3D TEM study on hollow α-Fe_2O_3 nanostructures and nanorings

Controlled synthesis of hollow structures with non-spherical holes is significant in fabricating nanomaterials with well-defined geometries and specific catalytic and electrochemical properties. Here we report the synthesis of uniform hexagonal bipyramid hematite(α-Fe_2O_3) nanoparticles with hollow and faceted interior via directional etching process in solution. The delicate hollow structures were investigated by electron tomography and growth mechanism was revealed unambiguously. The three-dimensional visualization demonstrates the outside surfaces of hematite particles are enclosed by six {104} and twelve {113} planes, due to the stabilizing effect of the F-anions on the exposed surfaces. The concurrent etching process is a reverse process of crystal growth and leads to the dissolution occurring at the edges and tips of the hexagonal bipyramid particles, resulting in the perforated crystals with exposed {102} internal facets or overetched nanorings with hexagonal cross-sections.This nanoscale growth and etching process still strictly follows the bulk crystal growth mechanism, thus shedding light on the synthesis of other nanoparticle with controlled morphologies and porous structures.     

Effect of chemical activation process on adsorption of As(Ⅴ) ion from aqueous solution by mechano-thermally synthesized zinc ferrite nanopowder

Nanostructured Zn Fe_2O_4 was synthesized by the heat treatment of a mechanically activated mixture of Zn O/α-Fe_2O_3. X-ray diffraction(XRD) and differential thermal analysis(DTA) results demonstrated that, after 5 h of the mechanical activation of the mixture, Zn Fe_2O_4 was formed by heat treatment at 750°C for 2 h. To improve the characteristics of Zn Fe_2O_4 for adsorption applications, the chemical activation process was performed. The 2 h chemical activation with 1 mol·L~(-1) HNO_3 and co-precipitation of 52%-57% dissolved Zn Fe_2O_4 led to an increase in the saturated magnetization from 2.0 to 7.5 emu·g~(-1) and in the specific surface area from 5 to 198 m~2·g~(-1). In addition, the observed particle size reduction of chemically activated Zn Fe_2O_4 in field emission scanning electron microscopy(FESEM) micrographs was in agreement with the specific surface area increase. These improvements in Zn Fe_2O_4 characteristics considerably affected the adsorption performance of this adsorbent. Adsorption results revealed that mechano-thermally synthesized Zn Fe_2O_4 had the maximum arsenic adsorption of 38% with the adsorption capacity of 0.995 mg·g~(-1) in a 130 mg·L~(-1) solution of As(V) after 30 min of agitation. However, chemically activated Zn Fe_2O_4 showed the maximum arsenic adsorption of approximately 99% with the adsorption capacity of 21.460 mg·g~(-1) under the same conditions.These results showed that the weak adsorption performance of mechano-thermally synthesized Zn Fe_2O_4 was improved by the chemical activation process.     

Transition-metal-doped Fe2O3 nanoparticles for oxygen evolution reaction

Hematite(α-Fe_2O_3)has been extensively studied as a promising photocatalyst,with the capacity to split water under visible light.To tune its electronic structure and improve the performance for oxygen evolution reaction(OER),high-quality single crystals ofα-Fe_2O_3nanoparticles were synthesized and doped by various transition metals(M=V,Cr,Mn,Zn,Co,Ni,Cu,Nb,Mo,Ti)by a molten-salt flux method.Optical,electronic and catalytic properties of transition-metal-dopedα-Fe_2O_3(TM-dopedα-Fe_2O_3)have been systematically investigated.Cobalt has been identified as the best dopant forα-Fe_2O_3,reducing the OER overpotential by 0.16 V with respect to the undoped.     

Heat transfer process of roadway embankments with different type and width of road surface in permafrost regions

The stability of roadbed in permafrost areas has become a big concern with rapid development and construction of throughways, highways and railways in these areas under the current climate change since it is governed by the thermal condition, or in other words, the heat transfer process in the embankment. We carried out a finite element analysis to analyze the effects of different types of road surface and the effect of breadth of embankment on the embankment heat transfer process. The results indicated that the mean annual heat transfer rate at the bottom of the roadway embankment with asphalt surfaces is 3 times that with sandy gravel surfaces. This means annual heat transfer rate increased by 60% when the breadth of asphalt surface was doubled. The increased heat transfer rate was mainly located at the bottom of the embankment and resulted in the effect of thermal concentration,. leading to degradation of the permafrost by as much as 1.6 times. It was also found that increasing embankment height would not reduce these increases of the heat transfer rate. Therefore both asphalt road surface and increased embankment breadth can lead to an intensified heat transfer rate in roadway embankment, consequently degradating the underlying permafrost and embankment instability.     

Dependence of Softness on Fabric Surface Quality and Compressibility

The term ＂softness＂ is loosely used to describe the physical as well as sensory attributes of fabric and other textiles, and several psychophysicai evaluation methods as well as its predicting equations exist. However, the information for physiological mechanism of fabric softness is lack. To explain the blomechauical and the potential neurophysiologicai phecnomenon for exploring fabric softness, accompanying to the procedures in manual exploration for softness and the anatomical multllayor structures of human finer, a contact finite dement （FE） model between finger and fabric is made to conduct an active contact analysis. In present FE model, the effect of surface friction index, compression modulus, Poisson＇s ratio of fabric on softness dlscrimination is Investigated. The interests are in the contributlons of these fabric property variables to contact area, Interracial friction shear stress and contact pressure distributions, which arc significant cognitive variables or stimulus parameters in peripheral neural levels. The mechanistic data for fabric specimens indicates that the basis for the perception of softness of flexible and bulk fabric is likely on the spatial variation of pressure on the skin （or, equivalently the skin displacement and its derivatives） resulting from surface friction phenomenon and compression property of fabric. In present model, however, the effect of Poisson＇s ratio on the total force exerted by fingertip is not significant statistically. Therefore, compression modulus of fabric is, not the only underlying physical variable accounting for peripheral neural response, and also the surface friction phenomenon plays an important role in feeltouch softness of fabric, i.e. the compressibility and surface properties of fabric arc the necessary physical variables involved for the haptic rendering of its softness.     

Tribological performance and chemistry of films for di-n-butyl dithiocarbamate derivatives in rapeseed oil

Two di-n-butyl dithiocarbamate derivatives were easily synthesized. Their tribological performances as lubricating oil additives in rapeseed oil were evaluated using a four-ball machine, and their chemistry of films was analyzed with X-ray absorption near-edge spectroscopy (XANES). The results indicate that the two compounds possess excellent anti-wear property and good load-carrying capacity. According to the XANES results, for the thermal films, the outer surfaces are mainly composed of N, S-containing polymer and ferric sulfate, and the near-surface and the bulk are composed of ferrous sulfate, while for the anti-wear films, the outer surfaces are only composed of ferric sulfate, but the near-surface and the bulk are mainly composed of ferrous sulfate.     

Surface nanostructures orienting self-protection of an orthodontic nickel-titanium shape memory alloys wire

Shape memory alloys (SMA) have been applied to a wide variety of applications in a number of different fields such as aeronautical applications, sensors/actuators, medical sciences as well as orthodontics. It is a hot topic to enhance the anti-corrosion ability of orthodontic wires for clinical applications. In this letter, a very nice fractal structure, micro-domains with identical nanometer sized grooves, was ob- tained on the surfaces of the orthodontic wires with an oxygen plasma and acid corrosion. The concave parts of the grooves were dominated by titanium and convex parts were the same as the bulk wires. The micro-nano fractal structure generated a hydrophobic surface with the largest contact angle to water being about 157°. The titanium dominated nanolayer and the hydrophobicity of the surface resulted in jointly the great improvement of the anti-corrosion ability of the orthodontic wires. Because the fractal structures of the wires were formed automatically when they immersed in acidic environment, hence, the self-protection of the oxygen plasma-treated orthodontic wires in acidic environment indicates their potential applications in orthodontics, and should be also inspirable for other applications of SMA materials.     

Speciation of the elements and compositions on the surfaces of dust storm particles： The evidence for the coupling of iron with sulfur in aerosol during the long-range transport

The speciation of the elements on the surface of the particles collected during dust storm and non-dust storm in Beijing and Inner Mongolia was studied by XPS. The major species of iron on the surface were oxides, sulfate, silicate,FeOOH and minor part sorbed on SiO2/Al2O3. Sulfate is the dominant species of sulfur on the surface. SiO2 and Al2O3 are the main components of Si and Al on the surface respectively.One of the most important findings was that the Fe(Ⅱ) (FeS and FeSO4) produced could account for up to 44.3% and 45.6% of the total Fe on the surface in the aerosol sample collected at that night and next day of the “peak” time of the dust storm occurring on March 20, 2002, while Fe2(SO4)3,one of the Fe(Ⅲ) species on the surface decreased from 67.1% to 49.5% and 48.0% respectively. Both S and Fe enriched on the surface of aerosol particles. Fe(Ⅱ) accounted for 1.3%-5.3% of total Fe in bulk aerosol samples during dust storm. These results provided strong evidence to support the hypothesis of the coupling between iron and sulfur in aerosols during the long-range transport, which would have important impact on the global biogeochemical cycle.     

Corrosion behavior of ferritic ODS steel prepared by adding YH_2 nanoparticles in supercritical water at 600 °C

The corrosion behavior of the ferritic oxide dispersion strengthened(ODS)steel(14Cr-3Al-2W-0.1Ti)prepared by adding YH_2nanoparticles(NPs)was investigated in supercritical water(SCW)at 600°C for 1500 h.The mass gain of the ODS steel(215.5 mg/dm~2)was lower than that of SUS430 steel(357.2 mg/dm~2).A dual oxide layer generated on the surface of ODS steel after corrosion in SCW.The outer layer was composed of Fe_2O_3and Fe_3O_4,while the inner layer composed of the spinel-type FeCr_2O_4together with Al_2O_3.The generation of Y_2Ti_2O_7NPs in the ODS steel by adding YH_2NPs prohibits the formation of Y-Al-O particles and leaves more Al available to form a continuous protective oxide scale to improve the corrosion resistance.Moreover,the Y_2Ti_2O_7NPs act as efficient barriers to suppress the outward diffusion of metal atoms.This novel ODS steel shows potential applications in supercritical water.     

XANES analysis of tribochemical and thermal films generating from some organic polysulfides

X-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) spectroscopy has been firstly used to characterize the chemical nature of tribochemical and thermal films generated from alkyl, benzyl and acyl-containing organic polysulfides. It has been found that the thermal films generated from these polysulfides are mainly composed of FeSO4, and alkyl disulfides also exist in the subsurface and bulk of thermal films generated from acyl-containing polysulfides. Under tribochemical conditions, the composition of film is dependent on the molecular structure of the additives. Namely, the tribochemical film generated from alkyl polysulfide is composed of alkyl disulfide in the out surface, a mixture of FeSO4, FeS2 and sulfoxide in the subsurface, and FeSO4 in the bulk; the composition of the tribochemical film for benzyl polysulfide consists of FeSO4 in the out surface, while the composition in subsurface and bulk is the same as the alkyl polysulfide. For acyl-containing polysulfides, the tribochemical films consist of alkyl disulfide in the out surface, and FeS2 in the subsurface and bulk.     

Theory of Digitized Conjugate Surface and Solution to Conjugate Surface

In order to meet the needs of designing and processing digitized surfaces,the method to spreading digitized surface has been proposed.The key technique is to solve the problem of digitized conjugate surface.In the paper,the digitized conjugate surface was theoretically investigated,and the solution of conjugate surface based on digitized surface was also studied.The digitized conjugate surface theory was then proposed,and applied to build the model of solving conjugate surface based on digitized surface.A corresponding algorithm was developed.This paper applies the software Conjugater1.0 that is developed by ourselves to compute the digitized conjugate surfaces of the drum-tooth surface.This study provides theoretical and technical bases for analyzing engagement of digitized surface,simulation and numerical processing technique.     

Fractal Characteristics of Dry Sliding Surfaces Based on 3-D Measurements

3-D surface morphology measurements of compact graphite irons were used to analyze the fractal characteristics of the surfaces to relate the dry sliding surface morphology to the fractal dimension. The measurements show that the fractal dimensions (Df) of the sliding surfaces vary from1 to 2 and are closely related to the surface morphologies. Increasing depths of grooves or pits increases the Df values, At the same time, increasing densities of the grooves also causes the Df values to increase. The data can be used to discuss relationship between Df and the friction coefficient as well as the wear rate.     

Bio-oxidation of pyrite, chalcopyrite and pyrrhotite by Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans

This paper deals with the bio-oxidation processes by Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans of pyrite, chalcopyrite and pyrrhotite. Our experimental results show distinctive bio-oxidation characteristics for the three sulfide minerals. In the presence of A. ferrooxidans, the sulfide oxidation rates generally decrease in the order of pyrrhotite, chalcopyrite and pyrite. The pH during bio-oxidation of pyrite tends to decrease as a whole, whereas a rise-fall pattern was recorded for both chalcopyrite and pyrrhotite in their pH variations. No deposition was observed during the bio-oxidation of pyrite, suggesting a possible link to lower pH value in the process. However, large amounts of jarosite and element sulfur were determined in the bio-oxidation processes of chalcopyrite and pyrrhotite. A. ferrooxidans individuals were found directly as attachments to erosion pits on the smooth surface of pyrite. The erosion pits are similar to the bacterium in shape and length, and thus are probably products of dissolution of organic acid secreted by the cells on the mineral surface. More complicatedly, biofilm exists on the surfaces of chalcopyrite and pyrrhotite. This type of structured community of A. ferrooxidans is enclosed in the extracellular polymeric substances (EPS), and covered with the deposition generated in the bio-oxidation processes of chalcopyrite and pyrrhotite. Different bio-oxidation processes of pyrite, chalcopyrite and pyrrhotite may be linked mainly to characteristics of individual minerals and the pH in the reaction solution of the bio-oxidation system.     

Heat transfer process of roadway embankments with different type and width of road surface in permafrost regions

The stability of roadbed in permafrost areas has become a big concern with rapid development and construction of throughways, highways and railways in these areas under the current climate change since it is governed by the thermal condition, or in other words, the heat transfer process in the embankment. We carried out a finite element analysis to analyze the effects of different types of road surface and the effect of breadth of embankment on the embankment heat transfer process. The results indicated that the mean annual heat transfer rate at the bottom of the roadway embankment with asphalt surfaces is 3 times that with sandy gravel surfaces. This means annual heat transfer rate increased by 60% when the breadth of asphalt surface was doubled. The increased heat transfer rate was mainly located at the bottom of the embankment and resulted in the effect of thermal concentration,. leading to degradation of the permafrost by as much as 1.6 times. It was also found that increasing embankment height would not reduce these increases of the heat transfer rate. Therefore both asphalt road surface and increased embankment breadth can lead to an intensified heat transfer rate in roadway embankment, consequently degradating the underlying permafrost and embankment instability.     

Initiating, growing and cracking of hydrogen blisters

The growing process of a hydrogen blister in a wheel steel was observed in situ with an optical microscope, and the fracture surfaces formed from broken blisters on a wheel steel and bulk metallic glass were investigated. The initiating, growing, cracking and breaking of hydrogen blisters are as follows. Supersaturated vacancies can increase greatly during charging and gather together into a vacancy cluster （small cavity）. Hydrogen atoms become hydrogen molecules in the vacancy cluster and hydrogen molecules can stabilize the vacancy cluster. The small cavity becomes the nucleus of hydrogen blister. The blister will grow with entering of vacancies and hydrogen atoms. With increasing hydrogen pressure, plastic deformation occurs first, the hydrogen blister near the surface extrudes, and then cracks initiate along the wall of the blister with further increasing hydrogen pressure. A cracked blister can grow further through propagating of cracks until it breaks.     

Design of Smart Polymer-Protein Conjugates and Smart Magnetic Nanoparticles for Use in Microfluidic Diagnostic Assays

1 Results In this talk,I will describe the design,synthesis and application of smart polymers for use in microfluidic diagnostic devices.We are synthesizing a variety of temperature- and pH-responsive polymers using RAFT living free radical polymerization techniques.This allows us to control molecular weight and to achieve a narrow MW distribution of the polymers. Furthermore,RAFT polymers have reactive end groups that are used to conjugate the polymers to proteins.We are also using those groups to bind and coat the smart polymers onto the surfaces of polymeric or magnetic nanoparticles.We have applied UV graft co-polymerization techniques to coat the channel surfaces in the microfluidic devices with the smart polymers.The smart polymers we work with include temperature-responsive polymers such as poly(N-isopropyl acrylamide) or PNIPAAm and pH-responsive polymers such as poly(propylacrylic acid) or PPAA.We are synthesizing random,block and graft copolymers of these compositions as well.     

Electrical conductivity optimization of the Na_3AlF_6–Al_2O_3–Sm_2O_3 molten salts system for Al–Sm intermediate binary alloy production

Metal Sm has been widely used in making Al–Sm magnet alloy materials. Conventional distillation technology to produce Sm has the disadvantages of low productivity, high costs, and pollution generation. The objective of this study was to develop a molten salt electrolyte system to produce Al–Sm alloy directly, with focus on the electrical conductivity and optimal operating conditions to minimize the energy consumption. The continuously varying cell constant(CVCC) technique was used to measure the conductivity for the Na_3 AlF_6–AlF_3–LiF–MgF_2–Al_2O_3–Sm_2O_3 electrolysis medium in the temperature range from 905 to 1055°C. The temperature(t) and the addition of Al_2O_3(W(Al_2O_3)), Sm_2O_3(W(Sm_2O_3)), and a combination of Al_2O_3 and Sm_2O_3 into the basic fluoride system were examined with respect to their effects on the conductivity(κ) and activation energy. The experimental results showed that the molten electrolyte conductivity increases with increasing temperature(t) and decreases with the addition of Al_2O_3 or Sm_2O_3 or both. We concluded that the optimal operation conditions for Al–Sm intermediate alloy production in the Na_3 AlF_6–AlF_3–LiF–MgF_2–Al_2O_3–Sm_2O_3 system are W(Al_2O_3) + W(Sm_2O_3) = 3wt%, W(Al_2O_3):W(Sm_2O_3) = 7:3, and a temperature of 965 to 995°C, which results in satisfactory conductivity, low fluoride evaporation losses, and low energy consumption.     

Chemical composition dependence of atomic oxygen erosion resistance in Cu-rich bulk metallic glasses

The effect of atomic oxygen(AO) on the surface oxidation of several typical Cu-based bulk metallic glasses(BMGs) was studied in the present work.The AO source using in this study is generated by discharge plasma type ground simulation equipment.The AO erosion/oxidation resistances of the amorphous alloy samples were assessed based on the analysis of mass loss,surface color and microstructure.It is found that these Cu-based BMGs possess good AO erosion/oxidation resistance and their resistance to AO erosion/oxidation strongly depends on the chemical composition.For the samples containing more Ag and/or Cu,the AO erosion/oxidation resistance is weaker.The present result is important for designing new metallic glasses using as space materials.     

Does noble metal modification improve the photocatalytic activity of BiOCl?

Noble metal-surface-deposited BiOCl photocatalysts were prepared through photo-deposition and used for photodecomposition of Rhodamine B(RhB).The received materials were characterised using X-ray photoemission spectroscopy(XPS),UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy(UV-vis DRS),and X-ray diffraction(XRD) to understand the influence of surface deposited noble metals.The results showed that the noble metal species on the surface of BiOCl are in metallic state,which also brought about enhanced light absorption in broad UV-vis region due to plasmonic effects induced by the surfacedeposited noble metal species.All the samples showed good activity in photodecomposition of RhB under UV-light irradiation,but only Ag/BiOCl was more active than bulk BiOCl.The mechanism of the different reactivity of these noble-metal modified BiOCl was tentatively proposed based on the band structure and the interactions between noble metals and the BiOCl.     

Protein adsorption,cell viability and corrosion properties of Ti6Al4V alloy treated by plasma oxidation and anodic oxidation

The hardness, wettability, and electrochemical properties of Ti6Al4V alloy surfaces treated with anodic oxidation and plasma oxidation as well as the viabilities of the different cell lines on the obtained surfaces were investigated. The anodic oxidation was performed for 10 min under 100 V potential, and it resulted in a 0.95 μm thick nanoporous anatase-TiO_2 structure. On the other hand, plasma oxidation was carried out at 650℃ for 1 h and resulted in a dense rutile-TiO_2 structure with a thickness of 1.2 μm. While a hardness of HV_(0.025) 823 and roughness of ～220 nm were obtained by plasma oxidation, those obtained by anodic oxidation were HV_(0.025) 512 and ～130 nm, respectively. The anodic oxidation process created a more hydrophilic surface with a contact angle of 87.2°. Both oxidation processes produced similar properties in terms of corrosion behavior and showed better resistance than the as-received state in a certain range of potential. Moreover, the surface treatments led to no significant change in the protein adsorption levels, which indicates that the difference in viability between the osteoblast and fibroblast cells was not due to the difference in surface protein adsorption. Given all the factors, the surfaces obtained by anodic oxidation treatment revealed higher cell viability than those obtained by plasma oxidation(p = 0.05).