Article
Chemistry, Physical
Derya Mutlu, Idris Karagoz, Harun Sepetcioglu, Urkiye Akar Tarim, Orhan Gurler
Summary: This study examined the properties of epoxy composites with dendritic copper particles and found that the addition of copper particles improved the electrical conductivity and mechanical properties of the composites. The glass transition temperature of the composites could be adjusted by varying the copper particle ratio. The study also evaluated the shielding properties of epoxy-based composites against gamma radiation and found that the addition of copper particles significantly altered the microstructure and mechanical properties of the composites.
RADIATION PHYSICS AND CHEMISTRY
(2024)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Wenchao Wang, Lili Du, Ruiqin Xia, Runhui Liang, Tao Zhou, Hung Kay Lee, Zhiping Yan, Hao Luo, Congxiao Shang, David Lee Phillips, Zhengxiao Guo
Summary: This research demonstrates a synergistic strategy of porosity, vacancy, and shallow-state engineering in graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) photocatalyst to enhance its efficiency. By thermally treating the catalyst and doping it with phosphorus, the photocatalyst shows an 800% increase in hydrogen generation and a 5-fold increase in quantum efficiency. The improved performance is attributed to the long-lived shallow charge trapping, which is a result of proton-feeding to the coordinated phosphorus site during the photocatalytic reaction.
ENERGY & ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Astronomy & Astrophysics
Leif Holmlid, Frans Olofson, Dan Gall
Summary: When water vapor reacts with metals at certain temperatures, hydrogen and metal oxides are formed. Iron oxide, with a small amount of alkali metal, can function as a catalyst for the formation of ultra-dense hydrogen (H(0)) from the released hydrogen. H(0) can easily be formed at low pressure and is the densest material in the Solar System. Nuclear processes in H(0) generate mesons (kaons, pions) in proton annihilation reactions. The differences in temperature between Venus and Earth have led to variations in the iron-water reaction and subsequent formation of H(0) and release of nuclear energy. These processes may affect the potential for life on planets and narrow the habitable zone in a planetary system.
Article
Physics, Applied
Liang Xu, Zhigang Wang, Zhiguo Li, Xuhai Li, Songlin Yao, Jun Li, Xianming Zhou, Yuying Yu, Jianbo Hu, Qiang Wu
Summary: The study found that the liquid-liquid phase transition in molten Ce is strongly rate dependent, with a small volume change and a timescale of around 200ns.
APPLIED PHYSICS LETTERS
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Huawei Huang, Hyeonjung Jung, Shaofeng Li, Seongbeen Kim, Jeong Woo Han, Jinwoo Lee
Summary: Activating inert Cu for enhanced HER performance through trace doping of Ru (0.70 wt%) shows lower energy barriers for the water dissociation process and optimized binding energy with H* . The synthesized Ru doped Cu exhibits excellent electrocatalytic behaviors with only overpotentials of 33 and 34 mV to reach 10 mA cm-2 in alkali and acid, respectively, along with remarkable long-term stability, providing an electronic engineering pathway for modifying metallic copper's electrocatalysis.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Lei Zhang, Xiaorui Gao, Ying Zhu, Acan Liu, Huilong Dong, Dajun Wu, Zhida Han, Wei Wang, Yong Fang, Jie Zhang, Zongkui Kou, Bin Qian, Ting-Ting Wang
Summary: The study demonstrates that copper doping can enhance water adsorption and dissociation of Ni3S2, leading to improved hydrogen evolution reactions in alkaline and neutral solutions. The tailored control of water adsorption/dissociation capability of Ni3S2 opens significant opportunities for the rational design of electrocatalysts.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Taku Kodera, Bun Tsuchiya, Katsumi Takahiro, Akifumi Hosoda
Summary: The ERD technique was used to measure the depth distributions of Li and hydrogen isotopes near the surface of LATP solid electrolytes soaked in water. The results showed H and D absorption on the surface, Li segregation to the top surface, and the formation of black substances and Li dissolution in water. It is suggested that Li migration from the bulk to the surface occurs through reactions with Ge and traps H and D at substitutional sites.
JOURNAL OF ALLOYS AND COMPOUNDS
(2023)
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
A. Malakhov, I. G. Mitrofanov, D. Golovin, M. L. Litvak, A. B. Sanin, M. Djachkova, N. Lukyanov
Summary: This study used neutron spectroscopy technique to investigate water content in the Martian subsurface and created a global map of Water Equivalent Hydrogen (WEH) based on high-resolution measurements from the FREND instrument on ExoMars TGO. The map revealed more local features and structures compared to previous experiments and identified some water-rich regions.
JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH-PLANETS
(2022)
Article
Polymer Science
Yasser S. Soliman, Soad M. Tadros, Wafaa B. Beshir, Gamal R. Saad, Salvatore Gallo, Laila Ali, Magdi M. Naoum
Summary: The dosimetric characteristics of hydrogel dosimeters based on polyacrylamide (PAC) incorporating silver nitrate as a radiation-sensitive material were investigated. PAC hydrogel showed a linearly increasing Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) band upon exposure to gamma-ray, indicating its high radiation sensitivity. The PAC hydrogel dosimeter retained higher radiation sensitivity at doses below 15 Gy. This hydrogel could be considered as a dosimeter material for verifying radiotherapy techniques and dose monitoring during blood irradiation.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Yao Lu, Qi Zhang, Qiang Wu, Zhigang Chen, Xueming Liu, Jingjun Xu
Summary: The field of nonlinear optics has experienced substantial growth in the past few decades, with researchers demonstrating a significant increase in second-order optical nonlinearity in the THz frequency range compared to visible and microwave regimes. The enhancement of THz nonlinearity in ionic crystals through phonon polaritons is described by nonlinear modified Huang equations. These findings expand the potential applications of high nonlinearity in ionic crystals in the field of THz nonlinear technologies.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Yu Chen, Feiyue Hu, Xianghao Cui, Peigen Zhang, Haiqian Zhang, Shuquan Chang, Xiaodan Hu, Xiaohong Zhang
Summary: Nano-sized oxide-intercalated MXene composites were synthesized via ?-radiation, which significantly enhanced their electromagnetic wave absorption performance. The composites showed smaller reflection loss and thinner thickness in the frequency range of 2-18 GHz. This work demonstrates that ?-radiation is a promising method for preparing nano metal oxide-intercalated MXene with enhanced EMA performance.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Imran Majeed, Ayesha Arif, Muhammad Faizan, Mohd Adnan Khan, Muhammad Imran, Hassan Ali, Muhammad Amtiaz Nadeem, Muhammad Arif Nadeem
Summary: A series of composite photocatalysts based on CdS nanorods decorated with Cu/Ni hydroxides were prepared, showing enhanced hydrogen production activity. The Cu/Ni hydroxides transformed into their metallic states during the photoreaction, contributing to the mechanism of hydrogen production from water splitting.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMICAL ENGINEERING
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Yizhen Wang, Yingying Jiao, Junchao Qin, Jianshe Wang
Summary: In this work, a one-step strategy was explored for the preparation of holey carbon nitride nanosheets (HCNS) by using melamine and copper oxide. The thermal polymerization of melamine led to the decomposition of released ammonia by copper oxide, resulting in the preparation of HCNS. The filled copper oxide also effectively decomposed ammonia and improved the photocatalytic activity of carbon nitride.
ACS APPLIED ENERGY MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Gamze Atalmis, Serkan Toros, Bora Timurkutluk, Yuksel Kaplan
Summary: The storage of hydrogen in metal hydride reactors is examined experimentally and numerically, and the thermal properties and temperature distribution in the reactor are improved by coating the storage material with copper. The charging time is also reduced.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF HYDROGEN ENERGY
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Lisa Zuily, Nora Lahrach, Rosi Fassler, Olivier Genest, Peter Faller, Olivier Seneque, Yann Denis, Marie-Pierre Castanie-Cornet, Pierre Genevaux, Ursula Jakob, Dana Reichmann, Marie-Therese Giudici-Orticoni, Marianne Ilbert
Summary: With the increase of antibiotic drug resistance, alternative antibacterial treatment strategies are needed. This study found that copper treatment causes protein aggregation, and bacteria rely on molecular chaperone systems to protect themselves from copper-induced protein aggregation.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Celice Carlsson, Benjamin Fegeant, Emelie Svensson, Love Wiklund, Mats Jonsson
Summary: This study investigates the selectivity and formaldehyde yield of Tris and methanol as probes for surface-bound hydroxyl radicals in homogeneous and heterogeneous systems. The experiments demonstrate that Br2 & BULL;− reduces the formaldehyde yield compared to hydroxyl radicals in the homogeneous methanol system, while Tris increases the yield. Similar trends are observed in the photocatalysis system. The paper discusses the reasons for these changes and the suitability of Tris and methanol as probes.
JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY C
(2022)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
A. Yu. Stroev, O. I. Gorbatov, Yu. N. Gornostyrev, P. A. Korzhavyi
Summary: In this study, the growth of precipitates during solid solution decomposition and the dissolution of small precipitates during the coarsening stage in ternary Al-Sc-Zr alloys were investigated using a statistical alloy theory based on the Master Equation approach with ab initio calculated interatomic interactions. The results showed that Zr alloying promoted the formation of core-shell nanoparticles in Al-Sc alloys, whose structure was highly sensitive to the solute diffusion rates. It was demonstrated that the core-shell structure of precipitates slowed down the dissolution of small particles, thus hindering microstructure coarsening at elevated temperatures.
COMPUTATIONAL MATERIALS SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Marcela E. Trybula, Arkadiusz Zydek, Pavel A. Korzhavyi, Joanna Wojewoda-Budka
Summary: Aluminum oxide coating is resistant to weak acidic and alkaline aqueous solutions and naturally forms a passivation layer against corrosion. Molecular dynamics simulations were used to study the behavior of the Al/oxide surface when exposed to strong corrosive media. The mechanism of film growth on the Al/oxide surface during corrosion differs in alkaline and acidic solutions, leading to differences in structure and topography. The chemical composition of the formed films is pH-independent, and the films have a topologically complex amorphous nature.
JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY C
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Enis Oguzhan Eren, Evgeny Senokos, Zihan Song, Elif Beguem Yilmaz, Irina Shekova, Bolortuya Badamdorj, Iver Lauermann, Nadezda V. Tarakina, Majd Al-Naji, Markus Antonietti, Paolo Giusto
Summary: To enhance the electrochemical performance of sodium-ion batteries, sustainable and high-performance carbonaceous anode materials are needed. By depositing a tunable thickness of nm-sized conformal coating of carbon nitride, we were able to improve the electrochemical performance of anode material derived from sodium lignosulfonate. This resulted in significantly enhanced electrode performance, including first cycle efficiency, rate-capability, and specific capacity. The design of interactive electrochemical interfaces, such as a homogeneous carbon nitride coating, played a crucial role in improving the performance of carbonaceous anodes without adding much weight.
JOURNAL OF MATERIALS CHEMISTRY A
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Inorganic & Nuclear
Junyi Li, Xianjie Liu, Mats Jonsson
Summary: This study experimentally investigated the change in UO2 reactivity after exposure to O2 or gamma-radiation. The results showed that the reactivity of UO2 decreased significantly over time, especially in consecutive exposures. Surface analysis revealed that UO2 surfaces were significantly oxidized under all exposure conditions, with the presence of U(V) and no U(VI) observed.
INORGANIC CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Junfang Zhang, Yuxin Liu, Christian Njel, Sebastian Ronneberger, Nadezda V. V. Tarakina, Felix F. F. Loeffler
Summary: Counterfeiting not only causes trillion-dollar economic losses annually, but also threatens human health, social equity, and national security. Researchers have developed a nanoprinting-assisted flash synthesis approach to create fluorescent nanofilms with physical unclonable function micropatterns in milliseconds. These unclonable patterns can be quickly and independently read out by fluorescence and topography scanning, greatly enhancing their security.
NATURE NANOTECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Jing Hou, Zihan Song, Mateusz Odziomek, Nadezda V. V. Tarakina
Summary: In this study, nitrogen-doped porous hollow carbon spheres were used to analyze the behavior of sodium storage in a commercial liquid electrolyte. It was found that during the sodiation process, a solvated ionic layer forms on the surface of the carbon spheres, followed by irreversible expansion due to solid-electrolyte interphase (SEI) formation. The N-PHCSs layer acts as a protective layer, preventing the growth of dendrites at the anode.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Yi Yang, Pavel A. Korzhavyi, Pavel A. Nikolaychuk, Elena F. Bazarkina, Kristina O. Kvashnina, Sergei M. Butorin, Nadezda V. Tarakina, Inna L. Soroka
Summary: Transition metal-based catalysts have the potential to replace Pt-based materials in energy conversion devices due to their low cost, reasonable activity, stability, and corrosion resistance. This study demonstrates the synthesis of homogeneous alloy nanoparticles with controlled structure and varying Ni-to-Co ratios using a gamma-radiolytic reduction method. The presence of structural defects in the obtained samples influenced the catalysts' activity towards the oxygen evolution reaction but had a less pronounced effect on the oxygen reduction reaction. The activity of Ni-Co catalysts in the hydrogen evolution reaction was found to be affected by the formation of Ni-OH bonds on the surface.
ADVANCED MATERIALS INTERFACES
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Maria Jerigova, Yevheniia Markushyna, Ivo F. Teixeira, Bolortuya Badamdorj, Mark Isaacs, Daniel Cruz, Iver Lauermann, Miguel Angel Munoz-Marquez, Nadezda V. Tarakina, Nieves Lopez-Salas, Oleksandr Savateev, Pablo Jimenez-Calvo
Summary: By pre-organization of precursors and further co-polymerization, tunable semiconductors can be synthesized through anionic doping. These S-doped/C3N4-based materials demonstrate enhanced optical, electronic, structural, textural, and morphological properties, leading to higher performance in organic benzylamine photooxidation, oxygen evolution, and energy storage.
Article
Crystallography
Marcela E. Trybula, Arkadiusz Zydek, Pavel A. Korzhvayi, Joanna Wojewoda-Budka
Summary: Oxidation conditions can be controlled to tailor the properties and structure of oxide films. Molecular dynamics simulations were used to study the thermal oxidation of polycrystalline Al substrates. The results showed that the density of O2 and the temperature had an impact on the formation of oxide films, which exhibited long-range order and a two-phase structure. Additionally, the roughness of the Al surface before oxidation affected the behavior of the metal/oxide interface and the structure of the oxide film.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Hannes Zschiesche, Inna L. Soroka, Mats Jonsson, Nadezda V. Tarakina
Summary: This study investigates the influence of irradiation dose on the growth mechanisms and morphology of CeO2 particles formed through the radiolytic oxidation of Ce3+ in aqueous solution. The results show that different dose rates do not affect the growth pathway of CeO2 particles and result in the formation of highly ordered structures. Additionally, locally applied irradiation induces Ce-ion concentration gradients, impacting the growth of CeO2 and leading to the appearance of branched morphologies.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Huize Wang, Maria Jerigova, Jing Hou, Nadezda V. Tarakina, Simon Delacroix, Nieves Lopez-Salas, Volker Strauss
Summary: In this study, the tuning of the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) using iron/iron oxide nanoparticle grafted laser-patterned nitrogen-doped carbon (LP-NC) electrodes was demonstrated. The preparation route affected the ORR pathway and the reaction products, as well as the morphology and graphitization of the nanoparticles. Laser-patterning showed promising potential for scaling up designer electrodes for electrochemical conversion.
JOURNAL OF MATERIALS CHEMISTRY A
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Ivo F. Teixeira, Nadezda Tarakina, Ingrid F. Silva, Gabriel Ali Atta Diab, Nieves Lopez Salas, Aleksandr Savateev, Markus Antonietti
Summary: The recent study reveals the importance of combining highly ordered materials with cyanimide defects and alkali metal cations in designing photocatalytic systems for hydrogen evolution reaction. The synergistic effect of cyanimide modified K-PHI significantly enhances the apparent quantum yield compared to K-PHI without surface cyanimide groups.
JOURNAL OF MATERIALS CHEMISTRY A
(2022)