Lithium (Li)-ion battery cathode materials are typically coated to improve cycling performance, using aqueous-based coating techniques that require filtering, drying, and even sintering of the final product. Here, spherical LiNi0.6Mn0.2Co0.2O2 particles were coated with nano-Al2O3 using the dry mechanofusion method. This method produced a durable, non-porous Al2O3 coating that is retained during slurry making. Mechanofusion coatings significantly improved Li-ion battery cathode cycling at high voltages, enabling high energy densities, while offering inexpensive, scalable, and environmentally friendly solvent-free synthesis. This opens up new possibilities, since, not being limited by synthesis chemistry, mechanofusion can in principle be used to apply any coating material.

Aluminum-doped zinc oxide (AZO) is one of the most promising transparent conductive oxide materials for a front electrode in solar cells. In this work, we roughened substrate surface and sputtered AZO films, where the effect of roughness on various AZO properties was investigated. The haze values were largely enhanced, retaining other important properties such as conductivity and transparency. The optical band gap exhibits a clear blue shift because of the roughness. The possible cause of this shift may be variation in the Al content due to the different deposition and post-annealing mechanisms of AZO films on the roughened surface.

Magnetic nanoparticles have many potential applications in therapeutics and drug delivery. Heating by magnetic nanoparticles for hyperthermia application has gained tremendous popularity as a non-invasive treatment for tumor ablation. The heating effect of magnetic nanoparticles at different concentrations (1–10 wt%) in the fluid is investigated by varying the alternating magnetic field (60–260 Oe). The observed temperature rise (ΔT) shows an unusual increase with applied field in a higher nanoparticle concentration. In contrast to the previous model, the present study shows that temperature rise is more rapid in the higher particle concentration (~10 wt%) and low applied field (<125 Oe), and ΔT varies as H3/2 instead of H2.

The authors report an unexpected anisotropy in tensile properties of a polycrystalline nickel-base superalloy after hot extrusion. The tensile strength of longitudinal specimens (parallel to extrusion direction) is 170–276 MPa higher than that of the transverse counterparts at the temperature ranging from 25 to 750°C. Microstructural investigation excludes possible causes leading to this phenomenon such as variation in the grain size, texture, and γ′ precipitates in two orientations. However, further transmission electron microscopy observation reveals that plenty of twins uniquely exist in longitudinal tensile samples after deformation which are probably responsible for the mechanical gap between the two orientations.

We investigated the connectivity of high-energy random grain boundaries through fractal analyses of specimens with different grain boundary (GB) microstructures in BFe10-1-1 copper–nickel alloy. It was found that the profile of maximum random boundary network possesses a fractal nature and more than one fractal dimension can exist. The fraction of special boundaries and grain size homogeneity can play an important role on GB character distribution. Here, GB microstructures are combined with quantitative materials structure–property relationship models to predict intergranular corrosion properties. The experimental results are accurately consistent with the theoretical predictions.

Quantum dots (QDs) are increasingly employed in biologic imaging applications; however, anecdotal reports suggest difficulties in QD bioconjugation. Further, the stability of commercial QDs during bioconjugation has not been systematically evaluated. Thus, we examined fluorescence losses resulting from aggregation and declining photoluminescence quantum yield (QY) for commercial CdSe/ZnS QD products from four different vendors. QDs were most stable in the aqueous media in which they were supplied. The largest QY declines were observed during centrifugal filtration, whereas the largest declines in colloidal stability occurred in 2-(N-morpholino)ethanesulfonic acid (MES) buffer. These results enable optimization of bioconjugation protocols.

The authors prepared a micro-structured, thermosensitive hydrogel with N-isopropylacrylamide microgels with a lower critical solution temperature (LCST) of 32 °C dispersed on a matrix of N-isopropylacrylamide-co-dimethylacrylamide with an LCST at 40 °C. Incubation of the hydrogel at 33 °C in a solution of fluorescein-albumin induced loading of the protein. The protein was not loaded at a temperature below the LCST of the microgels (4 °C), suggesting that the shrinkage of the microgels followed by the formation of micropores within the hydrogel matrix is a prerequisite for protein loading. A sustained and complete release of the loaded protein was obtained at 37 °C.

In this work, the authors report a facile method for the preparation of brush-structured nanocomposites of sulfur–polyaniline–graphene oxide (S–PANI–G) that were used for cathode materials of lithium–sulfur batteries (LSBs). The morphology and structure of composite were studied by x-ray photoelectron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and x-ray diffraction analysis. The nanocomposites exhibited good electrochemical performance involving good rate performance, high capacity, and promising cycling stability. The good performance of S–PANI–G results from the synergistic effect of sulfur, polyaniline, and graphene oxide. The composite and method reported here pave the way for the design and synthesis of novel cathode materials for LSBs.

Due to the lack of the stability of amine films, a promising transducer, quartz-tuning fork (QTF) prongs were modified by a bi-layer film of plasma-polymerized n-heptane (hep) and then by ethylenediamine (EDA), respectively. For this purpose, the authors investigate the stability of amine-rich thin films both in air and aqueous medium. EDA films were deposited on QTF substrates by using an RF plasma system. The final amine-rich thin film was used to immobilize biologic recognition element. Model protein studies were showed that selected thin films could be adapted to QTF transducers to be used as a biosensor template.

This paper proposes to improve the corrosion resistance of stainless steel using the photocathodic protection (PCP) method with CdS/PbS/titanium dioxide (TiO2) as the photoanode material. Cadmium sulfide (CdS)/lead sulfide (PbS) quantum dot (QD) heterostructure layered on TiO2 enhanced the photoelectrochemical performance and improved the PCP of 304 stainless steel. The photoanode film can protect 304 stainless steel for a period of upto 3 months against corrosion. This work demonstrates that CdS/PbS/TiO2 tandem heterostructure is a promising durable and stable photoanode, which can protect stainless steel in both dark and illuminated conditions.

Theoretical investigations on ferroelectric tunnel junctions (FTJs) with asymmetric electrodes and a composite barrier are presented. A large tunneling electroresistance effect exists for the Pt/SrTiO3/BaTiO3/SrRuO3 junction; on the other hand, exchange of the dielectric and ferroelectric layer stacking sequence can seriously degrade the performance. These correlations are rationalized by the proposed concept of an asymmetry factor, defined as the ratio between the average barrier heights of FTJs for two opposite polarization orientations. We show that a large asymmetry factor is beneficial to FTJs. This work may provide a way to enhance the performance of FTJs by structure engineering.

Because of its unique mechanical, chemical, and biological properties, 3D-printed polyether ether ketone (PEEK) has great potential as customized bone replacement and other metal alloy implant replacement. PEEK samples were printed using fused deposition modeling (FDM) and evaluated in terms of their dimensional accuracy, crystallinity, and mechanical properties. Crystallinity and mechanical properties increased with elevated chamber temperature and post-printing annealing. Variations of material properties from three printers are evident. Many factors affect the quality of 3D-printed PEEK. Future FDA regulations for 3D-printed products are needed for this highly customizable manufacturing process to ensure safety and effectiveness for biomedical applications.

Nanoparticle-mediated drug delivery has the potential to overcome several limitations of cancer chemotherapy. Lipid polymer hybrid nanoparticles (LPHNPs) have been demonstrated to exhibit superior cellular delivery efficacy. Hence, doxorubicin (a chemotherapeutic drug)-loaded LPHNPs have been synthesized by three-dimensional (3D)-printed herringbone-patterned multi-inlet vortex mixer. This method offers rapid and efficient mixing of reactants yielding controllable and reproducible synthesis of LPHNPs. The cytotoxicity of LPHNPs is tested using two-dimensional (2D) and 3D microenvironments. Results obtained from 3D cell cultures showed major differences in cytotoxicity in comparison with 2D cultures. These results have broad implications in predicting in vitro LPHNP toxicology.

Allylamine (AA)-functionalized surfaces for cell adhesion and tissue engineering generated by plasma reactions present several disadvantages, such as amine degradation after 1 week of storage in air and difficulty in achieving a highly specific surface functionalization. In this work, polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene (PE) films were functionalized with AA by γ irradiation to enhance adhesion and compatibility without changing intrinsic bulk properties, thus avoiding the disadvantages of plasma synthesis. Irradiation grafting was realized by a direct and pre-irradiation oxidation method. The effect of different parameters studied were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectra, thermogravimetric analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, scanning electron microscopy, and contact angle measurements.

AgNPs@g-C3N4 composite was synthesized from Ag-containing sol and g-C3N4 powder by the ultrasonic-assisted self-assembly method. The composite has hierarchical pore size distributions, which will be beneficial to the ion transport with different size. Ag nanoparticles with the size of 5 nm successfully adhere on the surface of g-C3N4. The AgNPs@g-C3N4 composite has excellent specific capacitance and specific power performance for the supercapacitors as an electrode material. The specific capacitance of composite is 4 times greater than that of g-C3N4. It can be ascribed to the introduction of Ag nanoparticles that the internal resistance of the composite is significantly decreased.

Two different sized As(0) nanoparticles As1 (50 ± 7 nm) and As2 (70 ± 10 nm) are prepared by reducing arsenite with NaBH4 in the pH range 7–9, at controlled temperature (10 and 40 °C). Further, galvanic replacement reaction is used exploiting the reducing nature of As(0) to prepare two different sized hollow gold nanoparticles (HGNPs) AuNP1 (55 ± 7 nm) and AuNP2 (72 ± 7 nm). These HGNPs exhibit high catalytic activity towards 4-nitrophenol reduction under various conditions following first-order kinetics. AuNP1 shows ~6.6 time higher turnover frequency compared with that of AuNP2 due to its smaller size. Both catalysts are recycle able.

Improvement of the performance of renewable electronic devices is a crucial point for the consolidation of this emerging technology. Herein, we develop a supercapacitor based on cellulose, carbon nanotubes, and ionic liquids. A conductive paper prepared by simple acid hydrolysis of cellulose and carboxylated carbon nanotubes was used as an electrode. A cellulose sponge impregnated with 1-n-butyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethane sulfonyl)imide was used as a separator/electrolyte. Electrochemical tests were performed in a two-electrode cell that presented a specific capacitance of 34.37 F/g when considered the active mass and 97.9% of capacitance retention after 5000 charge/discharge cycles.

Pseudo-line tensions are used in a continuum approach to simulate contact angle hysteresis. A pair of pseudo-line tensions in the receding and advancing states, respectively, are utilized to represent contact line interactions with a substrate because of the nanoscale topological and/or chemical heterogeneity on the substrate. A water droplet sitting on a horizontal or inclined substrate, whose volume is 4–30 µL, has been studied experimentally and numerically. Our simulation model predicts consistent hysteresis at four different droplet sizes compared with experiments. Meanwhile, the critical roll-off angles captured in simulations match well with experiments.