Pub Date : 2025-03-09DOI: 10.1016/j.matchemphys.2025.130685
Weimin Yan, Chengmin Hou
Flexible electronics demand conductive films with high stability and conductivity. However, silver nanowires (AgNWs) face challenges like agglomeration and inconsistent morphology. In this study, AgNWs were synthesized via a two-step process: (1) preliminary growth using a glass fiber template and polyol method (diameter: 0.2–0.4 μm, length: 1–6 μm), and (2) secondary growth by mixing AgNWs with PVA solution followed by heat treatment. The secondary growth enhanced nanowire dimensions (diameter: 5–7 μm, length: 100–200 μm) and conductivity. The optimized film exhibited stable resistance (4 MΩ) after 5000 bends (90° and 180°) and achieved optimal performance at 100 °C/30 min. This method provides a scalable solution for flexible electronics.
{"title":"Preparation of glass fiber-PVA assisted secondary growth of silver nanowires and flexible conductive films","authors":"Weimin Yan, Chengmin Hou","doi":"10.1016/j.matchemphys.2025.130685","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.matchemphys.2025.130685","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Flexible electronics demand conductive films with high stability and conductivity. However, silver nanowires (AgNWs) face challenges like agglomeration and inconsistent morphology. In this study, AgNWs were synthesized via a two-step process: (1) preliminary growth using a glass fiber template and polyol method (diameter: 0.2–0.4 μm, length: 1–6 μm), and (2) secondary growth by mixing AgNWs with PVA solution followed by heat treatment. The secondary growth enhanced nanowire dimensions (diameter: 5–7 μm, length: 100–200 μm) and conductivity. The optimized film exhibited stable resistance (4 MΩ) after 5000 bends (90° and 180°) and achieved optimal performance at 100 °C/30 min. This method provides a scalable solution for flexible electronics.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18227,"journal":{"name":"Materials Chemistry and Physics","volume":"338 ","pages":"Article 130685"},"PeriodicalIF":4.3,"publicationDate":"2025-03-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143601072","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-03-09DOI: 10.1016/j.matchemphys.2025.130689
M. Ehthishamul Haque , Sandhanasamy Devanesan , Mohamad S. AlSalhi , M. Jose
A novel Ca1-xLaxCu3-yMgyTi4O12 (x = y = 0, 0.05, 0.07, 0.09 wt %), ceramic material was synthesized via solid-state reaction, incorporating La3+ and Mg2+ ions to enhance dielectric permittivity (ε′) and reduce dielectric loss (tanδ). X-ray diffraction confirmed phase purity, while Rietveld refinement provided structural insights with a goodness of fit below 2 %. X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy identified Cu+ ↔ O ↔ Cu2+ and Ti3+ ↔ O ↔ Ti4+ redox pairs facilitating electron hopping. Scanning electron microscopy showed hindered grain growth which minimises tanδ. Notably, the x = 0.05 sample exhibited ε′ = 2.51 × 104 and tanδ = 0.41 at 1 kHz. Nyquist plots revealed a correlation between substantial grain boundary resistance and reducing tanδ. Activation energies for grain (0.058–0.084 eV) and grain-boundary (0.289–0.487 eV) resistance indicated distinct electrical transport mechanisms. The Internal Barrier Layer Capacitance (IBLC) effect led to heterogeneous electrical behaviour. This synergistic co-doping approach achieved desirable dielectric properties, making this material promising for microelectronic applications.
{"title":"Structural, microstructural, and dielectric properties of a novel La3+ and Mg2+ co-doped CaCu3Ti4O12 ceramics","authors":"M. Ehthishamul Haque , Sandhanasamy Devanesan , Mohamad S. AlSalhi , M. Jose","doi":"10.1016/j.matchemphys.2025.130689","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.matchemphys.2025.130689","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>A novel Ca<sub>1-x</sub>La<sub>x</sub>Cu<sub>3-y</sub>Mg<sub>y</sub>Ti<sub>4</sub>O<sub>12</sub> (x = y = 0, 0.05, 0.07, 0.09 wt %), ceramic material was synthesized via solid-state reaction, incorporating La<sup>3+</sup> and Mg<sup>2+</sup> ions to enhance dielectric permittivity (ε′) and reduce dielectric loss (tanδ). X-ray diffraction confirmed phase purity, while Rietveld refinement provided structural insights with a goodness of fit below 2 %. X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy identified Cu<sup>+</sup> ↔ O ↔ Cu<sup>2+</sup> and Ti<sup>3+</sup> ↔ O ↔ Ti<sup>4+</sup> redox pairs facilitating electron hopping. Scanning electron microscopy showed hindered grain growth which minimises tanδ. Notably, the x = 0.05 sample exhibited ε′ = 2.51 × 10<sup>4</sup> and tanδ = 0.41 at 1 kHz. Nyquist plots revealed a correlation between substantial grain boundary resistance and reducing tanδ. Activation energies for grain (0.058–0.084 eV) and grain-boundary (0.289–0.487 eV) resistance indicated distinct electrical transport mechanisms. The Internal Barrier Layer Capacitance (IBLC) effect led to heterogeneous electrical behaviour. This synergistic co-doping approach achieved desirable dielectric properties, making this material promising for microelectronic applications.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18227,"journal":{"name":"Materials Chemistry and Physics","volume":"338 ","pages":"Article 130689"},"PeriodicalIF":4.3,"publicationDate":"2025-03-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143601073","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-03-08DOI: 10.1016/j.matchemphys.2025.130688
Simin Shan , Lijian Du , Shuaishuai Cheng, Yue Yin, Jinfang Wu, Wenbo Wang
Creating an oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) electrocatalyst with outstanding performance is crucial for advancing green energy storage and conversion technology. In this experiment, Zr–Cu oxide heterostructure nanocomposite catalysts, ZrO2–Cu2S/C and ZrO2–Cu1.93S/C, were successfully synthesized by vulcanizing ZrO2–Cu2(OH)2CO3/C and introducing defect engineering. The catalysts were thoroughly examined using various testing methods to determine their structures, and their catalytic performance in ORR was assessed. ZrO2 forms heterostructures with Cu2S and Cu1.93S, which are evenly dispersed on the carbon carrier. In an alkaline medium, both catalysts display excellent ORR activity. The ZrO2–Cu1.93S/C catalyst exhibits the highest ORR activity, with an onset potential of 0.90 V and a half-wave potential of 0.75 V (vs. RHE) in 0.1 M KOH. The limiting diffusion current density is measured at 3.25 mA cm−2. The DFT theoretical calculation indicates that electrons are redistributed and accumulated at the heterojunction interface, presenting a stronger electron-donating ability and a faster electron conduction ability. Both vulcanization and the introduction of defects play an important role in enhancing the ORR performance of the catalyst. This study provides an ORR catalyst with excellent performance and opens up a new direction and idea for the research of Zr–Cu oxide composite electrocatalysts.
{"title":"Zr–Cu oxide heterostructures with introduced defects for efficient oxygen reduction reaction","authors":"Simin Shan , Lijian Du , Shuaishuai Cheng, Yue Yin, Jinfang Wu, Wenbo Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.matchemphys.2025.130688","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.matchemphys.2025.130688","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Creating an oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) electrocatalyst with outstanding performance is crucial for advancing green energy storage and conversion technology. In this experiment, Zr–Cu oxide heterostructure nanocomposite catalysts, ZrO<sub>2</sub>–Cu<sub>2</sub>S/C and ZrO<sub>2</sub>–Cu<sub>1.93</sub>S/C, were successfully synthesized by vulcanizing ZrO<sub>2</sub>–Cu<sub>2</sub>(OH)<sub>2</sub>CO<sub>3</sub>/C and introducing defect engineering. The catalysts were thoroughly examined using various testing methods to determine their structures, and their catalytic performance in ORR was assessed. ZrO<sub>2</sub> forms heterostructures with Cu<sub>2</sub>S and Cu<sub>1.93</sub>S, which are evenly dispersed on the carbon carrier. In an alkaline medium, both catalysts display excellent ORR activity. The ZrO<sub>2</sub>–Cu<sub>1.93</sub>S/C catalyst exhibits the highest ORR activity, with an onset potential of 0.90 V and a half-wave potential of 0.75 V (vs. RHE) in 0.1 M KOH. The limiting diffusion current density is measured at 3.25 mA cm<sup>−2</sup>. The DFT theoretical calculation indicates that electrons are redistributed and accumulated at the heterojunction interface, presenting a stronger electron-donating ability and a faster electron conduction ability. Both vulcanization and the introduction of defects play an important role in enhancing the ORR performance of the catalyst. This study provides an ORR catalyst with excellent performance and opens up a new direction and idea for the research of Zr–Cu oxide composite electrocatalysts.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18227,"journal":{"name":"Materials Chemistry and Physics","volume":"338 ","pages":"Article 130688"},"PeriodicalIF":4.3,"publicationDate":"2025-03-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143577735","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-03-08DOI: 10.1016/j.matchemphys.2025.130652
Shima Kashani , Hamid Reza Madaah Hosseini
Although Al2TiO5-based nanocomposites are known to be promising photocatalysts, their potential application in photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting has not yet been explored. In this study, innovative photoanodes composed of TiO2/Al2TiO5/Al2O3 nanocomposite powders were developed. These powders were synthesized via sol-gel method and deposited on fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) substrates. The crystalline phase ratio in these nanocomposites was controlled by adjusting the calcination temperature between 800 and 1000 °C, and then identified by the X-ray diffraction analysis. The microstructure properties of the samples were examined by Field-emission scanning electron microscopy. UV–Vis spectroscopy and Mott-Schottky analyses were employed to determine the bandgap energies and band edge positions of the materials. For the TiO2/Al2TiO5/Al2O3 nanocomposites, the bandgap values were found to range from 2.9 to 3.1 eV. Photoluminescence analysis indicated a reduced electron-hole pair recombination rate in tialite-based photoanodes compared to TiO2 films. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) showed that the sample with the highest tialite (Al2TiO5) concentration had significantly lower charge transfer resistance. Due to the relative positions of the band edges in this composite, photogenerated holes can be injected from the valence band of other photocatalyst phases into the valence band of Al2TiO5 and then transferred to the electrolyte, contributing to the photoelectrochemical water oxidation reaction. Under illumination of 100 mW cm−2, the photocurrent density of the AT-based photoelectrodes reached 0.42 mA cm−2 at 1.23 V versus the reversible hydrogen electrode, which was approximately 2.5 times higher than that of the TiO2 sample.
{"title":"Aluminum titanate-based nanocomposite layers in photoelectrochemical water splitting under visible light","authors":"Shima Kashani , Hamid Reza Madaah Hosseini","doi":"10.1016/j.matchemphys.2025.130652","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.matchemphys.2025.130652","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Although Al<sub>2</sub>TiO<sub>5</sub>-based nanocomposites are known to be promising photocatalysts, their potential application in photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting has not yet been explored. In this study, innovative photoanodes composed of TiO<sub>2</sub>/Al<sub>2</sub>TiO<sub>5</sub>/Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> nanocomposite powders were developed. These powders were synthesized via sol-gel method and deposited on fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) substrates. The crystalline phase ratio in these nanocomposites was controlled by adjusting the calcination temperature between 800 and 1000 °C, and then identified by the X-ray diffraction analysis. The microstructure properties of the samples were examined by Field-emission scanning electron microscopy. UV–Vis spectroscopy and Mott-Schottky analyses were employed to determine the bandgap energies and band edge positions of the materials. For the TiO<sub>2</sub>/Al<sub>2</sub>TiO<sub>5</sub>/Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> nanocomposites, the bandgap values were found to range from 2.9 to 3.1 eV. Photoluminescence analysis indicated a reduced electron-hole pair recombination rate in tialite-based photoanodes compared to TiO<sub>2</sub> films. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) showed that the sample with the highest tialite (Al<sub>2</sub>TiO<sub>5</sub>) concentration had significantly lower charge transfer resistance. Due to the relative positions of the band edges in this composite, photogenerated holes can be injected from the valence band of other photocatalyst phases into the valence band of Al<sub>2</sub>TiO<sub>5</sub> and then transferred to the electrolyte, contributing to the photoelectrochemical water oxidation reaction. Under illumination of 100 mW cm<sup>−2</sup>, the photocurrent density of the AT-based photoelectrodes reached 0.42 mA cm<sup>−2</sup> at 1.23 V versus the reversible hydrogen electrode, which was approximately 2.5 times higher than that of the TiO<sub>2</sub> sample.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18227,"journal":{"name":"Materials Chemistry and Physics","volume":"339 ","pages":"Article 130652"},"PeriodicalIF":4.3,"publicationDate":"2025-03-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143642172","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-03-08DOI: 10.1016/j.matchemphys.2025.130683
Syed Hussnain Haider Sherazi , Muhammad Waqas Saleem , Mashkoor Ahmad , Muhammad Bashir , Athar Javed , Muhammad Abdul Wahab
This paper reports the experimental results from a comprehensive study investigating the microstructural, phase composition, wettability behavior and optical properties of Cu-doped PbS (Cu:PbS) films. Thin Cu:PbS films with different volume concentrations of Cu content (ranging from 0.0 to 10 ml) are deposited on glass substrates by chemical bath deposition. X-ray diffraction (XRD) spectra reveals polycrystalline nature of all Cu:PbS films with face-centered cubic (fcc) structure. No peak corresponding to metal-oxide phase (such as PbO and CuO) or any other impurity or secondary phase (such as PbS2 or CuS) is observed from XRD. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy analysis reveals a significant shift of absorption peaks related to Pb–S bond due to doping of different Cu concentrations in PbS films. FTIR spectra show the presence of absorption peaks related to metal sulfides (PbS2 and CuS) and metal oxides (CuO and PbO) as secondary or minor traces of impurity phases. Raman spectroscopy also confirms the formation of PbS as main phase in all Cu:PbS films along with minor impurity phase of metal-oxides (CuO or PbO) and lead sulfate (PbSO4). Surface SEM micrographs show uniform and granular surface morphology with decrease of average grain size (320 ± 10 nm to 98 ± 7 nm) on increasing Cu concentration from 0.0 to 10 ml. Wettability analysis show that all Cu:PbS films exhibit hydrophobic nature (with a contact angle greater than 90°) in contrast to hydrophilic nature of bare glass substrate. Calculated surface free energy increases with increasing Cu concentration and attains its maximum value 28.49 mJ/m2 at Cu-doping concentration of 10 ml in PbS. All Cu:PbS films exhibit high absorption coefficient (∼104 cm−1) in the UV–visible region. All films exhibit direct energy band gap (Eg) which decreases from 1.58 eV to 1.40 eV with increase of Cu concentration from 0.0 to 10 ml. A decrease of Eg with increasing Cu concentration makes Cu:PbS films suitable for optoelectronic devices such as infrared (IR) detectors and LEDs.
{"title":"Facile synthesis, microstructural, phase composition, wettability behavior and optical properties of Cu:PbS films for optoelectronic applications","authors":"Syed Hussnain Haider Sherazi , Muhammad Waqas Saleem , Mashkoor Ahmad , Muhammad Bashir , Athar Javed , Muhammad Abdul Wahab","doi":"10.1016/j.matchemphys.2025.130683","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.matchemphys.2025.130683","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This paper reports the experimental results from a comprehensive study investigating the microstructural, phase composition, wettability behavior and optical properties of Cu-doped PbS (Cu:PbS) films. Thin Cu:PbS films with different volume concentrations of Cu content (ranging from 0.0 to 10 ml) are deposited on glass substrates by chemical bath deposition. X-ray diffraction (XRD) spectra reveals polycrystalline nature of all Cu:PbS films with face-centered cubic (<em>fcc</em>) structure. No peak corresponding to metal-oxide phase (such as PbO and CuO) or any other impurity or secondary phase (such as PbS<sub>2</sub> or CuS) is observed from XRD. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy analysis reveals a significant shift of absorption peaks related to Pb–S bond due to doping of different Cu concentrations in PbS films. FTIR spectra show the presence of absorption peaks related to metal sulfides (PbS<sub>2</sub> and CuS) and metal oxides (CuO and PbO) as secondary or minor traces of impurity phases. Raman spectroscopy also confirms the formation of PbS as main phase in all Cu:PbS films along with minor impurity phase of metal-oxides (CuO or PbO) and lead sulfate (PbSO<sub>4</sub>). Surface SEM micrographs show uniform and granular surface morphology with decrease of average grain size (320 ± 10 nm to 98 ± 7 nm) on increasing Cu concentration from 0.0 to 10 ml. Wettability analysis show that all Cu:PbS films exhibit hydrophobic nature (with a contact angle greater than 90°) in contrast to hydrophilic nature of bare glass substrate. Calculated surface free energy increases with increasing Cu concentration and attains its maximum value 28.49 mJ/m<sup>2</sup> at Cu-doping concentration of 10 ml in PbS. All Cu:PbS films exhibit high absorption coefficient (∼10<sup>4</sup> cm<sup>−1</sup>) in the UV–visible region. All films exhibit direct energy band gap (<em>E</em><sub><em>g</em></sub>) which decreases from 1.58 eV to 1.40 eV with increase of Cu concentration from 0.0 to 10 ml. A decrease of <em>E</em><sub><em>g</em></sub> with increasing Cu concentration makes Cu:PbS films suitable for optoelectronic devices such as infrared (IR) detectors and LEDs.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18227,"journal":{"name":"Materials Chemistry and Physics","volume":"338 ","pages":"Article 130683"},"PeriodicalIF":4.3,"publicationDate":"2025-03-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143611537","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-03-08DOI: 10.1016/j.matchemphys.2025.130681
P.Y. Apel
Track-etched membranes (TMs) have been known as micro- and nanoporous materials with a well-determined structure. The production method, which includes irradiation with accelerated heavy ions and subsequent chemical etching, ensures the formation of uniform straight cylindrical channels in the membranes. Numerous applications of TMs take advantage of these specific properties. The pores in commercial TMs are often regarded as individual non-interconnected channels. However, due to the angle distribution of ions impinging the polymer film, the channels are non-parallel and may intersect. The intersections between the channels show up in precision experiments and play an important role in the fabrication of nanomaterials where track-etched membranes serve as templates. Polymer-metal composites and free-standing 3D metal nanostructures are representative examples of such materials. Of practical importance is thus the estimation of the number of channel intersections depending on the membrane structure parameters. This paper describes a simple approach for determining the mean numbers of channel intersections in track-etched membranes produced using ion beams from accelerators. The conditions for the formation of a percolation network are discussed.
{"title":"Intersections of pore channels in track-etched polymer templates and membranes","authors":"P.Y. Apel","doi":"10.1016/j.matchemphys.2025.130681","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.matchemphys.2025.130681","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Track-etched membranes (TMs) have been known as micro- and nanoporous materials with a well-determined structure. The production method, which includes irradiation with accelerated heavy ions and subsequent chemical etching, ensures the formation of uniform straight cylindrical channels in the membranes. Numerous applications of TMs take advantage of these specific properties. The pores in commercial TMs are often regarded as individual non-interconnected channels. However, due to the angle distribution of ions impinging the polymer film, the channels are non-parallel and may intersect. The intersections between the channels show up in precision experiments and play an important role in the fabrication of nanomaterials where track-etched membranes serve as templates. Polymer-metal composites and free-standing 3D metal nanostructures are representative examples of such materials. Of practical importance is thus the estimation of the number of channel intersections depending on the membrane structure parameters. This paper describes a simple approach for determining the mean numbers of channel intersections in track-etched membranes produced using ion beams from accelerators. The conditions for the formation of a percolation network are discussed.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18227,"journal":{"name":"Materials Chemistry and Physics","volume":"339 ","pages":"Article 130681"},"PeriodicalIF":4.3,"publicationDate":"2025-03-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143628507","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-03-07DOI: 10.1016/j.matchemphys.2025.130682
Yanbo Ma , Bing Guo , Kun Cao , Huina Jia , Wenlong Feng , Tianjin Li , Juntao Du , Kedong Song
Mesophase pitch is a key precursor for synthesizing high-performance pitch-based carbon fibers. Regulating its microcrystalline structure is crucial for improving the mechanical properties of the carbon fibers obtained through spinning. Here, the large-area thin-layer evaporation (TLE) process was employed to modify the mesophase pitch by adjusting the mass transfer area, thereby improving its spinnability and the mechanical attributes of the subsequently carbonized fibers. Experimental findings reveal that, within a certain range, augmenting the mass transfer area during the TLE process is beneficial for promoting the volatilization of lighter components, enhancing the orderliness of the pitch's microstructure and the degree of molecular stacking, and thus enhancing the mechanical properties of the carbonized fibers. Specifically, the ID/IG value and the number of stacking layers of the mesophase pitch molecules shifted from 0.858 to ∼9 layers without TLE treatment to 0.531 and ∼13 layers after undergoing large-area TLE treatment. The mechanical performance tests further demonstrated that the tensile strength and tensile modulus of the carbonized fibers increased from 1363 MPa to 142.1 GPa (untreated with TLE), to 2044 MPa and 189.8 GPa (treated with large-area TLE), respectively. This research introduces a novel approach for regulating the microstructure of mesophase pitch to elevate the mechanical properties of carbonized fibers.
{"title":"Effects of mass-transfer area on molecular stacking in mesophase pitch during thin-layer evaporation","authors":"Yanbo Ma , Bing Guo , Kun Cao , Huina Jia , Wenlong Feng , Tianjin Li , Juntao Du , Kedong Song","doi":"10.1016/j.matchemphys.2025.130682","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.matchemphys.2025.130682","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Mesophase pitch is a key precursor for synthesizing high-performance pitch-based carbon fibers. Regulating its microcrystalline structure is crucial for improving the mechanical properties of the carbon fibers obtained through spinning. Here, the large-area thin-layer evaporation (TLE) process was employed to modify the mesophase pitch by adjusting the mass transfer area, thereby improving its spinnability and the mechanical attributes of the subsequently carbonized fibers. Experimental findings reveal that, within a certain range, augmenting the mass transfer area during the TLE process is beneficial for promoting the volatilization of lighter components, enhancing the orderliness of the pitch's microstructure and the degree of molecular stacking, and thus enhancing the mechanical properties of the carbonized fibers. Specifically, the ID/IG value and the number of stacking layers of the mesophase pitch molecules shifted from 0.858 to ∼9 layers without TLE treatment to 0.531 and ∼13 layers after undergoing large-area TLE treatment. The mechanical performance tests further demonstrated that the tensile strength and tensile modulus of the carbonized fibers increased from 1363 MPa to 142.1 GPa (untreated with TLE), to 2044 MPa and 189.8 GPa (treated with large-area TLE), respectively. This research introduces a novel approach for regulating the microstructure of mesophase pitch to elevate the mechanical properties of carbonized fibers.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18227,"journal":{"name":"Materials Chemistry and Physics","volume":"338 ","pages":"Article 130682"},"PeriodicalIF":4.3,"publicationDate":"2025-03-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143577734","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-03-06DOI: 10.1016/j.matchemphys.2025.130650
Tolbert Osire , Yueqi Wang , Liubov Popova , Guojing Lu , Licheng Zhang , Olga Burtseva , Anastasia Arkhipova , Evgeniia Yu Parshina , Olga S. Sokolova
Bacterial infections brought on by biofilms are the most common health concern in injuries, food industries among others, therefore, composite scaffolds that possess antibacterial characteristics are desirable. Herein, we developed a phage functionalized silk fibroin-based scaffold through surface charge modification of the composite scaffold with polyethyleimine (PEI). This was aimed at assessing the antibacterial efficiency of the composite scaffold against the host strain Bacillus subtilis, which would ultimately serve as a model approach for the design of diverse antibacterial biomaterials. The SF scaffold was initially formed through the direct freeze-thaw method, prior to polymerization with PEI and AR9 phage functionalization of the PEI polymerized Scaffolds by incubating with phage lysate. PEI exhibits antibacterial properties against both Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis) and Gram-negative (Escherichia coli) bacteria, although it is significantly cytotoxic. To develop a biocompatible AR9 phage delivery scaffold with effective antibacterial properties against Bacillus subtilis, we modified the surface of a silk fibroin scaffold with PEI, resulting in a highly charged silk fibroin scaffold via use of low molecular weight PEI and concentration-based optimization of scaffold polymerization with PEI. The morphological and physiochemical properties of formed scaffold were assessed through Raman and Fourier infrared spectroscopy, while the antibacterial assays were done through growth inhibition zones/cell viability assays. The polymerized phage scaffold SF20_PEI.AR9 possessed the highest antimicrobial effect with clear inhibition zones of about 7.8 mm compared to about1.8 mm for the PEI polymerized scaffold (SF20_PEI) due to the lytic effect of surface attached phages on the bacterial cells thus underscoring significant effect of PEI polymerization in stabilizing AR9 phage attachment on the scaffolds. This direct polymerization approach achieved significant stabilization of the phages in the biomaterial mainly due to minimal alteration of the PEI architecture and thus could serve as a model for future development of phage functionalized scaffolds.
{"title":"Silk fibroin-based scaffolds functionalized with bacteriophages exhibit substantial antimicrobial potential","authors":"Tolbert Osire , Yueqi Wang , Liubov Popova , Guojing Lu , Licheng Zhang , Olga Burtseva , Anastasia Arkhipova , Evgeniia Yu Parshina , Olga S. Sokolova","doi":"10.1016/j.matchemphys.2025.130650","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.matchemphys.2025.130650","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Bacterial infections brought on by biofilms are the most common health concern in injuries, food industries among others, therefore, composite scaffolds that possess antibacterial characteristics are desirable. Herein, we developed a phage functionalized silk fibroin-based scaffold through surface charge modification of the composite scaffold with polyethyleimine (PEI). This was aimed at assessing the antibacterial efficiency of the composite scaffold against the host strain <em>Bacillus subtilis</em>, which would ultimately serve as a model approach for the design of diverse antibacterial biomaterials. The SF scaffold was initially formed through the direct freeze-thaw method, prior to polymerization with PEI and AR9 phage functionalization of the PEI polymerized Scaffolds by incubating with phage lysate. PEI exhibits antibacterial properties against both Gram-positive (<em>Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis</em>) and Gram-negative (<em>Escherichia coli</em>) bacteria, although it is significantly cytotoxic. To develop a biocompatible AR9 phage delivery scaffold with effective antibacterial properties against <em>Bacillus subtilis</em>, we modified the surface of a silk fibroin scaffold with PEI, resulting in a highly charged silk fibroin scaffold via use of low molecular weight PEI and concentration-based optimization of scaffold polymerization with PEI. The morphological and physiochemical properties of formed scaffold were assessed through Raman and Fourier infrared spectroscopy, while the antibacterial assays were done through growth inhibition zones/cell viability assays. The polymerized phage scaffold SF20_PEI.AR9 possessed the highest antimicrobial effect with clear inhibition zones of about 7.8 mm compared to about1.8 mm for the PEI polymerized scaffold (SF20_PEI) due to the lytic effect of surface attached phages on the bacterial cells thus underscoring significant effect of PEI polymerization in stabilizing AR9 phage attachment on the scaffolds. This direct polymerization approach achieved significant stabilization of the phages in the biomaterial mainly due to minimal alteration of the PEI architecture and thus could serve as a model for future development of phage functionalized scaffolds.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18227,"journal":{"name":"Materials Chemistry and Physics","volume":"339 ","pages":"Article 130650"},"PeriodicalIF":4.3,"publicationDate":"2025-03-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143619885","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-03-06DOI: 10.1016/j.matchemphys.2025.130661
Xiangru Qi , Zaixin Wei , Yingjie Wang , Mingxiang Liu , Mengli Tian , Yao Liu
With the development of electronic power equipment towards lightweight and miniaturization, higher requirements are placed on the performance of soft magnetic composites (SMCs), such as high saturation magnetization and extremely low losses. In this study, amino trimethylene phosphonic acid (ATMP), ZnCl2, and Na2MoO4 were utilized to co-treat the reduced iron powder. Zinc chloride and sodium molybdate significantly improved the film-forming ability of ATMP., resulting in the formation of a coating on the reduced iron powder surface. The treated powder, compared to untreated iron powder, exhibited significantly increased resistivity and effectively reduced losses. The results suggested that the magnetic molybdate inside the coating inhibited the reduction of saturation magnetization. In addition, the impact of treatment duration on the microstructure and electromagnetic properties of the SMCs was also investigated. The results demonstrated that the iron powder treated for 60 min formed the most uniform and dense coating, resulting in an optimal loss reduction of 262.5 mW/g (50 mT, 100 kHz), which is a 75.9 % decrease compared to the untreated sample, with a saturation magnetization of 210.23 emu/g. This study offers a feasible green and economical approach for the industrial production of SMCs.
{"title":"Surface treatment of reduced iron powder with amino trimethylene phosphonic acid and inorganic synergists for high saturation magnetization and low-loss soft magnetic composites","authors":"Xiangru Qi , Zaixin Wei , Yingjie Wang , Mingxiang Liu , Mengli Tian , Yao Liu","doi":"10.1016/j.matchemphys.2025.130661","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.matchemphys.2025.130661","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>With the development of electronic power equipment towards lightweight and miniaturization, higher requirements are placed on the performance of soft magnetic composites (SMCs), such as high saturation magnetization and extremely low losses. In this study, amino trimethylene phosphonic acid (ATMP), ZnCl<sub>2</sub>, and Na<sub>2</sub>MoO<sub>4</sub> were utilized to co-treat the reduced iron powder. Zinc chloride and sodium molybdate significantly improved the film-forming ability of ATMP., resulting in the formation of a coating on the reduced iron powder surface. The treated powder, compared to untreated iron powder, exhibited significantly increased resistivity and effectively reduced losses. The results suggested that the magnetic molybdate inside the coating inhibited the reduction of saturation magnetization. In addition, the impact of treatment duration on the microstructure and electromagnetic properties of the SMCs was also investigated. The results demonstrated that the iron powder treated for 60 min formed the most uniform and dense coating, resulting in an optimal loss reduction of 262.5 mW/g (50 mT, 100 kHz), which is a 75.9 % decrease compared to the untreated sample, with a saturation magnetization of 210.23 emu/g. This study offers a feasible green and economical approach for the industrial production of SMCs.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18227,"journal":{"name":"Materials Chemistry and Physics","volume":"338 ","pages":"Article 130661"},"PeriodicalIF":4.3,"publicationDate":"2025-03-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143611607","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
This work introduces strategies for obtaining a convenient candidate for tritium breeder materials. Li4+xSi1-xCrxO4 (x = 0 and 0.1) has been successfully prepared using the sol-gel method. X-Ray diffraction, SEM, TEM, X-Ray Photoelectron Spectra (XPS), Raman spectra, Electronic Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR) and Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) were undertaken. X-Ray diffraction revealed that this compound crystallizes in the monoclinic structure with P 1 21/m 1 space group. A secondary phase Li2CO3 was detected by means of the High score software. The difference of XRD intensity demonstrated that the chromium substitution on silicon position into lithium orthosilicate is possible. The porosity values of compound demonstrate that it is sufficient for the generation a tritium breeder. Using TEM, the particle size increases from 20.04 nm to 31.67 nm for x = 0 and 0.1 respectively. This increase has been accounted for in terms of the fact that the Cr3+ ions influence the morphology. XPS and Raman spectra indicated the presence of valence state of Cr2O3. The resonance g = 1.97 of Li4.1Cr0.1Si0.9O4 is assigned to the exchange coupled Cr3+-Cr3+ pairs. At room-temperature, Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) was conducted in order to control the lithium diffusion coefficient (DLi) as well as the Warburg coefficient (W). The increase of W from 86.761 Ω0.5–87.328 Ω0.5 and the growth of the lithium diffusion coefficient DLi from 2.4710−8 cm2s−1 to 8.4810−8 cm2s−1 for x = 0 and 0.1, respectively, have been assigned to chromium (Cr) which can enhance the ionic conductivity. The latter is ascribed to the rise of porosity which in turn triggers the enhancement of the electrochemical kinetics.
{"title":"Phase composition control of biphasic tritium breeding ceramics","authors":"Chadha Henchiri , Shu-Rui Shang , Shou-xi Gu , Fatma Argoubi , Qiang Qi , Hai-shan Zhou","doi":"10.1016/j.matchemphys.2025.130665","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.matchemphys.2025.130665","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This work introduces strategies for obtaining a convenient candidate for tritium breeder materials. Li<sub>4+x</sub>Si<sub>1-x</sub>Cr<sub>x</sub>O<sub>4</sub> (x = 0 and 0.1) has been successfully prepared using the sol-gel method. X-Ray diffraction, SEM, TEM, X-Ray Photoelectron Spectra (XPS), Raman spectra, Electronic Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR) and Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) were undertaken. X-Ray diffraction revealed that this compound crystallizes in the monoclinic structure with <strong>P 1 21/m 1</strong> space group. A secondary phase Li<sub>2</sub>CO<sub>3</sub> was detected by means of the High score software. The difference of XRD intensity demonstrated that the chromium substitution on silicon position into lithium orthosilicate is possible. The porosity values of compound demonstrate that it is sufficient for the generation a tritium breeder. Using TEM, the particle size increases from 20.04 nm to 31.67 nm for x = 0 and 0.1 respectively. This increase has been accounted for in terms of the fact that the Cr<sup>3+</sup> ions influence the morphology. XPS and Raman spectra indicated the presence of valence state of Cr<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>. The resonance g = 1.97 of Li<sub>4.1</sub>Cr<sub>0.1</sub>Si<sub>0.9</sub>O<sub>4</sub> is assigned to the exchange coupled Cr<sup>3+</sup>-Cr<sup>3+</sup> pairs. At room-temperature, Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) was conducted in order to control the lithium diffusion coefficient (D<sub>Li</sub>) as well as the Warburg coefficient (W). The increase of W from 86.761 Ω<sup>0.5</sup>–87.328 Ω<sup>0.5</sup> and the growth of the lithium diffusion coefficient D<sub>Li</sub> from 2.4710<sup>−8</sup> cm<sup>2</sup>s<sup>−1</sup> to 8.4810<sup>−8</sup> cm<sup>2</sup>s<sup>−1</sup> for x = 0 and 0.1, respectively, have been assigned to chromium (Cr) which can enhance the ionic conductivity. The latter is ascribed to the rise of porosity which in turn triggers the enhancement of the electrochemical kinetics.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18227,"journal":{"name":"Materials Chemistry and Physics","volume":"339 ","pages":"Article 130665"},"PeriodicalIF":4.3,"publicationDate":"2025-03-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143629502","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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