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At least 667 records · Page 37

Simple route for the synthesis of supercapacitive Co-Ni mixed hydroxide thin films

Highlights: Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Novel method for deposition of Co-Ni mixed hydroxide. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Nanoparticle network of Co-Ni hydroxide. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer High specific capacitance of 672 F g{sup -1}. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer High discharge/charge rates. -- Abstract: Facile synthesis of Co-Ni mixed hydroxides films with interconnected nanoparticles networks through two step route is successfully established. These films have been characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared technique (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and wettability test. Co-Ni film formation is confirmed from XRD and FTIR study. SEM shows that the surface of Co-Ni films is composed of interconnected nanoparticles. Contact angle measurement revealed the hydrophilic nature of films which is feasible for the supercapacitor. The electrochemical performance of the film is evaluated by cyclic voltammetry, and constant-current charge/discharge cycling techniques. Specific capacitance of the Co-Ni mixed hydroxide electrode achieved 672 F g{sup -1}. Impedance analysis shows that Co-Ni mixed hydroxide electrode provides less resistance for the intercalation and de-intercalation of ions. The Co-Ni mixed electrode exhibited good charge/discharge rate at different current densities. The results demonstrated that Co-Ni mixed hydroxide composite is very promising for the next generation high performance electrochemical supercapacitors.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Advanced nanoscale characterization of aluminum nanoparticles with modified surface morphology via atmospheric helium and carbon monoxide plasmas

Aluminum nanoparticles (nAl) have the potential as energetic additives in explosive/propellant formulations. Scalable methodologies must be pursued to mitigate the inactive amorphous alumina shell surrounding the active aluminum (Al) core with modified surface morphology and chemistry for increased combustion effects. This work explores the feasibility of making reactive core/shell nAl with thinned oxide shells and modified surface coatings via a two-step atmospheric plasma surface treatment process in a custom dielectric barrier discharge plasma reactor. The commercial nAl of nominal average size similar to 40-60nm was first treated with helium (He) followed by He/carbon monoxide (CO) plasmas for different durations. The resultant samples were characterized via high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) and Fourier transform IR (FTIR) spectra. HRTEM images revealed sporadic patchy gamma -alumina deposits on particle surfaces and in gaps among particles for all samples, suggesting the non-uniform plasma effects of the He/CO glow. Nanoscale chemical analyses via scanning transmission electron microscopy elemental mapping and x-ray energy dispersive spectroscopy were further performed. Although no carbon-associated structure appeared in electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS) spectra, the presence of carbonaceous materials was confirmed as a thin dispersive layer evenly distributed on the nAl surface suggesting either its amorphous nature or is present at a level insufficient to generate satisfactory EELS spectra. The trend of intensity profiles for key elements acquired by drawing lines across a single particle on the elemental maps confirmed that carbonaceous materials only existed on the surface and they were most likely carboxylates that increased with increased He/CO treatment duration, as evident by FTIR results. Finally, this work demonstrated the success of atmospheric plasma-treated reactive nAl with comprehensively characterized surface features via advanced microscopy and spectroscopy.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Controlling telerobots with video data and compensating for time-delayed video using Omniview

Remote viewing is critical for teleoperations, but the inherent limitations of standard video reduce the operator's effectiveness. These limitations have been compensated for in many ways, from using the operator's adaptability, to augmenting his capability with feedback from a variety of sensors and simulations. Omniview can overcome some of these limitations and improve the operator's efficiency without adding additional sensors or computational burden. It can minimize the potential collisions with facility equipment, provide peripheral vision, and display multiple images simultaneously from a single input device. The Omniview technology provides electronic pan, tilt, magnify, and rotational orientation within a hemispherical field-of-view without any moving parts. Image sizes, viewing directions, scale, offset, etc., may be adjusted to fit operator needs. This paper discusses the derivation of the image transformation, the design of the electronics, and two applications to telepresence that are under development. These are Video Emulated Tweening (VET), and Manipulator Guidance and Positioning (ManGAP). The VET effort uses Omniview to compensate for time-delayed video in teleoperation of remote vehicles. In ManGAP two Omniview systems are used to provide two sets of orientation vectors to points in the field-of-view (FOV). These vectors then provide absolute position information to both control the position of the telerobot, and to avoid collisions with the work sight equipment.

Kuban, Dan↗

Hybrid model to evaluate the frequency-dependent leakage inductance of partially-filled transformers

The leakage inductance of a transformer designed for a power electronic converter can drop significantly as the switching frequency is increased due to skin and proximity effects. Although the magnetic image method-based double-2-D model can predict the low-frequency leakage inductance of a partially-filled transformer with sufficient accuracy, it is inherently a frequency-independent model. While Dowell’s 1-D model uses frequency-dependent relations to account for both skin and proximity effects, its accuracy is severely affected by the assumed winding geometry. In this paper, a semianalytical hybrid model is proposed that uses superposition to combine a modified Dowell’s model with the double-2-D model to predict the true leakage inductance of partially-filled transformers at any given frequency. All three conductor types—round, foil, and litz wire—are modeled and analyzed. The quasi-2-D model is further investigated on a variable inductance transformer (VIT) whose winding geometry can be modified mechanically to vary its leakage inductance. With less than 5 % error throughout, the semi-analytically evaluated leakage inductances are in excellent agreement with the finite element method (FEM) simulated and experimentally measured leakage inductances.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗

Phase transformation in multiferroic Bi{sub 5}Ti{sub 3}FeO{sub 15} ceramics by temperature-dependent ellipsometric and Raman spectra: An interband electronic transition evidence

Thermal evolution and an intermediate phase between ferroelectric orthorhombic and paraelectric tetragonal phase of multiferroic Bi{sub 5}Ti{sub 3}FeO{sub 15} ceramic have been investigated by temperature-dependent spectroscopic ellipsometry and Raman scattering. Dielectric functions and interband transitions extracted from the standard critical-point model show two dramatic anomalies in the temperature range of 200–873 K. It was found that the anomalous temperature dependence of electronic transition energies and Raman mode frequencies around 800 K can be ascribed to intermediate phase transformation. Moreover, the disappearance of electronic transition around 3 eV at 590 K is associated with the conductive property.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Real-time atomistic observation of structural phase transformations in individual hafnia nanorods

High-temperature phases of hafnium dioxide have exceptionally high dielectric constants and large bandgaps, but quenching them to room temperature remains a challenge. Scaling the bulk form to nanocrystals, while successful in stabilizing the tetragonal phase of isomorphous ZrO 2 , has produced nanorods with a twinned version of the room temperature monoclinic phase in HfO 2 . Here we use in situ heating in a scanning transmission electron microscope to observe the transformation of an HfO 2 nanorod from monoclinic to tetragonal, with a transformation temperature suppressed by over 1000°C from bulk. When the nanorod is annealed, we observe with atomic-scale resolution the transformation from twinned-monoclinic to tetragonal, starting at a twin boundary and propagating via coherent transformation dislocation; the nanorod is reduced to hafnium on cooling. Unlike the bulk displacive transition, nanoscale size-confinement enables us to manipulate the transformation mechanism, and we observe discrete nucleation events and sigmoidal nucleation and growth kinetics.

77 NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY↗

Development and characterization of acrylated palm oil nanoparticles using ionizing radiation

In this study, the utilization of radiation crosslinking methods which are known as intermolecular and intramolecular crosslinking for the formation of nanoparticles of Acrylated Palm Oil (APO) in the microemulsion system that also consists of Pluronic F-127 (PF-127) surfactant was demonstrated. This microemulsion system was subjected to the ionizing radiation i.e. gamma irradiation at different doses to form the crosslinked APO nanoparticles. The effects of radiation doses on the size of APO nanoparticles were investigated using the Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS) method and their images were viewed using the Transmission Electron Microcrospy (TEM). The Fourier Transform Infra-Red (FTIR) spectroscopy was used to characterize the chemical structure and the crosslinking conversion of carbon-carbon double bond (-C = C-) of the APO nanoparticles after irradiation. As a result, the size of the APO nanoparticle decreased when the irradiation dose increased. Reduce in size might be due to the effect of intramolecular crosslinking reaction of the APO nanoparticles during irradiation process. Meanwhile, the intramolecular -C C- crosslinking conversion percentage was increased at doses below 1kGy before decreasing at the higher dose that might due to the intermolecular crosslinking of the macromolecules. This study showed that radiation crosslinking methods of polymerization and crosslinking in the microemulsion were found to be promising for the synthesis of nanoparticles.

77 NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY↗

Facile Solvent-Free Synthesis of Manganese Nickel-Layered Double Hydroxide for Sustainable Water-Splitting Applications

The quest for efficient and sustainable water-splitting electrocatalysts has led to the development of a novel bifunctional material, manganese nickel-layered double hydroxide (MnNi-LDH), which demonstrates promising performance for both the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). Although manganese-based materials are less explored than other transition metals, they offer significant potential owing to their widespread availability, affordability, and customizable electronic characteristics. MnNi-LDH exhibits a nanosheet morphology and a layered structure, which collectively provide numerous accessible active sites and facilitate efficient charge transfer and mass transport. Characterization using X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy reveals the structural and compositional properties of MnNi-LDH. The oxidation states of Mn and Ni, as determined by XPS, play a crucial role in improving the catalytic activity. Notably, MnNi-LDH demonstrates low overpotentials of 187 mV for OER and 225 mV for HER at 10 mA/cm 2 current density comparable to conventional catalysts. Long-term stability tests show minimal degradation in cell performance over 50 h, with a current density drop of only 0.6153% per hour for the OER and 0.37% per hour for the HER. Further, these findings highlight the potential of MnNi-LDH as a promising and environmentally friendly bifunctional electrocatalyst for water splitting, contributing to the advancement of renewable energy sources.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Structural and magnetic properties of chromium doped zinc ferrite

Zinc chromium ferrites with chemical formula ZnCr{sub x}Fe{sub 2−x}O{sub 4} (x = 0.0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8, 1.0) were prepared by Sol - Gel technique. The structural as well as magnetic properties of the synthesized samples have been studied and reported here. The structural characterizations of the samples were analyzed by using X – Ray Diffraction (XRD), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), and Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM). The single phase spinel cubic structure of all the prepared samples was tested by XRD and FTIR. The particle size was observed to decrease from 18.636 nm to 6.125 nm by chromium doping and induced a tensile strain in all the zinc chromium mixed ferrites. The magnetic properties of few samples (x = 0.0, 0.4, 1.0) were investigated using Vibrating Sample Magnetometer (VSM)

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Synthesis, Characterization and Comparative Luminescence Studies of Rare-Earth-Doped Gd{sub 2}O{sub 3} Nanoparticles

A facile direct precipitation method was used for the synthesis of luminescence nanomaterial. Gd{sub 2}O{sub 3} doped with rare earth element Eu{sup 3+} is synthesized by polyol route. The synthesized nanoparticles show their characteristic red emission. The nanoparticles are characterized by x-ray diffractometer (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and photoluminescence (PL) study. The synthesized nanoparticles are spherical particles with ~ 30 nm size. The photoluminescence studies show the characteristic Eu{sup 3+} red emission. The PL study shows the intensity of the magnetic dipole transition ({sup 5}D{sub 0}→ {sup 7}F{sub 1}) at 592 nm compared to that of the electronic dipole transition ({sup 5}D{sub 0}→ {sup 7}F{sub 2}) at 615 nm. The nanomaterials can show significant application in various display devices and biomedical applications for tracking.

77 NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY↗

Formation mechanism of an α2 phase-rich layer on the surface of Ti-22Al-25Nb alloy

Highlights: • This paper reports the formation mechanism of a α{sub 2}-rich layer on the surface of the Ti-22Al-25Nb alloy. • The α{sub 2}-rich layer is significantly harder than the alloy interior. • The α{sub 2}-rich layer is formed owing to the Ti{sub 2}O{sub 3} particles produced by oxygen infiltration at the surface. • The relative orientation of the α{sub 2} and Ti{sub 2}O{sub 3} phases is (1–100)α{sub 2}//(1–100)Ti{sub 2}O{sub 3}. - Abstract: In order to investigate the formation mechanism of the α{sub 2}-rich layer in the surface of the Ti-22Al-25Nb alloy, systematic analyses are carried out on the surface of the alloy by using SEM, XRD and EBSD. The results reveal that this α{sub 2}-rich layer is formed by oxidation of the surface layer. In this surface oxidation layer, there are abundant Ti{sub 2}O{sub 3} particles similar with the α{sub 2} phase in structure. These Ti{sub 2}O{sub 3} particles serve as nucleation points and lower the nucleation energy of the α{sub 2} phase, promoting the precipitation and growth of α{sub 2} phase on the surface layer of the alloy. This surface layer has a hardness of 684 HV, significantly exceeding the value of 312 HV for the interior of the alloy and thus considerably improves the surface properties of the alloy, serving as a high-performance, self-generated surface strengthening layer.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Reduced graphene oxide and vertically aligned carbon nanotubes superhydrophilic films for supercapacitors devices

Graphical abstract: - Highlights: • Graphene nanosheets were produced onto wire rods. • RGO and VACNT-O were evaluated and compared as supercapacitor electrode. • RGO and VACNT-O have structural and electrochemical properties quite similars. • The materials present good specific capacitance, energy storage and power delivery. - Abstract: Reduced graphene oxide (RGO) and vertically aligned carbon nanotubes (VACNT) superhydrophilic films were prepared by chemical vapor deposition techniques for electrical energy storage investigations. These electrodes were characterized in terms of their material and electrochemical properties by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), surface wettability, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), energy dispersive and Raman spectroscopies, cyclic voltammetry (CV) and galvanostatic charge–discharge. We observed several physical structural and electrochemical similarities between these carbon-based materials with particular attention to very good specific capacitance, ultra-high energy storage and fast power delivery. Our results showed that the main difference between specific capacitance values is attributed to pseudocapacitive contribution and high density of multiwall nanotubes tips. In this work we have tested a supercapacitor device using the VACNT electrodes.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Fabrication of chitosan/polyacrylonitrile blend and semi-IPN hydrogel with epichlorohydrin

The present study is focused on the preparation of chitosan (CS)/polyacrylonitrile (PAN) blend and semi-interpenetrating polymer network (sIPN). Blend CS/PAN hydrogel films (HFs) were prepared by solution blending and casting technique. CS in the blend was crosslinked with epichlorohydrin (ECH) to prepare sIPN. The developed CS/PAN blend and sIPN hydrogels were characterized with Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FE-SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Thermagravimetric analysis (TGA), and Differential Scanning Calorimeter (DSC). The result showed good miscibility between CS and PAN and crosslinking of CS in the blend. The swelling of the different blended and sIPN hydrogels samples were examined at room temperature (T{sub r}). Blend (C80/P20) sample showed highest swelling (∼2400%) and fair degree of stability (∼28% until 96 h), whereas sIPN hydrogel exhibited relatively low degree of swelling (∼244%) and high degree of aqueous (∼85 % until 96 h), and thermal (onset temperature 304°C) stabilities.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Tuning the metal-insulator transition via epitaxial strain and Co doping in NdNiO{sub 3} thin films grown by polymer-assisted deposition

The epitaxial NdNi{sub 1-x}Co{sub x}O{sub 3} (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.10) thin films on (001) LaAlO{sub 3} and (001) SrTiO{sub 3} substrates were grown by a simple polymer-assisted deposition technique. The co-function of the epitaxial strain and Co doping on the metal-insulator transition in perovskite nickelate NdNiO{sub 3} thin films is investigated. X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy reveal that the as-prepared thin films exhibit good crystallinity and heteroepitaxy. The temperature dependent resistivities of the thin films indicate that both the epitaxial strain and Co doping lower the metal-insulator (MI) transition temperature, which can be treated as a way to tune the MI transition. Furthermore, under the investigated Co-doping levels, the MI transition temperature (T{sub MI}) shifts to low temperatures with Co content increasing under both compressive and tensile strain, and the more distinction is in the former situation. When x is increased up to 0.10, the insulating phase is completely suppressed under the compressive strain. With the strain increases from compression to tension, the resistivities are enhanced both in the metal and insulating regions. However, the Co-doping effect on the resistivity shows a more complex situation. As Co content x increases from zero to 0.10, the resistivities are reduced both in the metal and insulating regions under the tensile strain, whereas they are enhanced in the high-temperature metal region under the compressive strain. Based on the temperature dependent resistivity in the metal regions, it is suggested that the electron-phonon coupling in the films becomes weaker with the increase of both the strain and Co-doping.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Characterization of silver/polystyrene nanocomposites prepared by in situ bulk radical polymerization

Graphical abstract: - Highlights: • Synthesis and characterization of polystyrene nanocomposites based on Ag nanoparticles. • The glass transition temperature decreased in nanocomposites with respect to the pure polymer. • Resistance of the polymer to thermal degradation enhanced with Ag nanoparticles content. - Abstract: Nanocomposites (NCs) with different content of silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) embeded in polystyrene (PS) matrix were prepared by in situ bulk radical polymerization. The nearly monodisperse Ag NPs protected with oleylamine were synthesized via organic solvo-thermal method and further used as a filler. The as-prepared spherical Ag NPs with diameter of 7.0 ± 1.5 nm were well dispersed in the PS matrix. The structural properties of the resulting Ag/PS NCs were characterized by transmission electron microscope (TEM) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, while optical properties were characterized using optical absorption measurements. The gel permeation chromatography (GPC) measurements showed that the presence of Ag NPs stabilized with oleylamine has no influence on the molecular weight and polydispersity of the PS matrix. The influence of silver content on the thermal properties of Ag/PS NCs was investigated by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The results indicated that resistance of PS to thermal degradation was improved upon incorporation of Ag NPs. The Ag/PS NCs have lower glass transition temperatures than neat PS because loosely packed oleylamine molecules at the interface caused the increase of free volume and chain segments mobility near the surface of Ag NPs.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Phase stability, porosity distribution and microstructural evolution of amorphous Al{sub 50}Ti{sub 50} powders consolidated by electrical resistance sintering

The effect of intensity and duration of the electrical resistance sintering process on the phase stability, porosity distribution and microstructural evolution of Al{sub 50}Ti{sub 50} amorphous powders is studied. The phase transformations during the consolidation process were determined by X-ray diffraction. The porosity distribution was observed by optical and scanning electron microscopy. The amorphous phase is partially transformed to the crystalline phase during the sintering process, and formation of AlTi and AlTi{sub 3} intermetallic compounds occurs for temperatures higher than 300 °C. Finally, it is observed that the compacts core have lower porosity and a higher tendency to the amorphous-crystalline phase transformation than the periphery.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Electron Spectrum of Nonlinear Cold Emission from a Metal under the Action of a Laser Shot

The nonlinear emission of electrons from a metal under the action of a femtosecond moderate-intensity laser pulse (laser shot) has been studied. A theoretical model of the process has been constructed based on the 1D nonstationary Schrödinger equation in the vacuum half-space with given boundary conditions for the electron wavefunction. This equation has been solved using the Laplace transformation. It has been assumed that the states of free electrons in a metal, which are described by the Sommerfeld theory of metals, are insignificantly influenced by the laser field. The energy spectrum of emitted electrons has been obtained, and its dependence on the parameters of the lased shot has been found. The calculated spectrum of nonlinear electron emission from a tungsten nanotip under the action of a 6.5-fs-long laser shot generating a field of 9.26 V/nm agrees with the experimental data.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Synthesis and investigation of optical properties of TOPO-capped CuInS{sub 2} semiconductor nanocrystal in the presence of different solvent

Graphical abstract: - Highlights: • TOPO-capped CuInS{sub 2} nanoparticles were synthesized by injection method. • Pure CuInS{sub 2} nanoparticle was obtained by injection in 200 °C. • The size, shape and optical properties of products were controlled. • Nanoparticles with size smaller than 10 nm and wurtzite phase was obtained. • The absorption and PL spectra of CuInS{sub 2} nanoparticles were tunable. - Abstract: In this work, synthesis of CuInS{sub 2} semiconductor nanoparticles by thermolysis of a mixed solution of CuAc, In(Ac){sub 3} and DDT in coordinating solvent and trioctylphosphine oxide (TOPO) as ligand was developed. CuInS{sub 2} nanoparticles with size of −10 nm and nanorods were obtained and optical properties controlled by adjusting the reaction parameters such as temperature and time. Also the shape of nanoparticles was controlled by various solvents elaborately. The as-prepared nanoparticles were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), UV–vis absorption, and photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy. With the use of different solvent different morphology obtained. In the presence of oleylamine/octadecene rectangle-like nanorods obtained while with the use of oleic acid sphere-like nanoparticles achieved.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗