Study on Surface Modification of Titanium Dioxide Using Polymethyl Methacrylate

The polymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA) at the surface of titanium dioxide (TiO 2) particles was carried out by using soapless emulsion polymerization method. In this process, composite particles with TiO 2 core and polymer shell were obtained and thus the surface of titanium dioxide was modified. The encapsulating polymer was characterized by TEM, DTA and IR. In addition, the surface properties of the original and modified TiO 2 were studied by Zeta potential measurement and determination of contact angle and dispersability.

A concise review on surface and structural modification of porous zeolite scaffold for enhanced hydrogen storage

Investigating zeolites as hydrogen storage scaffolds is imperative due to their porous nature and favorable physicochemical properties.Nevertheless,the storage capacity of the unmodified zeolites has been rather unsatisfactory(0.224%-1.082%(mass))compared to its modified counterpart.Thus,the contemporary focus on enhancing hydrogen storage capacities has led to significant attention towards the utilization of modified zeolites,with studies exploring surface modifications through physical and chemical treatments,as well as the integration of various active metals.The enhanced hydrogen storage properties of zeolites are attributed to the presence of aluminosilicates from alkaline and alkaline-earth metals,resulting in increased storage capacity through interactions with the charge density of these aluminosilicates.Therefore,there is a great demand to critically review their role such as well-defined topology,pore structure,good thermal stability,and tunable hydrophilicity in enhanced hydrogen storage.This article aimed to critically review the recent research findings based on modified zeolite performance for enhanced hydrogen storage.Some of the factors affecting the hydrogen storage capacities of zeolites that can affect the rate of reaction and the stability of the adsorbent,like pressure,structure,and morphology were studied,and examined.Then,future perspectives,recommendations,and directions for modified zeolites were discussed.

Influence of laser parameters on the microstructures and surface properties in laser surface modification of biomedical magnesium alloys

Biodegradable implants from magnesium(Mg)alloys have emerged in the biomedical field especially in the orthopedic and cardiovascular stent applications owing to their low density,high specific strength,excellent machinability,good biocompatibility,and biodegradability.The primary shortcoming of Mg-based implants is their low corrosion resistance in the physiological environment,which results in premature mechanical integrity loss before adequate healing and the production of excessive hydrogen gas,which is harmful to the body tissues and negatively affects the biocompatibility of the implant.Laser surface modification has recently received attention because it can improve the surface properties such as surface chemistry,roughness,topography,corrosion resistance,wear resistance,hydrophilicity,and thus cell response to the surface of the material.The composition and microstructures including textures and phases of laser-treated surfaces depend largely on the laser processing parameters(input laser power,laser scan velocity,frequency,pulse duration,pressure,gas circulation,working time,spot size,beam focal position,and laser track overlap)and the thermophysical properties of the substrate(solubility,melting point,and boiling point).This review investigates the impacts of various laser surface modification techniques including laser surface melting,laser surface alloying,laser cladding,laser surface texturing,and laser shock peening,and highlights their significance in improving the surface properties of biodegradable Mg alloys for implant applications.Additionally,we explore how different laser process parameters affect its composition,microstructure,and surface properties in each laser surface modification technique.

Effect of surface modification on the radiation stability of diamond ohmic contacts

The ohmic contact interface between diamond and metal is essential for the application of diamond detectors.Surface modification can significantly affect the contact performance and eliminate the interface polarization effect.However,the radiation stability of a diamond detector is also sensitive to surface modification.In this work,the influence of surface modification technology on a diamond ohmic contact under high-energy radiation was investigated.Before radiation,the specific contact resistivities(ρc)between Ti/Pt/Au-hydrogen-terminated diamond(H-diamond)and Ti/Pt/Au-oxygenterminated diamond(O-diamond)were 2.0×10^(-4)W·cm^(2) and 4.3×10^(-3)Wcm^(2),respectively.After 10 MeV electron radiation,the ρc of Ti/Pt/Au H-diamond and Ti/Pt/Au O-diamond were 5.3×10^(-3)W·cm^(2)and 9.1×10^(-3)W·cm^(2),respectively.The rates of change of ρc of H-diamond and O-diamond after radiation were 2550%and 112%,respectively.The electron radiation promotes bond reconstruction of the diamond surface,resulting in an increase in ρc.

A Facile Li_(2)TiO_(3) Surface Modification to Improve the Structure Stability and Electrochemical Performance of Full Concentration Gradient Li-Rich Oxides

Full concentration gradient lithium-rich layered oxides are catching lots of interest as the next generation cathode for lithium-ion batteries due to their high discharge voltage,reduced voltage decay and enhanced rate performance,whereas the high lithium residues on its surface impairs the structure stability and long-term cycle performance.Herein,a facile multifunctional surface modification method is implemented to eliminate surface lithium residues of full concentration gradient lithium-rich layered oxides by a wet chemistry reaction with tetrabutyl titanate and the post-annealing process.It realizes not only a stable Li_(2)TiO_(3)coating layer with 3D diffusion channels for fast Li^(+)ions transfer,but also dopes partial Ti^(4+)ions into the sub-surface region of full concentration gradient lithium-rich layered oxides to further strengthen its crystal structure.Consequently,the modified full concentration gradient lithium-rich layered oxides exhibit improved structure stability,elevated thermal stability with decomposition temperature from 289.57℃to 321.72℃,and enhanced cycle performance(205.1 mAh g^(-1)after 150 cycles)with slowed voltage drop(1.67 mV per cycle).This work proposes a facile and integrated modification method to enhance the comprehensive performance of full concentration gradient lithium-rich layered oxides,which can facilitate its practical application for developing higher energy density lithium-ion batteries.

Recent Advances in Structural Optimization and Surface Modification on Current Collectors for High‑Performance Zinc Anode:Principles,Strategies,and Challenges

The last several years have witnessed the prosperous development of zinc-ion batteries(ZIBs),which are considered as a promising competitor of energy storage systems thanks to their low cost and high safety.However,the reversibility and availability of this system are blighted by problems such as uncontrollable dendritic growth,hydrogen evolution,and corrosion passivation on anode side.A functionally and structurally well-designed anode current collectors(CCs)is believed as a viable solution for those problems,with a lack of summarization according to its working mechanisms.Herein,this review focuses on the challenges of zinc anode and the mechanisms of modified anode CCs,which can be divided into zincophilic modification,structural design,and steering the preferred crystal facet orientation.The possible prospects and directions on zinc anode research and design are proposed at the end to hopefully promote the practical application of ZIBs.

A review on developing high-performance ZE41 magnesium alloy by using bulk deformation and surface modification methods

Magnesium(Mg)alloys are generally used in light-weight structural applications due to their higher specific strength.However,the usage of these Mg alloys is limited due to their poor formability at room temperature,which is attributed to lower count of slip systems associated with the hcp crystal structure.To address these limitations,several new magnesium alloys and also many processing strategies have been developed and reported in the literature.ZE41 Mg is an alloy with significant quantities of zinc(Zn)and rare earth(RE)elements and has emerged as a promising material for aerospace,automotive,electronics,biomedical and many other industries.To make this alloy more competitive and viable,it should possess better mechanical and corrosion properties.Hence,the current paper reviews the effect of bulk mechanical processing on grain refinement,microstructural modification,and corresponding changes in the mechanical behaviour of ZE41Mg alloy.Further,the effect of various surface modification techniques on altering the surface microstructure and surface properties such as wear and corrosion are also briefly summarized and presented.This review also discusses the challenges and the future perspectives in developing high-performing ZE41 Mg alloys.

Using pectin to separate talc and molybdenite through the surface modification with Cu^(2+):Applications and mechanism

Organic depressants have low selectivity in separating molybdenite and talc because their metal sites lack activity for organics chemisorption.In this study,surface modification by copper sulfate was used to induce the differential adsorption of pectin onto molybdenite and talc surfaces for enhanced flotation separation.Contact-angle experiments,scanning electron microscopy,adsorption measurements,timeof-flight secondary-ion mass spectrometry,and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analyses were conducted to reveal the interaction mechanism.Results illustrated that molybdenite and talc could not be separated using pectin alone,while molybdenite was selectively depressed after surface modification by copper sulfate and this effect was strengthened under alkaline conditions.Metal sites(Mg,Si and Mo)of talc and molybdenite themselves were unable to react with pectin,whereas Cu+would deposit and further function as active site for pectin chemisorption after surface modification.However,the quantity of deposited Cu sites dropped on talc surface and increased on molybdenite surface with increased pH,and the Mo atoms of molybdenite crystal were activated to take part in pectin chemisorption.Therefore,more pectin was adhered on molybdenite surface,which imparted molybdenite stronger wettability.Herein,surface-modification through metal ions can enable the differential adsorption of organic depressants and enhance the flotation separation of minerals.

Surface hydrophobic modification of MXene to promote the electrochemical conversion of N_(2) to NH_(3)

Hydrophobic treatment of the catalyst surfaces can suppress the competitive hydrogen evolution reaction(HER) during the nitrogen reduction reaction(NRR).In this work,the surface of Ti_(3)C_(2)Ti_(x) MXene is modified by cetyltrimethylammonium bromide(CTAB) and trimethoxy(3,3,4,4,5,5,6,6,7,7,8,8,8-trideca fluorooctyl) silane(FOTS) to increase the hydrophobicity of MXenes.The ammonia(NH_(3)) production rate and faradaic efficiency(FE) are improved from 37.62 to 54.01 μg h^(-1)mg_(cat)^(-1).and 5.5% to 18.1% at-0.7 V vs.RHE,respectively after surface modification.^(15)N isotopic labeling experiment confirms that nitrogen in produced ammonia originates from N_(2) in the electrolyte.The excellent NRR activity of surface hydrophobic MXenes is mainly due to surfactant molecules,which inhibit the entry of water molecules and the competitive HER,which have been verified by in situ FT-IR,DFT and molecular dynamics calculations.This strategy provides an ingenious method to design more active NRR electrocatalysts.

Surface-modified Ag@Ru-P25 for photocatalytic CO_(2) conversion with high selectivity over CH_(4) formation at the solid–gas interface

Systematic optimization of the photocatalyst and investigation of the role of each component is important to maximizing catalytic activity and comprehending the photocatalytic conversion of CO_(2) reduction to solar fuels.A surface-modified Ag@Ru-P25 photocatalyst with H_(2)O_(2) treatment was designed in this study to convert CO_(2) and H_(2)O vapor into highly selective CH4.Ru doping followed by Ag nanoparticles(NPs)cocatalyst deposition on P25(TiO_(2))enhances visible light absorption and charge separation,whereas H_(2)O_(2) treatment modifies the surface of the photocatalyst with hydroxyl(–OH)groups and promotes CO_(2) adsorption.High-resonance transmission electron microscopy,X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy,X-ray absorption near-edge structure,and extended X-ray absorption fine structure techniques were used to analyze the surface and chemical composition of the photocatalyst,while thermogravimetric analysis,CO_(2) adsorption isotherm,and temperature programmed desorption study were performed to examine the significance of H_(2)O_(2) treatment in increasing CO_(2) reduction activity.The optimized Ag1.0@Ru1.0-P25 photocatalyst performed excellent CO_(2) reduction activity into CO,CH4,and C2H6 with a~95%selectivity of CH4,where the activity was~135 times higher than that of pristine TiO_(2)(P25).For the first time,this work explored the effect of H_(2)O_(2) treatment on the photocatalyst that dramatically increases CO_(2) reduction activity.

Surface modification of CeO_(2-x) nanorods with Sn doping for enhanced nitrogen electroreduction

While the electrochemical nitrogen reduction reaction(NRR) represents a prospective blueprint for environmentally renewable ammonia generation,it has yet to overcome the limitations of weak activity and inferior selectivity.In this regard,surface modification tactic was constructed to markedly enhance the activity and selectivity via introducing Sn atoms into the surface of defective cerium oxide(denoted as Sn-CeO_(2-x)) as the active and robust electrocatalyst for NRR under benign environment.The introduction of Sn atoms in CeO_(2-x)can not only inhibit the HER activity of the catalyst but also modulate the electronic structure of ceria and optimize N-Ce interaction,thus enhancing NRR activity and selectivity.Outperforming all previous CeO_(2)-based NRR catalysts,this catalyst has demonstrated an ammonia yield rate of 41.1 μg mg_(cat)^(-1) h^(-1) and an exceptional Faradic efficiency of 35.3%.This work presents a viable approach for the development of advanced NRR electrocatalysts.

All-organic modification coating prepared with large-scale atmospheric-pressure plasma for mitigating surface charge accumulation

The surface charge accumulation on polymers often leads to surface flashover.Current solutions are mainly based on the introduction of inorganic fillers.The high-cost process and low compatibility remain formidable challenges.Moreover,existing researches on all-organic insulation focus on capturing electrons,contrary to alleviating charge accumulation.Here,an all-organic modification coating was prepared on polystyrene(PS)with the large-scale atmospheric-pressure plasma,which exhibits outperformed function in mitigating surface charge accumulation.The surface charge dissipation rate and surface conductivity are promoted by about 1.37 and 9.45 times,respectively.Simulation and experimental results show that this all-organic modification coating has a smaller electron affinity potential compared with PS.The decrease of electron affinity potential may result in accelerated surface charge decay of PS,which has never been involved in previous works.Moreover,this coating also has good reliability in a repeated surface flashover.This facile and large-scale approach brings up a novel idea for surface charge regulation and the manufacture of advanced dielectric polymers.

The effect of pulse voltage rise rate on the polypropylene surface hydrophilic modification by ns pulsed nitrogen DBD

The nanosecond(ns) pulsed nitrogen dielectric barrier discharge(DBD) is employed to enhance the hydrophilicity of polypropylene(PP) surface and improve its application effect.The discharge characteristics of the ns pulsed nitrogen DBD with different pulse rise times(from 50to 500 ns) are investigated by electrical and optical diagnostic methods and the discharge uniformity is quantitatively analyzed by image processing method.To characterize the surface hydrophilicity,the water contact angle(WCA) is measured,and the physical morphology and chemical composition of PP before and after modification are analyzed to explore the effect of plasma on PP surface.It is found that with increasing pulse rise time from 50 to 500 ns,DBD uniformity becomes worse,energy efficiency decreases from 20% to 10.8%,and electron density decrease from 6.6 × 10^(11)to 5.5 × 10^(11)cm^(-3).The tendency of electron temperature is characterized with the intensity ratio of N_(2)/N_(2)^(+)emission spectrum,which decreases from 17.4 to15.9 indicating the decreasing of T_(e) with increasing pulse rise time from 50 to 500 ns.The PP surface treated with 50 ns pulse rise time DBD has a lower WCA(~47°),while the WCA of PP treated with 100 to 500 ns pulse rise time DBD expands gradually(~50°–57°).According to the study of the fixed-point WCA values,the DBD-treated PP surface has superior uniformity under50 ns pulse rise time(3° variation) than under 300 ns pulse rise time(8° variation).After DBD treatment,the increased surface roughness from 2.0 to 9.8 nm and hydrophilic oxygencontaining groups on the surface,i.e.hydroxyl(-OH) and carbonyl(C=O) have played the significant role to improve the sample’s surface hydrophilicity.The short pulse voltage rise time enhances the reduced electric field strength(E/n) in the discharge space and improves the discharge uniformity,which makes relatively sufficient physical and chemical reactions have taken place on the PP surface,resulting in better treatment uniformity.

Etching characteristics and surface modification of InGaSnO thin films under Cl_(2)/Ar plasma

Indium gallium tin oxide(IGTO)thin films have the potential for high mobility and lowtemperature processing,which makes them suitable for applications such as display backplanes and high-voltage switching devices.However,very few studies have investigated the plasmaetching characteristics of IGTO and changes in its properties after etching.In this study,the etching characteristics of IGTO were investigated using Cl_(2)/Ar plasma,and changes in surface properties were analyzed.Results showed that the etch rate increased with an increase in the proportion of Cl_(2),with the highest etch rate observed at 69 nm min^(-1)in pure Cl_(2)plasma with a gas flow rate of 100 sccm.Furthermore,increased radio-frequency power caused a rise in the etch rate,while a process pressure of 15 m Torr was optimal.The primary etching mechanism for IGTO thin films under Cl_(2)plasma was a chemical reaction,and an increased work function indicated the occurrence of defects on the surface.In addition,the etching process reduced the surface roughness of Cl_(2)-containing plasma,whereas the etching process in pure Ar plasma increased surface roughness.This study contributes to a better understanding of the plasmaetching characteristics of IGTO and changes in its properties after etching,providing valuable insights for IGTO-based applications.

Current Strategies of Surface Modifications to Polyurethane Biomaterials for Vascular Grafts

As the number of patients suffering from cardiovascular diseases and peripheral vascular diseases rises,the constraints of autologous transplantation remain unavoidable.As a result,artificial vascular grafts must be developed.Adhesion of proteins,platelets and bacteria on implants can result in stenosis,thrombus formation,and postoperative infection,which can be fatal for an implantation.Polyurethane,as a commonly used biomaterial,has been modified in various ways to deal with the adhesions of proteins,platelets,and bacteria and to stimulate endothelium adhesion.In this review,we briefly summarize the mechanisms behind adhesions,overview the current strategies of surface modifications of polyurethane biomaterials used in vascular grafts,and highlight the challenges that need to be addressed in future studies,aiming to gain a more profound understanding of how to develop artificial polyurethane vascular grafts with an enhanced implantation success rate and reduced side effect.

Adjusting the interfacial adhesion via surface modification to prepare high-performance fibers

Ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene(UHMWPE)fiber is a new kind of high-performance fiber.Due to its excellent physical and chemical characteristics,it is widely used in various fields.However,the surface UHMWPE fiber is smooth and demonstrates no-polar groups.The weak interfacial adhesion between fiber and resin seri-ously restricts the applications of UHMWPE fiber.Therefore,the surface modification treatments of UHMWPE fiber are used to improve the interfacial adhesion strength.The modified method by adding nanomaterials elu-cidates the easy fabrication,advanced equipment and proper technology.Thus,the progress of UHMWPE nanocomposite fibers prepared via adding various nanofillers are reviewed.Meanwhile,the effects of other various methods on surface modification are also reviewed.This work advances the various design strategies about nano technologies on improving interfacial adhesion performance via treatment methodologies.

Research progress in friction stir processing of magnesium alloys and their metal matrix surface composites: Evolution in the 21^(st )century

Rising concerns about climate change drive the demand for lightweight components.Magnesium(Mg)alloys are highly valued for their low weight,making them increasingly important in various industries.Researchers focusing on enhancing the characteristics of Mg alloys and developing their Metal Matrix Composites(MMCs)have gained significant attention worldwide over the past decade,driven by the global shift towards lightweight materials.Friction Stir Processing(FSP)has emerged as a promising technique to enhance the properties of Mg alloys and produce Mg-MMCs.Initially,FSP adapted to refine grain size from the micro to the nano level and accelerated the development of MMCs due to its solid-state nature and the synergistic effects of microstructure refinement and reinforcement,improving strength,hardness,ductility,wear resistance,corrosion resistance,and fatigue strength.However,producing defect-free and sound FSPed Mg and Mg-MMCs requires addressing several variables and their interdependencies,which opens up a broad range of practical applications.Despite existing reviews on individual FSP of Mg,its alloys,and MMCs,an attempt has been made to analyze the latest research on these three aspects collectively to enhance the understanding,application,and effectiveness of FSP for Mg and its derivatives.This review article discusses the literature,classifies the importance of Mg alloys,provides a historical background,and explores developments and potential applications of FSPed Mg alloys.It focuses on novel fabrication methods,reinforcement strategies,machine and tool design parameters,material characterization,and integration with other methods for enhanced properties.The influence of process parameters and the emergence of defects are examined,along with specific applications in mono and hybrid composites and their microstructure evolution.The study identifies promising reinforcement materials and highlights research gaps in FSP for Mg alloys and MMCs production.It concludes with significant recommendations for further exploration,reflecting ongoing advancements in this field.

Triple the steady-state reaction rate by decorating the In_(2)O_(3)surface with SiO_(x)for CO_(2)hydrogenation

Indium oxide(In_(2)O_(3)),as a promising candidate for CO_(2)hydrogenation to C_(1) products,often suffers from sintering and activity decline,closely related to the undesirable structural evolution under reaction conditions.Based on the comprehension of the dynamic evolution,this study presents an efficient strategy to alleviate the agglomeration of In_(2)O_(3)nanoparticles by the surface decoration with highly dispersed silica species(SiO_(x)).Various structural characterizations combined with density functional theory calculations demonstrated that the sintering resulted from the over-reduction,while the enhanced stability originated from the anchoring effect of highly stable In-OSi bonds,which hinders the substantial formation of metallic In(In^(0))and the subsequent agglomeration.0.6Si/In_(2)O_(3)exhibited CO_(2)conversion rate of10.0 mmol g^(-1)h^(-1)at steady state vs.3.5 mmol g^(-1)h^(-1)on In_(2)O_(3)in CO_(2)hydrogenation.Enhanced steady-state activity was also achieved on Pd-modified catalysts.Compared to the traditional Pd/In_(2)O_(3)catalyst,the methanol production rate of Pd catalyst supported on 0.6Si/In_(2)O_(3)was enhanced by 23%,showing the potential of In_(2)O_(3)modified by SiO_(x)in serving as a platform material.This work provides a promising method to design new In_(2)O_(3)-based catalysts with improved activity and stability in CO_(2)hydrogenation.

Surface modification of Cu-25Cr alloy induced by high current pulsed electron beam

A Cu-25Cr alloy prepared by vacuum induction melting method was treated by the high current pulsed electron beam （HCPEB） with pulse numbers ranging from 1 to 100. Surface morphologies and microstructures of the alloy before and after the treatment were investigated by scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction. The results show that significant surface modification can be induced by HCPEB with the pulse number reaching 10. Craters with typical morphologies on the Cu-25Cr alloy surface are formed due to the dynamic thermal field induced by the HCPEB. Micro-cracks, as a unique feature, are well revealed in the irradiated Cu-25Cr specimens and attributed to quasi-static thermal stresses accumulated along the specimen surface. The amount of cracks is found to increase with the pulse number and a preference of these cracks to Cr phases rather than Cu phases is also noted. Another characteristic produced by the HCPEB is the fine Cr spheroids, which are determined to be due to occurrence of liquid phase separation in the Cu-25Cr alloy. In addition, an examination on surface roughness of all specimens reveals that more pulses will produce a roughened surface, as a result of compromising the above features.

Surface modification with SiO_2 coating on biomedical TiNi shape memory alloy by sol-gel method

The effect of heat treatment on the transformation temperature of Ti?52.2%Ni (mole fraction) alloy was studied using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The transformation temperatures of the alloy can be adjusted effectively by heat treatment. Dense and stable SiO2 coatings were deposited on the surface of the pre-oxidized TiNi alloy by sol?gel method. The bonding strength of films and matrix was (65.9±1.5) N. The electrochemical corrosion test shows that the TiNi alloy with SiO2 coating has excellent corrosion resistance in the Hank’s simulated body fluid. The release behaviors of Ni ion of the alloy with and without SiO2 coating implanted in the acoustic vesicle of guinea pig were studied by EDS testing, which was inhibited effectively by the dense and stable SiO2 coating on the alloy.