Microscale magnetoelectricity: Effect of particles geometry, distribution, and volume fraction

Author(s):  
Scott Newacheck ◽  
George Youssef

Achieving efficient magnetoelectric coupling of core-shell and particulate multiferroic composites has been a challenging hurdle; however, research has shown unwavering interest to overcome this barrier in pursuit of their implementation into promising potential applications. Herein, a fully coupled computational model of core-shell and particulate composites is developed and verified to investigate the magnetoelectric interactions of the particle and matrix on the microscale. The effects of particle geometry, settling, and agglomeration were exhaustively studied by investigating seven different shapes and a wide range of vertical and lateral particle spacing. Overall, it was found that utilizing particle geometries and positioning that closely resemble a laminate configuration, such as a prolate ellipsoid and horizontal particle alignment, enhances the magnetoelectric coupling of the composite structure. The results coincided with the experimental results concerning settling and agglomeration.

Nanomaterials ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 85 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xue Bai ◽  
Finn Purcell-Milton ◽  
Yuri Gun’ko

This review summaries the optical properties, recent progress in synthesis, and a range of applications of luminescent Cu-based ternary or quaternary quantum dots (QDs). We first present the unique optical properties of the Cu-based multicomponent QDs, regarding their emission mechanism, high photoluminescent quantum yields (PLQYs), size-dependent bandgap, composition-dependent bandgap, broad emission range, large Stokes’ shift, and long photoluminescent (PL) lifetimes. Huge progress has taken place in this area over the past years, via detailed experimenting and modelling, giving a much more complete understanding of these nanomaterials and enabling the means to control and therefore take full advantage of their important properties. We then fully explore the techniques to prepare the various types of Cu-based ternary or quaternary QDs (including anisotropic nanocrystals (NCs), polytypic NCs, and spherical, nanorod and tetrapod core/shell heterostructures) are introduced in subsequent sections. To date, various strategies have been employed to understand and control the QDs distinct and new morphologies, with the recent development of Cu-based nanorod and tetrapod structure synthesis highlighted. Next, we summarize a series of applications of these luminescent Cu-based anisotropic and core/shell heterostructures, covering luminescent solar concentrators (LSCs), bioimaging and light emitting diodes (LEDs). Finally, we provide perspectives on the overall current status, challenges, and future directions in this field. The confluence of advances in the synthesis, properties, and applications of these Cu-based QDs presents an important opportunity to a wide-range of fields and this piece gives the reader the knowledge to grasp these exciting developments.


2005 ◽  
Vol 872 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yue Zhang ◽  
Jian He ◽  
Yunhua Huang ◽  
Yousong Gu ◽  
Zhen Ji ◽  
...  

AbstractWe developed an efficient method in achieving a wide range of high-quality ZnO nanostructures by zinc powder evaporation at lower temperature. The synthesis under specific conditions of ZnO nanostructures, such as comb-like structures, well-aligned nanorods, nanonails and core-shell ZnO/SiOx nanowires, were introduced in detailed respectively in this letter. Meanwhile, SEM, TEM, HRTEM and EDX investigations were performed on the products and revealed the crystal structure and the growth mechanism. These high-quality nanostructures enriched the family of ZnO nanomaterials and may have potential applications in optoelectronics, sensors and nanoscale mechanics research.


Polymers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (10) ◽  
pp. 1566
Author(s):  
Oliver J. Pemble ◽  
Maria Bardosova ◽  
Ian M. Povey ◽  
Martyn E. Pemble

Chitosan-based films have a diverse range of potential applications but are currently limited in terms of commercial use due to a lack of methods specifically designed to produce thin films in high volumes. To address this limitation directly, hydrogels prepared from chitosan, chitosan-tetraethoxy silane, also known as tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) and chitosan-glutaraldehyde have been used to prepare continuous thin films using a slot-die technique which is described in detail. By way of preliminary analysis of the resulting films for comparison purposes with films made by other methods, the mechanical strength of the films produced was assessed. It was found that as expected, the hybrid films made with TEOS and glutaraldehyde both show a higher yield strength than the films made with chitosan alone. In all cases, the mechanical properties of the films were found to compare very favorably with similar measurements reported in the literature. In order to assess the possible influence of the direction in which the hydrogel passes through the slot-die on the mechanical properties of the films, testing was performed on plain chitosan samples cut in a direction parallel to the direction of travel and perpendicular to this direction. It was found that there was no evidence of any mechanical anisotropy induced by the slot die process. The examples presented here serve to illustrate how the slot-die approach may be used to create high-volume, high-area chitosan-based films cheaply and rapidly. It is suggested that an approach of the type described here may facilitate the use of chitosan-based films for a wide range of important applications.


Plants ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 318
Author(s):  
Paula García Milla ◽  
Rocío Peñalver ◽  
Gema Nieto

Moringa oleifera belongs to the Moringaceae family and is the best known of the native Moringa oleifera genus. For centuries, it has been used as a system of Ayurvedic and Unani medicine and has a wide range of nutritional and bioactive compounds, including proteins, essential amino acids, carbohydrates, lipids, fibre, vitamins, minerals, phenolic compounds, phytosterols and others. These characteristics allow it to have pharmacological properties, including anti-diabetic, anti-inflammatory, anticarcinogenic, antioxidant, cardioprotective, antimicrobial and hepatoprotective properties. The entire Moringa oleifera plant is edible, including its flowers, however, it is not entirely safe, because of compounds that have been found mainly in the root and bark, so the leaf was identified as the safest. Moringa oleifera is recognised as an excellent source of phytochemicals, with potential applications in functional and medicinal food preparations due to its nutritional and medicinal properties; many authors have experimented with incorporating it mainly in biscuits, cakes, brownies, meats, juices and sandwiches. The results are fascinating, as the products increase their nutritional value; however, the concentrations cannot be high, as this affects the organoleptic characteristics of the supplemented products. The aim of this study is to review the application of Moringa oleifera in bakery products, which will allow the creation of new products that improve their nutritional and functional value.


Textiles ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 55-85
Author(s):  
Tufail Hassan ◽  
Hafsa Jamshaid ◽  
Rajesh Mishra ◽  
Muhammad Qamar Khan ◽  
Michal Petru ◽  
...  

Recently, very rapid growth has been observed in the innovations and use of natural-fiber-based materials and composites for acoustic applications due to their environmentally friendly nature, low cost, and good acoustic absorption capability. However, there are still challenges for researchers to improve the mechanical and acoustic properties of natural fiber composites. In contrast, synthetic fiber-based composites have good mechanical properties and can be used in a wide range of structural and automotive applications. This review aims to provide a short overview of the different factors that affect the acoustic properties of natural-fiber-based materials and composites. The various factors that influence acoustic performance are fiber type, fineness, length, orientation, density, volume fraction in the composite, thickness, level of compression, and design. The details of various factors affecting the acoustic behavior of the fiber-based composites are described. Natural-fiber-based composites exhibit relatively good sound absorption capability due to their porous structure. Surface modification by alkali treatment can enhance the sound absorption performance. These materials can be used in buildings and interiors for efficient sound insulation.


Materials ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (9) ◽  
pp. 2143
Author(s):  
Shaimaa I. Gad ◽  
Mohamed A. Attia ◽  
Mohamed A. Hassan ◽  
Ahmed G. El-Shafei

In this paper, an integrated numerical model is proposed to investigate the effects of particulate size and volume fraction on the deformation, damage, and failure behaviors of particulate-reinforced metal matrix composites (PRMMCs). In the framework of a random microstructure-based finite element modelling, the plastic deformation and ductile cracking of the matrix are, respectively, modelled using Johnson–Cook constitutive relation and Johnson–Cook ductile fracture model. The matrix-particle interface decohesion is simulated by employing the surface-based-cohesive zone method, while the particulate fracture is manipulated by the elastic–brittle cracking model, in which the damage evolution criterion depends on the fracture energy cracking criterion. A 2D nonlinear finite element model was developed using ABAQUS/Explicit commercial program for modelling and analyzing damage mechanisms of silicon carbide reinforced aluminum matrix composites. The predicted results have shown a good agreement with the experimental data in the forms of true stress–strain curves and failure shape. Unlike the existing models, the influence of the volume fraction and size of SiC particles on the deformation, damage mechanism, failure consequences, and stress–strain curve of A359/SiC particulate composites is investigated accounting for the different possible modes of failure simultaneously.


Author(s):  
Mamou Diallo ◽  
Servé W. M. Kengen ◽  
Ana M. López-Contreras

AbstractThe Clostridium genus harbors compelling organisms for biotechnological production processes; while acetogenic clostridia can fix C1-compounds to produce acetate and ethanol, solventogenic clostridia can utilize a wide range of carbon sources to produce commercially valuable carboxylic acids, alcohols, and ketones by fermentation. Despite their potential, the conversion by these bacteria of carbohydrates or C1 compounds to alcohols is not cost-effective enough to result in economically viable processes. Engineering solventogenic clostridia by impairing sporulation is one of the investigated approaches to improve solvent productivity. Sporulation is a cell differentiation process triggered in bacteria in response to exposure to environmental stressors. The generated spores are metabolically inactive but resistant to harsh conditions (UV, chemicals, heat, oxygen). In Firmicutes, sporulation has been mainly studied in bacilli and pathogenic clostridia, and our knowledge of sporulation in solvent-producing or acetogenic clostridia is limited. Still, sporulation is an integral part of the cellular physiology of clostridia; thus, understanding the regulation of sporulation and its connection to solvent production may give clues to improve the performance of solventogenic clostridia. This review aims to provide an overview of the triggers, characteristics, and regulatory mechanism of sporulation in solventogenic clostridia. Those are further compared to the current knowledge on sporulation in the industrially relevant acetogenic clostridia. Finally, the potential applications of spores for process improvement are discussed.Key Points• The regulatory network governing sporulation initiation varies in solventogenic clostridia.• Media composition and cell density are the main triggers of sporulation.• Spores can be used to improve the fermentation process.


Catalysts ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 730
Author(s):  
Erik Sarnello ◽  
Tao Li

Enzyme immobilization techniques are widely researched due to their wide range of applications. Polymer–protein core–shell nanoparticles (CSNPs) have emerged as a promising technique for enzyme/protein immobilization via a self-assembly process. Based on the desired application, different sizes and distribution of the polymer–protein CSNPs may be required. This work systematically studies the assembly process of poly(4-vinyl pyridine) and bovine serum albumin CSNPs. Average particle size was controlled by varying the concentrations of each reagent. Particle size and size distributions were monitored by dynamic light scattering, ultra-small-angle X-ray scattering, small-angle X-ray scattering and transmission electron microscopy. Results showed a wide range of CSNPs could be assembled ranging from an average radius as small as 52.3 nm, to particles above 1 µm by adjusting reagent concentrations. In situ X-ray scattering techniques monitored particle assembly as a function of time showing the initial particle growth followed by a decrease in particle size as they reach equilibrium. The results outline a general strategy that can be applied to other CSNP systems to better control particle size and distribution for various applications.


Polymers ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 142
Author(s):  
Hu Li ◽  
Raffaello Papadakis

Graphene is a material with outstanding properties and numerous potential applications in a wide range of research and technology areas, spanning from electronics, energy materials, sensors, and actuators to life-science and many more. However, the insolubility and poor dispersibility of graphene are two major problems hampering its use in certain applications. Tethering mono-, di-, or even poly-saccharides on graphene through click-chemistry is gaining more and more attention as a key modification approach leading to new graphene-based materials (GBM) with improved hydrophilicity and substantial dispersibility in polar solvents, e.g., water. The attachment of (poly)saccharides on graphene further renders the final GBMs biocompatible and could open new routes to novel biomedical and environmental applications. In this review, recent modifications of graphene and other carbon rich materials (CRMs) through click chemistry are reviewed.


2014 ◽  
Vol 18 (suppl.1) ◽  
pp. 189-200 ◽  
Author(s):  
Primoz Ternik ◽  
Rebeka Rudolf

The present work deals with the natural convection in a square cavity filled with the water-based Au nanofluid. The cavity is heated on the vertical and cooled from the adjacent wall, while the other two horizontal walls are adiabatic. The governing differential equations have been solved by the standard finite volume method and the hydrodynamic and thermal fields were coupled together using the Boussinesq approximation. The main objective of this study is to investigate the influence of the nanoparticles? volume fraction on the heat transfer characteristics of Au nanofluids at the given base fluid?s (i.e. water) Rayleigh number. Accurate results are presented over a wide range of the base fluid Rayleigh number and the volume fraction of Au nanoparticles. It is shown that adding nanoparticles in a base fluid delays the onset of convection. Contrary to what is argued by many authors, we show by numerical simulations that the use of nanofluids can reduce the heat transfer rate instead of increasing it.


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