Journal View

N-doped Zr0₂ nanomaterials possessing heterogeneous  structure were successfully prepared by a simple mechanochemical   route. The physical  characterization  of the samples was performed  using  X-ray powder diffraction  (XRD), UV-vis diffuse  reflectance  spectroscopy (DRS), Fourier  transform infrared spectroscopy (FT- IR) and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR). The observed  results imply that intensive ball milling process had an effect on the transformation  of Zr0₂ monoclinic phase into tetragonal one. The photocatalytic reactivity of the samples was investigated for the degradation  of tetracycline hydrochloride  (TCH) in an  aqueous   solution.  In comparison  to the  nitrogen  free sample, the N-doped Zr0₂ nanostructured photocatalyst  exhibited higher photodegradation activity.

In this work, we report a green synthetic strategy to prepare silver nanoparticles by reducing silver nitrate. The environmentally benign reaction system uses water as a solvent and either D-glucose or lactose, or maltose as a metal reducing/nanoparticle stabilizing agent. A systematic experimental study on the synthesis conditions have been made in order to determine their optimal combination for the synthesis of uniform silver nanoparticles with narrow size distribution by this green route suitable for applications in medical devices and healthcare products. 

This article aims at improving the zinc electrode in terms of mechanical strength and number of cycles. An optimization of the ratio ZnO/Zn and the current collector was performed. For its evaluation impedance spectroscopy was used. The obtained results show improvement of the charge/discharge cycling in comparison with the non-optimized Zn-electrode. For the first 200 cycles the system operates without capacity change. For 800 cycles the capacity decreases with 30 %. 

Binary and ternary polymer  nanocomposites  were investigated via drop shape analysis  as well as streaming  potential. The surface properties of high density polyethylene (HDPE) composites, based on graphene nanoplatelets   (GNP) and multi-walled  carbon nanotubes  (MWCNT),  were fully characterized  via  both measurement techniques. The aim of this experimental study was to determine  the influence of two different fillers and mixture  of them onto  HDPE surface  properties  and their interphase  interactions with  the polymer.  

Nanoindentation methods as a part of contact mechanics are based on continuous measuring of the indentation depth at constant loading rate. The indentation apparatus records the load-displacement curves (indentation curves),  which  are  a  base  for  obtaining  many  indentation  mechanical  characteristics: universal hardness, Martens hardness, indentation hardness, creep behavior, indentation modulus, elastic-plastic properties etc. Now our research is focused on natural polymers, especially cellulose, including cellulose derivatives with different substituent.

In present paper the microstructure parameters of porous anodic alumina films formed by the anodizing of aluminum in the aqueous solution of malonic acid at different anodizing voltages was studied. The morphology of structured surface of aluminum film was studied using a scanning electron microscope after selective removal of anodic film. The results obtained for anodic films formed in malonic acid during anodizing in the range of 15-80 V allowed to determine that change in the interpore distance with the anodizing voltage is linear function with a slope of 1.45. The key conclusion was made that mechanical stress in anodic alumina layer is the main factor responsible for formation of the nanoporous structure of anodic alumina films.