The relationship between the oscillatory force and the depth-response during dynamic indentation was analyzed mathematically and investigated experimentally in ultrafine-grained Al–Zn alloys processed by high-pressure torsion. We have shown for the first time that the phase shift between the local oscillatory force and depth signal, caused by the internal friction, is correlated to the strain-rate sensitivity, which is a key parameter indicating the ductility of materials. This correlation enables a new application of dynamic nanoindentation for studying the rate-dependent deformation-mechanisms of materials from a novel aspect.

The influence of Ag-doping on the crystallographic structure, magnetic properties, and magnetocaloric effects of Mn1−xAgxCoGe (0.01 ⩽ x ⩽ 0.10) is reported. A transformation of crystal structure from orthorhombic to hexagonal was observed at room temperature. Doping Ag in Mn sites results in a first-order magnetostructural transition near room temperature. A Curie-temperature window of 90 K was obtained between the Curie temperatures of the austenite (Ni2In-type) and martensite (TiNiSi-type) phases. Large magnetic entropy change values of ~22.0 and 9.4 J/kg/K, and refrigerant capacity of 308 and 272 J/kg, were found for x = 0.06 and 0.05, respectively, for μ0ΔH = 5 T.

[6,6]-Phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl esters (PCBM) have emerged in recent years as important building blocks for photovoltaic devices. However, the potential of PCBM itself as a photocatalyst has not been reviewed. Here, we demonstrate PCBM nanoparticles (NPs) fabricated by the reprecipitation method as suitable photocatalysts for an effective visible-light-driven photocatalytic degradation for organic dyes. An enhanced catalytic performance of PCBM can be achieved by a simple annealing process. The present PCBM NPs outperform the state-of-the-art P25 TiO2 and therefore highlights its potential as promising small molecule organic semiconductor photocatalysts with high photocatalytic activity and good long-term stability.

Non-conventional uranium extraction sources are not the most used mainly due to high extraction costs associated with low concentrations and chemical forms that require extra purification processes. Therefore, efforts should focus on cheaper processes and develop more effective extraction materials. In this investigation, ionic-imprinted polymers were synthesized for the selective extraction of uranyl ions in aqueous solution, using polyesters of 2,5-bis((allyloxy)carbonyl)terephthalic acid and 4,6-bis((allyloxy)carbonyl)isophthalic acid as base materials and polymerized by gamma radiation. The extraction capacity (Q) of the resins was evaluated by varying parameters such as pH, temperature, extraction time, and ionic strength.

Ferroelectric single-crystal-architecture-in-glass is a new class of metamaterials that would enable active integrated optics if the ferroelectric behavior is preserved within the confines of glass. We demonstrate using lithium niobate crystals fabricated in lithium niobosilicate glass by femtosecond laser irradiation that not only such behavior is preserved, the ferroelectric domains can be engineered with a DC bias. A piezoresponse force microscope is used to characterize the piezoelectric and ferroelectric behavior. The piezoresponse correlates with the orientation of the crystal lattice as expected for unconfined crystal, and a complex micro- and nano-scale ferroelectric domain structure of the as-grown crystals is revealed.

LM-8 is a murine osteosarcoma cell line associated with bone tumor in young adult and children. It contains the nuclear factor-κB which make this cell high resistance to irradiation thus limiting its treatment only to chemotherapy and surgery which has become a source of concerned for cancer therapy. In addressing this problem, we herein report the synthesis of CdTe/CdSe core/shell quantum dots (QDs) via a simple, reproducible method and its cytotoxic action against the LM-8 cell line. The cell viability study shows that the as-synthesized QDs are toxic to the LM-8 cell line in a concentration- and time-dependent manner.

CdS/ZnS core shell quantum dots (QDs) were synthesized and functionalized by methionine and characterized by standard techniques. The prior QD-based phytotoxicity assay was helpful to find out the maximum tolerant level of the plant cells. The successful transport and phytotoxic mechanism of QDs were elaborated in detail. Methionine functionalities on the QDs were helpful in specific binding of QDs with the nucleus of stomata in plant cells. Target specific interaction with the nucleus of stomata cells was a novel breakthrough that can be used in many biologic applications.

Nickel thin films were prepared by electroless plating in a foam of electrolyte generated by bubbling nitrogen into a hypophosphite-based electroless plating solution added with surfactants of sulfuric acid monododecyl ester sodium salt and ammonium pentadecafluorooctanoate (APFO). Ferroxyl test revealed that the films deposited in foam had substantially higher corrosion resistance than those deposited in liquid. Even with a film thickness of only 1.5 µm, the fraction of corroded area was as small as 0.002% when the film was deposited in the foam. The notable improvement in the corrosion resistance was made possible by adding APFO as the surfactant.

The finite element simulations show that non-equibiaxial residual stresses (RS) can shift the load–depth curve from the unstressed curve and cause elliptical remnant indentation in spherical indentation. Thus the relative load change between stressed and unstressed samples and the asymmetry of elliptical remnant indentation were employed as characteristic parameters to evaluate the magnitude and directionality of RS. Through theoretical and numerical analysis, the effects of RS on indentation load and remnant impression as well as the affect mechanism were systematically discussed. Finally, two equations which could provide foundations for establishing spherical indentation method to evaluate non-equibiaxial RS were obtained.

Clathrates based on Si and Ge have very low lattice thermal conductivity (~1 W/m-K). This value can potentially be further reduced by alloying and nano-structuring. In this work, the thermal conductivity of Si and Ge clathrates alloy have been investigated using model based on the relaxation time approximation. By including alloy scattering, we find that the lattice thermal conductivity of Ba8Cu6Si40 is reduced by 50% from 1.64 to 0.80 W/m-K in Ba8Cu6Si40(1−x)Ge40x alloy. Further ~90% reduction of the thermal conductivity is possible for nanowire clathrate alloys. The ultra-low thermal conductivity in the nanowire will be very suitable for the thermoelectric application.

Based on density functional theory, we recently suggested that metastable α-WB2 is a promising candidate combining very high hardness with high toughness. These calculations further suggested that the addition of Tantalum supports the crystallization of α-structured W1−xTaxB2−z, with only minor reduction in toughness. Thus, various Ta containing WB2-based coatings have been synthesized using physical vapor deposition. With increasing Ta content, the hardness increases from ~41 GPa (WB2) to ~45 GPa (W0.74Ta0.26B2). In situ micromechanical cantilever bending tests exhibit fracture toughness KIC values of 3.7 to 3.0 MPa√m for increasing Ta content (single-phased up to 26 at.% Ta).

We developed a microelectromechanical-system optical interferometer based on an elastomer nanosheet using a polystyrene-polybutadiene-polystyrene (SBS) triblock copolymer for a suspended membrane as a way to improve the stress sensitivity for surface stress detection. The elastomeric SBS nanosheet provides a low Young's modulus of 28 ± 11 MPa, a large elastic strain of 24 ± 12%, and high adhesiveness, of which the surface charge and mechanical property are tunable by layer-by-layer (LbL) deposition of polysaccharides. A freestanding SBS nanosheet can be formed above a microcavity using a dry transfer technique without applying vacuum or high-temperature processes. The maximum deflection associated with molecular adsorption increased by sevenfold compared with a parylene-C-based optical interferometric transducer.

We report on the design of polycaprolactone (PCL)-TiO2-collagenase mesh scaffolds by Forcespinning technique. The dependence of the degree of crystallinity in PCL caused by the incorporation of dopants (TiO2-collagenase) and the reduction of dimensionality (1D), during the nanofiber formation, were investigated by x-ray diffraction and differential scanning calorimetry. The tensile strength of the mesh scaffolds (randomly oriented) was determined using uniaxial testing equipment. The permeability was measured by contact angle obtaining an improvement in the hydrophobicity for the PCL-TiO2-collagenase mesh scaffolds. The results reported in this research are of great relevance for tissue engineering applications.

In this report, a facile system consisting of iron (III) meso-tetrakis(4-hydroxyphenyl)porphyrin-methylene blue dye hybrid immobilized on a disposable paper strip was used to detect and sense H2O2 in aqueous solutions via a low-cost pixelometric imaging technique. The new technology was employed to evaluate the level of H2O2 in a self-administering 30%-labeled commercial H2O2 disinfectant solution. The result showed that the concentration of H2O2 in the tested pharmaceutical sample solution deviated from the label by 92.37%. The current approach provides a simple low-cost resolution for the rapid detection and quantification of H2O2 in aqueous solution and pharmaceutical fluids.

Deformation twinning has been frequently observed in body-centered cubic (BCC) high entropy alloys (HEAs), however, the underlying mechanism remains elusive. We perform molecular dynamics simulations on a representative BCC HEA nanopillar under high-symmetry compression, describe atomic details of deformation twinning, and propose a mechanism of twin nucleation from the surface. We find that twinned regions are formed by partial dislocations and that chemical heterogeneity can reduce local fault energy and promote stacking faults and twins. These results help to understand the propensity for stacking fault formation and twinning in HEAs and may guide the design of novel HEAs through control of active twinning mechanisms.

Multifunctional scaffolds with dual release of small molecular drugs and biomacromolecules have potential in many applications such as cancer postoperative care, which require appropriate administration of anticancer drugs and biomacromolecules in a spatiotemporal manner. Herein, a systematic investigation into the dual release of anticancer drugs and biomacromolecules from the bicomponent nanofibrous scaffolds is performed. Their release behavior is affected by different fabrication techniques and different polymers used. We show that the bicomponent scaffold fabricated by dual-source dual-power emulsion electrospinning enables dual release of anticancer drugs and biomacromolecules in a controlled manner, holding promise for combinational cancer postoperative care.