Tunable‐focus negative poly(vinyl chloride) gel microlens driven by unilateral electrodes

Tunable‐focus microlenses are urgently required for compact optical products to replace digital zoom and obtain high‐quality images. An electrically controllable tunable‐focus negative microlens is proposed, which is based on an electroactive poly(vinyl chloride) gel plasticized by ecofriendly dioctyl terephthalate. The anode and cathode of the microlens are simply assembled on the same side of the electrorheological elastomer, which greatly saves space and allows the thickness of the proposed microlens to be less than 1 mm. By applying voltages ranging from 0 to 1000 V, the stable focus of the microlens is interestingly able to vary as wide as from –∞ to ?21.3 mm correspondingly. The proposed microlens is simple and thin but is flexible and stable and has a wide range of the focus variation, showing promising applications in minielectric and optical devices. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2018 , 135, 46136.     

Scale-progressive healing mechanism dominating the ultrafast initial sintering kinetics of plasma-sprayed thermal barrier coatings

The thermal insulating performance of plasma-sprayed thermal barrier coatings (PS-TBCs) depends dominantly on inter-splat pores, which would be inevitably healed during high temperature exposure. The sintering kinetics of TBCs appears to be highly stage-sensitive. However, the ultrafast sintering kinetics during the initial sintering stage is not yet well understood. In this study, the sintering behavior of PS-TBCs was investigated in a scale-progressive (from nano- to micro-scale) way. Moreover, a novel healing mechanism suitable for lamellar TBCs was proposed based on a combined-effect of material and pore structure. Regarding the changing behavior of material, nano-scale roughening can be found at the as-deposited smooth pore surface after thermal exposure. Regarding the 2D featured inter-splat pores, the roughening behavior facilitates multiple contacts between the counter-surfaces of inter-splat pores. As a result, micro-scale bridge-connection can be observed at the healed parts. This multiple contacts mechanism caused by scale-progressive healing behavior significantly accelerated the matter transfer, resulting in ultrafast sintering kinetics at the initial sintering stage.     

Functionalized-radiolabeled hydroxyapatite/tenorite nanoparticles as theranostic agents for osteosarcoma

Hydroxyapatite (HA) nanoparticles (NPs) doped with different radioisotopes for use as theranostic systems play an important role in scientific research nowadays due to their ability to simultaneously act in the treatment and diagnosis of various types of cancers. In this work, we describe the synthesis and characterization of a hydroxyapatite/tenorite nanocomposite functionalized with folic acid, representing a nanotheranostic material with potential for application as an agent in positron emission tomography imaging systems and to act specifically in the treatment and diagnosis of osteosarcoma. ⁶⁴Cu and ³²P were produced by nuclear activation in the TRIGA reactor at CDTN. The obtained samples were characterized by XRD with Rietveld refinement, XAFS, SEM, BET, TGA, FTIR, CHN, ICP-AES, XPS and gamma spectroscopy. We investigated how CuO grows in HA NPs, the stability of the interactions between CuO and HA constituents and the interactions between folic acid and the surface of the HA NPs. The results indicate the formation of a second phase (tenorite) besides hydroxyapatite, and that the interactions between the two phases are stable, resulting in a nanocomposite. Furthermore, the activation of ⁶⁴Cu and ³²P inside the HA matrix, through the exposition to a neutron flux, produces a theranostic material of interest for biological tests.     

Green preparation of in situ Cr3C2 nano-coatings on graphite surface and their water-wettability and rheological properties

Cr₃C₂ coatings were successfully prepared on the surface of graphite flakes via a molten salt route by mixing Cr powders with natural graphite flakes in a binary LiCl-KCl salt at 450–950?°C for 4–12?h. The phases and microstructures of the coatings were verified by its XRD/XPS spectra and SEM/AFM observations, respectively. Together with the dissolution/dispersion evidence of chromium powders after interaction with the salt, and the slightly increased particle sizes due to the formation of Cr₃C₂ coatings on graphite flakes, a ‘template-growth’ kinetic process was therefore proposed on the formation of such coatings in the molten salt. The resultant coatings decreased the contact angle between water and graphite from 101° to ~ 75° and lowered the apparent viscosities of graphite water slurry by two orders of magnitude accordingly, suggesting that the coatings will afford graphite with good processing abilities for carbon-water based materials.     

Influence of Mg concentration on structural,morphological and optical properties of nanoceria

Nano crystalline pure and Mg doped ceriaparticles were synthesized by simple chemical co-precipitation method using cerium nitrate hexahydrate as a source material and magnesium nitrate as doping precursor at room temperature. The effect of doping were investigated by X-ray diffraction pattern(XRD), FT-Raman,fourier transform infrared spectroscopy(FTIR), Ultraviolet spectroscopy(UV), photoluminescence spectroscopy(PL), field emission scanning electron microscope(FESEM) and high resolution transmission electron microscopy with energy dispersive spectroscopy (HRTEM &EDS). The X-ray diffraction pattern and FT-Raman studies showed that the prepared samples were nano particulates with cubic fluorite structure. The XRD pattern analysis showed that the size of the particles ranged from 13 to 20?nm, however 4?wt% Mg doping results in reduction of particle size compared with other doping concentrations. The effects of Mg concentration on various structural parameters of the prepared samples were also determined. The slight blue shift observed upon doping in UV–Vis absorption region around 330–360nmrecorded for reduction in particle size. The FTIR unveils the presence of Metal oxygen bonds below 700?cm^?1in the prepared samples. All samples showed a broad emission band at 430?nm with linearly increasing intensity with respect to dopant concentrations. The Spherical morphology with weak agglomeration was identified through FESEM and HRTEM analysis. The elemental analysis of Ce, O and Mg were confirmed through EDS analysis.     

Structural properties and sensing performance of CeTiO3 ceramic films as a solid-state pH sensor

In this paper, we have studied the impact of postannealing treatment on the structural properties and sensing characteristics of CeTiO₃ ceramic membranes deposited on Si substrate by sputtering for solid-state electrolyte-insulator-semiconductor (EIS) pH sensors. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Auger electron spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and atomic force microscopy were used to study the chemical compositions, elemental depth profiles, film structures, and surface morphologies of CeTiO₃ ceramic membranes treated at three rapid thermal annealing (RTA) temperatures of 700, 800 and 900?°C. The sensing performance of the CeTiO₃ ceramic membranes annealed at three different RTA temperatures is strongly correlated to their structural properties. The CeTiO₃ EIS device after RTA at 800?°C exhibited the best sensing characteristics (pH sensitivity, hysteresis voltage and drift rate) among these RTA temperatures. We attribute this behavior to the optimal RTA temperature enhancing the Ce³⁺/Ce⁴⁺ ratio of CeTiO₃ ceramic membrane, reducing an interfacial layer at the CeTiO₃-Si interface, and increasing its surface roughness.     

White light emission based on both upconversion and thermal processes from Nd3+ doped yttrium silicate

In the present study, white light emission based on both upconversion and thermal processes from single-phase yttrium silicate nanopowder doped with Neodymium (III) (Nd³⁺) was investigated at both room pressure and vacuum (0.01 mbar) with a diode laser excitation of 808 nm. 1% Nd³⁺ doped (per mole) yttrium silicate (Y₂O₃:SiO₂) nanopowder was synthesized by using the sol-gel method and annealed at 1250 °C for 12 h to obtain the powder form. Emission for upconverted white light mainly due to the transitions of Nd³⁺ ions was obtained below ~ 5.79 W of the laser beam power at atmospheric pressure. For powers exceeding ~ 5.79 W, the powder emitted a thermal white light (WL) due to the photon avalanche mechanism together with thermal processes. The threshold power to obtain thermal white light with the transitions of Nd³⁺ ions was decreased to ~ 3.51 W at the vacuum condition. These processes were investigated in detail by studying the spectral differences of the rise and decay patterns at atmospheric pressure and vacuum conditions.     

Effect of phytic acid–modified layered double hydroxide on flammability and mechanical properties of intumescent flame retardant polypropylene system

Phytic acid–modified layered double hydroxide (Ph‐LDH) was synthesized via coprecipitation method and subsequently was used in polypropylene (PP) by combining with an ammonium polyphosphate (APP) via melt compounding method. The synergistic effect between APP and Ph‐LDH on the thermal stability, flammability, and mechanical properties of the resultant PP composites was investigated by thermogravimetric analysis, limiting oxygen index, vertical burning test (UL‐94), cone calorimeter tests, tensile test, and impact test. Morphologies of the chars obtained from the samples after the cone calorimeter tests were studied by scanning electron microscopy. The combination of APP and Ph‐LDH slightly influenced the impact and tensile properties of PP. Also, the synergistic effect between APP and Ph‐LDH occurred in the cone calorimeter test. Moreover, the combination of APP and Ph‐LDH produced better quality char that effectively suppressed the spread of the flame and volatile and finally extinguished the fire.     

Extraction of Vanadium(V) from Mixed Chloride/Thiocyanate Solutions with Two Commercial Solvating Extractants

Studies on the extraction and separation of vanadium(V) from mixed hydrochloric acid/ammonium thiocyanate solution with CYANEX 921 and CYANEX 925 in kerosene were carried out. The effects of various factors affecting the extraction process as well as temperature were investigated. Addition of thiocyanate to the chloride solution was found to enhance markedly the extraction of vanadium. HCl solution efficiently stripped V(V). The number of stages required for extraction and stripping of vanadium ions was determined from the McCabe–Thiele diagram. Based on the obtained results, the separation of V(V) from spent catalyst leach indicates the efficiency of the proposed process.     

AHP-based procedure for optimization of microwave-assisted blackberry sugar osmotic process

Due to the limitations of single index analysis, the merits and demerits of microwave-assisted permeation process cannot be comprehensively evaluated. However, the analytical hierarchy process (AHP) was applied to optimize the conditions of microwave-assisted diffusion of sugar in blackberry. In this paper, the results of a single-factor experiment were compared with blackberry preserved after the treatment of microwave. An orthogonal rotation test procedure was designed to calculate the composite score of preserved blackberry fruit using AHP, and to determine the optimum processing conditions based on sugar osmosis characteristics. The results showed that the sugar content, vitamin C (VC) content, and color difference of treated blackberry increased with the increase of microwave power, the residence time, and the resulting sugar concentration. The composite grade points are listed to show that the optimum results were as follows: power level, the residence time, and the sugar concentration were, respectively, 210?W, 12?min, and 35%.