Institute of Fundamental Technological Research

Li C., Qiu T., Li C., Cheng B., Jin M., Zhou G., Giersig M., Wang X., Gao J., Akinoglu Eser M., Highly Flexible and Acid−Alkali Resistant TiN Nanomesh Transparent Electrodes for Next-Generation Optoelectronic Devices, ACS Nano, ISSN: 1936-0851, DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.3c05211 , pp.1-10, 2023

Abstract:
ransparent electrodes are vital for optoelectronic
devices, but their development has been constrained by the limitations of existing materials such as indium tin oxide (ITO) and newer alternatives. All face issues of robustness, flexibility,conductivity, and stability in harsh environments. Addressing this challenge, we developed a flexible, low-cost titanium nitride (TiN)
nanomesh transparent electrode showcasing exceptional acid−alkali resistance. The TiN nanomesh electrode, created by depositing a TiN coating on a naturally cracked gel film substrate via a sputtering method, maintains a stable electrical performance through
thousands of bending cycles. It exhibits outstanding chemical
stability, resisting strong acid and alkali corrosion, which is a key hurdle for current electrodes when in contact with acidic/alkaline materials and solvents during device fabrication. This, coupled with superior light transmission and conductivity (88% at 550 nm with a sheet resistance of ∼200 Ω/sq), challenges the reliance on conventional materials. Our TiN nanomesh electrode,successfully applied in electric heaters and electrically controlled thermochromic devices, offers broad potential beyond harsh environment applications. It enables alternative possibilities for the design and fabrication of future optoelectronics for advancements in this pivotal field.

Keywords:
transparent electrode, titanium nitride, flexible, corrosion resistant, mesh, smart window

Pokorska I., Poński M., Kubissa W., Libura T., Brodecki A., Kowalewski Z.L., Computational Fracture Evolution Analysis of Steel-Fiber-Reinforced Concrete Using Concrete Continuous Damage and Fiber Progressive Models, Materials, ISSN: 1996-1944, DOI: 10.3390/ma16165635, Vol.16, No.5635, pp.1-20, 2023

Abstract:
The process of concrete cracking is a common problem because the first micro-cracks due to the loss of moisture may appear even before the concrete is loaded. The application of fracture mechanics allows for a better understanding of this problem. Steel-fiber-reinforced concrete (SFRC) samples with a notch were subjected to a three-point bending test, and the results for crack energy were used to analyze the concrete’s material properties. In this paper, an experimental and numerical analysis of SFRC with rapid changes in the force (F) crack mouth opening displacement (CMOD) curve (F-CMOD) is presented. In order to obtain the relevant F-CMOD diagrams, three-point bending tests were carried out with non-standard samples with a thickness equal to one-third of the width of standard samples. For analysis purposes, crimped steel fibers were adopted. A probabilistic analysis of the most important parameters describing the material in question, such as peak strength, post-cracking strength, crack mouth opening displacement (CMOD), fracture energy, and the post-cracking deformation modulus, was conducted. The tests and the analysis of their results show that the quasi-static numerical method can be applied to obtain suitable results. However, significant dynamic effects during experiments that influence the F-CMOD curves are hard to reflect well in numerical calculations.

Keywords:
concrete, finite element method (FEM) simulations, steel-fiber-reinforced concrete (SFRC), crack mouth opening displacement (CMOD), steel fibers

Florek E., Witkowska M., Szukalska M., Richter M., Trzeciak T., Miechowicz I., Marszałek A., Piekoszewski W., Wyrwa Z., Giersig M., Oxidative Stress in Long-Term Exposure to Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes in Male Rats, Antioxidants, ISSN: 2076-3921, DOI: 10.3390/antiox12020464, Vol.12, No.464, pp.1-25, 2023

Abstract:

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Open AccessArticle
Oxidative Stress in Long-Term Exposure to Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes in Male Rats
by Ewa Florek
1,* [ORCID] , Marta Witkowska
2,3, Marta Szukalska
1 [ORCID] , Magdalena Richter
4 [ORCID] , Tomasz Trzeciak
4, Izabela Miechowicz
5 [ORCID] , Andrzej Marszałek
6 [ORCID] , Wojciech Piekoszewski
7 [ORCID] , Zuzanna Wyrwa
1 and Michael Giersig
3,8
1
Laboratory of Environmental Research, Department of Toxicology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 60-631 Poznan, Poland
2
Faculty of Chemistry, Adam Mickiewicz University, 61-614 Poznan, Poland
3
Centre for Advanced Technologies, Adam Mickiewicz University, 61-614 Poznan, Poland
4
Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 61-545 Poznan, Poland
5
Department of Computer Science and Statistics, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 60-806 Poznan, Poland
6
Oncologic Pathology and Prophylaxis, Greater Poland Cancer Centre, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 61-866 Poznan, Poland
7
Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Jagiellonian University, 30-387 Krakow, Poland
8
Department of Theory of Continuous Media and Nanostructures, Institute of Fundamental Technological Research, Polish Academy of Sciences, 02-106 Warsaw, Poland
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Antioxidants 2023, 12(2), 464; https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox12020464
Received: 13 December 2022 / Revised: 7 February 2023 / Accepted: 10 February 2023 / Published: 12 February 2023
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Abstract
Multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) serve as nanoparticles due to their size, and for that reason, when in contact with the biological system, they can have toxic effects. One of the main mechanisms responsible for nanotoxicity is oxidative stress resulting from the production of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS). Therefore, oxidative stress biomarkers are important tools for assessing MWCNTs toxicity. The aim of this study was to evaluate the oxidative stress of multi-walled carbon nanotubes in male rats. Our animal model studies of MWCNTs (diameter ~15–30 nm, length ~15–20 μm) include measurement of oxidative stress parameters in the body fluid and tissues of animals after long-term exposure. Rattus Norvegicus/Wistar male rats were administrated a single injection to the knee joint at three concentrations: 0.03 mg/mL, 0.25 mg/mL, and 0.5 mg/mL. The rats were euthanized 12 and 18 months post-exposure by drawing blood from the heart, and their liver and kidney tissues were removed. To evaluate toxicity, the enzymatic activity of total protein (TP), reduced glutathione (GSH), glutathione S–transferase (GST), thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC), nitric oxide (NO), and catalase (CAT) was measured and histopathological examination was conducted. Results in rat livers showed that TEAC level was decreased in rats receiving nanotubes at higher concentrations. Results in kidneys report that the level of NO showed higher concentration after long exposure, and results in animal serums showed lower levels of GSH in rats exposed to nanotubes at higher concentrations. The 18-month exposure also resulted in a statistically significant increase in GST activity in the group of rats exposed to nanotubes at higher concentrations compared to animals receiving MWCNTs at lower concentrations and compared to the control group. Therefore, an analysis of oxidative stress parameters can be a key indicator of the toxic potential of multi-walled carbon nanotubes.

Keywords:
multi-walled carbon nanotubes,oxidative stress parameters,rats,long-term toxicity

Garlinska M., Osial M., Proniewska K., Pregowska A., The Influence of Emerging Technologies on Distance Education, Electronics , ISSN: 2079-9292, DOI: 10.3390/electronics12071550, Vol.12, No.7, pp.1550-1-29, 2023

Abstract:

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Open AccessFeature PaperReview
The Influence of Emerging Technologies on Distance Education
by Magdalena Garlinska
1,†, Magdalena Osial
1 [ORCID] , Klaudia Proniewska
2,3 [ORCID] and Agnieszka Pregowska
1,*,† [ORCID]
1
Institute of Fundamental Technological Research, Polish Academy of Sciences, Pawinskiego 5B, 02-106 Warsaw, Poland
2
Center for Digital Medicine and Robotics, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Kopernika 7E Str., 31-034 Krakow, Poland
3
Department of Bioinformatics and Telemedicine, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Medyczna 7 Str., 30-688 Krakow, Poland
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
†
These authors contributed equally to this work.
Electronics 2023, 12(7), 1550; https://doi.org/10.3390/electronics12071550
Received: 17 February 2023 / Revised: 22 March 2023 / Accepted: 23 March 2023 / Published: 25 March 2023
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Feature Papers in Computer Science & Engineering)
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Abstract
Recently, during the COVID-19 pandemic, distance education became mainstream. Many students were not prepared for this situation—they lacked equipment or were not even connected to the Internet. Schools and government institutions had to react quickly to allow students to learn remotely. They had to provide students with equipment (e.g., computers, tablets, and goggles) but also provide them with access to the Internet and other necessary tools. On the other hand, teachers were trying to adopt new technologies in the teaching process to enable more interactivity, mitigate feelings of isolation and disconnection, and enhance student engagement. New technologies, including Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR), Mixed Reality (MR), Extended Reality (XR, so-called Metaverse), Big Data, Blockchain, and Free Space Optics (FSO) changed learning, teaching, and assessing. Despite that, some tools were implemented fast, and the COVID-19 pandemic was the trigger for this process; most of these technologies will be used further, even in classroom teaching in both schools and universities. This paper presents a concise review of the emerging technologies applied in distance education. The main emphasis was placed on their influence on the efficiency of the learning process and their psychological impact on users. It turned out that both students and teachers were satisfied with remote learning, while in the case of undergraduate children and high-school students, parents very often expressed their dissatisfaction. The limitation of the availability of remote learning is related to access to stable Internet and computer equipment, which turned out to be a rarity. In the current social context, the obtained results provided valuable insights into factors affecting the acceptance and emerging technologies applied in distance education. Finally, this paper suggests a research direction for the development of effective remote learning techniques.

Keywords:
distance education, artificial intelligence (AI), virtual reality, augmented reality, mixed reality, free space optics (FSO), blockchain, big data

Abramowicz M., Osial M., Urbańska W., Walicki M., Wilczewski S., Pręgowska A., Skórczewska K., Jenczyk P., Warczak M., Pisarek M., Giersig M., Upcycling of Acid-Leaching Solutions from Li-Ion Battery Waste Treatment through the Facile Synthesis of Magnetorheological Fluid, Molecules, ISSN: 1420-3049, DOI: 10.3390/molecules28062558, Vol.28, No.6, pp.2558-1-2558-16, 2023

Abstract:
The rapidly growing production and usage of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) dramatically raises the number of harmful wastes. Consequently, the LIBs waste management processes, taking into account reliability, efficiency, and sustainability criteria, became a hot issue in the context of environmental protection as well as the scarcity of metal resources. In this paper, we propose for the first time a functional material—a magnetorheological fluid (MRF) from the LIBs-based liquid waste containing heavy metal ions. At first, the spent battery waste powder was treated with acid-leaching, where the post-treatment acid-leaching solution (ALS) contained heavy metal ions including cobalt. Then, ALS was used during wet co-precipitation to obtain cobalt-doped superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) and as an effect, the harmful liquid waste was purified from cobalt. The obtained nanoparticles were characterized with SEM, TEM, XPS, and magnetometry. Subsequently, superparamagnetic nanoparticles sized 15 nm average in diameter and magnetization saturation of about 91 emu g−1 doped with Co were used to prepare the MRF that increases the viscosity by about 300% in the presence of the 100 mT magnetic fields. We propose a facile and cost-effective way to utilize harmful ALS waste and use them in the preparation of superparamagnetic particles to be used in the magnetorheological fluid. This work describes for the first time the second life of the battery waste in the MRF and a facile way to remove the harmful ingredients from the solutions obtained after the acid leaching of LIBs as an effective end-of-life option for hydrometallurgical waste utilization.

Keywords:
environment protection SPION, battery waste, toxic waste management, direct recycling, sustainability, circular economy, critical raw materials

Wilczewski S.^♦, Skórczewska K., Tomaszewska J., Osial M., Dąbrowska A., Nikiforow K., Jenczyk P., Grzywacz H., Graphene Modification by Curcuminoids as an Effective Method to Improve the Dispersion and Stability of PVC/Graphene Nanocomposites, Molecules, ISSN: 1420-3049, DOI: 10.3390/molecules28083383, Vol.28, No.8, pp.1-25, 2023

Keywords:
graphene, curcuminoids, poly(vinyl chloride), nanocomposites stability, polymer films

Dąbrowska A., Kipa S., Vasilopoulos M., Osial M., The comparative study by Raman spectroscopy of the plastic tide in the three ports of the Mediterranean Sea, Environmental Science and Pollution Research, ISSN: 1614-7499, DOI: 10.1007/s11356-023-30973-z, pp.1-13, 2023

Keywords:
Raman spectroscopy, Marine microplastics, Mediterranean Sea, Polymer leakage, Electrochemical analysis

Urbańska W., Janda A., Osial M., Słowikowski M., Sustainable Municipal Waste Management during the COVID-19 Pandemic—A Case Study of Poland, Resources , ISSN: 2079-9276, DOI: 10.3390/resources12070076, Vol.12, No.76, pp.1-16, 2023

Abstract:
With the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the waste management sector had to face new challenges, e.g., changes in the size and composition of the waste stream, or the presence of potentially infectious waste. This article is based on a case study in Poland. The data analysis showed that the increase in municipal waste mass during the pandemic did not differ from statistics observed in previous years and ranged from 0.3 to 0.5 million tons per year. Lifestyle changes caused a decrease in the amount of waste generated outside households. Social migrations contributed to rapid changes in the mass of waste generated in selected agglomerations by up to 80 kg/capita. In the waste stream,significant amounts of specific groups of waste related to the pandemic (“corona waste”) as well as
packaging and food waste were noted. Despite the pandemic, in 2020, Poland recorded an increase
in selective waste collection by 6.7 percentage points (pp.) Data on municipal waste management showed an increase in the mass of waste sent for recycling by 0.7 million tons, while the mass of landfilled waste decreased by 0.3 million tons. The observed positive changes in waste management allow the implementation of sustainable development assumptions to a greater extent.

Keywords:
municipal waste, waste management, COVID-19 pandemic, circular economy

Działak P., Syczewski Marcin D., Błachowski A., Kornaus K., Bajda T., Zych , Osial M., Borkowski A.^♦, Surface modification of magnetic nanoparticles by bacteriophages and ionic liquids precursors, RSC Advances, ISSN: 2046-2069, DOI: 10.1039/d2ra06661k, Vol.13, pp.926-936 , 2023

Abstract:
Magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) have recently been a point of interest for many researchers due to their properties. However, the studies on the influence of bacteriophages on the synthesis of MNPs seem to be lacking. Furthermore, bacteriophage-modified MNPs have not been combined with n-alkyl quaternary ammonium ionic liquid precursors (QAS). In this study, the aim was to assess the influence of two distinctly different bacteriophages (Escherichia phage P1 and Pseudomonas phage Φ6) on MNPs synthesis in the presence or absence of QAS. Synthesized MNPs have been characterized with X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Mössbauer spectroscopy in terms of changes in the crystallographic structure; scanning electron microscopy (SEM) for changes in the morphology; and ζ-potential. Moreover, the sorption parameters and the loss of viability of bacteria that interacted with MNPs have been determined. The sorption of bacteria differs significantly among the tested samples. Furthermore, the viability of the bacteria adsorbed on MNPs varies in the presence of QAS, depending on the length of the n-alkyl chain. The study has revealed that MNPs can be bound with bacteriophages. Mössbauer spectroscopy has also revealed the probable influence of bacteriophages on the formation of crystals. However, these phenomena require further studies.

Do Thi H., Nguyen Thu P., Pham Xuan C., Nguyen Hong N., Le Phuong T., Nguyen Thi Thu T., Nguyen Thi T., Pham Thi N., Osial M., Dinh Thi Mai T., Hydroxyapatite/superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles nanocomposite for Congo red adsorption, Desalination and Water Treatment, ISSN: 1944-3994, DOI: 10.5004/dwt.2023.29630, pp.1-15, 2023

Keywords:
Superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles/hydroxyapatite (SPION/HAp), Magnetic nanoparticles, Apatite ore, Adsorption, Congo red, Wastewater treatment

Pietrzyk-Thel P., Osial M., Pręgowska A., Abramowicz M., Nguyen Thu P., Urbańska W., Giersig M., SPIONs doped with cobalt from the Li-ion battery acid leaching waste as a photocatalyst for tetracycline degradation - synthesis, characterization, DFT studies, and antibiotic treatment, Desalination and Water Treatment, ISSN: 1944-3994, DOI: 10.5004/dwt.2023.29795, Vol.305, pp.155-173, 2023

Keywords:
Spent lithium-ion batteries, LiBs, Acid leaching, SPION, Magnetic nanomaterials, Metals recovery, Superparamagnetic, Waste management, Functional materials

Osial M., Pregowska A., Warczak M., Giersig M., Magnetorheological fluids: A concise review of composition, physicochemical properties, and models, JOURNAL OF INTELLIGENT MATERIAL SYSTEMS AND STRUCTURES, ISSN: 1045-389X, DOI: 10.1177/1045389X231157357, pp.1-21, 2023

Keywords:
Magnetorheological Fluids (MRF), rheology, smart materials, intelligent fluid, functional materials

Krajewski M., Pietrzyk P., Osial M., Liou S., Kubacki J., Iron–Iron Oxide Core–Shell Nanochains as High-Performance Adsorbents of Crystal Violet and Congo Red Dyes from Aqueous Solutions, LANGMUIR, ISSN: 0743-7463, DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.3c00967, Vol.39, No.23, pp.8367-8377, 2023

Abstract:
The main aim of this work was to use the iron–iron oxide nanochains (Fe NCs) as adsorbents of the carcinogenic cationic crystal violet (CV) and anionic Congo red (CR) dyes from water. The investigated adsorbent was prepared by a magnetic-field-induced reduction reaction, and it revealed a typical core–shell structure. It was composed of an iron core covered by a thin Fe3O4 shell (<4 nm). The adsorption measurements conducted with UV–vis spectroscopy revealed that 15 mg of Fe NCs constituted an efficient dose to be used in the CV and CR treatment. The highest effectiveness of CV and CR removal was found for a contact time of 90 min at pH 7 and 150 min at pH 8, respectively. Kinetic studies indicated that the adsorption followed the pseudo-first-order kinetic model. The adsorption process followed the Temkin model for both dyes taking into account the highest value of the R2 coefficient, whereas in the case of CR, the Redlich–Peterson model could be also considered. The maximal adsorption capacity estimated from the Langmuir isotherms for the CV and CR was 778.47 and 348.46 mg g–1, respectively. Based on the Freundlich model, both dyes adsorbed on the Fe NCs through chemisorption, but Coulombic interactions between the dye and adsorbent cannot be excluded in the case of the CV dye. The obtained results proved that the investigated Fe NCs had an excellent adsorption ability for both dye molecules within five cycles of adsorption/desorption, and therefore, they can be considered as a promising material for water purification and environmental applications.

Cheng B., Qiu T., Jin M., Zhou G., Giersig M., Wang X., Akinoglu Eser M., Spreading Solution Additives Governs the Quality of Polystyrene Particle-Based Two-Dimensional Opals, LANGMUIR, ISSN: 0743-7463, DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.3c00418, Vol.39, pp.8996-9006, 2023

Abstract:
wo-dimensional polystyrene sphere opals are important materials for nanotechnology applications and funda-
mental nanoscience research. They are a facile and inexpensive nanofabrication tool, but the quality factor of these opals has drastic differences between reports. Additives like ethanol, ions, and organic molecules in the aqueous particle spreading solution are known to affect the quality factor and growth efficiency of the
produced opals. However, a systematic study on the effect and optimization of some of the most effective additives has not been reported until now. Here, we investigate the influence of additives on the growth efficiency and quality factor of such monolayers formed at the air−water interface without the use of a Langmuir−Blodgett trough. The additives induced large variations in the monolayer quality factor and growth efficiency, and we found that the ideal additive content of the spreading agents is 30 wt % < cethanol < 70 wt %, 0 < cHd 2SOd 4 < 30.5 mM, and 0 < csty < 255.0 mM. This study provides a guideline for the rational composition and additive content of the spreading solution to obtain high-quality two-dimensional opals for further applications in nanofabrication and photonics and will enable researchers and application engineers to produce standardized nanofabrication materials.

Siekierka P., Makarewicz E., Wilczewski S.^♦, Lewandowski K., Skórczewska K., Mirowski J., Osial M., Composite of Poly(Vinyl Chloride) Plastisol and Wood Flour as a Potential Coating Material, Coatings, ISSN: 2079-6412, DOI: 10.3390/coatings13111892, Vol.13, No.1892, pp.1-19, 2023

Keywords:
poly(vinyl chloride) plastisol, wood flour, polymer-wood composite film

Olusegun S., Osial M., Majkowska-Pilip A., Żelechowska-Matysiak K., Nieciecka D., Krajewski M.^♦, Pękała M., Krysiński P., Synthesis and characterization of Sr2+ and Gd3+ doped magnetite nanoparticles for magnetic hyperthermia and drug delivery application, CERAMICS INTERNATIONAL, ISSN: 0272-8842, DOI: 10.1016/j.ceramint.2023.03.102, pp.1-10, 2023

Abstract:
Commendable efforts have been gingered towards the fight against cancer. Nevertheless, it remains a major public health concern due to its predominant cause of death globally. Given this, we synthesized two different nanoparticles, Sr2+ and Gd3+ doped magnetite for magnetic hyperthermia and drug delivery application. Based on the characterization, the diffractogram shows that only one phase related to magnetite with a crystallite size of 10 nm was formed. TEM images revealed nanoparticles of spherical shapes of approximately 12 nm. There is no difference in magnetic saturation of the as-received synthesized samples (Fe3O4@Sr and Fe3O4@Gd), while the BET-specific surface area of Fe3O4@Gd is 8 m2 g−1 higher than Fe3O4@Sr. The heat generation in alternating magnetic field (the magnetic hyperthermia) of Fe3O4@Sr functionalized with citric acid and loaded with 5- fluorouracil (Fe3O4@Sr@CA@5-flu) is slower than Fe3O4@Gd@CA@5-flu. The specific absorption rate (SAR) of Fe3O4@Gd@CA@5-flu, 112.0 ± 10.4 W g−1 was found to be higher than that of Fe3O4@Sr@CA@5-flu. The thermogram shows that 11% of the drug was successfully loaded on Fe3O4@Gd@CA@5-flu. The release of the antitumor drug by the synthesized nanoparticle drug carriers for ovarian cancer (SKOV-3 cells) therapy showed that more than 50% of the cancer cell’s viability was reduced after 72 h of incubation. The synthesized nanoparticles demonstrated a promising drug carrier for the treatment of SKOV-3 cells.

Nguyen Phuong T., Wilczewski S.^♦, Lewandowski J.^♦, Majkowska-Pilip A., Żelechowska-Matysiak K., Nieciecka D., Studziński W., Olusegun Joseph S., Syczewski M., Giersig M., Dinh Thi Mai T., Krysiński P., Osial M., 5-fluorouracil and curcuminoids extract from Curcuma longa L. loaded into nanohydroxyapatite as a drug delivery carrier for SKOV-3 and HepG2 cancer cells treatment, CERAMICS INTERNATIONAL, ISSN: 0272-8842, DOI: 10.1016/j.ceramint.2023.05.123, pp.1-13, 2023

Keywords:
Drug delivery, Hydroxyapatite, Anticancer, 5-fluorouracil, Curcuminoids, Nanocomposite

Misztal-Faraj B., Jarecki L., Pęcherski R. B., Modeling of the kinetics of polymorphic isothermal crystallization of poly (L-lactide) subjected to uniaxial molecular orientation, POLYMER, ISSN: 0032-3861, DOI: 10.1016/j.polymer.2023.126126, Vol.281, pp.126126-1-17, 2023

Abstract:
Kinetic model of polymorphic crystallization of uniaxially oriented amorphous poly(L-lactide) under isothermal conditions is formulated basing on the Hoffman-Lauritzen theory. Entire ranges of the crystallization temperatures and amorphous orientation factor are considered. The inverse transformation half-times of the amorphous phase to the individual polymorphs, between the unstable α’ and stable α polymorphs, as well as of the overall crystallization are discussed. The kinetic effects are assigned to the decrease in the amorphous phase entropy caused by deformation and orientation of the flexible chain macromolecules. The model predicts that crystallization to the stable α form is controlled by the rate of transformation of the amorphous phase to α’ Concentration of heterogeneous nuclei typical for commercial polymer is assumed and in this case the role of homogeneous nucleation in the transformation kinetics is negligible. The role of homogeneous ucleation at different hypothetical concentrations of heterogeneous nuclei is estimated vs. the Hermans amorphous orientation factor and crystallization temperature. Ranges of domination of heterogeneous and homogeneous nucleation are predicted as dependent on the heterogeneous nuclei concentration. The increase of the overall oriented crystallization rate is predicted for the entire crystallization temperature range as resulting from the increase of the amorphous-to-α′ transformation rate at increasing amorphous orientation. The model provides a view on the mechanisms for possible control of the development of α’/α composition by adjusting the crystallization time vs. orientation and temperature. composition by adjusting the crystallization time vs. orientation and temperature.

Keywords:
Modeling and simulation, Oriented crystallization

Manecka-Padaż A., Jenczyk P., Pęcherski R., Nykiel A., Experimental investigation of Euler’s elastica: in-situ SEM nanowire post-buckling, BULLETIN OF THE POLISH ACADEMY OF SCIENCES: TECHNICAL SCIENCES, ISSN: 0239-7528, DOI: 10.24425/bpasts.2022.143648, Vol.70(6), No.e143648, pp.1-6, 2023

Abstract:
An in-situ nanoindenter with a flat tip was employed to conduct buckling tests of a single nanowire with simultaneous SEM imaging. A series of SEM images allowed us to calculate deflection. The deflection was confronted with the mathematical model of elastica. The post-buckling behaviour of nanowires is conducted in the framework of the nonlinear elasticity theory. Results show the significant effect of geometrical parameters on the stability of buckled nanowires.

Keywords:
post-buckling, nanowire, nanomechanics

Kowalczuk W., Mladenov I.M., Comparison of main geometric characteristics of deformed sphere and standard spheroid, BULLETIN OF THE POLISH ACADEMY OF SCIENCES: TECHNICAL SCIENCES, ISSN: 0239-7528, DOI: 10.24425/bpasts.2023.147058, pp.1-8, 2023

Abstract:
Here we compare the geometric descriptions of the deformed sphere (i.e., the so-called λ-sphere) and the standard spheroid (namely, World Geodetic System 1984’s reference ellipsoid of revolution). Among the main geometric characteristics of those two surfaces of revolution embedded into the three-dimensional Euclidean space we consider the semi-major (equatorial) and semi-minor (polar) axes, quartermeridian length, surface area, volume, sphericity index, and tipping (bifurcation) point for geodesics. Next, the RMS (Root Mean Square) error is defined as the square-rooted arithmetic mean of the squared relative errors for the individual pairs of the discussed six main geometric characteristics. As a result of the process of minimization of the RMS error, we have obtained the proposition of the optimized value of the deformation parameter of the λ-sphere, for which we have calculated the absolute and relative errors for the individual pairs of the discussed main geometric characteristics of λ-sphere and standard spheroid (the relative errors are of the order of 10−6 – 10−9). Among others, it turns out that the value of the flattening factor of the spheroid is quite a good approximation for the corresponding value of the deformation parameter of the λ-sphere (the relative error is of the order of 10−4).

Keywords:
deformed sphere, standard spheroid, sphericity index, tipping (bifurcation) point for geodesics, elliptic integrals and functions

Grigoryan N., Roszkiewicz A., Chudziński P., Generalizing Fowler–Nordheim Tunneling Theory for an Arbitrary Power Law Barrier, Physica Status Solidi B, ISSN: 1521-3951, DOI: 10.1002/pssb.202200599, Vol.2200599, pp.1-10, 2023

Abstract:
Herein, the canonical Fowler–Nordheim theory is extended by computing the zero-temperature transmission probability for the more general case of a barrier described by a fractional power law. An exact analytical formula is derived, written in terms of Gauss hypergeometric functions, that fully capture the transmission probability for this generalized problem, including screened interaction with the image potential. First, the quality of approximation against the so far most advanced formulation of Fowler–Nordheim, where the transmission is given in terms of elliptic integrals, is benchmarked. In the following, as the barrier is given by a power law, in detail, the dependence of the transmission probability on the exponent of the power law is analyzed. The formalism is compared with results of numerical calculations and its possible experimental relevance is discussed. Finally, it is discussed how the presented solution can be linked in some specific cases with an exact quantum-mechanical solution of the quantum well problem.

Nguyen Phuong T., Nguyen Hong N., Cao Hong T., Dang Dac Vu Q., Le Phuong T., Do Hai T., Osial M., Giersig M., Dinh Thanh Thi M., Apatite Ore-based Nanostructures: Novel and Eco-friendly Sorbent for Efficient Removal of Wastewater Containing Pb2+ and Fe3+, Water, Air, & Soil Pollution , ISSN: 1573-2932, DOI: 10.1007/s11270-023-06547-7, Vol.234, No.550, pp.1-18, 2023

Keywords:
Nanostructural hydroxyapatite, Apatite ore, Wastewater treatment, Heavy metal ions removal, Novel eco-friendly adsorbent, Adsorption

Li C., Qiu T., Zhou G., Giersig M., Wang X., Akinoglu Eser M., Oxygen plasma induced solvent resistance of polystyrene particles enables the fabrication of ultra-thin free-standing crosslinked polymer films, Surfaces and Interfaces, ISSN: 2468-0230, DOI: 10.1016/j.surfin.2023.103164, Vol.41, No.103164, pp.1-9, 2023

Abstract:
Plasma-treated polystyrene particles (PSP) are key building blocks in the fabrication of two- dimensional
nanostructure arrays. Oxygen plasma etching can shrink PS particles and is a widespread tool in fundamental
research and applications, but its effect has not been well understood. Here, we show that oxygen plasma induces
an ultra-thin cross-linking layer on the surface of the PSPs, which increases their solvent resistance. We found in
X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) fine structure and valence band probing that the polymer C–C bonds are breaking and ecombining to form oxygenated functional groups. Our results explain, why oxygen plasma etched PS particles are more difficult to dissolve in nanofabrication procedures. Further, we used the ultra-thin crosslinked polymer layer to construct novel substrate-base microcavity arrays.

Keywords:
Polystyrene particle, Oxygen plasma, Cross-linking

Kowalczuk W., Mladenov I.M., Explicit solutions for geodetic problems on the deformed sphere as reference model for the geoid, Geometry, Integrability and Quantization, ISSN: 1314-3247, DOI: 10.7546/giq-25-2023-73-94, Vol.25, pp.1-23, 2023

Abstract:
In this article, we consider deformed spheres as a new reference model for the geoid, alternatively to the classical ellipsoidal one. The parametrization of deformed spheres is furnished through the incomplete elliptic integrals. From the other side, the solutions for geodesics on those surfaces are given entirely via elementary analytical functions, contrary to the case of ellipsoids of revolution. We explicitly described algorithms (all necessary computational steps) for the solution of the direct and inverse geodetic problems on the deformed spheres. Finally, we presented a few illustrative numerical solutions of the inverse geodetic problems for two conceptual cases of near and far points. It had turned out that even in the non-optimized case we obtained the good agreement with the predictions of the World Geodetic System 1984’s ellipsoidal reference model.

Keywords:
deformed spheres, direct and inverse geodetic problems, geodesy and navigation problems, reference models for geoid, World Geodetic System 1984

Kowalczuk W., Pulov V., Mladenov I.M., Mylar Balloon and Associated Geometro-Mechanical Moments, Mathematics, ISSN: 2227-7390, DOI: 10.3390/math11122646, Vol.11, No.12, pp.2646-1-13, 2023

Abstract:
Starting with identifications of the very fundamental geometric characteristics of a Mylar balloon such as the profile curve, height, volume, arclength, surface area, crimping factor, etc., using the geometrical moments

Keywords:
solid and hollow Mylar balloons, crimping factor, geometro-mechanical moments, recursive relations, elliptic integrals and functions, gamma functions, Gauss’s and lemniscate constants