Thermodynamic Properties of Superionic Phase Ag<Subscript>4</Subscript>HgSe<Subscript>2</Subscript>I<Subscript>2</Subscript> Determined by the EMF Method

Triangulation of the Ag-Hg-Se-I system in the vicinity of quaternary phase Ag₄HgSe₂I₂ was performed by differential thermal analysis, X-ray diffraction and electromotive force (EMF) methods. The spatial position of the phase region Ag₄HgSe₂I₂-Se-HgI₂ regarding the figurative point of silver was used to write the chemical reaction of formation of Ag₄HgSe₂I₂. The EMF measurements were carried out by applying an electrochemical cell: (–) C|Ag|Ag₂GeS₃ glass|Ag₄HgSe₂I₂, HgI₂, Se|C (+), where C is graphite and Ag₂GeS₃ glass is the fast purely Ag⁺ ions conducting electrolyte. The linear dependence of the EMF of the electrochemical cell on temperature was used to determine the standard thermodynamic values of Ag₄HgSe₂I₂ for the first time.     

High-Temperature Oxidation of Bismuth- and Antimony-Based Sulfosalts

In this article, oxidation processes of Ag-Bi-Sb-based phases were investigated. Synthesized AgBiS₂ and AgSbS₂-Sb₂S₃-Sb samples were thermally analyzed in synthetic air by applying the simultaneous DSC-TGA analysis technique. The oxidation processes at P_O?=0.2 atm and T<1173 K were observed to take place in many-step sequence of various reactions with an overall reaction 2AgMeS₂ + 5.5O₂(g) ? 2Ag + Me₂O₃ + 4SO₂(g), where Me=(Bi,Sb). Oxidations of AgBiS₂, Sb₂S₃, and AgSbS₂ were observed to begin above 549±2K, 610±2K, and 733±2K, respectively. Furthermore, oxidation processes of AgBi₃S₅ and Ag₃SbS₃ were estimated, and thermodynamic functions for the overall oxidation reactions were calculated and discussed.     

Corrosive effects of the electromagnetic induction caused by the high voltage power lines on buried X70 steel pipelines

This paper diagnoses the corrosive effects of the electromagnetic induction caused by double circuit high voltage power lines (HVPL) on the buried X70 steel pipelines. To achieve this objective, firstly the electromagnetic interference between the double circuit HVPL and the X70 steel pipeline (the distribution of the magnetic field and the induced AC current densities in the buried X70 steel pipeline) and the factors affecting this interference such as the vertical distance between the double circuit HVPL and the X70 steel pipeline, and the conductor phase sequence orientation were studied. Then, electrochemical measurements were used to characterize the corrosion polarization properties of X70 steel in simulated soil at various AC current densities. The results show that with an increase in the AC current density, the corrosion rate of the X70 steel increased, indicating that the induced AC current density has accelerated the corrosion degree of X70 steel, by comparison with that in the absence of the AC current density. We can conclude from these results that the electromagnetic induction caused by the double circuit high voltage power lines affects the electrochemical characteristic of the X70 steel pipeline and accelerates the corrosion of the pipeline.     

Sol-gel synthesis of ternary conducting polymer hydrogel for application in all-solid-state flexible supercapacitor

In this contribution, we reported the preparation of a novel conducting polymer hydrogel (CPH) by a sol-gel method, which was subsequently employed to fabricate a flexible all-solid-state supercapacitor device. Taking advantage of the synergistic effects of the different components in the conducting polymer hydrogel and the merits of the proposed synthesis strategies, the prepared supercapacitor device with CPH as electrode exhibited high area-normalized capacitance (2.2 F cm⁻²), high gravimetric capacitance (1573.6 F g⁻¹) as well as high energy density of 0.18 mWh cm⁻² (or 128.7 Wh Kg⁻¹) at 0.08  mW cm⁻² (or 55.1 W kg⁻¹). This study did not only represent a novel all-solid-state, high performance, flexible supercapacitor with potential applications in flexible energy-related devices, but also developed a new method for enhancing capacitances and mechanical stability of all-solid-state flexible supercapacitor.     

Angiogenic potential of boron-containing bioactive glasses: in vitro study

Boron-containing bioactive glasses (BGs) are being extensively researched for the treatment and regeneration of bone defects because of their osteostimulatory and neovascularization potential. In this study, we report the effects of the ionic dissolution products (IDPs) of different boron-doped, borosilicate, and borate BG scaffolds on mouse bone marrow stromal cells in vitro, using an angiogenesis assay. Five different BG scaffolds of the system SiO₂–Na₂O–K₂O–MgO–CaO–P₂O₅–B₂O₃ (with varying amounts of SiO₂ and B₂O₃) were fabricated by the foam replication technique. Bone marrow stromal cells were cultivated in contact with the IDPs of the boron-containing BG scaffolds at different concentrations for 48 h. The expression and secretion of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) from the cultured cells was measured quantitatively using the VEGF ELISA Kit. Cell viability and cell morphology were determined using WST-8 assay and H&E staining, respectively. The cellular response was found to be dependent on boron content and the B release profile from the glasses corresponded to the positive or negative biological activity of the BGs.     

Investigation of in vitro mineralization of silicate-based 45S5 and 13-93 bioactive glasses in artificial saliva for dental applications

Bioactive glasses are important class of materials that have a wide range of applications in tissue engineering and dentistry. In dental tissue engineering, nanofibrous structures exhibit interesting features, such as high surface area, surface functionalization and porosity. In this study, silicate-based 45S5 and 13-93 bioactive glass fibers were fabricated using electrospinning technique and their in vitro mineralization behavior was investigated in two different artificial saliva solutions for various time intervals. Results revealed that both 45S5 and 13-93 bioactive glass fibers show high mineralization behavior in artificial saliva solutions. However different hydroxyapatite (HA) formation rates were observed depending on the glass type and the artificial saliva composition. HA formation initiated earlier in 45S5 glass fibers treated in artificial saliva compared to 13-93 glass. On the other hand, after 30 days of treatment, the surface of 13-93 glass fibers converted to pure crystalline HA, whereas, 45S5 glass surface contained some additional crystalline phases such as aragonite and calcite. Treatment in SAGF medium resulted with better HA conversion ability compared to Carter-Brugirard saliva for both types of glass fibers. In conclusion, the use of electrospun nanofibrous 45S5 and 13-93 bioactive glass scaffolds could be one approach suitable to dental applications.     

Biodiesel production,characterization, and performance: A hands-on project for first-year students

Biodiesel fuel production and use has been used as the focal point of a semester-long, project-based introductory engineering course at Rowan University. Students worked in teams to conduct a series of laboratory investigations through which they explored the engineering aspects of biodiesel production and purification, properties characterization, quality control and performance testing. The experiments were designed to be cost–effective and transferrable.The laboratory experiments were conducted within the How People Learn framework. An assessment instrument was used as a pre- and post-evaluation method to assess learning outcomes. Students’ gained significantly in learning outcomes areas related to the application of mathematics, science and engineering principles; designing and conducting experiments; analyzing and interpreting experimental data, and solving engineering problems.