Comparative Study of Nanostructured CuSe Semiconductor Synthesized in a Planetary and Vibratory Mill

Copper(II) selenide, CuSe was prepared from Cu and Se powders in a stoichiometric ratio by a rapid, and convenient one-step mechanochemical synthesis, after 5 and 10 min of milling in a planetary, and an industrial vibratory, mill. The kinetics of the synthesis, and the structural, morphological, optical, and electrical properties of CuSe products prepared in the two types of mill were studied. Their crystal structure, physical properties, and morphology were characterized by X-ray diffraction, specific surface area measurements, particle size distribution, scanning, and transmission electron microscopy. The products crystallized in a hexagonal crystal structure. However, a small amount of orthorhombic phase was also identified. The scanning electron microscopy revealed that both products consist of agglomerated particles of irregular shape, forming clusters with a size ~50 μm. Transmission electron microscopy proved the nanocrystalline character of the CuSe particles. The optical properties were studied using UV–Vis and photoluminescence spectroscopy. The determined band gap energies of 1.6 and 1.8 eV for the planetary- and vibratory-milled product, respectively, were blue-shifted relative to the bulk CuSe. CuSe prepared in the vibratory mill had lower resistivity and higher conductivity, which corresponds to its larger crystallite size in comparison with CuSe prepared in the planetary mill.

Energy-Saturated Materials Based on Technological Biomaterials

The article considers the problem of improving the technology of obtaining energy-saturated materials, which results in an improvement of the characteristics of energy granules. We developed a technique for pretreatment of raw matirual in a continuous mode on a vertical vibratory mill. This contributes to the production of particles of the optimal granulometric composition.

Direct Manufacture of Hydroxyapatite Scaffolds Using Blue Laser

The study deals with the direct manufacturing of hydroxyapatite scaffolds using selective polymerization of the slurry liquid phase. The bovine hydroxyapatite has great similarity with the human bone structure, making it able for a direct connection with the bone tissues. This study aims to obtain scaffolds using a new technique of rapid prototyping, obtained by polymerization of acrylic resin (liquid phase of slurry) by ultraviolet light present in a range of the band spectrum emitted by the blue laser light. Sub-micrometer hydroxyapatite was obtained by the calcination and grinding of bovine bone in a vibratory mill. Mixtures of hydroxyapatite and resin were prototyped in three-dimensional pieces and sintered afterword and subjected to blue laser emission path directed in a CNC equipment. Grounded particles obtained in the grinding vibratory mill, with equivalent diameter of 0.35 microns, were reactive enough to compensate the low green densification bellow 50 vol%. Polymerization tests realized indicated that the incidence of the laser with fluency of 170 mW.s/mm2promoted the curing of the 0.5 mm diameter pieces in depth about 0.5 mm, which allowed the prototyping of the scaffolds with sufficient mechanical strength for handling.