Zincophilic Sites Enriched Hydrogen-Bonded Organic Framework as Multifunctional Regulating Interfacial Layers for Stable Zinc Metal Batteries.

To construct an efficient regulating layer for Zn anodes that can simultaneously address the issues of dendritic growth and side reactions is highly demanded for stable zinc metal batteries (ZMBs). Herein, we fabricate a hydrogen-bonded organic framework (HOF) enriched with zincophilic sites as a multifunctional layer to regulate Zn anodes with controlled spatial ion flux and stable interfacial chemistry (MA-BTA@Zn). The framework with abundant H-bonds helps capture H2O and remove the solvated shells on [Zn(H2O)6]2+, leading to suppressed side reactions. The HOF layer also helps form electrolyte-philic surfaces and expose Zn (002) crystal planes which benefit for rapid conduction and uniform deposition of Zn2+, and weakened sides reactions. Additionally, the electrochemically active zincophilic sites (C=O, -NH2 and triazine groups) favor the targeted guidance and penetration of Zn2+ and provide advantageous sites for uniform Zn deposition. High Young's modulus of the HOF layer further contributes to a high interfacial flexibility and stability against Zn plating-associated stress. The MA-BTA@Zn symmetric cells thereby obtain a substantially extended battery life over 1000 h at 4 mA cm-2. The MA-BTA@Zn||Cu half-cell demonstrates a highly reversible Zn stripping/plating process over 1500 cycles with impressive average Coulombic efficiency (CE) of 99.5 % at 10 mA cm-2.

Multifunctional composite coatings with hydrophobic, UV-resistant, anti-oxidative, and photothermal performance for healthcare.

Personal protective textiles have attracted extensive interest since Corona Virus Disease 2019 has broken out. Moreover, developing eco-friendly, multifunctional waterproof, and breathable surface is of great importance but still faces enormous challenges. Notably, good hydrophobicity and breathability are necessary for protective textiles, especially protective clothing and face masks for healthcare. Herein, the multifunctional composite coatings with good UV-resistant, anti-oxidative, hydrophobic, breathable, and photothermal performance has been rapidly created to meet protective requirements. First, the gallic acid and chitosan polymer was coated onto the cotton fabric surface. Subsequently, the modified silica sol was anchored on the coated cotton fabric surface. The successful fabrication of composite coatings was verified by RGB values obtained from the smartphone and K/S value. The present work is an advance for realizing textile hydrophobicity by utilizing fluorine-free materials, compared with the surface hydrophobicity fabricated with conventional fluorinated materials. The surface free energy has been reduced from 84.2 to27.6 mJ/m2 so that the modified cotton fabric could repel the ethylene glycol, hydrochloric acid, and sodium hydroxide solutions, respectively. Besides, the composite coatings possesses lower adhesion to deionized water. After 70 cycles of the sandpaper abrasion, the fluorine-free hydrophobic coatings still exhibits good hydrophobicity with WCA of 124.6 ± 0.9°, with overcoming the intrinsic drawback of the poor abrasion resistance of hydrophobic surfaces. Briefly, the present work may provide a universal strategy for rapidly creating advanced protective coatings to meet personal healthcare, and a novel method for detecting RGB values of composite coatings by smartphone.

Deposition of Thick SiO2 Coatings to Carbonyl Iron Microparticles for Thermal Stability and Microwave Performance.

Thick dielectric SiO2 shells on the surface of iron particles enhance the thermal and electrodynamic parameters of the iron. A technique to deposit thick, 500-nm, SiO2 shell to the surface of carbonyl iron (CI) particles was developed. The method consists of repeated deposition of SiO2 particles with air drying between iterations. This method allows to obtain thick dielectric shells up to 475 nm on individual CI particles. The paper shows that a thick SiO2 protective layer reduces the permittivity of the 'Fe-SiO2-paraffin' composite in accordance with the Maxwell Garnett medium theory. The protective shell increases the thermal stability of iron, when heated in air, by shifting the transition temperature to the higher oxide. The particle size, the thickness of the SiO2 shells, and the elemental analysis of the samples were studied using a scanning electron microscope. A coaxial waveguide and the Nicholson-Ross technique were used to measure microwave permeability and permittivity of the samples. A vibrating-sample magnetometer (VSM) was used to measure the magnetostatic data. A synchronous thermal analysis was applied to measure the thermal stability of the coated iron particles. The developed samples can be applied for electromagnetic compatibility problems, as well as the active material for various types of sensors.

Electrostatic Shielding Regulation of Magnetron Sputtered Al-Based Alloy Protective Coatings Enables Highly Reversible Zinc Anodes.

The uncontrolled zinc dendrite growth during plating leads to quick battery failure, which hinders the widespread applications of aqueous zinc-ion batteries. The growth of Zn dendrites is often promoted by the "tip effect". In this work, we propose a generate strategy to eliminate the "tip effect" by utilizing the electrostatic shielding effect, which is achieved by coating Zn anodes with magnetron sputtered Al-based alloy protective layers. The Al can form a surface insulating Al2O3 layer and by manipulating the Al content of Zn-Al alloy films, we are able to control the strength of the electrostatic shield, therefore realizing a long lifespan of Zn anodes up to 3000 h at a practical operating condition of 1.0 mA cm-2 and 1.0 mAh cm-2. In addition, the concept can be extended to other Al-based systems such as Ti-Al alloy and achieve enhanced stability of Zn anodes, demonstrating the generality and efficacy of our strategy.

Metallisation of Textiles and Protection of Conductive Layers: An Overview of Application Techniques.

The rapid growth in wearable technology has recently stimulated the development of conductive textiles for broad application purposes, i.e., wearable electronics, heat generators, sensors, electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding, optoelectronic and photonics. Textile material, which was always considered just as the interface between the wearer and the environment, now plays a more active role in different sectors, such as sport, healthcare, security, entertainment, military, and technical sectors, etc. This expansion in applied development of e-textiles is governed by a vast amount of research work conducted by increasingly interdisciplinary teams and presented systematic review highlights and assesses, in a comprehensive manner, recent research in the field of conductive textiles and their potential application for wearable electronics (so called e-textiles), as well as development of advanced application techniques to obtain conductivity, with emphasis on metal-containing coatings. Furthermore, an overview of protective compounds was provided, which are suitable for the protection of metallized textile surfaces against corrosion, mechanical forces, abrasion, and other external factors, influencing negatively on the adhesion and durability of the conductive layers during textiles' lifetime (wear and care). The challenges, drawbacks and further opportunities in these fields are also discussed critically.

Robust Pressure Sensor in SOI Technology with Butterfly Wiring for Airfoil Integration.

Current research in the field of aviation considers actively controlled high-lift structures for future civil airplanes. Therefore, pressure data must be acquired from the airfoil surface without influencing the flow due to sensor application. For experiments in the wind and water tunnel, as well as for the actual application, the requirements for the quality of the airfoil surface are demanding. Consequently, a new class of sensors is required, which can be flush-integrated into the airfoil surface, may be used under wet conditions-even under water-and should withstand the harsh environment of a high-lift scenario. A new miniature silicon on insulator (SOI)-based MEMS pressure sensor, which allows integration into airfoils in a flip-chip configuration, is presented. An internal, highly doped silicon wiring with "butterfly" geometry combined with through glass via (TGV) technology enables a watertight and application-suitable chip-scale-package (CSP). The chips were produced by reliable batch microfabrication including femtosecond laser processes at the wafer-level. Sensor characterization demonstrates a high resolution of 38 mVV-1 bar-1. The stepless ultra-smooth and electrically passivated sensor surface can be coated with thin surface protection layers to further enhance robustness against harsh environments. Accordingly, protective coatings of amorphous hydrogenated silicon nitride (a-SiN:H) and amorphous hydrogenated silicon carbide (a-SiC:H) were investigated in experiments simulating environments with high-velocity impacting particles. Topographic damage quantification demonstrates the superior robustness of a-SiC:H coatings and validates their applicability to future sensors.

Synergistic Inhibition Effect of Chitosan and L-Cysteine for the Protection of Copper-Based Alloys against Atmospheric Chloride-Induced Indoor Corrosion.

The protection of metals from atmospheric corrosion is a task of primary importance for many applications and many different products have been used, sometimes being toxic and harmful for health and the environment. In order to overcome drawbacks due to toxicity of the corrosion inhibitors and harmful organic solvents and to ensure long-lasting protection, new organic compounds have been proposed and their corrosion inhibition properties have been investigated. In this work, we describe the use of a new environment-friendly anticorrosive coating that takes advantage of the synergism between an eco-friendly bio-polymer matrix and an amino acid. The corrosion inhibition of a largely used Copper-based (Cu-based) alloy against the chloride-induced indoor atmospheric attack was studied using chitosan (CH) as a biopolymer and l-Cysteine (Cy) as an amino acid. To evaluate the protective efficacy of the coatings, tailored accelerated corrosion tests were carried out on bare and coated Cu-based alloys, further, the nature of the protective film formed on the Cu-based alloy surface was analyzed by Fourier-transformed infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) while the surface modifications due to the corrosion treatments were investigated by optical microscopy (OM). The evaluation tests reveal that the Chitosan/l-Cysteine (CH/Cy) coatings exhibit good anti-corrosion properties against chloride attack whose efficiency increases with a minimum amount of Cy of 0.25 mg/mL.

Nanoengineered Organic Electrodes for Highly Durable and Ultrafast Cycling of Organic Sodium-Ion Batteries.

Sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) have become increasingly important as next-generation energy storage systems for application in large-scale energy storage. It is very crucial to develop an eco-friendly and green SIB technique with superior performance for sustainable future use. Replacing the conventional inorganic electrode materials with green and safe organic electrodes will be a promising approach. However, the poor electrochemical kinetics, unstable electrode-electrolyte interface, high solubility of the electrodes in the electrolyte, and large amount of conductive carbon present great challenges for organic SIBs. In this study, the issues of organic electrodes are addressed through atomic-level manipulation of these organic molecules using a series of ultrathin (Å-level) metal oxide coatings (Al2 O3 , ZnO, and TiO2 ). Uniform and precise coatings on the perylene-3,4,9,10-tetracarboxylicacid dianhydride by gas-phase atomic layer deposition technique shows a stable interphase, enhanced electrochemical kinetics (71C, 10 A g-1 ), and excellent stability (89%-500 cycles) compared to conventional organic electrode (70%-200 cycles). Further studies reveal that the chemical stability of the metal oxide coating layer plays a critical role in influencing the redox behavior, and improving kinetics of organic electrodes. This study opens a new avenue for developing high-energy organic SIBs with performance equivalent to inorganic counterparts.

Controllable Synthesis of Graphdiyne Nanoribbons.

Graphdiyne nanoribbons with high chemical precision are of great significance for further understanding of the intrinsic properties of graphdiyne and the relationship between structure and properties. However, the reliable synthesis of graphdiyne nanoribbons with chemical precision remains a significant challenge. A facile method is now presented for fabrication of graphdiyne nanoribbons with uniform width through stepwise inter- and intramolecular Glaser-Hay coupling reaction of ethynyl groups. The synthetic ribbons were interwoven into nanotextiles by π-π stacking and were applied for protective coating of Li-electrode in Li-ion batteries, which efficiently suppressed the growth of the Li dendrites during cycling and prolonged the life span of Li-metal batteries.

A comparison of the antifouling performance of air plasma spray (APS) ceramic and high velocity oxygen fuel (HVOF) coatings for use in marine hydraulic applications.

Maritime hydraulic components are often exposed to harsh environmental conditions which can lead to accelerated deterioration, reduced function, equipment failure and costly repair. Two leading causes of maritime hydraulic failure are biofouling accumulation and corrosion. This study examined the antifouling performance of three candidate replacement high velocity oxygen fuel (HVOF) coatings relative to the performance of the current baseline air plasma spray (APS) ceramic coating for protection of hydraulic actuators. Following 20 weeks immersion at tropical and temperate field exposure sites, the control APS ceramic accumulated significantly greater levels of biofouling compared to the HVOF coatings. More specifically, the magnitude of growth of real-world nuisance hard fouling observed on in-service hydraulic components (eg calcareous tubeworms and encrusting bryozoans) was significantly greater on the APS ceramic relative to HVOF coatings. Possible explanations for the observed patterns include differences in surface topography and roughness, the electrochemical potential of the surfaces and the colour/brightness of the coatings.

Protective radiolucent aluminium oxide coatings for beryllium X-ray optics.

Beryllium, being one of the most transparent materials to X-ray radiation, has become the material of choice for X-ray optics instrumentation at synchrotron radiation sources and free-electron laser facilities. However, there are concerns due to its high toxicity and, consequently, there is a need for special safety regulations. The authors propose to apply protective coatings in order to seal off beryllium from the ambient atmosphere, thus preventing degradation processes providing additional protection for users and prolonging the service time of the optical elements. This paper presents durability test results for Be windows coated with atomic-layer-deposition alumina layers run at the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility. Expositions were performed under monochromatic, pink and white beams, establishing conditions that the samples could tolerate without radiation damage. X-ray treatment was implemented in various environments, i.e. vacuum, helium, nitrogen, argon and dry air at different pressures. Post-process analysis revealed their efficiency for monochromatic and pink beams.

Changes in Corrosion Behaviour of Zinc and Aluminium Coatings with Increasing Seawater Acidification.

The increase in greenhouse gas emissions has led to seawater acidification, increasing the corrosion rate of metal structures in marine applications. This paper indicates that the spraying of four types of coatings, namely Zn, Al, Zn-Al, and Al-Mg, using the arc-spraying technique on steel substrate S235JR, creates effective protective coatings that interact differently with various pH solutions exposed to varying levels of seawater acidification. The study analyses the structural properties of the coating materials using SEM and XRD techniques. Electrochemical parameters are evaluated in solutions with different pH and salinity levels. The results demonstrate that alloy metallic coatings provide excellent resistance to corrosion in low-pH solutions.

A comprehensive overview of recent progress in MXene-based polymer composites: Their fabrication processes, advanced applications, and prospects.

MXenes are a group of 2D transition metal carbonitrides, nitrides and carbides that have become widely recognized as useful materials since they were first discovered in 2011. MXenes, with their exceptional layered structures and splendid external chemistries, have excellent electrical, optical, and thermal properties, making them suitable for catalysis, biomedical uses, environmental remediation, energy storage, and EMI shielding. Over forty MXene compounds with surface terminations like hydroxyl, oxygen, or fluorine are hydrophilic and easily integrated into various applications. Advanced synthesis methods, including selective etching and etchant modifications, have broadened MXene surface chemistries for customized mechanical, thermal, and electrical applications. Integrating MXenes into polymer composites has demonstrated notable promise, enhancing the host polymers' electrical conductivity, thermal stability and mechanical strength. The MXene-polymer composites demonstrate remarkable prospective on behalf of advanced purposes, including flexible electronics, high-performance EMI shielding materials, and lightweight structural components. MXenes have the desirable characteristic of being able to create flexible and translucent films, as well as improve the properties of polymer matrices. This makes them very suitable for use in advanced technological applications. This review summarizes MXene research, methods, and insights, highlighting key discoveries and future directions. This also highlights the importance of ongoing research to fill in the gaps in current knowledge and improve the practical uses of MXenes.

Durable graphene-based alkyd nanocomposites for surface coating applications.

Recently, the scientific community's main goal is the long-term sustainability. Vegetable oils are easily accessible, non-depletable, and cost-effective materials. Vegetable oils are used to prepare polymeric alkyd surfaces. Novel and exciting designs of alkyd/graphene nanocomposites have provided eco-friendly thermal stability and protective coating surfaces. This review has briefly described important graphene-based alkyd nanocomposites along with their applications as protective coatings. These alkyd composites have high hydrophobicity, corrosion resistance, and durability. Graphene-based alkyd nanocoatings have many industrial and research interests because of their exceptional thermal and chemical properties. This work introduces an advanced horizon for developing protective nanocomposite coatings. The anti-corrosion properties and coatings' longevity may be improved by combining the synergistic effects of hybrid nanofillers introduced in this work.

Graphene-based materials as nanoplatforms for antiviral therapy and prophylaxis.

INTRODUCTION: The dramatic effects caused by viral diseases have prompted the search for effective therapeutic and preventive agents. In this context, 2D graphene-based nanomaterials (GBNs) have shown great potential for antiviral therapy, enabling the functionalization and/or decoration with biomolecules, metals and polymers, able to improve their interaction with viral nanoparticles. AREAS COVERED: This review summarizes the most recent advances of the antiviral research related to 2D GBNs, based on their antiviral mechanism of action. Their ability to inactivate viruses by inhibiting the entry inside cells, or through drug/gene delivery, or by stimulating the host immune response are here discussed. As reported, biological studies performed in vitro and/or in vivo allowed to demonstrate the antiviral activity of the developed GBNs, at different stages of the virus life cycle and the evaluation of their long-term toxicity. Other mechanisms closely related to the physicochemical properties of GBNs are also reported, demonstrating the potential of these materials for antiviral prophylaxis. EXPERT OPINION: GBNs represent valuable tools to fight emerging or reemerging viral infections. However, their translation into the clinic requires standardized scale-up procedures leading to the reliable and reproducible synthesis of these nanomaterials with suitable physicochemical properties, as well as more in-depth pharmacological and toxicological investigations. We believe that multidisciplinary approaches will give valuable solutions to overcome the encountered limitations in the application of GBNs in biomedical and clinical field.

Structural Insight into Protective Alumina Coatings for Layered Li-Ion Cathode Materials by Solid-State NMR Spectroscopy.

Layered transition metal oxide cathode materials can exhibit high energy densities in Li-ion batteries, in particular, those with high Ni contents such as LiNiO2. However, the stability of these Ni-rich materials often decreases with increased nickel content, leading to capacity fade and a decrease in the resulting electrochemical performance. Thin alumina coatings have the potential to improve the longevity of LiNiO2 cathodes by providing a protective interface to stabilize the cathode surface. The structures of alumina coatings and the chemistry of the coating-cathode interface are not fully understood and remain the subject of investigation. Greater structural understanding could help to minimize excess coating, maximize conductive pathways, and maintain high capacity and rate capability while improving capacity retention. Here, solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, paired with powder X-ray diffraction and electron microscopy, is used to provide insight into the structures of the Al2O3 coatings on LiNiO2. To do this, we performed a systematic study as a function of coating thickness and used LiCoO2, a diamagnetic model, and the material of interest, LiNiO2. 27Al magic-angle spinning (MAS) NMR spectra acquired for thick 10 wt % coatings on LiCoO2 and LiNiO2 suggest that in both cases, the coatings consist of disordered four- and six-coordinate Al-O environments. However, 27Al MAS NMR spectra acquired for thinner 0.2 wt % coatings on LiCoO2 identify additional phases believed to be LiCo1-xAlxO2 and LiAlO2 at the coating-cathode interface. 6,7Li MAS NMR and T1 measurements suggest that similar mixing takes place near the interface for Al2O3 on LiNiO2. Furthermore, reproducibility studies have been undertaken to investigate the effect of the coating method on the local structure, as well as the role of the substrate.

Manufacturing of Corrosion-Resistant Surface Layers by Coating Non-Alloy Steels with a Polymer-Powder Slurry and Sintering.

This paper describes the combination of surface engineering and powder metallurgy to create a coating with improved corrosion resistance and wear properties. A new method has been developed to manufacture corrosion-resistant surface layers on steel substrate with additional carbide reinforcement by employing a polymer-powder slurry forming and sintering. The proposed technology is an innovative alternative to anti-corrosion coatings applied by galvanic, welding or thermal spraying techniques. Two different stainless-steel powders were used in the research. Austenitic 316 L and 430 L ferritic steel powders were selected for comparison. In addition, to improve resistance to abrasive wear, coatings containing an additional mixture of tetra carbides (WC, TaC, TiC, NbC) were applied. The study investigates the effects of using multicomponent polymeric binders, sintering temperature, and atmosphere in the sintering process, as well as the presence of reinforcing precipitation, microstructure and selected surface layer properties. Various techniques such as SEM, EDS, hardness and tensile tests and corrosion resistance analysis are employed to evaluate the characteristics of the developed materials. It has been proven that residual carbon content and nitrogen atmosphere cause the release of hard precipitations and thus affect the higher mechanical properties of the obtained coatings. The tensile test shows that both steels have higher strength after sintering in a nitrogen-rich atmosphere. Nitrogen contributes over 50% more to the tensile strength than an argon-containing atmosphere.

Investigation of the properties of a water-based acrylic dispersion modified with an ionic liquid, surfactant, and thickener.

The sustainable development of the paint and varnish industry is a prerequisite for action to minimize the negative environmental impact of paint products. They consist not only in reducing the emission of harmful VOC substances into the atmosphere but also in modifying the composition of the paint material in order to improve the properties of the coatings and at the same time reduce the amount of waste. Selection of the appropriate composition of the water-borne composition is still a problem to be solved. Therefore, aqueous polymer dispersions of Arlberdingk AC 2514 containing an acrylic resin modified with an ionic liquid of didecyldimethylammonium nitrate (DDANO3) were tested. Non-ionic surfactants (Rokanol L-10 and Rokacet S-24), polyurethane thickener (DSX 1514), and mineral thickener (bentonite) were also used for stabilization. The influence of individual components on changes in the stability and particle size of dispersion systems was investigated. Physicomechanical tests of coatings obtained from polymer dispersion systems were also performed. Studies have shown that with the increase in the amount of DDANO3 in the system, the particle size of the varnish composition decreases and the gloss and relative hardness of the coatings decrease. The optimal amount of DDANO3 in the dispersion is 1.5% w/w. DSX 1514 increased the stability, reduced the migration rate of the dispersion particles, and improved the elasticity and impact resistance of the protective membranes. It has been shown that the stability varies depending on the type of thickener and surfactant (SAA) used. SAA increases the value of the TSI (Turbiscan Stability Index), which takes the values of 3.8 (0.3 g bentonite) and 3.6 (0.6 g bentonite), respectively, with Rokanol L-10 16% w/w. Water-soluble acrylic resin with the tested additives can be potentially used for the production of stable dispersions with extended life.

Corrosion Behavior of Coated Low Carbon Steel in a Simulated PEMFC Environment.

Here, potential metallic bipolar plate (BP) materials were manufactured by laser coating NiCr-based alloys with different Ti additions on low carbon steel substrates. The titanium content within the coating varied between 1.5 and 12.5 wt%. Our present study focussed on electrochemically testing the laser cladded samples in a milder solution. The electrolyte used for all of the electrochemical tests consisted of a 0.1 M Na2SO4 solution (acidulated with H2SO4 at pH = 5) with the addition of 0.1 ppm F-. The corrosion resistance properties of the laser-cladded samples was evaluated using an electrochemical protocol, which consisted of the open circuit potential (OCP), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) measurements, and potentiodynamic polarization, followed by potentiostatic polarization under simulated proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) anodic and cathodic environments for 6 h each. After the samples were subjected to potentiostatic polarization, the EIS measurements and potentiodynamic polarization were repeated. The microstructure and chemical composition of the laser cladded samples were investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) combined with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) analysis.

Self-Healing Silicone Materials: Looking Back and Moving Forward.

This review is dedicated to self-healing silicone materials, which can partially or entirely restore their original characteristics after mechanical or electrical damage is caused to them, such as formed (micro)cracks, scratches, and cuts. The concept of self-healing materials originated from biomaterials (living tissues) capable of self-healing and regeneration of their functions (plants, human skin and bones, etc.). Silicones are ones of the most promising polymer matrixes to create self-healing materials. Self-healing silicones allow an increase of the service life and durability of materials and devices based on them. In this review, we provide a critical analysis of the current existing types of self-healing silicone materials and their functional properties, which can be used in biomedicine, optoelectronics, nanotechnology, additive manufacturing, soft robotics, skin-inspired electronics, protection of surfaces, etc.