri; Im, Won Bin; Huh, Yang–Il; Yoon, Hyeonseok

2015-01-01

Polypyrrole (PPy)/cellulose (PPCL) composite papers were fabricated by vapor phase polymerization. Importantly, the vapor-phase deposition of PPy onto cellulose was assisted by employing different co-vapors namely methanol, ethanol, benzene, water, toluene and hexane, in addition to pyrrole. The resulting PPCL papers possessed high mechanical flexibility, large surface-to-volume ratio, and good redox properties. Their main properties were highly influenced by the nature of the co-vaporized solvent. The morphology and oxidation level of deposited PPy were tuned by employing co-vapors during the polymerization, which in turn led to change in the electrochemical properties of the PPCL papers. When methanol and ethanol were used as co-vapors, the conductivities of PPCL papers were found to have improved five times, which was likely due to the enhanced orientation of PPy chain by the polar co-vapors with high dipole moment. The specific capacitance of PPCL papers obtained using benzene, toluene, water and hexane co-vapors was higher than those of the others, which is attributed to the enlarged effective surface area of the electrode material. The results indicate that the judicious choice and combination of co-vapors in vapor-deposition polymerization (VDP) offers the possibility of tuning the morphological, electrical, and electrochemical properties of deposited conducting polymers. PMID:25673422

Facile green synthesis of silver doped fluor-hydroxyapatite/β-cyclodextrin nanocomposite in the dual acting fluorine-containing ionic liquid medium for bone substitute applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jegatheeswaran, S.; Selvam, S.; Sri Ramkumar, V.; Sundrarajan, M.

2016-05-01

A novel green route has approached for the synthesis of silver doped fluor-hydroxyapatite/β-cyclodextrin composite by the assistance of fluorine-based ionic liquid. The selected [BMIM]BF4 ionic liquid for this work plays a dual role as fluoride source and templating agent. It helps to improve the crystalline structures and the shape of the composites. The crystallinity, surface morphology, topographical studies of the synthesized composite were validated. The XRD results of the composite show typical Ag reflection peaks at 38.1°, 44.2° and 63.4°. The ionic liquid assisted composite displayed the hexagonal shaped HA particles, which are surrounded by spherical nano-Ag particles and these particles are uniformly dispersed in the β-cyclodextrin matrix in both horizontal and cross sections from surface morphology observations. The Ionic liquid assisted silver doped fluor-hydroxyapatite/β-cyclodextrin composite exhibited very good antibacterial activities against Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhi, Klebsiella pneumonia and Serratia liquefaciens pathogens. The antibacterial proficiencies were established using Confocal Laser Scanning Microscopic developed biofilms images and bacterial growth curve analysis. The cytotoxicity results of the ionic liquid assisted composite analyzed by cell proliferation in vitro studies using human osteosarcoma cell line (MG-63) and this study has shown excellent biocompatibility.

A biomimetic nano hybrid coating based on the lotus effect and its anti-biofouling behaviors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Jiang; Wang, Guoqing; Meng, Qinghua; Ding, Chunhua; Jiang, Hong; Fang, Yongzeng

2014-10-01

To develop an environmentally friendly anti-biofouling coating in virtue of bionics, a block copolymer containing fluorine (Coplm_F) of low surface energy was prepared by copolymerization. The Ag-loaded mesoporous silica (Ag@SBA) acting as a controlled-release antifoulant was prepared from the mesoporous silica (SBA-15). The nano hybrid coating (Ag@SBA/Coplm_F) composing of the Coplm_F and Ag@SBA was to biomimetically simulate the lotus microstructure. The concentration of fluorine element on surface was analyzed by the energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) and found rising to 1.45% after hybridation, which could be explained by the driving effect of SBA-15 via the hydrogen bond. This nanoscale morphology of the hybrid coating was measured and found highly semblable to the microstructure of the lotus surface. The contact angle was determined as 151° which confirmed the superhydrophobicity and lotus effect. The adhesion behaviors of Pseudomonas fluorescens, Diatoms, and Chlorella on the surface of the nano hybrid coating (Ag@SBA/Coplm_F) were studied and good effects of anti-biofouling were observed.

Morphologies, microstructures, and mechanical properties of samples produced using laser metal deposition with 316 L stainless steel wire

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xu, Xiang; Mi, Gaoyang; Luo, Yuanqing; Jiang, Ping; Shao, Xinyu; Wang, Chunming

2017-07-01

Laser metal deposition (LMD) with a filler has been demonstrated to be an effective method for additive manufacturing because of its high material deposition efficiency, improved surface quality, reduced material wastage, and cleaner process environment without metal dust pollution. In this study, single beads and samples with ten layers were successfully deposited on a 316 L stainless steel surface under optimized conditions using a 4000 W continuous wave fibre laser and an arc welding machine. The results showed that satisfactory layered samples with a large deposition height and smooth side surface could be achieved under appropriate parameters. The uniform structures had fine cellular and network austenite grains with good metallurgical bonding between layers, showing an austenite solidification mode. Precipitated ferrite at the grain boundaries showed a subgrain structure with fine uniform grain size. A higher microhardness (205-226 HV) was detected in the middle of the deposition area, while the tensile strength of the 50 layer sample reached 669 MPa. In addition, ductile fracturing was proven by the emergence of obvious dimples at the fracture surface.

Using precipitated Cr on the surface of Cu-Cr alloy powders as catalyst synthesizing CNTs/Cu composite powders by water-assisted CVD

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhou, Honglei; Liu, Ping; Chen, Xiaohong; Bi, Liming; Zhang, Ke; Liu, Xinkuan; Li, Wei; Ma, Fengcang

2018-02-01

Given that the conventional catalyst is easily soluble in the matrix to result in the poor performance of the CNTs/Cu composite materials, the Cr nano-particles precipitated on the surface of Cu-Cr particles are first used as catalysts to prepare the CNTs/Cu composite powders by means of water-assisted chemical vapor deposition in situ synthesis. The results show that the morphological difference of the precipitated Cr nano-particle is obvious with the change of solution and aging treatment, and the morphology, length and diameter of the synthetic CNTs are also different. The catalyst of Cr nano-particle has the best morphology and the synthesized CNTs had a good wettability with Cu particles when the Cu-Cr composite powders was solution-treated at 1023 K for 60 min and then was aged at 723 K for 120 min. The length, diameter, yield and purity of the synthesized CNTs can be also affected by the moisture content in the reaction gas. It is the most suitable for the growth of CNTs when the moisture content is 0.4%, and the high purity and defect-free CNTs with the smooth pipe wall, a diameter of 20 ˜ 30 nm and a length of up to 1800 nm can be obtained. The yield of CNTs with the moisture content of 0.4% reached to 138%, which was increased by 119% to compare with that without moisture. In this paper, a feasible technology was offered for the preparation of high performance CNTs/Cu composites.

Investigating spatial variability of vertical water fluxes through the streambed in distinctive stream morphologies using temperature and head data

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Liping; Jiang, Weiwei; Song, Jinxi; Dou, Xinyi; Guo, Hongtao; Xu, Shaofeng; Zhang, Guotao; Wen, Ming; Long, Yongqing; Li, Qi

2017-08-01

Investigating the interaction of groundwater and surface water is key to understanding the hyporheic processes. The vertical water fluxes through a streambed were determined using Darcian flux calculations and vertical sediment temperature profiles to assess the pattern and magnitude of groundwater/surface-water interaction in Beiluo River, China. Field measurements were taken in January 2015 at three different stream morphologies including a meander bend, an anabranching channel and a straight stream channel. Despite the differences of flux direction and magnitude, flux directions based on vertical temperature profiles are in good agreement with results from Darcian flux calculations at the anabranching channel, and the Kruskal-Wallis tests show no significant differences between the estimated upward fluxes based on the two methods at each site. Also, the upward fluxes based on the two methods show similar spatial distributions on the streambed, indicating (1) that higher water fluxes at the meander bend occur from the center of the channel towards the erosional bank, (2) that water fluxes at the anabranching channel are higher near the erosional bank and in the center of the channel, and (3) that in the straight channel, higher water fluxes appear from the center of the channel towards the depositional bank. It is noted that higher fluxes generally occur at certain locations with higher streambed vertical hydraulic conductivity ( K v) or where a higher vertical hydraulic gradient is observed. Moreover, differences of grain size, induced by stream morphology and contrasting erosional and depositional conditions, have significant effects on streambed K v and water fluxes.

Correlating Polymer Crystals via Self-Induced Nucleation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Reiter, Günter

Crystallizable polymers often form multiple stacks of uniquely oriented lamellae, which have good registry despite being separated by amorphous fold surfaces. These correlations require multiple synchronized, yet unidentified, nucleation events. Here, we demonstrate that in thin films of isotactic polystyrene, the probability of generating correlated lamellae is controlled by the branched morphology of a single primary lamella. The nucleation density ns of secondary lamellae is found to be dependent on the width of the branches of the primary lamella. This relation is independent of molecular weight, crystallization temperature, and film thickness. We propose a nucleation mechanism based on the insertion of polymers into a branched primary lamellar crystal. Even in single crystals, characterized by faceted structures with a well-defined envelope reflecting the underlying crystal unit cell, polymers are folded and thus in a meta-stable state. Annealing such meta-stable single crystals allowed to unveil the initial morphological framework of a dendritic single crystal, i.e. the initial stages of growth.

Robust composite silk fibers pulled out of silkworms directly fed with nanoparticles.

PubMed

Wu, GuoHua; Song, Peng; Zhang, DongYang; Liu, ZeYu; Li, Long; Huang, HuiMing; Zhao, HongPing; Wang, NanNan; Zhu, YanQiu

2017-11-01

This paper reports the impacts of direct feeding silkworms with different nanoparticles (Cu, Fe, and TiO 2 ) on the morphology, structures, and mechanical properties of the resulting silk fiber (SF). The contents of the Cu nanoparticles were 38 times higher in the posterior silk glands and only 2-3 times higher in the SF and in the middle silk glands compared with the controlled groups. Significant changes of the surface morphology, structures, and diameter of the Cu nanoparticle fed SF have been observed, which are attributed to a slight SF protein reconstruction or conformational change in the mixture of silk fibroin and sericin in the silk glands. The resulting Cu-containing SF exhibits good tensile strength of 360MPa and reaches a strain of 38%, which are 89% and 36% higher than those of the natural SF. This study offers a new green strategy for the easy modification to achieve robust composite SF. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

LPG ammonia and nitrogen dioxide gas sensing properties of nanostructured polypyrrole thin film

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Bagul, Sagar B., E-mail: nano.sbbagul@gmail.com; Upadhye, Deepak S.; Sharma, Ramphal, E-mail: rps.phy@gmail.com

Nanostructured Polypyrrole thin film was synthesized by easy and economic chemical oxidative polymerization technique on glass at room temperature. The prepared thin film of Polypyrrole was characterized by optical absorbance study by UV-visible spectroscopy and electrical study by I-V measurement system. The optical absorbance spectrum of Polypyrrole shows two fundamental peaks in region of 420 and 890 nm, which confirms the formation of Polypyrrole on glass substrate. The I-V graph of nanostructured Polypyrrole represents the Ohmic nature. Furthermore, the thin film of Polypyrrole was investigated by Scanning electron microscopy for surface morphology study. The SEM micrograph represents spherical nanostructured morphology ofmore » Polypyrrole on glass substrate. In order to investigate gas sensing properties, 100 ppm of LPG, Ammonia and Nitrogen Dioxide were injected in the gas chamber and magnitude of resistance has been recorded as a function of time in second. It was observed that nanostructured Polypyrrole thin film shows good sensing behavior at room temperature.« less

Improvement of crystalline quality of N-polar AlN layers on c-plane sapphire by low-pressure flow-modulated MOCVD

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Takeuchi, M.; Shimizu, H.; Kajitani, R.; Kawasaki, K.; Kumagai, Y.; Koukitu, A.; Aoyagi, Y.

2007-01-01

The growth of N-polar AlN layers on c-plane sapphire is reported. Low-temperature AlN (LT-AlN) layers were used as seeding buffer layers with pre-nitridation for sapphire. To avoid strong vapor-phase reaction between trimethylaluminum (TMA) and ammonia (NH 3) and to improve the crystalline quality, low-pressure flow-modulated (FM) metal-organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) technique was introduced with careful optimization of the FM sequence. The surface morphologies and the crystalline quality defined by the X-ray diffraction (XRD) (0 0 2) and (1 0 0) rocking curve measurements strongly depended on the LT-AlN thickness and on the TMA coverage per cycle of the FM growth. The sample showing the best XRD data with a good morphology was almost completely etched in aqueous KOH solution owing to N-polarity. From the plan-view transmission electron microscopy (TEM) observation, the dislocation density was counted to be about 3×10 10 cm -2.

Structural, optical and field emission properties of urchin-shaped ZnO nanostructures.

PubMed

Al-Heniti, Saleh; Umar, Ahmad

2013-01-01

In this work, well-crystallized urchin-shaped ZnO structures were synthesized on silicon substrate by simple non-catalytic thermal evaporation process by using metallic zinc powder in the presence of oxygen as source materials for zinc and oxygen, respectively. The synthesized ZnO structures were characterized in detail in terms of their morphological, structural, optical and field emission properties. The detailed morphological investigations revealed that the synthesized structures possess urchin-shape and grown in high-density over the substrate surface. The detailed structural and optical characterizations revealed that the synthesized urchin-shaped ZnO structures are well-crystallized and exhibiting good optical properties. The field emission analysis for urchin-shaped ZnO structures exhibits a turn-on field of 4.6 V/microm. The emission current density reached to 0.056 mA/cm2 at an applied electrical field of 6.4 V/microm and shows no saturation. The calculated field enhancement factor 'beta', from the F-N plot, was found to be approximately 2.2 x 10(3).

Synthesis and Characterization of Aqueous Lead Selenide Quantum Dots for Solar Cell Application

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Albert, Ancy; Sreekala, C. O.; Prabhakaran, Malini

2018-02-01

High quality, colloidal lead selenide (PbSe) nanoparticles possessing cube shaped morphology have been successfully synthesized by organometallic synthesis method, using oleic acid (OA) as capping agent. The use of non-coordinating solvent, 1-Octadecene (ODE), during the synthesis results in good quality nanocrystals. Morphology analysis by transmission electron microscopy reveals that cube-shaped nanocrystals with a size range of 10 nm have been produced during the synthesis. The absorption and PL spectra analysis showed an emission peak at 675 nm when excited to a wavelength of 610 nm, further confirmed the formation of PbSe nanocrystals. The surface modification of this colloidal quantum dots was then carried out using L- cysteine ligand, to make them water soluble, for solar cell application. The J-V characteristics study of this PbSe quantum dots solar cell (PbSe QDSC) showed a little power conversion efficiency which intern it shows significant advance toward effective utilization of PbSe nanocrystals sensitized in solar cells.

Comparative studies of Titanium Dioxide and Zinc Oxide as a potential filler in Polypropylene reinforced rice husk composite

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Awang, M.; Mohd, W. R. Wan

2018-04-01

Arising global environmental issues have triggered the search of new products and processes that are compatible with the environment while maintaining novel properties of materials. In this work, green composites containing rice husk (RH), polypropylene (PP), and incorporated with two different fillers namely titanium dioxide (TiO2) and zinc oxide (ZnO) were prepared using an internal mixer and were injected into desired specimen by using an injection molding method. Mechanical properties of the composite were studied using Instron universal testing machine with load cell of 30kN capacity. Morphological of tensile fractured surface of composites was observed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results show that the composites with the addition of TiO2 gave an excellent mechanical properties than the composites filled with ZnO. Furthermore, morphological image of PP/RH/TiO2 also shows a good interaction occurred between polymer matrix and RH particles as compared to that of PP/RH/ZnO.

Dispersion Morphology of Poly(methyl acrylate)/Silica Nanocomposites

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

D Janes; J Moll; S Harton

Nearly monodisperse poly(methyl acrylate) (PMA) and spherical SiO{sub 2} nanoparticles (NP, d = 14 {+-} 4 nm) were co-cast from 2-butanone, a mutually good solvent and a displacer of adsorbed PMA from silica. The effects of NP content and post-casting sample history on the dispersion morphology were found by small-angle X-ray scattering supplemented by transmission electron microscopy. Analysis of the X-ray results show that cast and thermally annealed samples exhibited a nearly random particle dispersion. That the same samples, prior to annealing, were not well-dispersed is indicative of thermodynamic miscibility during thermal annealing over the range of NP loadings studied.more » A simple mean-field thermodynamic model suggests that miscibility results primarily from favorable polymer segment/NP surface interactions. The model also indicates, and experiments confirm, that subsequent exposure of the composites to the likely displacer ethyl acetate results in entropic destabilization and demixing into NP-rich and NP-lean phases.« less

Effect of solvent volume on the physical properties of aluminium doped nanocrystalline zinc oxide thin films deposited using a simplified spray pyrolysis technique

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jabena Begum, N.; Mohan, R.; Ravichandran, K.

2013-01-01

Aluminium doped zinc oxide (AZO) thin films were deposited by employing a low cost and simplified spray technique using a perfume atomizer from starting solutions having different volumes (10, 20, … , 50 mL) of solvent. The effect of solvent volume on the structural, electrical, optical, photoluminescence (PL) and surface morphological properties was studied. The electrical resistivity of the AZO films is remarkably influenced by the variation in the solvent volume. The X-ray diffraction profiles clearly showed that all the films have preferential orientation along the (0 0 2) plane irrespective of the solvent volume. The crystallite size was found to be in the nano range of 35-46 nm. The optical transmittance in the visible region is desirably high (>85%). The AFM images show columnar morphology with varying grain size. The PL studies revealed that the AZO film deposited from 50 mL of solvent volume has good quality with lesser defect density.

Growth morphology and properties of metals on graphene

DOE PAGES

Liu, Xiaojie; Han, Yong; Evans, James W.; ...

2015-12-01

Graphene, a single atomic layer of graphite, has been the focus of recent intensive studies due to its novel electronic and structural properties. With this study, metals grown on graphene also have been of interest because of their potential use as metal contacts in graphene devices, for spintronics applications, and for catalysis. All of these applications require good understanding and control of the metal growth morphology, which in part reflects the strength of the metal–graphene bond. The interaction between graphene and metal is sufficiently strong to modify the electronic structure of graphene is also of great importance. We will discussmore » recent experimental and computational studies related to deposition of metals on graphene supported on various substrates (SiC, SiO 2, and hexagonal close-packed metal surfaces). Of specific interest are the metal–graphene interactions (adsorption energies and diffusion barriers of metal adatoms), and the crystal structures and thermal stability of the metal nanoclusters.« less

Effect of additives on the performance and morphology of sulfonated copoly (phthalazinone biphenyl ether sulfone) composite nanofiltration membranes☆

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Guan, Shanshan; Zhang, Shouhai; Liu, Peng; Zhang, Guozhen; Jian, Xigao

2014-03-01

Sulfonated copoly (phthalazinone biphenyl ether sulfone) (SPPBES) composite nanofiltration membranes were fabricated by adding low molecular weight additives into SPPBES coating solutions during a dip coating process. Three selected additives: glycol, glycerol and hydroquinone were used in this work. The effect of additives on the membrane performance was studied and discussed in terms of rejection and permeation flux. Among all the composite membranes, the membrane prepared with glycol as an additive achieved the highest Na2SO4 rejection, and the membrane fabricated with glycerol as an additive exhibited the highest flux. The salts rejection of SPPBES composite membranes increased in the following order MgCl2 < NaCl ≤ MgSO4 < Na2SO4. The morphologies of the SPPBES composite membranes were characterized by SEM, it was found that the membrane prepared with hydroquinone showed a rough membrane surface. Composite membrane fabricated with glycol or glycerol as the additive showed very good chemical stability.

LPG ammonia and nitrogen dioxide gas sensing properties of nanostructured polypyrrole thin film

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bagul, Sagar B.; Upadhye, Deepak S.; Sharma, Ramphal

2016-05-01

Nanostructured Polypyrrole thin film was synthesized by easy and economic chemical oxidative polymerization technique on glass at room temperature. The prepared thin film of Polypyrrole was characterized by optical absorbance study by UV-visible spectroscopy and electrical study by I-V measurement system. The optical absorbance spectrum of Polypyrrole shows two fundamental peaks in region of 420 and 890 nm, which confirms the formation of Polypyrrole on glass substrate. The I-V graph of nanostructured Polypyrrole represents the Ohmic nature. Furthermore, the thin film of Polypyrrole was investigated by Scanning electron microscopy for surface morphology study. The SEM micrograph represents spherical nanostructured morphology of Polypyrrole on glass substrate. In order to investigate gas sensing properties, 100 ppm of LPG, Ammonia and Nitrogen Dioxide were injected in the gas chamber and magnitude of resistance has been recorded as a function of time in second. It was observed that nanostructured Polypyrrole thin film shows good sensing behavior at room temperature.

Demineralized dentin matrix composite collagen material for bone tissue regeneration.

PubMed

Li, Jianan; Yang, Juan; Zhong, Xiaozhong; He, Fengrong; Wu, Xiongwen; Shen, Guanxin

2013-01-01

Demineralized dentin matrix (DDM) had been successfully used in clinics as bone repair biomaterial for many years. However, particle morphology of DDM limited it further applications. In this study, DDM and collagen were prepared to DDM composite collagen material. The surface morphology of the material was studied by scanning electron microscope (SEM). MC3T3-E1 cells responses in vitro and tissue responses in vivo by implantation of DDM composite collagen material in bone defect of rabbits were also investigated. SEM analysis showed that DDM composite collagen material evenly distributed and formed a porous scaffold. Cell culture and animal models results indicated that DDM composite collagen material was biocompatible and could support cell proliferation and differentiation. Histological evaluation showed that DDM composite collagen material exhibited good biocompatibility, biodegradability and osteoconductivity with host bone in vivo. The results suggested that DDM composite collagen material might have a significant clinical advantage and potential to be applied in bone and orthopedic surgery.

Effects of surface stability on the morphological transformation of metals and metal oxides as investigated by first-principles calculations.

PubMed

Andrés, Juan; Gracia, Lourdes; Gouveia, Amanda Fernandes; Ferrer, Mateus Meneghetti; Longo, Elson

2015-10-09

Morphology is a key property of materials. Owing to their precise structure and morphology, crystals and nanocrystals provide excellent model systems for joint experimental and theoretical investigations into surface-related properties. Faceted polyhedral crystals and nanocrystals expose well-defined crystallographic planes depending on the synthesis method, which allow for thoughtful investigations into structure-reactivity relationships under practical conditions. This feature article introduces recent work, based on the combined use of experimental findings and first-principles calculations, to provide deeper knowledge of the electronic, structural, and energetic properties controlling the morphology and the transformation mechanisms of different metals and metal oxides: Ag, anatase TiO2, BaZrO3, and α-Ag2WO4. According to the Wulff theorem, the equilibrium shapes of these systems are obtained from the values of their respective surface energies. These investigations are useful to gain further understanding of how to achieve morphological control of complex three-dimensional crystals by tuning the ratio of the surface energy values of the different facets. This strategy allows the prediction of possible morphologies for a crystal and/or nanocrystal by controlling the relative values of surface energies.

Effect of Shot Peening in Different Shot Distance and Shot Angle on Surface Morphology, Surface Roughness and Surface Hardness of 316L Biomaterial

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Umbu Kondi Maliwemu, Erich; Malau, Viktor; Iswanto, Priyo Tri

2018-01-01

Shot peening is a mechanical surface treatment with a beneficial effect to generate compressive residual stress caused by plastic deformation on the surface of material. This plastic deformation can improve the surface characteristics of metallic materials, such as modification of surface morphology, surface roughness, and surface hardness. The objective of this study is to investigate the effect of shot peening in different shot distance and shot angle on surface morphology, surface roughness, and surface hardness of 316L biomaterial. Shot distance was varied at 6, 8, 10, and 12 cm and shot angle at 30, 60, and 90°, working pressure at 7 kg/cm2, shot duration for 20 minutes, and using steel balls S-170 with diameter of 0.6 mm. The results present that the shot distance and shot angle of shot peening give the significant effect to improve the surface morphology, surface roughness, and surface hardness of 316 L biomaterial. Shot peening can increase the surface roughness by the increasing of shot distance and by the decreasing of shot angle. The nearest shot distance (6 cm) and the largest shot angle (90°) give the best results on the grain refinement with the surface roughness of 1.04 μm and surface hardness of 534 kg/mm2.

Nano-Crystalline Diamond Films with Pineapple-Like Morphology Grown by the DC Arcjet vapor Deposition Method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Bin; Zhang, Qin-Jian; Shi, Yan-Chao; Li, Jia-Jun; Li, Hong; Lu, Fan-Xiu; Chen, Guang-Chao

2014-08-01

A nano-crystlline diamond film is grown by the dc arcjet chemical vapor deposition method. The film is characterized by scanning electron microscopy, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), x-ray diffraction (XRD) and Raman spectra, respectively. The nanocrystalline grains are averagely with 80 nm in the size measured by XRD, and further proven by Raman and HRTEM. The observed novel morphology of the growth surface, pineapple-like morphology, is constructed by cubo-octahedral growth zones with a smooth faceted top surface and coarse side surfaces. The as-grown film possesses (100) dominant surface containing a little amorphous sp2 component, which is far different from the nano-crystalline film with the usual cauliflower-like morphology.

Measurement of the surface morphology of plasma facing components on the EAST tokamak by a laser speckle interferometry approach

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hongbei, WANG; Xiaoqian, CUI; Yuanbo, LI; Mengge, ZHAO; Shuhua, LI; Guangnan, LUO; Hongbin, DING

2018-03-01

The laser speckle interferometry approach provides the possibility of an in situ optical non-contacted measurement for the surface morphology of plasma facing components (PFCs), and the reconstruction image of the PFC surface morphology is computed by a numerical model based on a phase unwrapping algorithm. A remote speckle interferometry measurement at a distance of three meters for real divertor tiles retired from EAST was carried out in the laboratory to simulate a real detection condition on EAST. The preliminary surface morphology of the divertor tiles was well reproduced by the reconstructed geometric image. The feasibility and reliability of this approach for the real-time measurement of PFCs have been demonstrated.

The influence of sequence of precursor films on CZTSe thin films prepared by ion-beam sputtering deposition

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhao, Jun; Liang, Guangxing; Zeng, Yang; Fan, Ping; Hu, Juguang; Luo, Jingting; Zhang, Dongping

2017-02-01

The CuZnSn (CZT) precursor thin films are grown by ion-beam sputtering Cu, Zn, Sn targets with different orders and then sputtering Se target to fabricate Cu2ZnSnSe4 (CZTSe) absorber thin films on molybdenum substrates. They are annealed in the same vacuum chamber at 400 °C. The characterization methods of CZTSe thin films include X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and X-ray photoelectron spectra (XPS) in order to study the crystallographic properties, composition, surface morphology, electrical properties and so on. The results display that the CZTSe thin films got the strongest diffraction peak intensity and were with good crystalline quality and its morphology appeared smooth and compact with a sequence of Cu/Zn/Sn/Se, which reveals that the expected states for CZTSe are Cu1+, Zn2+, Sn4+, Se2+. With the good crystalline quality and close to ideal stoichiometric ratio the resistivity of the CZTSe film with the sequence of Cu/Zn/Sn/Se is lower, whose optical band gap is about 1.50 eV. Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 61404086), the Basical Research Program of Shenzhen (Nos. JCYJ20150324140036866, JCYJ20150324141711581), and the Natural Science Foundation of SZU (No. 2014017).

Microstructure evolution of a dissimilar junction interface between an Al sheet and a Ni-coated Cu sheet joined by magnetic pulse welding

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Itoi, Takaomi, E-mail: itoi@faculty.chiba-u.jp

An Al sheet and a Ni-coated Cu sheet were lap joined by using magnetic pulse welding (MPW). Tensile tests were performed on the joined sheets, and a good lap joint was achieved at a discharge energy of > 0.9 kJ. The weld interface exhibited a wavy morphology and an intermediate layer along the weld interface. Microstructure observations of the intermediate layer revealed that the Ni coating region consisted of a Ni–Al binary amorphous alloy and that the Al sheet region contained very fine Al nanograins. Ni fragments indicative of unmelted residual Ni from the coating were also observed in partsmore » of the intermediate layer. Formation of these features can be attributed to localize melting and a subsequent high rate cooling of molten Al and Ni confined to the interface during the MPW process. In the absence of an oxide film, atomic-scale bonding was also achieved between the intermediate layer and the sheet surfaces after the collision. MPW utilises impact energy, which affects the sheet surfaces. From the obtained results, good lap joint is attributed to an increased contact area, the anchor effect, work hardening, the absence of an oxide film, and suppressed formation of intermetallic compounds at the interface. - Highlights: •Good lap joint of an Al sheet and a Ni-coated Cu sheet was achieved by using magnetic pulse welding. •A Ni–Al binary amorphous alloy was formed as an intermediate layer at weld interface. •Atomic-scale bonding was achieved between the intermediate layer and the sheet surfaces.« less

Growth of high-quality AlN epitaxial film by optimizing the Si substrate surface

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Huang, Liegen; Li, Yuan; Wang, Wenliang; Li, Xiaochan; zheng, Yulin; Wang, Haiyan; Zhang, Zichen; Li, Guoqiang

2018-03-01

High-quality AlN epitaxial films have been grown on Si substrates by optimizing the hydrofluoric acid (HF) solution for cleaning of Si substrates. Effect of the Si substrate surface on the surface morphology and structural property of AlN epitaxial films is investigated in detail. It is revealed that as the concentration of HF solution increases from 0 to 2.0%, the surface morphology and the crystalline quality are initially improved and then get worse, and show an optimized value at 1.5%. The as-grown ∼200 nm-thick AlN epitaxial films on Si substrates grown with HF solution of 1.5% reveal the root-mean-square (RMS) surface roughness of 0.49 nm and the full-width at half-maximum for AlN(0002) X-ray rocking curve of 0.35°, indicating the smooth surface morphology and the high crystalline quality. The corresponding mechanism is proposed to interpret the effect of Si substrate surface on surface morphology and structural property of AlN epitaxial films, and provides an effective approach for the perspective fabrication of AlN-based devices.

Morphology of self assembled monolayers using liquid phase reaction on silica and their effect on the morphology of adsorbed insulin

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sharma, Indu; Pattanayek, Sudip K.; Aggarwal, Varsha; Ghosh, Subhasis

2017-05-01

The effect of roughness of two different categories of self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) with propyl amine and propyl groups respectively on the morphology of adsorbed insulin is observed. SAMs are obtained by liquid phase reaction of silica with organo silane coupling agents (SCA). The influence of the morphology and physical characteristics of the SAMs on the reaction time and concentration of the modifiers are explored. We have tested three SCA containing propyl amine with varying groups linked to Si present on it. In addition, we have used a silane coupling agent to prepare SAM of methyl head group. The approach of these molecules towards the surface depends on the head group and the groups linked to Si of the SCA. The morphology of the surfaces is analysed using power spectral density distribution (PSD), skewness, ellipsometry thickness and surface energy. Both chemical nature and physical morphology of the adsorbent influence the morphology of the adsorbed insulin. In general, a low number of aggregates of big size are formed on the surfaces obtained from low concentration of SAMs, while a higher number but of smaller size of aggregates are formed over surfaces obtained from 1% concentration of SAMs modifiers. The peak to valley ratio of the aggregates of insulin is strongly influenced by the size of grains of SCA over the adsorbent.

Enhancement of surface durability of space materials and structures in LEO environment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gudimenko, Y.; Ng, R.; Kleiman, J. I.; Iskanderova, Z. A.; Tennyson, R. C.; Hughes, P. C.; Milligan, D.; Grigorevski, A.; Shuiski, M.; Kiseleva, L.; Edwards, D.; Finckenor, M.

2003-09-01

Results of on-going program that involves surface modification treatments of thin polymer films and various organic-based thermal control coatings by an innovative Photosil surface modification technology for space durability improvement are presented, as well as results of ground-based testing in an oxygen plasma asher and in fast atomic oxygen (FAO) beam facility. In addition, independent ground-based FAO + VUV test results from NASA Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) are also presented. Recent results are presented to further improve the AO durability of conductive thermal control paints, never previously treated by the Photosil process. The thermal control coatings evaluated in this program represent existing commercially available space-approved materials and experimental coatings, which are still under development. Functional properties and performance characteristics, such as AO stability, thermal optical properties, surface resistivity, and outgassing characteristics of pristine and treated materials were also verified. FAO+VUV exposure tests results revealed that some of the successfully treated materials did not show any mass loss or surface morphology change, thus indicating good protection from the severe oxidative environment. A few complementary surface analysis techniques, such as X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) coupled with energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) have been used to examine the composition and structure of the protective surface-modified layer.

Morphology and digitally aided morphometry of the human paracentral lobule.

PubMed

Spasojević, Goran; Malobabic, Slobodan; Pilipović-Spasojević, Olivera; Djukić-Macut, Nataša; Maliković, Aleksandar

2013-02-01

The human paracentral lobule, the junction of the precentral and postcentral gyri at the medial hemispheric surface, contains several important functional regions, and its variable morphology requires exact morphological and quantitativedata. In order to obtain precise data we investigated the morphology of the paracentral lobule and quantified its visible (extrasulcal) surface. This surface corresponds to commonly used magnetic resonance imaging scout images. We studied 84 hemispheres of adult persons (42 brains; 26 males and 16 females; 20-65 years) fixed in neutral formalin for at least 4 weeks. The medial hemispheric surface was photographed at standard distance and each digital photo was calibrated. Using the intercommissural line system (commissura anterior-commissura posterior or CA-CP line), we performed standardised measurements of the paracentral lobule. Exact determination of its boundaries and morphological types was followed by digital morphometry of its extrasulcal surface using AutoCAD software. We found two distinct morphological types of the human paracentral lobule: continuous type, which was predominant (95.2%), and rare segmented type (4.8%). In hemispheres with segmented cingulate sulcus we also found the short transitional lobulo-limbic gyrus (13.1%). The mean extrasulcal surface of the left paracentral lobule was significantly larger, both in males (left 6.79 cm2 vs. right 5.76 cm2) and in females (left 6.05 cm2 vs. right 5.16 cm2). However, even larger average surfaces in males were not significantly different than the same in females. Reported morphological and quantitative data will be useful during diagnostics and treatment of pathologies affecting the human paracentral lobule, and in further studies of its cytoarchitectonic and functional parcellations.

Performance improvement of long-range surface plasmon structure for use in an all-optical switch

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jandaghian, Ali; Lotfalian, Ali; Kouhkan, Mohsen; Mohajerani, Ezeddin

2017-12-01

This paper presents important parameters in performance of long-range surface plasmon (LRSP) structure (SF4/PVA/silver/PMMA-DR1) that are improved. We select poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) as the first dielectric layer due to its water solubility and good optical properties. The thickness of PVA and silver layers is optimized by transfer matrix method based on Fresnel equations. Surface morphologies of PVA and silver surfaces are analyzed by AFM imaging due to their important role in the performance of an LRSP structure. Furthermore, the sensitivity of an all-optical switch based on plasmon is investigated. In order to compare the sensitivity of LRSP and conventional surface plasmon (SP) structures in switching mode, full wide of half maximum, resonance angles, and pump powers of both structures are measured by a custom-made optical setup based on angular interrogation with a precision of 0.01 deg. Finally, we conclude that for creating equal signal levels in both samples, the required pump power for LRSP structure was about three times less than that for conventional SP; thus, these results led to power savings in optical switches.

Improving the durability of a drag-reducing nanocoating by enhancing its mechanical stability.

PubMed

Cheng, Mengjiao; Zhang, Songsong; Dong, Hongyu; Han, Shihui; Wei, Hao; Shi, Feng

2015-02-25

The durability of superhydrophobic surface is a major problem to restrict industrial application of superhydrophobic materials from laboratory research, which can be attributed to a more general issue of mechanical stability for superhydrophobic coatings. Therefore, in order to handle this issue, we have fabricated a mechanically stable drag-reducing coating composed of elastic polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) and hydrophobic copper particles on model ships, which can resist mechanical abrasion and has displayed a durable drag-reducing effect. In comparison with normal Au superhydrophobic coatings, the as-prepared PDMS/copper coatings showed durable drag reduction performance with a similar drag-reducing rate before (26%) and after (24%) mechanical abrasion. The mechanism for the enhanced mechanical stability and maintained drag reduction of the superhydrophobic surfaces was investigated through characterizations of surface morphology, surface wettability, and water adhesive force evaluation before and after abrasion. This is the first demonstration to realize the application of durable drag reduction by improving the mechanical stability of superhydrophobic coatings. We do believe that superhydrophobic surfaces with good resistance to mechanical abrasion or scratching may draw wide attention and gain significant applications with durable drag-reducing properties.

Initial biocompatibility of plasma polymerized hexamethyldisiloxane films with different wettability

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Krasteva, N. A.; Toromanov, G.; Hristova, K. T.; Radeva, E. I.; Pecheva, E. V.; Dimitrova, R. P.; Altankov, G. P.; Pramatarova, L. D.

2010-11-01

Understanding the relationships between material surface properties, behaviour of adsorbed proteins and cellular responses is essential to design optimal material surfaces for tissue engineering. In this study we modify thin layers of plasma polymerized hexamethyldisiloxane (PPHMDS) by ammonia treatment in order to increase surface wettability and the corresponding biological response. The physico-chemical properties of the polymer films were characterized by contact angle (CA) measurements and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis.Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) were used as model system for the initial biocompatibility studies following their behavior upon preadsorption of polymer films with three adhesive proteins: fibronectin (FN), fibrinogen (FG) and vitronectin (VN). Adhesive interaction of HUVEC was evaluated after 2 hours by analyzing the overall cell morphology, and the organization of focal adhesion contacts and actin cytoskeleton. We have found similar good cellular response on FN and FG coated polymer films, with better pronounced vinculin expression on FN samples while. Conversely, on VN coated surfaces the wettability influenced significantly initial celular interaction spreading. The results obtained suggested that ammonia plasma treatment can modulate the biological activity of the adsorbed protein s on PPHMDS surfaces and thus to influence the interaction with endothelial cells.

Influence of Starting Powders on Hydroxyapatite Coatings Fabricated by Room Temperature Spraying Method.

PubMed

Seo, Dong Seok; Lee, Jong Kook; Hwang, Kyu Hong; Hahn, Byung Dong; Yoon, Seog Young

2015-08-01

Three types of raw materials were used for the fabrication of hydroxyapatite coatings by using the room temperature spraying method and their influence on the microstructure and in vitro characteristics were investigated. Starting hydroxyapatite powders for coatings on titanium substrate were prepared by a heat treatment at 1100 °C for 2 h of bovine bone, bone ash, and commercial hydroxyapatite powders. The phase compositions and Ca/P ratios of the three hydroxyapatite coatings were similar to those of the raw materials without decomposition or formation of a new phase. All hydroxyapatite coatings showed a honeycomb structure, but their surface microstructures revealed different features in regards to surface morphology and roughness, based on the staring materials. All coatings consisted of nano-sized grains and had dense microstructure. Inferred from in vitro experiments in pure water, all coatings have a good dissolution-resistance and biostability in water.

The alcohol-sensing behaviour of SnO2 nanorods prepared by a facile solid state reaction

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gao, F.; Ren, X. P.; Wan, W. J.; Zhao, Y. P.; Li, Y. H.; Zhao, H. Y.

2017-02-01

SnO2 nanorods with the range of 12-85 nm in diameter were fabricated by a facile solid state reaction in the medium of NaCl-KCl mixture at room temperature and calcined at 600, 680, 760 and 840 oC, respectively. The XRD, TEM and XPS were employed to characterize the structure and morphology of the SnO2 nanorods. The influence of the calcination temperature on the gas sensing behaviour of the SnO2 nanorods with different diameter was investigated. The result showed that all the sensors had good response to alcohol. The response of the gracile nanorods prepared at a low calcined temperature demonstrated significantly better than the thick nanorods prepared at a high calcined temperature. The mechanism was attributed to the nonstoichiometric ratio of Sn/O and larger surface area of the gracile nanorods to enhance the oxygen surface adsorption.

Fabrication of hexagonal star-shaped and ring-shaped patterns arrays by Mie resonance sphere-lens-lithography

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Xianchao; Wang, Jun; Li, Ling; Gou, Jun; Zheng, Jie; Huang, Zehua; Pan, Rui

2018-05-01

Mie resonance sphere-lens-lithography has proved to be a good candidate for fabrication of large-area tunable surface nanopattern arrays. Different patterns on photoresist surface are obtained theoretically by adjusting optical coupling among neighboring spheres with different gap sizes. The effect of light reflection from the substrate on the pattern produced on the photoresist with a thin thickness is also discussed. Sub-micron hexagonal star-shaped and ring-shaped patterns arrays are achieved with close-packed spheres arrays and spheres arrays with big gaps, respectively. Changing of star-shaped vertices is induced by different polarization of illumination. Experimental results agree well with the simulation. By using smaller resonance spheres, sub-400 nm star-shaped and ring-shaped patterns can be realized. These tunable patterns are different from results of previous reports and have enriched pattern morphology fabricated by sphere-lens-lithography, which can find application in biosensor and optic devices.

An analytical model accounting for tip shape evolution during atom probe analysis of heterogeneous materials.

PubMed

Rolland, N; Larson, D J; Geiser, B P; Duguay, S; Vurpillot, F; Blavette, D

2015-12-01

An analytical model describing the field evaporation dynamics of a tip made of a thin layer deposited on a substrate is presented in this paper. The difference in evaporation field between the materials is taken into account in this approach in which the tip shape is modeled at a mesoscopic scale. It was found that the non-existence of sharp edge on the surface is a sufficient condition to derive the morphological evolution during successive evaporation of the layers. This modeling gives an instantaneous and smooth analytical representation of the surface that shows good agreement with finite difference simulations results, and a specific regime of evaporation was highlighted when the substrate is a low evaporation field phase. In addition, the model makes it possible to calculate theoretically the tip analyzed volume, potentially opening up new horizons for atom probe tomographic reconstruction. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Dye-sensitized solar cell employing zinc oxide aggregates grown in the presence of lithium

DOEpatents

Zhang, Qifeng; Cao, Guozhong

2013-10-15

Provided are a novel ZnO dye-sensitized solar cell and method of fabricating the same. In one embodiment, deliberately added lithium ions are used to mediate the growth of ZnO aggregates. The use of lithium provides ZnO aggregates that have advantageous microstructure, morphology, crystallinity, and operational characteristics. Employing lithium during aggregate synthesis results in a polydisperse collection of ZnO aggregates favorable for porosity and light scattering. The resulting nanocrystallites forming the aggregates have improved crystallinity and more favorable facets for dye molecule absorption. The lithium synthesis improves the surface stability of ZnO in acidic dyes. The procedures developed and disclosed herein also help ensure the formation of an aggregate film that has a high homogeneity of thickness, a high packing density, a high specific surface area, and good electrical contact between the film and the fluorine-doped tin oxide electrode and among the aggregate particles.

Multilayer coating of optical substrates by ion beam sputtering

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Daniel, M. V.; Demmler, M.

2017-10-01

Ion beam sputtering is well established in research and industry, despite its relatively low deposition rates compared to electron beam evaporation. Typical applications are coatings of precision optics, like filters, mirrors and beam splitter. Anti-reflective or high-reflective multilayer stacks benefit from the high mobility of the sputtered particles on the substrate surface and the good mechanical characteristics of the layers. This work gives the basic route from single layer optimization of reactive ion beam sputtered Ta2O5 and SiO2 thin films towards complex multilayer stacks for high-reflective mirrors and anti-reflective coatings. Therefore films were deposited using different oxygen flow into the deposition chamber Afterwards, mechanical (density, stress, surface morphology, crystalline phases) and optical properties (reflectivity, absorption and refractive index) were characterized. These knowledge was used to deposit a multilayer coating for a high reflective mirror.

Durability test with fuel starvation using a Pt/CNF catalyst in PEMFC.

PubMed

Jung, Juhae; Park, Byungil; Kim, Junbom

2012-01-05

In this study, a catalyst was synthesized on carbon nanofibers [CNFs] with a herringbone-type morphology. The Pt/CNF catalyst exhibited low hydrophilicity, low surface area, high dispersion, and high graphitic behavior on physical analysis. Electrodes (5 cm2) were prepared by a spray method, and the durability of the Pt/CNF was evaluated by fuel starvation. The performance was compared with a commercial catalyst before and after accelerated tests. The fuel starvation caused carbon corrosion with a reverse voltage drop. The polarization curve, EIS, and cyclic voltammetry were analyzed in order to characterize the electrochemical properties of the Pt/CNF. The performance of a membrane electrode assembly fabricated from the Pt/CNF was maintained, and the electrochemical surface area and cell resistance showed the same trend. Therefore, CNFs are expected to be a good support in polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells.

Durability test with fuel starvation using a Pt/CNF catalyst in PEMFC

PubMed Central

2012-01-01

In this study, a catalyst was synthesized on carbon nanofibers [CNFs] with a herringbone-type morphology. The Pt/CNF catalyst exhibited low hydrophilicity, low surface area, high dispersion, and high graphitic behavior on physical analysis. Electrodes (5 cm2) were prepared by a spray method, and the durability of the Pt/CNF was evaluated by fuel starvation. The performance was compared with a commercial catalyst before and after accelerated tests. The fuel starvation caused carbon corrosion with a reverse voltage drop. The polarization curve, EIS, and cyclic voltammetry were analyzed in order to characterize the electrochemical properties of the Pt/CNF. The performance of a membrane electrode assembly fabricated from the Pt/CNF was maintained, and the electrochemical surface area and cell resistance showed the same trend. Therefore, CNFs are expected to be a good support in polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells. PMID:22221426

Antimicrobial agent-free hybrid cationic starch/sodium alginate polyelectrolyte films for food packaging materials.

PubMed

Şen, Ferhat; Uzunsoy, İrem; Baştürk, Emre; Kahraman, Memet Vezir

2017-08-15

This study aimed to develop polyelectrolyte structured antimicrobial food packaging materials that do not contain any antimicrobial agents. Cationic starch was synthesized and characterized by FT-IR spectroscopy and 1 H NMR spectroscopy. Its nitrogen content was determined by Kjeldahl method. Polyelectrolyte structured antimicrobial food packaging materials were prepared using starch, cationic starch and sodium alginate. Antimicrobial activity of materials was defined by inhibition zone method (disc diffusion method). Thermal stability of samples was evaluated by TGA and DSC. Hydrophobicity of samples was determined by contact angle measurements. Surface morphology of samples was investigated by SEM. Moreover, gel contents of samples were determined. The obtained results prove that produced food packaging materials have good thermal, antimicrobial and surface properties, and they can be used as food packaging material in many industries. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Li diffusion in epitaxial (11 $bar 2$ 0) ZnO thin films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wu, P.; Zhong, J.; Emanetoglu, N. W.; Chen, Y.; Muthukumar, S.; Lu, Y.

2004-06-01

Zinc oxide (ZnO) possesses many interesting properties, such as a wide energy bandgap, large photoconductivity, and high excitonic binding energy. Chemical-vapor-deposition-grown ZnO films generally show n-type conductivity. A compensation doping process is needed to achieve piezoelectric ZnO, which is needed for surface acoustic wave (SAW), bulk acoustic wave, and micro-electromechanical system devices. In this work, a gas-phase diffusion process is developed to achieve piezoelectric (11bar 20) ZnO films. Comparative x-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) measurements confirmed that high crystal quality and good surface morphology were preserved after diffusion. Photoluminescence (PL) measurements show a broad band emission with a peak wavelength at ˜580 nm, which is associated with Li doping. The SAW, including both Rayleigh-wave and Love-wave modes, is achieved along different directions in piezoelectric (11bar 20) ZnO films grown on an r-plane sapphire substrate.

Passivation and electrochemical behavior of 316L stainless steel in chlorinated simulated concrete pore solution

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Luo, Hong; Su, Huaizhi; Dong, Chaofang; Li, Xiaogang

2017-04-01

In this paper, the passivation and electrochemical behavior of 316L stainless steel in chlorinated simulated concrete pore solutions at different pH was evaluated by potentiodynamic measurements, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The composition of the passive film and surface morphology were investigated by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS), and scanning electron microscopy, respectively. The results reveal that metastable pitting susceptibility, stable pitting corrosion, and composition of the passive film are influenced by pH value. After long time immersion, a bilayer structure passive film can be formed in this environment. The appearance of molybdates on the outermost surface layer, further enhancing the stability of the passive film. Moreover, the good pitting corrosion resistance of 316L stainless steel in simulated concrete pore solution without carbonated is mainly due to the presence of high Cr/Fe ratio and molybdates ions within the passive film.

Icephobicity of Leaves

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kavehpour, H. Pirouz; Shirazi, Elika T.; Alizadeh-Birjandi, Elaheh

2016-11-01

Ice adhesion and excessive accumulation on exposed structures and equipment are well known to cause serious problems in cold-climate regions; therefore, the development of coatings that can resist icing can solve many challenges in various areas of industry. This work was inspired by nature and ice-resistivity and superhydrophobicity of plants leaves. Kale is an example of a plant that can be harvested in winter. It shows superhydrophobic behavior, which is normally known as an advantage for cleaning the leaves, but we were able to show that its surface structure and high contact angle of water drops on kale leaves could delay the ice formation process making it a good candidate for an ice-repellent coating. We have performed in-depth experimental analyses on how different plants can prevent icing, and contact angle measurements and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) of the leaves were taken to further mimic their surface morphology.

Interactions at the mild steel acid solution interface in the presence of O-fumaryl-chitosan: Electrochemical and surface studies.

PubMed

Sangeetha, Y; Meenakshi, S; Sundaram, C Sairam

2016-01-20

The performance of synthesised O-fumaryl-chitosan (OFC) as corrosion inhibitor for mild steel in 1M HCl has been evaluated through various studies. The initial screening by weight loss method revealed the good inhibition efficiency by the inhibitor. Thermodynamic and kinetic parameters have been calculated and discussed. The mode of adsorption is physical in nature and it follows Langmuir adsorption isotherm. Electrochemical measurements supported the inhibition of mild steel by the fumaryl derivative of chitosan. Polarisation studies provided the information that the inhibition is of mixed type. The formation of inhibitor film is assured by surface morphological studies with Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Atomic force microscopy (AFM). The mechanism of inhibition is derived from the Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and zero charge potential measurement. The adsorbed film is characterised using FTIR and X-ray diffraction studies (XRD). Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Growth and characterizations of various GaN nanostructures on C-plane sapphire using laser MBE

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ch., Ramesh; Tyagi, P.; Maurya, K. K.; Kumar, M. Senthil; Kushvaha, S. S.

2017-05-01

We have grown various GaN nanostructures such as three-dimensional islands, nanowalls and nanocolumns on c-plane sapphire substrates using laser assisted molecular beam epitaxy (LMBE) system. The shape of the GaN nanostructures was controlled by using different nucleation surfaces such as bare and nitridated sapphire with GaN or AlN buffer layers. The structural and surface morphological properties of grown GaN nanostructures were characterized by ex-situ high resolution x-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy and field emission scanning electron microscopy. The symmetric x-ray rocking curve along GaN (0002) plane shows that the GaN grown on pre-nitridated sapphire with GaN or AlN buffer layer possesses good crystalline quality compared to sapphire without nitridation. The Raman spectroscopy measurements revealed the wurtzite phase for all the GaN nanostructures grown on c-sapphire.

Tailoring the morphology of raspberry-like carbon black/polystyrene composite microspheres for fabricating superhydrophobic surface

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Bao, Yubin; Li, Qiuying, E-mail: liqy@ecust.edu.cn; Shanghai Key Laboratory Polymeric Materials

In our previous report, raspberry-like carbon black/polystyrene (CB/PS) composite microsphere was prepared through heterocoagulation process. Based on the previous study, in the present work, the morphology of raspberry-like CB/PS particle is tailored through adjusting the polarity and the concentration ratio of CB/PS colloidal suspension with the purpose to prepare particulate film for the fabrication of superhydrophobic surface. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) confirms the morphology of raspberry-like particle and the coverage of CB. Rough surfaces fabricated by raspberry-like particles with proper morphology are observed by SEM and clear evidence of superhydrophobic surface is shown. The structure of raspberry-like particle is analyzedmore » by atom force microscope. The proposed relationship between the hydrophobicity and the structure of CB aggregates on the surface of PS microsphere is discussed in details.« less

Influence of substrate material and surface finishing on the morphology of the calcium-phosphate coating.

PubMed

Leitão, E; Barbosa, M A; de Groot, K

1997-07-01

The formation of an apatite-like layer was achieved by immersing Ti-6A1-4V, Ti-Al-2.5Fe, and 316 L stainless-steel substrata in Hank's balanced salt solution (HBSS). The layer was characterized by surface analysis techniques, namely X-ray microanalysis and X-ray diffraction, and the morphology was observed by scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy. The concentrations of Ca and P were monitored as a function of time. The morphology of the precipitate layer seems to be dependent both on the type of metal substrate and its surface finish. Polished Ti-6A1-4V and Ti-Al-2.5Fe surfaces exhibit a plate precipitate morphology, whereas rougher surfaces show scattered crystal-like precipitation. The results suggest that the layer produced by immersion of polished titanium alloys in HBSS is constituted by an amorphous apatite.

Behavior of osteoblast-like cells on calcium-deficient hydroxyapatite ceramics composed of particles with different shapes and sizes.

PubMed

Kamitakahara, Masanobu; Uno, Yuika; Ioku, Koji

2014-01-01

In designing the biomaterials, it is important to control their surface morphologies, because they affect the interactions between the materials and cells. We previously reported that porous calcium-deficient hydroxyapatite (HA) ceramics composed of rod-like particles had advantages over sintered porous HA ceramics; however, the effects of the surface morphology of calcium-deficient HA ceramics on cell behavior have remained unclear. Using a hydrothermal process, we successfully prepared porous calcium-deficient HA ceramics with different surface morphologies, composed of plate-like particles of 200-300, 500-800 nm, or 2-3 μm in width and rod-like particles of 1 or 3-5 μm in width, respectively. The effects of these surface morphologies on the behavior of osteoblast-like cells were examined. Although the numbers of cells adhered to the ceramic specimens did not differ significantly among the specimens, the proliferation rates of cells on the ceramics decreased with decreasing particle size. Our results reveal that controlling the surface morphology that is governed by particle shape and size is important for designing porous calcium-deficient HA ceramics.

Quantification of texture match of the skin graft: function and morphology of the stratum corneum.

PubMed

Inoue, K; Matsumoto, K

1986-01-01

In an attempt to analyze the "texture match" of grafted skin, functional and morphological aspects of the stratum corneum were studied using the Skin Surface Hydrometer (IBS Inc.) and the scanning electron microscope. The results showed that hygroscopicity and water holding capacity of the stratum corneum played a crucial role in making the skin surface soft and smooth. Morphologically there were regional differences in the surface pattern and the mean area of corneocytes, suggesting that these differences affect skin texture. It is suggested that the present functional and morphological studies of the stratum corneum can provide a quantitative measure of the "texture match".

Interfacial Interaction in Anodic Aluminum Oxide Templates Modifies Morphology, Surface Area, and Crystallization of Polyamide-6 Nanofibers.

PubMed

Xue, Junhui; Xu, Yizhuang; Jin, Zhaoxia

2016-03-08

Here, we demonstrated that, when the precipitation process of polyamide-6 (PA6) solution happens in cylindrical channels of an anodized aluminum oxide membrane (AAO), interface interactions between a solid surface, solvent, non-solvent, and PA6 will influence the obtained polymer nanostructures, resulting in complex morphologies, increased surface area, and crystallization changes. With the enhancing interaction of PA6 and the AAO surface, the morphology of PA6 nanostructures changes from solid nanofibers, mesoporous, to bamboo-like, while at the same time, metastable γ-phase domains increase in these PA6 nanostructures. Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) surface areas of solid, bamboo-like, and mesoporous PA6 nanofibers rise from 16, 20.9, to 25 m(2)/g. This study shows that interfacial interaction in AAO template fabrication can be used in manipulating the morphology and crystallization of one-dimensional polymer nanostructures. It also provides us a simple and novel method to create porous PA6 nanofibers with a large surface area.

Sn-doped ZnO nanopetal networks for efficient photocatalytic degradation of dye and gas sensing applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bhatia, Sonik; Verma, Neha; Bedi, R. K.

2017-06-01

Nowadays, tremendous increase in environmental issue is an alarming threat to the ecosystem. This paper reports, rapid synthesis and characterization for tin doped ZnO nanoparticles prepared by simple combustion method and doctor blade technique. The prepared nanoparticles were characterized by several techniques in terms of their morphological, structural, compositional, optical, photocatalytic and gas sensing properties. These detailed characterization confirmed that all the synthesized nanoparticles are well crystalline and having good optoelectronic properties. Herein, different concentrations of Sn (0.5 at. wt%, 1.0 at. wt%, 2.0 at. wt%, 3.0 at. wt%) were used as dopants (SZ1-SZ4). The morphology of synthesized technique confirmed that the petal-shaped nanoparticles has high surface area and are well crystalline. In order to develop smart and functional nano-device, the prepared powder was coated on glass substrate by doctor blade technique and fabricated device was sensed for ethanol and acetone gas at different operating temperatures (300-500̊C). It is noteworthy that morphology of the nanoparticles of the sensitive layer is maintained after different concentration of Sn. High sensitivity is the main cause of high surface area and tin doping. PL intensity near 598 nm of SZ3 is greater than other Sn-doped ZnO which indicates more oxygen vacancies of SZ3 is responsible for enhanced gas sensitivity and photocatalytic activity. The sensing performance showed 5% volume of ethanol and acetone and gases could be detected with sensitivity of 86.80% and 84.40% respectively. The mechanism for the improvement in the sensing properties can be explained with the surface adsorption theory. Sn-ZnO was used as photocatalyst for degradation of DR-31 dye. Optimum concentration of prepared nanoparticles (2.0 at. wt%) exhibits complete degradation of dye only in 60 min under UV irradiation.

The Role of Surface Chemistry in Adhesion and Wetting of Gecko Toe Pads

PubMed Central

Badge, Ila; Stark, Alyssa Y.; Paoloni, Eva L.; Niewiarowski, Peter H.; Dhinojwala, Ali

2014-01-01

An array of micron-sized setal hairs offers geckos a unique ability to walk on vertical surfaces using van der Waals interactions. Although many studies have focused on the role of surface morphology of the hairs, very little is known about the role of surface chemistry on wetting and adhesion. We expect that both surface chemistry and morphology are important, not only to achieve optimum dry adhesion but also for increased efficiency in self-cleaning of water and adhesion under wet conditions. Here, we used a plasma-based vapor deposition process to coat the hairy patterns on gecko toe pad sheds with polar and non-polar coatings without significantly perturbing the setal morphology. By a comparison of wetting across treatments, we show that the intrinsic surface of gecko setae has a water contact angle between 70–90°. As expected, under wet conditions, adhesion on a hydrophilic surface (glass) was lower than that on a hydrophobic surface (alkyl-silane monolayer on glass). Surprisingly under wet and dry conditions the adhesion was comparable on the hydrophobic surface, independent of the surface chemistry of the setal hairs. This work highlights the need to utilize morphology and surface chemistry in developing successful synthetic adhesives with desirable adhesion and self-cleaning properties. PMID:25323067

Cell morphology, viability, osteocalcin activity, and alkaline phosphatase activity in milled versus unmilled surface of the femoral head.

PubMed

Rhyu, Kee Hyung; Cho, Chang Hoon; Yoon, Kyung Sik; Chun, Young Soo

2016-12-01

To evaluate cellular activity in milled versus unmilled surface of the femoral head in 21 patients who underwent robot-assisted total hip arthroplasty(THA). The femoral head of 21 consecutive patients who underwent robot-assisted THA for osteonecrosis was used. 10 cc of trabecular bone from the entire milled surface was obtained using a curette. The same amount of trabecular bone was obtained at least 1 cm away from the milled surface and served as a matched control. Cell morphology, viability, osteocalcin activity, and alkaline phosphatase activity in milled versus unmilled surface were assessed. Cell morphology of the milled or unmilled surface was comparable; cells were smaller in the milled surface. Cell viability was a mean of 40% higher in the milled surface (107.4% vs. 67.2%, p<0.001); cell viability at 5 time points was comparable in each group. Osteocalcin activity of cells was slightly higher in the milled surface (1.43 vs. 1.24 ng/ml, p=0.69). Alkaline phosphatase activity of cells was slightly higher in the unmilled surface (150 105 vs. 141 789 U/L, p=0.078). The milled and unmilled surfaces of the femoral head were comparable in terms of cell morphology, viability, osteocalcin activity, and alkaline phosphatase activity.

The Role of Surface Chemistry in Adhesion and Wetting of Gecko Toe Pads

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Badge, Ila; Stark, Alyssa Y.; Paoloni, Eva L.; Niewiarowski, Peter H.; Dhinojwala, Ali

2014-10-01

An array of micron-sized setal hairs offers geckos a unique ability to walk on vertical surfaces using van der Waals interactions. Although many studies have focused on the role of surface morphology of the hairs, very little is known about the role of surface chemistry on wetting and adhesion. We expect that both surface chemistry and morphology are important, not only to achieve optimum dry adhesion but also for increased efficiency in self-cleaning of water and adhesion under wet conditions. Here, we used a plasma-based vapor deposition process to coat the hairy patterns on gecko toe pad sheds with polar and non-polar coatings without significantly perturbing the setal morphology. By a comparison of wetting across treatments, we show that the intrinsic surface of gecko setae has a water contact angle between 70-90°. As expected, under wet conditions, adhesion on a hydrophilic surface (glass) was lower than that on a hydrophobic surface (alkyl-silane monolayer on glass). Surprisingly under wet and dry conditions the adhesion was comparable on the hydrophobic surface, independent of the surface chemistry of the setal hairs. This work highlights the need to utilize morphology and surface chemistry in developing successful synthetic adhesives with desirable adhesion and self-cleaning properties.

Changes in surface morphology and mineralization level of human enamel following in-office bleaching with 35% hydrogen peroxide and light irradiation.

PubMed

Berger, Sandrine Bittencourt; Cavalli, Vanessa; Ambrosano, Glaucia Maria Bovi; Giannini, Marcelo

2010-01-01

The objective of this study was to evaluate the alterations on surface morphology and mineral loss of human enamel following in-office bleaching with 35% hydrogen peroxide and light irradiation. Dental enamel samples were obtained from human third molars and randomly divided into 10 groups (n = 10). The control group remained untreated. Bleached groups were treated with one of three whitening products. Bleaching was performed in a single session, during which bleaching gel was applied to the enamel surface three times for 10 minutes each time. During treatment, the bleaching agents were either irradiated by a halogen light or an LED/diode laser or were not irradiated at all. Microhardness testing was performed with a Knoop indentor and the surface morphologic observations were carried out by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Cross-sectional microhardness (CSMH) and polarized light microscopy (PLM) were used to measure the depth of demineralization. The results revealed a significant decrease in surface microhardness values and changes to the enamel morphology after bleaching. CSMH and PLM showed that bleached enamel presented lower volume percentage of mineral up to 40 micrometers from the enamel surface and demineralization areas located in the subsuperficial region of enamel, respectively. It was concluded that 35% hydrogen peroxide can alter the surface morphology and the mineralization level of the dental enamel surface and sub-surface regardless of what type of bleaching light is used.

Effect of RF power and annealing on chemical bonding and morphology of a-CN{sub x} thin films as humidity sensor

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Aziz, N. F. H; Hussain, N. S. Mohamed; Awang, R.

2013-11-27

Amorphous carbon nitride (a-CN{sub x}) thin films were deposited using radio frequency plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (rf-PECVD) technique. A set of a-CN{sub x} thin films were prepared using pure methane (CH{sub 4}) gas diluted with nitrogen (N{sub 2}) gas. The rf power was varied at 50, 60, 70, 80, 90 and 100 W. These films were then annealed at 400 °C in a quartz tube furnace in argon (Ar) gas. The effects of rf power and thermal annealing on the chemical bonding and morphology of these samples were studied. Surface profilometer was used to measure film thickness. Fourier transformmore » infra-red spectroscopy (FTIR) and Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) measurements were used to determine their chemical bonding and morphology respectively. The deposition rate of the films increased constantly with increasing rf power up to 80W, before decreasing with further increase in rf power. Fourier transform infra-red spectroscopy (FTIR) studies showed a systematic change in the spectra and revealed three main peaks included C-N, C=N, C=C and C≡N triple bond. C=N and C≡N bonds decreased with increased C-N bonds after thermal annealing process. The FESEM images showed that the structure is porous for as-deposited and covered by granule-like grain structure after thermal annealing process was done. The resistance of the a-CN{sub x} thin film changed from 23.765 kΩ to 5.845 kΩ in the relative humidity range of 5 to 92 % and the film shows a good response and repeatability as a humidity sensing materials. This work showed that rf power and thermal annealing has significant effects on the chemical bonding and surface morphology of the a-CN{sub x} films and but yield films which are potential candidate as humidity sensor device.« less

Crystallization of Skeletal Diamonds from Graphite and Natural Coal in Presence of Hydrous Fluids at P=8 GPa and T=1400-1500° C

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dobrzhinetskaya, L. F.; Renfro, A. P.; Green, H. W.

2001-12-01

Most metamorphic microdiamonds from crustal UHP rocks of the Kokchetav massive, Kazakhstan are characterized by skeletal-hopper crystals, cuboid-like crystals with cavities "healed over" by graphite, rose-like crystals, and other imperfect morphologies. According to the classical theory of crystal growth at thermodynamic equilibrium, only shapes with a minimum surface energy are stable. Thus imperfect crystallographic forms of most metamorphic diamonds formally may be interpreted as metastable while the presence of other high pressure phases associated with diamond indicates that the rocks have been subjected to UHP metamorphism within the diamond stability field. The classical theory also says that a skeletal-hopper crystal is one that develops under conditions of rapid growth, a high degree of supersaturation and in the presence of impurities. In contrast to these observations, most experiments on diamond synthesis at high P (5-7.7 GPa) and T (1250 - 1900° C) from graphite (Wang et al., 1999; Hong et al., 1999; Yamaoka et al., 2000) and carbonate material (Pal'anov et al., 1999; Sokol et al.,2000) in presence of fluid phase produced perfect octahedral and cube-octahedral diamond crystals. Advanced analytical research on metamorphic diamonds and their inclusions has demonstrated that they were crystallized from a multicomponent COH-rich supercritical fluid phase, the composition of which suggests intermixture of crustal and mantle components (de Corte et al., 1999; Dobrzhinetskaya et al., 2001, Stockhert et al., 2001). We have recently synthesized imperfect diamond crystals (skeletal-hopper morphologies with effect of etching of the diamond surfaces) from graphite and natural coal + 2% Mg(OH)2 as a source for fluid phase. Conditions of experiments are: P=8-8.5 GPa, T=1400-1500° C, t=14 to 136 hours. Our experimental data are in a good agreement with similar experiments conducted by Kanda et al. (1984) who showed that with increasing water content of the system, the morphology of diamond crystals changes progressively from octahedra to crystals with elements of dodecahedra to hollow/hopper and skeletal morphologies. We hypothesize that imperfect morphologies of metamorphic diamonds are due to the presence of OH in the system.

A Biostereometric Approach To The Study Of Infants' And Children's Body Growth

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Coblentz, A.; Ignazi, G.

1980-07-01

Studies on the somatic growth of young children have traditionally been made using conventional anthropometry techniques. As a result, while the conditions of growth of morphological variables such as weight or segmental dimensions are well known, the same cannot be said of the more global aspect of the development of the body in a three-dimensional reference space. Yet body volumes and surfaces represent morphological characteristics which are just as necessary for a good understanding of physiological phenomena (thermoregulation, energy balance, etc.) as the conventional linear data. In the volume of their research on children's growth in recent years, the authors have found that in none of the studies mentioned in the literature was consideration given to the dynamic aspect of the child's somatic development in a three-dimensional space. A primary reason for such omission is largely to be found in the technical difficulties encountered in the measure-ment of somatic characteristics such as body volume and surface. Yet, among the several possible methods of study, biostereometry and particularly the photogrammetric tool, is certainly one of the most rewarding. This being so, the authors propose to use the photogrammetric technique to undertake, in a first stage, a methodological study that will draw up, on a limited sample of infants and young children, the development chart, over a period of time, of the surfaces and volumes of segmental elements. Thus will be checked the relationships between the growth rates of different characteristics : surfaces, volumes, weight, linear dimensions. Quite apart from the intrinsic value of such studies, the data thus collected will eventually provide practitioners, pediatricians and physiologists with the reference records that have so far been lacking.

Surface modification of nanoporous alumina layers by deposition of Ag nanoparticles. Effect of alumina pore diameter on the morphology of silver deposit and its influence on SERS activity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pisarek, Marcin; Nowakowski, Robert; Kudelski, Andrzej; Holdynski, Marcin; Roguska, Agata; Janik-Czachor, Maria; Kurowska-Tabor, Elżbieta; Sulka, Grzegorz D.

2015-12-01

Self-organized Al2O3 nanoporous/nanotubular (Al2O3-NP) oxide layers decorated with silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) exhibiting specific properties may serve as attractive SERS substrates for investigating the interactions between an adsorbate and adsorbent, or as stable platforms for detecting various organic compounds. This article presents the influence of the size of the alumina nanopores with a deposit of silver nanoparticles obtained by the magnetron sputtering technique on the morphology of silver film. Moreover, the effect of pore diameter on the intensity of SERS spectra in Ag-NPs/Al2O3-NP/Al composites has also been estimated. For such investigations we used pyridine as a probe molecule, since it has a large cross-section for Raman scattering. To characterize the morphology of the composite oxide layer Ag-NPs/Al2O3-NP/Al, before and after deposition of Ag-NPs by PVD methods (Physical Vapor Deposition), we used scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The surface analytical technique of surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) was used to investigate the surface activity of the composite. The results obtained show that, for a carefully controlled amount of Ag (0.020 mg/cm2 - deposited on the top of alumina nanopores whose average size varies from ∼86 nm up to ∼320 nm) in the composites investigated, pore size significantly affects SERS enhancement. We obtained distinctly higher intensities of SERS spectra for substrates with an Ag-NPs deposit having a larger diameter of the alumina nanopores. AFM results suggest that both the lateral and perpendicular distribution of Ag-NPs within and on the top of the largest pores is responsible for the highest SERS activity of the resulting Ag-NPs/Al2O3-NP/Al composite layer, since it produces a variety of cavities and slits which function as resonators for the adsorbed molecules. The Ag-NPs/MeOx-NP/Me composite layers obtained ensure a good reproducibility of the SERS measurements.

Effect of Surface Morphology and Magnetic Impurities on the Electronic Structure in Cobalt-Doped BaFe 2 As 2 Superconductors

DOE PAGES

Zou, Qiang; Wu, Zhiming; Fu, Mingming; ...

2017-02-03

Combined scanning tunneling microscopy, spectroscopy, and local barrier height (LBH) studies show that low-temperature-cleaved optimally doped Ba(Fe 1–xCo x) 2As 2 crystals with x = 0.06, with T c = 22 K, have complicated morphologies. Although the cleavage surface and hence the morphologies are variable, the superconducting gap maps show the same gap widths and nanometer size inhomogeneities irrelevant to the morphology. Based on the spectroscopy and LBH maps, the bright patches and dark stripes in the morphologies are identified as Ba- and As-dominated surface terminations, respectively. Magnetic impurities, possibly due to Co or Fe atoms, are believed to createmore » local in-gap state and, in addition, suppress the superconducting coherence peaks. Lastly, this study will clarify the confusion on the cleavage surface terminations of the Fe-based superconductors and its relation with the electronic structures.« less

A dynamic monitoring approach for the surface morphology evolution measurement of plasma facing components by means of speckle interferometry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Hongbei; Cui, Xiaoqian; Feng, Chunlei; Li, Yuanbo; Zhao, Mengge; Luo, Guangnan; Ding, Hongbin

2017-11-01

Plasma Facing Components (PFCs) in a magnetically confined fusion plasma device will be exposed to high heat load and particle fluxes, and it would cause PFCs' surface morphology to change due to material erosion and redeposition from plasma wall interactions. The state of PFCs' surface condition will seriously affect the performance of long-pulse or steady state plasma discharge in a tokamak; it will even constitute an enormous threat to the operation and the safety of fusion plasma devices. The PFCs' surface morphology evolution measurement could provide important information about PFCs' real-time status or damage situation and it would help to a better understanding of the plasma wall interaction process and mechanism. Meanwhile through monitoring the distribution of dust deposition in a tokamak and providing an upper limit on the amount of loose dust, the PFCs' surface morphology measurement could indirectly contribute to keep fusion operational limits and fusion device safety. Aiming at in situ dynamic monitoring PFCs' surface morphology evolution, a laboratory experimental platform DUT-SIEP (Dalian University of Technology-speckle interferometry experimental platform) based on the speckle interferometry technique has been constructed at Dalian University of Technology (DUT) in China. With directional specific designing and focusing on the real detection condition of EAST (Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak), the DUT-SIEP could realize a variable measurement range, widely increased from 0.1 μm to 300 μm, with high spatial resolution (<1 mm) and ultra-high time resolution (<2 s for EAST measuring conditions). Three main components of the DUT-SIEP are all integrated and synchronized by a time schedule control and data acquisition terminal and coupled with a three-dimensional phase unwrapping algorithm, the surface morphology information of target samples can be obtained and reconstructed in real-time. A local surface morphology of the real divertor tiles adopted from EAST has been measured, and the feasibility and reliability of this new experimental platform have been demonstrated.

Analysis of high-throughput screening reveals the effect of surface topographies on cellular morphology.

PubMed

Hulsman, Marc; Hulshof, Frits; Unadkat, Hemant; Papenburg, Bernke J; Stamatialis, Dimitrios F; Truckenmüller, Roman; van Blitterswijk, Clemens; de Boer, Jan; Reinders, Marcel J T

2015-03-01

Surface topographies of materials considerably impact cellular behavior as they have been shown to affect cell growth, provide cell guidance, and even induce cell differentiation. Consequently, for successful application in tissue engineering, the contact interface of biomaterials needs to be optimized to induce the required cell behavior. However, a rational design of biomaterial surfaces is severely hampered because knowledge is lacking on the underlying biological mechanisms. Therefore, we previously developed a high-throughput screening device (TopoChip) that measures cell responses to large libraries of parameterized topographical material surfaces. Here, we introduce a computational analysis of high-throughput materiome data to capture the relationship between the surface topographies of materials and cellular morphology. We apply robust statistical techniques to find surface topographies that best promote a certain specified cellular response. By augmenting surface screening with data-driven modeling, we determine which properties of the surface topographies influence the morphological properties of the cells. With this information, we build models that predict the cellular response to surface topographies that have not yet been measured. We analyze cellular morphology on 2176 surfaces, and find that the surface topography significantly affects various cellular properties, including the roundness and size of the nucleus, as well as the perimeter and orientation of the cells. Our learned models capture and accurately predict these relationships and reveal a spectrum of topographies that induce various levels of cellular morphologies. Taken together, this novel approach of high-throughput screening of materials and subsequent analysis opens up possibilities for a rational design of biomaterial surfaces. Copyright © 2015 Acta Materialia Inc. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Influence of multi-wavelength laser irradiation of enamel and dentin surfaces at 0.355, 2.94, and 9.4 μm on surface morphology, permeability, and acid resistance.

PubMed

Chang, Nai-Yuan N; Jew, Jamison M; Simon, Jacob C; Chen, Kenneth H; Lee, Robert C; Fried, William A; Cho, Jinny; Darling, Cynthia L; Fried, Daniel

2017-12-01

Ultraviolet (UV) and infrared (IR) lasers can be used to specifically target protein, water, and mineral, respectively, in dental hard tissues to produce varying changes in surface morphology, permeability, reflectivity, and acid resistance. The purpose of this study was to explore the influence of laser irradiation and topical fluoride application on the surface morphology, permeability, reflectivity, and acid resistance of enamel and dentin to shed light on the mechanism of interaction and develop more effective treatments. Twelve bovine enamel surfaces and twelve bovine dentin surfaces were irradiated with various combinations of lasers operating at 0.355 (Freq.-tripled Nd:YAG (UV) laser), 2.94 (Er:YAG laser), and 9.4 μm (CO 2 laser), and surfaces were exposed to an acidulated phosphate fluoride gel and an acid challenge. Changes in the surface morphology, acid resistance, and permeability were measured using digital microscopy, polarized light microscopy, near-IR reflectance, fluorescence, polarization sensitive-optical coherence tomography (PS-OCT), and surface dehydration rate measurements. Different laser treatments dramatically influenced the surface morphology and permeability of both enamel and dentin. CO 2 laser irradiation melted tooth surfaces. Er:YAG and UV lasers, while not melting tooth surfaces, showed markedly different surface roughness. Er:YAG irradiation led to significantly rougher enamel and dentin surfaces and led to higher permeability. There were significant differences in acid resistance among the various treatment groups. Surface dehydration measurements showed significant changes in permeability after laser treatments, application of fluoride and after exposure to demineralization. CO 2 laser irradiation was most effective in inhibiting demineralization on enamel while topical fluoride was most effective for dentin surfaces. Lasers Surg. Med. 49:913-927, 2017. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

High-sensitivity four-layer polymer fiber-optic evanescent wave sensor.

PubMed

Xin, Xin; Zhong, Nianbing; Liao, Qiang; Cen, Yanyan; Wu, Ruohua; Wang, Zhengkun

2017-05-15

We present a novel four-layer structure consisting of bottom, second, third, and surface layers in the sensing region, for a D-shaped step-index fiber-optic evanescent wave (FOEW) sensor. To reduce the background noise, the surface of the longitudinal section in the D-shaped region is coated with a light-absorbing film. We check the morphologies of the second and surface layers, examine the refractive indices (RIs) of the third and surface layers, and analyze the composition of the surface layer. We also investigate the effects of the thicknesses and RIs of the third and surface layers and the LA film on the light transmission and sensitivity of the FOEW sensors. The results highlight the very good sensitivity of the proposed FOEW sensor with a four-layer structure, which reached -0.077 (μg/l) -1 in the detection of the target antibody; the sensitivity of the novel FOEW sensor was 7.60 and 1.52 times better than that of a conventional sensor with a core-cladding structure and an FOEW sensor with a three-layer structure doped with GeO 2 . The applications of this high-sensitivity FOEW sensor can be extended to biodefense, disease diagnosis, and biomedical and biochemical analysis. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

The influence of chemical structure on thermal properties and surface morphology of polyurethane materials.

PubMed

Brzeska, Joanna; Morawska, Magda; Heimowska, Aleksandra; Sikorska, Wanda; Wałach, Wojciech; Hercog, Anna; Kowalczuk, Marek; Rutkowska, Maria

2018-01-01

The surface morphology and thermal properties of polyurethanes can be correlated to their chemical composition. The hydrophilicity, surface morphology, and thermal properties of polyurethanes (differed in soft segments and in linear/cross-linked structure) were investigated. The influence of poly([ R , S ]-3-hydroxybutyrate) presence in soft segments and blending of polyurethane with polylactide on surface topography were also estimated. The linear polyurethanes (partially crystalline) had the granular surface, whereas the surface of cross-linked polyurethanes (almost amorphous) was smooth. Round aggregates of polylactide un-uniformly distributed in matrix of polyurethane were clearly visible. It was concluded that some modification of soft segment (by mixing of poly([ R , S ]-3-hydroxybutyrate) with different polydiols and polytriol) and blending of polyurethanes with small amount of polylactide influence on crystallinity and surface topography of obtained polyurethanes.

3D Polyaniline Architecture by Concurrent Inorganic and Organic Acid Doping for Superior and Robust High Rate Supercapacitor Performance

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gawli, Yogesh; Banerjee, Abhik; Dhakras, Dipti; Deo, Meenal; Bulani, Dinesh; Wadgaonkar, Prakash; Shelke, Manjusha; Ogale, Satishchandra

2016-02-01

A good high rate supercapacitor performance requires a fine control of morphological (surface area and pore size distribution) and electrical properties of the electrode materials. Polyaniline (PANI) is an interesting material in supercapacitor context because it stores energy Faradaically. However in conventional inorganic (e.g. HCl) acid doping, the conductivity is high but the morphological features are undesirable. On the other hand, in weak organic acid (e.g. phytic acid) doping, interesting and desirable 3D connected morphological features are attained but the conductivity is poorer. Here the synergy of the positive quality factors of these two acid doping approaches is realized by concurrent and optimized strong-inorganic (HCl) and weak-organic (phytic) acid doping, resulting in a molecular composite material that renders impressive and robust supercapacitor performance. Thus, a nearly constant high specific capacitance of 350 F g-1 is realized for the optimised case of binary doping over the entire range of 1 A g-1 to 40 A g-1 with stability of 500 cycles at 40 A g-1. Frequency dependant conductivity measurements show that the optimized co-doped case is more metallic than separately doped materials. This transport property emanates from the unique 3D single molecular character of such system.

Surfactant mediated synthesis of bismuth selenide thin films for photoelectrochemical solar cell applications.

PubMed

Desai, Neha D; Khot, Kishorkumar V; Ghanwat, Vishvanath B; Kharade, Suvarta D; Bhosale, Popatrao N

2018-03-15

In the present report, nanostructured bismuth selenide (Bi 2 Se 3 ) thin films have been successfully deposited by using arrested precipitation technique (APT) at room temperature. The effect of three different surfactants on the optostructural, morphological, compositional and photoelectrochemical properties of Bi 2 Se 3 thin films were investigated. Optical absorption data indicates direct and allowed transition with a band gap energy varied from 1.4 eV to 1.8 eV. The X-ray diffraction pattern (XRD) revealed that Bi 2 Se 3 thin films are crystalline in nature and confirmed rhombohedral crystal structure. SEM micrographs shows morphological transition from interconnected mesh to nanospheres like and finally granular morphology. Surface topography of Bi 2 Se 3 thin films was determined by AFM. Compositional analysis of all samples was carried out by energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). Finally, all Bi 2 Se 3 thin films shows good PEC performance with highest photoconversion efficiency 1.47%. In order to study the stability of Bi 2 Se 3 thin films four cycles are repeated after gap of one week each. Further PEC performance of all Bi 2 Se 3 thin films are also supported by electrochemical impedance (EIS) measurement study. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

3D Polyaniline Architecture by Concurrent Inorganic and Organic Acid Doping for Superior and Robust High Rate Supercapacitor Performance.

PubMed

Gawli, Yogesh; Banerjee, Abhik; Dhakras, Dipti; Deo, Meenal; Bulani, Dinesh; Wadgaonkar, Prakash; Shelke, Manjusha; Ogale, Satishchandra

2016-02-12

A good high rate supercapacitor performance requires a fine control of morphological (surface area and pore size distribution) and electrical properties of the electrode materials. Polyaniline (PANI) is an interesting material in supercapacitor context because it stores energy Faradaically. However in conventional inorganic (e.g. HCl) acid doping, the conductivity is high but the morphological features are undesirable. On the other hand, in weak organic acid (e.g. phytic acid) doping, interesting and desirable 3D connected morphological features are attained but the conductivity is poorer. Here the synergy of the positive quality factors of these two acid doping approaches is realized by concurrent and optimized strong-inorganic (HCl) and weak-organic (phytic) acid doping, resulting in a molecular composite material that renders impressive and robust supercapacitor performance. Thus, a nearly constant high specific capacitance of 350 F g(-1) is realized for the optimised case of binary doping over the entire range of 1 A g(-1) to 40 A g(-1) with stability of 500 cycles at 40 A g(-1). Frequency dependant conductivity measurements show that the optimized co-doped case is more metallic than separately doped materials. This transport property emanates from the unique 3D single molecular character of such system.

Ray trace visualization of negative refraction of light in two-dimensional air-bridged silicon photonic crystal slabs at 1.55 microm.

PubMed

Gan, Lin; Liu, Ya-Zhao; Li, Jiang-Yan; Zhang, Ze-Bo; Zhang, Dao-Zhong; Li, Zhi-Yuan

2009-06-08

We demonstrate design, fabrication, and ray trace observation of negative refraction of near-infrared light in a two-dimensional square lattice of air holes etched into an air-bridged silicon slab. Special surface morphologies are designed to reduce the impedance mismatch when light refracts from a homogeneous silicon slab into the photonic crystal slab. We clearly observed negative refraction of infrared light for TE-like modes in a broad wavelength range by using scanning near-field optical microscopy technology. The experimental results are in good agreement with finite-difference time-domain simulations. The results indicate the designed photonic crystal structure can serve as polarization beam splitter.

Heteroepitaxial growth of Cd(1-x)Mn(x)Te on GaAs by metalorganic chemical vapor deposition

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Nouhi, Akbar; Stirn, Richard J.

1987-01-01

In this letter, preliminary results are reported of heteroepitaxial growth of the dilute magnetic semiconductor alloy Cd(1-x)Mn(x)Te on GaAs by metalorganic chemical vapor deposition. Dimethylcadmium (DMCd), diethyltellurium (DETe), and tricarbonyl (methylcyclopentadienyl) manganese (TCPMn) were used as source materials. The TCPMn had to be heated to as high as 140 C to provide the required vapor pressure. Films with Mn atomic fractions up to 30 percent have been grown over the temperature range 410-450 C. Results of optical absorption/transmission, photoluminescence, and X-ray diffraction measurements are presented along with a scanning electron micrograph showing good surface morphology of the grown layers.

Preparation and characterisation of titania/hydroxyapatite composite coatings obtained by sol-gel process.

PubMed

Milella, E; Cosentino, F; Licciulli, A; Massaro, C

2001-06-01

In the present work a titania network encapsulating a hydroxyapatite particulate phase is proposed as a bioceramic composite coating. The coating on a titanium substrate was produced starting from a sol containing a mixture of titania colloidal particles and hydroxyapatite submicron particles using the dip-coating technique. The microstructure, the morphology and the surface chemical composition of the coating were characterised using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), respectively. Adhesion tests were also performed. These analyses showed that the obtained coating was chemically clean, homogeneous, rough, porous, with a low thickness and well-defined phase composition as well as a good adhesion to the substrate.

Optical, wetting and electrical properties of functionalized fulleropyrrolidine thin films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Abdulrazack, Parveen; Venkatesan, Sughanya; Chellasamy, Manoharan; Samuthira, Nagarajan

2017-12-01

Fulleropyrrolidine derivatives acts as an electron acceptor in the fabrication of solar cells and other optoelectronic devices. In this investigation thin film of functionalized fulleropyrrolidines were fabricated and studied their photo-physical properties. Surface morphology of the thin films was investigated through AFM and FE-SEM. The results suggested that large dependence on structure vs molecular packing. The long alkyl chain substituted C60 were assembled in the form of nanorods. C60- C60 intermolecular distance were measured, the films were with good absorption and exhibits n-type semiconducting behavior. The films were having high contact angle and can be effectively used for fabricating semiconducting devices with self- cleaning property.

Two-Dimensional and Three-Dimensional Ultrasound of Artificial Skin.

PubMed

Wortsman, Ximena; Navarrete, Nelson

2017-01-01

Wound healing may be a difficult problem, and variable types of artificial skin prototypes have been developed for supporting this process. Using ultrasound, we studied 4 cellulose-derived artificial skin prototypes and assessed their two-dimensional and three-dimensional morphology. These prototypes were identified on ultrasound both on in vitro and in vivo studies. They allowed the sonographic observation of deeper layers on different types of surfaces of the body with good definition on the in vivo examinations performed on healthy skin and cutaneous ulcers. The ultrasound detection of these artificial biomaterials may potentially support the noninvasive monitoring of wound healing. © 2016 by the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine.

Spectroscopic analysis of Ahlat stone (ignimbrite) and pumice formed by volcanic activity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Aygun, Z.; Aygun, M.

2016-09-01

Natural materials such as ignimbrites are preferred commonly not only in historical places but also in houses or in different kind of buildings all over the world especially around Ahlat in Bitlis-Turkey. Durability, lightness and good-insulation are the significative properties of these stones. Also, pumice is an another preferred material because of its advantages in construction industry. In this paper, four kinds of ignimbrite (light-yellow, yellow, black and white) and pumice from Ahlat region have been investigated by EPR method to determine magnetic properties of them. The results obtained by EPR, EDS and XRD methods are evaluated together. SEM technique is also used to understand the surface morphology of the samples.

Surface-potential undulation of Alq3 thin films prepared on ITO, Au, and n-Si.

PubMed

Ozasa, Kazunari; Ito, Hiromi; Maeda, Mizuo; Hara, Masahiko

2012-01-01

The surface potential (SP) morphology on thin films of tris(8-hydroxyquinolinato) aluminum (Alq3) was investigated with Kelvin probe force microscopy. Thin Alq3 films of 100 nm were prepared on ITO/glass substrates, Au/mica substrates, and n-Si substrates. Cloud-like morphologies of the SP undulation with 200-400 nm in lateral size were observed for all three types of the substrates. New larger peaks were observed in the cloud-like morphologies when the surfaces were exposed shortly to a light, while the SP average was reduced monotonically. The nonuniform distribution of charged traps and mobility was deduced from the SP undulation morphology and its photoexposure dependences.

Microscopic morphology evolution during ion beam smoothing of Zerodur® surfaces.

PubMed

Liao, Wenlin; Dai, Yifan; Xie, Xuhui; Zhou, Lin

2014-01-13

Ion sputtering of Zerodur material often results in the formation of nanoscale microstructures on the surfaces, which seriously influences optical surface quality. In this paper, we describe the microscopic morphology evolution during ion sputtering of Zerodur surfaces through experimental researches and theoretical analysis, which shows that preferential sputtering together with curvature-dependent sputtering overcomes ion-induced smoothing mechanisms leading to granular nanopatterns formation in morphology and the coarsening of the surface. Consequently, we propose a new method for ion beam smoothing (IBS) of Zerodur optics assisted by deterministic ion beam material adding (IBA) technology. With this method, Zerodur optics with surface roughness down to 0.15 nm root mean square (RMS) level is obtained through the experimental investigation, which demonstrates the feasibility of our proposed method.

Employment of ultrasonic irradiation for production of poly(vinyl pyrrolidone)/modified alpha manganese dioxide nanocomposites: Morphology, thermal and optical characterization.

PubMed

Mallakpour, Shadpour; Abdolmaleki, Amir; Tabebordbar, Hashem

2018-03-01

This work explains the production, morphology, and features of novel nanocomposite (NC) established on poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) (PVP) as polymer background and modified alpha manganese dioxide (α-MnO 2 ) nanorod (NR) asan efficient filler. At first, one-dimensional α-MnO 2 nanorods (NRs) were produced by a hydrothermal technique and then they were amended with stearic acid (SA) by a solvothermal process. In following, the NCs were made by adding different volumes of α-MnO 2 -SA NR (1, 3 and 5wt%) in the PVP matrix through ultrasonic irradiation as a green, low-cost, fast, and useful technique. Structural and morphological descriptions confirm crystallinity of α-MnO 2 -SA NRs and showed that NRs have been separately dispersed in PVP matrix with rod-like morphology and diameter of about 40-60nm. The use of modifier and ultrasonic waves is accountable for good homogeneities of NRs. Thermogravimetric analysis revealed that thermal permanency of the obtained NCs has grown with increasing the α-MnO 2 -SA content. Also, the UV-vis absorption of NCs was enhanced with the incorporation of the modified α-MnO 2 NR in PVP matrix. The substantial perfections in NCs properties are associated to compatible intermolecular relations between the surface modifying groups of the α-MnO 2 -SA and PVP chain. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

The most luminous heavily obscured quasars have a high merger fraction: morphological study of wise -selected hot dust-obscured galaxies

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Fan, Lulu; Gao, Ying; Zhang, Dandan

Previous studies have shown that Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer -selected hyperluminous, hot dust-obscured galaxies (Hot DOGs) are powered by highly dust-obscured, possibly Compton-thick active galactic nuclei (AGNs). High obscuration provides us a good chance to study the host morphology of the most luminous AGNs directly. We analyze the host morphology of 18 Hot DOGs at z ∼ 3 using Hubble Space Telescope /WFC3 imaging. We find that Hot DOGs have a high merger fraction (62 ± 14%). By fitting the surface brightness profiles, we find that the distribution of Sérsic indices in our Hot DOG sample peaks around 2, whichmore » suggests that most Hot DOGs have transforming morphologies. We also derive the AGN bolometric luminosity (∼10{sup 14} L {sub ⊙}) of our Hot DOG sample by using IR spectral energy distributions decomposition. The derived merger fraction and AGN bolometric luminosity relation is well consistent with the variability-based model prediction. Both the high merger fraction in an IR-luminous AGN sample and relatively low merger fraction in a UV/optical-selected, unobscured AGN sample can be expected in the merger-driven evolutionary model. Finally, we conclude that Hot DOGs are merger-driven and may represent a transit phase during the evolution of massive galaxies, transforming from the dusty starburst-dominated phase to the unobscured QSO phase.« less

Wrinkling pattern evolution of cylindrical biological tissues with differential growth.

PubMed

Jia, Fei; Li, Bo; Cao, Yan-Ping; Xie, Wei-Hua; Feng, Xi-Qiao

2015-01-01

Three-dimensional surface wrinkling of soft cylindrical tissues induced by differential growth is explored. Differential volumetric growth can cause their morphological stability, leading to the formation of hexagonal and labyrinth wrinkles. During postbuckling, multiple bifurcations and morphological transitions may occur as a consequence of continuous growth in the surface layer. The physical mechanisms underpinning the morphological evolution are examined from the viewpoint of energy. Surface curvature is found to play a regulatory role in the pattern evolution. This study may not only help understand the morphogenesis of soft biological tissues, but also inspire novel routes for creating desired surface patterns of soft materials.

Correlation between surface morphology and electrical properties of VO2 films grown by direct thermal oxidation method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yoon, Joonseok; Park, Changwoo; Park, Sungkyun; Mun, Bongjin Simon; Ju, Honglyoul

2015-10-01

We investigate surface morphology and electrical properties of VO2 films fabricated by direct thermal oxidation method. The VO2 film prepared with oxidation temperature at 580 °C exhibits excellent qualities of VO2 characteristics, e.g. a metal-insulator transition (MIT) near 67 °C, a resistivity ratio of ∼2.3 × 104, and a bandgap of 0.7 eV. The analysis of surface morphology with electrical resistivity of VO2 films reveals that the transport properties of VO2 films are closely related to the grain size and surface roughness that vary with oxidation annealing temperatures.

System-morphological approach: Another look at morphology research and geomorphological mapping

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lastochkin, Alexander N.; Zhirov, Andrey I.; Boltramovich, Sergei F.

2018-02-01

A large number of studies require a clear and unambiguous morphological basis. For over thirty years, Russian scientists have been applying a system-morphological approach for the Arctic and Antarctic research, ocean floor investigation, for various infrastructure construction projects (oil and gas, sports, etc.), in landscape and environmental studies. This article is a review aimed to introduce this methodological approach to the international scientific community. The details of the methods and techniques can be found in a series of earlier papers published in the Russian language in 1987-2016. The proposed system-morphological approach includes: 1) partitioning of the Earth surface, i.e. precise identification of linear, point, and areal elements of topography considered as a two-dimensional surface without any geological substance; 2) further identification of larger formations: geomorphological systems and regions; 3) analysis of structural relations and symmetry of topography; and 4) various dynamic (litho- and glaciodynamic, tectonic, etc.) interpretations of the observed morphology. This method can be used to study the morphology of the surface topography as well as less accessible interfaces such as submarine and subglacial ones.

Visible-light induced anti-bacterial and self-cleaning waterborne polyacrylic coating modified with TiO2/polypyrrole nanocomposite; preparation and characterization

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nosrati, Rahimeh; Olad, Ali; Maryami, Fatemeh

2018-07-01

Nowadays, self-cleaning technology is used in various industries to decreasing the time, energy consumption and costs of surface servicing as well as the increasing of surface durability. Self-cleaning and anti-bacterial coatings can be made by the addition of suitable additives to a polymer matrix with good properties. In the present research, TiO2/polypyrrole nanocomposites were prepared in different TiO2 to polypyrrole weight ratios and used in various percent as an additive in waterborne commercial grade polyacrylic latex. Characterization and evaluation of structural and morphological features of nanocomposites and coatings were performed by FTIR, XRD, UV-Vis and FESEM techniques. By the addition of prepared nanocomposites as an additive to the polyacrylic matrix, the hydrophilic, water resistant, anti-bacterial, and photocatalytic coatings were prepared. The TiO2 to polypyrrole weight ratio of TiO2/polypyrrole nanocomposites and the percent of nanocomposite additive in the polymeric matrix were optimized. According to the results, the coating containing 2% and 3% of TiO2/polypyrrole nanocomposite with TiO2 to polypyrrole weight ratio of 100:10 are proposed as the best coating formulations in the formulations examined in this work, due to their good properties in the most of experiments.

Structural and morphological characterization of anatase TiO 2 coating on χ-Alumina scale fiber fabricated by sol-gel dip-coating method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nguyen, Hue Thi; Miao, Lei; Tanemura, Sakae; Tanemura, Masaki; Toh, Shoichi; Kaneko, Kenji; Kawasaki, Masahiro

2004-10-01

Anatase TiO 2 coatings 0.4 μm thick have been successfully fabricated by sol-gel dip-coating process on χ-Al 2O 3 fibers 100 μm by 10 cm long with a surface fish-scale. This was achieved by adjustment of the sol-gel parameters such as molar ratio of the precursors in TiO 2-sols, dip-coating time, drying duration in air, heating processes and number of cyclical repetitions of the process. Two samples were prepared using two sols containing different molar ratios of precursors. XRD, TEM, EDS and SEM characterization confirmed: (1) the similarity of the growth of anatase-TiO 2 from two sols under the optimal sol-gel parameters, (2) that the coatings are composed of aggregated crystallites of 10-25 nm in diameter, (3) the good compositional uniformity of Ti in the fabricated anatase-TiO 2 crystallites, (4) a surface covering ratio of anatase-TiO 2 around the fiber of at least 90%, and (5) that there is a good adherence of the fabricated anatase-TiO 2 layer on alumina fiber as evidenced by the lack of cracking and peeling off traces around the boundary between the coating and the fiber.

Thermo-sensitively and magnetically ordered mesoporous carbon nanospheres for targeted controlled drug release and hyperthermia application.

PubMed

Chen, Lin; Zhang, Huan; Zheng, Jing; Yu, Shiping; Du, Jinglei; Yang, Yongzhen; Liu, Xuguang

2018-03-01

A multifunctional nanoplatform based on thermo-sensitively and magnetically ordered mesoporous carbon nanospheres (TMOMCNs) is developed for effective targeted controlled release of doxorubicin hydrochloride (DOX) and hyperthermia in this work. The morphology, specific surface area, porosity, thermo-stability, thermo-sensitivity, as well as magnetism properties of TMOMCNs were verified by high resolution transmission electron microscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy, thermo-gravimetric analysis, X-ray diffraction, Brunauer-Emmeltt-Teller surface area analysis, dynamic light scattering and vibrating sample magnetometry measurement. The results indicate that TMOMCNs have an average diameter of ~146nm with a lower critical solution temperature at around 39.5°C. They are superparamagnetic with a magnetization of 10.15emu/g at 20kOe. They generate heat when inductive magnetic field is applied to them and have a normalized specific absorption rate of 30.23W/g at 230kHz and 290Oe, showing good potential for hyperthermia. The DOX loading and release results illustrate that the loading capacity is 135.10mg/g and release performance could be regulated by changing pH and temperature. The good targeting, DOX loading and release and hyperthermia properties of TMOMCNs offer new probabilities for high effectiveness and low toxicity of cancer chemotherapy. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Nitrate-assisted photocatalytic efficiency of defective Eu-doped Pr(OH)3 nanostructures.

PubMed

Aškrabić, S; Araújo, V D; Passacantando, M; Bernardi, M I B; Tomić, N; Dojčinović, B; Manojlović, D; Čalija, B; Miletić, M; Dohčević-Mitrović, Z D

2017-12-06

Pr(OH) 3 one-dimensional nanostructures are a less studied member of lanthanide hydroxide nanostructures, which recently demonstrated an excellent adsorption capacity for organic pollutant removal from wastewater. In this study, Pr 1-x Eu x (OH) 3 (x = 0, 0.01, 0.03, and 0.05) defective nanostructures were synthesized by a facile and scalable microwave-assisted hydrothermal method using KOH as an alkaline metal precursor. The phase and surface composition, morphology, vibrational, electronic and optical properties of the as-prepared samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), Raman, infrared (IR), photoluminescence (PL), and diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS). It was deduced that the incorporation of Eu 3+ ions promoted the formation of oxygen vacancies in the already defective Pr(OH) 3 , subsequently changing the Pr(OH) 3 nanorod morphology. The presence of KNO 3 phase was registered in the Eu-doped samples. The oxygen-deficient Eu-doped Pr(OH) 3 nanostructures displayed an improved photocatalytic activity in the removal of reactive orange (RO16) dye under UV-vis light irradiation. An enhanced photocatalytic activity of the Eu-doped Pr(OH) 3 nanostructures was caused by the synergetic effect of oxygen vacancies and Eu 3+ (NO 3 - ) ions present on the Pr(OH) 3 surface, the charge separation efficiency and the formation of the reactive radicals. In addition, the 3% Eu-doped sample exhibited very good adsorptive properties due to different morphology and higher electrostatic attraction with the anionic dye. Pr 1-x Eu x (OH) 3 nanostructures with the possibility of tuning their adsorption/photocatalytic properties present a great potential for wastewater treatment.

Composite bone cements loaded with a bioactive and ferrimagnetic glass-ceramic: Leaching, bioactivity and cytocompatibility.

PubMed

Verné, Enrica; Bruno, Matteo; Miola, Marta; Maina, Giovanni; Bianco, Carlotta; Cochis, Andrea; Rimondini, Lia

2015-08-01

In this work, composite bone cements, based on a commercial polymethylmethacrylate matrix (Palamed®) loaded with ferrimagnetic bioactive glass-ceramic particles (SC45), were produced and characterized in vitro. The ferrimagnetic bioactive glass-ceramic belongs to the system SiO2-Na2O-CaO-P2O5-FeO-Fe2O3 and contains magnetite (Fe3O4) crystals into a residual amorphous bioactive phase. Three different formulations (containing 10, 15 and 20 wt.% of glass-ceramic particles respectively) have been investigated. These materials are intended to be applied as bone fillers for the hyperthermic treatment of bone tumors. The morphological, compositional, calorimetric and mechanical properties of each formulation have been already discussed in a previous paper. The in vitro properties of the composite bone cements described in the present paper are related to iron ion leaching test (by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometer), bioactivity (i.e. the ability to stimulate the formation of a hydroxyapatite - HAp - layer on their surface after soaking in simulated body fluid SBF) and cytocompatibility toward human osteosarcoma cells (ATCC CRL-1427, Mg63). Morphological and chemical characterizations by scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersion spectrometry have been performed on the composite samples after each test. The iron release was negligible and all the tested samples showed the growth of HAp on their surface after 28 days of immersion in a simulated body fluid (SBF). Cells showed good viability, morphology, adhesion, density and the ability to develop bridge-like structures on all investigated samples. A synergistic effect between bioactivity and cell mineralization was also evidenced. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Changes in the morphology of interstellar ice analogues after hydrogen atom exposure.

PubMed

Accolla, Mario; Congiu, Emanuele; Dulieu, François; Manicò, Giulio; Chaabouni, Henda; Matar, Elie; Mokrane, Hakima; Lemaire, Jean Louis; Pirronello, Valerio

2011-05-07

The morphology of water ice in the interstellar medium is still an open question. Although accretion of gaseous water could not be the only possible origin of the observed icy mantles covering dust grains in cold molecular clouds, it is well known that water accreted from the gas phase on surfaces kept at 10 K forms ice films that exhibit a very high porosity. It is also known that in the dark clouds H(2) formation occurs on the icy surface of dust grains and that part of the energy (4.48 eV) released when adsorbed atoms react to form H(2) is deposited in the ice. The experimental study described in the present work focuses on how relevant changes of the ice morphology result from atomic hydrogen exposure and subsequent recombination. Using the temperature-programmed desorption (TPD) technique and a method of inversion analysis of TPD spectra, we show that there is an exponential decrease in the porosity of the amorphous water ice sample following D-atom irradiation. This decrease is inversely proportional to the thickness of the ice and has a value of ϕ(0) = 2 × 10(16) D-atoms cm(-2) per layer of H(2)O. We also use a model which confirms that the binding sites on the porous ice are destroyed regardless of their energy depth, and that the reduction of the porosity corresponds in fact to a reduction of the effective area. This reduction appears to be compatible with the fraction of D(2) formation energy transferred to the porous ice network. Under interstellar conditions, this effect is likely to be efficient and, together with other compaction processes, provides a good argument to believe that interstellar ice is amorphous and non-porous. This journal is © the Owner Societies 2011

Cu Nanoparticles Improved Thermal Property of Form-Stable Phase Change Materials Made with Carbon Nanofibers and LA-MA-SA Eutectic Mixture.

PubMed

Song, Xiaofei; Cai, Yibing; Huang, Cong; Gu, Ying; Zhang, Junhao; Qiao, Hui; Wei, Qufu

2018-04-01

A novel form-stable phase change materials (FSPCMs) was fabricated by incorporating fatty acid eutectics with electrospun carbon nanofibers (CNFs) surface-attached with copper (Cu) nanoparticles. Three different Cu/CNFs mats were made through combining the technique and principle of electrospinning, pre-oxidation/carbonization and in-situ reduction, while lauric-myristic-stearic acid (LA-MA-SA) ternary eutectic mixture was prepared as the model PCM. The morphology and crystal structure of Cu/CNFs were characterized by Fourier transfer infrared (FT-IR) spectra, Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and X-ray energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), respectively. The results showed that Cu nanoparticles dispersed uniformly on the surface of CNFs mats without agglomeration, and Cu/CNFs mats could provide the mechanical support for FSPCMs and effectively prevent the flow/leakage of molten fatty acid. Morphological structures, as well as the properties of thermal energy storage and thermal energy storage/retrieval rates, of the resulting FSPCMs were investigated by SEM, Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and measurement of melting/freezing times, respectively. The results indicated that the fabricated FSPCMs exhibited desired structural morphology, and LA-MA-SA well dispersed in three-dimensional porous structure of Cu/CNFs mats. The melting and crystallization enthalpies of the fabricated FSPCMs were in the range of 117.1-140.7 kJ/kg and 117.2-142.4 kJ/kg, respectively. In comparison with melting/freezing times of LA-MA-SA ternary eutectic mixture, the melting/freezing times of fabricated FSPCMs were respectively decreased ~27.0-49.2% and ~44.1-63.0%. The fabricated FSPCMs possessed good thermal energy storage/retrieval property, and might have great potential for renewable energy storage applications.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Liu, Zhao; Chen-Wiegart, Yu-chen K.; Wang, Jun

Three-phase three-dimensional (3D) microstructural reconstructions of lithium-ion battery electrodes are critical input for 3D simulations of electrode lithiation/delithiation, which provide a detailed understanding of battery operation. In this report, 3D images of a LiCoO 2electrode are achieved using focused ion beam-scanning electron microscopy (FIB-SEM), with clear contrast among the three phases: LiCoO 2particles, carbonaceous phases (carbon and binder) and the electrolyte space. The good contrast was achieved by utilizing an improved FIB-SEM sample preparation method that combined infiltration of the electrolyte space with a low-viscosity silicone resin and triple ion-beam polishing. Morphological parameters quantified include phase volume fraction, surface area,more » feature size distribution, connectivity, and tortuosity. Electrolyte tortuosity was determined using two different geometric calculations that were in good agreement. In conclusion, the electrolyte tortuosity distribution versus position within the electrode was found to be highly inhomogeneous; this will lead to inhomogeneous electrode lithiation/delithiation at high C-rates that could potentially cause battery degradation.« less

Highly selective dopamine electrochemical sensor based on electrochemically pretreated graphite and nafion composite modified screen printed carbon electrode.

PubMed

Ku, Shuhao; Palanisamy, Selvakumar; Chen, Shen-Ming

2013-12-01

Herein, we report a highly selective dopamine electrochemical sensor based on electrochemically pretreated graphite/nafion composite modified screen printed carbon (SPC) electrode. Electrochemically activated graphite/nafion composite was prepared by using a simple electrochemical method. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) used to characterize the surface morphology of the fabricated composite electrode. The SEM result clearly indicates that the graphitic basal planes were totally disturbed and leads to the formation of graphite nanosheets. The composite modified electrode showed an enhanced electrocatalytic activity toward the oxidation of DA when compared with either electrochemical pretreated graphite or nafion SPC electrodes. The fabricated composite electrode exhibits a good electrocatalytic oxidation toward DA in the linear response range from 0.5 to 70 μM with the detection limit of 0.023 μM. The proposed sensor also exhibits very good selectivity and stability, with the appreciable sensitivity. In addition, the proposed sensor showed satisfactory recovery results toward the commercial pharmaceutical DA samples. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Osteoconductive hydroxyapatite coated PEEK for spinal fusion surgery

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hahn, Byung-Dong; Park, Dong-Soo; Choi, Jong-Jin; Ryu, Jungho; Yoon, Woon-Ha; Choi, Joon-Hwan; Kim, Jong-Woo; Ahn, Cheol-Woo; Kim, Hyoun-Ee; Yoon, Byung-Ho; Jung, In-Kwon

2013-10-01

Polyetheretherketone (PEEK) has attracted much interest as biomaterial for interbody fusion cages due to its similar stiffness to bone and good radio-transparency for post-op visualization. Hydroxyapatite (HA) coating stimulates bone growth to the medical implant. The objective of this work is to make an implant consisting of biocompatible PEEK with an osteoconductive HA surface for spinal or orthopedic applications. Highly dense and well-adhered HA coating was developed on medical-grade PEEK using aerosol deposition (AD) without thermal degradation of the PEEK. The HA coating had a dense microstructure with no cracks or pores, and showed good adhesion to PEEK at adhesion strengths above 14.3 MPa. The crystallinity of the HA coating was remarkably enhanced by hydrothermal annealing as post-deposition heat-treatment. In addition, in vitro and in vivo biocompatibility of PEEK, in terms of cell adhesion morphology, cell proliferation, differentiation, and bone-to-implant contact ratio, were remarkably enhanced by the HA coating through AD.

Effect of Atmospheric Pressure Plasma and Subsequent Enzymatic Treatment on Flax Fabrics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhong, Shaofeng; Yang, Bin; Ou, Qiongrong

2015-09-01

The objective is to investigate the effect of atmospheric pressure dielectric barrier discharge (APDBD) plasma and subsequent cellulase enzyme treatment on the properties of flax fabrics. The changes of surface morphology and structure, physico-mechanical properties, hydrophilicity, bending properties, whiteness, and dyeing properties of the treated substrate were investigated. The results indicated that atmospheric pressure dielectric barrier discharge plasma pre-treatment and subsequent cellulase enzyme treatment could diminish the hairiness of flax fabrics, endowing the flax fabrics with good bending properties, water uptake and fiber accessibility while keeping their good mechanical properties compared with those treated with cellulase enzyme alone. supported by the Science and Technology Project of the Education Department of Zhejiang Province, China (No. Y201432680) and the Professional Leaders Leading Project of the Education Department of Zhejiang Province, China (No. lj2013131), the Teaching and Research Award Program for Outstanding Young Teachers in Higher Education Institutions of the Education Department of Zhejiang Province, China (No. 1097802072012001)

A monolayer of hierarchical silver hemi-mesoparticles with tunable surface topographies for highly sensitive surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhu, Shuangmei; Fan, Chunzhen; Mao, Yanchao; Wang, Junqiao; He, Jinna; Liang, Erjun; Chao, Mingju

2016-02-01

We proposed a facile green synthesis system to synthesize large-scale Ag hemi-mesoparticles monolayer on Cu foil. Ag hemi-mesoparticles have different surface morphologies on their surfaces, including ridge-like, meatball-like, and fluffy-like shapes. In the reaction, silver nitrate was reduced by copper at room temperature in dimethyl sulfoxide via the galvanic displacement reaction. The different surface morphologies of the Ag hemi-mesoparticles were adjusted by changing the reaction time, and the hemi-mesoparticle surface formed fluffy-spherical nanoprotrusions at longer reaction time. At the same time, we explored the growth mechanism of silver hemi-mesoparticles with different surface morphologies. With 4-mercaptobenzoic acid as Raman probe molecules, the fluffy-like silver hemi-mesoparticles monolayer with the best activity of surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS), the enhancement factor is up to 7.33 × 107 and the detection limit can reach 10-10M. SERS measurements demonstrate that these Ag hemi-mesoparticles can serve as sensitive SERS substrates. At the same time, using finite element method, the distribution of the localized electromagnetic field near the particle surface was simulated to verify the enhanced mechanism. This study helps us to understand the relationship between morphology Ag hemi-mesoparicles and the properties of SERS.

A monolayer of hierarchical silver hemi-mesoparticles with tunable surface topographies for highly sensitive surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy.

PubMed

Zhu, Shuangmei; Fan, Chunzhen; Mao, Yanchao; Wang, Junqiao; He, Jinna; Liang, Erjun; Chao, Mingju

2016-02-21

We proposed a facile green synthesis system to synthesize large-scale Ag hemi-mesoparticles monolayer on Cu foil. Ag hemi-mesoparticles have different surface morphologies on their surfaces, including ridge-like, meatball-like, and fluffy-like shapes. In the reaction, silver nitrate was reduced by copper at room temperature in dimethyl sulfoxide via the galvanic displacement reaction. The different surface morphologies of the Ag hemi-mesoparticles were adjusted by changing the reaction time, and the hemi-mesoparticle surface formed fluffy-spherical nanoprotrusions at longer reaction time. At the same time, we explored the growth mechanism of silver hemi-mesoparticles with different surface morphologies. With 4-mercaptobenzoic acid as Raman probe molecules, the fluffy-like silver hemi-mesoparticles monolayer with the best activity of surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS), the enhancement factor is up to 7.33 × 10(7) and the detection limit can reach 10(-10)M. SERS measurements demonstrate that these Ag hemi-mesoparticles can serve as sensitive SERS substrates. At the same time, using finite element method, the distribution of the localized electromagnetic field near the particle surface was simulated to verify the enhanced mechanism. This study helps us to understand the relationship between morphology Ag hemi-mesoparicles and the properties of SERS.

Mimicking bug-like surface structures and their fluid transport produced by ultrashort laser pulse irradiation of steel

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kirner, S. V.; Hermens, U.; Mimidis, A.; Skoulas, E.; Florian, C.; Hischen, F.; Plamadeala, C.; Baumgartner, W.; Winands, K.; Mescheder, H.; Krüger, J.; Solis, J.; Siegel, J.; Stratakis, E.; Bonse, J.

2017-12-01

Ultrashort laser pulses with durations in the fs-to-ps range were used for large area surface processing of steel aimed at mimicking the morphology and extraordinary wetting behaviour of bark bugs (Aradidae) found in nature. The processing was performed by scanning the laser beam over the surface of polished flat sample surfaces. A systematic variation of the laser processing parameters (peak fluence and effective number of pulses per spot diameter) allowed the identification of different regimes associated with characteristic surface morphologies (laser-induced periodic surface structures, i.e., LIPSS, grooves, spikes, etc.). Moreover, different laser processing strategies, varying laser wavelength, pulse duration, angle of incidence, irradiation atmosphere, and repetition rates, allowed to achieve a range of morphologies that resemble specific structures found on bark bugs. For identifying the ideal combination of parameters for mimicking bug-like structures, the surfaces were inspected by scanning electron microscopy. In particular, tilted micrometre-sized spikes are the best match for the structure found on bark bugs. Complementary to the morphology study, the wetting behaviour of the surface structures for water and oil was examined in terms of philic/phobic nature and fluid transport. These results point out a route towards reproducing complex surface structures inspired by nature and their functional response in technologically relevant materials.

Nanoscale Roughness and Morphology Affect the IsoElectric Point of Titania Surfaces

PubMed Central

Borghi, Francesca; Vyas, Varun; Podestà, Alessandro; Milani, Paolo

2013-01-01

We report on the systematic investigation of the role of surface nanoscale roughness and morphology on the charging behaviour of nanostructured titania (TiO2) surfaces in aqueous solutions. IsoElectric Points (IEPs) of surfaces have been characterized by direct measurement of the electrostatic double layer interactions between titania surfaces and the micrometer-sized spherical silica probe of an atomic force microscope in NaCl aqueous electrolyte. The use of a colloidal probe provides well-defined interaction geometry and allows effectively probing the overall effect of nanoscale morphology. By using supersonic cluster beam deposition to fabricate nanostructured titania films, we achieved a quantitative control over the surface morphological parameters. We performed a systematical exploration of the electrical double layer properties in different interaction regimes characterized by different ratios of characteristic nanometric lengths of the system: the surface rms roughness Rq, the correlation length ξ and the Debye length λD. We observed a remarkable reduction by several pH units of IEP on rough nanostructured surfaces, with respect to flat crystalline rutile TiO2. In order to explain the observed behavior of IEP, we consider the roughness-induced self-overlap of the electrical double layers as a potential source of deviation from the trend expected for flat surfaces. PMID:23874708

Morphology Analysis and Optimization: Crucial Factor Determining the Performance of Perovskite Solar Cells.

PubMed

Zeng, Wenjin; Liu, Xingming; Guo, Xiangru; Niu, Qiaoli; Yi, Jianpeng; Xia, Ruidong; Min, Yong

2017-03-24

This review presents an overall discussion on the morphology analysis and optimization for perovskite (PVSK) solar cells. Surface morphology and energy alignment have been proven to play a dominant role in determining the device performance. The effect of the key parameters such as solution condition and preparation atmosphere on the crystallization of PVSK, the characterization of surface morphology and interface distribution in the perovskite layer is discussed in detail. Furthermore, the analysis of interface energy level alignment by using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy is presented to reveals the correlation between morphology and charge generation and collection within the perovskite layer, and its influence on the device performance. The techniques including architecture modification, solvent annealing, etc. were reviewed as an efficient approach to improve the morphology of PVSK. It is expected that further progress will be achieved with more efforts devoted to the insight of the mechanism of surface engineering in the field of PVSK solar cells.

Highly reproducible surface-enhanced Raman scattering-active Au nanostructures prepared by simple electrodeposition: origin of surface-enhanced Raman scattering activity and applications as electrochemical substrates.

PubMed

Choi, Suhee; Ahn, Miri; Kim, Jongwon

2013-05-24

The fabrication of effective surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) substrates has been the subject of intensive research because of their useful applications. In this paper, dendritic gold (Au) rod (DAR) structures prepared by simple one-step electrodeposition in a short time were examined as an effective SERS-active substrate. The SERS activity of the DAR surfaces was compared to that of other nanostructured Au surfaces with different morphologies, and its dependence on the structural variation of DAR structures was examined. These comparisonal investigations revealed that highly faceted sharp edge sites present on the DAR surfaces play a critical role in inducing a high SERS activity. The SERS enhancement factor was estimated to be greater than 10(5), and the detection limit of rhodamine 6G at DAR surfaces was 10(-8)M. The DAR surfaces exhibit excellent spot-to-spot and substrate-to-substrate SERS enhancement reproducibility, and their long-term stability is very good. It was also demonstrated that the DAR surfaces can be effectively utilized in electrochemical SERS systems, wherein a reversible SERS behavior was obtained during the cycling to cathodic potential regions. Considering the straightforward preparation of DAR substrates and the clean nature of SERS-active Au surfaces prepared in the absence of additives, we expect that DAR surfaces can be used as cost-effective SERS substrates in analytical and electrochemical applications. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Strain relaxation induced surface morphology of heterogeneous GaInNAs layers grown on GaAs substrate

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gelczuk, Ł.; Jóźwiak, G.; Moczała, M.; Dłużewski, P.; Dąbrowska-Szata, M.; Gotszalk, T. P.

2017-07-01

The partially-relaxed heterogeneous GaInNAs layers grown on GaAs substrate by atmospheric pressure vapor phase epitaxy (AP-MOVPE) were investigated by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The planar-view TEM image shows a regular 2D network of misfit dislocations oriented in two orthogonal 〈1 1 0〉 crystallographic directions at the (0 0 1) layer interface. Moreover, the cross-sectional view TEM image reveals InAs-rich and V-shaped precipitates in the near surface region of the GaInNAs epitaxial layer. The resultant undulating surface morphology, known as a cross-hatch pattern, is formed as observed by AFM. The numerical analysis of the AFM image of the GaInNAs layer surface with the well-defined cross-hatch morphology enabled us to determine a lower bound of actual density of misfit dislocations. However, a close correspondence between the asymmetric distribution of interfacial misfit dislocations and undulating surface morphology is observed.

Simultaneous formation of multiscale hierarchical surface morphologies through sequential wrinkling and folding

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Yu; Sun, Qingyang; Xiao, Jianliang

2018-02-01

Highly organized hierarchical surface morphologies possess various intriguing properties that could find important potential applications. In this paper, we demonstrate a facile approach to simultaneously form multiscale hierarchical surface morphologies through sequential wrinkling. This method combines surface wrinkling induced by thermal expansion and mechanical strain on a three-layer structure composed of an aluminum film, a hard Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) film, and a soft PDMS substrate. Deposition of the aluminum film on hard PDMS induces biaxial wrinkling due to thermal expansion mismatch, and recovering the prestrain in the soft PDMS substrate leads to wrinkling of the hard PDMS film. In total, three orders of wrinkling patterns form in this process, with wavelength and amplitude spanning 3 orders of magnitude in length scale. By increasing the prestrain in the soft PDMS substrate, a hierarchical wrinkling-folding structure was also obtained. This approach can be easily extended to other thin films for fabrication of multiscale hierarchical surface morphologies with potential applications in different areas.

Characterization of hematite nanoparticles synthesized via two different pathways

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Das, Soumya; Hendry, M. Jim

2014-08-01

Hematite is one of the most common and thermodynamically stable iron oxides found in both natural and anthropogenic systems. Owing to its ubiquity, stability, moderate specific surface area, and ability to sequester metals and metalloids from aquatic systems, it has been the subject of a large number of adsorption studies published during the past few decades. Although preparation techniques are known to affect the surface morphology of hematite nanoparticles, the effects of aging under environmentally relevant conditions have yet to be tested with respect to surface morphology, surface area, and adsorptive capacity. We prepared hematite via two different pathways and aged it under highly alkaline conditions encountered in many mill tailings settings. Crystal habits and morphologies of the hematite nanoparticles were analyzed via scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller surface area analyses were also conducted on the hematite nanoparticles before and after aging. The hematite synthesized via an Fe(III) salt solution (average particle size 37 nm) was morphologically and structurally different from the hematite synthesized via ferrihydrite aging (average particle size 144 nm). Overall, our data demonstrate that the crystallinity of hematite produced via ferrihydrite transformation is susceptible to morphological alterations/modifications. In contrast, the hematite formed via hydrolysis of an Fe(III) salt solution remains very stable in terms of structure, size, and morphology even under extreme experimental conditions.

Solid particle impingement erosion characteristics of cylindrical surfaces, pre-existing holes and slits

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Rao, P. V.; Buckley, D. H.

1983-01-01

The erosion characteristics of aluminum cylinders sand-blasted with both spherical and angular erodent particles were studied and compared with results from previously studied flat surfaces. The cylindrical results are discussed with respect to impact conditions. The relationship between erosion rate and pit morphology (width, depth, and width to depth ratio) is established. The aspects of (1) erosion rate versus time curves on cylindrical surfaces; (2) long-term exposures; and (3) erosion rate versus time curves with spherical and angular particles are presented. The erosion morphology and characteristics of aluminum surfaces with pre-existing circular cylindrical and conical holes of different sizes were examined using weight loss measurements, scanning electron microscopy, a profilometer, and a depth gage. The morphological features (radial and concentric rings) are discussed with reference to flat surfaces, and the erosion features with spherical microglass beads. The similarities and differences of erosion and morphological features are highlighted. The erosion versus time curves of various shapes of holes are discussed and are compared with those of a flat surface. The erosion process at slits is considered.

Enteric trimethyl chitosan nanoparticles containing hepatitis B surface antigen for oral delivery.

PubMed

Farhadian, Asma; Dounighi, Naser Mohammadpour; Avadi, Mohammadreza

2015-01-01

Oral vaccination is the preferred route of immunization. However, the degradative condition of the gastrointestinal tract and the higher molecular size of peptides pose major challenges in developing an effective oral vaccination system. One of the most excellent methods used in the development of oral vaccine delivery system relies on the entrapment of the antigen in polymeric nanoparticles. In this work, trimethyl chitosan (TMC) nanoparticles were fabricated using ionic gelation teqnique by interaction hydroxypropyl methylcellulose phthalate (HPMCP), a pH-sensitive polymer, with TMC and the utility of the particles in the oral delivery of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) was evaluated employing solutions that simulated gastric and intestinal conditions. The particle size, morphology, zeta potential, loading capacity, loading efficiency, in vitro release behavior, structure, and morphology of nanoparticles were evaluated, and the activity of the loaded antigen was assessed. Size of the optimized TMC/HPMCP nanoparticles and that of the antigen-loaded nanoparticles were 85 nm and 158 nm, respectively. Optimum loading capacity (76.75%) and loading efficiency (86.29%) were achieved at 300 µg/mL concentration of the antigen. SEM images revealed a spherical shape as well as a smooth and near-homogenous surface of nanoparticles. Results of the in vitro release studies showed that formulation with HPMCP improved the acid stability of the TMC nanoparticles as well as their capability to preserve the loaded HBsAg from gastric destruction. The antigen showed good activity both before and after loading. The results suggest that TMC/HPMCP nanoparticles could be used in the oral delivery of HBsAg vaccine.

Bubbles and Dust: Dissolution Rates of Unhydrated Volcanic Ash as a Function of Morphology, Composition, and Particle Size

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wygel, C. M.; Sahagian, D. L.

2017-12-01

Volcanic eruptions are natural hazards due to their explosive nature and widespread transportation and deposition of ash particles. After deposition and subsequent leaching in soils or water bodies, ash deposition positively (nutrients) and negatively (contaminants) impacts the health of flora and fauna, including humans. The effects of ash leachates have been difficult to replicate in field and laboratory studies due to the many complexities and differences between ash particles. Ash morphology is characteristic for each eruption, dependent upon eruption energy, and should play a critical role in determining leaching rates. Morphology reflects overall particle surface area, which is strongly influenced by the presence of surface dust. In addition, ash composition, which in part controls morphology and particle size, may also affect leaching rates. This study determines the extent to which ash morphology, surface area, composition, and particle size control ash dissolution rates. Further, it is necessary to determine whether compound vesicular ash particles permit water into their interior structures to understand if both the internal and external surface areas are available for leaching. To address this, six fresh, unhydrated ash samples from diverse volcanic environments and a large range in morphology, from Pele's spheres to vesicular compound ash, are tested in the laboratory. Ash morphology was characterized on the Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) before and after leaching and surface area was quantified by Brunauer Emmett Teller (BET) analysis and with geometric calculations. Column Leachate Tests (CLT) were conducted to compare leaching rates over a range of basaltic to silicic ashes as a function of time and surface area, to recreate the effects of ash deposition in diverse volcanic environments. After the CLT, post-leaching water analyses were conducted by Ion Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) and Ion Chromatography (IC). We find that leaching rates are correlated to characteristic surface area of ash particles.

The Effects of the Addition of Silica Mol Fraction (x = 1.5; 2; 2.5) as a Solid Electrolyte on Ion Conductivity of NASICON (Na1-xZr2SixP3-xO12) Using Solid-State Method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pratiwi, V. M.; Purwaningsih, H.; Widyastuti; Fajarin, R.; Setyawan, H.

2017-05-01

Energy is a very important in modern life and need innovations to develop it. One innovation is the application of energyfor storage devices, such as batteries, capacitors, fuel cells, etc. For 30 years, the application of the NASICON (Na1+xZr2SixP3-xO12) into the NASICON gas sensor material was successfully prepared by using solid-state method. The raw materials such as SiO2, Na2CO3, ZrO2, and NaH2PO4 with a little methanol were mixed in Ballmill equipment. The silica powder was made by the extraction of bagasse ash by using sol-gel method. The x-ray diffraction patternshowedthat the result of silica extraction was amorphous and the NASICON structure wassynthesizedto bemonoclinic. The scanning electron microscopy results indicated that silica had non-uniform surface morphology and the NASICON had good surface morphology only on the form of Na3Zr2Si2PO12. The ionic conductivty of NASICON wasshown on LCR Nyquist plot of the three compositions. The highest NASICON conductivity was found inthe composition of x = 2.0, i.e. 1.142x10-8 S/m.

Evaluation of the structural, optical and electrical properties of AZO thin films prepared by chemical bath deposition for optoelectronics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kumar, K. Deva Arun; Valanarasu, S.; Rosario, S. Rex; Ganesh, V.; Shkir, Mohd.; Sreelatha, C. J.; AlFaify, S.

2018-04-01

Aluminum doped zinc oxide (AZO) thin films for electrode applications were deposited on glass substrates using chemical bath deposition (CBD) method. The influence of deposition time on the structural, morphological, and opto-electrical properties of AZO films were investigated. Structural studies confirmed that all the deposited films were hexagonal wurtzite structure with polycrystalline nature and exhibited (002) preferential orientation. There is no other impurity phases were detected for different deposition time. Surface morphological images shows the spherically shaped grains are uniformly arranged on to the entire film surface. The EDS spectrum confirms the presence of Zn, O and Al elements in deposited AZO film. The observed optical transmittance is high (87%) in the visible region, and the calculated band gap value is 3.27 eV. In this study, the transmittance value is decreased with increasing deposition time. The room temperature PL spectrum exposed that AZO thin film deposited at (60 min) has good optical quality with less defect density. The minimum electrical resistivity and maximum carrier concentration values were observed as 8.53 × 10-3(Ω cm) and 3.53 × 1018 cm-3 for 60 min deposited film, respectively. The obtained figure of merit (ϕ) value 3.05 × 10-3(Ω/sq)- 1 is suggested for an optoelectronic device.

Morphology-Controlled 9,10-Diphenylanthracene Nanoblocks as Electrochemiluminescence Emitters for MicroRNA Detection with One-Step DNA Walker Amplification.

PubMed

Liu, Jia-Li; Tang, Zhi-Ling; Zhang, Jia-Qi; Chai, Ya-Qin; Zhuo, Ying; Yuan, Ruo

2018-04-17

The electrochemiluminescence (ECL) properties of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are excellent on account of the high photoluminescence quantum yield. However, the poor solubility and radical instability of PAHs in the aqueous solution severely restricted further biological application. Here 9,10-diphenylanthracene (DPA) nanoblocks (NBs) with good dispersibility and stability in aqueous solution were prepared according to morphology-controlled technology employing water-soluble polymers as a protectant. Furthermore, an ECL "off-on" switch biosensor was developed based on a novel ECL ternary system with DPA NBs as luminophore, dissolved O 2 as coreactant, and Pt-Ag alloy nanoflowers as the coreaction accelerator, which achieved a high-intense initial ECL signal. Subsequently, the Fc-DNA as ECL signal quencher was assembled on the electrode surface to quench the initial ECL signal for a "signal-off" state. Meanwhile, DNA swing arm was modified on the electrode surface for one-step DNA walker amplification. Interestingly, in the presence of miRNA-141 and T7 Exo, the one-step DNA walker amplification was executed to recover a strong ECL signal as a "signal-on" state by the digestion of Fc-DNA. Thus the developed ECL "off-on" switch biosensor possesses a detection limit down to 29.5 aM for ultrasensitive detection of miRNA-141, which is expected to be applicable to the detection of miRNA in clinic tumor cells.

Facile synthesis and lithium storage properties of a porous NiSi2/Si/carbon composite anode material for lithium-ion batteries.

PubMed

Jia, Haiping; Stock, Christoph; Kloepsch, Richard; He, Xin; Badillo, Juan Pablo; Fromm, Olga; Vortmann, Britta; Winter, Martin; Placke, Tobias

2015-01-28

In this work, a novel, porous structured NiSi2/Si composite material with a core-shell morphology was successfully prepared using a facile ball-milling method. Furthermore, the chemical vapor deposition (CVD) method is deployed to coat the NiSi2/Si phase with a thin carbon layer to further enhance the surface electronic conductivity and to mechanically stabilize the whole composite structure. The morphology and porosity of the composite material was evaluated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and nitrogen adsorption measurements (BJH analysis). The as-prepared composite material consists of NiSi2, silicon, and carbon phases, in which the NiSi2 phase is embedded in a silicon matrix having homogeneously distributed pores, while the surface of this composite is coated with a carbon layer. The electrochemical characterization shows that the porous and core-shell structure of the composite anode material can effectively absorb and buffer the immense volume changes of silicon during the lithiation/delithiation process. The obtained NiSi2/Si/carbon composite anode material displays an outstanding electrochemical performance, which gives a stable capacity of 1272 mAh g(-1) for 200 cycles at a charge/discharge rate of 1C and a good rate capability with a reversible capacity of 740 mAh g(-1) at a rate of 5C.

Evolution of Morphology and Crystallinity of Silica Minerals Under Hydrothermal Conditions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Isobe, H.

2011-12-01

Silica minerals are quite common mineral species in surface environment of the terrestrial planets. They are good indicator of terrestrial processes including hydrothermal alteration, diagenesis and soil formation. Hydrothermal quartz, metastable low temperature cristobalite and amorphous silica show characteristic morphology and crystallinity depending on their formation processes and kinetics under wide range of temperature, pressure, acidity and thermal history. In this study, silica minerals produced by acidic hydrothermal alteration related to volcanic activities and hydrothermal crystallization experiments from diatom sediment are examined with crystallographic analysis and morphologic observations. Low temperature form of cistobalite is a metastable phase and a common alteration product occured in highly acidic hydrothermal environment around fumaroles in geothermal / volcanic areas. XRD analysis revealed that the alteration degree of whole rock is represented by abundance of cristobalite. Detailed powder XRD analysis show that the primary diffraction peak of cristobalite composed with two or three phases with different d-spacing and FWHM by peak profile fitting analysis. Shorter d-spacing and narrower FWHM cristobalite crystallize from precursor materials with less-crystallized, longer d-spacing and wider FWHM cristobalite. Textures of hydrothermal cristobalite in altered rock shows remnant of porphylitic texture of the host rock, pyroxene-amphibole andesite. Diatom has amorphous silica shell and makes diatomite sediment. Diatomite found in less diagenetic Quarternary formation keeps amorphous silica diatom shells. Hydrothermal alteration experiments of amorphous silica diatomite sediment are carried out from 300 °C to 550 °C. Mineral composition of run products shows crystallization of cristobalite and quartz progress depending on temperature and run durations. Initial crystallization product, cristobalite grains occur as characteristic lepispheres and granules with various surface structures. At the very initial stage of cristobalite crystallization within 2 days run duration, cristobalite shows lepispheres a few micron meters in diameter with irregular, submicron scale ridges and grooves on the surface. With the run duration up to 7 days, lepispheres change to granules with smooth surface remaining a few micron meters in diameter. Crystallinity of cristobalite lepispheres and granules corresponds to opal-CT. Euhedral quartz crystals grow with dissolution of cristobalite grains. Growth rate of cristobalite and quartz is controlled by crystallization kinetics with induction period strongly depending on temperature. Induction period of cristobalite crystallization from amorphous silica may exceed several million years at temperature below 100 °C. Crystallinity, morphology and growth rate of silica minerals occurred in various terrestrial and planetary processes are controlled by temperature and acidity of hydrothermal fluid and nucleation and growth kinetics of silica minerals.

Influence of surface morphology on adsorption of potassium stearate molecules on diamond-like carbon substrate: A molecular dynamics study

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Guo, Shusen; Cao, Yongzhi; Sun, Tao; Zhang, Junjie; Gu, Le; Zhang, Chuanwei; Xu, Zhiqiang

2018-05-01

Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations were used to provide insights into the influence of nano-scale surface morphology on adsorptive behavior of Potassium stearate molecules on diamond-like carbon (DLC) substrates. Particular focus was given to explain that how the distinctive geometric properties of different surface morphologies affect the equilibrium structures and substrate-molecules interactions of monolayers, which was achieved through adsorptive analysis methods including adsorptive process, density profile, density distribution and surface potential energy. Analysis on surface potential energy demonstrated that the adsorptivity of amorphous smooth substrate is uniformly distributed over the surface, while DLC substrates with different surface morphologies appear to be more potentially corrugated, which improves the adsorptivity significantly. Because of the large distance of molecules from carbon atoms located at the square groove bottom, substrate-molecules interactions vanish significantly, and thus potassium stearate molecules cannot penetrate completely into the square groove. It can be observed that the equilibrium substrate-molecules interactions of triangle groove and semi-circle groove are much more powerful than that of square groove due to geometrically advantageous properties. These findings provided key information of optimally design of solid substrates with controllable adsorptivity.

Ag films deposited on Si and Ti: How the film-substrate interaction influences the nanoscale film morphology

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ruffino, F.; Torrisi, V.

2017-11-01

Submicron-thick Ag films were sputter deposited, at room temperature, on Si, covered by the native SiO2 layer, and on Ti, covered by the native TiO2 layer, under normal and oblique deposition angle. The aim of this work was to study the morphological differences in the grown Ag films on the two substrates when fixed all the other deposition parameters. In fact, the surface diffusivity of the Ag adatoms is different on the two substrates (higher on the SiO2 surface) due to the different Ag-SiO2 and Ag-TiO2 atomic interactions. So, the effect of the adatoms surface diffusivity, as determined by the adatoms-substrate interaction, on the final film morphology was analyzed. To this end, microscopic analyses were used to study the morphology of the grown Ag films. Even if the homologous temperature prescribes that the Ag film grows on both substrates in the zone I described by the structure zone model some significant differences are observed on the basis of the supporting substrate. In the normal incidence condition, on the SiO2/Si surface a dense close-packed Ag film exhibiting a smooth surface is obtained, while on the TiO2/Ti surface a more columnar film morphology is formed. In the oblique incidence condition the columnar morphology for the Ag film occurs both on SiO2/Si and TiO2/Ti but a higher porous columnar film is obtained on TiO2/Ti due to the lower Ag diffusivity. These results indicate that the adatoms diffusivity on the substrate as determined by the adatom-surface interaction (in addition to the substrate temperature) strongly determines the final film nanostructure.

A kinetic model for the characteristic surface morphologies of thin films by directional vapor deposition

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Kun-Dar; Huang, Po-Yu

2017-12-01

In order to simulate a process of directional vapor deposition, in this study, a numerical approach was applied to model the growth and evolution of surface morphologies for the crystallographic structures of thin films. The critical factors affecting the surface morphologies in a deposition process, such as the crystallographic symmetry, anisotropic interfacial energy, shadowing effect, and deposition rate, were all enclosed in the theoretical model. By altering the parameters of crystallographic symmetry in the structures, the faceted nano-columns with rectangular and hexagonal shapes were established in the simulation results. Furthermore, for revealing the influences of the anisotropic strength and the deposition rate theoretically on the crystallographic structure formations, various parameters adjusted in the numerical calculations were also investigated. Not only the morphologies but also the surface roughnesses for different processing conditions were distinctly demonstrated with the quantitative analysis of the simulations.

Surface morphology and electrochemical studies on polyaniline/CuO nano composites

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ashokkumar, S. P.; Vijeth, H.; Yesappa, L.; Niranjana, M.; Vandana, M.; Basappa, M.; Devendrappa, H.

2018-05-01

An electrochemically synthesized Polyaniline (PANI) and Polyaniline/copper oxide (PCN) nano composite have studied the morphology and electrochemical properties. The composite is characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and surface morphology was studied using FESEM and electrochemical behavior is studied using cyclic voltammetry (CV) technique. The CV curves shows rectangular shaped curve and they have contribution to electrical double layer capacitance (EDCL).

Morphological instability of GaAs (7 1 1)A: A transition between (1 0 0) and (5 1 1) terraces

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yazdanpanah, V. R.; Wang, Zh. M.; Salamo, G. J.

2005-06-01

We report on the use of reflection high-energy electron diffraction (RHEED) and scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) study that indicates that the GaAs (7 1 1)A is right at the transition between vicinal GaAs (1 0 0) and vicinal GaAs (5 1 1)A surfaces and that a variation of the As overpressure switches the surface morphology between the two vicinal surfaces. The steps on the vicinal (1 0 0) surface have a width of 1.5 nm creating a staircase surface with excellent possibilities for growth of quantum wells. As-rich conditions can be described by vicinal (5 1 1)A surfaces with a width of 3.5 nm. This surface could find applications as a template for quantum wire growth. The observation suggests that the transition between these two morphologies is understandable based on the increase in surface energy of a vicinal (1 0 0) surface as the step separation approaches the dimer reconstructed separation.

Hydroxyapatite-silver nanoparticles coatings on porous polyurethane scaffold.

PubMed

Ciobanu, Gabriela; Ilisei, Simona; Luca, Constantin

2014-02-01

The present paper is focused on a study regarding the possibility of obtaining hydroxyapatite-silver nanoparticle coatings on porous polyurethane scaffold. The method applied is based on a combined strategy involving hydroxyapatite biomimetic deposition on polyurethane surface using a Supersaturated Calcification Solution (SCS), combined with silver ions reduction and in-situ crystallization processes on hydroxyapatite-polyurethane surface by sample immersing in AgNO3 solution. The morphology, composition and phase structure of the prepared samples were characterized by scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDX), X-ray diffraction (XRD), UV-Vis spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) measurements. The data obtained show that a layer of hydroxyapatite was deposited on porous polyurethane support and the silver nanoparticles (average size 34.71 nm) were dispersed among and even on the hydroxyapatite crystals. Hydroxyapatite/polyurethane surface acts as a reducer and a stabilizing agent for silver ions. The surface plasmon resonance peak in UV-Vis absorption spectra showed an absorption maximum at 415 nm, indicating formation of silver nanoparticles. The hydroxyapatite-silver polyurethane scaffolds were tested against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli and the obtained data were indicative of good antibacterial properties of the materials. © 2013.

Experimental and modeling study on charge storage/transfer mechanism of graphene-based supercapacitors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ban, Shuai; Jing, Xie; Zhou, Hongjun; Zhang, Lei; Zhang, Jiujun

2014-12-01

A symmetrical graphene-based supercapacitor is constructed for studying the charge-transfer mechanism within the graphene-based electrodes using both experiment measurements and molecular simulation. The in-house synthesized graphene is characterized by XRD, SEM and BET measurements for morphology and surface area. It is observed that the electric capacity of graphene electrode can be reduced by both high internal resistance and limited mass transfer. Computer modeling is conducted at the molecular level to characterize the diffusion behavior of electrolyte ions to the interior of electrode with emphasis on the unique 2D confinement imposed by graphene layers. Although graphene powder poses a moderate internal surface of 400 m2 g-1, the capacitance performance of graphene electrode can be as good as that of commercial activated carbon which has an overwhelming surface area of 1700 m2 g-1. An explanation to this abnormal correlation is that graphene material has an intrinsic capability of adaptively reorganizing its microporous structure in response to intercalation of ions and immergence of electrolyte solvent. The accessible surface of graphene is believed to be dramatically enlarged for ion adsorption during the charging process of capacitor.

Stereoregular polyacrylamide and its copolymer brushes: Preparation and surface characters

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jiang, Jianguo; Wang, Xiaoshu; Lu, Xiaoyan; Lu, Yun

2008-12-01

Two kinds of polymer brushes, the single one with stereospecific polyacrylamide (PAAM) chains and the dual-component one with random poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) segments grafting from stereospecific PAAM chains, were prepared on silicon wafer for the first time by combining the immobilization of initiator and the stereospecific living radical in situ polymerization. With the addition of the Lewis acid AlCl 3 into the polymerization system, the PAAM brushes obtained exhibited an increased stereospecificity as well as a decreased hydrophilicity, which might attribute to the reduced thickness of PAAM brushes on the silicon wafer and the handicap of the free rotation of the stereospecific molecular chain. The smoother surface morphology of the stereospecific PAAM brushes shown in AFM images was in good agreement with the experimental data of water contact angle. Also, block amphiphilic copolymer brushes were prepared with the stereospecific PAAM formed first on silicon wafer as the anchored-initiator and revealed a novel surface self-assembly behavior after being treated with different solvent such as toluene or water. The stereospecificity of PAAM chains in the polymer brushes could be modulated by adjusting reaction conditions according to the requirement of applications for surface hydrophilicity.

Structure and Tribological Properties of B83 Babbit-Based Composite Rods and the Coatings Produced from Them by Arc Surfacing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bolotova, L. K.; Kalashnikov, I. E.; Kobeleva, L. I.; Katin, I. E.; Kolmakov, A. G.; Mikheev, R. S.; Kobernik, N. V.; Podymova, N. B.

2018-01-01

Surfacing composite rods based on a B83 babbit alloy reinforced by silicon carbide and boron carbide particles are fabricated by extrusion. The structure and the tribological properties of the rods are studied. Extrusion allowed us to introduce and to uniformly distribute reinforcing fillers and to change the size and the morphology of the intermetallic phases in the matrix alloy. The wear resistance of the rods made of the B83 babbit + 5 wt % SiC composite material is shown to be higher than that of commercial B83 alloy samples by a factor of 1.2. Arc surfacing is used to deposit antifriction coatings, which are made of the surfacing composite rods based on B83 babbit reinforced by boron carbide or silicon carbide particles, onto steel substrates. The deposited layers exhibit good adhesion to the substrates: the melting line is continuous and does not contain discontinuities. The structure and the tribological properties of the deposited coatings are studied. The wear resistance of the composite coatings is higher than that of the B83 alloy-based coating by 30%.

Io: Mountains and crustal extension

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Heath, M. J.

1985-01-01

It is argued that there is good reason to conclude that mountains on Io, like those on Earth, are subject to growth and decay. The decay of mountains will be assisted by the ability of SO sub 2 to rot silicate rock and by explosive escape of sub-surface SO sub 2 from aquifers (Haemus Mons is seen to be covered by bright material, presumably fallout from a SO sub 2 rich plume which had been active on the mountain flanks). On the west side of the massif at 10 degrees S, 270 degrees W a rugged surface consists of long ridges running perpendicular to the downslope direction, suggesting tectonic denudation with crustal blocks sliding down the mountain flank. Tectonic denudation may be assisted, as in the case of the Bearpaw Mountains, Montana by overloading mountain flanks with volcanic products. The surfaces of some massifs exhibit a well developed, enigmatic corrugated terrain, consisting of complex ridge systems. Ridges may bifurcate, anastomose to form closed depressions and form concentric loops. Taken together, observations of morphology, heat flux, surface deposits and styles of volcanism may point to the existence of lithosphere domains with distinct compositions and tectonic regimes.

Morphology-dependent photo-induced polarization recovery in ferroelectric thin films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, J. Y.; Liu, G.; Sando, D.; Nagarajan, V.; Seidel, J.

2017-08-01

We investigate photo-induced ferroelectric domain switching in a series of Pb(Zr0.2Ti0.8)O3/La0.7Sr0.3MnO3 (PZT/LSMO) bilayer thin films with varying surface morphologies by piezoresponse force microscopy under light illumination. We demonstrate that reverse poled ferroelectric regions can be almost fully recovered under laser irradiation of the PZT layer and that the recovery process is dependent on the surface morphology on the nanometer scale. The recovery process is well described by the Kolmogorov-Avrami-Ishibashi model, and the evolution speed is controlled by light intensity, sample thickness, and initial write voltage. Our findings shed light on optical control of the domain structure in ferroelectric thin films with different surface morphologies.

Slip-additive migration, surface morphology, and performance on injection moulded high-density polyethylene closures.

PubMed

Dulal, Nabeen; Shanks, Robert; Gengenbach, Thomas; Gill, Harsharn; Chalmers, David; Adhikari, Benu; Pardo Martinez, Isaac

2017-11-01

The amount and distribution of slip agents, erucamide, and behenamide, on the surface of high-density polyethene, is determined by integral characteristics of slip agent structure and polymer morphology. A suite of surface analysis techniques was applied to correlate physicochemical properties with slip-additive migration behaviour and their surface morphology. The migration, surface morphology and physicochemical properties of the slip additives, crystallinity and orientation of polyethene spherulites and interaction between slip additives and high-density polyethene influence the surface characteristics. The high-density polyethene closures were produced with erucamide and behenamide separately and stored until they produced required torque. Surface composition was determined employing spectroscopy and gas chromatography. The distribution of additives was observed under optical, scanning electron and atomic force microscopes. The surface energy, crystallinity and application torque were measured using contact angle, differential scanning calorimeter and a torque force tester respectively. Each slip additive produced a characteristic amide peak at 1645cm -1 in infrared spectroscopy and peaks of oxygen and nitrogen in X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, suggesting their presence on the surface. The erucamide produced placoid scale-like structures and behenamide formed denticulate structures. The surface erucamide and behenamide responsible for reducing the torque was found to be 15.7µg/cm 2 and 1.7µg/cm 2 . Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

SAPO-34/AlMCM-41, as a novel hierarchical nanocomposite: preparation, characterization and investigation of synthesis factors using response surface methodology

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Roohollahi, Hossein; Halladj, Rouein; Askari, Sima; Yaripour, Fereydoon

2018-06-01

SAPO-34/AlMCM-41, as a new hierarchical nanocomposite was successfully synthesized via hydrothermal and dry-gel conversion. In an experimental and statistical study, effect of five input parameters including synthesis period, drying temperature, NaOH/Si, water/dried-gel and SAPO% were investigated on range-order degree of mesochannels and the relative crystallinity. X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns were recorded to characterize the ordered AlMCM-41 and crystalline SAPO-34 structures. Nitrogen adsorption-desorption technique, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), field-emission SEM (FESEM) equipped with an energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS-Map) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were used to study the textural properties, morphology and surface elemental composition. Two reduced polynomials were fitted to the responses with good precision. Further, based on analysis of variances, SAPO% and time duration of dry-gel conversion were observed as the most effective parameters on the composite structure. The hierarchical porosity, narrow pore size distribution, high external surface area and large specific pore volume were of interesting characteristics for this novel nanocomposite.

Natural fibre reinforced non-asbestos organic non-metallic friction composites: effect of abaca fibre on mechanical and tribological behaviour

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Yucheng; Ma, Yunhai; Che, Junjian; Duanmu, Lingjian; Zhuang, Jian; Tong, Jin

2018-05-01

To obtain a natural fibre reinforced non-asbestos organic non-metallic friction composite with good wear resistance and environmental-friendly performances, friction composites reinforced with different lengths of abaca fibre were fabricated by a compression molder equipment and evaluated by using a constant-speed friction test machine. The worn surface morphologies were observed and analyzed using a Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). Experimental results show that the length of abaca fibre had no significant effect on the density and hardness, but was obvious on impact strength. The impact strength increased and then decreased with the increasing of length of abaca fibres. Abaca fibres, especially short fibre (lengths of 5 mm, 10 mm), could improve the wear resistance of the friction composites. Meanwhile, the increase of test temperature could result in the increasing of wear rates of the friction composites. A large amount of secondary plateaux presented on the worn surface of specimens FC1 and FC2 which showe relatively smooth worn surfaces and yield the better wear resistance performance.

Thickness-dependent surface plasmon resonance of ITO nanoparticles for ITO/In-Sn bilayer structure.

PubMed

Wei, Wenzuo; Hong, Ruijin; Jing, Ming; Shao, Wen; Tao, Chunxian; Zhang, Dawei

2018-01-05

Tuning the localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) in doped semiconductor nanoparticles (NPs), which represents an important characteristic in LSPR sensor applications, still remains a challenge. Here, indium tin oxide/indium tin alloy (ITO/In-Sn) bilayer films were deposited by electron beam evaporation and the properties, such as the LSPR and surface morphology, were investigated by UV-VIS-NIR double beam spectrophotometer and atomic force microscopy (AFM), respectively. By simply engineering the thickness of ITO/In-Sn NPs without any microstructure fabrications, the LSPR wavelength of ITO NPs can be tuned by a large amount from 858 to 1758 nm. AFM images show that the strong LSPR of ITO NPs is closely related to the enhanced coupling between ITO and In-Sn NPs. Blue shifts of ITO LSPR from 1256 to 1104 nm are also observed in the as-annealed samples due to the higher free carrier concentration. Meanwhile, we also demonstrated that the ITO LSPR in ITO/In-Sn NPs structures has good sensitivity to the surrounding media and stability after 30 d exposure in air, enabling its application prospects in many biosensing devices.

One pot electrochemical synthesis of polymer/CNT/metal nanoparticles for fuel cell applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ventrapragada, Lakshman; Zhu, Jingyi; Karakaya, Mehmet; Podila, Ramakrishna; Rao, Apparao; Clemson Nanomaterials center Team

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have become a key player in the design of materials for energy applications. They gained their popularity in industrial and scientific research due to their unique properties like excellent conductivity, high surface area, etc. Here we used chemical vapor deposition (CVD) to synthesize two types of CNTs namely, helically coiled CNTs and vertically aligned CNTs. These CNTs were subsequently used to make composites with conducting polymers and metal nanoparticles. One pot electrochemical synthesis was designed to electropolymerize aniline, pyrrole etc. on the surface of the electrode with simultaneous deposition of platinum and gold metal nanoparticles, and CNTs in the polymer matrix. The as synthesized composite materials were characterized with scanning electron microscope for surface morphology and spectroscopic techniques like Raman, UV-Vis for functionality. These were used to study electrocatalytic oxidation of methanol and ethanol for alkaline fuel cell applications. Electrodes fabricated from these composites not only showed good kinetics but also exhibited excellent stability. Uniqueness of this composite lies in its simple two step synthesis and it doesn't involve any surfactants unlike conventional chemical synthesis routes.

The morphological study of porous silicon formed by electrochemical anodization method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Suryana, R.; Sandi, D. K.; Nakatsuka, O.

2018-03-01

Due to its good physical and chemical properties, porous silicon (PSi) is very attractive to study. In this research, PSi has been fabricated on n-type Si (100) by the electrochemical anodization method. The electrolyte solution used was a mixture of HF (40%), ethanol (99%) and aquadest with volume ratio of 1:1:2, respectively. It was anodized on Si(100) surface at different current densities of 10 mA/cm2 and 20 mA/cm2 with the anodization time at each current density for 10 min, 20 min, and 30 min. The Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) images showed that the PSi surfaces have inhomogeneous sized pores in the range of 95.00 nm–1.46 μm. The PSi layers with current density and anodization time of 10 mA/cm2 (10 min), 10mA/cm2 (20 min), and 20mA/cm2 (10 min) have spherical shaped pores while the others have some uncommon (cross sectional) shaped pores on surfaces. It is considered that the cross sectional shaped maybe caused by unstable the current during the electrochemical anodization process.

Biodegradable and Elastomeric Poly(glycerol sebacate) as a Coating Material for Nitinol Bare Stent

PubMed Central

Kim, Min Ji; Hwang, Moon Young; Kim, JiHeung; Chung, Dong June

2014-01-01

We synthesized and evaluated biodegradable and elastomeric polyesters (poly(glycerol sebacate) (PGS)) using polycondensation between glycerol and sebacic acid to form a cross-linked network structure without using exogenous catalysts. Synthesized materials possess good mechanical properties, elasticity, and surface erosion biodegradation behavior. The tensile strength of the PGS was as high as 0.28 ± 0.004 MPa, and Young's modulus was 0.122 ± 0.0003 MPa. Elongation was as high as 237.8 ± 0.64%, and repeated elongation behavior was also observed to at least three times the original length without rupture. The water-in-air contact angles of the PGS surfaces were about 60°. We also analyzed the properties of an electrospray coating of biodegradable PGS on a nitinol stent for the purpose of enhancing long-term patency for the therapeutic treatment of varicose veins disease. The surface morphology and thickness of coating layer could be controlled by adjusting the electrospraying conditions and solution parameters. PMID:24955369

UV-driven microvalve based on a micro-nano TiO₂/SiO₂ composite surface for microscale flow control.

PubMed

Guo, Ting; Meng, Tao; Li, Wei; Qin, Jilong; Tong, Zhiping; Zhang, Qing; Li, Xueru

2014-03-28

This paper presents a novel ultraviolet (UV)-driven microvalve based on the concept of inserting a trimethyl chlorosilane (CTMS) modified TiO₂/SiO₂ composite patch of switchable wettability in a microfluidic system. A unique micro-nano hierarchical structure was designed and used to enhance the overall wetting contrast with the aim of improving the wetting-based valve performances. Field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) were used to characterize the morphology and chemical composition of the surface. UV-driven wettability conversion on the patched microchannel was investigated using water column relative height tests, and the results confirmed the significant improvement of the hierarchical structure with the surface hydrophobic/hydrophilic conversion, which produced enhancements of 276% and 95% of the water-repellent and water-sucking pressures, respectively, compared with those of the single-scale TiO₂ nanopatterned structure. Accordingly, a good reversible and repeated on-off performance was identified by the valve tests, highlighting the potential application of the novel microvalve in the efficient control of microscale flow.

UV-driven microvalve based on a micro-nano TiO2/SiO2 composite surface for microscale flow control

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Guo, Ting; Meng, Tao; Li, Wei; Qin, Jilong; Tong, Zhiping; Zhang, Qing; Li, Xueru

2014-03-01

This paper presents a novel ultraviolet (UV)-driven microvalve based on the concept of inserting a trimethyl chlorosilane (CTMS) modified TiO2/SiO2 composite patch of switchable wettability in a microfluidic system. A unique micro-nano hierarchical structure was designed and used to enhance the overall wetting contrast with the aim of improving the wetting-based valve performances. Field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) were used to characterize the morphology and chemical composition of the surface. UV-driven wettability conversion on the patched microchannel was investigated using water column relative height tests, and the results confirmed the significant improvement of the hierarchical structure with the surface hydrophobic/hydrophilic conversion, which produced enhancements of 276% and 95% of the water-repellent and water-sucking pressures, respectively, compared with those of the single-scale TiO2 nanopatterned structure. Accordingly, a good reversible and repeated on-off performance was identified by the valve tests, highlighting the potential application of the novel microvalve in the efficient control of microscale flow.

Improved water resistance of SrAl2O4: Eu2+, Dy3+ phosphor directly achieved in a water-containing medium

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Qi, Tonggang; Xia, Haofu; Zhang, Zhanhui; Kong, Shijin; Peng, Weikang; Zhao, Qi; Huang, Zhiliang

2017-03-01

In this paper, a heterogeneous precipitation method utilizing urea hydrolysis was adopted to coat a SiO2 layer on the surface of SrAl2O4:Eu2+, Dy3+ long persistence phosphors. To avoid phosphor hydrolysis in a water-containing coating medium, the hydrolysis and polymerization reactions of tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) were concerned and carried out. The crystal phases, surface morphologies, hydrolysis stability and water resistance on afterglow properties of coated phosphors were investigated. Scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive spectrum analysis, transmission electron microscope and Fourier transform infrared spectrum results confirmed that a continuous, uniform and compact SiO2 coating layer was successfully obtained on the phosphors surface. A theoretical coating amount of 5% or higher was found to be good for hydrolysis stability. Photoluminescence results revealed the coated phosphors showed much better water resistance on afterglow properties than the uncoated phosphor. We also discussed and proposed the hydrolysis restriction mechanism of SrAl2O4:Eu2+, Dy3+ in the water-containing coating medium.

Dispersion and surface functionalization of oxide nanoparticles for transparent photocatalytic and UV-protecting coatings and sunscreens

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Faure, Bertrand; Salazar-Alvarez, German; Ahniyaz, Anwar; Villaluenga, Irune; Berriozabal, Gemma; De Miguel, Yolanda R.; Bergström, Lennart

2013-04-01

This review describes recent efforts on the synthesis, dispersion and surface functionalization of the three dominating oxide nanoparticles used for photocatalytic, UV-blocking and sunscreen applications: titania, zinc oxide, and ceria. The gas phase and liquid phase synthesis is described briefly and examples are given of how weakly aggregated photocatalytic or UV-absorbing oxide nanoparticles with different composition, morphology and size can be generated. The principles of deagglomeration are reviewed and the specific challenges for nanoparticles highlighted. The stabilization of oxide nanoparticles in both aqueous and non-aqueous media requires a good understanding of the magnitude of the interparticle forces and the surface chemistry of the materials. Quantitative estimates of the Hamaker constants in various media and measurements of the isoelectric points for the different oxide nanoparticles are presented together with an overview of different additives used to prepare stable dispersions. The structural and chemical requirements and the various routes to produce transparent photocatalytic and nanoparticle-based UV-protecting coatings, and UV-blocking sunscreens are described and discussed.

Dispersion and surface functionalization of oxide nanoparticles for transparent photocatalytic and UV-protecting coatings and sunscreens

PubMed Central

Faure, Bertrand; Salazar-Alvarez, German; Ahniyaz, Anwar; Villaluenga, Irune; Berriozabal, Gemma; De Miguel, Yolanda R; Bergström, Lennart

2013-01-01

This review describes recent efforts on the synthesis, dispersion and surface functionalization of the three dominating oxide nanoparticles used for photocatalytic, UV-blocking and sunscreen applications: titania, zinc oxide, and ceria. The gas phase and liquid phase synthesis is described briefly and examples are given of how weakly aggregated photocatalytic or UV-absorbing oxide nanoparticles with different composition, morphology and size can be generated. The principles of deagglomeration are reviewed and the specific challenges for nanoparticles highlighted. The stabilization of oxide nanoparticles in both aqueous and non-aqueous media requires a good understanding of the magnitude of the interparticle forces and the surface chemistry of the materials. Quantitative estimates of the Hamaker constants in various media and measurements of the isoelectric points for the different oxide nanoparticles are presented together with an overview of different additives used to prepare stable dispersions. The structural and chemical requirements and the various routes to produce transparent photocatalytic and nanoparticle-based UV-protecting coatings, and UV-blocking sunscreens are described and discussed. PMID:27877568

Plasmonic detection of mercury via amalgam formation on surface-immobilized single Au nanorods

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schopf, Carola; Martín, Alfonso; Iacopino, Daniela

2017-12-01

Au nanorods were used as plasmonic transducers for investigation of mercury detection through a mechanism of amalgam formation at the nanorod surfaces. Marked scattering color transitions and associated blue shifts of the surface plasmon resonance peak wavelengths (λmax) were measured in individual nanorods by darkfield microscopy upon chemical reduction of Hg(II). Such changes were related to compositional changes occurring as a result of Hg-Au amalgam formation as well as morphological changes in the nanorods' aspect ratios. The plot of λmax shifts vs. Hg(II) concentration showed a linear response in the 10-100 nM concentration range. The sensitivity of the system was ascribed to the narrow width of single nanorod scattering spectra, which allowed accurate determination of peak shifts. The system displayed good selectivity as the optical response obtained for mercury was one order of magnitude higher than the response obtained with competitor ions. Analysis of mercury content in river and tap water were also performed and highlighted both the potential and limitation of the developed method for real sensing applications.

Molecular-Scale Structural Controls on Nanoscale Growth Processes: Step-Specific Regulation of Biomineral Morphology

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dove, P. M.; Davis, K. J.; De Yoreo, J. J.; Orme, C. A.

2001-12-01

Deciphering the complex strategies by which organisms produce nanocrystalline materials with exquisite morphologies is central to understanding biomineralizing systems. One control on the morphology of biogenic nanoparticles is the specific interactions of their surfaces with the organic functional groups provided by the organism and the various inorganic species present in the ambient environment. It is now possible to directly probe the microscopic structural controls on crystal morphology by making quantitative measurements of the dynamic processes occurring at the mineral-water interface. These observations can provide crucial information concerning the actual mechanisms of growth that is otherwise unobtainable through macroscopic techniques. Here we use in situ molecular-scale observations of step dynamics and growth hillock morphology to directly resolve roles of principal impurities in regulating calcite surface morphologies. We show that the interactions of certain inorganic as well as organic impurities with the calcite surface are dependent upon the molecular-scale structures of step-edges. These interactions can assume a primary role in directing crystal morphology. In calcite growth experiments containing magnesium, we show that growth hillock structures become modified owing to the preferential inhibition of step motion along directions approximately parallel to the [010]. Compositional analyses have shown that Mg incorporates at different levels into the two types of nonequivalent steps, which meet at the hillock corner parallel to [010]. A simple calculation of the strain caused by this difference indicates that we should expect a significant retardation at this corner, in agreement with the observed development of [010] steps. If the low-energy step-risers produced by these [010] steps is perpendicular to the c-axis as seems likely from crystallographic considerations, this effect provides a plausible mechanism for the elongated calcite crystal habits found in natural environments that contain magnesium. In a separate study, step-specific interactions are also found between chiral aspartate molecules and the calcite surface. The L and D- aspartate enantiomers exhibit structure preferences for the different types of step-risers on the calcite surface. These site-specific interactions result in the transfer of asymmetry from the organic molecule to the crystal surface through the formation of chiral growth hillocks and surface morphologies. These studies yield direct experimental insight into the molecular-scale structural controls on nanocrystal morphology in biomineralizing systems.

Response of Quiescent Cerebral Cortical Astrocytes to Nanofibrillar Scaffold Properties

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ayres, Virginia; Mujdat Tiryaki, Volkan; Xie, Kan; Ahmed, Ijaz; Shreiber, David I.

2013-03-01

We present results of an investigation to examine the hypothesis that the extracellular environment can trigger specific signaling cascades with morphological consequences. Differences in the morphological responses of quiescent cerebral cortical astrocytes cultured on the nanofibrillar matrices versus poly-L-lysine functionalized glass and Aclar, and unfunctionalized Aclar surfaces were demonstrated using atomic force microscopy (AFM) and phalloidin staining of F-actin. The differences and similarities of the morphological responses were consistent with differences and similarities of the surface polarity and surface roughness of the four surfaces investigated in this work, characterized using contact angle and AFM measurements. The three-dimensional capability of AFM was also used to identify differences in cell spreading. An initial quantitative immunolabeling study further identified significant differences in the activation of the Rho GTPases: Cdc42, Rac1, and RhoA, which are upstream regulators of the observed morphological responses: filopodia, lamellipodia, and stress fiber formation. The results support the hypothesis that the extracellular environment can trigger preferential activation of members of the Rho GTPase family with demonstrable morphological consequences for cerebral cortical astrocytes. The support of NSF PHY-095776 is acknowledged.

Surface-binding through polyfunction groups of Rhodamine B on composite surface and its high performance photodegradation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wan, Yiqun; Wang, Xiaofen; Gu, Yun; Guo, Lan; Xu, Zhaodi

2016-03-01

A kind of novel composite ZnS/In(OH)3/In2S3 is synthesized using zinc oxide nanoplates as zinc raw material during hydrothermal process. Although the obtained samples are composited of ZnS and In(OH)3 and In2S3 phase, the samples possess different structure, morphology and optical absorption property depending on molar ratio of raw materials. Zeta potential analysis indicates different surface electrical property since various content and particle size of the phases. The equilibrium adsorption study confirms the composite ZnS/In(OH)3/In2S3 with surface negative charge is good adsorbent for Rhodamine B (Rh B) dye. In addition, the degradation of Rh B over the samples with surface negative charge under visible light (λ ≥ 420 nm) is more effective than the samples with surface positive charge. The samples before and after adsorbing Rh B molecule are examined by FTIR spectra and Zetasizer. It is found that the three function groups of Rh B molecule, especially carboxyl group anchors to surface of the sample through electrostatic adsorption, coordination and hydrogen-bond. It contributes to rapid transformation of photogenerated electron to conduction band of In(OH)3 and suppresses the recombination of photogenerated carrier. The possible adsorption modes of Rh B are discussed on the basis of the experiment results.

Morphology of jack pine and tamarack needles in dense stands.

Treesearch

Terry F. Strong; J. Zavitkovski

1978-01-01

Effects of position in the crown on needle morphology and surface area were studied. Needle length, surface area, and dry weight increased and specific needs area decreased from the lower to the upper third of the crown.

Morphological Properties of Siloxane-Hydrogel Contact Lens Surfaces.

PubMed

Stach, Sebastian; Ţălu, Ştefan; Trabattoni, Silvia; Tavazzi, Silvia; Głuchaczka, Alicja; Siek, Patrycja; Zając, Joanna; Giovanzana, Stefano

2017-04-01

The aim of this study was to quantitatively characterize the micromorphology of contact lens (CL) surfaces using atomic force microscopy (AFM) and multifractal analysis. AFM and multifractal analysis were used to characterize the topography of new and worn siloxane-hydrogel CLs made of Filcon V (I FDA group). CL surface roughness was studied by AFM in intermittent-contact mode, in air, on square areas of 25 and 100 μm 2 , by using a Nanoscope V MultiMode (Bruker). Detailed surface characterization of the surface topography was obtained using statistical parameters of 3-D (three-dimensional) surface roughness, in accordance with ISO 25178-2: 2012. Before wear, the surface was found to be characterized by out-of-plane and sharp structures, whilst after a wear of 8 h, two typical morphologies were observed. One morphology (sharp type) has a similar aspect as the unworn CLs and the other morphology (smooth type) is characterized by troughs and bumpy structures. The analysis of the AFM images revealed a multifractal geometry. The generalized dimension D q and the singularity spectrum f(α) provided quantitative values that characterize the local scale properties of CL surface geometry at nanometer scale. Surface statistical parameters deduced by multifractal analysis can be used to assess the CL micromorphology and can be used by manufacturers in developing CLs with improved surface characteristics. These parameters can also be used in understanding the tribological interactions of the back surface of the CL with the corneal surface and the front surface of the CL with the under-surface of the eyelid (friction, wear, and micro-elastohydrodynamic lubrication at a nanometer scale).

Study on copper phthalocyanine and perylene-based ambipolar organic light-emitting field-effect transistors produced using neutral beam deposition method

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kim, Dae-Kyu; Oh, Jeong-Do; Shin, Eun-Sol

2014-04-28

The neutral cluster beam deposition (NCBD) method has been applied to the production and characterization of ambipolar, heterojunction-based organic light-emitting field-effect transistors (OLEFETs) with a top-contact, multi-digitated, long-channel geometry. Organic thin films of n-type N,N′-ditridecylperylene-3,4,9,10-tetracarboxylic diimide and p-type copper phthalocyanine were successively deposited on the hydroxyl-free polymethyl-methacrylate (PMMA)-coated SiO{sub 2} dielectrics using the NCBD method. Characterization of the morphological and structural properties of the organic active layers was performed using atomic force microscopy and X-ray diffraction. Various device parameters such as hole- and electron-carrier mobilities, threshold voltages, and electroluminescence (EL) were derived from the fits of the observed current-voltage andmore » current-voltage-light emission characteristics of OLEFETs. The OLEFETs demonstrated good field-effect characteristics, well-balanced ambipolarity, and substantial EL under ambient conditions. The device performance, which is strongly correlated with the surface morphology and the structural properties of the organic active layers, is discussed along with the operating conduction mechanism.« less

Non-aqueous electrochemical deposition of lead zirconate titanate films for flexible sensor applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Joseph, Sherin; Kumar, A. V. Ramesh; John, Reji

2017-11-01

Lead zirconate titanate (PZT) is one of the most important piezoelectric materials widely used for underwater sensors. However, PZTs are hard and non-compliant and hence there is an overwhelming attention devoted toward making it flexible by preparing films on flexible substrates by different routes. In this work, the electrochemical deposition of composition controlled PZT films over flexible stainless steel (SS) foil substrates using non-aqueous electrolyte dimethyl sulphoxide (DMSO) was carried out. Effects of various key parameters involved in electrochemical deposition process such as current density and time of deposition were studied. It was found that a current density of 25 mA/cm2 for 5 min gave a good film. The morphology and topography evaluation of the films was carried out by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM), respectively, which showed a uniform morphology with a surface roughness of 2 nm. The PZT phase formation was studied using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and corroborated with Raman spectroscopic studies. The dielectric constant, dielectric loss, hysteresis and I-V characteristics of the film was evaluated.

Effect of nonionic compound emulsifiers Tween80 and Span80 on the properties of microencapsulated phase change materials.

PubMed

Zhan, Shiping; Zhou, Zhiyi; Wang, Weijing; Zhao, Qicheng; Hou, Weimin

2014-01-01

In this article, the nonionic compound emulsifiers Tween80 and Span80 were used to prepare microcapsules containing phase change materials (microPCMs) with melamine-formaldehyde (MF) shells by in situ polymerization method. The effects of compound emulsifiers Tween80 and Span80 on the structure, morphologies and properties of microPCMs containing paraffin were studied. SEM morphological investigation suggests that a complex of Tween80 and Span80 as emulsifiers are optimal for the fabrication of microPCMs in this study compared to Tween60 or OP-10. The diameter distributions of microPCMs synthesized with different amounts of compound emulsifiers are uniform, whereas compound emulsifiers' amount affect the mean diameter of microPCMs decreasing from 5.34 to 3.05 µm. These microPCMs with the core/shell weight ratio 3/1 have smoother surface and a higher core content of 68.7% than other core/shell ratio. Anti-osmosis measurements indicate that microPCMs have good compactness and stable performance compared to those synthesized by one type of emulsifier.

Factors influencing the preparation of silver-coated glass frit with polyvinyl-pyrrolidone

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xiang, Feng; Gan, Weiping

2018-01-01

In this work, a new electroless silver plating method for the synthesis of silver-coated glass frit composite powders with good morphology has been proposed and the polyvinyl-pyrrolidone (PVP) was used the activating agent. It was found that the weight ratio of PVP to glass frit affected the distribution and number of silver nanoparticles. Moreover, the loading capacity of the glass frit, the pH value and reaction temperature could influence the size of the silver nanoparticles and morphology of silver on the surface of glass frit. The as-prepared silver-coated glass frit was used to prepare a silver paste using an optimized process to form silver nanoparticles with uniform size and high density. The silver paste with silver-coated glass frit increased the photovoltaic conversion efficiency of silicon solar cells by 0.271% compared with the silver paste prepared with pure glass frit. The silver nanoparticles can promoted the precipitation of Ag crystallites on the silicon wafer. Therefore, the silver-coated glass frit can further optimize and enhance the electrical performance of solar cells.

Photocatalytic Activity of Nanotubular TiO2 Films Obtained by Anodic Oxidation: A Comparison in Gas and Liquid Phase

PubMed Central

Sanabria Arenas, Beatriz Eugenia; Schiavi, Luca; Russo, Valeria; Pedeferri, MariaPia

2018-01-01

The availability of immobilized nanostructured photocatalysts is of great importance in the purification of both polluted air and liquids (e.g., industrial wastewaters). Metal-supported titanium dioxide films with nanotubular morphology and good photocatalytic efficiency in both environments can be produced by anodic oxidation, which avoids release of nanoscale materials in the environment. Here we evaluate the effect of different anodizing procedures on the photocatalytic activity of TiO2 nanostructures in gas and liquid phases, in order to identify the most efficient and robust technique for the production of TiO2 layers with different morphologies and high photocatalytic activity in both phases. Rhodamine B and toluene were used as model pollutants in the two media, respectively. It was found that the role of the anodizing electrolyte is particularly crucial, as it provides substantial differences in the oxide specific surface area: nanotubular structures show remarkably different activities, especially in gas phase degradation reactions, and within nanotubular structures, those produced by organic electrolytes lead to better photocatalytic activity in both conditions tested. PMID:29587360

Graphene oxide nanoplatforms to enhance catalytic performance of iron phthalocyanine for oxygen reduction reaction in bioelectrochemical systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Costa de Oliveira, Maida Aysla; Mecheri, Barbara; D'Epifanio, Alessandra; Placidi, Ernesto; Arciprete, Fabrizio; Valentini, Federica; Perandini, Alessando; Valentini, Veronica; Licoccia, Silvia

2017-07-01

We report the development of electrocatalysts based on iron phthalocyanine (FePc) supported on graphene oxide (GO), obtained by electrochemical oxidation of graphite in aqueous solution of LiCl, LiClO4, and NaClO4. Structure, surface chemistry, morphology, and thermal stability of the prepared materials were investigated by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Raman spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy (AFM), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The catalytic activity toward oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) at neutral pH was evaluated by cyclic voltammetry. The experimental results demonstrate that the oxidation degree of GO supports affects the overall catalytic activity of FePc/GO, due to a modulation effect of the interaction between FePc and the basal plane of GO. On the basis of electrochemical, spectroscopic, and morphological investigations, FePc/GO_LiCl was selected to be assembled at the cathode side of a microbial fuel cell prototype, demonstrating a good electrochemical performance in terms of voltage and power generation.

Postoperative evaluation of palatoplasty using the modified Kaplan method.

PubMed

Isago, Tsukasa; Nozaki, Motohiro; Honda, Takashi; Kikuchi, Yuji

2005-01-01

Bilateral buccal mucosal flaps were used for a pushback operation of the nasal mucosa as well as the oral mucosa. Two flaps from the buccal mucosal areas were inserted into the nasal mucosal raw surface at the hard and soft palatal border to achieve nasal mucosal pushback. Forty-four children with cleft palates were retrospectively studied to investigate the velopharyngeal function, articulation, and craniofacial morphology following primary palatoplasty using the modified Kaplan method. 72.7% showed good velopharyngeal function. Articulation disorders were found in 26 of the 44 subjects (59.1%). A craniofacial morphological analysis revealed no major changes in the SNA (sella-nasion point A angle) and SNB (sella-nasion point B angle) and no cases of a marked loss of maxillary mandibular balance. In addition, no significant differences were observed in the maxillary length and width. The results of these palatoplasties by the modified Kaplan method indicated that the use of bilateral buccal mucosal flaps for the pushback of the nasal mucosa was effective in preventing the contraction of the maxillary and mandibular corpal lengths.

Growth and characterization of GaN nanostructures under various ammoniating time with fabricated Schottky gas sensor based on Si substrate

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Abdullah, Q. N.; Ahmed, A. R.; Ali, A. M.; Yam, F. K.; Hassan, Z.; Bououdina, M.; Almessiere, M. A.

2018-05-01

This paper presents the investigation of the influence of the ammoniating time of GaN nanowires (NWs) on the crystalline structure, surface morphology, and optical characteristics. Morphological analysis indicates the growth of good quality and high density of NWs with diameters around 50 nm and lengths up to tens of microns after ammoniating for 30 min. Structural analysis shows that GaN NWs have a typical hexagonal wurtzite crystal structure. Raman spectroscopy confirms the formation of GaN compound with the presence of compressive stress. Photoluminescence (PL) measurements revealed two band emissions, an UV and a broad visible emission. Hydrogen sensor was subsequently fabricated by depositing Pt Schottky contact onto GaN NWs film. The sensor response was measured at various H2 concentrations ranged from 200 up to 1200 ppm at room temperature. It was found that the response increases significantly for low H2 concentration (200-300 ppm) to reach about 50% then increases smoothly to reach 60% at 1200 ppm. The as-fabricated sensor possesses higher performances as compared to similar devices reported in the literature.

Interface morphology of a Cr(001)/Fe(001) superlattice determined by scanning tunneling microscopy and x-ray diffraction: A comparison

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schmidt, C. M.; Bürgler, D. E.; Schaller, D. M.; Meisinger, F.; Güntherodt, H.-J.; Temst, K.

2001-01-01

A Cr(001)/Fe(001) superlattice with ten bilayers grown by molecular beam epitaxy on a Ag(001) substrate is studied by in situ scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) and ex situ x-ray diffraction (XRD). Layer-resolved roughness parameters determined from STM images taken in various stages of the superlattice fabrication are compared with average values reported in the literature or obtained from the fits of our XRD data. Good agreement is found for the rms roughnesses describing vertical roughness and for the lateral correlation lengths characterizing correlated as well as uncorrelated interface roughness if peculiarities of STM and XRD are taken into account. We discuss in detail (i) the possible differences between the STM topography of a free surface and the morphology of a subsequently formed interface, (ii) contributions due to chemical intermixing at the interfaces, (iii) the comparison of XRD parameters averaged over all interfaces versus layer-resolved STM parameters, and (iv) the question of the coherent field of view for the determination of rms values.

On the morphological instability of a bubble during inertia-controlled growth

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Martyushev, L. M.; Birzina, A. I.; Soboleva, A. S.

2018-06-01

The morphological stability of a spherical bubble growing under inertia control is analyzed. Based on the comparison of entropy productions for a distorted and undistorted surface and using the maximum entropy production principle, the morphological instability of the bubble under arbitrary amplitude distortions is shown. This result allows explaining a number of experiments where the surface roughness of bubbles was observed during their explosive-type growth.

Morphology Formation in PC/ABS Blends during Thermal Processing and the Effect of the Viscosity Ratio of Blend Partners

PubMed Central

Bärwinkel, Stefanie; Seidel, Andreas; Hobeika, Sven; Hufen, Ralf; Mörl, Michaela; Altstädt, Volker

2016-01-01

Morphology formation during compounding, as well as injection molding of blends containing 60 wt % polycarbonate (PC) and 40 wt % polybutadiene rubber-modified styrene-acrylonitrile copolymers (ABS), has been investigated by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Profiles of the blend morphology have been recorded in injection-molded specimens and significant morphology gradients observed between their skin and core. A <10 µm thick surface layer with strongly dispersed and elongated nano-scale (streak-like) styrene acrylonitrile (SAN) phases and well-dispersed, isolated SAN-grafted polybutadiene rubber particles is followed by a 50–150 µm thick skin layer in which polymer morphology is characterized by lamellar SAN/ABS phases. Thickness of these lamellae increases with the distance from the specimen’s surface. In the core of the specimens the SAN-grafted polybutadiene rubber particles are exclusively present within the SAN phases, which exhibit a much coarser and less oriented, dispersed morphology compared to the skin. The effects of the viscosity of the SAN in the PC/ABS blends on phase morphologies and correlations with fracture mechanics in tensile and impact tests were investigated, including scanning electron microscopy (SEM) assessment of the fracture surfaces. A model explaining the mechanisms of morphology formation during injection molding of PC/ABS blends is discussed. PMID:28773780

The preparation of polytrifluorochloroethylene (PCTFE) micro-particles and application on treating bearing steel surfaces to improve the lubrication effect for copper-graphite (Cu/C)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lu, Hailin; Zhang, Pengpeng; Ren, Shanshan; Guo, Junde; Li, Xing; Dong, Guangneng

2018-01-01

Contact mechanical seal is a normal technology applied on middle axis of liquid rocket turbo pump, and the kinetic and static seal rings contact low temperature rocket propellant. Copper-graphite (Cu/C) composite as an excellent self-lubrication material was widely used in aerospace industry, this study took Cu/C as ball and bearing steel as disk to investigate the tribology properties, and distilled water were used to simulate the lox tribology performances. This study prepared polytrifluorochloroethylene (PCTFE) micro-particles which were coated on the oxide surfaces of bearing steel disk at temperature of 150 °C. The tribology results showed that the oxide surfaces treated with micro PCTFE particles have lower fiction coefficient and lower wear rate than original disk in water, and the wear morphology revealed that the treated surfaces obviously had less Cu/C composite transfer film than original disk. Meanwhile SEM, EDS, XRD, XPS and light microscope etc revealed that PCTFE micro-particles could associate with the oxide surfaces and caused higher water contact angle, due to the properties of the fluorine-containing composite may cause the good lubrication effect in water. Thus this technology shows great potential to enhance tribological performances for aerospace industry on a large scale.

Dental Implant Systems

PubMed Central

Oshida, Yoshiki; Tuna, Elif B.; Aktören, Oya; Gençay, Koray

2010-01-01

Among various dental materials and their successful applications, a dental implant is a good example of the integrated system of science and technology involved in multiple disciplines including surface chemistry and physics, biomechanics, from macro-scale to nano-scale manufacturing technologies and surface engineering. As many other dental materials and devices, there are crucial requirements taken upon on dental implants systems, since surface of dental implants is directly in contact with vital hard/soft tissue and is subjected to chemical as well as mechanical bio-environments. Such requirements should, at least, include biological compatibility, mechanical compatibility, and morphological compatibility to surrounding vital tissues. In this review, based on carefully selected about 500 published articles, these requirements plus MRI compatibility are firstly reviewed, followed by surface texturing methods in details. Normally dental implants are placed to lost tooth/teeth location(s) in adult patients whose skeleton and bony growth have already completed. However, there are some controversial issues for placing dental implants in growing patients. This point has been, in most of dental articles, overlooked. This review, therefore, throws a deliberate sight on this point. Concluding this review, we are proposing a novel implant system that integrates materials science and up-dated surface technology to improve dental implant systems exhibiting bio- and mechano-functionalities. PMID:20480036

Effects of Thickness and Amount of Carbon Nanofiber Coated Carbon Fiber on Improving the Mechanical Properties of Nanocomposites

PubMed Central

Ghaemi, Ferial; Ahmadian, Ali; Yunus, Robiah; Ismail, Fudziah; Rahmanian, Saeed

2016-01-01

In the current study, carbon nanofibers (CNFs) were grown on a carbon fiber (CF) surface by using the chemical vapor deposition method (CVD) and the influences of some parameters of the CVD method on improving the mechanical properties of a polypropylene (PP) composite were investigated. To obtain an optimum surface area, thickness, and yield of the CNFs, the parameters of the chemical vapor deposition (CVD) method, such as catalyst concentration, reaction temperature, reaction time, and hydrocarbon flow rate, were optimized. It was observed that the optimal surface area, thickness, and yield of the CNFs caused more adhesion of the fibers with the PP matrix, which enhanced the composite properties. Besides this, the effectiveness of reinforcement of fillers was fitted with a mathematical model obtaining good agreement between the experimental result and the theoretical prediction. By applying scanning electronic microscope (SEM), transmission electron microscope (TEM), and Raman spectroscopy, the surface morphology and structural information of the resultant CF-CNF were analyzed. Additionally, SEM images and a mechanical test of the composite with a proper layer of CNFs on the CF revealed not only a compactness effect but also the thickness and surface area roles of the CNF layers in improving the mechanical properties of the composites. PMID:28344263

Fabrication of Polyimide Membrane Incorporated with Functional Graphene Oxide for CO2 Separation: The Effects of GO Surface Modification on Membrane Performance.

PubMed

Wang, Ting; Cheng, Cheng; Wu, Li-Guang; Shen, Jiang-Nan; Van der Bruggen, Bart; Chen, Qian; Chen, Di; Dong, Chun-Ying

2017-06-06

Two kinds of isocyanate were used to modify graphene oxide (GO) samples. Then, polyimide (PI) hybrid membranes containing GO and modified GO were prepared by in situ polymerization. The permeation of CO 2 and N 2 was studied using these novel membranes. The morphology experiments showed that the isocyanate groups were successfully grafted on the surface of GO by replacement of the oxygen-containing functional groups. After modification, the surface polarity of the GO increased, and more defect structures were introduced into the GO surface. This resulted in a good distribution of more modified GO samples in the PI polymer matrix. Thus, the PI hybrid membranes incorporated by modified GO samples showed a high gas permeability and ideal selectivity of membranes. In addition, enhancement of the selectivity due to the solubility of CO 2 played a major role in the increase in the separation performance of the hybrid membranes for CO 2 , although the diffusion coefficients for CO 2 also increased. Both the higher condensability and the strong affinity between CO 2 molecules and GO in the polymer matrix caused an enhancement of the solubility selectivity higher than the diffusion selectivity after GO surface modification.

Amphiphilic polymer based on fluoroalkyl and PEG side chains for fouling release coating

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cong, W. W.; Wang, K.; Yu, X. Y.; Zhang, H. Q.; Lv, Z.; Gui, T. J.

2017-12-01

Under static conditions, fouling release coating could not express good release property to marine organisms. Amphiphilic polymer with mixture of fluorinated monomer and short side group of polyethylene glycol (PEG) was synthesized. And also we studied the ability of amphiphilic polymer to influence the surface properties and how it controlled the adhesion of marine organisms to coated surfaces. By incorporating fluorinated monomer and PEG side chain into the polymer, the effect of incorporating both polar and non-polar groups on fouling-release coating could be studied. The dry surface was characterized by three-dimensional digital microscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and the morphology of the amphiphilic fouling release coating showed just like flaky petal. The amphiphilic polymer in fouling release coating tended to reconstruct in water, and the ability was examined by static contact angle, which was smaller than the PDMS (polydimethylsiloxane) fouling release coating. Also surface energy was calculated by three solvents, and surface energy of amphiphilic fouling release coating was higher than that of the PDMS fouling release coating. To understand more about its fouling release property, seawater exposure method was adopted in gulf of Qingdao port. Fewer diatoms Navicula were found in biofilm after using amphiphilic fouling release coating. In general, coating containing both PEG and fluorinated side chain possessed certain fouling release property.

Intrinsically water-repellent copper oxide surfaces; An electro-crystallization approach

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Akbari, Raziyeh; Ramos Chagas, Gabriela; Godeau, Guilhem; Mohammadizadeh, Mohammadreza; Guittard, Frédéric; Darmanin, Thierry

2018-06-01

Use of metal oxide thin layers is increased due to their good durability under environmental conditions. In this work, the repeatable nanostructured crystalite Cu2O thin films, developed by electrodeposition method without any physical and chemical modifications, demonstrate good hydrophobicity. Copper (I) oxide (Cu2O) layers were fabricated on gold/Si(1 0 0) substrates by different electrodeposition methods i.e. galvanostatic deposition, cyclic voltammetry, and pulse potentiostatic deposition and using copper sulfate (in various concentrations) as a precursor. The greatest crystalline face on prepared Cu2O samples is (1 1 1) which is the most hydrophobic facet of Cu2O cubic structure. Indeed, different crystallite structures such as nanotriangles and truncated octahedrons were formed on the surface for various electrodeposition methods. The increase of the contact angle (θw) measured by the rest time, reaching to about 135°, was seen at different rates and electrodeposition methods. In addition, two-step deposition surfaces were also prepared by applying two of the mentioned methods, alternatively. In general, the morphology of the two-step deposition surfaces showed some changes compared to that of one-step samples, allowing the formation of different crystallite shapes. Moreover, the wettability behavior showd the larger θw of the two-step deposition layers compared to the related one-step deposition layers. Therefore, the highest observed θw was related to the one of two-step deposition layers due to the creation of small octahedral structures on the surface, having narrow and deep valleys. However, there was an exception which was due to the resulted big structures and broad valleys on the surface. So, it is possible to engineer different crystallites shapes using the proposed two-step deposition method. It is expected that hydrophobic crystallite thin films can be used in environmental and electronic applications to save energy and materials properties.

Various fates of neuronal progenitor cells observed on several different chemical functional groups

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Xi; Wang, Ying; He, Jin; Wang, Xiu-Mei; Cui, Fu-Zhai; Xu, Quan-Yuan

2011-12-01

Neuronal progenitor cells cultured on gold-coated glass surfaces modified by different chemical functional groups, including hydroxyl (-OH), carboxyl (-COOH), amino (-NH2), bromo (-Br), mercapto (-SH), - Phenyl and methyl (-CH3), were studied here to investigate the influence of surface chemistry on the cells' adhesion, morphology, proliferation and functional gene expression. Focal adhesion staining indicated in the initial culture stage cells exhibited morphological changes in response to different chemical functional groups. Cells cultured on -NH2 grafted surface displayed focal adhesion plaque and flattened morphology and had the largest contact area. However, their counter parts on -CH3 grafted surface displayed no focal adhesion and rounded morphology and had the smallest contact area. After 6 days culture, the proliferation trend was as follows: -NH2 > -SH> -COOH> - Phenyl > - Br > -OH> -CH3. To determine the neural functional properties of the cells affected by surface chemistry, the expression of glutamate decarboxylase (GAD67), nerve growth factor (NGF) and brainderived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) were characterized. An increase of GAD67 expression was observed on -NH2, -COOH and -SH grafted surfaces, while no increase in NGF and BDNF expression was observed on any chemical surfaces. These results highlight the importance of surface chemistry in the fate determination of neuronal progenitor cells, and suggest that surface chemistry must be considered in the design of biomaterials for neural tissue engineering.

Theory of multiple quantum dot formation in strained-layer heteroepitaxy

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Du, Lin; Maroudas, Dimitrios, E-mail: maroudas@ecs.umass.edu

2016-07-11

We develop a theory for the experimentally observed formation of multiple quantum dots (QDs) in strained-layer heteroepitaxy based on surface morphological stability analysis of a coherently strained epitaxial thin film on a crystalline substrate. Using a fully nonlinear model of surface morphological evolution that accounts for a wetting potential contribution to the epitaxial film's free energy as well as surface diffusional anisotropy, we demonstrate the formation of multiple QD patterns in self-consistent dynamical simulations of the evolution of the epitaxial film surface perturbed from its planar state. The simulation predictions are supported by weakly nonlinear analysis of the epitaxial filmmore » surface morphological stability. We find that, in addition to the Stranski-Krastanow instability, long-wavelength perturbations from the planar film surface morphology can trigger a nonlinear instability, resulting in the splitting of a single QD into multiple QDs of smaller sizes, and predict the critical wavelength of the film surface perturbation for the onset of the nonlinear tip-splitting instability. The theory provides a fundamental interpretation for the observations of “QD pairs” or “double QDs” and other multiple QDs reported in experimental studies of epitaxial growth of semiconductor strained layers and sets the stage for precise engineering of tunable-size nanoscale surface features in strained-layer heteroepitaxy by exploiting film surface nonlinear, pattern forming phenomena.« less

Morphological study of polymethyl methacrylate microcapsules filled with self-healing agents

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ahangaran, Fatemeh; Hayaty, Mehran; Navarchian, Amir H.

2017-03-01

Polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) microcapsules filled with epoxy prepolymer, 3-aminomethyl-3,5,5-trimethylcyclohexylamine, and pentaerythritol tetrakis (3-mercaptopropionate) as healing agents have been prepared separately through internal phase separation method for self-healing purposes. PMMA with two different molecular weights (M bar1 = 36,000 g/mol and M bar2 = 550,000 g/mol) were used with two types of different emulsifiers (ionic and polymeric) to prepare microcapsules. The morphology of healing agent microcapsules was investigated using field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM). It was found that PMMA microcapsules separately filled with epoxy and amine had core-shell morphologies with smooth surfaces. The mercaptan/PMMA particles exhibited core-shell and acorn-shape morphologies. The surface morphology of mercaptan microcapsules changed from holed to plain in different emulsion systems. The spreading coefficient (S) of phases in the prepared emulsion systems were calculated from interfacial tension (σ) and contact angle (θ) measurements. The theoretical equilibrium morphology of PMMA microcapsules was predicted according to spreading coefficient values of phases in emulsion systems. It was also found that the surface morphology of PMMA microcapsules depended strongly on the nature of the core, molecular weight of PMMA, type and concentration of emulsifier.

Fabrication of the superhydrophobic surface on aluminum alloy by anodizing and polymeric coating

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Wenyong; Luo, Yuting; Sun, Linyu; Wu, Ruomei; Jiang, Haiyun; Liu, Yuejun

2013-01-01

We reported the preparation of the superhydrophobic surface on aluminum alloy via anodizing and polymeric coating. Both the different anodizing processes and different polymeric coatings of aluminum alloy were investigated. The effects of different anodizing conditions, such as electrolyte concentration, anodization time and current on the superhydrophobic surface were discussed. The results showed that a good superhydrophobic surface was facilely fabricated by polypropylene (PP) coating after anodizing. The optimum conditions for anodizing were determined by orthogonal experiments. When the concentration of oxalic acid was 10 g/L, the concentration of NaCl was 1.25 g/L, anodization time was 40 min, and anodization current was 0.4 A, the best superhydrophobic surface on aluminum alloy with the contact angle (CA) of 162° and the sliding angle of 2° was obtained. On the other hand, the different polymeric coatings, such as polystyrene (PS), polypropylene (PP) and polypropylene grafting maleic anhydride (PP-g-MAH) were used to coat the aluminum alloy surface after anodizing. The results showed that the superhydrophobicity was most excellent by coating PP, while the duration of the hydrophobic surface was poor. By modifying the surface with the silane coupling agent before PP coating, the duration of the superhydrophobic surface was improved. The morphologies of the superhydrophobic surface were further confirmed by optical microscope (OM) and scanning electron microscope (SEM). Combined with the material of PP with the low surface free energy, the micro/nano-structures of the surface resulted in the superhydrophobicity of the aluminum alloy surface.

Carbon nanowall scaffold to control culturing of cervical cancer cells

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Watanabe, Hitoshi; Kondo, Hiroki; Okamoto, Yukihiro; Hiramatsu, Mineo; Sekine, Makoto; Baba, Yoshinobu; Hori, Masaru

2014-12-01

The effect of carbon nanowalls (CNWs) on the culturing rate and morphological control of cervical cancer cells (HeLa cells) was investigated. CNWs with different densities were grown using plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition and subjected to post-growth plasma treatment for modification of the surface terminations. Although the surface wettability of the CNWs was not significantly dependent on the CNW densities, the cell culturing rates were significantly dependent. Morphological changes of the cells were not significantly dependent on the density of CNWs. These results indicate that plasma-induced surface morphology and chemical terminations enable nanobio applications using carbon nanomaterials.

Data on the surface morphology of additively manufactured Ti-6Al-4V implants during processing by plasma electrolytic oxidation.

PubMed

van Hengel, Ingmar A J; Riool, Martijn; Fratila-Apachitei, Lidy E; Witte-Bouma, Janneke; Farrell, Eric; Zadpoor, Amir A; Zaat, Sebastian A J; Apachitei, Iulian

2017-08-01

Additively manufactured Ti-6Al-4V implants were biofunctionalized using plasma electrolytic oxidation. At various time points during this process scanning electron microscopy imaging was performed to analyze the surface morphology (van Hengel et al., 2017) [1]. This data shows the changes in surface morphology during plasma electrolytic oxidation. Data presented in this article are related to the research article "Selective laser melting porous metallic implants with immobilized silver nanoparticles kill and prevent biofilm formation by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus" (van Hengel et al., 2017) [1].

Effects of annealing temperature and duration on the morphological and optical evolution of self-assembled Pt nanostructures on c-plane sapphire.

PubMed

Sui, Mao; Li, Ming-Yu; Kunwar, Sundar; Pandey, Puran; Zhang, Quanzhen; Lee, Jihoon

2017-01-01

Metallic nanostructures (NSs) have been widely adapted in various applications and their physical, chemical, optical and catalytic properties are strongly dependent on their surface morphologies. In this work, the morphological and optical evolution of self-assembled Pt nanostructures on c-plane sapphire (0001) is demonstrated by the control of annealing temperature and dwelling duration with the distinct thickness of Pt films. The formation of Pt NSs is led by the surface diffusion, agglomeration and surface and interface energy minimization of Pt thin films, which relies on the growth parameters such as system temperature, film thickness and annealing duration. The Pt layer of 10 nm shows the formation of overlaying NPs below 650°C and isolated Pt nanoparticles above 700°C based on the enhanced surface diffusion and Volmer-Weber growth model whereas larger wiggly nanostructures are formed with 20 nm thick Pt layers based on the coalescence growth model. The morphologies of Pt nanostructures demonstrate a sharp distinction depending on the growth parameters applied. By the control of dwelling duration, the gradual transition from dense Pt nanoparticles to networks-like and large clusters is observed as correlated to the Rayleigh instability and Ostwald ripening. The various Pt NSs show a significant distinction in the reflectance spectra depending on the morphology evolution: i.e. the enhancement in UV-visible and NIR regions and the related optical properties are discussed in conjunction with the Pt NSs morphology and the surface coverage.

Effect of current density during electrodeposition on microstructure and hardness of textured Cu coating in the application of antimicrobial Al touch surface.

PubMed

Augustin, Arun; Huilgol, Prashant; Udupa, K Rajendra; Bhat K, Udaya

2016-10-01

Copper is a well proven antimicrobial material which can be used in the form of a coating on the touch surfaces. Those coating can offer a good service as touch surface for very long time if only they possess good mechanical properties like scratch resistance and microhardness. In the present work the above mentioned mechanical properties were determined on the electrodeposited copper thin film; deposited on double zincated aluminium. During deposition, current density was varied from 2Adm(-2) to 10Adm(-2), to produce crystallite size in the range of 33.5nm to 66nm. The crystallite size was calculated from the X-ray peak broadening (Scherrer׳s formula) which were later confirmed by TEM micrographs. The scratch hardness and microhardness of the coating were measured and correlated with the crystallite size in the copper coating. Both characteristic values were found to increase with the reduction in crystallite size. Reduced crystallite size (Hall-Petch effect) and preferred growth of copper films along (111) plane play a significant role on the increase in the hardness of the coating. Further, TEM analysis reveals the presence of nano-twins in the film deposited at higher current density, which contributed to a large extent to the sharp increase of coating hardness compared to the mechanism of Hall-Petch effect. The antimicrobial ability of the coated sample has been evaluated against Escherichia coli bacteria and which is compared with that of commercially available bulk copper using the colony count method. 94% of E. coli cells were died after six hours of exposure to the copper coated surface. The morphology of the copper treated cells was studied using SEM. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Synthesis of gold nanoparticles on multi-walled carbon nanotubes (Au-MWCNTs) via deposition precipitation method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zulikifli, Farah Wahida Ahmad; Yazid, Hanani; Halim, Muhammad Zikri Budiman Abdul; Jani, Abdul Mutalib Md

2017-09-01

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have received impressive consideration as support materials of noble metal catalysts in heterogeneous catalysis due to their good mechanical strength, large surface area and good durability under harsh conditions. The interaction between CNTs and noble metal nanoparticles (NPs) gives an unusual unique microstructure properties and or modification of the electron density of the noble metal clusters, and enhances the catalytic activity. In this study, the MWCNTs were first treated with a mixture of concentrated sulfuric and nitric acid by sonication to improve its dispersibility and to introduce the carboxylic (-COOH) groups on CNTs surfaces. Gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) on multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were synthesized by the deposition precipitation (DP) method as this method is simpler, low cost, and excellent method. Then, the effect of reducing agent (NaBH4) on gold distribution on the support of MWCNTs was also studied. Dispersion test, Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope (FESEM) are all used to characterize the functionalized MWCNTs (fCNTs) and the Au NPs-fCNTs catalyst. There are three important peaks in functionalized MWCNTs which correspond to C=O, O-H, and C-O absorption peaks, as a result of the oxidation of COOH groups on the surface of CNTs. The absorption band at 1717 cm-1 is corresponded to C=O stretching of COOH, while the absorption bands at 3384 cm-1 and 1011cm-1 are associated with O-H bending and C-O stretching, respectively. Surface morphology of Au NPs-fCNTs R4 and Au NPs- fCNTs WR catalyst by FESEM showed that the Au NPs of 19.22 ± 2.33 nm and 23.05 ± 2.57 nm size were successfully deposited on CNTs, respectively.

Nano-scale surface morphology, wettability and osteoblast adhesion on nitrogen plasma-implanted NiTi shape memory alloy.

PubMed

Liu, X M; Wu, S L; Chu, Paul K; Chung, C Y; Chu, C L; Chan, Y L; Lam, K O; Yeung, K W K; Lu, W W; Cheung, K M C; Luk, K D K

2009-06-01

Plasma immersion ion implantation (PIII) is an effective method to increase the corrosion resistance and inhibit nickel release from orthopedic NiTi shape memory alloy. Nitrogen was plasma-implanted into NiTi using different pulsing frequencies to investigate the effects on the nano-scale surface morphology, structure, wettability, as well as biocompatibility. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) results show that the implantation depth of nitrogen increases with higher pulsing frequencies. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) discloses that the nano-scale surface roughness increases and surface features are changed from islands to spiky cones with higher pulsing frequencies. This variation in the nano surface structures leads to different surface free energy (SFE) monitored by contact angle measurements. The adhesion, spreading, and proliferation of osteoblasts on the implanted NiTi surface are assessed by cell culture tests. Our results indicate that the nano-scale surface morphology that is altered by the implantation frequencies impacts the surface free energy and wettability of the NiTi surfaces, and in turn affects the osteoblast adhesion behavior.

Surface Characterization of an Organized Titanium Dioxide Layer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Curtis, Travis

Soft lithographic printing techniques can be used to control the surface morphology of titanium dioxide layers on length scales of several hundred nanometers. Controlling surface morphology and volumetric organization of titanium dioxide electrodes can potentially be used in dye-sensitized solar cell devices. This thesis explores how layer-by-layer replication can lead to well defined, dimensionally controlled volumes and details how these control mechanisms influence surface characteristics of the semiconducting oxide.

Formation and metrology of dual scale nano-morphology on SF(6) plasma etched silicon surfaces.

PubMed

Boulousis, G; Constantoudis, V; Kokkoris, G; Gogolides, E

2008-06-25

Surface roughness and nano-morphology in SF(6) plasma etched silicon substrates are investigated in a helicon type plasma reactor as a function of etching time and process parameters. The plasma etched surfaces are analyzed by atomic force microscopy. It is found that dual scale nano-roughness is formatted on the silicon surface comprising an underlying nano-roughness and superimposed nano-mounds. Detailed metrological quantification is proposed for the characterization of dual scale surface morphology. As etching proceeds, the mounds become higher, fewer and wider, and the underlying nano-roughness also increases. Increase in wafer temperature leads to smoother surfaces with lower, fewer and wider nano-mounds. A mechanism based on the deposition of etch inhibiting particles during the etching process is proposed for the explanation of the experimental behavior. In addition, appropriately designed experiments are conducted, and they confirm the presence of this mechanism.

Geologic map of Mars

USGS Publications Warehouse

Tanaka, Kenneth L.; Skinner, James A.; Dohm, James M.; Irwin, Rossman P.; Kolb, Eric J.; Fortezzo, Corey M.; Platz, Thomas; Michael, Gregory G.; Hare, Trent M.

2014-01-01

This global geologic map of Mars, which records the distribution of geologic units and landforms on the planet's surface through time, is based on unprecedented variety, quality, and quantity of remotely sensed data acquired since the Viking Orbiters. These data have provided morphologic, topographic, spectral, thermophysical, radar sounding, and other observations for integration, analysis, and interpretation in support of geologic mapping. In particular, the precise topographic mapping now available has enabled consistent morphologic portrayal of the surface for global mapping (whereas previously used visual-range image bases were less effective, because they combined morphologic and albedo information and, locally, atmospheric haze). Also, thermal infrared image bases used for this map tended to be less affected by atmospheric haze and thus are reliable for analysis of surface morphology and texture at even higher resolution than the topographic products.

Altered Calcium Dynamics in Cardiac Cells Grown on Silane-Modified Surfaces

PubMed Central

Ravenscroft-Chang, Melissa S.; Stohlman, Jayna; Molnar, Peter; Natarajan, Anupama; Canavan, Heather E.; Teliska, Maggie; Stancescu, Maria; Krauthamer, Victor; Hickman, J.J.

2013-01-01

Chemically defined surfaces were created using self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) of hydrophobic and hydrophilic silanes as models for implant coatings, and the morphology and physiology of cardiac myocytes plated on these surfaces were studied in vitro. We focused on changes in intracellular Ca2+ because of its essential role in regulating heart cell function. The SAM-modified coverslips were analyzed using X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy to verify composition. The morphology and physiology of the cardiac cells were examined using fluorescence microscopy and intracellular Ca2+ imaging. The imaging experiments used the fluorescent ratiometric dye fura-2, AM to establish both the resting Ca2+ concentration and the dynamic responses to electrical stimulation. A significant difference in excitation-induced Ca2+ changes on the different silanated surfaces was observed. However, no significant change was noted based on the morphological analysis. This result implies a difference in internal Ca2+ dynamics, and thus cardiac function, occurs when the composition of the surface is different, and this effect is independent of cellular morphology. This finding has implications for histological examination of tissues surrounding implants, the choice of materials that could be beneficial as implant coatings and understanding of cell-surface interactions in cardiac systems. PMID:19828193

Factors affecting the morphology of isocitrate lyase crystals

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Demattei, Robert C.; Feigelson, Robert S.; Weber, Patricia C.

1992-01-01

Isocitrate lyase crystals have been grown by the hanging drop vapor equilibration method in both 1-g and microgravity and by vapor equilibrium in small capillaries. The crystal morphologies obtained have ranged from dendritic to 'octagonal' prisms. Theoretical evaporation models have been applied to these growth regimes. The results of these analyses along with other experimental results, indicate the factors which must be controlled to produce good growth morphologies.

Processing Solvent Dependent Morphology of Diketopyrrolopyrrole (DPP) based Low Band Gap Polymer and PCBM Blends

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ferdous, Sunzida; Liu, Feng; Russell, Thomas

2013-03-01

Solution processing of polymer semiconductors is widely used for fabrication of low cost organic solar cells. Recently, mixed solvent systems or additive based systems for fabricating polymer solar cells have proven to be beneficial for obtaining high performance devices with multi-length scale morphologies. To control the morphology during the processing step, one needs to understand the effect of solvent as it evaporates to form the final thin film structure. In this study, we used diketopyrrolopyrrole (DPP) based low band gap polymer and phenyl-C71-butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) blend in a series of mixed solvent systems consisting of a good solvent for both of the active material components, as well as different solvents that are good solvents for PCBM, but poor solvents for the polymer. Different evaporation times of the poor solvents during the drying process, and different solubility of the polymer in these poor solvents as well as their interaction with the substrate play an important role in the final morphology. In-situ GIWAXS studies were performed to observe the evolution of the structure as the solvent evaporates. The final morphologies of the thin film devices were also characterized by AFM, TEM, and various x-ray scattering techniques to correlate the morphology with the obtained device performances.

Spectroscopic analysis of Ahlat stone (ignimbrite) and pumice formed by volcanic activity.

PubMed

Aygun, Z; Aygun, M

2016-09-05

Natural materials such as ignimbrites are preferred commonly not only in historical places but also in houses or in different kind of buildings all over the world especially around Ahlat in Bitlis-Turkey. Durability, lightness and good-insulation are the significative properties of these stones. Also, pumice is an another preferred material because of its advantages in construction industry. In this paper, four kinds of ignimbrite (light-yellow, yellow, black and white) and pumice from Ahlat region have been investigated by EPR method to determine magnetic properties of them. The results obtained by EPR, EDS and XRD methods are evaluated together. SEM technique is also used to understand the surface morphology of the samples. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Effects of PVDF concentration on the properties of PVDF membranes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pramono, E.; Simamora, A. L.; Radiman, C. L.; Wahyuningrum, D.

2017-07-01

Polyvinylideneflouride (PVDF) is a good polymeric material for preparing ultrafiltration and microfiltration membranes due to its high mechanical properties and chemical resistance. The objective of this work is to study the effects of PVDF concentration on the membrane properties such as mechanical strength, permeability of water and permselectivity of T-500 and T-2000 dextran solutions. These membranes were also characterized by contact angle determination and its morphology was observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). From the experimental data, it can be concluded that PVDF concentration affects the surface properties, permeability and permselectivity of the produced membranes. Higher PVDF concentrations results in higher hydrophobicity, mechanical properties and rejection towards T-500 and T-2000 dextrans, but lower water flux.

Potentiality of uranium biosorption from nitric acid solutions using shrimp shells.

PubMed

Ahmed, S H; El Sheikh, E M; Morsy, A M A

2014-08-01

Biosorption has gained important credibility during recent years because of its good performance and low cost. This work is concerned with studying the potentiality of the chitin component of the shrimp shells for uranium biosorption from nitric acid liquid solutions. The structural characteristics of the working chitin have been determined via Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR). The surface morphology was examined using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). The adsorption capacity of biomass was investigated experimentally. The influence of contact time, pH, metal ion concentration, solution volume to mass ratio and temperature were evaluated and the results were fitted using adsorption isotherm models. The kinetic of uranium biosorption was also investigated as well as biosorption thermodynamic. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

A new composite electrode architecture for energy storage devices

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ferro, Richard E.; Swain, Greg M.; Tatarchuk, B. J.

1992-01-01

The research objective is to determine how the electrode microstructure (architecture) affect the performance of the nickel hydroxide electrochemical system. It was found that microstructure and additional surface area makes a difference. The best architectures are the FIBREX/nickel and nickel fiber composite electrodes. The conditioning time for full utilization was greatly reduced. The accelerated increase in capacity vs. cycling appears to be a good indicator of the condition of the electrode/active material microstructure and morphology. Conformal deposition of the active material may be indicated and important. Also higher utilizations were obtained; greater than 80 pct. after less than 5 cycles and greater than 300 pct. after more than 5 cycles using nickel fiber composite electrode assuming a 1 electron transfer per equivalent.

River network and watershed morphology analysis with potential implications towards basin classification

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bugaets, Andrey; Gartsman, Boris; Bugaets, Nadezhda

2013-04-01

Generally, the investigation of river network composition and watersheds morphology (fluvial geomorphology), constituting one of the key patterns of land surface, is a fundamental question of Earth Sciences. Recent ideas in this research field are the equilibrium and optimal, in the sense of minimum energy expenditure, river network evolution under constant or slowly varying conditions (Rodriguez-Iturbe, Rinaldo, 1997). It follows to such network behavior as self-similarity, self-affinity and self-organization. That is to say, under relatively stable conditions the river systems tend to some "good composed" form and vice-versa. Lately appearing global free available detailed DEM covers involve new possibilities in this research field. We develop new methodology and program package for river network structure and watershed morphology detailed analysis on the base of ArcMap tools. Different characteristics of river network (e.g. ordering, coefficients of Horton's laws, Shannon entropy, fractal dimension) and basin morphology (e.g. diagrams of average elevation, slope, width and energy index against distance to outlet along streams) could be calculated to find a good indicators of intensity and non-equilibrium of watershed evolution. Watersheds are non-conservative systems in which energy is dissipated by transporting water and sediment in geomorphic adjustment of the slopes and channels. The problem of estimating the amount of energy expenditure associated with overcoming surface and system resistance is extremely complicated to solve. A simplification on a river network scale is to consider energy expenditure to be primarily associated with friction of the fluid. We propose a new technique to analyze the catchment landforms based on so-called "energy function" that is a distribution of total energy index against distance from outlet. As potential energy of water on the hillslopes is transformed into kinetic energy of the flowing fluid-sediment mixture in the runoff process, the energy is dissipated from the system. The rate of energy dissipation is defined as the work that a fluid element needs to perform to overcome friction at the unit area. Appling the product of local slope and watershed area, i.e. calculating the total energy index at the different distance from outlet, one gets the watershed "energy function" E(x). Application results indicate that the proposed method could be used for watersheds classification, regionalization and paleoreconstructions. NASA-SRTM DEM of 3" resolution has been employed to analyze the 24 watersheds within Amur River Basin with area 20-70 thousand km2 (7-8 order). The study was carried out, in particular, to assess the limitation of SRTM DEM data, especially in flat terrains. The study also revealed that some of regularities investigated are described satisfactorily by well-known simplest model of drainage networks, so-called Peano's basin.

Darkening effect on AZ31B magnesium alloy surface induced by nanosecond pulse Nd:YAG laser

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Guan, Y. C.; Zhou, W.; Zheng, H. Y.; Li, Z. L.

2013-09-01

Permanent darkening effect was achieved on surface of AZ31B Mg alloy irradiated with nanosecond pulse Nd:YAG laser, and special attention was made to examine how surface structure as well as oxidation affect the darkening effect. Experiments were carried out to characterize morphological evolution and chemical composition of the irradiated areas by optical reflection spectrometer, Talysurf surface profiler, SEM, EDS, and XPS. The darkening effect was found to be occurred at the surface under high laser energy. Optical spectra showed that the induced darkening surface was uniform over the spectral range from 200 nm to 1100 nm. SEM and surface profiler showed that surface morphology of darkening areas consisted of large number of micron scale cauliflower-like clusters and protruding particles. EDS and XPS showed that compared to non-irradiated area, oxygen content at the darkening areas increased significantly. It was proposed a mechanism that involved trapping of light in the surface morphology and chemistry variation of irradiated areas to explain the laser-induced darkening effect on AZ31B Mg alloy.

Investigation on large-area fabrication of vivid shark skin with superior surface functions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Huawei; Zhang, Xin; Ma, Lingxi; Che, Da; Zhang, Deyuan; Sudarshan, T. S.

2014-10-01

Shark skin has attracted worldwide attention because of its superior drag reduction, antifouling performance induced from its unique surface morphology. Although the vivid shark skin has been fabricated by a bio-replicated micro-imprinting approach in previous studies and superior drag reduction effect has been validated in water tunnel, continuous large-area fabrication is still an obstacle to wide apply. In this paper, one novel bio-replication coating technology is proposed for large-area transfer of shark skin based on rapid UV curable paint. Apart from design of coating system, bio-replication accuracy of surface morphology was validated about 97% by comparison between shark skin template and coating surface morphology. Finally, the drag reduction and anti-fouling function of coating surface were tested in water tunnel and open algae pond respectively. Drag reduction rate of coating surface was validated about 12% higher and anti-fouling was proved to about hundred times ameliorate, all of which are more excellent than simple 2D riblet surface.

Experimental evaluation of a new morphological approximation of the articular surfaces of the ankle joint.

PubMed

Belvedere, Claudio; Siegler, Sorin; Ensini, Andrea; Toy, Jason; Caravaggi, Paolo; Namani, Ramya; Giannini, Giulia; Durante, Stefano; Leardini, Alberto

2017-02-28

The mechanical characteristics of the ankle such as its kinematics and load transfer properties are influenced by the geometry of the articulating surfaces. A recent, image-based study found that these surfaces can be approximated by a saddle-shaped, skewed, truncated cone with its apex oriented laterally. The goal of this study was to establish a reliable experimental technique to study the relationship between the geometry of the articular surfaces of the ankle and its mobility and stability characteristics and to use this technique to determine if morphological approximations of the ankle surfaces based on recent discoveries, produce close to normal behavior. The study was performed on ten cadavers. For each specimen, a process based on medical imaging, modeling and 3D printing was used to produce two subject specific artificial implantable sets of the ankle surfaces. One set was a replica of the natural surfaces. The second approximated the ankle surfaces as an original saddle-shaped truncated cone with apex oriented laterally. Testing under cyclic loading conditions was then performed on each specimen following a previously established technique to determine its mobility and stability characteristics under three different conditions: natural surfaces; artificial surfaces replicating the natural surface morphology; and artificial approximation based on the saddle-shaped truncated cone concept. A repeated measure analysis of variance was then used to compare between the three conditions. The results show that (1): the artificial surfaces replicating natural morphology produce close to natural mobility and stability behavior thus establishing the reliability of the technique; and (2): the approximated surfaces based on saddle-shaped truncated cone concept produce mobility and stability behavior close to the ankle with natural surfaces. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Thin film surface modifications of thin/tunable liquid/gas diffusion layers for high-efficiency proton exchange membrane electrolyzer cells

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kang, Zhenye; Mo, Jingke; Yang, Gaoqiang

We present that a proton exchange membrane electrolyzer cell (PEMEC) is one of the most promising devices for high-efficiency and low-cost energy storage and ultrahigh purity hydrogen production. As one of the critical components in PEMECs, the titanium thin/tunable LGDL (TT-LGDL) with its advantages of small thickness, planar surface, straight-through pores, and well-controlled pore morphologies, achieved superior multifunctional performance for hydrogen and oxygen production from water splitting even at low temperature. Different thin film surface treatments on the novel TT-LGDLs for enhancing the interfacial contacts and PEMEC performance were investigated both in-situ and ex-situ for the first time. Surface modifiedmore » TT-LGDLs with about 180 nm thick Au thin film yielded performance improvement (voltage reduction), from 1.6849 V with untreated TT-LGDLs to only 1.6328 V with treated TT-LGDLs at 2.0 A/cm 2 and 80°C. Furthermore, the hydrogen/oxygen production rate was increased by about 28.2% at 1.60 V and 80°C. The durability test demonstrated that the surface treated TT-LGDL has good stability as well. Finally, the gold electroplating surface treatment is a promising method for the PEMEC performance enhancement and titanium material protection even in harsh environment.« less

Facile way in fabricating a cotton fabric membrane for switchable oil/water separation and water purification

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Yubin; Feng, Ziliang; He, Yi; Fan, Yi; Ma, Jing; Yin, Xiangying

2018-05-01

With dopamine and NiFe2O4 particles, a novel modified cotton fabric (PDA-NiFe2O4@CF) was prepared by one-pot method. Surface morphology, composition of the PDA-NiFe2O4@CF were investigated with SEM, EDX, XRD and FT-IR, respectively. According to the results, the cotton fiber surface was well coated with NiFe2O4 particles. Subsequently, wetting behavior of the modified cotton fabric was determined. The PDA-NiFe2O4@CF is superamphiphilic in air, and a dual lyophobic behavior was indicated with an oil contact angle (OCA) of 153° under water and a water contact angle (WCA) of 145° under oil. The rough micro-nano scale surface structure and high-surface-energy compositions of the PDA-NiFe2O4@CF makes the surface to be easily covered by one medium and enables it to repel other unmixable medium simultaneously. Therefore, water-oil mixtures can be separated on demand. Besides, with the unusual dual lyophobic surface of PDA-NiFe2O4@CF, both two types of emulsions were separated by gravity driven. On the other hand, it was also found that the as-prepared PDA-NiFe2O4@CF had good adsorption performance for methylene blue.

Thin film surface modifications of thin/tunable liquid/gas diffusion layers for high-efficiency proton exchange membrane electrolyzer cells

DOE PAGES

Kang, Zhenye; Mo, Jingke; Yang, Gaoqiang; ...

2017-09-14

We present that a proton exchange membrane electrolyzer cell (PEMEC) is one of the most promising devices for high-efficiency and low-cost energy storage and ultrahigh purity hydrogen production. As one of the critical components in PEMECs, the titanium thin/tunable LGDL (TT-LGDL) with its advantages of small thickness, planar surface, straight-through pores, and well-controlled pore morphologies, achieved superior multifunctional performance for hydrogen and oxygen production from water splitting even at low temperature. Different thin film surface treatments on the novel TT-LGDLs for enhancing the interfacial contacts and PEMEC performance were investigated both in-situ and ex-situ for the first time. Surface modifiedmore » TT-LGDLs with about 180 nm thick Au thin film yielded performance improvement (voltage reduction), from 1.6849 V with untreated TT-LGDLs to only 1.6328 V with treated TT-LGDLs at 2.0 A/cm 2 and 80°C. Furthermore, the hydrogen/oxygen production rate was increased by about 28.2% at 1.60 V and 80°C. The durability test demonstrated that the surface treated TT-LGDL has good stability as well. Finally, the gold electroplating surface treatment is a promising method for the PEMEC performance enhancement and titanium material protection even in harsh environment.« less

Relationships between tensile strength, morphology and crystallinity of treated kenaf bast fibers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sosiati, H.; Rohim, Ar; Ma`arif, Triyana, K.; Harsojo

2013-09-01

Surface treatments on kenaf bast fibers were carried out with steam, alkali and a combination of steam-alkali. To verify and gain an understanding of their inter-relationship, tensile strength, surface morphology and crystallinity of treated and raw fibers were characterized. Tensile strength of fibers was measured with a universal tensile machine (UTM), crystallinity was estimated using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier transformation infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, and surface morphology was examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Tensile strength of the treated fibers was higher than that of the raw fiber. Tensile strength increased after steam treatment and was further improved by alkali treatment, but slightly reduced after steam treatment followed by alkalization. Increase of concentration of alkali tended to increase tensile strength. Differences in tensile strength of the treated fibers are discussed in relation to the changes in surface morphology and crystallinity. Understanding of these relationships may provide direction towards the goal of producing better performance of natural fiber composites.

The Effect of Bi on the Selective Oxide Formation on CMnSi TRIP Steel

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Oh, Jonghan; Cho, Lawrence; Kim, Myungsoo; Kang, Kichul; De Cooman, Bruno C.

2016-11-01

The effect of Bi addition on the selective oxidation and the galvanizability of CMnSi transformation-induced plasticity (TRIP) steels was studied by hot dip galvanizing laboratory simulations. Bi-added TRIP steels were intercritically annealed at 1093 K (820 °C) and galvanized in a 0.22 wt pct Al-containing Zn bath. The oxide morphology was investigated by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and 3D atom probe tomography. Bi formed a Bi-enriched surface layer during the intercritical annealing. A decrease of the oxygen permeability was observed with increasing Bi addition. The internal oxidation was suppressed in Bi-added CMnSi TRIP steel. The surface oxide morphology was changed from a continuous layer morphology to a more lens-shaped morphology. The galvanizability of the Bi-added TRIP steel was improved by the combination of the change of the oxide morphology and the dissolution of the Bi-enriched surface layer during immersion of the strip in the Zn bath.

Impact of x-Linkable Polymer Blends on Phase Morphology and Adhesion

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Chun; Wan, Grace; Keene, Ellen; Harris, Joseph; Zhang, Sipei; Anderson, Stephanie; Li Pi Shan, Colin

Adhesion to dissimilar substrate is highly important to multiple industrial applications such as automotive adhesives, food packaging, transportation etc. Adhesive design has to include components that are affinity to both substrates, e.g. high surface energy polar and low surface non-polar substrates. Typically, these adhesive components are thermodynamically incompatible with each other, leading to macrophase separation and thus adhesive failure. By using functional adhesive components plus some additives, the adhesive can be in-situ cross-linked to prevent the macrophase separation with controlled phase morphology. Herein, we present the study on a cross-linkable adhesive formulation consisting of acrylic emulsion and polyolefin aqueous dispersion with additives for enhancing cross-linking and controlled phase morphologies. Contact angle measurement and ATR-IR spectroscopy are used to characterize the properties of adhesive surface. DMA is used to study the mechanical property of adhesive before and after cross-linking. The detailed phase morphologies are revealed by AFM, SEM and TEM. The resulting adhesive morphologies are correlated with the adhesive performance to establish structure-property relationship.

Effects of surface morphology on the optical and electrical properties of Schottky diodes of CBD deposited ZnO nanostructures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mwankemwa, Benard S.; Akinkuade, Shadrach; Maabong, Kelebogile; Nel, Jackie M.; Diale, Mmantsae

2018-04-01

We report on effect of surface morphology on the optical and electrical properties of chemical bath deposited Zinc oxide (ZnO) nanostructures. ZnO nanostructures were deposited on the seeded conducting indium doped tin oxide substrate positioned in three different directions in the growth solution. Field emission scanning electron microscopy was used to evaluate the morphological properties of the synthesized nanostructures and revealed that the positioning of the substrate in the growth solution affects the surface morphology of the nanostructures. The optical absorbance, photoluminescence and Raman spectroscopy of the resulting nanostructures are discussed. The electrical characterization of the Schottky diode such as barrier height, ideality factor, rectification ratios, reverse saturation current and series resistance were found to depend on the nanostructures morphology. In addition, current transport mechanism in the higher forward bias of the Schottky diode was studied and space charge limited current was found to be the dominant transport mechanism in all samples.

Effects of polymer surface energy on morphology and properties of silver nanowire fabricated via nanoimprint and E-beam evaporation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhao, Zhi-Jun; Hwang, Soon Hyoung; Jeon, Sohee; Jung, Joo-Yun; Lee, Jihye; Choi, Dae-Geun; Choi, Jun-Hyuk; Park, Sang-Hu; Jeong, Jun-Ho

2017-10-01

In this paper, we demonstrate that use of different nanoimprint resins as a polymer pattern has a significant effect on the morphology of silver (Ag) nanowires deposited via an E-beam evaporator. RM-311 and Ormo-stamp resins are chosen as a polymer pattern to form a line with dimensions of width (100 nm) × space (100 nm) × height (120 nm) by using nanoimprint lithography (NIL). Their contact angles are then measured to evaluate their surface energies. In order to compare the properties of the Ag nanowires deposited on the various polymer patterns with different surface energies, hydrophobic surface treatment of the polymer pattern surface is implemented using self-assembled monolayers. In addition, gold and aluminum nanowires are fabricated for comparison with the Ag nanowires, with the differences in the nanowire morphologies being determined by the different atomic properties. The monocrystalline and polycrystalline structures of the various Ag nanowire formations are observed using transmission electron microscopy. In addition, the melting temperatures and optical properties of four kinds of Ag nanowire morphologies deposited on various polymer patterns are evaluated using a hot plate and an ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) spectrometer, respectively. The results indicate that the morphology of the Ag nanowire determines the melting temperature and the transmission. We believe that these findings will greatly aid the development of NIL, along with physical evaporation and chemical deposition techniques, and will be widely employed in optics, biology, and surface wettability applications.

Exploring Statistical Characterizations of Morphologic Change and Variability: Fire Island, New York

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lentz, E. E.; Hapke, C. J.

2012-12-01

A comprehensive understanding of coastal barrier behavior requires high-resolution observations that capture a wide range of morphological changes occurring over a range of spatial and temporal scales. Fire Island National Seashore, located along the coast of Long Island, New York, is a well studied barrier island coast where understanding how morphological changes contribute to barrier island vulnerability have important implications for coastal land management. Previous work has shown that morphologic differences in eastern and western reaches are attributable to the underlying geology and variations sediment transport in the system. In this study, we further explore western and eastern differences and variability with lidar-derived topographic surfaces to provide a unique and comprehensive investigation of dune-beach change at Fire Island, New York. Continuous topographic surfaces generated from 12 lidar surveys collected between 1998 and 2011 are used to examine the three-dimensional variability over a range of time periods over the 50 km long island. Because surveys were collected over a range of seasons and in response to a number of storm events, we explore morphologic configurations reflecting the seasonality, post-storm configuration, and replenishment response to the system through the generation of a representative or average surface. These averaged surfaces provide the context for what would be an expected or typical coastal configuration under certain conditions, and through comparison with an individual event, can be used to derive an event-specific spatial-change signature. To investigate anthropogenic influences, differences in morphology between a survey collected after a substantial beach replenishment project and a typical fair-weather configuration averaged from six surveys are determined. Storm response variations are also explored by assessing differences between Tropical Storm Irene (2011), Nor'Ida (2009), and a typical post-storm configuration averaged from five post-storm surveys. In addition to averaged surfaces, surveys are combined to generate a new raster surface reflecting cell by cell standard deviations over a defined period. Standard deviation surfaces are generated to highlight 1) where areas of highest and lowest morphologic variation are located over the entire period, and 2) whether spatial similarities exist in variability between storm and non-storm morphologies. Results show there are distinct and variable responses in eastern and western reaches attributable to wave climate, profile gradient, and offshore bathymetry, as well as to a general along-coast increase in sediment availability.

Oxygen atom reaction with shuttle materials at orbital altitudes

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Leger, L. J.

1982-01-01

Surfaces of materials used in the space shuttle orbiter payload bay and exposed during STS-1 through STS-3 were examined after flight. Paints and polymers, in particular Kapton used on the television camera thermal blanket, showed significant change. Generally, the change was a loss of surface gloss on the polymer with apparent aging on the paint surfaces. The Kapton surfaces showed the greatest change, and postflight analyses showed mass loss of 4.8 percent on STS-2 and 35 percent on STS-3 for most heavily affected surfaces. Strong shadow patterns were evident. The greatest mass loss was measured on surfaces which were exposed to solar radiation in conjunction with exposure in the vehicle velocity vector. A mechanism which involves the interaction of atomic oxygen with organic polymer surfaces is proposed. Atomic oxygen is the major ambient species at low orbital altitudes and presents a flux of 8 x 10 to the 14th power atoms/cu cm sec for reaction. Correlation of the expected mass loss based on ground-based oxygen atom/polymer reaction rates shows lower mass loss of the Kapton than measured. Consideration of solar heating effects on reaction rates as well as the high oxygen atom energy due to the orbiter's orbital velocity brings the predicted and measured mass loss in surprisingly good agreement. Flight sample surface morphology comparison with ground based Kapton/oxygen atom exposures provides additional support for the oxygen interaction mechanism.

Hydrothermal synthesis of flower-like MoS2 nanospheres for electrochemical supercapacitors.

PubMed

Zhou, Xiaoping; Xu, Bin; Lin, Zhengfeng; Shu, Dong; Ma, Lin

2014-09-01

Flower-like MoS2 nanospheres were synthesized by a hydrothermal route. The structure and surface morphology of the as-prepared MoS2 was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The supercapacitive behavior of MoS2 in 1 M KCl electrolyte was studied by means of cyclic voltammetry (CV), constant current charge-discharge cycling (CD) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The XRD results indicate that the as-prepared MoS2 has good crystallinity. SEM images show that the MoS2 nanospheres have uniform sizes with mean diameter about 300 nm. Many nanosheets growing on the surface make the MoS2 nanospheres to be a flower-like structure. The specific capacitance of MoS2 is 122 F x g(-1) at 1 A x g(-1) or 114 F x g(-1) at 2 mv s(-1). All the experimental results indicate that MoS2 is a promising electrode material for electrochemical supercapacitors.

Synthesis by picosecond laser ablation of ligand-free Ag and Au nanoparticles for SERS applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fazio, Enza; Spadaro, Salvatore; Santoro, Marco; Trusso, Sebastiano; Lucotti, Andrea.; Tommasini, Matteo.; Neri, Fortunato; Maria Ossi, Paolo

2018-01-01

The morphological and optical properties of noble metal nanoparticles prepared by picosecond laser generated plasmas in water were investigated. First, the ablation efficiency was maximized searching the optimal focusing conditions. The nanoparticle size, measured by Scanning Transmission Electron Microscopy, strongly depends on the laser fluence, keeping fixed the other deposition parameters such as the target to scanner objective distance and laser repetition frequency. STEM images indicate narrow gradients of NP sizes. Hence the optimization of ablation parameters favours a fine tuning of nanoparticles. UV-Visible spectroscopy helped to determine the appropriate laser wavelength to resonantly excite the localized surface plasmon to carry out Surface Enhanced Raman Scattering (SERS) measurements. The SERS activity of Ag and Au substrates, obtained spraying the colloids synthesized in water, was tested using crystal violet as a probe molecule. The good SERS performance, observed at excitation wavelength 785 nm, is attributed to aggregation phenomena of nanoparticles sprayed on the support.

A Flexible Cotton-Based Supercapacitor Electrode with High Stability Prepared by Multiwalled CNTs/PANI

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hao, Tianqi; Wang, Wei; Yu, Dan

2018-05-01

Multiwalled nanotubes/cotton composite was prepared firstly as conductive fabric, and then, polyaniline (PANI) doped with multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were fabricated on the conductive fabric to make flexible cotton-based supercapacitor electrodes. The doping of MWCNTs cannot only provide good conductivity and large specific surface area of the electrode, but also help to increase the loading of aniline monomer in the polyaniline polymerization. Field emission scanning electron microscopy was applied to observe the surface morphology of the composite, and Fourier transform infrared and Energy dispersion spectrum were used to analysis the existence of PANI. Electrochemical tests were adopted to measure the electrochemical performance. The results demonstrated the multivariate mixture composite flexible electrode exhibited a specific capacitance of 590.93 F g-1 at a scan rate of 0.001 V s-1 and an excellent capacitance retention of 89% at 0.1 V s-1 after 3000 cycles. Based on our method, the cycle stability of the composite was great and so was the capacitance retention.

Improved performance of organic light-emitting diode with vanadium pentoxide layer on the FTO surface

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Saikia, D.; Sarma, R.

2017-06-01

Vanadium pentoxide layer deposited on the fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) anode by vacuum deposition has been investigated in organic light-emitting diode (OLED). With 12 nm optimal thickness of V2O5, the luminance efficiency is increased by 1.66 times compared to the single FTO-based OLED. The improvement of current efficiency implies that there is a better charge injection and better controlling of hole current. To investigate the performance of OLED by the buffer layer, V2O5 films of different thicknesses were deposited on the FTO anode and their J- V and L- V characteristics were studied. Further analysis was carried out by measuring sheet resistance, optical transmittance and surface morphology with the FE-SEM images. This result indicates that the V2O5 (12 nm) buffer layer is a good choice for increasing the efficiency of FTO-based OLED devices within the tunnelling region. Here the maximum value of current efficiency is found to be 2.83 cd / A.

Highly efficient flexible optoelectronic devices using metal nanowire-conducting polymer composite transparent electrode

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jung, Eui Dae; Nam, Yun Seok; Seo, Houn; Lee, Bo Ram; Yu, Jae Choul; Lee, Sang Yun; Kim, Ju-Young; Park, Jang-Ung; Song, Myoung Hoon

2015-09-01

Here, we report a comprehensive analysis of the electrical, optical, mechanical, and surface morphological properties of composite nanostrutures based on silver nanowires (AgNW) and PEDOT:PSS conducting polymer for the use as flexible and transparent electrodes. Compared to ITO or the single material of AgNW or PEDOT:PSS, the AgNW/PEDOT:PSS composite electrode showed high electrical conductivity with a low sheet resistance of 26.8 Ω/sq at 91% transmittance (at 550 nm), improves surface smoothness, and enhances mechanical properties assisted by an amphiphilic fluoro-surfactant. The polymeric light-emitting diodes (PLEDs) and organic solar cells (OSCs) using the AgNW/PEDOT:PSS composite electrode showed higher device performances than those with AgNW and PEDOT:PSS electrodes and excellent flexibility under bending test. These results indicates that the AgNW/PEDOT:PSS composite presented is a good candidate as next-generation transparent elelctrodes for applications into flexible optoelectronic devices. [Figure not available: see fulltext.

Synthesis of Co3O4/TiO2 composite by pyrolyzing ZIF-67 for detection of xylene

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bai, Shouli; Tian, Ke; Tian, Ye; Guo, Jun; Feng, Yongjun; Luo, Ruixian; Li, Dianqing; Chen, Aifan; Liu, Chung Chiun

2018-03-01

Co3O4/TiO2 composites with p-n heterojunction have been successfully prepared by pyrolyzing sacrificial template of Ti ion loaded Co-based Zeolitic imidazolate framework (ZIF-67). The structure and morphology of composite have been characterized by means of the analysis of XRD, FESEM, HRTEM and XPS spectra. The composite with a Co/Ti molar ratio of 4:1 exhibits the maximum sensing response of 6.17-50 ppm xylene, which is 5 times higher than pristine Co3O4. Moreover, Co3O4/TiO2 composite also shows good selectivity, long-term stability and rapid response and recovery. Such excellent sensing performances are attributed to material porous structure, high specific surface and the formation of abundant p-n heterojunction that permits the gas adsorption, diffusion and surface reaction and then improve the gas sensing performance. This work develops a promising synthesized approach of metal oxide composites for broader MOFs application in gas sensor field.

Elevated gamma-rays shielding property in lead-free bismuth tungstate by nanofabricating structures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Jun-Hua; Zhang, Quan-Ping; Sun, Nan; Zhao, Yang; Shi, Rui; Zhou, Yuan-Lin; Zheng, Jian

2018-01-01

Radiation shielding materials have attracted much attention across academia and industry because of the increasing of nuclear activities. To achieve the materials with low toxicity but good protective capability is one of the most significant goals for personal protective articles. Here, bismuth tungstate nanostructures are controllably fabricated by a versatile hydrothermal treatment under various temperatures. The crystals structure and morphology of products are detailedly characterized with X-ray diffraction, electron microscope and specific surface area. It is noteworthy that desired Bi2WO6 nanosheets treated with 190 °C show the higher specific surface area (19.5 m2g-1) than that of the other two products. Importantly, it has a close attenuating property to lead based counterpart for low energy gamma-rays. Due to the less toxicity, Bi2WO6 nanosheets are more suitable than lead based materials to fabricate personal protective articles for shielding low energy radiations and have great application prospect as well as market potential.

Controllably annealed CuO-nanoparticle modified ITO electrodes: Characterisation and electrochemical studies

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Tong; Su, Wen; Fu, Yingyi; Hu, Jingbo

2016-12-01

In this paper, we report a facile and controllable two-step approach to produce indium tin oxide electrodes modified by copper(II) oxide nanoparticles (CuO/ITO) through ion implantation and annealing methods. After annealing treatment, the surface morphology of the CuO/ITO substrate changed remarkably and exhibited highly electroactive sites and a high specific surface area. The effects of annealing treatment on the synthesis of CuO/ITO were discussed based on various instruments' characterisations, and the possible mechanism by which CuO nanoparticles were generated was also proposed in this work. Cyclic voltammetric results indicated that CuO/ITO electrodes exhibited effective catalytic responses toward glucose in alkaline solution. Under optimal experimental conditions, the proposed CuO/ITO electrode showed sensitivity of 450.2 μA cm-2 mM-1 with a linear range of up to ∼4.4 mM and a detection limit of 0.7 μM (S/N = 3). Moreover, CuO/ITO exhibited good poison resistance, reproducibility, and stability properties.

A Flexible Cotton-Based Supercapacitor Electrode with High Stability Prepared by Multiwalled CNTs/PANI

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hao, Tianqi; Wang, Wei; Yu, Dan

2018-07-01

Multiwalled nanotubes/cotton composite was prepared firstly as conductive fabric, and then, polyaniline (PANI) doped with multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were fabricated on the conductive fabric to make flexible cotton-based supercapacitor electrodes. The doping of MWCNTs cannot only provide good conductivity and large specific surface area of the electrode, but also help to increase the loading of aniline monomer in the polyaniline polymerization. Field emission scanning electron microscopy was applied to observe the surface morphology of the composite, and Fourier transform infrared and Energy dispersion spectrum were used to analysis the existence of PANI. Electrochemical tests were adopted to measure the electrochemical performance. The results demonstrated the multivariate mixture composite flexible electrode exhibited a specific capacitance of 590.93 F g-1 at a scan rate of 0.001 V s-1 and an excellent capacitance retention of 89% at 0.1 V s-1 after 3000 cycles. Based on our method, the cycle stability of the composite was great and so was the capacitance retention.

Microencapsulation of essential oil for insect repellent in food packaging system.

PubMed

Chung, Seong Kyun; Seo, Ji Yeon; Lim, Jung Hoon; Park, Hyung Hwan; Yea, Myeong Jai; Park, Hyun Jin

2013-05-01

Microcapsules containing thyme oil were prepared by in situ polymerization, using melamine-formaldehyde prepolymer as a wall material and 3 different emulsifiers (pluronic F-127, tween 80, and sodium lauryl sulfate [SLS]). The general characteristics and release behavior of microcapsules, and their repellent effect against insects were investigated. The morphology of microcapsules using SLS was spherical shape with smooth surface. Microcapsules began to degrade at 150 °C. The particle size ranged from 1 to 10 μm and the loading efficiency of thyme oil was clearly affected by the emulsifier type. The highest loading efficiency appeared in microcapsules using SLS, which have good thermal resistance and smooth surface. The release rate of thyme oil from microcapsules was not only dependent on the storage temperature but also emulsifier type and microcapsules showed the sustained release properties for a long time. Diets, which were mixed with encapsulated thyme oil, expressed high insect repellent efficacy over 90% for 4 wk. © 2013 Institute of Food Technologists®

A versatile chemical conversion synthesis of Cu2S nanotubes and the photovoltaic activities for dye-sensitized solar cell

PubMed Central

2014-01-01

A versatile, low-temperature, and low-cost chemical conversion synthesis has been developed to prepare copper sulfide (Cu2S) nanotubes. The successful chemical conversion from ZnS nanotubes to Cu2S ones profits by the large difference in solubility between ZnS and Cu2S. The morphology, structure, and composition of the yielded products have been examined by field-emission scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and X-ray diffraction measurements. We have further successfully employed the obtained Cu2S nanotubes as counter electrodes in dye-sensitized solar cells. The light-to-electricity conversion results show that the Cu2S nanostructures exhibit high photovoltaic conversion efficiency due to the increased surface area and the good electrocatalytical activity of Cu2S. The present chemical route provides a simple way to synthesize Cu2S nanotubes with a high surface area for nanodevice applications. PMID:25246878

CoMn2O4 Spinel Hierarchical Microspheres Assembled with Porous Nanosheets as Stable Anodes for Lithium-ion Batteries

PubMed Central

Hu, Lin; Zhong, Hao; Zheng, Xinrui; Huang, Yimin; Zhang, Ping; Chen, Qianwang

2012-01-01

Herein, we report the feasibility to enhance the capacity and stability of CoMn2O4 anode materials by fabricating hierarchical mesoporous structure. The open space between neighboring nanosheets allows for easy diffusion of the electrolyte. The hierarchical microspheres assembled with nanosheets can ensure that every nanosheet participates in the electrochemical reaction, because every nanosheet is contacted with the electrolyte solution. The hierarchical structure and well interconnected pores on the surface of nanosheets will enhance the CoMn2O4/electrolyte contact area, shorten the Li+ ion diffusion length in the nanosheets, and accommodate the strain induced by the volume change during the electrochemical reaction. The last, hierarchical architecture with spherical morphology possesses relatively low surface energy, which results in less extent of self-aggregation during charge/discharge process. As a result, CoMn2O4 hierarchical microspheres can achieve a good cycle ability and high rate capability. PMID:23248749

Solution-processable alumina: PVP nanocomposite dielectric layer for high-performance organic thin-film transistors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lin, Hui; Kong, Xiao; Li, Yiran; Kuang, Peng; Tao, Silu

2018-03-01

In this article, we have investigated the effect of nanocomposite gate dielectric layer built by alumina (Al2O3) and poly(4-vinyphenol) (PVP) with solution method which could enhance the dielectric capability and decrease the surface polarity. Then, we used modify layer to optimize the surface morphology of dielectric layer to further improve the insulation capability, and finally we fabricated the high-performance and low-voltage organic thin-film transistors by using this nanocomposite dielectric layer. The result shows that the devices with Al2O3:10%PVP dielectric layer with a modified layer exhibited a mobility of 0.49 cm2/Vs, I on/Ioff ratio of 7.8 × 104, threshold voltage of - 1.2 V, sub-threshold swing of 0.3 V/dec, and operating voltage as low as - 4 V. The improvement of devices performance was owing to the good insulation capability, appropriate capacitance of dielectric layer, and preferable interface contact, smaller crystalline size of active layer.

Development and characterization of (Ti, Mo)C carbides reinforced Fe-based surface composite coating produced by laser cladding

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Xinhong; Zhang, Min; Qu, Shiyao

2010-09-01

In this study, in situ multiple carbides reinforced Fe-based surface composite coatings were fabricated successfully by laser cladding a precursor mixture of graphite, ferrotitanium (Fe-Ti) and ferromolybdenum (Fe-Mo) powders. The results showed that (Ti, Mo)C particles with flower-like and cuboidal shapes were in situ formed during the solidification and most shapes of (Ti, Mo)C particles were diversiform according to different contents of Fe-Mo powder in the Fe-Ti-Mo-C system. The growth morphology of the reinforcing (Ti, Mo)C carbide has typically faceted features, indicating that the lateral growth mechanism is still predominant growth mode under rapid solidification conditions. Increasing the amount of Fe-Mo in the reactants led to a decrease of carbide size and an increase of volume fraction of carbides. The coatings had good cracking resistance when the amounts of Fe-Mo were controlled within a range of 15 wt%.

Preparation and Characterization of Cyclotrimethylenetrinitramine (RDX) with Reduced Sensitivity

PubMed Central

Wang, Yuqiao; Li, Xin; Chen, Shusen; Ma, Xiao; Yu, Ziyang; Jin, Shaohua; Li, Lijie; Chen, Yu

2017-01-01

The internal defects and shape of cyclotrimethylenetrinitramine (RDX) crystal are critical parameters for the preparation of reduced sensitivity RDX (RS-RDX). In the current study, RDX was re-crystallized and spheroidized to form the high-quality RDX that was further characterized by purity, apparent density, size distribution, specific surface area, impact sensitivity, and shock sensitivity. The effects of re-crystallization solvent on the growth morphology of RDX crystal were investigated by both theoretical simulation and experiment test, and consistent results were obtained. The high-quality RDX exhibited a high purity (≥99.90%), high apparent density (≥1.811 g/cm3), spherical shape, and relatively low impact sensitivity (6%). Its specific surface area was reduced more than 30%. Compared with conventional RDXs, the high-quality RDX reduced the shock sensitivities of PBXN-109 and PBXW-115 by more than 30%, indicating that it was a RS-RDX. The reduced sensitivity and good processability of the high-quality RDX would be significant in improving the performances of RDX-based PBXs. PMID:28825661

A high selective methanol gas sensor based on molecular imprinted Ag-LaFeO3 fibers.

PubMed

Rong, Qian; Zhang, Yumin; Wang, Chao; Zhu, Zhongqi; Zhang, Jin; Liu, Qingju

2017-09-21

Ag-LaFeO 3 molecularly imprinted polymers (ALMIPs) were fabricated, which provided special recognition sites to methanol. Then ALMIPs fiber 1, fiber 2 and fiber 3 were prepared using filter paper, silk and carbon fibers template, respectively. Based on the observation of X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), transmission electron microscope (TEM), and Nitrogen adsorption surface area analyzer (BET), the structure, morphology and surface area of the fibers were characterized. The ALMIPs fibers (fiber 1, fiber 2 and fiber 3) show excellent selectivity and good response to methanol. The responses to 5 ppm methanol and the optimal operating temperature of ALMIPs fibers are 23.5 and 175 °C (fiber 1), 19.67 and 125 °C (fiber 2), 17.59 and 125 °C (fiber 3), and a lower response (≤10, 3, 2) to other test gases including formaldehyde, acetone, ethanol, ammonia, gasoline and benzene was measured, respectively.

Effect of cathode vibration and heat treatment on electromagnetic properties of flake-shaped diatomite coated with Ni-Fe alloy by electroplating

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lan, Mingming; Li, Huiqin; Huang, Weihua; Xu, Guangyin; Li, Yan

2015-03-01

In this paper, flake-shaped diatomite particles were used as forming templates for the fabrication of the ferromagnetic functional fillers by way of electroplating Ni-Fe alloy method. The effects of cathode vibration frequency on the content of Ni-Fe alloy in the coating and the surface morphologies of the coatings were evaluated. The electromagnetic properties of the coated diatomite particles before and after heat treatment were also investigated in detail. The results show that the core-shell flake-shaped diatomite particles with high content of Ni-Fe alloy and good surface qualities of the coatings can be obtained by adjusting cathode vibration frequency. The coated diatomite particles with heat treatment filled paraffin wax composites exhibit a superior microwave absorbing and electromagnetic properties compared to the non-heat treated samples. Additionally, the peaks of reflection loss are found to be able to shift to lower frequency by the heat treatment process, which indicates the heat treatment can adjust microwave absorbing frequency band.

Preparation and characterization of silica aerogels from diatomite via ambient pressure drying

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Baomin; Ma, Hainan; Song, Kai

2014-07-01

The silica aerogels were successfully fabricated under ambient pressure from diatomite. The influence of different dilution ratios of diatomite filtrate on physical properties of aerogels were studied. The microstructure, surface functional groups, thermal stability, morphology and mechanical properties of silica aerogels based on diatomite were investigated by BET adsorption, FT-IR, DTA-TG, FESEM, TEM, and nanoindentation methods. The results indicate that the filtrate diluted with distilled water in a proportion of 1: 2 could give silica aerogels in the largest size with highest transparency. The obtained aerogels with density of 0.122-0.203 g/m3 and specific surface area of 655.5-790.7 m2/g are crack free amorphous solids and exhibited a sponge-like structure. Moreover, the peak pore size resided at 9 nm. The initial aerogels were hydrophobic, when being heat-treated around 400°C, the aerogels were transformed into hydrophilic ones. The obtained aerogel has good mechanical properties.

Highly selective and efficient imprinted polymers based on carboxyl-functionalized magnetic nanoparticles for the extraction of gallic acid from pomegranate rind.

PubMed

Zhang, Junjie; Li, Benqiang; Yue, Huijuan; Wang, Jing; Zheng, Yuansuo

2018-01-01

With the combined surface imprinting technique and immobilized template strategy, molecularly imprinted magnetic nanoparticles were successfully prepared and coupled with high-performance liquid chromatography to selectively separate and determine gallic acid from the pomegranate rind. On the surface of carboxyl-functionalized magnetic nanospheres, thin imprinting shells were formed using dopamine as monomer and crosslinker. The characteristics, polymerization conditions, and adsorption performances of the resultant nanomaterials were investigated in detail. In addition of good crystallinity, satisfactory magnetism, and uniform morphology of the obtained polymers, they had rapid binding kinetics, high adsorption capacity, and favorable reusability. In the mixed solution of four hydroxybenzoic acids, the prepared nanomaterials have an excellent selectivity to gallic acid with an imprinting factor of as high as 17.5. Therefore, the polymers have great potentials in specific extraction and enrichment of gallic acid from the complex natural resources. © 2017 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Super-Nernstian pH sensors based on WO3 nanosheets

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kuo, Chao-Yin; Wang, Shui-Jinn; Ko, Rong-Ming; Tseng, Hung-Hao

2018-04-01

The effects of the surface morphology of hydrothermally grown WO3 nanosheets (NSs) and sputtering WO3 film on the performance of pH sensing electrodes are presented and compared in the pH range of 2–12. Using a separated electrode of an extended-gate field-effect transistor (EGFET) configuration, the WO3 nanosheet (NS) pH sensor shows a sensitivity of 63.37 mV/pH, a good linearity of 0.9973, a low voltage hysteresis of 4.79 mV, and a low drift rate of 3.18 mV/h. In contrast, the film-type one shows a typical sensitivity of only 50.08 mV/pH and a linearity of 0.9932. The super-Nernstian response could be attributed to the significant increase in the number of surface ion adsorption sites of the NS structure and the occurrence of local electric field enhancement over the sharp edges and corners of WO3 NSs.

Adsorption of Toluene and Paraxylene from Aqueous Solution Using Pure and Iron Oxide Impregnated Carbon Nanotubes: Kinetics and Isotherms Study

PubMed Central

Abbas, Aamir; Ihsanullah; Al-Baghli, Nadhir A. H.

2017-01-01

Multiwall carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and iron oxide impregnated carbon nanotubes (CNTs-iron oxide) were investigated for the adsorption of hazardous toluene and paraxylene (p-xylene) from aqueous solution. Pure CNTs were impregnated with iron oxides nanoparticles using wet impregnation technique. Various characterization techniques including thermogravimetric analysis, scanning electron microscopy, elemental dispersion spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and nitrogen adsorption analysis were used to study the thermal degradation, surface morphology, purity, and surface area of the materials. Batch adsorption experiments show that iron oxide impregnated CNTs have higher degree of removal of p-xylene (i.e., 90%) compared with toluene (i.e., 70%), for soaking time 2 h, with pollutant initial concentration 100 ppm, at pH 6 and shaking speed of 200 rpm at 25°C. Pseudo-second-order model provides better fitting for the toluene and p-xylene adsorption. Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm models demonstrate good fitting for the adsorption data of toluene and p-xylene. PMID:28386208

Dimension-controlled formation of crease patterns on soft solids.

PubMed

Tang, Shan; Gao, Bo; Zhou, Zhiheng; Gu, Qiang; Guo, Tianfu

2017-01-18

Soft solids such as PDMS or silicone are widely needed in many advanced applications such as flexible electronics and medical engineering. The ability to control the structure and properties of the surface of soft solids provides new opportunities in these applications. In particular, mechanical loading induced elastic instability is a convenient method to control the surface morphology. The critical strain at which the crease nucleates is experimentally measured under plane strain conditions, and is found to be consistent with that predicted by nonlinear large deformation theory of creases. Under compressive loading, we find that silicone undergoes a transition of creasing pattern from a single channeling or double channeling crease to an unchanneling crease, depending on the specimen's width and height. Finite element simulations are performed to better understand the underlying mechanism of creasing, wherein a relationship between the depth and spacing of the creases is established. It is found to be in good agreement with the experimental data obtained.

Hierarchically Porous Carbon Materials for CO 2 Capture: The Role of Pore Structure

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Estevez, Luis; Barpaga, Dushyant; Zheng, Jian

2018-01-17

With advances in porous carbon synthesis techniques, hierarchically porous carbon (HPC) materials are being utilized as relatively new porous carbon sorbents for CO2 capture applications. These HPC materials were used as a platform to prepare samples with differing textural properties and morphologies to elucidate structure-property relationships. It was found that high microporous content, rather than overall surface area was of primary importance for predicting good CO2 capture performance. Two HPC materials were analyzed, each with near identical high surface area (~2700 m2/g) and colossally high pore volume (~10 cm3/g), but with different microporous content and pore size distributions, which ledmore » to dramatically different CO2 capture performance. Overall, large pore volumes obtained from distinct mesopores were found to significantly impact adsorption performance. From these results, an optimized HPC material was synthesized that achieved a high CO2 capacity of ~3.7 mmol/g at 25°C and 1 bar.« less

Grafting of allylimidazole and n-vinylcaprolactam as a thermosensitive polymer onto magnetic nano-particles for the extraction and determination of celecoxib in biological samples.

PubMed

Morovati, Atefeh; Ahmad Panahi, Homayon; Yazdani, Farzaneh

2016-11-20

In this research, a novel method is reported for the surface grafting of n-vinylcaprolactam as a thermosensitive agent and allylimidazole with affinity toward celecoxib onto magnetic nano-particles. The grafted nano-particles were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, elemental analysis, and thermogravimetric analysis. The surface morphology was studied using Scanning Electron Microscopy. The resulting grafted nano-particles were used for the determination of trace celecoxib in biological human fluids and pharmaceutical samples. The profile of celecoxib uptake by the modified magnetic nano-particles indicated good accessibility of the active sites in the grafted copolymer. It was found that the adsorption behavior could be fitted by the Langmuir adsorption isotherm model. Solid phase extraction for biological fluids such as urine and serum were investigated. In this study, urine extraction recovery of more than 95% was obtained. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Deep Eutectic Solvent Synthesis of LiMnPO4/C Nanorods as a Cathode Material for Lithium Ion Batteries

PubMed Central

Wu, Zhi; Huang, Rong-Rong; Yu, Hang; Xie, Yong-Chun; Lv, Xiao-Yan; Su, Jing; Long, Yun-Fei; Wen, Yan-Xuan

2017-01-01

Olivine-type LiMnPO4/C nanorods were successfully synthesized in a chloride/ethylene glycol-based deep eutectic solvent (DES) at 130 °C for 4 h under atmospheric pressure. As-synthesized samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Raman spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and electrochemical tests. The prepared LiMnPO4/C nanorods were coated with a thin carbon layer (approximately 3 nm thick) on the surface and had a length of 100–150 nm and a diameter of 40–55 nm. The prepared rod-like LiMnPO4/C delivered a discharge capacity of 128 mAh·g−1 with a capacity retention ratio of approximately 93% after 100 cycles at 1 C. Even at 5 C, it still had a discharge capacity of 106 mAh·g−1, thus exhibiting good rate performance and cycle stability. These results demonstrate that the chloride/ethylene glycol-based deep eutectic solvents (DES) can act as a new crystal-face inhibitor to adjust the oriented growth and morphology of LiMnPO4. Furthermore, deep eutectic solvents provide a new approach in which to control the size and morphology of the particles, which has a wide application in the synthesis of electrode materials with special morphology. PMID:28772493

The Morphology of Passively Evolving Galaxies at Z-2 from HST/WFC3 in the Hubble Ultra Deep Field

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Cassata, P.; Giavalisco, M.; Guo, Yicheng; Ferguson, H.; Koekemoer, A.; Renzini, A.; Fontana, A.; Salimbeni, S.; Dickinson, M.; Casertano, S.;

Structural, morphological, gas sensing and photocatalytic characterization of MoO3 and WO3 thin films prepared by the thermal vacuum evaporation technique

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Arfaoui, A.; Touihri, S.; Mhamdi, A.; Labidi, A.; Manoubi, T.

2015-12-01

Thin films of molybdenum trioxide and tungsten trioxide were deposited on glass substrates using a simplified thermal evaporation under vacuum method monitored by heat treatment in flowing oxygen at 500 °C for 1 h. The structural and morphological properties of the films were investigated using X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The X-ray diffraction analysis shows that the films of MoO3 and WO3 were well crystallized in orthorhombic and monoclinic phase respectively with the crystallites preferentially oriented toward (2 0 0) direction parallel a-axis for both samples. In literature, we have shown in previous papers that structural and surface morphology of metal thin films play an important role in the gas detection mechanism. In this article, we have studied the response evolution of MoO3 and WO3 thin films sensors ethanol versus time, working temperature and the concentration of the ethanol. It was found that these films had high sensitivity to ethanol, which made them as a good candidate for the ethanol sensor. Finally, the photocatalytic activity of the samples was evaluated with respect to the degradation reaction of a wastewater containing methylene blue (MB) under UV-visible light irradiation. The molybdenum trioxide exhibits a higher degradation rate than the tungsten trioxide thin films under similar experimental conditions.

3D Polyaniline Architecture by Concurrent Inorganic and Organic Acid Doping for Superior and Robust High Rate Supercapacitor Performance

PubMed Central

Gawli, Yogesh; Banerjee, Abhik; Dhakras, Dipti; Deo, Meenal; Bulani, Dinesh; Wadgaonkar, Prakash; Shelke, Manjusha; Ogale, Satishchandra

2016-01-01

A good high rate supercapacitor performance requires a fine control of morphological (surface area and pore size distribution) and electrical properties of the electrode materials. Polyaniline (PANI) is an interesting material in supercapacitor context because it stores energy Faradaically. However in conventional inorganic (e.g. HCl) acid doping, the conductivity is high but the morphological features are undesirable. On the other hand, in weak organic acid (e.g. phytic acid) doping, interesting and desirable 3D connected morphological features are attained but the conductivity is poorer. Here the synergy of the positive quality factors of these two acid doping approaches is realized by concurrent and optimized strong-inorganic (HCl) and weak-organic (phytic) acid doping, resulting in a molecular composite material that renders impressive and robust supercapacitor performance. Thus, a nearly constant high specific capacitance of 350 F g−1 is realized for the optimised case of binary doping over the entire range of 1 A g−1 to 40 A g−1 with stability of 500 cycles at 40 A g−1. Frequency dependant conductivity measurements show that the optimized co-doped case is more metallic than separately doped materials. This transport property emanates from the unique 3D single molecular character of such system. PMID:26867570

Influence of the electrolyte's pH on the properties of electrochemically deposited hydroxyapatite coating on additively manufactured Ti64 alloy.

PubMed

Vladescu, Alina; Vranceanu, Diana M; Kulesza, Slawek; Ivanov, Alexey N; Bramowicz, Mirosław; Fedonnikov, Alexander S; Braic, Mariana; Norkin, Igor A; Koptyug, Andrey; Kurtukova, Maria O; Dinu, Mihaela; Pana, Iulian; Surmeneva, Maria A; Surmenev, Roman A; Cotrut, Cosmin M

2017-12-01

Properties of the hydroxyapatite obtained by electrochemical assisted deposition (ED) are dependent on several factors including deposition temperature, electrolyte pH and concentrations, applied potential. All of these factors directly influence the morphology, stoichiometry, crystallinity, electrochemical behaviour, and particularly the coating thickness. Coating structure together with surface micro- and nano-scale topography significantly influence early stages of the implant bio-integration. The aim of this study is to analyse the effect of pH modification on the morphology, corrosion behaviour and in vitro bioactivity and in vivo biocompatibility of hydroxyapatite prepared by ED on the additively manufactured Ti64 samples. The coatings prepared in the electrolytes with pH = 6 have predominantly needle like morphology with the dimensions in the nanometric scale (~30 nm). Samples coated at pH = 6 demonstrated higher protection efficiency against the corrosive attack as compared to the ones coated at pH = 5 (~93% against 89%). The in vitro bioactivity results indicated that both coatings have a greater capacity of biomineralization, compared to the uncoated Ti64. Somehow, the coating deposited at pH = 6 exhibited good corrosion behaviour and high biomineralization ability. In vivo subcutaneous implantation of the coated samples into the white rats for up to 21 days with following histological studies showed no serious inflammatory process.

Deep Eutectic Solvent Synthesis of LiMnPO₄/C Nanorods as a Cathode Material for Lithium Ion Batteries.

PubMed

Wu, Zhi; Huang, Rong-Rong; Yu, Hang; Xie, Yong-Chun; Lv, Xiao-Yan; Su, Jing; Long, Yun-Fei; Wen, Yan-Xuan

2017-02-06

Olivine-type LiMnPO₄/C nanorods were successfully synthesized in a chloride/ethylene glycol-based deep eutectic solvent (DES) at 130 °C for 4 h under atmospheric pressure. As-synthesized samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Raman spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and electrochemical tests. The prepared LiMnPO₄/C nanorods were coated with a thin carbon layer (approximately 3 nm thick) on the surface and had a length of 100-150 nm and a diameter of 40-55 nm. The prepared rod-like LiMnPO₄/C delivered a discharge capacity of 128 mAh·g -1 with a capacity retention ratio of approximately 93% after 100 cycles at 1 C. Even at 5 C, it still had a discharge capacity of 106 mAh·g -1 , thus exhibiting good rate performance and cycle stability. These results demonstrate that the chloride/ethylene glycol-based deep eutectic solvents (DES) can act as a new crystal-face inhibitor to adjust the oriented growth and morphology of LiMnPO₄. Furthermore, deep eutectic solvents provide a new approach in which to control the size and morphology of the particles, which has a wide application in the synthesis of electrode materials with special morphology.

Morphology-dependent low-frequency Raman scattering in ultrathin spherical, cubic, and cuboid SnO2 nanocrystals

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, L. Z.; Wu, X. L.; Li, T. H.; Xiong, S. J.; Chen, H. T.; Chu, Paul K.

2011-12-01

Nanoscale spherical, cubic, and cuboid SnO2 nanocrystals (NCs) are used to investigate morphology-dependent low-frequency Raman scattering. A double-peak structure in which the linewidths and energy separation between two subpeaks decrease with increasing sizes of cuboid NCs is observed and attributed to the surface acoustic phonon modes confined in three dimensional directions and determined by the surface/interface compositions. The decrease in energy separation is due to weaker coupling between the acoustic modes in different vibration directions. Our experimental and theoretical studies clearly disclose the morphology-dependent surface vibrational behavior in self-assembled NCs.