Synthesis and crystal structure of a new copper (II) complex,designed to produce efficient successor of Cu2O,toward synergy of adsorption and photodegradation of MB

A new copper (II) coordination complex formulated as [Cu (dipic)(phen)(2-MePy)]. 2H₂O ( 1 ) where phen = 1, 10-phenanthroline, dipic²⁻ = pyridine-2,6-dicarboxylato and 2-MePy = 2-methyl pyrrole was synthesized through a simple and environment-friendly reaction under ultrasound irradiation. Also, complex 1 was synthesized by hydrothermal process at 120 °C for 3 days. The corresponding structure of complex 1 was characterized by elemental analysis, atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS), inductively coupled plasma (ICP), conductivity measurement, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), Raman spectroscopy, ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy (UV–Vis), thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), differential thermal analysis (DTA), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) and fluorescence. The crystal structure of the hydrothermally synthesized complex was characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction (SC-XRD(, which revealed a triclinic structure. In the remainder of this study, the Cu₂O nanoparticles have been prepared via thermal decomposition of hydrothermal and ultrasound complexes and characterized by ICP, FT-IR, powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), SEM and N₂ adsorption/desorption. Adsorption and visible-light-driven photocatalytic capabilities of two synthetic Cu₂O were investigated in the removal of MB from water. The result showed that the synthesized catalysts have good catalytic activity and the photocatalytic degradation is more effective in dye removal of MB compared with the adsorption.     

On the use of AES data analysis to determine local enrichments of conversion coating elements at intermetallic particles on rolled Al

In this paper, the behaviour of the industrial applied Ti/Zr conversion coating (CC) pretreatment on rolled automotive aluminium samples (AA5182) is analysed. Due to its nanometre lateral and depth resolution, Auger electron spectroscopy (AES) is used to analyse the CC distribution at surface cathodic intermetallic particles. As a result of its high surface sensitivity, the AES technique is very susceptible to differences in the top contamination layer thickness. It is demonstrated that AES point measurements performed on aluminium model samples coated with 1.5 and 3 nm of Ti (oxide) layer cannot differentiate the two-layer thicknesses if a difference in the top contamination thickness is not taken into account. A data analysis methodology is introduced, based on the ratio of normalized peak areas (enrichment ratios), to eliminate the effect of the contamination layer thickness. The experimental validation of the methodology is performed on the model samples, demonstrating errors of 2% on the enrichment ratios on similar samples with different contamination layer thicknesses, while the conventional spectra quantification results in errors of 49%. The methodology is also theoretically substantiated within certain constraints. By the use of the AES methodology, an enriched Ti and Zr deposition is confirmed at the cathodic intermetallic particles at the surface of the industrial no-rinse CC sprayed automotive aluminium sheet samples.     

Zn–Co Sulfide Microflowers Anchored on Three-Dimensional Graphene: A High-Capacitance and Long-Cycle-Life Electrode for Asymmetric Supercapacitors

Zinc–cobalt double-metal sulfides (ZCS) as Faradic electrode materials with high energy density have great potential for supercapacitors, but their poor transfer efficiency for electrons and ions hinders their electrochemical response. Herein, ZnCo₂(CO₃)_1.5(OH)₃@ZCS microflower hybrid arrays consisting of thin nanolayer petals were anchored on three-dimensional graphene (ZnCo₂(CO₃)_1.5(OH)₃@ZCS/3DG) by a simple hydrothermal method and additional ion-exchange process. A ZnCo₂(CO₃)_1.5(OH)₃@ZCS/3DG electrode delivered high capacitance (2228 F g⁻¹ at 1 A g⁻¹) and long cycling life (85.7 % retention after 17 000 cycles), which are ascribed to the multicomponent structural design. The 3DG conductive substrate improves the electron-transfer dynamics of the electrode material. Meanwhile, the microflowers consisting of thin nanolayer petals could not only provide many active sites for ions to improve the capacitance, but also alleviate the volume expansion to ensure the structural stability. Furthermore, an all-solid-state asymmetric supercapacitor based on a ZnCo₂(CO₃)_1.5(OH)₃@ZCS/3DG electrode achieved a high energy density of 27 W h kg⁻¹ at 528.3 W kg⁻¹ and exhibits exceptional cyclic stability for 23 000 cycles. Its ability to light a blue LED for 9 min verified the feasibility of its application for energy storage devices.     

Solution-Based,Anion-Doping of Li4Ti5O12 Nanoflowers for Lithium-Ion Battery Applications

Solution-based, anionic doping represents a convenient strategy with which to improve upon the conductivity of candidate anode materials such as Li₄Ti₅O₁₂ (LTO). As such, novel synthetic hydrothermally-inspired protocols have primarily been devised herein, aimed at the large-scale production of unique halogen-doped, micron-scale, three-dimensional, hierarchical LTO flower-like motifs. Although fluorine (F) doping has been explored, the use of chlorine (Cl) dopants is the primary focus here. Several experimental variables, such as dopant amount, lithium hydroxide concentration, and titanium butoxide purity, were probed and perfected. Furthermore, the Cl doping process did not damage the intrinsic LTO morphology. The analysis, based on interpreting a compilation of SEM, XRD, XPS, and TEM-EDS results, was used to determine an optimized dopant concentration of Cl. Electrochemical tests demonstrated an increased capacity via cycling of 12 % for a Cl-doped sample as compared with pristine LTO. Moreover, the Cl-doped LTO sample described in this study exhibited the highest discharge capacity yet reported at an observed rate of 2C for this material at 143mAh g⁻¹. Overall, these data suggest that the Cl dopant likely enhances not only the ion transport capabilities, but also the overall electrical conductivity of our as-prepared structures. To help explain these favorable findings, theoretical DFT calculations were used to postulate that the electronic conductivity and Li diffusion were likely improved by the presence of increased Ti³⁺ ion concentration coupled with widening of the Li migration channel.     

Direct UVC photodegradation of imipramine in aqueous solutions: a mechanistic study

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Estimation of the stability of skeletal muscle myoglobin of chilled pork treated with brine activated by low-frequency high-intensity ultrasound

We studied the effect of ultrasonic activation of brine (3%) during salting on the degree of stability of colour parameters of pork with normal (NOR) and abnormal course of autolysis in the CIE Lab colour space. The mechanism of stabilisation of the colour of meat is attributed to donor–acceptor bonds of metmyoglobin (MetMb). The accumulation of excessive number of free electrons in the medium are capable of activating MetMb. This reduces the activity of meat, when the native participants of the metmyoglobin reductase system and their own antioxidant systems of meat are depleted.Based on the additive calculation of deviations (increase / decrease) by the coordinates L*, a*, b* in the CIE Lab system, and the total colour difference (ΔE) in control and experimental samples, recommendations were developed. To optimize the colour characteristics of all types of meat, both on the surface and in the thickness of the meat, the preliminary activation of a 3% brine in a low-frequency submersible ultrasonic unit is recommended. Moreover, preliminary cavitation activation of a 3% is more preferable to stabilise the colour of PSE – meat (pale, soft, exudative (watery),) brine in a flow-through installation.     

The Impacts of Crystalline Structure and Different Surface Functional Groups on Drug Release and the Osseointegration Process of Nanostructured TiO2

In implantable materials, surface topography and chemistry are the most important in the effective osseointegration and interaction with drug molecules. Therefore, structural and surface modifications of nanostructured titanium dioxide (TiO₂) layers are reported in the present work. In particular, the modification of annealed TiO₂ samples with —OH groups and silane derivatives, confirmed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, is shown. Moreover, the ibuprofen release process was studied regarding the desorption-desorption-diffusion (DDD) kinetic model. The results proved that the most significant impact on the release profile is annealing, and further surface modifications did not change its kinetics. Additionally, the cell adhesion and proliferation were examined based on the MTS test and immunofluorescent staining. The obtained data showed that the proposed changes in the surface chemistry enhance the samples’ hydrophilicity. Moreover, improvements in the adhesion and proliferation of the MG-63 cells were observed.     

ZnO超细纳米线阵列的制备及其电化学性能

以Zn(NO₃)₂· 6H₂O和C₆H₁₂N₄为原材料,采用二步水热法在碳纤维布上合成了形貌尺寸均匀的ZnO超细纳米线阵列。用 X 射线衍射(XRD)和扫描电镜(SEM)对其晶体结构和形貌进行了表征,利用恒流充放电测试等手段对其进行电化学性能测试。测试结果表明,材料表现出优异的电化学性能。在200 mA/g的电流密度下循环150次后,ZnO超细纳米线阵列仍然约有730 mAh/g的充放电比容量,库伦效率保持在95%以上。在1 200 mA/g的大倍率条件下,材料的充放电比容量依旧可达481 mAh/g左右,表现出十分良好的循环稳定性和可逆性能,是一种较为理想的锂离子电池负极复合材料。     

添加CaSO4·2H2O为晶种制备磷石膏半水硫酸钙晶须

以固体废弃物磷石膏为原料,在传统常压醇水热法的基础上添加CaSO₄·2H₂O为晶种制备半水硫酸钙晶须。采用单因素试验法探究了晶种含量、丙三醇含量和磷石膏质量分数对晶须结构和形貌的影响,确定晶须的最佳制备工艺条件。采用SEM和XRD对样品进行表征分析,实验结果表明:添加CaSO₄·2H₂O晶种制备晶须的长径比(49.29)比只添加丙三醇的样品的长径比(30.99)提高了近60%;当丙三醇与水的体积比(V)为1、晶种含量为1%、磷石膏质量分数为5%时制备的晶须的平均直径为0.65 μm,长径比达到了62.15,晶须的尺寸均匀。这说明添加1%CaSO₄·2H₂O晶种、V为1的丙三醇和质量分数为5%的磷石膏在常压下能制备出高长径比和尺寸均匀的半水硫酸钙晶须。