Efficient synthesis of magnetic nanoparticle-Musa acuminata peel composite for the adsorption of anionic dye

The impregnation of magnetite (Mt) nanoparticle (NPs) onto Musa acuminata peel (MApe), to form a novel magnetic combo (MApe-Mt) for the adsorption of anionic bromophenol blue (BPB) was studied. The SEM, EDX, BET, XRD, FTIR and TGA were used to characterize the adsorbents. The FTIR showed that the OH and CO groups were the major sites for BPB uptake onto the adsorbent materials. The average Mt crystalline size on MApe-Mt was 21.13 nm. SEM analysis revealed that Mt NPs were agglomerated on the surface of the MApe biosorbent, with an average Mt diameter of 25.97 nm. After Mt impregnation, a decrease in BET surface area (14.89 to 3.80 m²/g) and an increase in pore diameter (2.25–3.11 nm), pore volume (0.0052–0.01418 cm³/g) and pH point of zero charge (6.4–7.2) was obtained. The presence of Pb(II) ions in solution significantly decreased the uptake of BPB onto both MApe (66.1–43.8%) and MApe-Mt (80.3–59.1%), compared to other competing ions (Zn(II), Cd(II), Ni(II)) in the solution. Isotherm modeling showed that the Freundlich model best fitted the adsorption data (R² > 0.994 and SSE < 0.0013). In addition, maximum monolayer uptake was enhanced from 6.04 to 8.12 mg/g after Mt impregnation. Kinetics were well described by the pseudo-first order and liquid film diffusion models. Thermodynamics revealed a physical, endothermic adsorption of BPB onto the adsorbents, with ΔH^o values of 15.87–16.49 kJ/mol, corroborated by high desorption (over 90%) of BPB from the loaded materials. The viability of the prepared adsorbents was also revealed in its reusability for BPB uptake.     

Chemical stability of TiN,TiAlN and AlN layers in aggressive SO2 environments

In this paper, we have studied, using X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), the chemical stability of TiN, TiAlN and AlN layers produced by magnetron sputtering on Si wafer substrates, against humid, SO₂‐polluted atmospheres. The results have indicated that the TiN layers suffer almost no degradation after seven days of exposure to the aggressive environment. The degradation of the TiAlN layers is small, and this is evidenced by the appearance of signals corresponding to N? O bonds in the N 1s spectra, after seven days of exposure to the corrosive atmosphere and the increase in the Ti 2p spectra of the contribution corresponding to TiO₂. In contrast, the degradation experienced by the AlN layers is quite large. The spectra reveal dramatic changes after just one day of exposure to the aggressive conditions. This is related to the preferential growth of the AlN layers, which gives rise to an open, columnar structure. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Properties of mixed protein/surfactant adsorption layers

The adsorption isotherms, adsorption kinetics and surface rheological properties of β-lactoglobulin, β-casein, in the absence and presence of Tween 20 were measured. To study the adsorption process (isotherms and kinetics) at the water–air interface the pendant drop technique (axial drop shape analysis, ADSA), and ring tensiometry were used. The surface shear rheological parameters were measured with a torsion pendulum set-up. Also, data of the equilibrium film thickness and surface diffusion coefficients obtained from fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (FRAP) measurements are used to understand the competitive adsorption mechanism. The adsorption process and shear rheological behaviour of the studied systems show a rather complex behaviour which depends most of all on the system's composition. At high protein or surfactant content the behaviour is controlled by the main component while for the more mixed systems the adsorption process is complex and consists of partial adsorption, surfactant–protein interaction and protein rearrangement as a function of surface coverage. The results obtained illustrate that all these processes must be taken into account in future new theoretical models to be derived for such systems.     

Segmented gas–liquid flow characterization in rectangular microchannels

We used optical methods such as Laser Induced Fluorescence (LIF) and confocal Laser Scanning Microscopy (LSM) to characterize gas–liquid phase distribution in rectangular microchannels. Using a 2 m long microchannel with a hydraulic diameter of 200 μm enables the precise measurement of important parameters such as liquid slug length, bubble length, pressure drop and film thickness at the wall as well as in the corner of the microchannel for low Capillary numbers (Ca) ranging from 2 × 10⁻⁴ to 1 × 10⁻². This range of Ca was obtained by using different fluid pairs such as ethanol, water and different concentrated aqueous solutions of glycerol in combination with nitrogen.     

A general solution to the Schrödinger–Poisson equation for a charged hard wall: Application to potential profile of an AlN/GaN barrier structure

A general, system-independent, formulation of the parabolic Schrödinger–Poisson equation is presented for a charged hard wall in the limit of complete screening by the ground state. It is solved numerically using iteration and asymptotic boundary conditions. The solution gives a simple relation between the band bending and sheet charge density at an interface. Approximative analytical expressions for the potential profile and wave function are developed based on properties of the exact solution. Specific tests of the validity of the assumptions leading to the general solution are made. The assumption of complete screening by the ground state is found be a limitation; however, the general solution provides a fair approximate account of the potential profile when the bulk is doped. The general solution is further used in a simple model for the potential profile of an AlN/GaN barrier structure. The result compares well with the solution of the full Schrödinger–Poisson equation.     

Photosensitive sol-gel preparation and direct micro-patterning of c-oriented ZnO film

Using zinc acetate as the raw material, isopropanol as the solvent, and monoethanolamine as the stabilizer, photosensitive ZnO sol is prepared by chemical modification with the acetylacetone. Chelate rings of acetylacetone with zinc ions are formed in the ZnO sol and its corresponding gel films. Irradiation of the gel film by a UV lamp in air leads to the decomposition of the chelate ring. Using the photosensitivity of the gel films, ZnO gel patterns can be obtained by selective irradiation followed by leaching in organic solvents. After the patterned ZnO gel film is preheated at 500 °C, and fired at 600 °C, c-oriented ZnO patterned films are obtained.     

Facile synthesis and characterization of SnTe films

In this paper, we reported a novel, simple, and cost-effective route to SnTe films. The films were prepared by a chemical bath method, at room temperature and ambient pressure, using conventional chemicals as starting materials with or without surfactant. The films were characterized by X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and field-emission scanning electron microscopy, respectively. The SnTe film deposited without surfactant consists of nanoparticles (∼100 nm). The film deposited using polyethyleneglycol (PEG) as the surfactant consists of nanoparticles with size of ∼25 nm, whereas the film deposited using polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) as the surfactant consists of rough rod-like nanostructures (∼50 in diameter and ∼500 nm in length), besides nanoparticles (∼40-180 nm). The SnTe film deposited with PEG is smoother and denser. The formation mechanism of the SnTe films was proposed.     

ZnF2-Riched Inorganic/Organic Hybrid SEI: in situ-Chemical Construction and Performance-Improving Mechanism for Aqueous Zinc-ion Batteries

Uncontrolled dendrites growth and serious parasitic reactions in aqueous electrolytes, greatly hinder the practical application of aqueous zinc-ion battery. On the basis of in situ-chemical construction and performance-improving mechanism, multifunctional fluoroethylene carbonate (FEC) is introduced into aqueous electrolyte to construct a high-quality and ZnF₂-riched inorganic/organic hybrid SEI (ZHS) layer on Zn metal anode (ZMA) surface. Notably, FEC additive can regulate the solvated structure of Zn²⁺ to reduce H₂O molecules reactivity. Additionally, the ZHS layer with strong Zn²⁺ affinity can avoid dendrites formation and hinder the direct contact between the electrolyte and anode. Therefore, the dendrites growth, Zn corrosion, and H₂ evolution reaction on ZMA in FEC-included ZnSO₄ electrolyte are highly suppressed. Thus, ZMA in such electrolyte realize a long cycle life over 1000 h and deliver a stable coulombic efficiency of 99.1 % after 500 cycles.     

以尿素为氮源合成AlN粉体过程中非晶碳的石墨化

针对有机合成过程中碳及碳化物的残余,传统方法中普遍使用除碳的工艺,而很少有文章针对非晶碳的结构和形貌进行表征。为此,本文采用高尿素含量的前驱盐体系,通过在氮气保护气氛中煅烧获得AlN粉体。采用X射线衍射分析、红外和拉曼光谱分析、扫描电子显微镜和透射电子显微镜对850~1 500 ℃温度范围内煅烧获得产物的结构和形貌进行表征,对AlN合成过程中含碳产物结构形貌的变化,以及AlN和含碳产物之间相互的依存生长关系进行分析。结果表明,AlN生长的过程中伴随着无定形碳的石墨化转变,AlN颗粒的形貌也受含碳残余产物形貌的影响而出现有规律的变化。