ACS Applied Engineering Materials最新文献

In this study, the complex K₄[Mo(CN)₈]·2H₂O was successfully synthesized and subsequently exposed to photoirradiation, resulting in the formation of Mo(OH)₃CN(Phen). To enhance the photocatalytic activity of both compounds, reduced graphene oxide (rGO) was incorporated into the system. The successful synthesis of these photocatalysts was confirmed by thorough, comprehensive characterization using established techniques. The materials Mo-CN@rGO and Mo-Phen@rGO were evaluated for their effectiveness in degrading Methylene Blue (MB) and Rhodamine B (Rh-B) under visible light. Mo-CN@rGO exhibited remarkable adsorption capabilities, completely removing MB in 30 min without light exposure and degrading Rh-B by 86% in 80 min. Meanwhile, Mo-Phen@rGO demonstrated superior photocatalytic performance, degrading 88% of MB in 80 min and 86% of Rh-B in 70 min. The enhanced efficiency of these composites is attributed to the synergistic interaction between rGO and the molybdenum-based complexes, facilitating charge separation and increasing surface-active availability. This study highlights the potential of modified molybdenum cyanide-based materials, demonstrating their effectiveness in dye removal through both adsorption and photocatalysis. In addition, the GC-MS analysis confirms the complete absence of cyanide byproducts, thereby affirming the operational stability of the catalyst and mitigating the risk of cyanide contamination in aqueous environments. These findings offer valuable insights into the design of advanced functional materials for efficient wastewater treatment by strategically selecting ligands around a transition metal.

Development of polysaccharide biomass for efficient electrocatalytic sensing applications is important for its natural resource utilization and detection application. Elaeagnus angustifolia L. gum is chosen as an electron-rich macromolecule of polysaccharide as the encapsulating agent to surround etched parted ZIF-67(Co) particles. The three electron-rich molecules trithiocyanuric acid, urea, and sodium hypophosphite are selected as the weak acid etching agents, which could etch ZIF-67(Co) microcubes. This fragmentation of ZIF-67(Co) is attributed to the electron-rich molecules disrupting the internal coordination bonds of ZIF-67(Co), thus producing fragmented particles with increased exposed active electrocatalytic spots. Further carbonization of the mixture is processed to obtain the electrocatalyst ZIF-67(Co)-NPS-doped biomass carbon (ZNBC). The ZNBC/GCE sensor shows a significant improvement in electrochemical performance with a linear range of 0.5 to 100 μM, a sensitivity of 10.04 μA μM^–1 cm^–2, a limit of detection of 0.052 μM, and good selectivity. The ZNBC/GCE sensor was also used in rapid and accurate electrochemical sensing of APAP in urine, lake water, and pharmaceutical capsule preparation samples with good recoveries. This electron-rich macromolecule/molecule as an encapsulating/etching combo strategy provides insight into the usage of Elaeagnus angustifolia L. gum and top-down design of metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) for potential applications in electrocatalyst design.

While strong polymeric adhesives are widely valued, their removal can present a significant challenge where substrate recycling is concerned. Recent advancements in “debond-on-demand” adhesives have shown promising enhancements in adhesive strength and debondability. However, they often face a choice between increased adhesive strength or the rate and degree of debonding. Here we report using a rapidly base degradable chain-extender within a series of polyurethanes which possess tailorable adhesive characteristics. These chain-extended polyurethanes (CEPUs) possess high shear strength (8.20 MPa) which upon exposure to base solutions depolymerise (up to 88% loss in M_n) facilitating up to 92% loss in shear strength after only 30 min. Formulation of the CEPUs into inks suitable for continuous inkjet (CIJ) printing produced defined images which upon treatment with base solutions could be removed from the substrate. Having been engineered for circularity, the parent CEPUs can be recycled postdegradation into daughter CEPUs, maintaining their depolymerizable and “debond-on-demand” properties. This work highlights how commercially available starting materials can be utilized to generate highly tailorable polymeric adhesives and inkjet binders capable of rapid depolymerization, ultimately providing an industrially attractive system to increase the recyclability and sustainability of waste materials.

Electroless deposition is a widely employed technique for coating substrates with metal due to its versatility and cost-effectiveness. In this study, we developed a nonaqueous electroless nickel deposition method using ethanol as the exclusive solvent to coat polyamide 6.6 yarns (PA 6.6). PA 6.6 yarns underwent dual-step surface modification using polydopamine and tannic acid, followed by palladium catalyst immobilization to promote nickel nucleation. Nickel deposition was systematically performed at temperatures ranging from ambient to 70 °C to optimize coating performance. Structural and morphological characterization via SEM, TEM, and XRD revealed an amorphous-nanocrystalline nickel coating and crystallite sizes of approximately 3–5 nm. Thermal stability, mechanical properties, and corrosion resistance were evaluated using TGA and DSC, tensile and creep tests, and electrochemical assessments, respectively. Compared to aqueous electroless deposition, ethanol-based electroless deposited coatings exhibited significantly improved thermal stability (decomposition temperatures exceeding 425 °C) and enhanced mechanical resilience. Optimal results were achieved at 60 °C, providing a balance of flexibility, durability, and corrosion resistance suitable for applications in flexible electronics, wearable sensors, and advanced functional textiles. This work demonstrates that ethanol-based electroless nickel deposition offers a viable, high-performance alternative to aqueous methods.

A coaxial wire crossbar array photodetector using the microdispensing technique is demonstrated in the present work. Graphite/PVDF-ZnO/PVDF (core–shell) coaxial photodetectors are fabricated using a custom-designed DLP 3D-printed coaxial spinneret. The rheological study of the composites showed that ZnO/PVDF with 80/20 wt % (C2) and graphite/PVDF with 90/10 wt % (E1) exhibit optimal viscosities of 50E6 and 70E7 cP, respectively. C2 composite shows both storage and loss moduli of ∼500 Pa. Similarly, the E1 composite shows both storage and loss moduli of ∼1400 Pa. Also, C2 and E1 show quick retention of shape during microdispensing, with estimated relaxation times of 47.1 and 78.5 ms for C2 and E1, respectively. Raman spectroscopy displays signature peaks of ZnO, graphite, and PVDF. The UV–vis absorbance data show absorbance at 370 nm UV and a band gap of ∼3.2 eV for the ZnO/PVDF composite. Coaxial wires with different diameters are dispensed by varying the extrusion pressure from 50 to 160 kPa for the core while maintaining a constant extrusion pressure of ∼50 kPa for the shell, and the corresponding photodetectors exhibit a direct correlation between photoconductivity and shell thickness. Of all the photodetectors, DL shows better enhancement of ∼1.2 μA, high responsivity of ∼1.7 × 10^–4 A/mW, and on/off ratio of ∼120, with a fast response time of 27/18 ms for both rise and decay. All of the devices show long-term stability of the photocurrent. The intensity-dependent photocurrent of all the devices is studied by power law fitting, and the nonlinear constant (θ) is estimated to be θ ≈ 0.90 for device DL, whereas DM and DS show θ ≈ 0.76 and 0.66, respectively. Also, the feasibility of fabricating a crossbar array photodetector is demonstrated, and the effect of the ITO electrode width on the enhancement and responsivity is studied.

The clinical application of physical-plasma-treated solutions (PTS) within the human body has become increasingly encouraging for many intracorporal disorders where the expected effectiveness of direct plasma application is opposed by limited accessibility. In order to increase the likelihood of intracorporal application of PTS, the interaction of more sophisticated technologies and materials is urgently required to optimize the scalable, sterile, and continuous transfer of biologically reactive species (reactive oxygen and nitrogen species, RONS) into liquids. In this study, we present an innovative fluidic system characterized by the separation of plasma discharge and liquid by a semipermeable membrane to achieve these goals. In addition to the in-depth characterization of membrane–plasma interactions and RONS transfer to different solutions, the biomedical efficacy of the generated PTS was investigated in vitro. Our findings demonstrate the functionality of a transmembraneous RONS transport using a semipermeable membrane and the potential of the system to treat tumors within the human body.

Natural graphite (NG) is the ideal anode material for Li-ion batteries due to its high cost performance. The main issue hindering the wide application lies in the unstable solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) that leads to unsatisfactory cyclability and rate performance. In this work, a multifunctional coating layer was constructed on the NG surface through hydrothermal treatment with aluminum lactate (AL) and subsequently sintered at 500 °C. The strong coordination of Al³⁺ allows some residual carboxylates to remain in the coating, thus achieving the composite coating comprised of carbon, amorphous Al₂O₃, and carboxylates after the sintering, conducive to reducing charge-transfer resistance, improving Li⁺ diffusion, and boosting the interaction between the NG particles and binder. Therefore, the AL-modified NG demonstrates outstanding rate performance (attaining average specific delithiation/lithiation capacities of 333.0/334.6 mAh g^–1 at 0.5 C) and cyclability. The simple energy-efficient modification strategy with the inexpensive precursor of AL could be practically used to produce the NG anode material with outstanding performance.

The demand for advanced thermoplastics in three-dimensional (3D) printing is growing, particularly in fields that require materials with exceptional mechanical strength and dimensional stability. However, many commercially available filaments for 3D printing fail to meet these stringent requirements. This study aims to develop polymer blends of polyphenylene sulfide and polycarbonate that can be optimized for extrusion-based 3D printing to overcome these limitations. The research utilizes a compatibilizer to enhance phase dispersion and interfacial adhesion, thereby improving printability and end-use performance. The blends (filament form) were processed via twin extrusion for fused filament fabrication. Thermal analyses (differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetric analysis) revealed enhanced phase compatibility and thermal stability in the compatibilized blends. Rheological measurements indicated reduced melt viscosity and improved shear-thinning behavior, while mechanical tests demonstrated increased tensile strength and elongation at break. Microscopy and spectroscopy confirmed reduced phase separation and chemical interactions at the interface. These results suggest that compatibilized polyphenylene sulfide–polycarbonate blends as promising candidates for high-performance applications in aerospace, automotive, and biomedical sectors.

The pursuit of sustainable energy sources has driven extensive research into thermoelectric devices that can efficiently convert waste heat into electricity. Among these materials, metal oxide nanomaterials are promising candidates due to their properties and tunability. This review examines the latest advancements in utilizing metal oxide nanomaterials for thermoelectric applications, including their various classes and the performance of these materials in thermoelectricity. The Review begins with an introduction to the fundamentals of thermoelectricity and its significance in addressing energy conversion challenges. It then delves into the synthesis as well as characterization methods employed to fabricate metal oxide nanomaterials with tailored properties. Subsequently, a critical examination of strategies to enhance thermoelectric performance through the incorporation of metal oxide nanocomposites is presented. Recent developments in metal oxide nanomaterials for high-temperature thermoelectric applications are discussed, highlighting their potential in demanding environments. The review also addresses the opportunities associated with integrating these nanomaterials into practical thermoelectric devices, shedding light on the scalability and commercialization aspects. The use of metal oxide nanoparticles in thermoelectricity is also examined from an environmental and sustainable perspective, highlighting the significance of careful material selection and production procedures. The conclusion highlights the major findings, including the patent information on metal oxide-based thermoelectric devices and their prospects. It highlights the immense potential of metal oxide nanoparticles in developing thermoelectric energy transfer technologies, leading to a cleaner and greener future.

One of the avenues for the development of functional gradient additive manufacturing is the creation of four-dimensional (4D) printed structures for soft robotic gripping, achieved by combining fused deposition modeling 3D printing with soft hydrogel actuators. This work proposes a conceptual approach to creating an energy-independent soft robotic gripper, consisting of a modified 3D printed holder substrate made from thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) and an actuator based on a gelatin hydrogel, allowing programmed hygroscopic deformation without using complex mechanical constructions. The use of a 20% gelatin-based hydrogel imparts soft robotic biomimetic functionality to the structure and is responsible for the intelligent stimulus-responsive mechanical functionality of the printed object by responding to swelling processes in liquid environments. The targeted surface functionalization of thermoplastic polyurethane in an argon–oxygen environment for 90 s, at a power of 100 W and a pressure of 26.7 Pa, facilitates changes in its microrelief, thus improving the adhesion and stability of the swollen gelatin on its surface. In this work, the morphological (scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy), colloidal, chemical (FTIR), physicochemical (swelling), biological (cell biocompatibility), and performance evaluations of the TPU/gelatin gripper were studied. The realized concept of creating 4D printed biocompatible comb structures for macroscopic underwater soft robotic gripping can provide noninvasive local gripping, transport small objects, and release bioactive substances upon swelling in water. The resulting product can therefore be used as a self-powered biomimetic actuator, an encapsulation system, or soft robotics.