Conclusions in Theory and Practice for Advancing the Applications of Cable-Driven Mechanisms

The theoretical research of cable-driven mechanisms is developed with its broad applications. The first prototype of cable-driven mechanisms is RoboCrane, which was developed by the National Institute of Standards and Technology （NIST）. Then many excellent properties were developed and they have a variety of applications such as aerospace, aircraft and automobile industries [1]. Example application for RoboCrane in the field of aircraft mainte- nance is equipped with a quick-change mechanism to remove the robot arm remotely.

Development of conductive hydrogels: from design mechanisms to frontier applications

Owing to their excellent mechanical flexibility, electrical conductivity, and biocompatibility, conductive hydrogels(CHs) are widely used in the fields of energy and power, and biomedical technology. To arrive at a better understanding of the design methods and development trends of CHs, this paper summarizes and analyzes related research published in recent years. First,we describe the properties and characteristics of CHs. Using Scopus, the world’s largest abstract and citation database, we conducted a quantitative analysis of the related literature from the past 15 years and summarized development trends in the field of CHs. Second, we describe the types of CH network crosslinking and basic functional design methods and summarize the three-dimensional(3D) structure-forming methods and conductive performance tests of CHs. In addition, we introduce applications of CHs in the fields of energy and power, biomedical technology, and others. Lastly, we discuss several problems in current CH research and introduce some prospects for the future development of CHs.

Nanoencapsulation of Antioxidant-Rich Fraction of Roasted <i>Moringa oleifera</i>L. Leaf Extract: Physico-Chemical Properties and <i>in Vitro</i>Release Mechanisms

Nanocapsules (NC) of antioxidant rich fraction of roasted Moringa leaves were prepared using emulsion coacervation technique with alginate (ALG) and/or chitosan (CTS) as biopolymers. NC were characterized based on particle size, polydispersity index (PDI), zeta potential, encapsulation efficiency (EE) and loading capacity (LC). Substituting CTS with ALG in NC caused a reduction in particle size and PDI, and enhanced EE. Mean particle size dropped from 1209 nm in 1:3 to 413 nm in 3:1 ALG/CTS-NC;PDI decreased from 0.9% to 0.2% and zeta potential from -5.4 to -28.1 mV. The highest EE (87.6%) and LC (13%) were obtained with ALG-CTS-NC (3:1). ALG-NC were spherical while both CTS and ALG-CTS-NC were ovoid. ALG and ALG-CTS-NC were oil/water emulsions while CTS-NC formed water/oil emulsions. 60% and 70% of bioactives in ALG-CTS-NC (3:1) were released in simulated gastric and intestinal fluids respectively after 400 min. Release of antioxidants from NC is concentration-dependent (First order model) and involves simultaneously diffusion (Higuchi model), swelling (korsmeyer-Peppas model) and erosion (Hixson-Crowell model) mechanisms.

Recent advances in phenazine-linked porous catalysts toward photo/electrocatalytic applications and mechanism

In recent years,porous organic catalysts have been developed and become research hotspots in photo/electrocatalysis due to their inherent pores,high specific surface area,chemical and thermal stability,and diverse functional building blocks.Phenazine-linked organic catalysts,exhibited excellent conjugation,electrical conductivity,chemical,and thermal stability,could bring in N atoms with specific numbers and positions to regulate electron levels,anchor metals,and absorb near-infrared light,which expands solar energy utilization.These advantages of the phenazine-linked catalysts attracted our group and numerous researchers to conduct experimental and computational work on photo/electrocatalytic applications and mechanisms.This review summarizes the recent significant research progress,synthesis methods,photo/electrocatalytic performance,and applications of relative phenazine-linked catalysts.Furthermore,the photo/electrocatalytic mechanism was systematized and summarized by combining experiments and density functional theory calculations simultaneously.

Hydrogen sulfide responsive nanoplatforms: Novel gas responsive drug delivery carriers for biomedical applications

Hydrogen sulfide(H_(2)S)is a toxic,essential gas used in various biological and physical processes and has been the subject of many targeted studies on its role as a new gas transmitter.These studies have mainly focused on the production and pharmacological side effects caused by H_(2)S.Therefore,effective strategies to remove H_(2)S has become a key research topic.Furthermore,the development of novel nanoplatforms has provided new tools for the targeted removal of H_(2)S.This paper was performed to review the association between H_(2)S anddisease,relatedH_(2)S inhibitory drugs,aswell as H_(2)S responsive nanoplatforms(HRNs).This review first analyzed the role of H_(2)S in multiple tissues and conditions.Second,common drugs used to eliminate H_(2)S,as well as their potential for combination with anticancer agents,were summarized.Not only the existing studies on HRNs,but also the inhibition H_(2)S combined with different therapeutic methods were both sorted out in this review.Furthermore,this review provided in-depth analysis of the potential of HRNs about treatment or detection in detail.Finally,potential challenges of HRNs were proposed.This study demonstrates the excellent potential of HRNs for biomedical applications.

Direct Synthesis of Layer-Tunable and Transfer-Free Graphene on Device-Compatible Substrates Using Ion Implantation Toward Versatile Applications

Direct synthesis of layer-tunable and transfer-free graphene on technologically important substrates is highly valued for various electronics and device applications.State of the art in the field is currently a two-step process:a high-quality graphene layer synthesis on metal substrate through chemical vapor deposition(CVD)followed by delicate layer transfer onto device-relevant substrates.Here,we report a novel synthesis approach combining ion implantation for a precise graphene layer control and dual-metal smart Janus substrate for a diffusion-limiting graphene formation to directly synthesize large area,high quality,and layer-tunable graphene films on arbitrary substrates without the post-synthesis layer transfer process.Carbon(C)ion implantation was performed on Cu-Ni film deposited on a variety of device-relevant substrates.A well-controlled number of layers of graphene,primarily monolayer and bilayer,is precisely controlled by the equivalent fluence of the implanted C-atoms(1 monolayer~4×10^(15)C-atoms/cm^(2)).Upon thermal annealing to promote Cu-Ni alloying,the pre-implanted C-atoms in the Ni layer are pushed toward the Ni/substrate interface by the top Cu layer due to the poor C-solubility in Cu.As a result,the expelled C-atoms precipitate into a graphene structure at the interface facilitated by the Cu-like alloy catalysis.After removing the alloyed Cu-like surface layer,the layer-tunable graphene on the desired substrate is directly realized.The layer-selectivity,high quality,and uniformity of the graphene films are not only confirmed with detailed characterizations using a suite of surface analysis techniques but more importantly are successfully demonstrated by the excellent properties and performance of several devices directly fabricated from these graphene films.Molecular dynamics(MD)simulations using the reactive force field(ReaxFF)were performed to elucidate the graphene formation mechanisms in this novel synthesis approach.With the wide use of ion implantation technology in the microelectronics industry,this novel graphene synthesis approach with precise layer-tunability and transfer-free processing has the promise to advance efficient graphene-device manufacturing and expedite their versatile applications in many fields.

A Review on Metal-and Metal Oxide-Based Nanozymes:Properties,Mechanisms,and Applications

Since the ferromagnetic(Fe_(3)O_(4))nanoparticles were firstly reported to exert enzyme-like activity in 2007,extensive research progress in nanozymes has been made with deep investigation of diverse nanozymes and rapid development of related nanotechnologies.As promising alterna-tives for natural enzymes,nanozymes have broadened the way toward clinical medicine,food safety,environmental monitoring,and chemical production.The past decade has witnessed the rapid development of metal-and metal oxide-based nanozymes owing to their remarkable physicochemical proper-ties in parallel with low cost,high stability,and easy storage.It is widely known that the deep study of catalytic activities and mechanism sheds sig-nificant influence on the applications of nanozymes.This review digs into the characteristics and intrinsic properties of metal-and metal oxide-based nanozymes,especially emphasizing their catalytic mechanism and recent applications in biological analysis,relieving inflammation,antibacterial,and cancer therapy.We also conclude the present challenges and provide insights into the future research of nanozymes constituted of metal and metal oxide nanomaterials.

Inorganic-organic hybrid photocatalysts:Syntheses,mechanisms,and applications

Inorganic-organic hybrid materials are promising for application in the field of photocatalysis because of their excellent properties.Therefore,their syntheses,mechanisms,and applications are reviewed in this paper.First,we introduce the role of inorganic-organic photocatalysts,their advantages and disadvantages,and their design principles.Second,we present the top-down and bottom-up synthesis methods of the hybrid materials.The interaction between inorganic and organic components in hybrid materials is discussed,followed by how to improve inorganic-organic photocatalysts.Third,the applications of hybrid materials in the field of photocatalysis,such as realizing hydrogen evolution,organic pollutant degradation,heavy metals and CO_(2) reduction,sterilization,and nitrogen fixation,are examined.Finally,the application prospects and development directions of inorganic-organic hybrid materials are explored and the unsolved problems are described.

Ferroelectricity of hafnium oxide-based materials:Current status and future prospects from physical mechanisms to device applications

The finding of the robust ferroelectricity in HfO_(2)-based thin films is fantastic from the view point of both the fundamentals and the applications.In this review article,the current research status of the future prospects for the ferroelectric HfO_(2)-based thin films and devices are presented from fundamentals to applications.The related issues are discussed,which include:1)The ferroelectric characteristics observed in HfO_(2)-based films and devices associated with the factors of dopant,strain,interface,thickness,defect,fabrication condition,and more;2)physical understanding on the observed ferroelectric behaviors by the density functional theory(DFT)-based theory calculations;3)the characterizations of microscopic and macroscopic features by transmission electron microscopes-based and electrical properties-based techniques;4)modeling and simulations,5)the performance optimizations,and 6)the applications of some ferroelectric-based devices such as ferroelectric random access memory,ferroelectric-based field effect transistors,and the ferroelectric tunnel junction for the novel information processing systems.

Review of magnesium-based biomaterials and their applications

In biomedical applications,the conventionally used metallic materials,including stainless steel,Co-based alloys and Ti alloys,often times exhibit unsatisfactory results such as stress shielding and metal ion releases.Secondary surgical operation(s)usually become inevitable to prevent long term exposure of body with the toxic implant contents.The metallic biomaterials are being revolutionized with the development of biodegradable materials including several metals,alloys,and metallic glasses.As such,the nature of metallic biomaterials are transformed from the bioinert to bioactive and multi-biofunctional(anti-bacterial,anti-proliferation,anti-cancer,etc.).Magnesium-based biomaterials are candidates to be used as new generation biodegradable metals.Magnesium(Mg)can dissolve in body fluid that means the implanted Mg can degrade during healing process,and if the degradation is controlled it would leave no debris after the completion of healing.Hence,the need for secondary surgical operation(s)for the implant removal could be eliminated.Besides its biocompatibility,the inherent mechanical properties of Mg are very similar to those of human bone.Researchers have been working on synthesis and characterization of Mg-based biomaterials with a variety of composition in order to control the degradation rate of Mg since uncontrolled degradation could result in loss of mechanical integrity,metal contamination in the body and intolerable hydrogen evolution by tissue.It was observed that the applied methods of synthesis and the choice of components affect the characteristics and performance of the Mg-based biomaterials.Researchers have synthesized many Mg-based materials through several synthesis routes and investigated their mechanical properties,biocompatibility and degradation behavior through in vitro,in vivo and in silico studies.This paper is a comprehensive review that compiles,analyses and critically discusses the recent literature on the important aspects of Mg-based biomaterials.

Recent Advancements on Photothermal Conversion and Antibacterial Applications over MXenes-Based Materials

The pernicious bacterial proliferation and emergence of super-resistant bacteria have already posed a great threat to public health,which drives researchers to develop antibiotic-free strategies to eradicate these fierce microbes.Although enormous achievements have already been achieved,it remains an arduous challenge to realize efficient sterilization to cut off the drug resistance generation.Recently,photothermal therapy(PTT)has emerged as a promising solution to efficiently damage the integrity of pathogenic bacteria based on hyperthermia beyond their tolerance.Until now,numerous photothermal agents have been studied for antimicrobial PTT.Among them,MXenes(a type of two-dimensional transition metal carbides or nitrides)are extensively investigated as one of the most promising candidates due to their high aspect ratio,atomic-thin thickness,excellent photothermal performance,low cytotoxicity,and ultrahigh dispersibility in aqueous systems.Besides,the enormous application scenarios using their antibacterial properties can be tailored via elaborated designs of MXenes-based materials.In this review,the synthetic approaches and textural properties of MXenes have been systematically presented first,and then the photothermal properties and sterilization mechanisms using MXenes-based materials are documented.Subsequently,recent progress in diverse fields making use of the photothermal and antibacterial performances of MXenes-based materials are well summarized to reveal the potential applications of these materials for various purposes,including in vitro and in vivo sterilization,solar water evaporation and purification,and flexible antibacterial fabrics.Last but not least,the current challenges and future perspectives are discussed to provide theoretical guidance for the fabrication of efficient antimicrobial systems using MXenes.

From 1D Nanofibers to 3D Nanofibrous Aerogels: A Marvellous Evolution of Electrospun SiO_(2) Nanofibers for Emerging Applications

One-dimensional(1D)SiO_(2) nanofibers(SNFs),one of the most popular inorganic nanomaterials,have aroused widespread attention because of their excellent chemical stability,as well as unique optical and thermal characteristics.Electrospinning is a straightforward and versatile method to prepare 1D SNFs with programmable structures,manageable dimensions,and modifiable properties,which hold great potential in many cutting-edge applications including aerospace,nanodevice,and energy.In this review,substantial advances in the structural design,controllable synthesis,and multifunctional applications of electrospun SNFs are highlighted.We begin with a brief introduction to the fundamental principles,available raw materials,and typical apparatus of electrospun SNFs.We then discuss the strategies for preparing SNFs with diverse structures in detail,especially stressing the newly emerging three-dimensional SiO_(2) nanofibrous aerogels.We continue with focus on major breakthroughs about brittleness-to-flexibility transition of SNFs and the means to achieve their mechanical reinforcement.In addition,we showcase recent applications enabled by electrospun SNFs,with particular emphasis on physical protection,health care and water treatment.In the end,we summarize this review and provide some perspectives on the future development direction of electrospun SNFs.

Laser additive manufacturing of biodegradable Mg-based alloys for biomedical applications: A review

Metallic implants are widely used in internal fixation of bone fracture in surgical treatment.They are mainly used for providing mechanical support and stability during bone reunion,which usually takes a few months to complete.Conventional implants made of stainless steels,Ti-based alloys and CoCrMo alloys have been widely used for orthopedic reconstruction due to their high strength and high corrosion resistance.Such metallic implants will remain permanently inside the body after implantation,and a second surgery after bone healing is needed because the long-term presence of implant will lead to various problems.An implant removal surgery not only incurs expenditure,but also risk and psychological burden.As a consequence,studies on the development of biodegradable implants,which would degrade and disappear in vivo after bone reunion is completed,have drawn researchers’attention.In this connection,Mg-based alloys have shown great potentials as promising implant materials mainly due to their low density,inherent biocompatibility,biodegradability and mechanical properties close to those of bone.However,the high degradation rate of Mg-based implants in vivo is the biggest hurdle to overcome.Apart from materials selection,a fixation implant is ideally tailor-made in size and shape for an individual case,for best surgical outcomes.Therefore,laser additive manufacturing(LAM),with the advent of sophisticated laser systems and software,is an ideal process to solve these problems.In this paper,we reviewed the progress in LAM of biodegradable Mg-based alloys for biomedical applications.The effect of powder properties and laser processing parameter on the formability and quality was thoroughly discussed.The microstructure,phase constituents and metallurgical defects formed in the LAMed samples were delineated.The mechanical properties,corrosion resistance,biocompatibility and antibacterial properties of the LAMed samples were summarized and compared with samples fabricated by traditional processes.In addition,we have made some suggestions for advancing the knowledge in the LAM of Mg-based alloys for biomedical implants.

Development and prospects of degradable magnesium alloys for structural and functional applications in the fields of environment and energy

Magnesium and its alloys have such advantages with lightweight, high specific strength, good damping, high castability and machinability,which make them an attractive choice for applications where weight reduction is important, such as in the aerospace and automotive industries.However, their practical applications are still limited because of their poor corrosion resistance, low high temperature strength and ambient formability. Based on such their property shortcomings, recently degradable magnesium alloys were developed for broadening their potential applications. Considering the degradable Mg alloys for medical applications were well reviewed, the present review put an emphasis on such degradable magnesium alloys for structural and functional applications, especially the applications in the environmental and energy fields. Their applications as fracture ball in fossil energy, sacrificial anode, washing ball, and as battery anodes, transient electronics, were summarized. The roles of alloying elements in magnesium and the design concept of such degradable magnesium alloys were discussed. The existing challenges for extending their future applications are explored.

Research and development of gas induced semi-solid process for industrial applications

Several rheocasting processes are developed or applied worldwide in the metal forming industry.One of the new rheocasting processes is the gas induced semi-solid(GISS) process.The GISS process utilizes the principle of rapid heat extraction and vigorous local extraction using the injection of fine gas bubbles through a graphite diffuser.Several forming processes such as die casting,squeeze casting,gravity casting,and rheo-extrusion of the semi-solid slurries prepared by the GISS process have also been conducted.The GISS process is capable of processing various alloys including cast aluminum alloys,die casting aluminum alloys,wrought aluminum alloys,and zinc alloys.The GISS process is currently developed to be used commercially in the industry with the focus on forming semi-solid slurries containing low fractions solid(< 0.25) into parts.The research and development activities of the GISS process were discussed and the status of the industrial developments of this process was reported.

PROPERTIES, WELDABILITY AND APPLICATIONS OF ADVANCED WROUGHT SUPERALLOYS FOR GAS TURBINE ENGINES

Alloy selection and alloy design both require consideration of an array of material attributes, including in-service properties, weldability and fabricability. Critical properties of advanced wrought superalloys for gas turbine applications include high temperature strength, thermal stability, oxidation resistance and fatigue resistance. In this paper, the properties of twelve wrought solid-solution-strengthened and six age-hardenable superalloys are compared. Weldability is an important attribute and can be a major limiting factor in the use of certain alloys. Weldability test methods are discussed and the resistance of alloys to solidification cracking and strain-age cracking is compared. The use of weldability testing in the development of modern wrought su-peralloys is discussed with several examples cited. Finally, alloy selection for gas turbine components is outlined, taking into account both alloy properties and fabricability.

Advances in MXene Films:Synthesis,Assembly,and Applications

A growing family of two-dimensional(2D)transition metal carbides or nitrides,known as MXenes,have received increasing attention because of their unique properties,such as metallic conductivity and good hydrophilicity.The studies on MXenes have been widely pursued,given the composition diversity of the parent MAX phases.This review focuses on MXene fi lms,an important form of MXene-based materials for practical applications.We summarized the synthesis methods of MXenes,focusing on emerging synthesis strategies and reaction mechanisms.The advanced assembly technologies of MXene fi lms,including vacuum-assisted fi ltration,spin-coating methods,and several other approaches,were then highlighted.Finally,recent progress in the applications of MXene fi lms in electrochemical energy storage,membrane separation,electromagnetic shielding fi elds,and burgeoning areas,as well as the correlation between compositions,architecture,and performance,was discussed.

Advances in Cotton Tolerance to Heavy Metal Stress and Applications to Remediate Heavy Metal-Contaminated Farmland Soil

Heavy metal-contaminated soil is one of the major environmental pollution problems of agricultural production and human health in the world.Remediation of heavy metals in soil is one of the most popular research subjects.Different remediation strategies have been reported to remove heavy metals from contaminated soil,among which phytoremediation is the most important one.Compared with other major crops,cotton shows the strongest and most widespread resistance to abiotic stresses,such as heavy metals.Although heavy metal stress adversely affects the growth and development of cotton,cotton possesses a set of sophisticated stress-resistance strategies.As the main product of cotton is nonedible fibers,which have a large biomass and strong heavy metal absorption and enrichment capacities,cotton is an ideal crop to restore heavy metal-contaminated soils and has unique advantages in terms of both ecological and economic benefits,with great application prospects.In this review,based on domestic and foreign research results in recent years,the effects of heavy metals on cotton growth and product quality were analyzed,the heavy metal absorption,accumulation,translocation and enrichment characteristics of cotton plants were summarized,and the adaptation and tolerance mechanisms of cotton to heavy metals were explored.Furthermore,the view that cotton is an effective crop to remediate heavy metal pollution in farmland soil has been proposed,and popularization and application suggestions for planting cotton to repair heavy metal pollution have been put forward to provide a reference for the comprehensive evaluation of the economic feasibility of cotton to repair heavy metal pollution in farmland soil.

Titanium Aluminides: Science, Technology, Applications and Synthesis by Mechanical Alloying

The production. characteristics. and commercialization of monolithic and composite titanium aluminides are summanzed with emphasis on use in the demanding aerospace industry. The attractive elevated temperature properties combined with alow density make these materials of great interest, but inherently low 'forgiveness', and environmental concerns, must be overcome before widespread use will occur One synthesis method for the production of monolithic titanium aluminides-mechanical alloying- will be discussed in detail