High dielectric constant of NiFe2O4–LaFeO3 nanocomposite: Interfacial conduction and dielectric loss

Materials exhibiting colossal dielectric constant are the most sought-after materials due to their variety of applications in various electronics industries. NiFe₂O₄ and LaFeO₃ belonging to the spinel and perovskite structures, respectively, were coupled into a nanocomposite by adapting a one-pot sol-gel synthesis. The ratio of NiFe₂O₄:LaFeO₃ was varied and the synthesized materials were studied for their dielectric behaviors. Interestingly, among the samples studied, the nanocomposite with the ratio of 1:2 of NiFe₂O₄–LaFeO₃ exhibited a high dielectric constant value of 10390 at a frequency of 1 kHz with a several-fold increase in conductivity. The high conductivity resulted in a high dielectric loss. The origin of such a high dielectric constant and loss have been attributed to the Maxwell-Wagner type space charge polarization arising from the microstructure that consists of large and continuous grain boundaries, and the conducting phase at the interface, respectively.     

NaWuReT-Workshop: Forschung in der Reaktionstechnik für und mit der Gesellschaft

In this article, the results of the NaWuReT (Early Career Reaction Engineers) workshop on the topic “Are we doing relevant science?” are presented. The topics “(In)surmountable hurdles for Citizen Scientists in reaction engineering?” and “Circular Economy in reaction engineering with/for society?” were discussed. Therefrom, a variety of ideas and suggestions were extracted.     

3D CaP porous scaffolds with grooved surface topography obtained by the sol-gel method

The influence of surface topography on cellular behaviour and its importance for the development of three-dimensional scaffolds for bone tissue engineering are a topic of growing interest. To date, the introduction of topographical patterns into the surface of 3D porous ceramic scaffolds has proven difficult, due partly to the brittle nature of ceramic materials as well as the currently available fabrication technologies. In this study, a grooved pattern was introduced into the surface of 3D multilayer porous ceramic scaffolds by the chemical etching technique. The patterned scaffolds were characterised by X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscopy with Energy Dispersive X-Ray Spectroscopy (SEM-EDX) and Digital Holographic Microscopy (DHM). Their bioactivity was also evaluated in vitro by immersion in simulated body fluid (SBF) for 12 h, 1, 7, 14 and 21 days. Scaffolds were constituted mainly with a mixture of the calcium pyrophosphate (Ca₂O₇P₂) and β-tricalcium phosphate (Ca?(PO?)?) phases. The pyrophosphate on the external layer was dissolved as a result of the etching process, leaving grooves on the surface. Ridges and grooves were nano-/micrometric, with dimensions of around 900 nm–1.5 μm in width and 200 nm–300 nm in depth. Moreover, the mechanical properties and bioactive capacity of the patterned scaffolds were not affected by chemical etching, making them suitable to be used in bone tissue engineering.     

Characteristics and gas sensor applications of ZnO-Perovskite heterostructure

In this study, zinc oxide (ZnO) nanofibers were prepared using the electrospinning method, and the effects of different spinning voltages and annealing temperatures on the fiber structure were tested. La_0.8Sr_0.2FeO₃ (LSFO) perovskite film was prepared by a sol-gel method. Then we dip LSFO on ZnO nanofiber and grow it on the interdigital gold electrode substrate for gas sensors. The results show that the ZnO/LSFO heterostructure gas sensor has a good sensing response to H₂S gas and exhibits good gas selectivity. The best gas response is 52.17% under 4 ppm H₂S and work temperature 200°C, which has good recovery and reproducibility.     

SiC/SiC mini-composites with multilayer ZrSiO4 interphase: Room-temperature properties and toughening mechanism

SiC/SiC mini-composites reinforced with SiC fibers coated with different numbers of ZrSiO₄ sublayers prepared via a non-hydrolytic sol-gel process were fabricated. The tensile strength and work of fracture of the prepared SiC/SiC mini-composites were determined, and the relationship between their mechanical properties and fracture morphologies was discussed. The toughening mechanism and the variation tendency of their mechanical properties were further elaborated by analyzing the interfacial debonding morphologies of the SiC/SiC mini-composites with 1 and 4 layers of ZrSiO₄ interphase as well as the results of prior studies. A relatively rare phenomenon—the delamination of the multilayer ZrSiO₄ interphase in the SiC/SiC mini-composites but not on the SiC fibers—was observed, which clearly demonstrated the weak bonding between the ZrSiO₄ sublayers in the SiC/SiC mini-composites. The ZrSiO₄ sublayer delamination mechanism was then explained based on the high-magnification morphologies found in and beside the ZrSiO₄ interphase.     

超滤-纳滤组合工艺对东太湖原水的处理效果

随着工业化进程的不断加快,东太湖水质日趋恶化,给常规处理增加了很大的处理难度。针对水源污染问题和给水深度处理的需要,开展了超滤-纳滤双膜组合工艺处理东太湖原水的中试研究,考察双膜工艺对出水水质的提升效果。结果表明,超滤-纳滤双膜工艺对水质常规指标具有较好的去除效果,CODMn和TOC的去除率分别为91.7%和90%;对荧光类物质的去除主要表现在对芳香族蛋白质、类富里酸物质、溶解性微生物代谢产物的去除;此外,双膜组合工艺对小分子二甲基异莰醇(2-MIB)和土臭素(GSM)的去除率分别为70%和77%,表明该工艺对水中主要致嗅物质具有良好的去除能力。     

PEDOT:PSS对PEDOT:PSS/Si杂化太阳电池性能影响的研究

聚合物poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):polystyrene sulfonate(PEDOT:PSS)是一种具有高电导率和良好透过性的p型半导体材料。PEDOT:PSS/Si杂化太阳电池由于具有较低的工艺温度,且工艺简单而具有一定的前景。在这种杂化太阳电池结构中,PEDOT:PSS的光学、电学性质对器件性能有重要影响。分别从PEDOT:PSS退火工艺、溶液二次掺杂(二甲基亚砜)的含量以及PEDOT:PSS薄膜厚度3个方面对薄膜的光、电特性以及器件性能的影响进行研究,并优化相关工艺。根据这些优化的参数,最终得到6.63%的太阳电池转化效率(太阳电池面积为2.25 cm^2)。     

Synthesis and magnetic properties of CoAlFe2O4 nanoparticles

Nanosized particles of CoAl_xFe_2-xO₄, where 0?≤?x?≤?2, were synthesized by the sol–gel combustion method and the magnetic properties of these compounds were investigated. According to X-ray diffractograms, the samples are single phase and the crystallite size is between 7 and 25?nm. The room temperature saturation magnetization of the samples was estimated from the cation distribution and ferromagnetic resonance spectra were used to determine the magnetocrystalline anisotropy. The results show that the saturation magnetization and the magnetocrystalline anisotropy vary over a wide range, from maxima of M_s =?0.42?MA/m and K?=?0.39?kJ/m³ for x?=?1.0 to minima of almost zero for x?≈?1.4, a result that could be useful for practical applications of these materials.     

New iron-doped multilayer ceramic scaffold with noncontinuous bioactive behavior

New multilayer porous ceramic scaffolds, constituted by a core covered with external layers, are proposed as future bone tissue implants. The core with composition SiO₂ - 25P₂O₅ – 68CaO–6Li₂O (mol%) provided suitable compressive strength (0.9–1.6 MPa) to act as an initial support during bone tissue regeneration. The external layers with composition 29SiO₂ - 3P₂O₅ - (68-x) CaO - xFe₂O₃ (mol%) (x = 0.3 and 1) (samples C/EL-1Fe and C/EL-3Fe, respectively) conferred a bioactive character to scaffolds. The surfaces of both samples showed apatite precipitates after coming into contact with simulated body fluid (SBF). Sample C/EL-1Fe exhibited noncontinuous bioactive behavior, with precipitates of apatite that precipitated and dissolved between days 1 and 28. Sample C/EL-3Fe showed precipitates after 8 days that remained until the end of the study time. This variation in material, achieved by modifying the amounts of iron in external layers, represents an important advance in the ability to control an implant's bioactivity in line with requirements of future applications.