Hydrophobic organic coating based water--solid TENG for water-flow energy collection and self-powered cathodic protection

Water–solid triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs), as new energy collection devices, have attracted increasing attention in ocean energy harvesting and self-powered sensing. Polyacrylic acid (PAA) coating, usually used on the surface of marine equipment, has the property of anti-aging and anti-wear but limits triboelectrical output when used with TENGs. In this paper, polyacrylic acid coating was modified with fluorinated polyacrylate resin (F-PAA) to increase its triboelectrical output, by 6 times, and also to increase its anti-corrosion property. In addition, the corrosion resistance property can be further enhanced by cathodic protection using the electrical output generated by the water-flow triboelectrical energy transfer process. Given their easy fabrication, water-flow energy harvesting, and corrosion resistance, PAA/F-PAA coating-based TENGs have promising applications in river and ocean energy collection and corrosion protection.     

Exploring the influences of the counterpart materials on friction and wear behaviors of atmospheric plasma-sprayed YSZ coating

Sliding wear behaviors of atmospheric plasma-sprayed Yttria Stabilized Zirconia (YSZ) coating mated with four metallic or ceramic counterparts (Si₃N₄, Al₂O₃, GCr15 and ZrO₂) were investigated. It has been found that YSZ coatings in contact with Si₃N₄ and GCr15 show better tribological performances than the other cases, which is due to the formation of the tribolayer mainly consisting of Si₃N₄ and Fe₂O₃ respectively on the worn surfaces. In the case of YSZ coating-Al₂O₃ and YSZ coating-ZrO₂ tribopairs, the wear debris are more irregular and larger in size, resulting in severe abrasive wear and brittle fracture of debris particles. In particular, the specific wear rate of YSZ coating sliding against GCr15 is negative due to the significant material transfer of the tribo-oxide layer, while that of YSZ coating sliding against ZrO₂ is the highest. Amorphization of the wear particles appears in the four cases due to the repeated mechanical action. It has been demonstrated that the wear of YSZ coating deteriorates with the increased flash temperature between the contact surfaces during rubbing process.     

Clarification of Peritectic Reaction Between Diffusion and Heat Transfer Mechanisms in Sn-Ni Alloy Through Confocal Laser Scanning Microscopy

Metallurgical and Materials Transactions A - The nucleation and intermittent growth of peritectic Ni3Sn4 phase along the liquid/primary Ni3Sn2 interface were observed through high-temperature...     

Fabrication of cylindrical SiCf/Si/SiC-based composite by electrophoretic deposition and liquid silicon infiltration

Cylindrical SiC-based composites composed of inner Si/SiC reticulated foam and outer Si-infiltrated SiC fiber-reinforced SiC (SiC_f/Si/SiC) skin were fabricated by the electrophoretic deposition of matrix particles into SiC fabrics followed by Si-infiltration for high temperature heat exchanger applications. An electrophoretic deposition combined with ultrasonication was used to fabricate a tubular SiC_f/SiC skin layer, which infiltrated SiC and carbon particles effectively into the voids of SiC fabrics by minimizing the surface sealing effect. After liquid silicon infiltration at 1550 °C, the composite revealed a density of 2.75 g/cm³ along with a well-joined interface between the inside Si/SiC foam and outer SiC_f/Si/SiC skin layer. The results also showed that the skin layer, which was composed of 81.4 wt% β-SiC, 17.2 wt% Si and 1.4 wt% SiO₂, exhibited a gastight dense microstructure and the flexural strength of 192.3 MPa.     

pH-/temperature-sensitive carboxymethyl chitosan/poly(N-isopropylacrylamide-co-methacrylic acid) IPN: preparation,characterization and sustained release of riboflavin

Dual crosslinked pH-/temperature-sensitive interpenetrating polymer networks (IPN) were prepared by free-radical copolymerization of N-isopropylacrylamide and methylacrylic acid (MAA) using N,N′-methylenebisacrylamide as a crosslinker in carboxymethyl chitosan (which was crosslinked by Ca²⁺) aqueous solution. Scanning electron microscopy was used to observe the morphologies of the IPN at different pH values and temperatures. The effects of MAA content and environmental pH on the “pH-/temperature-induced” phase transition behavior of the IPN hydrogels were investigated. The phase transition temperature was adjusted to 37 °C by changing the MAA content. The effects of drug-loaded content, crosslinking density, environmental pH, and temperature on the drug release behavior of the drug-loaded IPN hydrogel were also explored. Based on results, the hydrogel possessed pH/temperature sensitivity. The swelling ratio and phase translation temperature of the hydrogel were lower at lower pH. These values were lowest at pH 3.0. The release behavior of riboflavin was dependent on preparation condition, environmental pH, and temperature. Drug cumulative release was only 6 % at pH 1.8 for 2 h. The drug cumulative release was 13 % before the drug-loaded hydrogel reached the position with pH 6.8. The drug release rate was higher at lower temperature. Therefore, dual-crosslinked hydrogel holds much potential as a drug site-specific carrier.     

Ultrasound assisted in situ emulsion polymerization for polymer nanocomposite: A review

This review covers an ultrasound assisted synthesis of polymer nanocomposites using in situ emulsion polymerization. First of all, surface modification of core nanoparticles with a coupling agent and surfactant has been employed for the synthesis of core–shell polymer nanocomposites. In addition to application of ultrasound for the synthesis of core–shell polymer nanocomposites, due to its influential efficiency, sonochemistry has been extensively used not only as an aid of dispersion for inorganic nanoparticles and organo-clay, but also acts as an initiator to enhance polymerization rate for synthesis of polymer nanocomposites. In situ emulsion polymerization of hydrophobic monomers, such as methyl methacrylate, butyl acrylate, aniline, vinyl monomers and styrene, using surfactant and water soluble initiator were carried out for a synthesis of core–shell polymer nanocomposite. This technique assists in preparation of stable and finely dispersed polymer nanocomposite with the loading of inorganic particles up to 5 wt.%. Recent developments in the preparation of core–shell polymer nanocomposites using an ultrasound assisted method with their physical characteristics such as morphology, thermal, and rheological properties and their potential engineering applications have been discussed in this review.     

Visible Quantum Cutting and Energy Transfer in Tb3+‐Doped KSr(Gd,Y)(PO4)2 Under VUV–UV Excitation

KSr(Gd,Y)(PO₄)₂: Tb³⁺ phosphors were synthesized using the high‐temperature solid‐state reaction method. The VUV–UV spectroscopic properties of these phosphors were studied. The results show that efficient energy transfer (ET) from Gd³⁺ to Tb³⁺ occurs in this system, and the ET efficiency increases with increasing of Tb³⁺ doping concentrations, which is evidenced that both the emission intensity and decay time of Gd³⁺ decreases with increasing Tb³⁺ doping concentrations. Visible quantum cutting via cross relaxation between the neighboring Tb³⁺ ions was observed in the high Tb³⁺ concentration doped sample. In addition, the emission color of KSr(Gd,Y)(PO₄)₂: Tb³⁺ phosphors can be tuned from blue to yellowish‐green by varying the doping concentration of Tb³⁺. Under 147 nm excitation, the sample KSrGd_0.5(PO₄)₂: 0.5Tb³⁺ exhibits the strongest emission, which is about 70% of the commercial green‐emitting phosphor Zn₂SiO₄: Mn²⁺ indicating the potential application of this phosphor for plasma display panels, Hg‐free lamps, and three‐dimensional displays.     

Synthesis of chemically controllable and electrically tunable graphene films by simultaneously fluorinating and reducing graphene oxide

Fluorine and oxygen co-doped graphene with controllable element coverage was effectively synthesized through simultaneously fluorinating and reducing graphene oxide by pyrolysis of fluorinated graphite. Morphology investigation indicates that the doped graphene is of few-layered thickness, and the prepared films exhibit layered structure through cross-section. Chemical composition analysis confirms that fluorine has been grafted onto graphene scaffold through CF covalent bond, and the doping level can be readily manipulated just by adjusting the reaction temperature. The structural changes of graphene induced by the controllable doping thus facilitate the tunable electrical property, which can be tuned over several orders of magnitude. These results indicate our method is not only potentially useful to tailor the chemical surface and electronic structure of graphene, but also can find applications in novel electronic devices based on graphene co-doped with different dopants.     

疏水改性的聚对二甲苯薄膜对聚氨酯泡沫阻湿性能的影响*

硬质聚氨酯泡沫（RPUF）的吸湿特性导致泡沫塑化、溶胀变形,影响其服役安全性及稳定性。但目前针对这种亲水性多孔界面的阻湿研究鲜有报道。通过表面改性的方法引入阻湿层是一种非常有效的解决方法,聚对二甲苯（Parylene C）可在室温沉积条件下形成致密薄膜,具有优异的阻湿性能。在RPUF表面沉积Parylene C薄膜,然后利用全氟小分子组装进行界面疏水改性。通过一维和二维红外、低场核磁、微观形貌和元素组成等表征以及不同厚度镀膜试样吸湿曲线等分析,阐明RPUF的吸湿机理及复合涂层体系阻湿的相关规律。结果表明：当Parylene C镀膜达到一定厚度后,RPUF表面的孔缺陷会被覆盖,其阻湿性能可提高73.6%,同时全氟小分子表面疏水改性后聚氨酯泡沫表面和水分子的相互作用和吸附会被减弱,进一步降低吸湿率。揭示了RPUF吸湿机理和Parylene C薄膜界面阻湿的基本规律,有望用于解决硬质聚氨酯泡沫的长效阻湿问题。