Effect of Crystalline Microstructure Evolution on Thermoelectric Performance of PEDOT : PSS Films

Although organic polymer thermoelectric (TE) materials have witnessed explosive advances in the recent decade, the molecular mechanism of crystallization engineering of TE performance, even for the most successful polymer of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) : poly(styrene sulfonate) (PEDOT : PSS), is still far from clear. Here, we deepen the understanding of the role of annealing-induced crystalline microstructure evolution on TE performance of the PEDOT : PSS film with thickness of 10 μm, which is usually more effective than thin ones in applications. Annealed at optimized temperature of 220°C, the film displays a power factor of 162.5 times of that of the pristine film before annealing. The enhanced TE performance is associated with the changes of crystallographic and morphologic microstructures, including increased crystallinity and crystal grain size, a domain morphology transformation from granular to crystalline nanofibril, and reduced insulating PSS in the skin layer. These variances facilitate the carrier transport by a transition from 3D to 1D hopping, reduce the activation energy, and improve the carrier mobility. The mechanism of crystallization engineering reported here can be conceptually extended to other TE polymers and guides the future rational design of preparation principles for organic and composite TE materials.

Physicochemical and Antibacterial Properties of Novel, Premixed Calcium Silicate-Based Sealer Compared to Powder–Liquid Bioceramic Sealer

The aim of this study was to compare the physicochemical properties, filling ability, and antibacterial activity of a premixed calcium silicate-based sealer to those of a powder–liquid bioceramic sealer. Ceraseal (CS) and BioRoot (BR) materials were analyzed using scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy at 7 and 14 d of immersion in distilled water. The filling ability of the two sealers as well as the water contact angle, solubility, flow, roughness, crystalline microstructure, pH, and compressive strength were also evaluated. The antibacterial activity was assessed through an agar diffusion as well as through direct tests. All the results were statistically analyzed using one-way or two-way analysis of variance tests. Statistically significant lower void percentages were observed for CS at 2 and 8 mm from the working length (WL) compared to those for the BR group, whilst no significant difference was observed at 5 mm from the WL. BR sealer showed higher alkaline pH, rougher surface, lower water contact angle values, lower flowability, and higher solubility compared to CS. BR showed globular and needle-like crystalline microstructure, whilst CS had globular and flower-like crystalline microstructure up to 72 h. No statistical difference was found for the compressive strength between the two sealers. BR and CS showed no antibacterial effect against Enterococcus faecalis after 3 h, whilst both sealers showed antibacterial capacity after 24 and 72 h. BR demonstrated higher antibacterial activity after 24 h. In conclusion, the use of bioceramic sealers may play an important role in controlling bacterial growth. Moreover, CS may have superior filling ability and lower solubility than the BioRoot sealer due to its specific chemical composition and mixing method.

Influence of polyfunctional nanomodificators on the microstructure of concrete composites of high strength and density

The patterns of formation of highly functional concretes structure, which consist in formation of an ordered, low-porous, fine-crystalline microstructure of cementitious matrix, in particular due to pozzolanic reactions of the non-clinker part of the binder with formation of an additional amount of low-basic hydrocarbons, are investigated.

Microstructural and thermal characteristics of the sintered Al-Fe2O3 composites

This work has as an objective a study of evolution of characteristic properties of crystalline microstructure and mechanical hardening of aluminum by iron oxide (III), (hematite α-Fe2O3) nan energetic material known as thermite, samples of massive alloys, Al (base)-X wt% Fe2O3 (X =2, 4, 16 and 40) were studied.Al-Fe2O3 composite was developed by a sintering technique from the mixtures of compacted powders of Al high purity and α-Fe2O3 under a temperature of 700 °C for 1 hour and then slowly cooled. We have not noted the formation of thermite as foreseen by the chemical reaction due to the mixture of aluminum with hematite. The evolution of crystalline microstructures and the morphologies of surface were determined by means of X-ray diffraction, thermal analysis and optical metallography. The mechanical behavior was characterized by the tests of Vickers indentation and corrosion resistance by electrochemical tests.

Synthesis of Mg-Ferrite nanoparticles via auto combustion method and investigation their structural, morphological and magnetic properties

Magnesium ferrite (MgFe2O4) nanoparticles is prepared by sol-gel auto combustion method and calcinated at (200,450, 900) °C. The capping agent was urea and (Mg(NO3)2.6H2O) and (Fe(NO3)3.9H2O) nitrates as sources of metal. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) characteristic show clear modes of the cubic Mg-ferrite structure formation. Infrared spectrum of metal-oxygen vibration at (703-636) and (574-433) cm−1 show the tetrahedral and octahedral site of Mg-ferrite structure. Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) images shown pure crystalline microstructure with polyhedral shapes and very small numbers of globular small particles. The crystallite size of Mg-ferrite is calculated using Debye-Scherrer relation and was in the range of 29 nm. http://dx.doi.org/10.25130/tjps.24.2019.129

Production of mullite‒TiC‒с-BN‒с-ZrO2-materials by the method of plasma-spark sintering and their properties

The effect of different с-BN and с-ZrO2 ratios on the phase composition, microstructure, relative density, open porosity, linear shrinkage, physicomechanical properties, and linear correlation of the elastic modulus and toughness of samples during plasma-spark sintering at pressing load 70 MPa in the range of 1200‒1600 °C is shown. The synthesized powders of TiC, c-BN and c-ZrO2, sintered at 1400 °C by the plasma-spark method, are characterized by intense crystallization of the phases. Sintered samples with different ratios of c-BN and c-ZrO2 show the intensive development of mullite and TiC. An increase in the c-BN / c-ZrO2 ratio promotes an active increase in c-BN and a less intensive increase in с-ZrO2 in the range of 1200‒1600 °C, and it causes the formation of a less uniform and densely sintered crystalline microstructure with a large number of pores at 1500 °C. This sample has lower values of physical and mechanical properties and a lower linear correlation of the modulus of elasticity and toughness in the range of 1200‒1600 °C and lower crack resistance at 1500 °C. Ill. 9. Ref. 13. Tab. 1.