Fabrication of Superhydrophobic Surfaces on Aluminum Alloy Via Electrodeposition of Copper Followed by Electrochemical Modification

Superhydrophobic aluminum surfaces have been prepared by means of electrodeposition of copper on aluminum surfaces, followed by electrochemical modification using stearic acid organic molecules. Scanning electron microscopy(SEM) images show that the electrodeposited copper films follow "island growth mode" in the form of microdots and their number densities increase with the rise of the negative deposition potentials. At an electrodeposition potential of-0.2 V the number density of the copper microdots are found to be 4.5×104cm^(-2)that are increased to 2.9×105cm^(-2)at a potential of-0.8 V. Systematically, the distances between the microdots are found to be reduced from 26.6 μm to 11.03 μm with the increase of negative electrochemical potential from-0.2 V to-0.8 V. X-ray diffraction(XRD) analyses have confirmed the formation of copper stearate on the stearic acid modified copper films. The roughness of the stearic acid modified electrodeposited copper films is found to increase with the increase in the density of the copper microdots. A critical copper deposition potential of-0.6 V in conjunction with the stearic acid modification provides a surface roughness of 6.2 μm with a water contact angle of 157?, resulting in superhydrophobic properties on the aluminum substrates.

Chemical Scissors Tailored Nano‑Tellurium with High‑Entropy Morphology for Efficient Foam‑Hydrogel‑Based Solar Photothermal Evaporators

The development of tellurium(Te)-based semiconductor nanomaterials for efficient light-to-heat conversion may offer an effective means of harvesting sunlight to address global energy concerns.However,the nanosized Te(nano-Te)materials reported to date suffer from a series of drawbacks,including limited light absorption and a lack of surface structures.Herein,we report the preparation of nano-Te by electrochemical exfoliation using an electrolyzable room-temperature ionic liquid.Anions,cations,and their corresponding electrolytic products acting as chemical scissors can precisely intercalate and functionalize bulk Te.The resulting nano-Te has high morphological entropy,rich surface functional groups,and broad light absorption.We also constructed foam hydrogels based on poly(vinyl alcohol)/nano-Te,which achieved an evaporation rate and energy efficiency of 4.11 kg m^(−2)h^(−1)and 128%,respectively,under 1 sun irradiation.Furthermore,the evaporation rate was maintained in the range 2.5-3.0 kg m^(−2)h^(−1)outdoors under 0.5-1.0 sun,providing highly efficient evaporation under low light conditions.

Fabrication of electrochemically-modified BiVO_(4)-MoS_(2)-Co_(3)O_(4)composite film for bisphenol A degradation

A new electrochemically-modified BiVO_(4)-MoS_(2)-Co_(3)O_(4)(represented as E-BiVO_(4)-MoS_(2)-Co_(3)O_(4))thin film electrode was successfully synthesized for environmental application.MoS_(2)and Co_(3)O_(4)were grown on the surface of Bi VO 4 to obtain BiVO_(4)-MoS_(2)-Co_(3)O_(4).E-BiVO_(4)-MoS_(2)-Co_(3)O_(4)film was achieved by further electrochemical treatment of BiVO_(4)-MoS_(2)-Co_(3)O_(4).The asprepared E-BiVO_(4)-MoS_(2)-Co_(3)O_(4)exhibited significantly enhanced photoelectrocatalytic activity.The photocurrent density of E-BiVO_(4)-MoS_(2)-Co_(3)O_(4)thin film is 6.6 times that of Bi VO 4 under visible light irradiation.The degradation efficiency of E-BiVO_(4)-MoS_(2)-Co_(3)O_(4)for bisphenol A pollutant was 81.56%in photoelectrochemical process.The pseudo-first order reaction rate constant of E-BiVO_(4)-MoS_(2)-Co_(3)O_(4)film is 3.22 times higher than that of Bi VO 4.And its reaction rate constant in photoelectrocatalytic process is 14.5 times or 2 times that in photocatalytic or electrocatalytic process,respectively.The improved performance of E-BiVO_(4)-MoS_(2)-Co_(3)O_(4)was attributed to the synergetic effects of the reduction of interfacial charge transfer resistance,the formation of oxygen vacancies and sub-stoichiometric metal oxides and higher separation efficiency of photogenerated electron-hole pairs.E-BiVO_(4)-MoS_(2)-Co_(3)O_(4)is a promising composite material for pollutants removal.

Electrochemically modified piezoelectric crystal biosensor for detection of Staphylococcus aureus

Electropolymerized o-phenylenediamine firm is used as a functional coating for the immobilization of anti-S. aureus antibody on the surface of a gold-plated piezoelectric crystal, and this piezoelectric immunosensor is applied to detect S. aureus. The frequency shift (Delta F = F-20s - F-380s, Hz) between the frequency at the 20th second (after the addition of sample, F-20s) and that at 380 seconds later (F-380s) was introduced to construct a calibration graph, and shortening of assay time was achieved. The S. aureus concentrations in the range of 10(5)-10(9) cells/mL can be detected by this system.

Construction of Nanophase Novel Coatings-Based Titanium for the Enhancement of Protein Adsorption

In the recent years,biological nanostructures coatings have been incorporated into orthopedic and dental implants in order to accelerate osseointegration and reducing surgical restrictions.In the present work,chemical etching,anodization and metal doping surface modification methods were integrated in one strategy to fabricate innovative titanium surfaces denominated by titanium nanoporous,anodized titanium nanoporous,silver-anodized titanium nanoporous and gold-anodized titanium nanoporous.The stability properties of nanostructures-coated surfaces were elucidated using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy（EIS） after 7 days of immersion in simulated biological fluids.Morphology and chemical compositions of new surfaces were characterized by scanning electron microscope and energy-dispersive X-ray analysis.The EIS results and data fitting to the electrical equivalent circuit model demonstrated the influence of adsorption of bovine serum albumin on new surfaces as a function of protein concentration.Adsorption process was described by the very well-known model of the Langmuir adsorption isotherm.The thermodynamic parameter DGADS（-50 to 59 kJ mol^（-1）） is calculated,which supports the instantaneous adsorption of protein from biological fluids to new surfaces and refers to their good biocompatibility.Ultimately,this study explores new surface strategy to gain new implants as a means of improving clinical outcomes of patients undergoing orthopedic surgery.