The existences of the N→C dative bonds in the complexes between N-containing molecules and fullerenes have been verified both theoretically and experimentally. However, finding stable N→C dative bonds is still a highly challenging task. In this work, we investigated computationally the N→C dative bonds in the complexes formed by fullerene C60 with 1,2,5-chalcogenadiazoles, 2,1,3-benzochalcogenadiazoles and 1,2,4,5-chalcogenatriazoles, respectively. It was found that the N→C dative bonds are formed along with the formation of the N–Ch···C (Ch = S, Se, Te) chalcogen bonds. In the gas phase, from S-containing complexes through Se-containing complexes to Te-containing complexes, the intrinsic interaction energies become more and more negative, which indicates that the N–Ch···C chalcogen bonds can facilitate the formation of the N→C dative bonds. The intrinsic interaction energies are compensated by the large deformation energy of fullerene C60. The total interaction energies of Te-containing complexes are negative, while both of the total interaction energies of S-containing complexes and Se-containing complexes are positive. This means that the N→C dative bonds in the Te-containing complexes are more easily observed in experiments in comparison with those in the S-containing complexes and Se-containing complexes. This study provides a new theoretical perspective on the experimental observation of the N→C dative bonds in the complexes involving fullerenes. Further, the formation of stable N→C dative bonds in the complexes involving fullerenes can significantly change the properties of fullerenes, which will greatly simulate and expand the application range of fullerenes.

The prediction of tertiary RNA structures is significant to the field of medicine (e.g. mRNA vaccines, genome editing), and the exploration of viral transcripts. Though many RNA folding software exist, few studies have condensed their locus of attention solely to viral pseudoknotted RNA. These regulatory pseudoknots play a role in genome replication, gene expression, and protein synthesis. This study explores five RNA folding engines that compute either the minimum free energy (MFE) or the maximum expected accuracy (MEA). These folding engines were tested against 26 experimentally derived short pseudoknotted sequences (20-150nt) using metrics that are commonly applied to software prediction accuracy (e.g. F1 scoring, PPV). This paper reports higher accuracy RNA prediction engines (pKiss) when compared to previous iterations of the software, and when compared to older folding engines. They show that MEA folding software does not always outperform MFE folding software in prediction accuracy when assessed with metrics such as percent error, sensitivity, PPV, and F1 scoring when applied to viral pseudoknotted RNA. Moreover, the results suggest that thermodynamic model parameters will not ensure accuracy if auxiliary parameters such as Mg2+ binding, dangling end options, and H-type penalties are not applied. The observations reported in this paper highlight the quality between different ab initio prediction methods while enforcing the idea that a better understanding of intracellular thermodynamics is necessary for a more efficacious screening of RNAs.

Nitrogen oxides (NOx), pivotal atmospheric pollutants, significantly imperil the environment and human health. The CH4-SCR process, leveraging the abundant and accessible methane (CH4), emerges as a promising avenue for NOx abatement. Previous studies have demonstrated that zeolite support with twelve-membered ring (12-MR) and five-membered ring (5-MR) structures are susceptible to framework collapse in the presence of water, leading to catalyst deactivation. Consequently, there is a necessity to explore novel zeolites with enhanced hydrothermal stability for application in CH4-SCR processes. This research introduced for the first time an investigation into a novel In-H-SSZ-39 catalyst, synthesized via ion exchange and meticulously optimized for preparation conditions, including calcination temperature, In ions concentraiton, and reaction conditions, including CH4/NO ratio, O2 concentration, water vapor content, and Gas hourly space velocity (GHSV). Notably, the In/H-SSZ-39 catalyst achieved superior performance of 42.1% at 605 °C, with a calcination temperature of 500 °C and an In ion concentration of 0.066 M, under CH4/NO ratio of 1.5:1, 10% O2, and GHSV of 21000 h-1. In addition, the catalytic performance was influenced by the concentration of water vapor and the GHSV value.

As companies increasingly undergo digital transformation, the role of talent management pro-cesses becomes pivotal in enhancing overall organizational performance. The research addresses the significance of talent management in corporate digital transformation, examining whether variations in the digitalization of these processes can be attributed to company size. A qualitative approach was employed, utilizing a questionnaire, collecting responses from 202 organizations across diverse sectors. Findings reveal disparities in digitalization throughout the talent man-agement process, with pronounced presence in the attracting, selecting, and rewarding phases, but diminishing in deployment and development, further declining in planning. A positive cor-relation between company size and adoption of specific digital platforms was observed. Larger enterprises exhibit greater utilization of digital platforms in talent deployment and development. Moreover, corporate communication tools are consistently utilized in the rewarding phase, irre-spective of company size. These findings offer practical insights for organizations to optimize their digitalization strategies based on their scale, thereby contributing to more effective and tailored digitalization endeavors. The uniqueness of this research lies in its exploration of the in-fluence of company size on the digitalization of talent management processes and its potential to explain variations across different stages of these processes.

This study introduces an innovative seeding method for cells on large scaffolds (1-100 sqcm) with an accuracy of 0.1mm, comparing the conventional drop-wise seeding technique with an automated seeding approach using an open sourced robotic liquid handling system (OpenLH). This automated system employs an algorithm in which the user inputs the desired droplet volume and seeding pattern dimensions such in number of rows, columns and distance between droplets, thus optimizing the distribution of cells on the scaffold. By adjusting these parameters, the method achieves greater accuracy and consistency over manual seeding and requires less operation space volume than dynamic seeding. Additionally, the system’s tip replacement feature can support the precise seeding of multiple cell types on a single scaffold and the dispensing of growth factors to foster patterns of cell differentiation and proliferation on the large 3D scaffold. This seeding method not only enhances the precision and efficiency of cell distribution on scaffolds but also shows significant potential for scalability in the cultured meat industry, where large scaffolds are essential. The adoption of such automated systems could promote efficient scaffold-based tissue engineering by promoting uniform cell distribution and enabling the creation of complex tissue constructs, thereby advancing both biomedical research and cultured meat production.

Functional articular cartilage regeneration remains an unmet medical challenge, increasing the interest for innovative biomaterial-based tissue engineering (TE) strategies. Hydrogels, 3D macromolecular networks with hydrophilic groups, present articular cartilage-like features such as high water content and load-bearing capacity. In this study, 3D porous polyethylene glycol diacrylate (PEGDA) hydrogels were fabricated combining the gas foaming technique and an UV-based crosslinking strategy. The 3D porous PEGDA hydrogels were characterized in terms of their physical, structural and mechanical properties. Our results showed that the size of the hydrogels pores can be modulated by varying the initiator concentration. In vitro cytotoxicity tests showed that 3D porous PEGDA hydrogels presented high biocompatibility both with human chondrocytes and osteoblast-like cells. Importantly, the 3D porous PEGDA hydrogels supported the viability and chondrogenic differentiation of human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (hBM-MSCs)-based spheroids as demonstrated by the positive staining of typical cartilage extracellular matrix (ECM) (glycosaminoglycans (GAGs)) and upregulation of chondrogenesis marker genes. Overall, the produced 3D porous PEGDA hydrogels presented cartilage-like mechanical properties and supported MSC-spheroid chondrogenesis, highlighting their potential as suitable scaffolds for cartilage TE or disease modelling strategies.

A comprehensive kinetic model of the Fischer-Tropsch synthesis (FTS) is developed in a fixed bed reactor under operating conditions (temperature, 230–235°C, pressure, 20–25 bar, gas hourly space velocity, 4000–5000 cm³(STP)/h/g_catalyst ,H₂/CO feed molar ratio, 2.1) over a Co based catalyst. Reaction rate equations based on Eley-Rideal (ER) type model for initiation step and Langmuir-Hinshelwood-Hougen-Watson (LHHW) type model for propagation and termination steps of the FTS reactions have been considered and the readsorption of olefins were taken into account. The model that was reported in the literature was modified in order to explain many significant deviations from the ASF distribution. Optimum parameters have been obtained by Genetic Algorithms (GA). The calculated activation energies to produce n-paraffins and 1-olefins were in the range of 82.24 to 90.68 kJ/mol and 100.66 to 105.24 kJ/mol, respectively. The hydrocarbon distribution in FTS reactions was satisfactorily predicted particularly for paraffins.

Demand for environmentally friendly types of energy is growing all over the world, which naturally increases the intensity of work on the production of hydrogen-containing fuel mixtures. Steam reforming of methanol is one of the most effective areas of research, as it is a process with low energy consumption. The results of steam reforming of methanol on the catalysts prepared by solution combustion synthesis (SCS) and impregnation by moisture capacity are presented. Investigation of the activity of Cu-Ce-Al catalysts of different composition was carried out for production of hydrogen and comparison of SCS with traditional impregnation method. Methanol conversion reaches 99%, while the selectivity of H2 was 88%, at 500 °C. It was found that CuAl2O4 spinel formation is due to substitution of Al3+ with Cu2+ Ce3+ cations. A consequence CuAl2O4 and CeAlO3 lattice parameters increase because of difference in ionic radius of Al3+ (0.53 Å) and Cu2+ (0.73 Å), Ce3+ (1.07 Å). Advantages of SCS catalysts in steam reforming of methanol were shown. The aim of this research is to develop a new catalyst for conversion of methanol into hydrogen containing fuel mixtures, which will further promote the organization of a new era of environmentally friendly energy-saving production methods.

This study explores the dynamics of liquid holdup in a lab-scale co-current two-phase upflow moving packed bed reactor, specifically examining how superficial gas velocity influences the line average external liquid holdup at a fixed superficial liquid velocity. Utilizing Gamma-ray Densitometry (GRD) for precise measurements, this research extends to determining line average internal porosity within catalyst particles and the overall external bed porosity. Conducted with an air-water system within a bed packed with 3 mm extrudate porous particles, the study presents a novel methodology to calculate liquid holdup, grounded in Beer–Lambert's law. Findings reveal a decrease in liquid holdup corresponding with increased superficial gas velocity across axial and radial locations, with a notable transition from bubbly to pulse flow regime at a critical velocity of 3.8 cm/sec. Additionally, the lower sections of the packed bed exhibited higher external liquid holdup compared to the middle sections at varied gas velocities. The liquid holdup distribution appeared uniform at lower flow rates, whereas higher flow rates favored the middle sections.

A dioxomolybdenum catalyst [(MoO2Cl2-O-MoO2Cl2)(L)] (1) (with L (1S,2S)-N,N´-bis(2-pyridinecarboxamide)-1,2-cyclohexane) was prepared and used as catalyst for the desulfurization of a multicomponent model fuel containing the most refractory sulfur compounds in real fuels. This complex showed to have a high efficiency to oxidize the aromatic benzothiophene derivative compounds present in fuels, mainly using a biphasic 1:1 model fuel/MeOH system. This process conciliates catalytic oxidative and extractive desulfurization, occurring the oxidation of the sulfur compounds in the polar organic solvent. The oxidative catalytic performance of (1) showed to be influenced by the presence of water in the system. Using 50% aq. H2O2 it was possible to reuse the catalyst and the extraction solvent MeOH during ten consecutive cycles without loss of desulfurization efficiency.

The fractional advection-dispersion equation FADE plays an important role, especially in explaining the process of solute-transport in natural porous media with different degrees of heterogeneity. However, studies of the flow and transport of contaminants in the underground environment are based on the knowledge of many functional parameters of the subsoil. The delay factor caused by nonlinear absorption is one of these parameters inheriting significant ambiguities in its estimation in heterogeneous media. In the study, a fractional advection-dispersion FADE model was developed by the implicit Euler method, based on a Grunwald and Caputo-Liousville approximation to explicitly evaluate and simulate the transport mechanism of contaminants in media with unsaturated porous materials subjected to a nonlinear sorption model. Better solute mass retention was observed for fractional advection-dispersion FADE model. Moreover, the absorption parameter of the retardation coefficient has a better impact on the motion of the solute in a saturated porous medium. In other words, it has a significant effect on the dispersion of pollutants in aquifers. This study highlights the need to characterize the aquifer to predict solute transport in porous media.

Mass transfer restrictions of scaffolds are currently hindering the development of three-dimensional (3D), clinically viable, and tissue engineered constructs. For this situation, a 3D poly(lactide-co-glycolide)/hydroxyapatite porous scaffold, which was much favorable for transfer of nutrients to and waste products from the cells in the pores, was developed in this study. The 3D scaffold had an innovative structure, including macropores with diameters of 300−450 μm for cell ingrowth and microchannels with diameters of 2−4 μm for nutrition and waste exchange. The mechanical strength in wet state was strong enough to offer the structural support. The typical structure was more beneficial for the attachment, proliferation, and differentiation of rabbit bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (rBMSCs). The alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity and calcium (Ca) deposition were evaluated on the differentiation of rBMSCs, and the results indicated that the microchannel structure was very favorable for differentiating rBMSCs into maturing osteoblasts. For repairing rabbit radius defects in vivo, there was rapid healing in the defects treated with the 3D porous scaffold with microchannels, where the bridging by a large bony callus was observed at 12 weeks post-surgery. Based on the results, the 3D porous scaffold with microchannels was a promising candidate for bone defect repair.

This study concerns the transport and retention of polydisperse micron-sized (16 ± 6 µm) of microplastics (MPls) in porous media under varying flow rate conditions. Sorption kinetics were modeled using first-order reversible and irreversible kinetic sorption models, with sensitivity analyses providing insights into each sorption parameter's effect. Both numerical modeling and experimental measurements were employed to assess sand filter retention rates. The impact of flow rate on sorption reveals variations in distribution coefficient (Kd), mass transfer coefficient (β), and irreversible sorption rate (K1). Lower flow rates are correlated with higher Kd and β values, indicating an increase in sorption and diminished mass transfer rates. The findings revealed that an increase in Kd resulted in a more gradual sorption process with a decrease in peak concentration, whereas changes in β influenced the rate of sorption and peak concentration to a lesser extent compared to Kd. Lower K1 values are associated with higher peak concentrations and decreased retention efficiency. Retention rates were evaluated by a numerical model and found as 28 ± 1% at a flow rate of 31 ml min⁻¹ and 17 ± 1% at 65 ml min⁻¹. The introduction of MPls into soil environments has been noted to modify transport dynamics into soil. As a result, these alterations effects hydrological characteristics of soil, thereby impacting quality of groundwater and agricultural output. The mean absolute error (MAE) of 6% between modeled and observed retention rates suggests minor discrepancies. This study highlights the importance of examining retention efficiency and the accuracy of numerical models in porous media during MPl transport.

The valorization of the large amount of crude glycerol formed from biodiesel industry, is of primordial necessity. One possible direction with high interest to the biorefiniery sector is the production of fuel additives as solketal, though the acetalization of glycerol with acetone. This is a chemical process that conciliates high sustainability and economic interest, since solketal contributes to the fullfilment of a Circular Economy Model through its use in biodiesel blends. The key to guarantee high efficiency and high sustainability for solketal production is the use of a recovery and recyclable heterogeneous catalyst. Some examples are already reported in the literature (first example in 2012), and this review intends to conciliate the information spreaded in this topic and established the most important reacional parameters and the main catalytic characteristics strategies to achieve high solketal production in short reaction time.

Ensuring access to water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) facilities, coupled with behavior change education in schools, is fundamental for fostering a conducive learning environment and promoting principles of inclusion, dignity, and equality. This study focuses on 12 primary schools in Anápolis, Brazil, encompassing 4,394 students and 248 teachers. WASH assessments were conducted through a questionnaire, observation of water and sanitation facilities and structures, and microbiological analysis. Over the period 2018 to 2020, the proportion of schools with safely managed drinking water surged from 42% to 92%. However, sanitation conditions in the schools were categorized as a basic level, with hygiene services rated as limited in 92% of the schools due to the absence of soap. While this study reveals that Anápolis schools generally align with WASH guidelines for basic/advanced drinking water services, there is a crucial need for enhancements in both hardware and software facilities to address sanitation and hygiene challenges.

Porous graphite was prepared without the use of template by rapidly heating the carbonization products from mixtures of anthracene, flourene, and pyrene with a CO₂ laser. Rapid CO₂ laser heating at a rate of 1.8 × 10 ⁶ °C/s vaporizes out the fluorene-pyrene derived pitch while annealing the anthracene coke. The resulting structure is that of graphite with 100 nm spherical pores. The graphitizablity of the porous material is the same as pure anthracene coke. Transmission electron microscopy revealed that the interface between graphitic layers and the pore walls are unimpeded. Traditional furnace annealing does not result in the porous structure as the heating rates are too slow to vaporize out the pitch, thereby illustrating the advantage of fast thermal processing. The resultant porous graphite was prelithiated and used as an anode in lithium ion capacitors. The porous graphite when lithiated had a specific capacity of 200 mAh/g at 100 mA/g. The assembled lithium ion capacitor demonstrated an energy density as high as 75 Wh/kg when cycled between 2.2 V to 4.2 V.

The numerical simulation of entropy generation at mixed natural free and forced convection flow in a square lid-driven cavity filled with an eletrically conducting binary fluids saturated porous media in the presence of a magnetic field is performed in this investigation. Both the top and bottom horizontal walls of the cavity are kept at constant and different temperatures while the left and right vertical walls are adiabatic and insulated. The magnetic field is applied in normal direction to the cavity. The Darcy model, including Brinkman term relative to viscous effects and Forchheimer term due to inertial forces, is used for the momentum equations, and the SIMPLER algorithm, based on the control volume finite-element method approach is used to solve the pressure –velocity coupling. The flow pattern and the heat transfer characteristics inside the cavity are presented in the form of isotherms, streamlines and isentropic lines and average Nusselt number trend. The entropy generation rate is determined for various values of Darcy number (10^-3 ≤ Da ≤ 1) and for a range of Hartmann number (0 ≤ Ha ≤ 10²). This study is limited to Pr = 7 which corresponds to water. It is observed that entropy generation is very affected by the variations of dimensionless control parameters considered.

Bone is a dynamic tissue with the capacity of repair and regeneration in specific conditions. Nevertheless, due to the increased incidence of bone disorders, the need of bone grafts has been growing over the past decades and the development of an ideal bone graft with optimal properties remains a clinical challenge. This review addresses the bone properties (morphology, composition and their repair and regeneration capacity) and puts the main focus on the potential strategies for developing bone repair and regeneration materials. It describes the requirements for designing a suitable scaffold material, types of materials (polymers, ceramics and composites) and techniques to obtain the porous structures (additive manufacturing techniques/robocasting or derived from marine skeletons) for bone tissue engineering applications. The main objective of this review is to gather the knowledge on the materials and methods for the production of scaffolds for bone tissue engineering and highlighting the potential of natural porous structures such as marine skeletons as promising alternative bone graft substitute materials without any further mineralogical changes, or after partial or total transformation into calcium phosphate. The suitability of the marine-derived porous bone graft substitutes for the intended applications will be also discussed.

Polymer flooding is one of the most successful chemical EOR methods, and is primarily implemented to accelerate oil production by sweep improvement. However, other benefits have extended the utility of polymers. During the last decade, it has been evaluated for an increasing number of fields, both offshore and onshore. This is a consequence of improved polymer properties, which extends the use to HTHS (high temperature high salinity) conditions and of improved understanding of flow mechanisms such as for heavy oil mobilization. A key issue in understanding polymer performance is to control and predict in-situ porous medium rheology. The first part of this paper reviews recent developments in understanding polymer flow in porous medium. Especially, polymer in-situ rheology and injectivity is discussed. The second part of this paper reports polymer flow experiments using the most applied polymer for EOR processes, HPAM (partially hydrolyzed polyacrylamide). The experiments address high rate near-wellbore behavior (radial flow) as well as reservoir rate steady state flow (linear flow) and discuss differences observed in terms of flow conditions. In addition, impact of oil on polymer rheology was investigated, and compared to single-phase polymer flow in Bentheimer sandstone rock material. Presence of oil leads to a reduction in apparent viscosity.

In this study, a novel porous geopolymer mortar (GP) was produced and tested experimentally. Industrial waste materials/by-products were used as constituents of the GP, along with dune sand. One sample was produced as a control sample for benchmarking. For the rest of the samples, 15%, 30%, and 45% by volume, the solid constituents were replaced with expanded polystyrene foam (EPS) beads. These mortar samples were heat cured to depolymerize the EPS to cause porosity inside the samples. Indoor experiments were conducted to evaluate the response of produced porous GP to high heat flux. The porous samples were able to reduce heat transmission across the opposite surfaces. Induced porosity resulted in a decrement in compressive strength from 77.2 MPa for the control sample to 15.8 MPa for 45% porous sample. However, the limit lies within the standards for partitioning walls in buildings and pavements in urban areas to absorb rainwater.

As the major greenhouse gas, CO2 gas emission has been noticeably increased over the past decades resulting in global warming and climate change. As a result, it is imperative to reduce the excess CO2 in the atmosphere to hold “the increase in the global average temperature to well below 2°C (ideally 1.5°C) above pre-industrial levels set by the Paris Agreement on climate change. Among many ways, CO2 capture technology is considered as the most promising technology among the available technologies. Porous materials such as carbons, silica, zeolites, hollow fibers, and alumina are widely used as CO2 sorbents. However, among the available porous sloid sorbents, porous silica-based materials grabbed a significant attention due to their unique properties including high surface area, pore volume, good thermal and mechanical stability, and low cost. Therefore, development of porous silica materials as a promising CO2 absorbent is a continuously expanding research area in the current moment. Herein, we aim to visualize a full picture of the porous silica-based materials for CO2 capture. This review presents a comprehensive study of existing CO2 capture techniques and highlights the recent progress of different porous silica materials and synthesis processes. CO2 adsorption capacities of unmodified porous silica materials are less effective as compared with functionalized silica materials. Various research activities have been reported about functionalization of pours silica using amine groups. Therefore, in this review, different synthesis routes of amine-functionalized porous silica materials, CO2 adsorption capacities, gas selectivity and reusability were discussed. Moreover, the research challenges associated with the porous silica materials and future research directions are summarized.

This study proposed the combination system consisting of biogas dry reforming reactor and solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC). Since a biogas dry reforming is an endothermic reaction, this study adopted a membrane reactor operated due to the non-equilibrium state with H2 separation from the reaction space. This study aimed to clarify the characteristics of Ni/Cr/Ru catalyst using for a biogas dry reforming membrane reactor. Additionally, this study also investigated the comparison of the characteristics of Ni/Cr/Ru catalyst with that of Ni/Cr catalyst. The impact of operation temperature, the molar ratio of CH4 : CO2, the differential pressure between the reaction chamber and the sweep chamber and the introduction of sweep gas on the characteristics of the biogas dry reforming membrane reactor using Pd/Cu membrane and Ni/Cr/Ru catalyst was examined. The concentration of H2 using Ni/Cr/Ru catalyst was larger than that using Ni/Cr catalyst by 2871 ppmV for the molar ratio of CH4 : CO2 = 1.5 : 1 at the reaction temperature of 600 ℃ and the differential pressure of 0 MPa without a sweep gas, especially. Under this condition, CH4 conversion, H2 yield and thermal efficiency were 67.4 %, 1.77×10-2 % and 0.241 %, respectively.

Tackling global warming and the consequent climate change in our planet is of urgent importance to our society. Renewable biomass derived carbons have been studied as promising adsorbents, but marine biomass derived carbons have not been explored extensively. S and N double-doped porous carbons were obtained from a marine biomass related precursor. Adding carbon nanoparticles (CNP) graphene oxide (GO), or carbon nanotubes (CNTs), in an early stage of the synthesis leads to a modified porous texture and surface chemistry. The carbons retained 2-4.5 at% nitrogen and 1.1 at% sulfur. The best GO and CNT added carbons had an apparent surface area 1780 m2/g and 1170 m2/g, respectively, compared to 1070 m2/g of the CNP-free matrix. The Dubinin-Radushkevich (DR) and Henry models were used to assess the strength of the interactions between various gases and the surface. The N2/H2 and CO2/CH4 selectivities were estimated with ideal adsorbed solution theory (IAST). While the CNPs, particularly GO, had a remarkable effect both on the porous texture and the surface chemistry, their influence on selectivity is more modest.

NiV2O6 thin films were grown on glass slides with varying thicknesses using the nebulizer spray pyrolysis. The impact of thickness on the thin films' optical, structural, morphological, and electrical characteristics was systematically investigated. The X-ray diffraction and micro-Raman analysis confirmed the formation of the triclinic NiV2O6 system. Surface morphology and roughness variations in the as-deposited NiV2O6 films were studied using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and a profilometer. Optical properties, including optical band gap (Eg), extinction coefficient (k), absorption coefficient (α), and refractive index (n), were determined through optical reflectance and transmittance measurements. The optical energy gap of the as-deposited NiV2O6 films decreased from 2.3 eV to 1.9 eV with increased layer thickness. Furthermore, the photo-detectivity of the films demonstrated an enhancement corresponding to the prolonged spray time. The sensitivity values obtained for visible irradiation are 328, 511, and 433 for samples S1, S2, and S3, respectively. The obtained results are imputed to the specific porous microstructure.

This study explores the stability of electrodeposited copper catalysts utilized in electrochemical CO2 reduction (ECR) across various amine media. The focus is on understanding the influence of different amine types, corrosion ramifications, and the efficacy of pulse ECR methodologies. Employing a suite of electrochemical techniques including potentiodynamic polarization, linear resistance polarization, cyclic voltammetry, and chronopotentiometry, the investigation reveals useful insights. The findings show that among the tested amines, CO2-rich monoethanolamine (MEA) exhibits the highest corrosion rate. However, in most cases the rates remain within tolerable limits for ECR operations. Primary amines, notably monoethanolamine (MEA), show enhanced compatibility with ECR processes, attributable to their resistance against carbonate salt precipitation and sustained stability in potential over extended durations. Conversely, tertiary amines such as methyldiethanolamine (MDEA) present challenges due to the formation of carbonate salts during ECR, impeding their effective utilization. The study highlights the effectiveness of pulse ECR strategies in stabilizing ECR. A noticeable shift in cathodic potential and reduced deposit formation on the catalyst surface through periodic oxidation underscores the efficacy of such strategies. These findings offer insights for optimizing ECR in amine media, thereby providing promising pathways for advancements in CO2 emission reduction technologies.

The purpose of this study is to investigate the perceived benefits of community gardening. A garden colony is a collection of adjacent plots of land primarily for the purpose of gardening. The methodology of this research consists of observations, interviews, questionnaires, and focus group. As a result of this research we found that gardening is a natural and safe way to meet the lifelong demands for a healthy life. We found specific mental and physical benefits as a result of this community gardening. We encourage communities to allow people to buy plots of land away from their homes to promote this healthy activity. The garden colony provides a place for individual renewal and restoration; this urban oasis offers a way to maintain and promote lifelong healthy living, and they are an important contribution to one’s life by adding a sense of meaning and purpose.

Porous ceramics can be realized by different methods and are used for manifold applications, like cross-flow-membranes or wall-flow-filters, porous burners, solar receivers, structural design elements or catalytic supports. Within this paper three different alternative process routes are presented, which can be used to manufacture porous ceramic components with different properties or even graded porosity. The first process route bases on additive manufacturing (AM) of macro porous ceramic components, the second on AM of a polymeric template, which is used to manufacture porous ceramic components via replica technique. Finally, the third process route bases on an AM technology, which allows the manufacturing of multi-material or multi-property ceramic components, like components with dense and porous volumes in one complex shaped component.

In this work, the transport equations of ionic species in concrete are studied. First, the equations at the porescale are considered, which are then averaged over a representative elementary volume. The so obtained transport equations at the macroscopic scale are thoroughly examined and each term is interpreted. Furthermore, it is shown that the tortuosity-connectivity does not slow the average speed of the ionic species down. The transport equations in the representative elementary volume are then compared with the equations obtained in an equivalent pore. Lastly, comparing Darcy’s law and the Hagen-Poiseuille equation in a cylindrical equivalent pore, the tortuosity-connectivity parameter is obtained for four dierent concretes. The proposed model provides very good results when compared with the experimentally obtained chloride profiles for two additional concretes.

Some global difficulties in the modern period include energy storage conversion. Researchers have looked to renewable energy resources to discover long-term answers to this dilemma. Fuel cells are one example of prospective energy producing technology. Although these technologies appear to be very enticing, they are known to be expensive due to high expenses. Catalyst costs, as well as concerns concerning energy density. Pt based Electrocatalysts have traditionally been used to drive ORR and offer efficient power outputs. However, cost constraints have limited the use of these electrocatalysts, rendering them inefficient. Apart from the high price, Pt-based Electrodes are prone to time-dependent drift and CO deactivation, both of which occur gradually. Electrocatalysts deteriorate over time, reducing the efficiency of fuel cells. This is why alternative electrocatalysts are in high demand for future energy applications. This review covers the comparative study of Platinium and Non-Platinium based electrocatalyst in fuel cells, their shortcomings and recent advancement for efficient and optimized electrocatalyst.

Abstract: Calcium-based catalysts are of a high interest for glycerol polymerization due to their high catalytic activity and large availability. However, their poor stability under reaction conditions is an issue. In the present study, we investigated the stability and catalytic activity of Ca-hydroxyapatites (HAps) as one of the most abundant Ca-source in nature. A stochiometric, a Ca-deficient and a Ca-rich HAps have been synthetized and tested as catalysts in the glycerol polymerization reaction. Deficient and stochiometric HAps exhibited a remarkable 100% selectivity to triglycerol at 15 % of glycerol conversion at 245 °C after 8 h of reaction in the presence 0.5 mol.% of catalyst. Moreover, under the same reaction conditions, Ca-rich HAp showed a high selectivity (88 %) to di- and triglycerol at a glycerol conversion of 27 %. Most importantly, these catalysts were unexpectedly stable towards leaching under the reaction conditions based on the ICP-OES results. However, based on the catalytic tests and characterization analysis performed by XRD, XPS, IR, TGA-DSC and ICP-OES, we found that HAps can be deactivated by the presence of the reaction products themselves, i.e., water and polymers.

Electrocatalytic and photocatalytic hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) provides a promising approach to clean energy generation. Bimetallic single-atom catalysts raised and have been explored to be advanced catalysts for HER. It is urgent to review and summarize the recent advances in developing bimetallic single-atom HER catalysts. Firstly, the fundamentals of bimetallic single-atom catalysts are presented, highlighting their unique configuration of two isolated metal atoms on supports and resultant synergistic effects. Secondly, recent advances in bimetallic single-atom catalysts for electrocatalytic HER under acidic/alkaline conditions are then reviewed, including W-Mo, Ru-Bi, Ni-Fe, Co-Ag, and other dual-atom systems on graphene and transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) with enhanced HER activity versus monometallic analogs due to geometric and electronic synergies. Then, Photocatalytic bimetallic single-atom catalysts on semiconducting carbon nitrides for solar H2 production are also discussed. Finally, an outlook is provided on opportunities and challenges in precisely controlling bimetallic single-atom catalyst synthesis and gaining in-depth mechanistic insights into bimetallic interactions.

3D metal nanostructures are often the basis of several applications such as in catalysis, plasmonics, medical diagnosis, therapy, drug screening, ophthalmologic, and biomedical applications. Porous gold nanoparticles (PGNs) are intensively investigated due to their outstanding morphological as well as advantageous optical properties. Unfortunately, the thermal stability of these open-porous structures is poor, i.e. even as a result of low-temperature annealing (150$^\circ$C in air), their porosity disappears and they lose their favorable optical properties. In order to preserve their beneficial properties, a thin metal oxide coating can be applied. Changing the coating's thickness and/or composition, the optical response of the PGNs can also be tuned in a wide wavelength region. Moreover, these nanoparticles can be synthesized also in support-free form, which makes them more attractive from an application point of view. This review article summarizes some of the preparation modes of these complex nanostructures (fixed and support-free), as well as their thermal stability and optical responses.

In this study, we examine microscale waterflooding in a randomly close-packed porous medium. Three different porosities are prepared in a microfluidic platform and saturated with silicone oil. Optical video fluorescence microscopy is used to track the water front as it flows through the porous packed bed. The degree of water saturation is compared to water containing two different types of chemical modifiers, sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), with water in the absence of a surfactant used as a control. Image analysis of our video data yield saturation curves and calculate fractal dimension, which we use to identify how morphology changes the way an invading water phase moves through the porous media. An inverse analysis based on the implicit pressure explicit saturation (IMPES) simulation technique uses mobility ratio as an adjustable parameter to fit our experimental saturation curves. The results from our inverse analysis combined with our image analysis show that this platform can be used to evaluate the effectiveness of surfactants or polymers as additives for enhancing the transport of water through an oil-saturated porous medium.

Modelling water vapour flow, heat transfer and porosity in porous adsorbent is somewhat challenging simulation problem. Primary macroscopic water vapour flow models, such as Darcy's law, fail to predict the pressure drop entirely correctly for the reason that many of flow parameters not considered because of the simplifications that remain made for the multi-scale structure of the porous adsorbents. For one to develop a good physical understanding of such water vapour flows and the accuracy of existing 3D simulation models, there is a need for some accurate 3D geometry to be studied. This present work describes two-phase water vapour flow and adsorption/ desorption performed on porous adsorbent by a Dynamic vapour sorption (DVS). The CFD simulation results are associated with experiments results. It is decided that for such complex porous adsorbent CFD simulation problems the use of COMSOL Multiphysics and SolidWorks flow simulation will be utilised.

A thermodynamic description of nano-porous media must handle the size- and shape-dependence of the media properties. Such dependencies are typically due to the presence of immiscible phases, contact areas and contact lines. We propose a way to obtain average densities suitable for integration on the course grained scale, applying Hill's thermodynamics for small systems to the subsystems. we argue that the average densities of the porous medium, when defined in a proper way, obey the Gibbs equation. All contributions are additive or weakly coupled. From the Gibbs equation and the balance equations, we derive the entropy production in the standard way, for transport of multi-phase fluids in a non-deformable, porous medium exposed to di¤erences in boundary pressures, temperatures, and chemical potentials. Linear relations between thermodynamic fluxes and forces follow for the control volume. Fluctuation- dissipation theorems are formulated for the first time, for the fluctuating contributions to fluxes in the porous medium. These give an added possibility for determination of porous media permeabilities. Practical possibilities are further discussed.

Solid porous materials, like zeolites, have been widely used in a variety of fields such as size and shape-selective absorption/separation and catalysis because of their porosity. But there are few liquid materials exhibit permanent porosity. Porous liquids are a novel material that combine the properties of fluidity and permanent porosity. It has potential applications in many fields such as gas separation, storage and transport. Herein, we report a novel Type 1 porous liquid prepared based on Silicalite-1. The pore size of this porous liquid was determined by positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy (PALS), and the CO2 capacities was determined by the intelligent gravimetric analyser (IGA). The unique properties of this porous liquid can promote its application in many fields such as gas storage and transport.

The application of nanotechnology to the petroleum industry has sparked recent interest to increase oil recovery while reducing environmental impact. Nanocellulose is an emerging nanoparticle that is derived from trees and may provide an environmentally friendly alternative to current enhanced oil recovery (EOR) technologies. However, before nanocellulose can be applied as an EOR technique, further understanding of its transport behavior and retention in porous media is required. The research documented in this paper examines retention mechanisms that occur during nanocellulose transport. In a series of experiments, nanocellulose particles dispersed in brine were injected into sandpacks and Berea sandstone cores. The resulting retention and permeability reduction were measured. The experimental parameters that were varied include sand grain size, nanocellulose type, salinity, and flow rate. Under low salinity conditions, the dominant retention mechanism was adsorption and when salinity was increased, the dominant retention mechanism shifted towards log-jamming. Retention and permeability reduction increased as grain size decreased, which results from increased straining of nanocellulose aggregates. In addition, each type of nanocellulose was found to have significantly different transport properties. The experiments with Berea sandstone cores indicate that some pore volume was inaccessible to the nanocellulose. As a general trend, the larger the size of aggregates in bulk solution, the greater the observed retention and permeability reduction. Salinity was found to be the most important parameter affecting transport. Increased salinity caused additional aggregation, which led to increased straining and filter cake formation. Higher flow rates were found to reduce retention and permeability reduction. Increased velocity was accompanied by an increase in shear which is believed to promote breakdown of nanocellulose aggregates.

Stormwater management is especially critical for urbanized landscapes that border surface waters and therefore must be monitored accurately to meet permitting requirements and mitigate environmental impact. To assess the impact of stormwater pollutants from the university grounds of a large midwestern campus, we pursued the following two objectives. First, to empirically quantify the concentration of four pollutants in campus stormwater (total suspended solids (TSS), total phosphorus (TP), total Kjeldahl nitrogen (TKN), and chlorides (Cl-)) and compare these observations to international averages and modeled values from the Source Loading and Management Model for Windows (WinSLAMM v10.5.0), used by the university for stormwater monitoring. And second, we sought to quantify the steady state infiltration rate of two porous pavements (concrete and asphalt), and two concrete porous paver surfaces (with interlocking aggregates and without) constructed by the university to mitigate environmental impact. Results showed low TSS concentrations relative to other municipalities and modeled results. The discrepancy between modeled and empirical values is argued to arise from spatial and temporal constraints of sampling. Conversely, concentrations of TP, TKN, and Cl-, were at similar levels to reference areas and WinSLAMM, with TP and TKN likely sourced from mainly organic, non-particulate sources (e.g. leaf litter). Of the four mitigation systems, the porous pavers with aggregates had the highest infiltration rate compared to the other three porous pavements, although compounding factors such as age and landcover may have influenced performance differences.

Polymer-based (nano)composite foams, especially those having a microcellular structure, containing suitable conductive (nano)fillers, have been shown to act as good shielding materials, hence coming as promising to act as shields in electronic devices, limiting/avoiding electromagnetic interference (EMI) pollution. Nevertheless, due to their high (micro)structural complexity, related to their multiphase nature, there is still a lot of unawareness behind the shielding mechanisms acting in these materials, coming as a necessity to study their microstructure-cellular/porous structure-properties relations, especially in terms of their electrical conductivity and EMI shielding efficiency (EMI SE). To target and control the electrical conductivity through a controlled distribution/dispersion of conductive nanofillers, single or combined (nanohybrids), as there is a direct relation between electrical conductivity and EMI SE, as well as the main EMI shielding mechanisms working on the developed microcellular structure of the foams, which are expected to be absorption-dominated or absorption/multiple reflection-based, are two of the main objectives when combining polymer foaming with the addition of conductive nanofillers. The present review work considers the recent developments and trends on polymer-based foams containing conductive nanofillers, especially carbon-based such as carbon nanotubes or graphene-based materials, as well as similar porous structures created using trending technologies such as 3D printing, for EMI shielding applications. It is divided in different sections, starting with the strategy of microcellular foaming to develop polymer-based foams with enhanced EMI shielding characteristics, especially focusing on technologies and methods using supercritical CO2 (sCO2); continuing with the use of polymer foams as templates to synthesize carbon foams with improved EMI shielding performance for high use temperature applications; the recent strategy of combining different functional (nano)fillers to create hybrid nanofillers/nanohybrids to be used at lower amounts as conductive fillers in polymer foams; the control and selective distribution of the nanofillers in terms of favoring the formation of a more effective conductive network and hence promote the enhancement of the EMI SE; the very recent use of computational approaches to tailor the EMI shielding properties of composite foams; and the very trending possibility of creating cellular components with varied porous structures from these materials using 3D printing; to finish, some future perspectives are discussed.

Tamm Plasmon Polariton (TPP) is a nanophotonic phenomenon that has attracted much attention due to its spatial strong field confinement, ease of mode excitation and polarization independence. TPP has applications in sensing, storage, lasing, perfect absorber, solar cell, nonlinear optics, and many others. In this work, we demonstrate a biosensing platform based on TPP resonant mode. Both theoretical analyses based on Transfer Matrix Method and experimental validation through nonspecific detection of liquids of different refractive indices and specific detection of SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein (N-protein) are presented. Results show that TPP biosensor has high sensitivity and good specificity. For N-protein detection, the sensitivity is 1.5 nm/(µg/ml) and the limit of detection can reach down to below 7 ng/ml with spectrometer of 0.01 nm resolution of wavelength shift. This work paves the way for design, optimization, fabrication, characterization, and performance analysis of TPP based biosensors

In this study, to reduce the use of cement and sand, porous feldspar with excellent economic efficiency was used as a substitute in heat storage concrete layer. When cement was replaced with porous feldspar, the compressive strength was approximately 16%–63% higher compared with when cement was replaced with silicate minerals. To compensate for the reduction in strength owing to the decreased cement content, mechanical and chemical activation methods were employed. When the specific surface area of porous feldspar was increased, the unit weight was reduced by approximately 30% and the compressive strength was increased by up to 90%. When chemical activation was applied using a solidifying agent, the strength was increased by approximately 30% even though 70% of the cement content was replaced with porous feldspar. When cement and sand were replaced with porous feldspar, the compressive strength was approximately two times that of ordinary cement mortar. When the heat storage concrete layer material was replaced with porous feldspar in a pilot scale experiment, the thermal conductivity and heat storage characteristics were better than those of ordinary cement mortar, and an energy-saving effect of approximately 57% was observed, confirming the excellent applicability of porous feldspar as a building material.

Stress has been identified as a prominent contributor to the development and advancement of bowel cancer, however its specific involvement is intricate and diverse. This abstract tries to offer a concise summary of the correlation between stress and bowel cancer, consolidating significant discoveries from several research fields. The investigation commences by studying the molecular pathways by which chronic stress impacts the development of colon cancer. Chronic stress causes disruption in the functioning of neuroendocrine, immunological, and inflammatory pathways, leading to the development of a microenvironment within the gastrointestinal system that promotes the growth of tumours. Furthermore, changes in the composition of gut microbiota, variations in epigenetics, and alterations in immune function caused by stress also have a role in increasing the risk and advancing the advancement of cancer. Psychological aspects, including how one perceives stress, the tactics they use to cope with it, and the level of psychosocial support they receive, are crucial in determining a person's susceptibility to bowel cancer and impacting the effectiveness of treatment. Stress management therapies, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy and mindfulness-based stress reduction, have demonstrated potential in enhancing patient well-being and promoting adherence to treatment. Moreover, epidemiological studies and clinical trials offer vital knowledge regarding the correlation between stress and the risk, prognosis, and treatment results of bowel cancer. Although the evidence is inconclusive, it is essential to continue researching the intricate relationship between stress and bowel cancer. This will help us understand the connection better and create specific strategies to reduce its impact on patient outcomes.

This article systematically reviews the research achievements on the MnOx/TiO2 catalyst doped with transition metals or rare earth metals for the catalytic selective catalytic reduction of NH3 (SCR-NH3) reaction. The Methodi Ordinatio systematic literature analysis method was employed to rank relevant articles based on journal impact factors, publication years, and citation counts. The ranking data shows that the undoped MnOx/TiO2 catalysts exhibit a catalytic efficiency of up to approximately 90% for NOx reduction, while the doped MnOx/TiO2 catalysts with transition metals or rare earth metals can achieve a maximum reduction efficiency of 100%. Among all the doped metals, the catalyst doped with nickel demonstrates the best NOx reduction performance. The comprehensive literature research concludes that MnOx/TiO2-based SCR catalysts, especially those doped with transition metals or rare earth metals, have significant catalytic efficiency and development potential in reducing NOx emissions in SCR reactions.

This study presents a straightforward electrochemical and plasma deposition method for producing Cobalt-doped Blue-TiO2 nanotubes with enhanced catalytic properties. After a titanium plate has been anodized, specific procedures are carried out that cause oxygen vacancies to form inside the TiO2 nanostructures. The obtained catalysts were subjected to electrochemical tests (to identify charge transfer resistance and flat band potential), optical analysis (to determine the band gap and Urbach energy) and also characterized in terms of morphology, wettability and antibacterial effect in order to understand and analyze the impact of the Co doping method on the final catalyst characteristics. A hydrophilic film with star-shaped structures and with antibacterial effect was created when cobalt was electrochemically doped to Blue-TiO2 nanotubes. By using this electrochemical doping technique, the Urbach energy was raised from 1.171 to 3.836 eV while the band gap energy was decreased from 3.04 to 2.88 eV. Additionally, photodegradation experiments using artificial doxycycline (DOX) water were conducted to determine the practical relevance of the research findings. In areas like antimicrobial applications and photodegradation of DOX, these extra experiments aimed to show the practical applicability and potential advantages of the research findings.

We describe the direct formation of mixed-phase (1T and 2H) MoS2 layers on Si as a photocathode via atomic layer deposition (ALD) for application in the photoelectrochemical (PEC) reduction of water to hydrogen. Without typical series-metal interfaces between Si and MoS2, our p-Si/SiOx/MoS2 photocathode showed efficient and stable operation in hydrogen evolution reactions (HERs). The resulting performance could be explained by spatially genuine device architectures in three dimensions (that is, laterally homo and vertically heterojunction structures). The ALD-grown MoS2 overlayer with the mixed-phase 1T and 2H homojunction passivates light absorber and surface states and functions as a monolithic structure for effective charge transport within MoS2. It is also beneficial in the operation of p-i-n heterojunctions with inhomogeneous barrier heights due to the presence of mixed-phase cocatalysts. The effective barrier heights reached up to 0.8 eV with optimized MoS2 thicknesses, leading to a 670 mV photovoltage enhancement without employing buried Si p-n junctions. The fast-transient behaviors via light illumination show that the mixed-phase layered chalcogenides can serve as efficient cocatalysts by depinning the Fermi levels at the interfaces. A long-term operation of ~ 70 h was also demonstrated in a 0.5 M H2SO4 solution.

One important goal of research on heterogeneous catalysis for Fischer Tropsch synthesis (FTS) is to understand the connection linking catalyst morphology and its activity. Development of these effective catalysts highlights the potential for understanding the effectiveness of promoted supported catalysts and revealing their complex and dynamic effects in FTS. The metal-support interaction (MSI) is influenced by the physicochemical and textural features provided by the modified support and can directly influence the sizes of active metal crystallites, reactants and/or products mass transfer, dispersion, mechanical strength, stability and consequently the adsorption-desorption characteristics of the catalyst. Herein, this article explores the general strategies for modifying silica supports (achieved through doping, coating, or promoting the support or support precursor) and how these strategies can be manipulated to further alter catalyst performance and product selectivity by enhancing the amount of active metal species and improving the intrinsic turnover frequency (TOF). Furthermore, the review emphasises a new strategy (the inverse model of the silica support modification) aiming at overcoming the challenges posed by active metal coating or coverage, as well as pore blockages by promoters that occur during conventional preparation of promoted silica supported FT catalysts.

The oxidative coupling of methane (OCM) to produce ethane and ethylene (C2 compounds) as platform chemicals involves complex chemistry with reactions both in the gas phase and on the catalyst surface, resulting in a distribution of products at the expense of C2 selectivity. This work uses experimental data from a variety of mixed metal oxides on supports at different reaction conditions (temperature, contact time, and reactant flow rates) to train a random forest regressor that predicts methane conversion and C2 selectivity (key performance indicators (KPIs)), and deploys it to locate optimal conditions that maximize C2 yield for a catalyst. Investigating the regressor interpretability via feature importance reveals that the choice of metals and support are crucial to C2 selectivity predictions, while the predictions of methane conversion are driven by the reaction conditions. The machine learning (ML) regressor is used as a surrogate to develop performance curves for each of the catalysts via a multi-objective optimization routine that seeks to maximize the KPIs in the decision space of reaction conditions, is seen to locate optimal conditions at which the maximum C2 yields for catalysts are predicted to be 15%, higher on average. Analyzing the catalysts in the space of their performance curves with respect to a popular OCM catalyst, Mn-Na2WO4/SiO2, reveals distinct patterns based on intrinsic properties of metals and supports. Further, the decision space with catalyst descriptors and reaction conditions is optimized for high C2 yields using the ML surrogate, in a static multi-objective optimization routine, and an adaptive Bayesian routine, where the latter was found to have a wider field focus in proposing catalyst formulations and conditions. Transition metal oxides on a variety of supports were proposed but not their lanthanide oxide counterparts.

This study investigates the magnetization of Cobalt (Co) nanoparticles with two different crystal structures: a centered cubic (fcc) and an hexagonal close packed (hcp), under the magnetic field of the Earth. For that reason, the hysteresis loops of the two material samples are exported and compared with the corresponding value by experimental procedure in the laboratory under the Earth’s magnetization. For both samples, the nanoparticle number variation and the nearest neighbor distance effect, in the Co hysteresis loop are investigated, structural information that is useful for the sample preparation. For the simulations the Finite Element Method (FEM) was used, while experiments are conducted using a measurement set-up based on fluxgate magnetometers. From the simulation, it is proven that, for both samples, the nanoparticle number effect does not change the hysteresis loop. In contrast, when the distance between the nanoparticles increases, the magnetization obtains smaller value. This study aims to build a novel, simple and economical measurement arrangement enabling in situ magnetic measurements for ferromagnetic nano-material characterization. As the need for continuous knowledge of the condition and the phase of ferromagnetic nanoparticles that is crucial in many applications, like catalytic processes, this work aims to introduce an alternative approach that will add another dimension to conventional chemical reaction engineering this of the magnetic state of the material resolved in time and space and to contribute in the field of the monitoring and the early fault diagnosis of nanoparticle materials.

Organic compounds that contain poly-triazole are very important intermediates in pharmaceutical and chemical industry. Click chemistry is one of essential reactions that can form C-N bond with high atom economy. The research progress in metals catalyzed Click chemistry of azides and alkynes from the perspective of reaction mechanism is categorized and summarized.

Thin supported inorganic mesoporous membranes are used for removal of salts, small molecules (PFAS, dyes, polyanions) and particulate species (oil droplets) from aqueous sources with high flux and selectivity. Nano-filtration membranes can reject simple salts with 80-100% selectivity through a space charge mechanism. Rejection by size selectivity can be near 100% since the membranes can have a very narrow size distribution. Mesoporous membranes have received par-ticular interest due to their (potential) stability at operational conditions and defouling operations. More recently membranes with extreme stability became interesting with the advent of in-situ fouling mitigation by means of ultrasound, emitted from within the membrane structure. For this reason we explored the stability of available and new membranes with accelerated lifetime tests in aqueous solutions at various temperatures and pH values. Of the available ceria, titania, mag-netite membranes none were actually stable at all test conditions. In earlier work, it was already established that meso-porous alumina membranes have very poor stability. A new nano-filtration membrane was made of cubic zirconia membranes that exhibited a near perfect stability. A new ultra-filtration membrane was made of amorphous silica that was fully stable in ultrapure water at 80°C. This work provides details of membrane synthesis, stability characterization and actual sta-bility data.

We carry out in a thin heterogeneous porous layer, the multiscale analysis of Smoluchowski's discrete diffusion-coagulation equations describing the evolution density of diffusing particles that are subject to coagulate in pairs. Assuming that the thin heterogeneous layer is made of microstructures that are uniformly distributed inside, we obtain in the limit an upscaled model in lower space dimension. We also prove a corrector-type result very useful in numerical computations. In view of the thin structure of the domain, we appeal to a concept of two-scale convergence adapted to thin heterogeneous media to achieve our goal.

Porous ferroelectric lead zirconate-titanate (PZT) films are a promising material for various electronics applications. This study focuses on understanding how structure-directing agent (polyvinylpyrrolidone) can change structure and electrical properties of porous PZT films prepared by chemical solution deposition. The films with various porosity up to ~ 40 vol.% and pore connectivity changing from 3-0 to 3-3 were prepared and studied by capacitance-voltage, dielectric hysteresis, transient current, photocurrent, and local current techniques. We have found that the linear decrease in the material volume in a porous film is not the only factor governing film properties. The key role in changing electrical properties plays the creation of new internal grain boundaries. This research expands the understanding of physical phenomena in porous ferroelectric films and may enable the development of new materials and devices.

We successfully created a composite photonic structure out of porous silicon (PSi) microcavities doped by the photochromic protein, photoactive yellow protein (PYP). Massive incorporation of the protein molecules into the pores was substantiated by a 30-nm shift of the resonance dip upon functionalization, and light-induced reflectance changes of the device due to the protein photocycle were recorded. Model calculations for the photonic properties of the device were consistent with earlier results on the nonlinear optical properties of the protein, whose degree of incorporation into the PSi structure was also estimated. The successful proof-of-concept results are discussed in light of possible practical applications in the future.

The interest in dry EEG electrodes has increased in recent years and especially as everyday suitability earplugs for measuring drowsiness or focus of auditory attention. However, the challenge is still the need for a good electrode material, which is reliable and can be easily processed for highly personalized applications. Laser processing as used here is a fast and very precise method to produce personalized electrode configurations that meet the high requirements of in-ear EEG electrodes, for example. The arrangement of the electrodes on the very flexible and compressible mats allows an exact alignment of the electrodes to the ear mold and contributes to a high wearing comfort, as no edges or metal protrusions are present. For better transmission properties, an adapted coating process for surface enlargement of platinum electrodes is used, which allows easy control of the thickness and growth form of the porous layer. The porous platinum-copper alloy is chemically very stable, shows no exposed copper residues and enlarges the effective surface area by 40. In a proof-of-principle experiment, these porous platinum electrodes could be used to measure the Berger effect in a dry state using just one ear of a test person. Their signal-to-noise ration and frequency transfer function is comparable to gel-based silver/silver chloride electrodes.

This paper presents a comprehensive evaluation of metal foam employment within polymer electrolyte fuel cells (PEFCs) and compares it with conventional serpentine channels from both experiment viewpoints and computational fluid dynamics simulation. The experiments are designed to study the effects of material, area density, compression ratio, and final thickness of metal foam. Additionally, the influence of housing plate material and relative humidity (RH) is also tested for the first time. The results reveal that at RH=75-100%, the best distributor design is nickel foam with a compression ratio of 70%, a final thickness of 0.5mm, and SS-304 housing plate, which delivers 3110 mA cm^-2 as limiting current density that is scarce in the literature. The PEFC with this foam distributor shows a 10% improvement in maximum power density and 45% in limiting current density compared to the serpentine channel case. While at RH=30%, the same foam flow field with a final thickness of 1mm is a superior option. The experiments also indicate that maximum power density increases by 23% as the compression ratio rises from 0 to 70%, while reducing final thickness from 1 to 0.5 mm causes a 19% enhancement in cell performance. Simulation results reveal that metal foam is more successful in evenly reactant distribution so that the average oxygen mass fraction at the cathode catalyst layer is increased by 38% in the metal foam case compared to the serpentine channel.

The reported study was devoted to the investigation of viscoelastic behavior for solid and porous ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) under compression. The obtained experimental stress curves were interpreted using a two-term Prony series to represent the superposition of two coexisting activation processes corresponding to long molecular (~160 s) and short structural (~20 s) time scales, respectively, leading to good statistical correlation with the observations. In the case of porous polymer, the internal strain redistribution during relaxation was quantified using Digital Image Correlation (DIC) analysis. The strongly inhomogeneous deformation of the porous polymer was found not to affect the relaxation times. In order to generalize the results to three dimensions, X-ray tomography was used to examine the porous structure at the macro- and micro-scale levels. DIC analysis revealed positive correlation between the applied force and relative density. The apparent stiffness variation for UHMWPE foams with mixed open and closed cells was described using a newly proposed three-term expression. Furthermore, the in situ tensile loading and X-ray scattering study was applied for isotropic solid UHMWPE specimens to investigate their parameters of internal structure during orientation and stress relaxation process at another mode.

In this paper, the preparation methods of porous silicon nitride materials with controllable dielectric constant and pore structure were systematically studied. By using microwave sintering technology, porous silicon nitride materials with high closed pore ratio were prepared by adjusting the content of sintering additives and sintering process parameters, and controlling the grain boundary phase and pore structure and size. The effects of sintering conditions on the total porosity, closed porosity, pore structure and dielectric properties of materials were systematically studied.

A novel type of phosphazene containing additive that act both as catalyst and as flame retardant for benzoxazine binders is presented in this study. The synthesis of a derivative of hexachlorocyclotriphosphazene (HCP) and meta-toluidine was carried out in the medium of the latter, which made it possible to achieve complete substitution of chlorine atoms in the initial HCP. Thermal and flammability characteristics of modified compositions are revealed. The modifier catalyzes the process of curing and shifts the beginning of reaction from 222.0 C for pure benzoxazine to 205.9 C for composition with 10 phr of modifier. The additive decreases the glass transition temperature of compositions. Achievement of the highest category of flame resistance (V-0 in accordance with UL-94) is ensured both by increasing the content of phenyl residues in the composition and by the synergistic effect of phosphorus and nitrogen. Brief research of the curing kinetics disclosed the complex nature of the reaction. An accurate two-step model is obtained using extended Prout-Tompkins equation for both steps.

The direct growth of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) with a narrow distribution of diameter or chirality remains elusive despite significant benefits in properties and applications. Nanoparticle catalysts are vital for SWCNT synthesis, but how to precisely manipulate their chemistry, size, concentration, and deposition remains difficult, especially within a continuous production process from the gas-phase. Here, we demonstrate the preparation of W₆Co₇ alloyed nanoparticle catalysts with precisely tunable stoichiometry using electrospray, which remain solid state during SWCNT growth. We also demonstrate continuous production of liquid iron nanoparticles with in-line size selection. With the precise size manipulation of catalysts in the range of 1-5 nm, and a nearly monodisperse distribution (σ_g < 1.2), an excellent size selection of SWCNT can be achieved. All of the presented techniques show great potential to facilitate the realization of single-chirality SWCNT production.

In this work, the solar light-induced redox photoactivity of the ZnO semiconductor material was used to prepare at room temperature CuxO-ZnO composite catalysts with a control of the chemical state of the copper oxide phase. The preparation of Cu2(I)O-ZnO and Cu(II)O-ZnO composite catalysts was achieved by using Cu(acac)2 in THF-water and Cu(NO3)2 in water as metallic precursor, respectively. Prior to the implementation of the photo-assisted synthesis method, the most efficient photoactive ZnO material was selected among different ZnO materials prepared by the low temperature polyol method and through the precipitation method with carbonates and carbamates as precipitation agent, by taking the photocatalytic degradation of the 4-chlorophenol compound in water under simulated solar light as model reaction. The ZnO support materials were characterized by XRD, BET, TGA, SEM and TEM, and the synthesis method was strongly influencing their photoactivity in terms of 4-chlorophenol degradation and of total organic carbon removal. The most photoactive ZnO material was prepared by precipitation with carbonates and calcined at 300°C, and was taking advantage of a high specific surface area and a small mean crystallite size for achieving a complete 4-chlorophenol mineralization within 70 min of reaction, with a minimum Zn2+ released to the solution due to surface photocorrosion. Beside thermal catalysis applications, this work opened a new route for the facile synthesis of Cu2O-ZnO heterojunction photocatalysts, that could take advantage under solar light of the heterojunction built between the p-type semi-conductor Cu2O with direct visible light band gap and the ZnO semiconductor phase.

The steady-state multiplicity of the porous, non-isothermal, catalyst pellet when two parallel and consecutive chemical reactions take place was analysed in this work. The geometry selected for the catalyst pellet is finite hollow cylinder. A numerical multigrid continuation technique with the preconditioned conjugate gradient squared as coarse grid solver was used. The continuation parameter is the dimensionless adiabatic heat rise (Prater number) for the first chemical reaction. The effect of the other governing parameters was analysed and the results are compared to those provided by the single chemical reaction.

The photoreduction of CO2 is an intriguing process, which allows the synthesis of fuels and chemicals. One of the limitations for CO2 photoreduction in the liquid phase is its low solubility in water. This point has been here addressed by designing a fully innovative concept of pressurized photoreactor, allowing operation up to 20 bar and applied to improve the productivity of this very challenging process. The photoreduction of CO2 in the liquid phase was performed using commercial TiO2 (Evonink P25), TiO2 obtained by flame spray pyrolysis (FSP) and gold doped P25 (0.2 wt% Au-P25) in the presence of Na2SO3 as hole scavenger (HS). The different reaction parameters (catalyst concentration, pH and amount of HS) have been addressed. The products in liquid phase were formic acid and formaldehyde. Moreover, for longer reaction time and with total consumption of HS, gas phase products formed (H2 and CO) after accumulation of significant amount of organic compounds in the liquid phase, due to their consecutive photoreforming. Enhanced CO2 solubility in water was achieved by adding a base (pH= 12-14). In basic environment, CO2 formed carbonates which further reduced to formaldehyde and formic acid and consequently formed CO/CO2+H2 in the gas phase through photoreforming. The deposition of small Au nanoparticles (3-5 nm) (NPs) onto TiO2 was found to quantitatively influence the products distribution and increase the selectivity towards gas phase products.

Hierarchical micro-/mesoporous graphitic carbon spheres (HGCS) with a uniform diameter of ~0.35 μm were synthesized by Fe-catalyzed graphitization of amorphous carbon spheres resultant from hydrothermal carbonization. The HGCS resultant from 3 h at 900 °C with 1.0 wt% Fe catalyst had high graphitization degree and surface area as high as 564 m²/g. They also exhibited high specific capacitance of 140 F/g at 0.2 A/g, good electrochemical stability with 94% capacitance retention after consecutive 2500 cycles. The graphitization degree of the HGCS contributed about 60% of their specific capacitance, and their specific capacitance per unit surface area was as high as 0.2 F/m² which was much higher than in the most cases of porous amorphous carbon materials reported before. In addition, the HGCS showed a high adsorption capacity of 182.8 mg/g for methylene blue (MB), which was 12 times as high as that in the case of carbon spheres before graphitization.

We investigate the flow structure and dynamics of moderate-Rayleigh-number ($Ra$) thermal convection in a two-dimensional inclined porous layer. Direct numerical simulations (DNS) confirm the emergence of $\mathit{O}(1)$ aspect-ratio large-scale convective rolls, with one `natural' roll rotating in the counterclockwise direction and one `antinatural' roll rotating in the clockwise direction. As the inclination angle $\phi$ is increased, the background mean shear flow intensifies the natural-roll motion, while suppressing the antinatural-roll motion. Moreover, our DNS reveal---for the first time in single-species porous medium convection---the existence of \emph{spatially-localized} convective states at large $\phi$, which we suggest are enabled by subcritical instability of the base state at sufficiently large inclination angles. To better understand the physics of inclined porous medium convection at different $\phi$, we numerically compute steady convective solutions using Newton iteration and then perform secondary stability analysis of these nonlinear states using Floquet theory. Our analysis indicates that the inclination of the porous layer stabilizes the boundary layers of the natural roll, but intensifies the boundary-layer instability of the antinatural roll. These results facilitate physical understanding of the large-scale cellular flows observed in the DNS at different values of $\phi$.

Polymer flooding is an established enhanced oil recovery (EOR) method, still many aspects of polymer flooding are not well understood. This study investigates the influence of mechanical degradation on flow properties of polymers in porous media. Mechanical degradation due to high shear forces may occur in the injection well and at the entrance to the porous media. The polymers that give high viscosity yields at a sustainable economic cost are typically large, MW > 10 MDa, and have wide molecular weight distributions. Both MW and the distributions are altered by mechanical degradation, leading to changes in the flow rheology of the polymer. The polymer solutions were subjected to different degrees of pre-shearing and pre-filtering before injected into Bentheimer outcrop sandstone cores. Rheology studies of injected and produced polymer solutions were performed and interpreted together with in-situ rheology data. The core floods showed a predominant shear thickening behavior at high flow velocities which is due to successive contraction/expansion flow in pores. When pre-sheared, shear thickening was reduced but with no significant reduction in in-situ viscosity at lower flow rates. This may be explained by reduction in the extensional viscosity. Furthermore, the results show that successive degradation occurred which suggests that the assumption of the highest point of shear which determines mechanical degradation in a porous media does not hold for all field relevant conditions.

The aim of this study was to investigate the possibility of a freeform fabrication of porous ceramic parts through selective laser sintering (SLS). SLS was proposed to manufacture ceramic green parts because this additive manufacturing technique can be used to fabricate three-dimensional objects directly without a mold, and the technique has the capability of generating porous ceramics with controlled porosity. However, ceramic printing has yet fully achieved its 3D fabrication capabilities without using polymer binder. Except for the limitation of high melting point, brittleness and low thermal shock resistance from instinct ceramic material properties, the key hurdle lies on very poor absorptivity of oxide ceramics to fiber laser which is widely installed in the commercial SLS equipment. An alternative solution to overcome the poor laser absorptivity via improving material compositions was presented in this study. The positive effect of carbon additive on the absorptivity of silica powder to fiber laser will be discussed. To investigate the capabilities of the SLS process, 3D porous silica structures were successfully prepared and characterized.

Recent studies have shown that the mechanical properties of bioinspired periodic composite materials can be strongly influenced by finite deformation effects, leading to highly nonlinear static and dynamic behaviors at multiple length scales. For instance, in porous periodic nacre-like microstructures, microscopic and macroscopic instabilities may occur for a given uniaxial loading process and, as a consequence, wave attenuation properties may evolve as a function of the microstructural evolution, giving it the designation of metamaterials. The numerical outcomes provide new opportunities to design bioinspired soft composite metamaterials characterized by high deformability and enhanced elastic wave attenuation capabilities given by the insertion of voids and lead cores.

Porous metals possess low bulk density, large specific strength, high stiffness and special thermal, electromagnetic and acoustic conductivity, so that porous metals are widely used in filtration and separation, flame retardant explosion-proof, biomedical application, etc. Compared with its corresponding dense metal, the presence of porous structures also leads to different corrosive performances of porous metal. So, some researches have utilized weight loss method, electrochemical impedance to evaluate porous metals’ corrosion behavior; however, the influence of pore structure on metal corrosion is still controversial, and present methods used for analyses of porous metals’ corrosion are statistical averages of the corrosion behavior of the entire porous material, which cannot accurately reflect the corrosion behavior inside the pore structure. Herein, we prepare porous copper samples with 0, 24, 72, 96 pores using mechanical process, and employ scanning kelvin probe combined with electrochemical polarization curve and impedance spectroscopy to test the corrosion performance of the porous copper in static and dynamic NaCl solution. The relevant results indicate that in static solution, the corrosion resistance of samples gradually increases with the rise of the number of pores. By contrast, the sample with 24 pores exhibits more susceptible to corrosion than the sample without pore.

This study presents a methodology to fabricate Ti6Al4V cylindrical compacts with a highly porous core and dense shell with the purpose to mimic the bone microstructure. Compacts with different core diameters were obtained by conventionally press and sintering. Large pores were created with the aid of pore formers. Sintering kinetics was determined by dilatometry, whereas characterization was performed by X-ray computed tomography. Also, permeability was evaluated on the 3D microstructure and the mechanical strength was evaluated by compression tests. Results indicated that sintering is constraint by the different densification rates of the porous and dense layers. Nonetheless, defectless compacts were obtained due to neck bonding between Ti6Al4V particles. Large pores were located in the designed core with similar pore size distribution. Permeability increased following a power law as a function of the pore volume fraction. Stiffness of bilayer components was driven by the porous core, meanwhile, the strength resulted from the combination of both layers. Bilayer materials obtained showed a permeability and mechanical properties, as well as admissible strain (σy /E) similar to those of human bones.

The present study explores the effect of using two porous deflectors on the performance of the Savonius wind turbine compared to only one porous deflector. The numerical simulation is performed to solve the unsteady Navier-Stokes equations using the SST k-

Porous tantalum (Ta) is a promising biomaterial and has been applied in orthopedics and dentistry for nearly two decades. The high porosity and interconnected pore structure of porous Ta promise fine bone ingrowth and new bone formation within the inner space, which further guarantee rapid osteointegration and bone-implant stability in long term. Porous Ta has high wettability and surface energy that can facilitate adherence, proliferation and mineralization of osteoblasts. Meanwhile, low elastic modulus and high friction coefficient of porous Ta can effectively avoid stress shield effect, minimize marginal bone loss and ensure primary stability. Accordingly, the satisfactory clinical application of porous Ta based implants or prostheses are mainly derived from its excellent biological and mechanical properties. With the advent of additive manufacturing, personalized porous Ta based implants or prostheses have shown their clinical value in the treatment of individual patient who need specially designed implant or prosthesis. In addition, many modification methods have been introduced to enhance the bioactivity and antibacterial property of porous Ta with promising in vitro and in vivo research results. In any case, choosing suitable patients is of great importance to guarantee surgical success after porous Ta insertion.

State-of-the-art dielectrophoretic (DEP) separation techniques provide unique properties to separate particles from a liquid or particles with different properties such as material, morphology or size from each other. However, such separators do not operate at throughput that is sufficient for a vast fraction of separation tasks. The reason for this limitation is that, in order to move particles by dielectrophoresis, high electric field gradients to drive the separation are required. Conventionally, those gradients are generated by electrode microstructures that limit the maximum channel size. Here, we investigate DEP filtration, a technique that uses open porous microstructures instead of microfluidic devices to easily increase the filter cross section and therefore also the processable throughput by several orders of magnitude. Previously, we already separated baker’s yeast by DEP filtration in open porous ceramic structures. Now, we give a more elaborate experimental study about DEP filtration in these open porous structures and separate model particles, that are an order of magnitude smaller (500 nm, polystyrene), from aqueous suspensions. Almost 100% separation at flow rates of up to 9 mL min^-1 was achieved while the majority of the trapped particles could be recovered. We show how particle separation depends on key parameters (voltage, throughput, filter structure size). Further, we work towards selective particle separation and show that particle separation is very dependent on the particle polarizability: This creates the possibility to adjust selectivity by changing the electrical conductivity of the suspension around that of the particle. This study highlights the unique qualities of dielectrophoretic filtration enabling switchable, selective, and scalable particle separation to solve existing problems such as cell separation or precious metal recovery.

As one of toxic Volatile Organic Pollutant (TVOCs), formaldehyde has a toxic effect on microorganisms, and then inhibits the biochemical process of formaldehyde wastewater treatment. Therefore, the selective degradation of formaldehyde is of great significance to achieve formaldehyde wastewater high-efficiency and low-cost treatment. This study constructed a heterogeneous Fe-ZSM-5/H2O2 Fenton system for selective degradation to target compounds. By bonding Fe3+ onto the surface of ZSM-5 molecular sieve, Fe-ZSM-5 was prepared successfully. XRD, BET and FT-IR spectral studies shown the prepared Fe-ZSM-5 was mainly composed of micropores. The influences of different variables on formaldehyde selective heterogeneous Fenton degradation performance were studied. The 93.72% formaldehyde degradation and the 98.15% selectivity of formaldehyde compared with glucose had demonstrated in the optimized Fenton system after 360 min. Notably, the resultant selective Fenton oxidation system had a wide range of pH suitability from 3.0 to 10.0. Also, the Fe-ZSM-5 was used in 5 consecutive cycles, while the degradation efficiency of formaldehyde did not drop dramatically. Using reactive oxygen species scavengers, hydroxyl radical was the main active substance to degrade formaldehyde. Furthermore, the great degradation performance of this system to high concentration of formaldehyde was acquired, and the degrading efficiency was more than 95%.

Pt-coated Ni layer supported on Ni foam catalyst (denoted PtNi/Nifoam) was investigated for the oxidation of the formic acid (FAO) in acidic media. The prepared PtNi/Ni foam catalyst was studied as a function of the formic acid (FA) concentration at bare Pt and PtNi/Nifoam catalysts. The catalytic activity of the PtNi/Nifoam catalysts, studied on the basis of the ratio of the direct and indirect current peaks (jd)/(jnd) for the FAO reaction, showed values about 10 times higher compared to those on bare Pt, particularly at a low formic acid concentrations, reflecting the superiority of the former catalysts for the oxidation of FA to CO2. Ni foams provide a large surface area for the FOR while synergistic effects between Pt nanoparticles and Ni-oxy species layer on Ni foams contribute significantly to the enhanced oxidation of FA via the direct pathway, making it almost equal to the indirect pathway, particularly at low formic acid concentrations.

The use of alternative synthetic methods, in the face of traditional processes that do not conform to the principles of Green Chemistry, represent a problem in the pharmaceutical industry. The procedures for the synthesis of benzimidazole derivatives have become a focus in synthetic organic chemistry, as they are building blocks of strong interest for the synthesis of compounds with pharmacological activity. Various benzimidazole derivatives have found very strong application in medicine and their synthesis is reported in the literature. A simple and environmental Montmorillonite K10 (MK10) catalyzed method for the synthesis of benzimidazole derivatives has been developed. The use of MK10 as heterogeneous catalysis provides various advantages in terms of yields, in the work up procedure of the reaction, selectivity and the possible recycle of catalyst without waste formation. The reactions were carried out in solvent free condition and in short reaction time using an inexpensive and environmentally friendly heterogeneous catalysis and it has been shown that the reaction process is applicable in the industrial field.

The article describes synthesis of aminoorgano-functionalized silica as a perspective material for catalysis application. The amino groups have electron donor properties valuable for metal chemical state of palladium. So presence of electron donor groups is important for increasing of catalysts stability. The research is devoted to investigation of silica amino-modified support influence on activity and stability of palladium species in 4-nitroaniline hydrogenation process. A series of catalysts with different supports such as SiO2, SiO2-C3H6-NH2 (amino-functionalized silica), γ-Al2O3 and activated carbon were studied. The catalytic activity was studied in the hydrogenation of 4-nitroaniline to 1,4-phenylenediamine. The catalysts were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and pulse chemisorption of hydrogen. The 5 wt. % Pd/SiO2-C3H6-NH2 catalyst exhibited the highest catalytic activity for 4-nitroaniline hydrogenation with 100% conversion and 99% selectivity with respect to 1,4-phenylenediamine.

Filamentous fungi such as Aspergillus spp. are opportunistic pathogens, which cause highly invasive infections, especially in immunocompromised individuals. Control of such fungal pathogens is increasingly problematic due to the small number of effective drugs available for treatment. Moreover, the increased incidence of fungal resistance to antifungal agents makes this problem a global human health issue. The cell wall integrity system of fungi is the target of antimycotic drugs echinocandins, such as caspofungin (CAS). However, echinocandins cannot completely inhibit the growth of filamentous fungal pathogens, which results in survival/escape of fungi during treatment. Chemosensitization was developed as an alternative intervention strategy, where co-application of CAS with the intervention catalyst octyl gallate (OG; chemosensitizer) greatly enhanced CAS efficacy, thus achieved ≥ 99.9% elimination of filamentous fungi in vitro. Based on hypersensitive responses of Aspergillus antioxidant mutants to OG, it is hypothesized that, besides destabilizing cell wall integrity, the redox-active characteristic of OG may further debilitate fungal antioxidant system.

This review article explores the convergence of virtual reality (VR) and architectural design from an inclusive lens. It underscores the crucial role of virtual reality (VR) in serving as a catalyst for the incorporation of social and cultural sustainability principles in architectural projects. The exploration is guided by inclusive design principles, which encompass several aspects such as accessibility, cultural sensitivity, diversity and inclusivity, user-centered design, and empathy. These concepts serve as the basis for further investigation into the potential of virtual reality (VR) technology to enhance and heighten these features within architectural design, therefore promoting the progress of social and cultural sustainability. The review article highlights the profound impact that virtual reality (VR) may have, going beyond mere visualisation to generate architectural experiences that are immersive, interactive, and empathetic. These experiences are designed to take into account diverse perspectives and needs.

PdRe/Al2O3 catalysts are highly selective for hydrogenation of furfural to furfuryl alcohol (FAL). Moreover, synergy between the metals can result in greater specific activity (higher turnover frequency, TOF) than exhibited by either metal alone. Bimetallic catalyst structure depends strongly on the metal precursors employed and their addition sequence to the support. In this work, PdRe/Al2O3 catalysts were prepared by: (i) co impregnation (CI) and sequential impregnation (SI) of  Al2O3 using HReO4 and Pd(NO3)2, (ii) SI using NH4ReO4 and [Pd(NH3)4(NO3)2], (iii) HReO4 addition to a reduced and passivated Pd/Al2O3 catalyst, and (iv) impregnation with the double complex salt (DCS), [Pd(NH3)4(ReO4)2]. Raman spectroscopy and temperature-programmed reduction (TPR) evidence larger supported PdO crystallites in catalysts prepared using Pd(NO3)2 than [Pd(NH3)4(NO3)2]. Surface [ReO4]- species detected by Raman exhibit TPR peak temperatures from ranging 85 to 260°C (versus 375°C for Re/Al2O3). After H2 reduction at 400°C, the catalysts were characterized by chemisorption, temperature-programmed hydride decomposition (TPHD), CO diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy (DRIFTS), and scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) with energy-dispersive x-ray (EDX) spectroscopy. The CI catalyst containing supported Pd-Re alloy crystallites had a TOF similar to Pd/Al2O3 but higher (61%) FAL selectivity. In contrast, catalysts prepared by methods (ii-iv) containing supported Pd-Re nanoparticles exhibit higher TOFs and up to 78% FAL selectivity.

A series of supported CuO-based nanoparticle catalysts were prepared by impregnation method and used for the synthesis of glycerol carbonate from glycerol and CO2 in the presence of 2-cyanopyridine as a dehydrant and DMF as a solvent. The effects of supports (activated alumina, silicon dioxide, graphene oxide, graphene, and activated carbon), CuO loading amount, calcination temperature, and reaction parameters on the catalytic activity of catalyst were investigated in detail. XRD, FTIR, SEM, BET, and CO2-TPD were used for the characterization of the prepared catalysts. It is found that CuO/Al2O3 shows a higher catalytic activity, which depends on the CuO loading amount and calcination temperature. The surface area and amount of basic sites of the catalyst exhibit crucial effect on the catalytic activity of CuO/Al2O3. Furthermore, there is a synergistic effect between the catalyst and 2-cyanopyridine that the former has higher activation ability for glycerol and the latter acts not only as a dehydrant, but also as a promoter for CO2 activation. Recycling experiments reveal that this catalyst can be reused at least five cycles without any inactivation. Based on the experiment results and FTIR characterization, a possible reaction mechanism for the carbonylation of glycerol and CO2 is proposed.

The activity and cyclability of Cu-MOF-74 as catalyst was studied for the ligand-free C-O cross-coupling reaction of 4-nitrobenzaldehyde (NB) with phenol (Ph) to form 4-formyldiphenyl ether (FDE). Cu-MOF-74 is characterized by unsaturated copper sites in a highly porous metal-organic framework. The influence of solvent, reaction temperature, NB/Ph ratio, catalyst concentration and basic agent (type and concentration) were evaluated. High conversions were achieved at 120°C, 5 mol% of catalyst, NB/Ph ratio of 1:2, DMF as solvent and 1 equivalent of K2CO3 base. The activity of Cu-MOF-74 material was higher than other ligand-free copper catalytic systems tested in this study. This catalyst was easily separated and reused in five successive runs, achieving a remarkable performance without significant porous framework degradation. The leaching of copper species in the reaction medium was negligible. The O-arylation between NB and Ph took place only in the presence of Cu-MOF-74 material, being negligible without the solid catalyst.

Unidirectional flow of a fluid with pressure-dependent viscosity through a porous structure is considered when the viscosity-pressure relationship is an exponential function of a pressure power function in order to investigate effects of the viscosity-pressure relation on the flow characteristics. The flow is governed by the generalized Brinkman’s equation with constant permeability, and a model flow domain of flow down an inclined porous channel is chosen for the sake of studying flow behaviour. Although the current work considers flow in a constant permeability porous structure, it does represent a first step in studying the more general, flow through a variable permeability porous channel. The arising governing equations are solved numerically using MATLAB and the flow is simulated to illustrate the effects of fluid properties as well as flow and medium parameters on the velocity profiles and shear stress.

Water electrolysis is a compelling technology for the production of environmentally-friendly hydrogen, minimizing carbon emissions. The electrolysis process of water heavily relies on the effective and steady oxygen evolution reaction (OER) taking place at the anode. Herein, we in-troduce a highly promising catalyst for OER called CoSe2@NiFeOOH arrays, which are supported on a nickel foam. This catalyst, referred to as CoSe2@NiFeOOH/NF, is fabricated through a two-step process involving the selenidation of a Co-based porous metal organic framework and subsequent electrochemical deposition on a nickel foam. The CoSe2@NiFeOOH/NF catalyst demonstrates outstanding activity for the OER in an alkaline electrolyte. It exhibits a low over-potential (η) of 254 mV at 100 mA cm−2, a small Tafel slope of 73 mV dec−1, and excellent high stability. The high performance of CoSe2@NiFeOOH/NF can be attributed to the combination of the high conductivity of the inner layer and the synergistic effect between CoSe2 and NiFeOOH. This study offers an effective method for the fabrication of highly efficient catalysts for the OER.

The aim of this articles is to investigate the entropy optimization in unsteady MHD flow Darcy-Forchheimer nanofluids towards a stretchable sheet. The surface we tend to think about is porous and stretchy under acceleration. Flow occurs due to the stretching of the surface. Four distinct types of aqueous nanostructures are taken in this examination where copper oxide ( ), copper ( ), titanium dioxide ( ) and aluminum oxide ( ) are the nanoparticles. Irreversibility analysis are discussed through second law of thermodynamics. The expression of energy is mathematically designed and discussed according to heat generation / absorption, dissipation, thermal radiation, and joule heating. The nonlinear PDE (partial differential conditions) is first changed to ODE (normal differential conditions) through appropriate similarity variables. Here we used the numerically embedded solution technique to develop a numerical result for the obtained nonlinear flow expression. Influence of various flow parameter velocity temperature distribution and entropy generation are discussed. Reduction occurs in velocity profile for larger porosity and magnetic parameters. An enhancement in entropy generation and temperature distribution is seen for Brinkman number. An opposite effect is noticed in velocity and temperature through solid volume friction.

Cost-efficient catalyst for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and methanol oxidization reaction (MOR) is of great importance for industrial application. The alloying of platinum with cheap transition metal offers a great opportunity to reduce cost and enhance the electro-catalytic performance. Herein, we report a simple and green route to synthesize porous Pt-Cu catalysts, where Pt-Cu solid particles were first produced by using cuprous chloride (CuCl) nanoparticles as the template, followed by a dealloying treatment to obtain final porous product. The porous alloy nanoparticles show higher catalytic activity and superior stability for HER and methanol oxidation reaction, which is beneficial from the porous structure and synergetic effect between Pt and Cu.

Neural microprobes represent an important component of neural prosthetic systems where implanted microprobes record the electro-potentials generated by specific thoughts in the brain and convey the signals to algorithms trained to interpret these thoughts. Here, we present novel elongated multi-site neural probe that can reach depths greater than 10mm. We hypothesize that reaching such depth allows the recording of cognitive signals required to drive cognitive prosthetics. The impedance of the recording sites on the probes was on the order of 500 kΩ at 1 kHz, which is consistent with probes used for neurophysiological recordings. The probes were made porous using Xenon Difluoride (XeF₂) dry etching to improve the biocompatibility and their adherence to the surrounding neural tissue. Numerical studies were performed to determine the reliability of the porous probes. We implanted the elongated probe in rats and show that the elongated probes are capable of simultaneously recording both spikes and local field potentials (LFPs) from various recording sites.

Bottom-up synthesis of porous NiMo alloy reduced by NiMoO₄ nanofibers was systematically investigated to fabricate non-noble metal porous electrodes for hydrogen production. The different annealing temperatures of NiMoO₄ nanofibers under hydrogen atmosphere reveal that the 950 °C annealing temperature is a key to produce bicontinuous porous NiMo alloy without oxide phases. The porous NiMo alloy as cathodes in electrical water splitting demonstrates not only almost identical catalytic activity with commercial Pt/C in 1.0 M KOH solution, but also superb stability for 12 days at an electrode potential of −200 mV (v.s. RHE).

Permeability is a fundamental property of porous media, especially when studying resin transfer within a dense fibrous medium to manufacture composite materials. When the measurement of permeability tensor of composite reinforcements is difficult and time consuming, especially in thick, heterogeneous fibrous structures, a numerical approach based on the calculation of the tensor components on a 3D image of the material can be very advantageous. A new finite element based method proposed in this study allows solving very high-dimensional flow problems while limiting the biases associated with boundary conditions and the small size of the numerical samples addressed. The method is validated against academic test cases and against the results of a recent permeability benchmark exercise. The results emphasize that for heterogeneous and anisotropic microstructures, it is important to perform calculations on large samples using boundary conditions that do not suppress the transverse flows that occur when flow is forced out of the principal directions. Since these are not necessarily known in complex media, the permeability determination method must not introduce bias by generating non-physical flows.

The mixing of terrestrial groundwater and seawater creates dynamic reaction zones in intertidal areas, where land-derived Fe(II) is oxidized to Fe(III) and then precipitates as Fe hydroxides at groundwater-seawater interface. These hydrogeochemical processes contribute to the formation of iron curtains beneath soil surface, which in turn influences the evolution of coastal aquifers. This paper provides a comprehensive review of physical and geochemical processes at field scale in coastal areas, explores the impact of mineral precipitation on pore structure at pore scale, and synthesizes reactive transport modeling (RTM) approaches for illustrating continuum-scale soil physio-chemical parameters during the evolution of porous media. Upon this review, knowledge gaps and research needs are identified. Additionally, challenges and opportunities are presented. Therefore, the incorporation of observational data into a comprehensive physico-mathematical model becomes imperative for capturing the pore-scale processes in porous media and their influence on groundwater flow and solute transport at large scales. Furthermore, a synergistic approach integrating pore-scale modeling and non-invasive imaging can provide detailed insights into intricate fluid-pore-solid interactions for future studies, as well as facilitate the development of regional engineering-scale models and physio-chemical coupled models with diverse applications in submarine science and engineering.

As the lifespan of porous asphalt pavement extends, it invariably experiences performance degradation and an increase in tire/pavement noise compared with the original surface when it is newly built. To understand the medium-term performance of porous asphalt pavement during service and reveal the influence of different pavement performance indicators on tire/pavement noise generation, a seven-year continuous observation and data analysis study was conducted. Porous asphalt with different designed material parameters was taken into account, including thin-layer porous asphalt overlay with a maximum nominal aggregate size of 10mm (PUC-10), porous asphalt with a maximum nominal aggregate size of 13mm (PAC-13), and a two-layer porous asphalt incorporating both PUC-10 and PAC-13 (PUC-10+PAC-13). Using automated pavement technology testing equipment, key performance indexes, including damage rate (DR), rut depth (RD), international roughness index (IRI), and sideway force coefficient (SFC), were measured and calculated. The on-board sound intensity (OBSI) method was used to test noise levels in three types of porous asphalt pavement structures and on a dense graded easy compact asphalt concrete (ECA) for comparison. The progressions of the medium-term performances were analyzed according to the measured results. The correlations between tire/pavement noise levels and testing speed, testing lane, pavement structure, and road condition indicators were investigated by regression. The research results revealed that the DR and SFC of the three types of porous asphalt pavement displayed more significant attenuation in the service period, while the IRI and RD showed small changes. Among them, the SFC demonstrated significant attenuation over the first 4 years, decreasing between 13.8% and 17.0%. From the 3-7 years of operation, the transverse crack disease in porous asphalt pavement progressed rapidly. The three porous asphalt pavement structures tested exhibited commendable noise reduction capabilities. Compared to ECA, the OBSI noise levels of these structures were lower by 2.09 dB, 1.53 dB, and 2.88 dB, respectively. Compared to other pavement condition indicators, RD had a more significant impact on the OBSI value of the PUC-10 porous asphalt pavement. For the PUC-10+PAC-13 porous asphalt pavement, there was a significant linear relationship between the OBSI value and SFC, mainly due to polishing of the coarse aggregate surface. It leads to a decrease of the micro-texture, which lies in increasing tire/pavement noise at high-frequency ranges and decreasing SFC. This study will have guiding significance for the research of the attenuated law and durability improvement of porous asphalt tire/pavement noise.

A super-porous hybrid platform can offer significantly increased number of reaction sites for the analytes and thus can offer advantages in the biosensor applications. In this work, a significantly improved sensitivity and selectivity of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) cancer sensor is demonstrated by a super-porous hybrid CuO/Pt NP platform. The super-porous hybrid platform is fabricated by a physiochemical approach combining the physical vapor deposition of Pt NPs and electrochemical deposition of super-porous CuO structures by adopting a dynamic hydrogen bubble technique. Under an optimized condition, the hybrid CuO/Pt biosensor demonstrates a very high sensitivity of 2,205 µA/mM∙cm2 and a low limit of detection (LOD) of 140 nM with a wide range of H2O2 detection. This is meaningfully improved performance as compared to the CuO-based H2O2 sensors as well as to the previously reported metal oxide based H2O2 sensors. The hybrid CuO/Pt platform exhibits excellent selectivity against other interfering molecules such as glucose, fructose, dopamine, and ascorbic acid. Due to the synergetic effect of highly porous CuO structures and underlying Pt NPs, the CuO/Pt architecture offers extremely abundant active sites for the H2O2 reduction and electron transfer pathways.

Fabrics comprised of porous fibers could provide effective passive protection against chemical and biological (CB) threats whilst maintaining high air permeability (breathability). Here, we fabricate hierarchically porous fibers consisting of regenerated silk fibroin (RSF) and activated-carbon (AC) prepared through two fiber spinning techniques in combination with ice-templating – namely cryogenic solution blow spinning (Cryo-SBS) and cryogenic wet-spinning (Cryo-WS). The Cryo-WS RSF fibers had exceptionally small macropores (as low as 0.1 µm) and high specific surface areas (SSAs) of up to 79 m2 g-1. The incorporation of AC could further increase the SSA to 210 m2 g-1 (25 wt. % loading) whilst also increasing adsorption capacity for volatile organic compounds (VOCs).

In our previous study, a novel barrier processing on a porous low-dielectric constant (low-k) film was developed: an ultrathin Mn oxide on a nitrogen-stuffed porous carbon-doped organosilica film (p-SiOCH(N)) as a barrier of the Cu film was fabricated. To form a better barrier Mn₂O_3-xN film, an additional annealing at 450°C was implemented. In this study, the electrical characteristics and reliability of this integrated Cu/Mn₂O_3-xN/p-SiOCH(N)/Si structure is investigated. The proposed Cu/Mn₂O_3-xN/p-SiOCH(N)/Si capacitors exhibited poor dielectric breakdown characteristics in the as-fabricted stage, although, less degradation was found after thermal stress. Moreover, its time-dependence-dielectric-breakdown electric-field acceleration factor slightly increased after thermal stress, leading to a larger dielectric lifetime in a low electric-field as compared to other MIS capacitors. Furthermore, its Cu barrier ability under electrical or thermal stress was improved. As a consequent, the proposed Cu/Mn₂O_3-xN/p-SiCOH(N) scheme is a promising integrity for back-end-of-line interconnects.

Free vibration analysis of the porous functionally graded circular plates has been presented on the basis of classical plate theory. The three defined coupled equations of motion of the porous functionally graded circular/annular plate were decoupled to one differential equation of free transverse vibrations of plate. The one universal general solution was obtained as linear combination of the multiparametric special functions for the functionally graded circular and annular plates with even and uneven porosity distributions. The multiparametric frequency equations of functionally graded porous circular plate with diverse boundary conditions were obtained in the exact closed-form. The influences of the even and uneven distributions of porosity, power-law index, diverse boundary conditions and the negligibled effect of the coupling in-plane and transverse displacements on the dimensionless frequencies of the circular plate were comprehensively studied for the first time. The formulated boundary value problem, the exact method of solution and the numerical results for the perfect and imperfect functionally graded circular plates have not yet been reported.

Glycerol is the main residue in the biodiesel production industry; therefore, their valorisation is crucial. Acetalization of glycerol towards fuel additives as solketal (2,2-dimethyl-1,3-dioxolan-4-methanol) is of high interest, promoting circular economy since it can be added to the biodiesel or even fossil-diesel to improve their quality and efficiency. Straightforward prepared metal-organic framework (MOF) materials of MOF-808 family were applied to the valorisation of glycerol for the first time. In particular, MOF-808(Hf) revealed to be an effective heterogeneous catalyst to produce solketal under moderate conditions: small amount of the MOF material (only 4wt% of glycerol), ratio 1:6 of glycerol/acetone and temperature of 60 ºC. The high efficiency of MOF-808(Hf) was associated with the high amount of acid centres present in its structure. Furthermore, its structural characteristics such as window opening cavities size and pore diameters showed to be ideal to reuse this material during at least ten consecutive reaction cycles without losing activity (conversion &gt; 90% and selectivity &gt; 98%). Remarkably, it was not necessary the washing or other activation treatment of the MOF-808(Hf) catalyst between cycles (no pore blockage occurred) and it maintained structural integrity after the ten cycles, confirming to be a sustainable heterogeneous catalyst to the glycerol valorisation.

H-bonding, including H-bond donor (HBD) with electron-rich part of a substrate and H-bond acceptor (HBA) with electron-deficient part of a substrate, has achieved massive success. Faster transformation often correlates with more donicity of HBD. Besides the positive charge are employed to enhance the donicity of HBD, the electron withdrawing groups become a dissimilar approach for increasing the donicity of HBD. We describe newly designed H-bond donor catalysts, tris(monoalkylamino)cyclopropenium, implemented by vicinal positive charged on the cyclopropenium core. The counter anion became potential HBA to activate the electron-deficient part of a substrate. The tris(phenylamino)cyclopropenium chloride (TPAC·Cl) as a representative catalyst was applied in Friedel–Crafts alkylation of indoles with nitroalkenes. X-ray analyses of a single crystal of TPAC·Cl described the 3D architecture and the delocalized cationic charge in the solid state. Unit formal positive charge turned N–H moieties into H-bond donor (HBD) and the counter chloride anion exhibited potential H-bond acceptor (HBA). The HBD and HBA displayed cooperative organocatalysis in Friedel–Crafts alkylation of indoles with nitroalkenes. A new class of hydrogen bonding catalysis and working mechanism were proposed.

In this work Cu2O nanoparticles (NPs) were created in-situ on graphene functionalized with Thermomyces lanuginosus lipase (G@TLL) where site-oriented supported TLL acted as template and binder in the presence of copper salt by tailorable synthesis under mild conditions, producing a heterogeneous catalyst. Cu2O NPs was confirmed by XRD and XPS. The TEM microscopy showed that the nanoparticles were homogeneously distributed over the G@TLL surface with sizes of 53 nm and 165nm. This G@TLL-Cu2O hybrid was successfully used in the degradation of toxic organic compounds such as trichloroethylene (TCE) and Rhodamine B (RhB). In the case of TCE, the hybrid presented a high catalytic capacity, degrading 60 ppm of product in 60 min in aqueous solution and room temperature without the formation of other toxic subproducts. In addition, a TOF value of 7.5 times higher than the unsupported counterpart (TLL-Cu2O) was obtained, demonstrating the improved catalytic efficiency of the system in the solid-phase. The hybrid also presented an excellent catalytic performance for the degradation of Rhodamine B (RhB) obtaining a complete degradation (48ppm) in 50 min in in aqueous solution and room temperature and with the presence of a green oxidant as H2O2.

Suzuki cross-coupling reaction has developed one of the furthermost effectual approaches for the synthesis of biaryls or substituted aromatic moieties from aryl halides and arylboronic acids with a palladium-catalyst in the past two era’s. Herein, Pd-free layered double hydroxide containing nickel catalysts were prepared by co-precipitation method under ultrasonic irradiation and N2 atmosphere with different molar ratios of Ni: Mg: Al and coded as (1NiLDHs-Dr), (1.5NiLDHs-Dr) and (2NiLDHs-Dr). A series of reduced catalysts under 5%H2/N2 at different temperatures were coded as 1NiLDHs-R200, 1.5NiLDHs-R200 and 2NiLDHs-R200. As-synthesized 2NiLDHs-Dr was the superlative catalyst when coupling different aryl halides with different boronic acids derivatives. Deep investigation of all catalysts was done using different techniques such as inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES), x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), powder x-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric analyses (TGA), Fourier transfer infrared (FTIR), scanning electron microscope (SEM) connected with energy dispersive x-ray (EDX) and N2-physisorption at -196 ℃. The results attained verified that ɑ-Ni(OH)2 was fashioned for 2NiLDHs-Dr catalyst and the enclosure of nickel ions in the cationic sheet of layered structure were responsible for the fascinating catalytic efficacy rather than the basic nature of material. The Ni-containing LDHs catalysts encourage forthcoming studies in Pd-free catalyzed C-C coupling reactions.

Chitosan decorated copper nanoparticles (CS/CuNPs) catalysts were synthesized via reduction methods utilizing green protocol. The CS/CuNPs hybrid catalysts were tested for the synthesis of quinoline derivatives utilizing one-pot multicomponent reaction (MCR) under ultrasonic irradiation. The best catalyst (CS/CuNPs) that provided good conversion reaction yield and high turnover frequency (TOF) was characterized using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), Thermogravimetric analyses (TGA), X-ray diffraction (XRD), , scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscope (TEM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) techniques. Generalization of the scope of the proposed catalytic process was studied using different aldehydes. Excellent products yield and high TOF in even shorter reaction time (~5 min) was attained. Recyclability performance of the catalyst over five times re-use without detectable loss in product yield was recorded. The current method is green process utilizing environmentally benign catalyst and considered to be promising sustainable protocol for the synthesis of fine chemicals.

Anion exchange membrane (AEM) electrolysis is hampered by two main issues: stability and performance. Focusing on the latter, this work demonstrates a highly active NiMo cathode for hydrogen evolution in AEM electrolysis. We demonstrate an electrolyzer performance of 1 A cm⁻² at 1.9 V (total cell voltage) with a NiMo loading of 5 mg cm⁻² and an iridium black anode in 1 M KOH at 50 °C, that may be compared to 1.8 V for a similar cell with Pt at the cathode. The catalysts developed here will be significant in supporting the pursuit of cheap and environmentally friendly hydrogen fuel.