Monolithically integrated CoP nanowire array: An on/off switch for effective on-demand hydrogen generation via hydrolysis of NaBH<Subscript>4</Subscript> and NH<Subscript>3</Subscript>BH<Subscript>3</Subscript>

The issues of hydrogen generation and storage have hindered the widespread use and commercialization of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles.It is thus highly attractive,but the design and development of highly active non-noble-metal catalysts for on-demand hydrogen release from alkaline NaBH4 solution under mild conditions remains a key challenge.Herein,we describe the use of CoP nanowire array integrated on a Ti mesh (CoP NA/Ti) as a three-dimensional (3D) monolithic catalyst for efficient hydrolytic dehydrogenation of NaBH4 in basic solutions.The CoP NA/Ti works as an on/off switch for on-demand hydrogen generation at a rate of 6,500 mL/(min.g) and a low activation energy of 41 kJ/mol.It is highly robust for repeated usage after recycling,without sacrificing catalytic performance.Remarkably,this catalyst also performs efficiently for the hydrolysis of NH3BH3.     

Plasmon enhancement for Vernier coupled single-mode lasing from ZnO/Pt hybrid microcavities

It is essential to develop a single mode operation and improve the performance of lasing in order to ensure practical applicability of microlasers and nanolasers.In this paper,two hexagonal microteeth with varied nanoscaled air-gaps of a ZnO microcomb are used to construct coupled whispering-gallery cavities.This is done to achieve a stable single mode lasing based on Vernier effect without requiring any complicated or sophisticated manipulation to achieve positioning with nanoscale precision.Optical gain and the corresponding ultraviolet lasing performance were improved greatly through coupling with localized surface plasmons of Pt nanoparticles.The ZnO/Pt hybrid microcavities achieved a seven-fold enhancement of intensity of single mode lasing with higher sidemode suppression ratio and lower threshold.The mechanism that led to this enhancement has been described in detail.     

Simple synthesis of a porous Sb/Sb2O3 nanocomposite for a high-capacity anode material in Na-ion batteries

High-capacity anode materials are highly desirable for sodium ion batteries.Here,a porous Sb/Sb2O3 nanocomposite is successfully synthesized by the mild oxidization of Sb nanocrystals in air.In the composite,Sb contributes good conductivity and Sb2O3 improves cycling stability,particularly within the voltage window of 0.02-1.5 V.It remains at a reversible capacity of 540 mAh·g-1 after 180 cycles at 0.66 A·g-L Even at 10 A·g-1,the reversible capacity is still preserved at 412 mAh.g-1,equivalent to 71.6％ of that at 0.066 A.g-1.These results are much better than Sb nanocrystals with a similar size and structure.Expanding the voltage window to 0.02-2.5 V includes the conversion reaction between Sb2O3 and Sb into the discharge/charge profiles.This would induce a large volume change and high structure strain/stress,deteriorating the cycling stability.The identification of a proper voltage window for Sb/Sb2O3 paves the way for its development in sodium ion batteries.     

Fatigue Crack Growth and Fracture of 30 wt% B4C/6061Al Composites

This paper focuses on studying the fatigue crack growth (FCG) characteristics and fracture behaviours of 30 wt% B₄C/6061Al composites fabricated by using powder metallurgy and hot extrusion method. Compact tension (CT) specimens having incisions parallel to the extrusion direction (T‐D) and perpendicular to the extrusion direction (E‐D) were investigated through FCG tests. Results show that, at low/medium stress‐intensity factor range levels (ΔK ≤ 9), crack propagation rate in E‐D specimens is lower than that in T‐D specimens because the elongated B₄C particles parallel to the extrusion direction in E‐D specimens can deflect the crack. The scanning electron microscope micrographs of the fractured surface illustrate that crack mainly propagates in the matrix alloy at the initial stage of its propagation and propagates more remarkably near the particle‐matrix interface with the increase of ΔK value. B₄C particles are also found to be easy to fracture during the rapid crack propagation. Based on fracture analyses, considering the impacts of factors like crack deviation, plastic zone size at the crack tip, and crack driving force, a 2‐D crack propagation model was developed to study the fatigue crack propagation mechanism in the 30 wt% B₄C/6061Al composite.     

Construction of point-line-plane (0-1-2 dimensional) Fe<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript>-SnO<Subscript>2</Subscript>/graphene hybrids as the anodes with excellent lithium storage capability

The assembly of hybrid nanomaterials has opened up a new direction for the construction of high-performance anodes for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). In this work, we present a straightforward, eco-friendly, one-step hydrothermal protocol for the synthesis of a new type of Fe₂O₃-SnO₂/graphene hybrid, in which zero-dimensional (0D) SnO₂ nanoparticles with an average diameter of 8 nm and one-dimensional (1D) Fe₂O₃ nanorods with a length of ~150 nm are homogeneously attached onto two-dimensional (2D) reduced graphene oxide nanosheets, generating a unique point-line-plane (0D-1D-2D) architecture. The achieved Fe₂O₃-SnO₂/graphene exhibits a well-defined morphology, a uniform size, and good monodispersity. As anode materials for LIBs, the hybrids exhibit a remarkable reversible capacity of 1,530 mA·g^?1 at a current density of 100 mA·g^?1 after 200 cycles, as well as a high rate capability of 615 mAh·g^?1 at 2,000 mA·g^?1. Detailed characterizations reveal that the superior lithium-storage capacity and good cycle stability of the hybrids arise from their peculiar hybrid nanostructure and conductive graphene matrix, as well as the synergistic interaction among the components.

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Travel time models for deep-lane unit-load autonomous vehicle storage and retrieval system (AVS/RS)

Autonomous vehicle storage and retrieval systems use vehicles that move horizontally along rails within the storage racks, while vertical movements are provided by lifts. The solution proposed in this paper addresses a particular system configuration that works with multiple deep storage lanes that are widely used in the food and beverage industry, characterised by large volumes of products of limited variety. The generic deep lane is single item, i.e. one stock keeping unit, and single batch, i.e. one production lot, thereby affecting the performance of the system in terms of storage capacity utilisation and throughput. Determining the number and depth of the lanes is crucial to aid the design and control of such a storage system. The aim of this paper was to support the design of AVS/RSs though a set of original analytic models for the determination of the travelled distance and time for single-command and dual-command cycles given alternative layout configurations. The models are validated by simulation and exemplified with a real-warehousing case study. The paper presents useful guidelines for the configuration of the system layout including the determination of the optimal shape ratio and the length of the lanes.     

A particle‐based moving interface method (PMIM) for modeling the large deformation of boundaries in soft matter systems

The mechanics of the interaction between a fluid and a soft interface undergoing large deformations appear in many places, such as in biological systems or industrial processes. We present an Eulerian approach that describes the mechanics of an interface and its interactions with a surrounding fluid via the so‐called Navier boundary condition. The interface is modeled as a curvilinear surface with arbitrary mechanical properties across which discontinuities in pressure and tangential fluid velocity can be accounted for using a modified version of the extended finite element method. The coupling between the interface and the fluid is enforced through the use of Lagrange multipliers. The tracking and evolution of the interface are then handled in a Lagrangian step with the grid‐based particle method. We show that this method is ideal to describe large membrane deformations and Navier boundary conditions on the interface with velocity/pressure discontinuities. The validity of the model is assessed by evaluating the numerical convergence for a axisymmetrical flow past a spherical capsule with various surface properties. We show the effect of slip length on the shear flow past a two‐dimensional capsule and simulate the compression of an elastic membrane lying on a viscous fluid substrate. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Drug self-assembly: A phenomenon at the nanometer scale with major impact in the structure–biological properties relationship and the treatment of disease

Under water-rich conditions, small amphiphilic and hydrophobic drug molecules self-assemble into supramolecular nanostructures. Thus, substantial modifications in their interaction with cellular structures and the ability to reach intracellular targets could happen. Additionally, drug aggregates could be more toxic than the non-aggregated counterparts, or vice versa. Moreover, since self-aggregation reduces the number of effective “monomeric” molecules that interact with the target, the drug potency could be underestimated. In other cases, the activity could be ascribed to the non-aggregated molecule while it stems from its aggregates. Thus, drug self-assembly could mislead from drug throughput screening assays to advanced preclinical and clinical trials. Finally, aggregates could serve as crystallization nuclei. The impact that this phenomenon has on the biological performance of active compounds, the inconsistent and often controversial nature of the published data and the need for recommendations/guidelines as preamble of more harmonized research protocols to characterize drug self-aggregation were main motivations for this review. First, the key molecular and environmental parameters governing drug self-aggregation, the main drug families for which this phenomenon and the methods used for its characterization are described. Then, promising nanotechnology platforms investigated to prevent/control it towards a more efficient drug development process are briefly discussed.