Advanced Composites and Hybrid Materials最新文献

The performance of polycrystalline diamond (PCD) tools largely depends on the adhesion and catalyzing effect of the binder phase. In this study, AlCoCrFeNi_2.1 eutectic high-entropy alloy (HEA) was used as a new binder material to synthesize the PCD samples. First-principles calculations showed that the interface strength between HEA and diamond is better than that between cobalt and diamond, suggesting that the HEA/PCD combination has the potential to exhibit better properties than the conventional cobalt/PCD tools. PCD samples with HEA as the binder phase were successfully synthesized using high-pressure and high-temperature conditions of 8.0 GPa and 1500–1700℃. Several key performance indicators, including thermal expansion coefficient, Vickers hardness, transverse rupture strength, compressive strength, and wear resistance were measured to comprehensively evaluate the overall performance of the well-sintered HEA/PCD. The results showed that, compared with conventional cobalt/PCD, the HEA/PCD exhibited a lower thermal expansion coefficient and reduced graphitization of diamond at high temperatures above 920 K. HEA/PCD also demonstrated better mechanical properties than Co/PCD, including higher hardness, and greater transverse rupture strength and compressive strength. Moreover, over the same cutting distance against the granite block, HEA/PCD tools exhibited significantly lower wear loss than Co/PCD, indicating superior wear resistance. This study provides new insights and strategies for the design and optimization of PCD binders and PCD tools.

Gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) are commonly used as anti-haemorrhagic and antiseptic agents. Thus, their cytotoxicity should be studied before application. In this study, the Au NPs were synthesized using biological and chemical routes, and the samples were named as AU-BT and AU-C, respectively. The AU-BT were synthesized using three different extracts, i.e., turmeric, aloe-vera, and a mixture of turmeric aloe-vera. The cytotoxicity was studied using scratch assay on HEK-293 cell lines. The number of scratch assays was increased to validate the experimental wound healing results. Finally, a neural networking modeling was performed to predict the results of provided data in terms of the sample toxicity by healing the wound. The experimental results and the neural networking confirmed that the turmeric-derived Au NPs were the best among all the synthesized samples. Moreover, integrating metal NPs in wound healing studies introduces exciting possibilities for enhanced imaging and therapeutic interventions. The combination of advanced image analysis through models like AlexNet and the novel use of nanoparticles opens doors to improved wound care and a deeper understanding of the healing process.

Graphical Abstract

Boron nitride nanotubes (BNNTs) have great potential as reinforcing agents in polymer composites due to their robust mechanical and thermal properties. BNNT-Polyacrylonitrile (PAN) electrospun composite nanofibers were fabricated with BNNT loadings ranging from 5 to 20 weight percent (wt%) using a high-shearing mixing process. The resulting fibers were then converted to hybrid BN carbon fiber via a stabilization and carbonization process without the addition of strain. The converted fibers exhibited interfacial bonding between the converted carbon matrix and BNNTs, without the need for surface activation or functionalization. At 20 wt% BNNT loading, the hybrid BNNT carbon fiber demonstrated a cohesive network of BNNTs throughout the fiber core, providing a high level of interconnectivity and an additional load-bearing structure. This was evident by the increase in tensile strength and storage modulus for the 20 wt% hybrid BNNT carbon fiber compared to the carbon fiber without BNNTs. Furthermore, we infused the electrospun carbon fiber with a cyanate ester resin to investigate the interface between the enhanced BNNT-seeded carbon fiber and the carbon fiber without BNNTs. Results show that incorporation of the cyanate resin improved the ductility of the brittle carbon electrospun fibers, reducing their tendency to fracture. The composites exhibited similar trends in mechanical strength to the fibers without the matrix, confirming a good interface between the fibers and the matrix. These findings demonstrate the potential of BNNTs as a high-performance reinforcing agent in polymer composites and provide insights into the design and fabrication of a hybrid BN carbon fiber.

Graphical Abstract

Surface Mechanical Attrition Treatment (SMAT) is an efficient surface nano-crystallization technique that significantly enhances the corrosion resistance of various metallic materials by refining grain structure and introducing residual compressive stress. This paper provides a comprehensive review of the application of SMAT on metals, including stainless steel, magnesium alloys, and titanium alloys, focusing on its mechanisms in mitigating pitting corrosion, stress corrosion cracking, and general corrosion. The review begins by examining the effects of SMAT on residual stress, grain refinement, and surface condition modifications, followed by proposing optimization strategies for the treatment process. Through a combination of electrochemical testing, microstructural characterization, and numerical simulations, the paper highlights the pivotal role of residual compressive stress and the nanocrystalline layer in the formation of passive films and the evolution of surface oxide layers, particularly under various corrosive environments. Additionally, the paper presents a comparative analysis of corrosion mechanisms in different metals post-SMAT treatment. The treatment can also induce phase transformations, such as martensitic transformation and the formation of metastable phases, which have significant implications for corrosion behavior. Finally, the synergistic effects of SMAT when combined with other surface treatment techniques, such as micro-arc oxidation and ion implantation, are discussed, along with an evaluation of its feasibility and limitations for industrial applications. By comparing the performance and cost-effectiveness of SMAT with other techniques, this paper provides valuable insights and a solid technical foundation for the optimization of metallic materials in highly corrosive environments, such as aerospace and marine engineering.

Severely polluting wastewater containing heavy metal ions has become a pressing issue. To address the current shortcomings of natural bentonite (Bent) and carboxymethyl cellulose sodium (CMC) for Cd(II) adsorption, this study developed a cellulose/bentonite composite adsorbent (CMC_MW-Bent) via microwave-assisted synthesis using acrylic acid (AA)-modified CMC and pretreated bentonite (Bent), and the adsorbent was used to remove Cd(II) from wastewater. The results show that the strong interaction between AA and CMC, which successfully entered the bentonite layer, and the bentonite provided excellent structural stability and abundant adsorption sites for the adsorption process. Meanwhile, microwave-assisted heating enhanced this unique structure compared to traditional heating with the aqueous solution. The best adsorption effect occurred at pH = 6–7, with a maximum adsorption capacity of 44.76 mg/g for Cd(II). The isothermal adsorption and kinetic models demonstrate that the adsorption process followed the Langmuir adsorption fitting and pseudo-second-order kinetic equations. The thermodynamic study confirms that the adsorption process was a spontaneous endothermic process and a chemical adsorption process. This study provides a new approach for obtaining efficient adsorbents.

With the advent of the information age, wearable thermoelectric fabric devices have garnered significant attention for their ability to harness environmental waste heat and body heat to supply convenient, reliable, and environmentally friendly electricity for next-generation wearable electronics. However, the complex production process and unstable power supply restrict their development. Here, we report a high-performance flexible, dependable, and wearable p-type thermoelectric device consisting of silk threads/polyaniline/amino multiwalled carbon nanotubes through dyeing process. By optimizing the weaving structure and simple assembly, this p-type fabric device generates a voltage of 0.749 ± 0.003 mV, a maximum power of 0.326 ± 0.007 nW, and a power density of 1087.532 ± 22.985 nW·m⁻² at a temperature difference of 90 ℃. Besides, this device also possesses an excellent photo-thermoelectric conversion capability and the assembled fabric bracelet can generate an output voltage of approximately 6.1 mV outdoors when worn on the hand of the experimental personnel. This fabric device also exhibits a superb reliable property even after 5000 times of folding. This strategy makes it easy to manufacture a thermoelectric fabric device on a large scale and provides a promising way for wearable electronics.

Chronic diseases such as cancer and diabetes demand advanced drug delivery methods that can accommodate precise, sustained, and targeted release of active compounds. Existing drug carriers such as conventional capsules are limited by issues like poor bioavailability, mechanical fragility, and unpredictable release patterns. With the global drug delivery market expected to surpass USD 1.8 trillion by 2028, it is crucial to address these challenges. Additionally, there is a growing need to develop biocompatible systems that can mitigate concerns about toxicity, environmental impact, and patient compliance. Here, we review the latest advancements in composite drug capsules, focusing on key aspects such as controlled drug release, mechanical properties, biocompatibility, and antimicrobial potential. Composite materials offer customised release mechanisms by combining synthetic and natural polymers. This has led to improvements in stability, encapsulation efficiency, and bioavailability. Some noteworthy advancements in this field include the development of magnetic-responsive systems for targeted therapies, alginate-based dual-release systems, and solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) for gene delivery. For example, the encapsulation of lycopene in whey protein composites achieved an impressive encapsulation efficiency of 94%, showcasing enhanced delivery performance. Additionally, there have been developments in pH-sensitive capsules designed for cancer treatment, which release drugs selectively in tumour environments. Furthermore, multifunctional magnetic capsules have been created to facilitate MRI imaging and remote-controlled drug release. Moreover, pH-sensitive alginate-based capsules have proven effective in improving the therapeutic outcomes of cancer treatments by ensuring drug release specifically within the acidic tumour microenvironment. Other notable achievements include the integration of antioxidant nanoparticles, such as cerium oxide (CeO₂), into drug delivery systems, showing potential for mitigating oxidative stress and providing neuroprotection in inflammatory and neurodegenerative conditions. Despite these innovations, persistent challenges related to scalability, regulatory clearance, and enduring biocompatibility necessitate further investigation. These combined capsules possess significant potential, presenting more intelligent, adaptable drug delivery systems positioned to transform personalised medicine and future healthcare solutions.

The design of novel composite nanomaterial structures is important for the construction of advanced electrocatalysts. Nevertheless, obtaining novel electrocatalysts with excellent catalytic activity and stability is still challenging. Herein, new catalysts with a unique nanostructure of W-Ni₂P@NiFe LDH/NF composed of W-doped Ni₂P ultrafine nanosheets were successfully grown in situ using NiFe LDH nanostructures as the backbone support. The newly produced catalysts showed distinctive three-dimensional spherical nanostructure, beneficial to enhancing electron transport, providing abundant active sites, and promoting gas release. To increase the catalytic effectiveness, a synergy interaction was produced among W-Ni₂P with NiFe LDH to yield significantly improved stability and reactivity electrocatalysts. Compared to NiFe LDH/NF and W-Ni₂P/NF, the as-obtained spherically-structured W-Ni₂P@NiFe LDH/NF catalysts demonstrated high catalytic efficiencies toward OER (222 mV @ 40 mA⋅cm⁻²), HER (195 mV @ 10 mA⋅cm⁻²), and total electrolysis (1.7 V @ 10 mA⋅cm⁻²). Besides, the catalytic activities of W-Ni₂P@NiFe LDH/NF electrocatalysts compared well to most published non-precious metal catalysts and even valuable precious metal catalysts. In sum, the proposed approach to construct inexpensive, high-activity, and stable bifunctional electrocatalysts looks promising for advanced future hydrogen energy conversion applications.

The escalating environmental crisis and the heightened demand for sustainable energy solutions emphasise the necessity of renewable materials that minimise the ecological impact of industrial processes. Concurrently, the healthcare sector encounters challenges in guaranteeing the safety and biocompatibility of materials utilised in drug delivery and environmental remediation. These societal imperatives propel the scientific community to pioneer the development of environmentally friendly yet versatile materials. Here, we review the synthesis, structural characteristics, and potential applications of lignin-based metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) and covalent organic frameworks (COFs), specifically focusing on their roles in biomedicine, environmental remediation, and energy storage. The incorporation of lignin as a renewable ligand enhances the biocompatibility and functionality of MOFs, making them suitable for applications in drug delivery systems and pollutant adsorption. Notably, lignin-based MOFs have demonstrated impressive adsorption capacities, such as 1120.7 mg/g for methyl blue and 961.54 mg/g for methyl orange in wastewater treatment. Furthermore, Zn-MOF-FA has exhibited stable drug adsorption, facilitating the controlled release of 5-fluorouracil and minimising side effects in anticancer therapies. In the energy field, lignin-based MOFs have showcased hydrogen storage capacities comparable to MIL-100 (Cr), positioning them as promising candidates for sustainable energy storage solutions. The utilisation of ligands such as ferulic acid and vanillin has also led to frameworks with enhanced antioxidant and antimicrobial properties, laying the groundwork for versatile applications in both biomedical and environmental domains. It is anticipated that technological advancements and interdisciplinary collaborations will further drive the commercialisation of lignin-based MOFs and COFs, expanding their array of applications.

Prosthetic joint infection (PJI) presents a significant medical challenge, with current surgical and antibiotic strategies often limited by high recurrence rates, the need for multiple interventions, and rising antibiotic resistance. This study introduces vancomycin-loaded magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs) incorporated into ZIF-8-based nanocomposites, termed Van-IONPs@ZIF-8, designed to deliver antibiotics directly to the PJI infection site under an external magnetic field (MF) for targeted antibacterial therapy. The Van-IONPs@ZIF-8 demonstrated excellent pH sensitivity, in vitro biocompatibility, and marked antibacterial efficacy against Staphylococcus aureus. When subjected to an external MF, these magnetic nanocomposites effectively localized at infection sites. In vivo results indicated that the Van-IONPs@ZIF-8 + MF treatment significantly reduced bacterial loads on implants, decreased blood leukocyte counts, and mitigated inflammatory cell infiltration in surrounding tissues compared to controls. Concurrently, a marked reduction in both the number of pro-inflammatory cells and the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines was observed, alongside a corresponding increase in inflammatory repair cells and reparative cytokines within the local tissues surrounding the infected implants. Thus, Van-IONPs@ZIF-8, in conjunction with an external MF, facilitates precise targeting of local infection sites and promotes rapid vancomycin release, representing a promising strategy for the safe and effective treatment of PJI.