Understanding δ-Bi2O3 fluorite degradation mechanism and related solutions for promising applications in distributed multigeneration

Oxygen selective membrane on the base of cermet δ-Bi₂O₃/Ag with an interpenetrating structure has the maximum potential efficiency of air separation. However, the degradation processes, including the phase degradation of fluorite δ-Bi₂O₃, do not make it possible to create a membrane with the required perfection and durability. In this work, the ordering of oxygen vacancies with the transformation of fluorite into the rhombohedral phase (S.G. R-3) was studied by powder HT XRD in situ at 600 °C on dense Bi_0.78Er_0.2Hf_0.02O_1.51 ceramics. Fast regeneration of disordered fluorite occurs at T = 640–700 °C. The phase degradation of fluorite due to the segregation of dopants at the second stage leads into stable phases - sillenite, tetragonal or rhombohedral phase (S.G. R-3m), depending on the composition of δ-Bi₂O₃. Fast regeneration of fluorite occurs when heated to 820 °C, which is unacceptable for membranes. Analysis of all available data allows us to propose approaches to optimize the composition of δ-Bi₂O₃ and technical solutions for creating durable oxygen selective membranes with promising use in distributed multigeneration. As a result of the analysis, a new solid electrolyte with better parameters was obtained.     

Nacre-Inspired,Liquid Metal-Based Ultrasensitive Electronic Skin by Spatially Regulated Cracking Strategy

The realization of liquid metal-based wearable systems will be a milestone toward high-performance, integrated electronic skin. However, despite the revolutionary progress achieved in many other components of electronic skin, liquid metal-based flexible sensors still suffer from poor sensitivity due to the insufficient resistance change of liquid metal to deformation. Herein, a nacre-inspired architecture composed of a biphasic pattern (liquid metal with Cr/Cu underlayer) as “bricks” and strain-sensitive Ag film as “mortar” is developed, which breaks the long-standing sensitivity bottleneck of liquid metal-based electronic skin. With 2 orders of magnitude of sensitivity amplification while maintaining wide (>85%) working range, for the first time, liquid metal-based strain sensors rival the state-of-art counterparts. This liquid metal composite features spatially regulated cracking behavior. On the one hand, hard Cr cells locally modulate the strain distribution, which avoids premature cut-through cracks and prolongs the defect propagation in the adjacent Ag film. On the other hand, the separated liquid metal cells prevent unfavorable continuous liquid-metal paths and create crack-free regions during strain. Demonstrated in diverse scenarios, the proposed design concept may spark more applications of ultrasensitive liquid metal-based electronic skins, and reveals a pathway for sensor development via crack engineering.     

Hydrophobic Cross-Linked Poly(dimethylsiloxane)-Based Sorbents for Oil Spill Applications

With the increase of industrialization and urbanization, humankind faces massive oil-based pollution due to tanker accidents, human error, and natural disasters. For this, hydrophobic sorbents are fabricated and their applications for the removal of oil from polluted water sources are investigated. These hydrophobic sorbents are prepared by the condensation reaction of poly(dimethylsiloxane) and tris[3-(trimethoxysilyl)propyl]isocyanurate cross-linker via bulk polymerization. The obtained sorbents exhibit high oil sorption capacity, fast absorption–desorption kinetics, and great reusability. Moreover, they can selectively absorb oil from the water surface, thus making them practical for water clean-up applications.     

Fabrication and laser performances of Yb:Sc2O3 transparent ceramics from different combination of vacuum sintering and hot isostatic pressing conditions

In this paper we report on the preparation and laser performance of transparent 3at.% Yb:Sc₂O₃ ceramics by reactive sintering of commercially available powders under vacuum followed by hot isostatic pressing (HIP). Combinations of different vacuum sintering temperatures (1650 °C and 1750 °C) and different HIP treatments (1700 °C and 1800 °C at 200 MPa) were tested in order to understand how these steps influence the microstructure and thus the optical and lasing properties of the ceramic samples. All the samples showed a good optical quality. The microstructure analysis and the laser tests showed that the vacuum pre-sintering temperature is the key factor determining the quality of the samples and the laser performances. The best values of slope efficiency i.e. η_L = 50 % and output power i.e. P_out = 6.62 W were obtained for the sample pre-sintered under vacuum at 1650 °C and hot isostatically pressed at 1800 °C.     

Study on surface magnetization recover ilmenite from titanaugite using surfactant sodium oleate

ABSTRACT

Separation of ilmenite from titanaugite was investigated by magnetic coating. By enlarging magnetic difference between ilmenite and titanaugite, ilmenite was efficiently recovered. Scanning electron microscope and vibrating sample magnetometer results indicated that magnetite selectively coated onto ilmenite surface and increased its magnetism, which resulted in different magnetic separation behavior between ilmenite and titanaugite. FTIR and contact angle measurements confirmed that the adsorption difference of sodium oleate resulted in a stronger hydrophobicity on magnetite and ilmenite than titanaugite. Interaction energy analysis illustrated that hydrophobic association interaction on ilmenite was stronger than that on titanaugite, and which led to the selective coating of magnetite onto ilmenite.     

Realization of 1 μm thick,crack-free and smooth PMN-PT film in the MPB through PLD: A comprehensive study

This paper presents a comprehensive study on the various hurdles and solutions in the realization of phase pure, pinhole-free and crack-free, 0.65PMN-0.35PT/LSCO/Pt/TiO₂/SiO₂/Si heterostructures using pulsed laser deposition. A few major inquiries were i) effect of excess PbO in the target, ii) modulation of deposition and annealing temperatures for the growth of LSCO buffer layer, iii) thickness of the buffer layer iv) effect of the flow of oxygen in the chamber during and after deposition and v) the annealing conditions; on the phase formation, morphology and leakage response demonstrated by the films. Ferroelectric response parameters viz. P_sat = 47.7 μC/cm², P_r = 20.03 μC/cm², E_C = 62.03 kV/cm and absolute area = 21460 units attest the quality of the grown film.     

烟道流量计量标准装置

为了解决我国烟道流量计的量值溯源问题,中国计量科学研究院建立了烟道流量计量标准装置。装置使用可溯源至标准转盘的激光多普勒测速仪作为原级标准器,采用激光多普勒流速剖面扫描和超声流量计波动修正的方式测量标准流量,经校准的8声道超声流量计为工作级标准表,具备了908~104840m3/h的测量能力,扩展不确定度为0.62%(k=2),可对最大口径为1m的流量计进行校准。装置下游测试段包括圆形管段和矩形管段,能够开展烟道流量计测量性能的研究。     

Adventitial Tertiary Lymphoid Organs as Potential Source of MicroRNA Biomarkers for Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm

Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is an inflammatory disease associated with marked changes in the cellular composition of the aortic wall. This study aims to identify microRNA (miRNA) expression in aneurysmal inflammatory cells isolated by laser microdissection from human tissue samples. The distribution of inflammatory cells (neutrophils, B and T lymphocytes, mast cells) was evaluated in human AAA biopsies. We observed in half of the samples that adventitial tertiary lymphoid organs (ATLOs) with a thickness from 0.5 to 2 mm were located exclusively in the adventitia. Out of the 850 miRNA that were screened by microarray in isolated ATLOs (n = 2), 164 miRNAs were detected in ATLOs. The three miRNAs (miR-15a-3p, miR-30a-5p and miR-489-3p) with the highest expression levels were chosen and their expression quantified by RT-PCR in isolated ATLOs (n = 4), M1 (n = 2) and M2 macrophages (n = 2) and entire aneurysmal biopsies (n = 3). Except for the miR-30a-5p, a similar modulation was found in ATLOs and the two subtypes of macrophages. The modulated miRNAs were then evaluated in the plasma of AAA patients for their potential as AAA biomarkers. Our data emphasize the potential of miR-15a-3p and miR-30a-5p as biomarkers of AAA but also as triggers of ATLO evolution. Further investigations will be required to evaluate their targets in order to better understand AAA pathophysiology.