Search Results (305)

The cement industry’s significant carbon footprint has driven research into sustainable alternatives like alkali-activated materials (AAMs). This study investigates the synergistic effect of blending copper–nickel slag (CNS) with fly ash (FA) to produce high-performance AAMs. Mechanically activated mixtures of CNS and FA, with FA content varying from 0 to 100%, were alkali-activated with sodium silicate. A distinct synergy was observed, with the blend of 80% CNS and 20% FA (AACNS–80) achieving the highest compressive strength (99.9 MPa at 28 days), significantly outperforming the single-precursor systems. Analytical techniques including thermogravimetry, FTIR spectroscopy, and SEM–EDS were used to elucidate the mechanisms behind this enhancement. The results indicate that the AACNS–80 formulation promotes a greater extent of reaction and forms a denser, more homogeneous microstructure. The synergy is attributed to an optimal particle packing density and the co-dissolution of precursors, leading to the formation of a complex gel that incorporates magnesium and iron from the slag. This work demonstrates the potential for valorizing copper–nickel slag in the production of high-strength, sustainable binders. Full article

Soybean flour (SF) allergy is a common food allergy reaction that significantly impacts patients’ daily diet and quality of life. This study used a combination of physical ball milling technology and γ-Aminobutyric acid (GABA) treatment to reduce the antigenicity of SF. When the material ball ratio was 1:14 (w/w), SF after ball milling treatment exhibited the smallest average particle size, and the highest solubility, bulk density, and antioxidant capacity. The functional properties of SF were further enhanced by adding GABA. Meanwhile, SF with 0.4% added GABA exhibited the smallest average particle size, the highest solubility, and the highest antioxidant capacity. The antigen content in soybean flour was determined using the soy glycinin ELISA kit and β-conglycinin ELISA kit. Compared with the original SF, the antigen contents of globulin and β-conglycinin decreased by 89.11% and 89.61%, respectively, in SF with the addition of 0.4% GABA after ball milling treatment. These results indicate that the addition of GABA not only further optimizes the solubility and antioxidant properties of SF, but also significantly reduces its antigen content. This study developed a combined treatment method to reduce allergenicity, overcoming the limitations of a single physical or biological treatment and providing a new technical approach for developing soybean flour products with low allergenicity. Full article

Ionic liquid (IL)-based electrolytes have garnered significant interest for enhancing lithium-ion battery (LIB) safety due to their non-flammability, thermal stability, high conductivity, and broad electrochemical stability. We propose novel pyrrolinium-based ionic liquids to enhance lithium-ion mobility and address safety concerns in LIBs. This study investigated LiTFSI in [Pyr13] [FSI] ionic liquid for Li-ion batteries. The cyclic stability and rate performance of single-layer full cells with commercial graphite anode and NMC532 cathode were examined for the electrolyte required per cell and compared to those using a carbonate electrolyte (LP30). Electrolytes containing LiTFSI/[Pyr13] [FSI] exhibited satisfactory rate performance and stable cycling for 100 cycles. The reversible capacity was maintained at over 22 mAh for a cycle period of 100 cycles with an electrolyte loading of 161.8 µL/cm². These electrolytes exhibited the highest oxidation stability, surpassing 5.3 V compared to that of the Li⁺/Li reference electrode. Long cycle life of up to 1000 cycles was conducted, showing 80% capacity retention. Post-mortem analysis using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and micro-Raman spectroscopy allowed observation of LiTFSI/ [Pyr13] [FSI] effects on cathode and anode active particle stability, and reduced formation of secondary reactions between the IL and battery electrodes. Full article

Aluminum nitride (AlN), diamond, and β-phase gallium oxide (β-Ga₂O₃) belong to the family of ultra-wide bandgap (UWBG) semiconductors and exhibit remarkable properties for future power and optoelectronic applications. Compared to conventional wide bandgap (WBG) materials such as silicon carbide (SiC) and gallium nitride (GaN), they demonstrate clear advantages in terms of high-voltage, high-temperature, and high-frequency operation, as well as extremely high breakdown fields. In this work, numerical simulations are performed to evaluate and compare the radiative responses of AlN, diamond, and β-Ga₂O₃ when exposed to neutron irradiation covering the full atmospheric spectrum at sea level, from 1 meV to 10 GeV. The Geant4 simulation framework is used to model neutron interactions with the three materials, focusing on single-particle events that may be triggered. A detailed comparison is conducted, particularly concerning the generation of secondary charged particles and their distributions in energy, linear energy transfer (LET), and range given by SRIM. The contribution of the ¹⁴N(n,p)¹⁴C reaction in AlN is also specifically investigated. In addition, the study examines the consequences of these interactions in terms of electron-hole pair generation and charge deposition, and discusses the implications for the radiation sensitivity of these materials when exposed to atmospheric neutrons. Full article

Superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) with sizes below 10 nm are biocompatible and non-toxic, making them promising for biomedical applications. To prevent their agglomeration and enhance their functionality, the nanoparticles were coated with citric acid (CA), which modifies the surface charge, improves dispersion stability, and facilitates biomedical use. In this work, a modular flow-through microreactor system was employed to synthesize and coat the nanoparticles in a single, continuous two-step process. The system enables precise control over temperature and mixing, ensuring uniform reaction conditions and minimizing hot spots. The synthesized Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles exhibited an average crystallite size of ~5 nm (XRD) and particle sizes of 4–6 nm (TEM). FTIR analysis confirmed the successful surface functionalization with CA, while TGA indicated a coating mass fraction of approximately 4–20 wt%, increasing with higher CA concentration. Zeta potential measurements revealed strong colloidal stability, with values around −35 mV at pH 6.5. Among the tested CA concentrations, the sample with a molar ratio of Fe₃O₄:CA = 1:0.25 exhibited the most favorable properties, including narrow size distribution and improved dispersion stability. These findings demonstrate that the continuous modular flow approach enables the reproducible synthesis of highly stable, sub-10 nm CA-coated SPIONs, offering promising potential for biomedical applications, particularly as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agents. Full article

The in situ conversion of oil shale with air injection has the advantage of self-generated heat. The fragmentation degree of oil shale affects the oxidative pyrolysis process. In this paper, the basic properties of oil shale were analyzed, and weight loss observation and high-pressure TGA-DSC (thermogravimetric analysis and differential scanning calorimetry) tests in an air atmosphere were conducted using the cores and particles. The oil shale’s oxidative pyrolysis characteristics and the effect of its particle sizes were evaluated. The results show that the porosity and permeability conditions, TOC (total organic carbon), and inorganic mineral composition of oil shale are highly heterogeneous, with higher permeability and greater TOC along the bedding direction. The derivative of the TGA curve shows a single peak, and the heat flow curve shows a double peak that can be used to determine the oil shale’s oxidation type. The oxidative pyrolysis stage of organic matter can be divided into three temperature ranges, of which the medium temperature range is where the most combustion weight loss and heat release occurs. The activation energy of oxidative pyrolysis, which is affected by factors such as particle size, organic matter content, and pyrolysis temperature, is 46.92–248.11 kJ/mol, indicating the varying degrees of difficulty in initiating the reaction under different conditions. The pre-exponential factor is 3.15 × 10²–6.27 × 10¹¹ 1/s, and the enthalpy value is 2.575–4.045 kJ/g. The combustion indexes and reaction enthalpy under different particle sizes are more correlated with their own organic matter content. As oil shale particle size decreases, the variation law of the activation energy and pre-exponential factor changes with temperature from an initial continuous increase to a decrease, then increases again with the smallest kinetic parameters in the medium temperature zone. A small particle size, high organic matter content, and high pressure are more conducive to initiating the oxidative pyrolysis reaction to achieve in situ conversion of organic matter. Full article

Renewable energy systems in the Industry 4.0 era have maintenance and production maximization as their central element, depending on the type of source. For solar panels, achieving these goals requires periodic cleaning of dust deposits. This research integrates the detection of dust particles on solar panels using classification models based on machine learning models integrated into the Azure platform. However, the main contribution of the work does not lie in the development or improvement of a classification model, but in the design and implementation of an Internet of Things (IoT) hardware–software infrastructure that integrates these models into a complete predictive maintenance workflow for photovoltaic parks. The second objective focuses on how the identification of dust particles further generates alerts through a centralized platform that meets the needs of Industry 4.0. The methodology involves analyzing how the Azure Custom Vision tool is suitable for solving such a problem, while also focusing on how the resulting system allows for integration into an industrial workflow, providing real-time alerts when excessive dust is generated on the panels. The paper fits within the theme of the Special Issue by combining digital technologies from Industry 4.0 with sustainability goals. The novelty of this work lies in the proposed architecture, which, unlike traditional IoT approaches where the decision is centralized at the level of a single application, the authors propose a distributed logic where the local processing unit (Raspberry Pi) makes the decision to trigger cleaning based on the response received from the cloud infrastructure. This decentralization is directly reflected in the reduction in operational costs, given that the process is not a rapid one that requires a high speed of reaction from the system. Full article

Fly ash is a commonly used mineral addition in construction engineering. Research on its different particle size distributions can help optimize material performance, promote resource utilization, and support environmental protection. In this study, the particle size of fly ash was used as a variable; fly ash with a single particle size was prepared by means of sieving, and the particle size was precisely controlled as a variable, thus avoiding the errors caused by the addition of multiple different particle sizes. Replacing 10% of the cement with fly ash to prepare cement mortar, the influence of fly ash particle size on the performance of cement mortar was investigated. The results show that the mortar incorporating fly ash with a particle size range of 10–20 μm achieves a 28-day compressive strength of 58.25 MPa and a flexural strength of 10.29 MPa. The hydration heat release rate of fly ash in the 10–20 μm range reaches a maximum of 1.84 mW/g, and the total hydration heat release peaks at 211.17 J/g at 70 h. The influence of fly ash particle size on the total hydration heat release is relatively small in the early stages but increases rapidly with prolonged hydration time. When the fly ash particle size is in the 10–20 μm range, the cement mortar exhibits the lowest total porosity at 12.88%, with the smallest average pore size of 27.1 nm and the smallest most probable pore size of 21.2 nm. This reduces harmful pores, increases the number of harmless pores, makes the cement mortar structure denser, and improves the durability of the mortar. The types of hydration products of different particle sizes of fly ash did not change. The smaller the particle size of fly ash, the more complete the volcanic ash reaction, promoting the hydration of mortar. Full article

Direct thermal decomposition of rare-earth chlorides into rare-earth oxides (REOs) in a single step presents a short-process, wastewater-free, and environmentally friendly alternative to the conventional precipitation–calcination method, which produces large amounts of saline wastewater. While earlier reviews have primarily focused on summarizing reaction conditions and thermodynamic parameters, they have seldom discussed the critical variations in pyrolysis behavior across different rare-earth elements. This review highlights a novel classification of rare-earth chlorides into fixed-valence and variable-valence groups, revealing how their respective oxidation states govern thermodynamic stability, reaction pathways, and chlorine release behavior. Furthermore, a systematic comparison is provided on the effects of additives, temperature, and gas partial pressure on product purity, particle size, and microstructure, with particular attention to the mechanisms underlying oxychloride intermediate formation. Beyond fundamental reaction principles, this work uniquely evaluates the design and performance of existing pyrolysis reactors, outlining both opportunities and challenges in scaling up direct rare-earth chloride (RECl_x) pyrolysis for industrial REO production. By integrating mechanistic insights with reactor engineering considerations, this review offers advancements over previous descriptive summaries and proposes a strategic pathway toward sustainable rare-earth processing. Full article

Bolivian hemorrhagic fever (BHF) is a zoonotic disease caused by Mammarenavirus machupoense (MACV) featuring severe neurological and hemorrhagic symptoms and a high mortality rate. BHF is usually diagnosed by serological tests or real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR); these methods are often inaccessible in endemic regions due to a lack of laboratory infrastructure, creating a demand for sensitive and rapid equipment-free alternatives. Here, we present an isothermal method for MACV nucleic acid detection based on the Cas12a-based DETECTR system combined with recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA) in a single tube: the RT-RPA/DETECTR assay. We demonstrate the possibility of using more than one primer set for the simultaneous detection of MACV genetic variants containing multiple point mutations. The method was optimized and tested using specially developed virus-like armored particles containing the target sequence. The multiplex RT-RPA/DETECTR method achieved a limit of detection of approximately 5 × 10⁴ copies/ mL (80 aM) of armored particles. The method was validated using clinical samples spiked with virus-like particles. The assay proved to be selective and reliable in detecting certain nucleotide substitutions simultaneously. Full article

Background/Objectives: Pharmaceutical preparation technologies can enhance the bioavailability of poorly water-soluble drugs. Ursolic acid (UA) has been found to possess anti-cancer and hepatoprotective properties, demonstrating its potential as a therapeutic agent; however, its hydrophobicity and low solubility present challenges in the development of drug formulations. This study investigates the preparation of a nano-UA suspension by wet grinding, researches the influence of process parameters on particle size, and explores the rules of particle breakage and agglomeration by combining model fitting. Methods: Wet grinding experiments were conducted using a laboratory-scale grinding machine. The particle size distributions (PSDs) of UA suspensions under different grinding conditions were measured using a laser particle size analyzer. A single-factor experimental design was employed to optimize operational conditions. Model parameters for a population balance model considering both breakage and agglomeration were determined by an evolutionary algorithm optimization method. By measuring the degree to which UA inhibits the colorimetric reaction between salicylic acid and hydroxyl radicals, its antioxidant capacity in scavenging hydroxyl radicals was indirectly evaluated. Results: Wet grinding process conditions for nano-UA particles were established, yielding a UA suspension with a D50 particle size of 122 nm. The scavenging rate of the final grinding product was improved to three times higher than that of the UA raw material (D50 = 14.2 μm). Conclusions: Preparing nano-UA suspensions via wet grinding technology can significantly enhance their antioxidant properties. Model regression analysis of PSD data reveals that increasing the grinding mill’s stirring speed leads to more uniform particle size distribution, indicating that grinding speed (power) is a critical factor in producing nanosuspensions. Full article

Antimony (Sb) is a key material in high-capacity potassium and sodium batteries, particularly in the fabrication of Sb–carbon composites. In this work, nanoscale Sb powder was synthesized directly from SbCl₃, using Al powder as a reducing agent. The reduction process was carried out by gradually adding Al powder to an SbCl₃—acetone solution under continuous cooling and stirring, owing to the highly exothermic nature of the reaction. Acetone was found to be an effective solvent, enabling the formation of Sb nanoparticles with an average particle size of 50 nm and a crystallite size of 25 nm. The purity of the produced powder was nearly 100%, as confirmed via SEM/EDS and XRD analyses. XRD patterns of both commercial and synthesized Sb powders displayed identical and ideal Sb reflections, while FTIR spectra further confirmed their structural similarity. Sintering studies revealed relative densities of 99% for pellets prepared from both commercial and synthesized powders. SEM/EDS examinations of the raw powders and sintered pellets provided complementary microstructural and compositional insights. Overall, this study demonstrates the feasibility of producing high-purity nanoscale Sb powder through a simple, single-step redox process that is both cost-effective and efficient. Full article

Improving the efficiency of photocatalysts for hydrogen production while minimizing the amount of noble metals used is a pressing issue in modern green energy. This study examines the effect of ultra-small Pt additives on increasing the efficiency of the CuO_x-dark TiO₂ photocatalyst used in the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). Initially, Pt was photoreduced from the hydroxonitrate complex (Me₄N)₂[Pt₂(OH)₂(NO₃)₈] onto the surface of nanodispersed CuO_x powder obtained by pulsed laser ablation. Then, the obtained Pt-CuO_x particles were dispersed on the surface of highly defective dark TiO₂, so that the mass content of Pt in the samples varied in the range from 1.25 × 10⁻⁵ to 10⁻⁴. The prepared samples were examined using HRTEM, XRD, XPS, and UV-Vis DRS methods. It has been established that in the Pt-CuO_x particles, platinum is mainly present in the form of single atoms (SAs), both as Pt²⁺ (predominantly) and Pt⁴⁺ species, which should facilitate electron transfer and contribute to the manifestation of the strong metal–support interaction (SMSI) effect between SA Ptⁿ⁺ and CuO_x. In turn, in the Pt-CuO_x-dark TiO₂ samples, surface defects (O_v) and surface OH groups on dark TiO₂ particles act as “anchors”, promoting the spontaneous dispersion of CuO_x in the form of sub-nanometer clusters with the reduction of Cu²⁺ to Cu¹⁺ when localized near such O_v defects. During photocatalytic HER in aqueous glycerol solutions, irradiation was found to initiate a large number of catalytically active Pt⁰-CuO_x-O_v-dark TiO₂ centers, where the SMSI effect causes electron transfer from titania to SA Pt, thus promoting better separation of photogenerated charges. As a result, ultra-small additives of Pt led to up to a 1.34-fold increase in the amount of released hydrogen, while the maximum apparent quantum yield (AQY) reached 65%. Full article

RMB₆-TMB₂ (RM = rare earth elements, TM = transition metal elements) composites retain superior field emission properties of RMB₆ while addressing its inherent mechanical limitations by constructing a eutectic structure with TMB₂. Herein, an in situ route for synthesizing RMB₆-TMB₂ composite nanopowders with homogeneous phase distribution using reduction reactions was proposed. The LaB₆-ZrB₂ composite nanopowders were synthesized in situ for the first time using sodium borohydride (NaBH₄) as both a reducing agent and boron source, with lanthanum oxide (La₂O₃) and zirconium dioxide (ZrO₂) serving as metal sources. The effects of the synthesis temperature on phase compositions and microstructure of the composites were systematically investigated. The LaB₆-ZrB₂ system with a eutectic weight ratio exhibited an accelerated reaction rate, achieving a complete reaction at 1000 °C, 300 °C lower than that of single-phase ZrB₂ synthesis. The composite phases were uniformly distributed even at nanoscale. The composite powder displayed an average particle size of ~170 nm when synthesized at 1300 °C. With the benefit of the in situ synthesis method, LaB₆-TiB₂, CeB₆-ZrB₂, and CeB₆-TiB₂ composite powders were successfully synthesized. This process effectively addresses phase separation and contamination issues typically associated with traditional mixing methods, providing a scalable precursor for high-performance RMB₆-TMB₂ composites. Full article

In this study, Ni-Co-Y₂O₃ composite coating was prepared by electrodeposition, and the effect of Y₂O₃ particle size on the microstructure and properties of the coating was investigated. The samples were analyzed by XRD, SEM, AFM, EDS, cyclic voltammetry, XPS, hardness, and corrosion resistance test. The results indicate that the diffraction peak of the coating prepared with 50 nm particles exhibits reduced intensity and broadening, whereas the coating prepared with 100 nm particles displays a sharper and more pronounced peak. The onset reduction potential and the performance of the reduction reaction are influenced by particle size. When the particle size is 50 nm, the reduction process is less favorable, with an onset reduction potential of −0.9 V; in contrast, when the particle size is 100 nm, the reduction occurs more readily, with an onset reduction potential of −0.8 V. XPS analysis reveals that the chemical environment of elements varies with particle size. Regarding hardness, the coating prepared by combining different Y₂O₃ particle sizes exhibits higher hardness compared to that prepared using a single particle size, which can be attributed to the synergistic effect. In terms of corrosion resistance, the coating prepared with 100 nm Y₂O₃ particles demonstrates superior corrosion resistance, whereas the coating prepared with mixed particle sizes shows reduced stability and is more susceptible to corrosion. The coating prepared by mixing Y₂O₃ with particle size of 50 nm and 100 nm has a small friction coefficient. In summary, the particle size of Y₂O₃ has a significant influence on the microstructure, hardness, and corrosion resistance of Ni-Co-Y₂O₃ composite coatings. Full article