Enhanced methanol oxidation on PtNi nanoparticles supported on silane-modified reduced graphene oxide

Developing low cost, highly efficient, and long-term stability electrocatalysts are critical for direct oxidation methanol fuel cell. Despite huge efforts, designing low-cost electrocatalysts with high activity and long-term durability remains a significant technical challenge. Here, we prepared a new kind of platinum-nickel catalyst supported on silane-modified graphene oxide (NH₂-rGO) by a two-step method at room temperature. Powder X-ray diffraction, UV–vis spectroscopy, Raman, FTIR spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy results confirm that GO was successfully modified with 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES), which helps to uniformly disperse PtNi nanoparticles. Cyclic voltammetry, chronoamperometry, CO-stripping and rotating disk electrode (RDE) results imply that PtNi/NH₂-rGO catalyst has significantly higher catalytic activity, enhance the CO toxicity resistance, higher stability and much faster kinetics of methanol oxidation than commercial Pt/C under alkaline conditions.     

Effect of MnOx phase on Pt-based catalyst for enhancing CO/C3H6/NO oxidation performance

To improve the fuel economy, it is crucial to promote the low-temperature performance in eliminating diesel emissions. The work investigates the impact of different MnO₂/Mn₂O₃ phase ratio on the low-temperature performance of Pt-based monolithic diesel oxidation catalyst. Near equal ratio of MnO_x phase could form the three-phase (platinum, MnO₂, Mn₂O₃) interfacial structure, leading to the smaller platinum particle size and exhibiting the higher interface rate (1.6–11.1 times) than other mono-manganese oxide with platinum. Besides, the higher oxygen mobility and more active oxygen species could be contributed to the positive effect of Pt/MnO_x interface, which are prevalent to activate the reactant and greatly enhance the TOF value (1.4–20.8 times). The results imply that the modification of multi-phase metal/oxide interface is potential in dispersing platinum for greatly enhancing the catalytic efficiency.     

Preparation of submicron boron carbide powder through gas-solid reaction method

Boron carbide submicron powder was synthesized with boron oxide and graphene as starting materials by gas-solid reaction method using two different apparatuses. The effects of calcination temperature and holding time, apparatus type and B₂O₃/C ratio of the starting materials on the phase composition and morphology of the synthesized powders were evaluated. A newly formed residual carbon morphology distinct from original graphene were present in samples synthesized at a higher B₂O₃/C ratio or temperature. The synthesis temperature of ∼1500 °C was found to be more suitable to obtain boron carbide powder without the existence of residual carbon. The new type of apparatus enabled the synthesis of boron carbide phase at a relatively lower temperature, due to its more efficient use of B₂O₃ vapor.     

The prevalence of asthma and severe asthma in children influenced by transportation factors: Evidence from spatial analysis in Seoul,Korea

Although the causes of asthma are inconclusive, it is fairly known that exposure to outdoor air pollutants can cause asthma, especially children's asthma morbidity. Whereas transportation is one of the major sectors that generate air pollutants, previous research that investigates the correlation between transportation and asthma narrowly focuses on the contribution of automobile traffic to children's asthma. Developing three spatial regression models (a spatial lag (SL) model, a spatial error (SE) model, and a general spatial (SAC) model), this paper investigates the roles of a variety of transportation factors in two distinct stages of children's asthma morbidity; asthma and severe asthma. With consideration to asthma-related socio-economic factors in the City of Seoul, the SE (R² = 0.31) and SAC (R² = 0.34) models consistently indicate that three out of four transportation factors associate with children's severe asthma at statistically significant level. They include the negative influence of bus transit and dense intersections, and the positive influence of active transportation activities on children's asthma severity. Interestingly, however, no significant contribution of transportation factors to children's asthma morbidity was identified by the SE (R² = 0.29) and SAC (R² = 0.28) models. Shedding more light on the complexity of children's asthma morbidity and severity, this paper proposes collaborative partnerships not only among multi- dimensional agencies, but also among multi-level government organizations.     

Surfactant-free electrochemical synthesis of fluoridated hydroxyapatite nanorods for biomedical applications

Fluoridated hydroxyapatite (FHA) [Ca₁₀(PO₄)₆F_x(OH)_2−x, x = 0–2] is believed to be a promising calcium phosphate (CaP) to replace pure hydroxyapatite (HA) for next-generation implants, owing to its better biocompatibility, higher antibacterial activity, and lower solubility. Notably, the shape and size of the CaP crystals play key roles in their performance and can influence their applications. One-dimensional (1D) FHA nanorods are important CaP materials which have been widely used in regenerative medicine applications such as restorative dentistry. Unfortunately, the traditional synthesis methods for FHA nanorods either employ surfactants or take a relatively long time. In this study, we aimed to propose a facile synthesis route to fabricate FHA nanorods without any surfactants using an electrochemical deposition method for the first time. This study focused on preparing FHA nanorods without the assistance of any surfactant, unlike the traditional synthesis methods, to avoid chemical impurities. FHA nanorods with lengths of 124–2606 nm, diameters of 28–211 nm, and aspect ratios of 4.4–21.8 were synthesized using the electrochemical method, followed by a heat treatment. For the as-synthesized FHA nanorods, the Ca/P ratio was 1.60 and the atomic concentration of F was 2.06 at.%. An ultrastructure examination revealed that each FHA nanorod possessed long-range order, good crystallinity, and a defect-free lattice with a certain crystallographic plane orientation along the whole rod. In short, we propose a novel, surfactant-free, cost-saving, and more efficient route to synthesize FHA nanorods which can be widely applied in multiple biomedical applications, including drug delivery, bone repair, and restorative dentistry.     

Influence of Yb and Si on the fabrication of Yb:YAG transparent ceramics using spherical Y2O3 powders

Yb:YAG (yttrium aluminum garnet) transparent ceramics were fabricated by the solid-state method using monodispersed spherical Y₂O₃ powders as well as commercial Al₂O₃ and Yb₂O₃ powders. Pure YAG phase was obtained at low temperature due to homogeneous mixing of powders. Under the same sintering conditions, the Yb:YAG ceramics with different doping contents of Yb³⁺ had similar morphologies and densification rates. After being sintered at 1700 °C in vacuum, the ceramic samples had high transparencies. The Yb:YAG ceramics doped with 0.5 wt% SiO₂ formed Y–Si–O liquid phase and nonstoichiometric point defects that enhanced sintering. Compared with Nd doping, Yb doping hardly affected the YAG grain growth, sintering densification or optical transmittance, probably because Yb³⁺ easily entered the YAG lattice and had a high segregation coefficient.     

凝胶型99Mo-99mTc发生器研究现状

与裂变型⁹⁹Mo-^99mTc发生器相比，凝胶型⁹⁹Mo-^99mTc发生器制备^99mTc具有工艺简单、产生的放射性废物容易处理、对环境影响小等优点。本文主要论述了凝胶型⁹⁹Mo-^99mTc发生器与裂变型⁹⁹Mo-99mTc发生器的区别，堆照生产⁹⁹Mo原料和凝胶材料的研究进展，凝胶结构以及凝胶组分等多种条件因素对凝胶型⁹⁹Mo-^99mTc发生器性能的影响等，并对低比活度⁹⁹Mo生产^99mTc的研究进展进行综述。     

共价有机框架材料及其在关键核素分离中的应用进展

共价有机框架材料（COFs）是一类由共价键连接的多孔晶态材料。因具有单体链接方式灵活、结构可调、活性位点丰富、比表面积大、理化性质相对稳定等特点，它们在气体储存与分离、能量储存、催化和光电学领域受到了广泛的关注。本文主要从结构设计、合成方法及功能化、材料的分析表征和晶形控制等方面概括地介绍了COFs材料。在此基础上，综述了COFs材料在关键核素分离方面的研究进展，并展望了其在核素分离领域的应用前景和今后的研究方向。     

微生物质水热碳锰复合材料对铀的吸附行为研究

以工业啤酒酵母为碳源，采用一步法合成了微生物质水热碳锰复合材料（MHTC），并利用XRD、FT-IR和SEM等对材料进行了表征。在此基础上，系统研究了不同C/Mn原子比、初始pH值、接触时间、初始铀浓度对MHTC吸附铀性能的影响。结果表明：C/Mn原子比为1∶10的碳锰复合材料（MHTC-10）对铀的吸附性能最优。在铀初始浓度为50 mg/L、初始pH=4.5条件下，12 h可达吸附平衡，最大吸附量为371 mg/g。吸附过程符合准二级动力学模型以及Freundlich等温模型。热力学数据表明，铀在MHTC-10上的吸附是一自发、放热的过程。该研究结果可为含铀环境中铀的分离富集提供新的思路。     

Sensitivity of positrons at hydrogen storage sites in FeCr alloy containing vacancy and helium atom

Here, the storage sites of hydrogen in FeCr alloy, namely (H, He)–V nano-clusters with open volume, have been investigated by first-principles calculations and positron annihilation spectroscopy. The positron lifetimes in the nano-clusters obtained by theoretical calculations and experiments were compared. These results suggest that positron is sensitive to the relative position of the gas atoms decorating the open volume; and a helium atom forms a more repulsive ion core than a hydrogen atom when it occupies the vacancy, resulting in a decrease in positron lifetime. Interpretation of the PAS data was successfully combined with theoretical calculations, and allowed us to determine the defect status in specimens after H/He irradiation with different implantation patterns. The speculated kinds of hydrogen storage sites formed after irradiation are summarized. For the He-ions pre-implanted situation, the helium-vacancy clusters or bubbles forming in advance may recombine with H atoms to form stable He–H–V complex.