Transesterification of Palm-based Methyl Palmitate into Esteramine Catalyzed by Calcium Oxide Catalyst

The technology for transesterification reactions between methyl esters and alcohols is well established by using classical homogeneous alkaline catalysts, which provide high conversion of methyl esters to specialty or nonindigenous esters. However, in certain products where the purity of the esters is of concern, the removal of homogeneous catalysts after the completion of the reaction is a challenge in terms of production cost and water footprint. Therefore, a study to investigate the potential of heterogeneous catalysts was conducted on reactions between methyl palmitate and triethanolamine. The degree of basicity and active surface area of calcium oxide (CaO), zinc oxide (ZnO), and magnesium oxide (MgO) were first characterized by using temperature-programmed desorption (TPD-CO₂) and Brunauere–Emmett–Teller (BET), respectively. Among the metal oxides investigated, the CaO catalyst showed the best catalytic activity toward the transesterification process as it gave the highest conversion of methyl palmitate and yielded fatty esteramine compositions similar to the conventional homogeneous catalyst. The optimum transesterification condition by using the CaO catalyst utilized a lower vacuum system of approximately 200 mbar, which could minimize a considerable amount of energy consumption. Furthermore, low CaO dosage of 0.1% was able to give a conversion of 94.5% methyl ester and formed esteramine at 170 °C for 2 h. Therefore, the production of esterquats from esteramine may become more economically feasible through the methyl ester route by using the CaO catalyst, which can be recycled three times.     

Dielectric,ferroelectric, and energy storage properties in dysprosium doped sodium bismuth titanate ceramics

In this work, Na_0.5(Bi_1-xDy_x)_0.5TiO₃ (0?≤?x?≤?15%) ceramics were prepared via solid state reaction method and were characterized. A stable and pure perovskite phase was revealed by X-ray diffraction analysis for all compositions and a symmetry change from rhombohedral to orthorhombic phase was detected beyond 10% of Dy substitution. The incorporation of Dy³⁺ into Sodium Bismuth Titanate (Na_0.5Bi_0.5TiO₃) matrix allows a substantial decrease of the coercive field, an increase in the resistivity, and leads to a high stability of the dielectric permittivity (??/?_(150?°C) ≤?±?15%) over a wide temperature range. Furthermore, this system was found to exhibit improved energy storage properties at high temperatures with a maximum energy density of 1.2?J/cm³ obtained for 2%Dy composition at 200?°C. The obtained results are very promising for energy storage capacitors operating at high temperatures.     

On‐the‐Spot Immobilization of Quantum Dots,Graphene Oxide,and Proteins via Hydrophobins

Class I hydrophobin Vmh2, a peculiar surface active and versatile fungal protein, is known to self‐assemble into chemically stable amphiphilic films, to be able to change wettability of surfaces, and to strongly adsorb other proteins. Herein, a fast, highly homogeneous and efficient glass functionalization by spontaneous self‐assembling of Vmh2 at liquid–solid interfaces is achieved (in 2 min). The Vmh2‐coated glass slides are proven to immobilize not only proteins but also nanomaterials such as graphene oxide (GO) and quantum dots (QDs). As models, bovine serum albumin labeled with Alexa 555 fluorophore, anti‐immunoglobulin G antibodies, and cadmium telluride QDs are patterned in a microarray fashion in order to demonstrate functionality, reproducibility, and versatility of the proposed substrate. Additionally, a GO layer is effectively and homogeneously self‐assembled onto the studied functionalized surface. This approach offers a quick and simple alternative to immobilize nanomaterials and proteins, which is appealing for new bioanalytical and nanobioenabled applications.     

Preparation and temperature-resistance characteristics of novel dense SiAlCN ceramics

The compact green bodies, prepared via a novel solid-liquid mixing method of precursors, were successfully pyrolyzed to obtain the dense bulk SiAlCN ceramics at 1000 °C. It can be seen from their SEM that they have uniform and dense microstructure, indicating that this method can be used to prepare bulk ceramics. In order to verify that they can be used as sensor heads, their temperature-resistance characteristics and repeatability were tested. The results show that the conductive mechanism belongs to Arrhenius's Tailed-State and Extended-State in the temperature range of 500–650 °C and 650–930 °C, respectively. And it shows that SiAlCN ceramics can be used as the sensor heads for high-temperature sensors.     

Enhancement of thermal,mechanical, ignition and damping response of magnesium using nano-ceria particles

Magnesium (Mg)-based nanocomposites owing to their low density and biocompatibility are being targeted for transportation and biomedical sectors. In order to support a sustainable environment, the prime aim of this study was to develop non-toxic magnesium-based nanocomposites for a wide spectrum of applications. To support this objective, cerium oxide nanoparticles (0.5?vol%, 1?vol%, and 1.5?vol%) reinforced Mg composites are developed in this study using blend-press-sinter powder metallurgy technique. The microstructural studies exhibited limited amounts of porosity in Mg and Mg-CeO₂ samples (< 1%). Increasing presence of CeO₂ nanoparticles (up to 1.5?vol%) led to a progressive increase in microhardness, dimensional stability, damping capacity and ignition resistance of magnesium. The compressive strengths increased with the increasing addition of the nanoparticles with a significant enhancement in the fracture strain (up to ~48%). Superior energy absorption was observed for all the composite samples prior to compressive fracture. Further, enhancement in thermal, mechanical and damping characteristics of pure Mg is correlated with microstructural changes due to the presence of the CeO₂ nanoparticles.     

Grain size dependence of hardness in nanocrystalline silicon carbide

The response of nanocrystalline silicon carbide (nc-SiC) to nanoindentation is investigated using molecular dynamics (MD) simulation. It is found that the hardness of the nc-SiC decreases with decreasing grain size, showing an inverse Hall-Petch relationship. The behavior is primarily attributed to the reduced number of intact covalent bonds with grain refinement. Dislocation nucleation and growth in nc-SiC are strongly suppressed by the grain boundaries (GBs). In addition to the dislocation region in the grains, the indentation-induced amorphization of nanograins proceeds preferentially from the GBs, leading to grain shrinkage until the grains are fully amorphized. The results provide an improved understanding of the mechanical properties in nc-SiC and other nanostructured covalent materials.     

Comparative studies on thermal and toughness properties of polybenzoxazine composites with two functionalized graphene oxides

Abstract

Graphene oxide (GO) was functionalized by polyether amine (PEA) via two methods which were one-pot modification in acetone (GON) and two steps with the intermediate product of GOCO-Cl generated (GONS). There were more PEA successfully grafted onto GO for GONS than GON. The onset polymerization temperatures of the benzoxazine (Bz) composites decreased by the inclusion of 1?wt% of GO, GON or GONS. Thermal stability of the polybenzoxazine (PBz) composites was significantly improved indicated from the increase of weight loss temperature. T₁₀, T₂₀ and T₅₀ values of the composites with GONS were higher than that of the others. Toughness of PBzs may be enhanced by the incorporation of nanofillers, and GONS had stronger interfacial interaction with PBz matrix than GON.     

The origin of the modulated structure in Sr2CuO3+δ (δ = 0.4): [CuO2] in-plane oxygen vacancy or apical oxygen vacancy?

We propose the question of the modulated structures of copper oxide is caused by the [CuO₂] in-plane oxygen vacancy or apical oxygen vacancy. Sr₂CuO_3+δ single-crystal samples were prepared using high-temperature and high-pressure methods. The major phase of Sr₂CuO_3+δ (δ = 0.4) single-crystal system is found to be constituted by the 5 a modulated structure with the Fmmm space group, which originates from the [CuO₂] in-plane oxygen vacancy appearing in octahedral Cu-O. Besides, the presence of the [CuO₂] in-plane oxygen vacancy may obliterate the superconductivity of the system. Experimental results deduce that the oxygen vacancy may appear in the apical oxygen sites in high-temperature copper oxide superconductors.     

Tungsten(VI) oxide supported rhodium nanoparticles: Highly active catalysts in hydrogen generation from ammonia borane

Herein, we report the use of tungsten(VI) oxide (WO₃) as support for Rh⁰ nanoparticles. The resulting Rh⁰/WO₃ nanoparticles are highly active and stable catalysts in H₂ generation from the hydrolysis of ammonia borane (AB). We present the results of our investigation on the particle size distribution, catalytic activity and stability of Rh⁰/WO₃ catalysts with 0.5%, 1.0%, 2.0% wt. Rh loadings in the hydrolysis reaction. The results reveal that Rh⁰/WO₃ (0.5% wt. Rh) is very promising catalyst providing a turnover frequency of 749 min^?1 in releasing 3.0 equivalent H₂ per mole of AB from the hydrolysis at 25.0 °C. The high catalytic activity of Rh⁰/WO₃ catalyst is attributed to the reducible nature of support. The report covers the results of kinetics study as well as comparative investigation of activity, recyclability, and reusability of colloidal(0) nanoparticles and Rh⁰/WO₃ (0.5 % wt. Rh) catalyst in the hydrolysis reaction.