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ACS Omega Jun 2024The advancement of water electrolyzer technologies and the production of sustainable hydrogen fuel heavily rely on the development of efficient and cost-effective...
The advancement of water electrolyzer technologies and the production of sustainable hydrogen fuel heavily rely on the development of efficient and cost-effective electrocatalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER). High entropy ceramics, characterized by their unique properties, such as lattice distortion and high configurational entropy, hold significant promise for catalytic applications. In this study, we utilized the sol-gel autocombustion method to synthesize high entropy ceramics containing a combination of 3d transition metals and aluminum ((AlCrCoNiFe)O). We then compared their electrocatalytic performance with other series of synthesized multimetal and monometallic oxides for the OER under alkaline conditions. Our electrochemical analysis revealed that the high entropy ceramics exhibited excellent performance and the lowest charge transfer resistance, Tafel slope (29 mV·dec), and overpotential (η = 230 mV). These remarkable results can be primarily attributed to the high entropy effect induced by the addition of Al, Cr, Co, Ni, and Fe, which introduces increased disorder and complexity into the material's structure. This, in turn, facilitates more efficient OER catalysis by providing diverse active sites and promoting optimal electronic configurations for the reaction. Furthermore, the strong electronic interactions among the constituent elements in the metallic spinels further enhance their catalytic activity in the initiation of the OER process. Combined with the reduced charge transfer resistance, these factors collectively play pivotal roles in enhancing the OER performance of the electrocatalysts. Overall, our study provides valuable insights into the design and development of high-performance electrocatalysts for sustainable energy applications. By harnessing the high entropy effect and leveraging strong electronic interactions, electrocatalytic materials can be tailored to improve efficiency and stability, thus advancing the progress of clean energy technologies.
PubMed: 38947820
DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.4c03807 -
ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces Jun 2024Titanium (Ti) is widely used as anode current collectors in proton exchange membrane (PEM)-based water electrolyzers due to its self-passivated oxide layer, which...
Titanium (Ti) is widely used as anode current collectors in proton exchange membrane (PEM)-based water electrolyzers due to its self-passivated oxide layer, which protects it from corrosion in acidic solutions. However, the cost of the material and machining process for Ti is high. A wider utilization of water electrolyzers to produce hydrogen could be favored by the use of less expensive coated aluminum (Al) substrates, which could potentially replace high-cost Ti-based components. It is shown here by depositing a pinhole-free oxygen vacancy-rich titanium oxide (TiO) protection layer by atomic layer deposition (ALD), the corrosion resistance of Al substrates in acidic environments at oxygen evolution potentials can be enhanced. The optimization of the oxygen vacancy concentration is accomplished by tuning the ALD parameters to achieve ideal stoichiometry and conformal coating on rough substrates. The robustness of the coatings was evaluated at high potentials (2.4 V vs NHE = normal hydrogen electrode) in low pH conditions. A low TiO dissolution rate of the order of ∼6 nm year was observed. By testing under industrially relevant conditions, i.e., high applied voltages (2.4 V) and low pH, an Al loss at around the zero ppb level was achieved using optimized ALD parameters. It is proposed that a 40 nm TiO coating on Al may be adequate to provide 60,000 h of durability in a PEM water electrolyzer anode current collector.
PubMed: 38941589
DOI: 10.1021/acsami.4c05450 -
ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces Jun 2024Flexible surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) substrates are very promising to meet the needs for real-time and on-field detection in practical applications....
Flexible surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) substrates are very promising to meet the needs for real-time and on-field detection in practical applications. However, high-performance flexible SERS substrates often suffer from complexity and high cost in fabrication, limiting their widespread applications. Herein, we developed a facile method to fabricate a flexible multicavity SERS substrate composed of a silver nanoparticle (AgNP)-decorated aluminum hydrous oxide nanoflake array (NFA) grown on a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) membrane. Strong plasmon couplings promoted by multiple nanocavities afford high-density hotspots within such a flexible AgNPs@NFA/PDMS film, boosting high SERS sensitivity with an enhancement factor (EF) of ∼1.54 × 10, and a limit of detection (LOD) of ∼7.4 × 10 M for rhodamine 6G (R6G) molecules. Furthermore, benefiting from the high sensitivity, high mechanical stability, and transparency of this substrate, SERS detections of trace thiram and crystal violet (CV) molecules on the surface of cherry tomatoes and fish have been realized, with LODs much lower than the maximum allowable limit in food, demonstrating the great potential of such a flexible substrate in food safety monitoring. More importantly, the preparation processes are very simple and environmentally friendly, and the techniques involved are completely compatible with well-established silicon device technologies. Therefore, large-area fabrication with low cost can be readily realized, enabling the extensive applications of SERS sensors in daily life.
PubMed: 38935816
DOI: 10.1021/acsami.4c05642 -
Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Jun 2024The metal intoxication and its associated adverse effects to humans have led to the research for development of water treatment technologies from pollution hazards.... (Review)
Review
The metal intoxication and its associated adverse effects to humans have led to the research for development of water treatment technologies from pollution hazards. Therefore, development of cheaper water remediation technologies is more urgent than ever. Clays and clay minerals are naturally occurring, inexpensive, non-toxic materials possessing interesting chemical and physical properties. As a result of interesting surface properties, these have been developed as efficient absorbent in water remediation. Recently, clay-polymer nanocomposites have provided a cost-effective technological platform for removing contaminants from water. Covering research advancements from past 25 years, this review highlights the developments in clay-polymer nanocomposites and their advanced technical applications are evaluated with respect to the background and issues in remediation of toxic metals and organic compounds from water. The extensive analysis of literature survey of more than two decades suggests that future work need to highlight on advancement of green and cost-effective technologies. The development of understanding of the interaction and exchange between toxin and clay-polymer composites would provide new assembly methods of nanocomposites with functional molecules or nanomaterials need to be extended to increase the detection and extraction limit to parts per trillion.
Topics: Nanocomposites; Clay; Polymers; Water Purification; Water Pollutants, Chemical; Aluminum Silicates
PubMed: 38935201
DOI: 10.1007/s10661-024-12823-8 -
Polymers Jun 2024Particleboards have gained attention in the global market. Understanding their physical-mechanical behavior in the current technological context is essential due to...
Particleboards have gained attention in the global market. Understanding their physical-mechanical behavior in the current technological context is essential due to adhesive polymerization, which depends on variables such as pressing time and temperature. Today, the use of nanoparticles has become a plausible option for improving the properties of polymers used in wood-based composites. This study evaluates the influences of the addition of non-commercial 0.5% aluminum oxide (AlO) and aluminum oxide copper (CuO) nanoparticles using a greener route with a lower environmental impact obtaining a urea-formaldehyde (UF)-based polymeric adhesive to manufacture particle composites of var. wood. Regarding characterizations, the resin properties analyzed were viscosity, gel time, and pH, as well as panel properties, including density, moisture content, thickness swelling, modulus of elasticity, modulus of rupture, and thermal conductivity. The results were compared with scientific publications and standards. The addition of nanoparticles interfered with viscosity, and all treatments indicated a basic pH. It was not possible to determine the gel time after 10 min. Nanoparticles added to the polymers in the internal layer did not cause an improvement in the swelling properties in terms of thickness, with no significant statistical difference for density and moisture content. The increase from 150 °C to 180 °C may have caused an improvement in all physical-mechanical properties, indicating that the higher temperature positively influenced the polymerization of the formaldehyde-based adhesive. Therefore, the additions of both nanoparticles (0.5% in each condition) led to a limitation in the material influence with respect to physical-mechanical performance.
PubMed: 38932002
DOI: 10.3390/polym16121652 -
Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) Jun 2024In this study, hybrid skeleton material ZIF-8@ZIF-67 was synthesized by the epitaxial growth method and then was utilized as a carrier for encapsulating lipase (PFL)...
In this study, hybrid skeleton material ZIF-8@ZIF-67 was synthesized by the epitaxial growth method and then was utilized as a carrier for encapsulating lipase (PFL) through the co-precipitation method, resulting in the preparation of immobilized lipase (PFL@ZIF-8@ZIF-67). Subsequently, it was further treated with glutaraldehyde to improve protein immobilization yield. Under optimal immobilization conditions, the specific hydrolytic activity of PFL@ZIF-8@ZIF-67 was 20.4 times higher than that of the free PFL. The prepared biocatalyst was characterized and analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR). Additionally, the thermal stability of PFL@ZIF-8@ZIF-67 at 50 °C was significantly improved compared to the free PFL. After 7 weeks at room temperature, PFL@ZIF-8@ZIF-67 retained 78% of the transesterification activity, while the free enzyme was only 29%. Finally, PFL@ZIF-8@ZIF-67 was applied to the neryl acetate preparation in a solvent-free system, and the yield of neryl acetate reached 99% after 3 h of reaction. After 10 repetitions, the yields of neryl acetate catalyzed by PFL@ZIF-8@ZIF-67 and the free PFL were 80% and 43%, respectively.
Topics: Enzymes, Immobilized; Pseudomonas fluorescens; Lipase; Esterification; Enzyme Stability; Zeolites; Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared; Temperature; Acetates; X-Ray Diffraction; Biocatalysis; Imidazoles
PubMed: 38930986
DOI: 10.3390/molecules29122922 -
Micromachines Jun 2024This paper focuses on the development of electroplating on 150 mm wafer level for microsystem technology applications from 1-Ethyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride (EMImCl)...
This paper focuses on the development of electroplating on 150 mm wafer level for microsystem technology applications from 1-Ethyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride (EMImCl) with Aluminumtrichloride (AlCl). The deposition was carried out on 150 mm wafers with Au or Al seed layers deposited by physical vapor deposition (PVD). The electrodeposition was carried out using pattern plating. On the Au seed layer, bipolar pulse plating was applied. Compared to the Au seed layer, the electrodeposition on the Al seed layer was favorable, with lower current densities and pulsing frequencies. Utilizing the recurrent galvanic pulses and avoiding ionic liquid convection, inhomogeneities lower than 15% were achieved with a laboratory plating cell. One major aspect of this study was the removal of the native Al oxide prior to deposition. It was investigated on the chip and wafer levels using either current- or potential-controlled removal pulses. This process step was affected by the plasma treatment of the wafer, thus the surface free energy, prior to plating. It turned out that a higher surface free energy hindered proper oxide removal at a potential of 3 V. The theory of oxide breakdown based on electrostriction force via the electrical field was applied to discuss the findings and to derive conclusions for future plating experiments.
PubMed: 38930716
DOI: 10.3390/mi15060746 -
Micromachines May 2024Anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) has been widely applied for the surface protection of electronic component packaging through a pore-sealing process, with the enhanced...
Anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) has been widely applied for the surface protection of electronic component packaging through a pore-sealing process, with the enhanced hardness value reaching around 400 Vickers hardness (HV). However, the traditional AAO fabrication at 0~10 °C for surface protection takes at least 3-6 h for the reaction or other complicated methods used for the pore-sealing process, including boiling-water sealing, oil sealing, or salt-compound sealing. With the increasing development of nanostructured AAO, there is a growing interest in improving hardness without pore sealing, in order to leverage the characteristics of porous AAO and surface protection properties simultaneously. Here, we investigate the effect of voltage on hardness under the same AAO thickness conditions in oxalic acid at room temperature from a normal level of 40 V to a high level of 100 V and found a positive correlation between surface hardness and voltage. The surface hardness values of AAO formed at 100 V reach about 423 HV without pore sealing in 30 min. By employing a hybrid pulse anodization (HPA) method, we are able to prevent the high-voltage burning effect and complete the anodization process at room temperature. The mechanism behind this can be explained by the porosity and photoluminescence (PL) intensity of AAO. For the same thickness of AAO from 40~100 V, increasing the anodizing voltage decreases both the porosity and PL intensity, indicating a reduction in pores, as well as anion and oxygen vacancy defects, due to rapid AAO growth. This reduction in defects in the AAO film leads to an increase in hardness, allowing us to significantly enhance AAO hardness without a pore-sealing process. This offers an effective hardness enhancement in AAO under economically feasible conditions for the application of hard coatings and protective films.
PubMed: 38930653
DOI: 10.3390/mi15060683 -
Materials (Basel, Switzerland) Jun 2024Sulfuric acid anodizing assisted by a hydrothermal sealing with inhibitors [Ce-Mo] was used to prevent pitting corrosion on spray-deposited hypereutectic Al-Si alloy...
Sulfuric acid anodizing assisted by a hydrothermal sealing with inhibitors [Ce-Mo] was used to prevent pitting corrosion on spray-deposited hypereutectic Al-Si alloy (A390). An investigation concerning the evaluation of pitting corrosion resistance on the anodic oxide thin film with ions incorporated was carried out in NaCl solution using electrochemical measurements (i.e., potentiodynamic polarization and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, EIS). The influence of Si phase morphology and size on the growth mechanism of an anodic oxide film was characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The results were then compared with those for its equivalent IM390 alloy (Al-17Si-4.5Cu-0.6Mg) produced through a conventional process ingot metallurgy, IM. The electrochemical findings indicate that sulfuric acid anodizing followed by a simple hot water sealing treatment was ineffective. In this manner, an intense attack was localized by pitting corrosion that occurred on the anodic oxide film in less than three days, as denoted by characteristic changes in the EIS spectra at the lowest frequencies. Improved results were achieved for Ce-Mo surface modification, which can provide better corrosion resistance on the aluminum alloys because no signs of pits were observed during the corrosion testing.
PubMed: 38930413
DOI: 10.3390/ma17123044 -
Materials (Basel, Switzerland) Jun 2024Conventional plasma electrolytic oxidation treatments produce oxide coatings with micron-scale discharge pores, resulting in insulation and wear and corrosion resistance...
Conventional plasma electrolytic oxidation treatments produce oxide coatings with micron-scale discharge pores, resulting in insulation and wear and corrosion resistance far below that expected of highly dense AlO coatings. The introduction of cathodic polarization during the plasma electrolytic oxidation process, especially when the applied cathode-to-anode current ratio (Rpn) is greater than 1, triggers a unique plasma discharge phenomenon known as "soft sparking". The soft spark discharge mode significantly improves the densification of the anode ceramic layer and facilitates the formation of the high-temperature α-AlO phase within the coating. Although the soft spark discharge phenomenon has been known for a long time, the growth behavior of the coating under its discharge mode still needs to be studied and improved. In this paper, the growth behavior of the coating before and after soft spark discharge is investigated with the help of the micro-morphology, phase composition and element distribution of a homemade fixture. The results show that the ceramic layer grows mainly along the oxide-electrolyte direction before the soft spark discharge transformation; after the soft spark discharge, the ceramic layer grows along the oxide-substrate direction. It was also unexpectedly found that, under soft spark discharge, the silicon element only exists on the outside of the coating, which is caused by the large size and slow migration of SiO, which can only enter the ceramic layer and participate in the reaction through the discharge channel generated by the strong discharge. In addition, it was also found that the relative phase content of α-AlO in the coating increased from 0.487 to 0.634 after 10 min of rotary spark discharge, which is an increase of 30.2% compared with that before the soft spark discharge transition. On the other hand, the relative phase content of α-AlO in the coating decreased from 0.487 to 0.313 after 20 min of transfer spark discharge, which was a 55.6% decrease compared to that before the soft spark discharge transformation.
PubMed: 38930316
DOI: 10.3390/ma17122947