Journal Highlights

CO₂ capture on HKUST-1@lignin biocomposite

Brian Alexis López-Monreal, Sandra Loera-Serna

CO₂ adsorption on porous materials, such as the metal–organic framework HKUST-1, shows great promise for CO₂ capture and conversion. To mitigate limitations such as stability in aqueous media, the authors synthesized composites using HKUST-1 and lignin as a support. While the CO₂ adsorption capacity was lower compared to HKUST-1, the hydrophobicity was improved. Lignin is one of the most abundant organic polymers in the world. https://doi.org/10.1557/s43580-022-00239-w

Hydrogen adsorption in phase and grain boundaries of pearlitic steels and its effects on tensile strength

Xiaoli Wang, Yonghao Zhao, Guang Cheng, Yang Zhang, T.A. Venkatesh

Hydrogen is known to affect the mechanical properties of metallic materials. The authors investigate the role of individual microstructural features in pearlitic steel, and show that the thickness of the cementite phase and the misorientation of the ferrite grain boundaries have a significant influence on hydrogen adsorption. Using molecular dynamics simulations, they report the effects of hydrogen adsorption on phase and grain-boundary strength. https://doi.org/10.1557/s43580-022-00237-y

Composition influence on edge dislocation mobility in an FCC high-entropy alloy

Ioannis Mastorakos, Jianfeng Ma

High-entropy alloys containing multiple principal elements promise novel physical and mechanical properties. The authors show how local composition influences the mobility of edge dislocations in FeNiCrCoCu face-centered cubic (FCC) high-entropy alloys. Using molecular dynamics simulations, it is shown that the velocity of an edge dislocation is lower than in ferritic and austenitic steels and fluctuates significantly at low stresses, which is attributed to the lattice distortion. https://doi.org/10.1557/s43580-022-00284-5

Deep-learning potentials for proton transport in double-sided graphanol

Siddarth K. Achar, Leonardo Bernasconi, Juan J. Alvarez, J. Karl Johnson

There is a need to develop new materials for proton-exchange membranes that can operate at higher temperatures and low humidities. The authors developed a deep-learning potential (DP) to evaluate double-sided graphanol (DSG). Their DP is computationally efficient and has near-density functional theory accuracy. They analyzed DSG by computing phonon properties, thermal fluctuations, and self-diffusivity using their DP simulations, which indicate that DSG is a promising membrane material deserving of synthetic efforts. https://doi.org/10.1557/s43578-023-01141-3

Biomimetic scaffold development for bone tissue engineering: Cross-linking graphene with collagen to enhance mechanical strength, conductivity, and porous structure

P.N. Blessy Rebecca, D. Durgalakshmi, S. Balakumar, R. Ajay Rakkesh

The authors extract Type I collagen from fish scales and employ an electrostatic self-assembly technique to cross-link it with negatively charged graphene. This significantly enhances the mechanical strength, conductivity, and 3D porous structure of the scaffolds.The eco-friendly synthesis route establishes the hybrid 3D graphene-collagen nanocomposite scaffold as a stable material with excellent biocompatible properties in a biological medium. https://doi.org/10.1557/s43578-023-01145-z

In situ synthesis of UV-responsive mesoporous SiO₂ drug release systems using the associates of anionic drugs and cationic silica source as templates

Hanxia Tang, Yuqing Xue, Zhiming Wu, Wenqian Zhu, Fengzhu Lv, Yihe Zhang

One of the major challenges in medicine is the preparation of a controlled drug release system sensitive to environmental stimuli via a simple method. The authors study in detail the association of ibuprofen with (3-aminopropyl) triethoxysilane (APTES), followed by synthetization, in situ modification for pH and UV stimulus, and other responsiveness testing. Enlarging the particle size overcame slight particle harm. Therefore, the fabricated m-SiO₂ particles were smart drug release systems. https://doi.org/10.1557/s43578-023-01148-w