Dyeing wastewater has caused serious environmental problems nowadays. In this work, nickel–phosphorus plating–titanium dioxide (Ni-P-TiO2) electroless plating polyimide (PI) fabric was fabricated as an excellent visible light response composite. First, polyaniline (PANI) was in situ polymerized on the surface of the PI fabric. Second, PANI reduced palladium ions to be active seeds for initiating electroless plating of Ni-P-TiO2 layer. Finally, the Ni-P-TiO2/PANI/PI fabric with all-in-one structure was prepared, which can effectively overcome the drawbacks of poor loading fastness and insensitivity to visible light response. It was characterized by scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, and ultraviolet–visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy. The photocatalytic activity was evaluated by degrading reactive blue 19, methylene blue, and reactive red (M-3BE) under visible light irradiation. The results show that the degradation rates of the all three dyes were over 91% with robust cycle stability for repeated 5 cycles of use. The possible photocatalytic degradation mechanism of fabrics was also proposed based on free radical and hole removal experiments.

We report on the design of polycaprolactone (PCL)-TiO2-collagenase mesh scaffolds by Forcespinning technique. The dependence of the degree of crystallinity in PCL caused by the incorporation of dopants (TiO2-collagenase) and the reduction of dimensionality (1D), during the nanofiber formation, were investigated by x-ray diffraction and differential scanning calorimetry. The tensile strength of the mesh scaffolds (randomly oriented) was determined using uniaxial testing equipment. The permeability was measured by contact angle obtaining an improvement in the hydrophobicity for the PCL-TiO2-collagenase mesh scaffolds. The results reported in this research are of great relevance for tissue engineering applications.

Discs of CoCuFeMnNi face centered cubic high entropy alloy were subjected to monotonic and cyclic high pressure torsion (HPT) in a single step and multiple steps of 5° forward and reverse cycle for 100° and 360° twist, respectively, under 5 GPa pressure at room temperature. It was observed that the 100° cyclic HPT sample shows the highest hardness at the periphery comparable to 360° monotonic HPT sample, while the cyclic 360° HPT sample shows the lowest hardness throughout the sample. High hardness of 100° cyclic HPT sample can be attributed to finer grain size and unstable dislocation substructure by continuous change in strain path from initial compression to forward–reverse torsion, while stable dislocation structure corresponding to shear contributes to increase in hardness from 100° to 360° for monotonic HPT sample. The unstable dislocation substructure promotes grain boundary migration–enabled grain growth leading to low hardness throughout the 360° cyclic HPT sample.

This work studied the relationship between embedded particle volume fraction and magnetic particle orientation distribution in aligned 325 mesh barium hexaferrite (BHF) and polydimethylsiloxane (Sylgard 184; Dow Corning) magnetoactive elastomer (MAE) composites. BHF particles were aligned within the elastomer in the out-of-plane direction, as the material cured. Particle orientation distribution was defined herein by observations of the population of directions at which particle magnetizations resided; magnetization coincides with the physical crystallographic c-axis of BHF. The work used results of vibrating sample magnetometry experiments on MAEs with increasing volume concentrations of embedded ferromagnetic particles (10–30 v/v%) to determine changing widths of analytical particle distribution functions used to describe the range of particle orientations. With over 80% confidence, results showed that MAE composites having the intermediate 15 v/v% had the highest degree of magnetic (and thereby physical) alignment as well as magnetic remanence.

We report the development of a sensitive and a label-free electrochemical immunosensing platform for the detection of cardiac biomarker troponin I (cTnI) using tungsten trioxide nanorods (WO3 NRs). The low-temperature hydrothermal technique was employed for the controlled synthesis of WO3 NRs. Thin films of 3-aminopropyltriethoxy saline (APTES)-functionalized WO3 NRs were deposited on indium tin oxide (ITO)-coated glass substrate (0.5 cm × 1 cm) using electrophoretic deposition technique. The covalent immobilization of cTnI antibody onto functionalized WO3 NRs electrode was accomplished using EDC-NHS [1-(3-(dimethylamino)-propyl)-3-ethylcarbodiimide hydrochloride and N-hydroxysulfosuccinimide] chemistry. The structural and morphological characterizations of WO3 NRs and functionalized WO3 NRs were studied using X-ray diffraction, field emission scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and electrochemical techniques. The impedimetric response study of the proposed immunosensor demonstrates high sensitivity [6.81 KΩ mL·cm2)] in a linear detection range of 0.01–10 ng/mL. The excellent selectivity, good reproducibility, and long-term stability of the proposed immunosensing platform indicate WO3 NRs as a suitable platform for the development of a point-of-care biosensing device for cardiac detection.

This study aims to investigate the sliding wear behavior of Al0.4FeCrNiCox (x = 0, 0.25, 0.5, 1.0 mol) high-entropy alloys (HEAs) under oil lubricating conditions at room temperature. Phase and microstructural characterizations of HEAs are performed by utilizing X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XRD) and scanning electron microscope (SEM). The compressive yield strength of Al0.4FeCrNiCox (x = 0, 0.25, 0.5, 1.0 mol) HEAs is observed to decrease from 1169.35 to 257.63 MPa. Plastic deformation up to 75% is achieved in the case of Al0.4FeCrNiCox=1 HEA. The microhardness of HEA samples is found to decrease from 377 to 199 HV after the addition of cobalt content from x = 0 to 1.0 mol. Thermal analysis is performed using a differential scanning calorimeter. It is confirmed that Al0.4FeCrNiCox (x = 0, 0.25, 0.5, 1.0 mol) HEAs do not undergo any phase change up to 1000 °C. The specific wear rate of Al0.4FeCrNiCox=1 HEA is observed to be highest in all wear conditions. The worn surfaces were analyzed by SEM with attached energy-dispersive spectroscopy, 3D profiling, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS).

The mechanical properties of core–shell bimetallic composite nanowires, forming the bases of nanoporous metallic foams, have been investigated and compared with pure metal nanowires using molecular dynamics simulations. In the current study, pure copper and gold nanowires under uniaxial loading were tested at room temperature and compared to composite nanowires of the same materials (core) with a nickel coating (shell). The core radius ranged from 1 to 15 nm, and the shell thickness ranged from 0.1 to 5 nm. The tension strain was performed along the [001] direction under room temperature. Both coherent and semi-coherent composite nanowires were studied, and the effect of coating layer thickness was investigated. The strengthening mechanisms of the core–shell structures due to the presence of the two different types of interfaces were investigated for various nickel thicknesses. The atomistic simulation results revealed that the addition of the nickel shell strengthens the structure when the layer thickness exceeds a critical value.

Diffusion barrier materials play an important role in both structure reliability and performance stability of thermoelectric (TE) modules. Preferred barrier materials are screened out from various candidates by comparing the interdiffusion at the barrier material/TE substrate interfaces. Traditionally, for each barrier material candidate, complicated fabrication processing of TE elements (electrode/barrier material/TE material) must be finished to obtain relative interfaces, which makes the screening costly and time consuming. In this article, using a high-throughput strategy, we developed a high-efficiency screening method of barrier materials. By cosintering the mixture of TE substrate material and various barrier material candidates simply following the TE material’s sintering parameters, various microinterfaces were integrated to one single sample. This enables parallel aging and microstructure characterization of different interfaces, and preferred barrier materials can be swiftly screened out. As a result, it makes the design and optimization of TE modules much more efficient and economical.

In this study, a thermal–elastic–plastic finite element model is proposed to investigate the effect of volume energy density on the temperature field, molten pool size, and residual stress distribution in the selective laser melting (SLM) process of Inconel 718 alloy. A temperature-dependent thermal–mechanical property of materials is considered, as well as the properties conversion between powder layer and solidified alloy. Within the scope of the study parameters, the simulated molten pool size increases with increasing volume energy density and exhibits linear growth relationship, which are validated by the experimental results and show a good agreement. In addition, five scanning strategies are adopted to study the effect of these scanning strategies on the residual stress distribution in this research. The results show that the residual stress distribution of SLM Inconel 718 specimen largely depends on the scanning strategy. Finally, to reveal the mechanism of residual stress formation, the restraint bar model is used to further analyze the formation mechanism of residual stress during the SLM process.

Stimuli-responsive degradable silica nanoparticles (NPs) are active topics of nanomaterial research, because they are expected to be low health-risk nanocarriers capable of controlled release of drugs. Among various stimuli-responsive silica NPs, disulfide bond-containing NPs show degradability by glutathione reduced form (GSH). Here, we synthesized and characterized three kinds of thiol-organosilica NPs made from 3-mercaptopropyltrimethoxysilane (MPMS) and 3-mercaptopropyl(dimethoxy)methylsilane (MPDMS). MPMS NPs, MPDMS NPs, and MPMS–MPDMS hybrid NPs revealed that the abundance ratio of disulfide bonds to thiols increased with the increase in content rate of MPDMS in thiol-organosilica NPs. We also revealed that thiol-organosilica NPs, which have disulfide bonds, are GSH-responsive degradable silica NPs using an electron microscopy and Ellman’s tests. Furthermore, we synthesized fluorescent MPMS–MPDMS NPs, including rhodamine B, and demonstrated the GSH-responsive release of dye from the NPs. These experiments indicate the potential of thiol-organosilica NPs, which have disulfide bonds as a GSH-responsive drug carrier.

The configurations associated with the dissociative adsorption of water on a variety of low-coordinated sites of MgO(100) surfaces, including corners, steps, MgO vacancies, and kinks on 〈010〉 steps, have been studied and assigned by combining infrared spectroscopy and ab initio calculations. Three kinds of MgO powders were examined: powders of very high specific surface area prepared by chemical vapor synthesis and well-defined cubic smoke particles obtained by combustion in either 20:80 or 60:40 O2:Ar mixtures, the latter one involving less defects and smaller particles. It appears that an imperative requirement to obtain a precise characterization of the reactive behavior of defects is to keep the samples in ultra–high vacuum conditions and to control the water partial pressure finely.

Inkjet printing is a promising technology providing cost-effective method for processing various materials on deformable substrates. In this work, linear and serpentine inkjet printed interconnects on two different substrates were fabricated and electromechanically characterized. A particular attention was given to the optimization of the process parameters; high quality can be achieved only printing slowly in vertical direction and optimizing the drop spacing to the specific pattern. The electromechanical results showed that the geometrical layout and printing direction strongly affect the printing quality and the electromechanical response; serpentine shapes should be preferred to straight interconnects as better gauge factors are obtained.

Three different high entropy-alloys consisting of six elements (Ti, Zr, V, Cr, Ni, and Fe) with varying Fe content were synthesized by using the RF induction melting technique. All the as-cast, slow-cooled, and rapidly quenched alloys exhibit C14 Laves phase, and it is found to be stable at high temperature. A lattice contraction has been observed with the addition of Fe. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on the synthesis of a single-phase high-entropy complex intermetallic compound in the hexanary alloy system. It has been shown that the thermodynamic calculations following Miedema’s approach and the parametric approach utilizing several descriptors comprising configurational entropy, mixing enthalpy, atomic size mismatch, electronegativity, and valence electron concentration favor the stability of the high-entropy multicomponent Laves phase.

A high-temperature nanoindentation system was used to examine the steady state indentation creep behavior of CsHSO4. This high proton conductivity solid-acid material is a candidate for use as a solid-state electrolyte in intermediate temperature fuel cells. Constant strain rate indentation creep tests yielded a stress exponent and a creep activation energy in close agreement with results obtained from previous uniaxial compression testing. The large penetration depths reached during creep testing necessitated validating an indenter area function well beyond depths measurable in fused silica. The developed methodology is material agnostic meaning it can be used for indentation creep measurements in other high creep rate materials. In addition, it is shown how an analysis developed by Bower et al. (Proc. Royal Soc. 441, 97–124, 1993) can be successfully used to convert the indentation creep parameters into the more common material parameters measured in uniaxial creep tests.

Residual stress is generally evaluated using indentation by comparing the indentation curves of stressed and stress-free states. Here, we suggest a new method that can evaluate surface residual stress without indentation testing on stress-free specimen using stress-independent indentation parameters and an analysis of indentation contact morphology for the stress-free state. We found that several indentation parameters are independent of the stress by Vickers indentation testing on various stress states. The indentation contact morphology can be represented by indentation parameters including stress-independent ones, and by applying the stress-independent parameters obtained from the stressed state to the indentation contact depth function, we can estimate an indentation curve for stress-free state. The estimated curve matches well with the experimental stress-free indentation curve, and it was also confirmed that the applied stress values evaluated by comparing the estimated curve with the stressed indentation curve agree well with the reference values obtained from strain gauge.

Environmental pollution and energy shortages seriously restrict the development of society. Photocatalytic oxidation technology can directly use solar energy to drive a series of chemical reactions. It has the advantages of low energy consumption, mild reaction conditions, and no secondary pollution, and is an effective method to solve organic pollutions in water. The key to achieve this process is to find and design efficient photocatalytic materials. In this paper, a novel silver-based metal–organic framework (Ag-MOF) [{Ag(H2btc)}{Ag2(Hbtc)}]n (1) (H3btc = 1,3,5-trimesic acid) is designed that exhibits a high performance in the photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue (MB). The process of photocatalytic degradation of MB conforms to pseudo first-order kinetics, and the rate is the fastest at pH 3 (K = 0.2654). Meanwhile, the photocatalytic mechanism of 1 is analyzed by in situ electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) and ESI-MS spectra. The results are helpful for in situ research of the photocatalytic mechanism of MOFs.

This work demonstrates the in situ growth of carbon nanowalls (CNWs) on diamond semiconductors by microwave plasma-assisted chemical vapor deposition. The resulting CNW/diamond junctions behave as photomemristors having both photocontrollable multiple resistance states and nonvolatile memory functions. The resistance state (high or low resistance) can be selected by irradiation with blue or violet light in conjunction with the application of a bias voltage, giving a large resistance switching ratio of ∼106. The photoinduced resistance switching behaviors are rarely observed and has only been observed in a few materials and/or heterostructures. These junctions also exhibit a photoresponsivity of ∼12 A/W, which is much larger than that obtained from photodiodes composed of other materials. These results suggest that CNW/diamond (i.e., carbon sp2/sp3) junctions could have applications in novel photocontrollable devices, which have photosensing, memory, and switching functions.

Graphene oxide (GO) is a promising material in improving the corrosion resistance properties of metals. This improvement significantly relies on the microstructure and electrical properties of GO, which nevertheless is rarely studied. Here, multiscale GOs with different flake sizes and oxidation degrees were fabricated and incorporated into waterborne alkyd resin (AR). The physical and chemical structures of GO and AR/GO composites were characterized in detail. Multiscale GOs are successfully prepared, and the corrosion resistance of AR/GO coatings is measured by electrochemical workstation. Electrochemical experiments indicate that GOs with larger flake sizes have excellent barrier properties due to the shielding effect; GOs with appropriate oxidation degrees could effectively improve the dispersion of GO and avoid the conductive path of GO in the matrix, because oxidation degree of GO could influence the dispersion and electrical properties. The corrosion protection efficiency of AR/GO(GO: 120 μm, 1.5 wt%, sp2/sp3 = 2.61) is 98.14%, which is 2.26 times higher than AR. The multiscale effects of GO on the corrosion resistance property of AR coatings are quite general, thus providing guidelines for developing highly efficient corrosion resistant coatings for practical usage.

In the past years, numerous alternative cations to replace Pb2+ in perovskite solar cells have been investigated. In terms of toxicity and chemical stability, methylammonium bismuth iodide [(CH3NH3)3Bi2I9 or MBI] containing the Bi3+ cation has been considered as a promising material. However, fabrication of coherent MBI films remains challenging. Recently, significant progress has been achieved by using vapor deposition processes. Compared with solution-processed ones, vapor-deposited MBI solar cells show higher fill factors and efficiencies. In this work, chemical vapor deposition (CVD) of MBI is investigated. Employing nitrogen as carrier gas, the precursors bismuth iodide (BiI3) and methylammonium iodide (MAI) are deposited sequentially over several cycles and form MBI during the process. In order to form dense and coherent layers, the lengths of the deposition cycles as well as the substrate temperature have been optimized. Scanning electron microscopy reveals the strong influence of both parameters on growth and crystal properties. Optimized films of MBI integrated into solar cells show that CVD of MBI is a promising method for fabricating large-area solar cells.