Ultrahydrophobic melamine sponge via interfacial modification with reduced graphene oxide/titanium dioxide nanocomposite and polydimethylsiloxane for oily wastewater treatment

Three-dimensional(3D)porous absorbents have attracted significant attention in the oily wastewater treatment technology due to their high porosity and elasticity.Given their amphiphilic surface,they have a propensity to simultaneously absorb water and oil,which restricts their range of applications.In this study,a reduced graphene oxide and titanium dioxide nanocomposite(rGO/TiO_(2))was used to fabricate an ultra-hydrophobic melamine sponge(MS)through interfacial modification using a solution immersion technique.To further modify it,poly-dimethylsiloxane(PDMS)was grafted onto its surface to establish stronger covalent bonds with the composite.The water contact angle of the sponge(rGO/TiO_(2)/PDMS/MS)was 164.2°,which satisfies the condition for ultrahydrophobicity.The evidence of its water repellency was demonstrated by the Cassie-Baxter theory and the lotus leaf effect.As a result of the increased density of rGO/TiO_(2)/PDMS/MS,it recorded an initial capacity that was 2 g/g lower than the raw MS for crude oil absorption.The raw MS retained 53% of its initial absorption capacity after 20 cycles of absorption,while rGO/TiO_(2)/PDMS/MS retained 97%,suggesting good recyclability.Excellent oil and organic solvent recovery(90%-96%)was demonstrated by rGO/TiO_(2)/PDMS/MS in oil-water combinations.In a continuous separation system,it achieved a remarkable separation efficiency of 2.4×10^(6)L/(m^(3)·h),and in turbulent emulsion separation,it achieved a demulsification efficiency of 90%-91%.This study provides a practical substitute for massive oil spill cleaning.

Synthesis and Characterization of a Novel Graphene Oxide/titanium Dioxide Solvent-free Nanofluid

A novel graphene oxide/titanium dioxide（GO/TiO2） solvent-free nanofluid was firstly synthesized by employing GO, which was in-situ deposited by TiO2 as the core and（3-Glycidyloxypropyl） trime thoxysilane（KH560） and polyetheramine-M2070 as the shell. The morphology and structure of GO/TiO2 nanofluid were verified by Transmission electron microscopy（TEM）, X-ray diffraction（XRD） analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy（FTIR）, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy（XPS） and UV-vis absorption spectra. These studies confirmed that TiO2 has been deposited onto GO with good dispersion, and the organic shell has been grafted onto the core successfully. Thermo gravimetric analysis（TGA） and viscosity analysis indicated that this nanoparticle hybrid material presented a liquid state without solvent at room temperature, and has great fluidity and thermal stability. The solubility investigation of GO/TiO2 nanofluid revealed its excellent amphiphilicity and the potential as the functional nanocomposites.

Removal of rhodamine B from aqueous solutions using vanadium pentoxide/titanium butyl oxide hybrid xerogels

A stable and insoluble V2O5·n H2O/tetra-n-butyl titanate（TBO） hybrid xerogel was synthesized by the sol–gel method. This novel material proved to be an efficient absorbent with an absorption capacity of 179 mg·g^-1for Rhodamine B（Rh B） in water due to its unique layered structure, which can effectively accommodate Rh B molecules between its layers as demonstrated by XRD and FTIR spectroscopic analyses.

Layered Potassium Titanium Niobate/Reduced Graphene Oxide Nanocomposite as a Potassium‑Ion Battery Anode

With graphite currently leading as the most viable anode for potassium-ion batteries(KIBs),other materials have been left relatively underexamined.Transition metal oxides are among these,with many positive attributes such as synthetic maturity,longterm cycling stability and fast redox kinetics.Therefore,to address this research deficiency we report herein a layered potassium titanium niobate KTiNbO5(KTNO)and its rGO nanocomposite(KTNO/rGO)synthesised via solvothermal methods as a high-performance anode for KIBs.Through effective distribution across the electrically conductive rGO,the electrochemical performance of the KTNO nanoparticles was enhanced.The potassium storage performance of the KTNO/rGO was demonstrated by its first charge capacity of 128.1 mAh g^(−1) and reversible capacity of 97.5 mAh g^(−1) after 500 cycles at 20 mA g^(−1),retaining 76.1%of the initial capacity,with an exceptional rate performance of 54.2 mAh g^(−1)at 1 A g^(−1).Furthermore,to investigate the attributes of KTNO in-situ XRD was performed,indicating a low-strain material.Ex-situ X-ray photoelectron spectra further investigated the mechanism of charge storage,with the titanium showing greater redox reversibility than the niobium.This work suggests this lowstrain nature is a highly advantageous property and well worth regarding KTNO as a promising anode for future high-performance KIBs.

The emerging role of nitric oxide in the synaptic dysfunction of vascular dementia

With an increase in global aging,the number of people affected by cerebrovascular diseases is also increasing,and the incidence of vascular dementia-closely related to cerebrovascular risk-is increasing at an epidemic rate.However,few therapeutic options exist that can markedly improve the cognitive impairment and prognosis of vascular dementia patients.Similarly in Alzheimer’s disease and other neurological disorders,synaptic dysfunction is recognized as the main reason for cognitive decline.Nitric oxide is one of the ubiquitous gaseous cellular messengers involved in multiple physiological and pathological processes of the central nervous system.Recently,nitric oxide has been implicated in regulating synaptic plasticity and plays an important role in the pathogenesis of vascular dementia.This review introduces in detail the emerging role of nitric oxide in physiological and pathological states of vascular dementia and summarizes the diverse effects of nitric oxide on different aspects of synaptic dysfunction,neuroinflammation,oxidative stress,and blood-brain barrier dysfunction that underlie the progress of vascular dementia.Additionally,we propose that targeting the nitric oxide-sGC-cGMP pathway using certain specific approaches may provide a novel therapeutic strategy for vascular dementia.

Role of nitric oxide in cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury:A biomolecular overview

Nitric oxide(NO)is a gaseous molecule produced by 3 different NO synthase(NOS)isoforms:Neural/brain NOS(nNOS/bNOS,type 1),endothelial NOS(eNOS,type 3)and inducible NOS(type 2).Type 1 and 3 NOS are constitutively expressed.NO can serve different purposes:As a vasoactive molecule,as a neurotransmitter or as an immunomodulator.It plays a key role in cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury(CIRI).Hypoxic episodes simulate the production of oxygen free radicals,leading to mitochondrial and phospholipid damage.Upon reperfusion,increased levels of oxygen trigger oxide synthases;whose products are associated with neuronal damage by promoting lipid peroxidation,nitrosylation and excitotoxicity.Molecular pathways in CIRI can be altered by NOS.Neuroprotective effects are observed with eNOS activity.While nNOS interplay is prone to endothelial inflammation,oxidative stress and apoptosis.Therefore,nNOS appears to be detrimental.The interaction between NO and other free radicals develops peroxynitrite;which is a cytotoxic agent.It plays a main role in the likelihood of hemorrhagic events by tissue plasminogen activator(t-PA).Peroxynitrite scavengers are currently being studied as potential targets to prevent hemorrhagic transformation in CIRI.

Boosting high-performance in Zr-rich side protonic solid oxide electrolysis cells by optimizing functional interlayer

Protonic solid oxide electrolysis cells(P-SOECs)are a promising technology for water electrolysis to produce green hydrogen.However,there are still challenges related key materials and anode/electrolyte interface.P-SOECs with Zr-rich electrolyte,called Zr-rich side P-SOECs,possess high thermodynamically stability under high steam concentrations but the large reaction resistances and the current leakage,thus the inferior performances.In this study,an efficient functional interlayer Ba_(0.95)La_(0.05)Fe_(0.8)Zn_(0.2)O_(3-δ)(BLFZ)in-between the anode and the electrolyte is developed.The electrochemical performances of P-SOECs are greatly enhanced because the BLFZ can greatly increase the interface contact,boost anode reaction kinetics,and increase proton injection into electrolyte.As a result,the P-SOEC yields high current density of 0.83 A cm^(-2) at 600℃ in 1.3 Vamong all the reported Zr-rich side cells.This work not only offers an efficient functional interlayer for P-SOECs but also holds the potential to achieve P-SOECs with high performances and long-term stability.

Sc-doped strontium iron molybdenum cathode for high-efficiency CO_(2)electrolysis in solid oxide electrolysis cell

Solid oxide electrolysis cells(SOECs)can effectively convert CO_(2)into high value-added CO fuel.In this paper,Sc-doped Sr_(2)Fe_(1.5)Mo_(0.3)Sc_(0.2)O_(6−δ)(SFMSc)perovskite oxide material is synthesized via solid-phase method as the cathode for CO_(2)electrolysis by SOECs.XRD confirms that SFMSc exhibits a stable cubic phase crystal structure.The experimental results of TPD,TG,EPR,CO_(2)-TPD further demonstrate that Sc-doping increases the concentration of oxygen vacancy in the material and the chemical adsorption capacity of CO_(2)molecules.Electrochemical tests reveal that SFMSc single cell achieves a current density of 2.26 A/cm^(2) and a lower polarization impedance of 0.32Ω·cm^(2) at 800°C under the applied voltage of 1.8 V.And no significant performance attenuation or carbon deposition is observed after 80 h continuous long-term stability test.This study provides a favorable support for the development of SOEC cathode materials with good electro-catalytic performance and stability.

Advancements in chromium-tolerant air electrode for solid oxide cells:A mini-review

Solid oxide cells(SOCs)are emerging devices for efficient energy storage and conversion.However,during SOC operation,gaseous chromium(Cr)species released from Fe-Cr alloy interconnect can lead to Cr deposition and poisoning of air electrodes,causing substantial degradation in electrochemical performance and compromising the longterm stability of SOCs.This mini-review examines the mechanism of Cr deposition and poisoning in air electrodes under both fuel-cell and electrolysis modes.Furthermore,emphasis is placed on the recent advancements in strategies to mitigate Cr poisoning,offering insights into the rational design and development of active and Cr-tolerant air electrodes for SOCs.

A high entropy stabilized perovskite oxide La_(0.2)Pr_(0.2)Sm_(0.2)Gd_(0.2)Sr_(0.2)Co_(0.8)Fe_(0.2)O_(3−δ)as a promising air electrode for reversible solid oxide cells

Reversible solid oxide cell(RSOC)is a new energy conversion device with significant applications,especially for power grid peaking shaving.However,the reversible conversion process of power generation/energy storage poses challenges for the performance and stability of air electrodes.In this work,a novel high-entropy perovskite oxide La_(0.2)Pr_(0.2)Gd_(0.2)Sm_(0.2)Sr_(0.2)Co_(0.8)Fe_(0.2)O_(3−δ)(HE-LSCF)is proposed and investigated as an air electrode in RSOC.The electrochemical behavior of HE-LSCF was studied as an air electrode in both fuel cell and electrolysis modes.The polarization impedance(Rp)of the HE-LSCF electrode is only 0.25Ω·cm^(2) at 800℃ in an air atmosphere.Notably,at an electrolytic voltage of 2 V and a temperature of 800℃,the current density reaches up to 1.68 A/cm^(2).The HE-LSCF air electrode exhibited excellent reversibility and stability,and its electrochemical performance remains stable after 100 h of reversible operation.With these advantages,HE-LSCF is shown to be an excellent air electrode for RSOC.

Elimination of methicillin‑resistant Staphylococcus aureus biofilms on titanium implants via photothermally‑triggered nitric oxide and immunotherapy for enhanced osseointegration

Background:Treatment of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus(MRSA)biofilm infections in implant placement surgery is limited by the lack of antimicrobial activity of titanium(Ti)implants.There is a need to explore more effective approaches for the treatment of MRSA biofilm infections.Methods:Herein,an interfacial functionalization strategy is proposed by the integration of mesoporous polydopamine nanoparticles(PDA),nitric oxide(NO)release donor sodium nitroprusside(SNP)and osteogenic growth peptide(OGP)onto Ti implants,denoted as Ti-PDA@SNP-OGP.The physical and chemical properties of Ti-PDA@SNP-OGP were assessed by scanning electron microscopy,X-ray photoelectron spectroscope,water contact angle,photothermal property and NO release behavior.The synergistic antibacterial effect and elimination of the MRSA biofilms were evaluated by 2′,7′-dichlorofluorescein diacetate probe,1-N-phenylnaphthylamine assay,adenosine triphosphate intensity,O-nitrophenyl-β-D-galactopyranoside hydrolysis activity,bicinchoninic acid leakage.Fluorescence staining,assays for alkaline phosphatase activity,collagen secretion and extracellular matrix mineralization,quantitative real‑time reverse transcription‑polymerase chain reaction,and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA)were used to evaluate the inflammatory response and osteogenic ability in bone marrow stromal cells(MSCs),RAW264.7 cells and their co-culture system.Giemsa staining,ELISA,micro-CT,hematoxylin and eosin,Masson's trichrome and immunohistochemistry staining were used to evaluate the eradication of MRSA biofilms,inhibition of inflammatory response,and promotion of osseointegration of Ti-PDA@SNP-OGP in vivo.Results:Ti-PDA@SNP-OGP displayed a synergistic photothermal and NO-dependent antibacterial effect against MRSA following near-infrared light(NIR)irradiation,and effectively eliminated the formed MRSA biofilms by inducing reactive oxygen species(ROS)-mediated oxidative stress,destroying bacterial membrane integrity and causing leakage of intracellular components(P<0.01).In vitro experiments revealed that Ti-PDA@SNP-OGP not only facilitated osteogenic differentiation of MSCs,but also promoted the polarization of pro-inflammatory M1 macrophages to the anti-inflammatory M2-phenotype(P<0.05 or P<0.01).The favorable osteo-immune microenvironment further facilitated osteogenesis of MSCs and the anti-inflammation of RAW264.7 cells via multiple paracrine signaling pathways(P<0.01).In vivo evaluation confirmed the aforementioned results and revealed that Ti-PDA@SNP-OGP induced ameliorative osseointegration in an MRSA-infected femoral defect implantation model(P<0.01).Conclusions:Ti-PDA@SNP-OGP is a promising multi-functional material for the high-efficient treatment of MRSA infections in implant replacement surgeries.

Effect of Titanium Dioxide Nanoparticles on Growth and Biomass Accumulation in Lettuce (Lactuca sativa)

The use of titanium dioxide nanoparticles (nTiO2) is gaining interest in agriculture because of their impact on many aspects of plant growth. The present study examines the effects of nTiO2 (5 nm and 10 nm) applied to seeds and the seedlings as a foliar application on various aspects of growth characteristics and biomass accumulation in lettuce (Lactuca sativa, cv. Grand Rapids). Application of 10 nm nTiO2 to seeds through imbibition resulted in a significant reduction in shoot biomass accumulation while 5 nm nTiO2 did not affect the biomass accumulation in lettuce. The application of 10 nm nTiO2 reduced the fresh shoot biomass accumulation by about 18% compared to the control plants. Other growth characteristics such as shoot dry biomass, root fresh and dry biomass, plant height, and leaf area were not affected by the application of both 5 nm and 10 nm nTiO2. In addition, foliar application of these nanoparticles to the lettuce seedlings did not have a significant effect on most of the growth parameters examined, and the increasing concentration ranging from 5 nm/L to 400 mg/L did not produce a consistent response in lettuce. Thus, nTiO2 application to lettuce seeds had a notable negative impact on shoot growth while foliar application did not have a significant effect on many plant growth characteristics. However, foliar applications produced some symptoms of toxicity to the foliage in the form of necrotic or chlorotic patches on the leaves, which were more pronounced with increasing concentrations of both 5 nm and 10 nm nTiO2. However, these symptoms were apparent at a concentration as low as 50 mg/L of nTiO2. Thus, foliar application of nTiO2 may not have a significant impact on many of the growth characteristics in lettuce, but it can result in foliar toxicity.

Review of rare earth oxide doping-modified laser cladding of Fe-based alloy coatings

Conventional Fe-C alloy parts used in mechanical transmission and braking systems exposed to the external environment often suffer from wear and corrosion failures.Surface coating strengthening technologies have been explored to improve the surface performance and prolong service life of these parts.Among these technologies,laser cladding has shown promise in producing Fe-based alloy coatings with superior interfacial bonding properties to the Fe-C alloy substrate.Additionally,the microstructure of the Fe-based alloy coating is more uniform and the grain size is finer than that of surfacing welding,thermal spraying,and plasma cladding,and the oxide film of alloying elements on the coating surface can improve the coating performance.However,Fe-based alloy coatings produced by laser cladding typically exhibit lower hardness,lower wear resistance,corrosion resistance,and oxidation resistance compared to coatings based on Co and Ni alloys.Moreover,these coatings are susceptible to defects such as pores and cracks.To address these limitations,the incorporation of rare-earth oxides through doping in the laser cladding process has garnered significant attention.This approach has demonstrated substantial improvements in the microstructure and properties of Fe-based alloy coatings.This paper reviewed recent research on the structure and properties of laser-cladded Fe-based alloy coatings doped with various rare earth oxides,including La_(2)O_(3),CeO_(2),and Y_(2)O_(3).Specifically,it discussed the effects of rare earth oxides and their concentrations on the structure,hardness,friction,wear,corrosion,and oxidation characteristics of these coatings.Furthermore,the mechanisms by which rare earth oxides influence the coating’s structure and properties were summarized.This review aimed to serve as a valuable reference for the application and advancement of laser cladding technology for rare earth modified Fe-based alloy coatings.

Organic fertilizer enhances soil aggregate stability by altering greenhouse soil content of iron oxide and organic carbon

Both soil organic carbon (SOC) and iron (Fe) oxide content, among other factors, drive the formation and stability of soil aggregates.However, the mechanism of these drivers in greenhouse soil fertilized with organic fertilizer is not well understood.In a 3-year field experiment, we aimed to investigate the factors which drive the stability of soil aggregates in greenhouse soil.To explore the impact of organic fertilizer on soil aggregates, we established four treatments:no fertilization (CK);inorganic fertilizer (CF);organic fertilizer (OF);and combined application of inorganic and organic fertilizers(COF).The application of organic fertilizer significantly enhanced the stability of aggregates, that is it enhanced the mean weight diameter, geometric mean diameter and aggregate content (%) of>0.25 mm aggregate fractions.OF and COF treatments increased the concentration of SOC, especially the aliphatic-C, aromatic-C and polysaccharide-C components of SOC, particularly in>0.25 mm aggregates.Organic fertilizer application significantly increased the content of free Fe(Fed), reactive Fe (Feo), and non-crystalline Fe in both bulk soil and aggregates.Furthermore, non-crystalline Fe showed a positive correlation with SOC content in both bulk soil and aggregates.Both non-crystalline Fe and SOC were significantly positively correlated with>2 mm mean weight diameter.Overall, we believe that the increase of SOC, aromatic-C, and non-crystal ine Fe concentrations in soil after the application of organic fertilizer is the reason for improving soil aggregate stability.

Fabrication of flake-like NiCo_(2)O_(4)/reduced graphene oxide/melamine-derived carbon foam as an excellent microwave absorber

Carbon-based foams with a three-dimensional structure can serve as a lightweight template for the rational design and control-lable preparation of metal oxide/carbon-based composite microwave absorption materials.In this study,a flake-like nickel cobaltate/re-duced graphene oxide/melamine-derived carbon foam(FNC/RGO/MDCF)was successfully fabricated through a combination of solvo-thermal treatment and high-temperature pyrolysis.Results indicated that RGO was evenly distributed in the MDCF skeleton,providing ef-fective support for the load growth of FNC on its surface.Sample S3,the FNC/RGO/MDCF composite prepared by solvothermal method for 16 h,exhibited a minimum reflection loss(RL_(min))of-66.44 dB at a thickness of 2.29 mm.When the thickness was reduced to 1.50 mm,the optimal effective absorption bandwidth was 3.84 GHz.Analysis of the absorption mechanism of FNC/RGO/MDCF revealed that its excellent absorption performance was primarily attributed to the combined effects of conduction loss,multiple reflection,scattering,in-terface polarization,and dipole polarization.

Direct ink writing of nickel oxide-based thin films for room temperature gas detection

The rapid industrial growth and increasing population have led to significant pollution and deterioration of the natural atmospheric environment.Major atmospheric pollutants include NO_(2)and CO_(2).Hence,it is imperative to develop NO_(2)and CO_(2)sensors for ambient conditions,that can be used in indoor air quality monitoring,breath analysis,food spoilage detection,etc.In the present study,two thin film nanocomposite(nickel oxide-graphene and nickel oxide-silver nanowires)gas sensors are fabricated using direct ink writing.The nano-composites are investigated for their structural,optical,and electrical properties.Later the nano-composite is deposited on the interdigitated electrode(IDE)pattern to form NO_(2)and CO_(2)sensors.The deposited films are then exposed to NO_(2)and CO_(2)gases separately and their response and recovery times are determined using a custom-built gas sensing setup.Nickel oxide-graphene provides a good response time and recovery time of 10 and 9 s,respectively for NO_(2),due to the higher electron affinity of graphene towards NO_(2).Nickel oxide-silver nanowire nano-composite is suited for CO_(2)gas because silver is an excellent electrocatalyst for CO_(2)by giving response and recovery times of 11 s each.This is the first report showcasing NiO nano-composites for NO_(2)and CO_(2)sensing at room temperature.

Theranostic scope of monometallic selenium and titanium dioxide nanoparticles in biomedicine:A review

The nanoparticles(NPs)of metals and metal oxides constitute significant components of technology in terms of monometallic NPs(MNPs).Over the last decade,the most fascinating and in‐depth uses of NPs have been found in the biomedical field,which has demonstrated the therapeutic potential of these particles.Significant strides have been made in the application of nanotechnology across various industries,including biomedical sciences.In biomedicine,two of the most important applications of NPs are in the diagnosis and treatment of disease.Given their ability to deliver specific drugs,these next‐generation NPs provide safe and effective pharmacotherapies for a wide range of disorders.Selenium nanoparticles(SeNPs)and titanium dioxide(TiO_(2))NPs offer potential treatments for various applications,including hair care and cancer treatment.SeNPs help with abiotic stress,plant disease,and growth,while TiO_(2)NPs enhance bioimaging and drug delivery.This comprehensive review focuses on MNPs like Se(metal‐based)and TiO_(2)(metal‐oxide based).It covers their synthesis methods,nanoscale physicochemical properties,and the definition of specific industrial applications in various fields of applied nanotechnology,including biomedicine.

Experimental studies on photocatalytic oxidation of nitric oxides using titanium dioxide

In order to remove nitric oxides （NO） from flue gas, experimental studies on the photocatalytic oxidation （PCO） of NO are carried out in an efficient laboratory-scale reactor. Nano-sized TiO2 particles loading on quartz sand are prepared and used as the photocatalyst. Effects of several key operating parameters on NO conversion are investigated, including operating temperature, NO inlet concentration, oxygen percentage, relative humidity and residence time. The results illustrate that the NO inlet concentration, the oxygen percentage and the relative humidity play an important role in the oxidation of NO. A lower NO inlet concentration and a higher oxygen percentage result in a higher NO conversion efficiency. When the relative humidity is 8%, the maximum value of NO conversion efficiency is achieved. In addition, the operating temperature and the residence time have a little effect on the conversion efficiency of NO.

Co-doping of Iron and Cerium in Titanium Dioxide: Observation of a Cooperative Effect

The co-doping of iron and cerium into TiO2 was studied by means of X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, UV Vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, when separately doping via the sol-gel method, iron was introduced in the fralnework of anatase TiO2 whereas cerium was not; interestingly, both iron and cerium were introduced in tile framework when co-doping by the sol-gel method. The co-doped TiO2 behaves much more intense surface hydroxyl concentration than the separately-doped and pure TiO2. This observation demonstrates for the first time a cooperative effect in the co-doping of transitional metals in the framework of TiO2.

Behavior of titanium dioxide in alumina carbothermic reduction-chlorination process in vacuum

Behaviors of TiO2 in the alumina carbothermic reduction and chlorination process in vacuum at different temperatures were investigated experimentally by means of XRD,SEM and EDS.In the preparation of materials,the molar ratio of Al2O3 to C was 1：4,and 10% TiO2 and excess AlCl3 were added.The results show that TiC is produced by C and TiO2 after TiO2 transforms from anatase into rutile gradually.In the temperature range of 1 763？1 783 K,the compounds of Ti and Al are not found in slags and condensate.The purity of aluminum reaches 98.35%,and TiO2 does not participate in alumina carbothermic reduction process and chlorination process in vacuum.