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At elevated operating temperatures, a large temperature gradient can cause irreparable damage to the solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) stack, eventually interrupting the durability of the stack. Metal substrate support could be used to overcome this challenge. However, the application of metal substrate support poses various challenges such as different thermal expansion coefficients, pore diameters, and complex fabrication techniques. Therefore, a first-ever novel and mechanically strong ferritic stainless-steel metal mesh-supported SOFC design is developed to mitigate these challenges. The metal mesh of 200 μm thickness is laminated with tape-casted green films of anode-support, anode functional layer (AFL), and electrolyte films of SOFC. The iso-static pressure of 300 MPa exhibits a firm attachment of the green films of SOFC with the metal mesh. Subsequently, the metal mesh-supported planar SOFC exhibits 3.3 times higher flexural strength compared to the conventional commercial anode-supported planar SOFC. The nano-CuO is added to constituent layers as a sintering aid to attain the maximum density at a lower sintering temperature of 1100 °C. The result shows that the practical application of the metal mesh-supported cell technology has a great potential to overwhelm the mechanical durability of SOFCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Synergy inhibition of wire mesh and spray mist on syngas explosion was researched. The correspondence between the explosion parameters under success and failure conditions were analyzed, and its influence regular and inhibition mechanism were revealed. An evident difference appeared in the correspondence at different synergy results. Compared with the failure, the pressure of lower end only experienced an acceleration rise under the success condition although the propagation velocity of flame was slightly increased as it approached wire mesh. Corresponding pressure was also reduced. After passing through wire mesh, flame propagation was evidently accelerated due to the turbulence disturbance caused by wire mesh despite the strong endothermic effect of mist. The corresponding explosion reaction rate was also increased. Pressures of two ends did not appear obvious change under the success condition, but the pressure of upper end was evidently reduced compared with the failure. Due to the combined effect of wire mesh disturbance and mist heat absorption, the velocity history showed a change of increasing firstly and then decreasing as the spray time increased after passing through wire mesh. The synergy inhibition was attributed to the combined physical and chemical effects, and was related to the syngas concentration and spray amount. [Display omitted] • Synergy effect of resistance/inhibition on protection of gas explosion was studied. • Correspondence between explosion parameter during success and failure was clarified. • Effects of mist amount and syngas concentration on explosion parameter were grasped. • Critical value of synergy effect for complete inhibition of explosion was proposed. • Effective engineering guidance was proposed and its synergy mechanism was revealed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oil-water separation by gravity has been introduced as an effective water purification technique. However, traditional materials such as metal mesh and polymer braid are challenging to utilize in harsh water environments. In this work, ceramic fiber braids with excellent chemical and thermal stability were fabricated and used for oil-water separation. Needle-like mullite whiskers with length of ∼100 nm was in-situ grown on the surface of the fibers using gas phase reaction which could significantly increase the surface roughness of ceramic fibers. The ceramic fiber was successfully converted to hydrophobic structure with water contact angle of 159.4° ± 1.9° and sliding angle of 8.8° ± 2.0°. The excellent structural stability and oil water separation performance confirm the wide range applications of the hydrophobic ceramic fiber braids in harsh water environments. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydrogel, a common hydrophilic material, is often used in wastewater treatment. In order to expand the application of hydrogel in superhydrophilic coatings, we chose acrylic acid (AA) and methacryloyloyloxy ethyltrimethylammonium chloride (DMC), two chemical materials commonly used in wastewater treatment, and semi-interpenetrating networks (semi-IPN) based on the metal mesh structure were successfully polymerization, and a superhydrophilic membrane (PAA/PDMC@SSM(stainless steel mesh)) was prepared. The membrane ensures the efficient separation of different types of oil-water mixtures under high flux conditions (up to 99 % separation efficiency) and the effective removal of oil from water-in-oil emulsions. This green polymer material can be used for efficient oil-water separation as well as separation of water-in-oil emulsions (separation efficiency close to 98 %). In order to prevent microorganisms from clogging the separation membrane during wastewater treatment, it was tested for E. coli with 99 % inhibition. PAA/PDMC@SSM was found to be acid-resistant, durable and self-cleaning for viscous oils. [Display omitted] • Successfully crosslinked PDMC to form a semi-IPN network. • High throughput and efficient oil/water separation. • Organic-inorganic composite film with both oil and acid resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• RGO layer composite Cu/Ag metal mesh transparent heater (TH) was prepared. • The RGO/mesh composite structure showed a sheet resistance as low as 1.45 Ω/sq. • A temperature of 150 ℃ was achieved by applying a voltage of 1.8 V to the TH. • It exhibited excellent heating performance and temperature uniformity. A novel transparent heater (TH) composed of reduced graphene oxide (RGO)/metal mesh with enhanced heating performance and temperature uniformity, was prepared by thermal reduction in a tube furnace. The synergistic effect between the RGO layer and Cu/Ag mesh effectively improved the electrical properties of the RGO/mesh composite structure. Consequently, the TH demonstrated an efficient electrothermal performance (stable response temperature of 150 °C at 1.8 V) and more uniform surface temperature distribution. This work contributes to the development of composite TH devices for practical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• 3D hierarchical TiO 2 microspheres (TMS) grown on Ti mesh to yield TMS-Ti photoelectrodes for PEC water splitting. • The photoanodic behaviour of 3D TiO 2 microspheres Ti mesh was investigated in water splitting. • Highly ordered TiO 2 microspheres were grown on the round surface of woven Ti wires. • The original Ti mesh with the macroporosity (due to the 15 % open area of the mesh) improve mass diffusion of the electrolyte. • The density and sized of TiO 2 microspheres influence the photocatalytic activity. Much attention has been focused on the fabrication of TiO 2 microspheres due to their excellent properties and attractive potential in many fields. Here, undoped 3D hierarchical TiO 2 microspheres (TMS) were synthesized in situ on Ti mesh using a hydrothermal method by varying NaOH concentration, reaction time and temperature. The 3D TMS grown along the surface of the woven wires of the Ti meshes, using the metal Ti meshes as a substrate, which resulted in improved conductivity. Meanwhile, the original Ti mesh with the macroporosity (due to the 15 % open area of the mesh) can act as fast proton mass diffusion. As a result, the flexible TMS-Ti photoelectrodes exhibit an excellent current density of 1.63 mA/cm2 at a potential of 1.23 V (vs Ag/AgCl). Therefore, the in situ synthesis of TiO 2 microspheres on Ti mesh is highly desirable for flexible devices. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Overview of mechanisms of oil–water separation by metal mesh membrane. • Review of pore size, wettability, etc. on membrane fouling prevention and cleaning. • Focus on rough structures and chemical composition to improve membrane stability. • Discussion of future research on Janus smart materials. Super-wettable metal mesh membranes are subject to decreased fouling resistance owing to extended operating times, increased filtration times, and decreased stability caused by harsh conditions such as strong acids, strong bases, and high salt concentrations. Hence, enhancing fouling resistance and stability is essential for their use in practical industrial applications. This review focuses on tuning strategies and modification methods for enhancing the fouling resistance and stability of metal mesh membranes. It also proposes strategies for preventing membrane fouling, including the selection of a suitable membrane pore size, construction of hydrophilic membranes, regulation of surface charge, and removal of surfactants. It then summarizes fouling-membrane cleaning methods of physical cleaning, chemical cleaning, and the control of operating conditions. Finally, this review discusses future research on Janus smart materials to enhance the fouling resistance and stability of metal mesh membranes, thereby providing a feasible basis for the modification of super-wettable metal mesh membranes with high fouling resistance and stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to study the effect of different surface protection components, such as Thin Spray-on Liner (TSL), in the support system of prestressed bolts on the critical rock mass, based on the similarity theory, physical modeling tests were designed and carried out for the support of the critical rock mass by the combination of NPR bolts and PR bolts with three types of surface protection components, such as TSL, sprayed concrete, and metal mesh, respectively. The test results show that the three types of surface protection components can significantly increase the threshold value of crack development of the critical rock specimen and effectively improve the peak bearing capacity of the critical rock body, and at the same time, the NPR bolts with higher strength and elongation have a more significant effect on the improvement of the peak bearing capacity of the critical rock specimen. In addition, TSL and spray-mixed support and specimen surface can realize close fit, in the loading of the early support response is more timely, in the late loading, compared with the spray-mixed material in the rupture of debris collapse, TSL in the occurrence of tearing can still be tightly adhered to the specimen proximity surface of the rock specimen, to prevent specimen debris fall. For the phenomenon of TSL coating rupture in the experiments, the energy balance equation was established to analyze the connection between the actual energy absorption effect and the theoretical value of the combination of TSL and bolts under the pre-stressed bolts support system, and it was found that the combination of pre-stressed bolts and TSL greatly improved the actual energy absorption effect of the support system as a whole, and the analytical results of the various experimental subgroups showed better results than the theoretical values. The analysis results of the subgroups show a good fit. • TSL enhances the bearing capacity of rock by closely fitting to rock surfaces. • TSL support increases peak bearing capacity by up to 45.4 % under NPR bolts. • TSL prevents debris fallout by maintaining adhesion even during tearing. • TSL demonstrates superior energy absorption, strengthening rock deformation resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Selective superwetting surfaces preserve the opposite superwetting properties of oil and water and have attracted considerable attention for their application in oil-water separation owing to their efficient surface energy since 2000. Among these surfaces, superoleophobic/superhydrophilic surfaces are considered remarkable because of their anti-oil properties. The coexistence of superoleophobicity and superhydrophilicity poses a challenge based on the traditional surface/interface theory. However, the fabrication of superoleophobic surfaces requires extremely low surface energy, which is achieved by introducing compounds with long fluorocarbon chains. However, these compounds are harmful to the environment. Herein, a mesh with superoleophobic/superhydrophilic properties was developed by coating a chemically etched copper mesh substrate with photopolymerized short fluorocarbon chains and water-insoluble hydrophilic monomers. This mesh can separate different types of oil-water mixtures with a separation efficiency of >99 %. The mesh demonstrated excellent underwater stability as well as chemical and mechanical durability. The water resistance and chemical durability of the mesh are stronger than those of the control copper mesh using metal ions and long fluorocarbon chains. Moreover, oil-water separation was achieved even after immersion in deionized water and salt, acid, and alkali solutions. In addition, the mesh preserves the ability of oil-water separation after being cleaned and reused for 10 times. The proposed superoleophobic/superhydrophilic mesh offers a solution for continuous oil-water separation and has prospects for developing anti-fouling/sweat-absorbing fabrics and self-cleaning surfaces. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• New composite photocatalysts based on Bi 2 W 1-x Mo x O 6 (x = 0, 0.5, 1) powders deposited on a metal mesh and PMMA have been obtained. • A comparative study of their photocatalytic activity was carried out. • The mechanism of MB photooxidation has been studied, the main radical species have been identified. • A pathway for the decomposition of methylene blue has been proposed. New photocatalytic materials based on complex oxides and widely used and cheap carriers (stainless steel mesh and PMMA) have been prepared. The Bi 2 W 1-x Mo x O 6 (x = 0, 0.5, 1) powders were applied on the carrier surface using hydrothermal conditions and melting. The optimal way of the special pre-treatment for stainless steel mesh has been developed. The surface of the PMMA glass was softened to introduce powder particles into it. The morphology and elemental composition of materials were investigated by SEM with X-ray microanalysis. The photocatalytic activity was studied under visible light by methylene blue decomposition. All the obtained catalysts are characterized by the stability of the phase and elemental composition after photocatalysis. The differences in the mechanism of the photodecomposition process for all catalysts were studied experimentally using selective radical scavengers. The possible pathway of MB photooxidation was supposed by HR-LCMS analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To systematically present and interpret the current literature on research and treatment perspectives for mandibular osteoradionecrosis (mORN) in the field of biomaterials. A systematic review of the literature using the "Synthesis without meta-analysis" (SWiM) methodology was performed on PubMed, Embase and Cochrane, focusing on the implantation of synthetic biomaterials for bone reconstruction in mORN in humans and/or animal models. The primary endpoints were the composition, efficacy on mORN and tolerance of the implanted synthetic biomaterials. Forty-seven references were obtained and evaluated in full-text by two assessors. Ten (8 in humans and 2 in animal models) met the eligibility criteria and were included for analysis. Materials most often comprised support plates or metal mesh (5 of 10 cases) in combination with grafts or synthetic materials (phosphocalcic ceramics, glutaraldehyde). Other ceramic/polymer composites were also implanted. In half of the selected reports, active compounds (molecules, growth factors, lysates) and/or cells were associated with the reconstruction material. The number of articles referring to implantation of biomaterials for the treatment of mORN was small, and the properties of the implanted biomaterials were generally poorly described, thus limiting a thorough understanding of their role. In preventing the morbidity associated with some reconstructive surgeries, basic research has benefitted from recent advances in tissue engineering and biomaterials to repair limited bone loss. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Immobilizing photocatalysts onto supporting substrates presents a versatile and practical solution to overcome technical challenges associated with utilizing photocatalysts in their powder form. By depositing photocatalysts onto substrates, such as kanthal mesh, the need for particle separation and recovery during wastewater treatment processes is effectively circumvented. In this study, we focused on synthesizing zinc oxide (ZnO) nanostructures on metal mesh using the direct heating (DH) approach. This approach presents several benefits when relative to common fabrication methods such as hydrothermal and chemical vapor deposition, allowing for exceptionally rapid synthesis (completed in just 5 min) with minimal usage of electrical power. The formation of ZnO nanorods on supporting mesh was corroborated by FE-SEM, XRD, EDX, HR-TEM and XPS analyses. Notably, ZnO nanorods supported on kanthal meshes exhibited photocatalytic ability in degrading RhB dye under UV light, demonstrating their efficacy in dye removal. Overall, the facile DH approach for growing ZnO nanorods on kanthal mesh shows great potential for the mass production of photocatalyst modules tailored to be applied for wastewater treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Dense Au-Cu nanostar arrays formed on TEM grids via diffusive ex situ galvanic reaction. • Nanoparticle array density on TEM grids was precisely controlled by adjusting reaction time. • The method applies to various metal cations and TEM grids, proving its versatility and scalability. • Highlights the role of diffusion and site-specific redox in nanostructure formation mechanisms. The uniform modification of commercial and standardized objects features considerable potential, as in the case of dip-pen lithography, biosensor kits, and disposable electrodes. In this study, we devised a dense nanoparticle array formation using the metallic mesh of a transmission electron microscopy (TEM) grid, which was formerly solely employed as a sampling stage. Incompletely oxidized cationic species generated from the galvanic replacement reaction of the metallic support mesh at the opposite side of the carbon layer diffused to the exposed top side and led to ex situ nanostar formation. A uniform nanoparticle array was obtained by immersion in an aqueous solution of replacing metal cations without reducing agents or surface energy-controlling compounds. Moreover, the array density was exclusively regulated by the incubation time. The straightforward nanoparticle array formation was successfully extended to various metal mesh TEM grids and different transition metal cations capable of spontaneous redox reactions. Cu mesh TEM grid and Mo grids could be utilized as sacrificial templates, and the growth of Au, Pd, Pt, Ag, and Rh nanostructures was confirmed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study focuses on the fabrication of a hybrid Ag-mesh/Ta-doped TiO 2 (TTO) electrode that has a low sheet resistance and high transparency in the visible and near-infrared region, thereby holding significant commercialization potential. Here, ∼82 nm thick TTO film is deposited on the glass substrate using radio frequency magnetron sputtering technique, over which Ag mesh is carved using the metal aerosol jet printing method. As compared to TTO, sheet resistance of the entire hybrid configuration is found to show a 2-3 order improvement, with the loss of a mere ∼12 % in the visible and ∼8 % in NIR transmittance. The electronic structure of the Ag/TTO interface demonstrates the formation of an ohmic junction, thereby making it suitable for the fabrication of a network-based transparent electrode. Moreover, the overall functionality and preparation route of this electrode makes it more promising as compared to those of the conventional metal mesh and metal-oxide electrodes. [Display omitted] • The study presents fabrication of an Ag-mesh/Ta-doped TiO 2 (TTO) hybrid electrode. • The sheet resistance obtained is 11 Ω/□ with 70 % visible and 80 % NIR transmittance. • Sheet resistance improves by 3-order over TTO with minimal transmittance loss. • Formation of an ohmic Ag/TTO interface reduces the charge transfer resistance. • Industrially viable fabrication techniques open up the scope of commercialization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The treatment of bone defects with complex three-dimensional geometry presents challenges in terms of bone grafting and restoration. In this paper, we propose a rapid and effective method that uses 3D printing, ceramic casting, and the incorporation of mesh reinforcement to create load-bearing bone grafts with patient-specific three-dimensional geometry. Using two types of facial bones as examples, we show that this fabrication method has a high degree of geometrical fidelity. We also experimentally study the fracture behavior of six different architectures designed for the treatment of mandibular defects, one of the principal load-bearing facial bones. These design configurations include un-reinforced calcium sulfate samples, and samples reinforced with one or two layers of stainless steel, poly (lactic acid), and poly (L-lactic acid). The results suggested a trade-off between energy dissipation and maximum load based on the position of the metal mesh in the sample. Samples reinforced with one layer of metallic mesh at their lowermost margin exhibited a 17% higher stiffness and a 21.3% higher peak load, while samples with a layer of metal mesh embedded within dissipated 16% more energy. Samples with two layers of metallic mesh demonstrated the highest improvements among all samples, dissipating 5767.85% more energy and exhibiting a peak load 145.6% higher compared to plain CS. The improvements in stiffness for SD, SL, and S2 were 3%, 21.3%, and 21.9% respectively compared to the plain ceramic. In contrast, PLA mesh improved energy dissipation by 96.71% but reduced the peak load by 29.18%, while PLLA mesh decreased both the peak load and the dissipated energy by 13.05% and 35.31%, respectively. While PLA mesh reduced stiffness by 11% compared to plain CS, PLLA mesh-reinforced samples were slightly stiffer than pure CS by 1.6%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • A passive microchannel for enhanced extraction by mesh segmenting was designed. • Gas phase disturbance further enhanced mass transfer between oil and aqueous phases. • The residence time was the main factor affecting separation efficiency. • The continuous multistage extraction process was more conducive to industrialization. • The interfacial tension and viscous force significantly affected extraction process. • The relation of We aq -We o-g -E can reveal the efficient working conditions of PMSM. A novel planar mesh segmentation microchannel device (PMSM) was designed for enhancing the extraction of metal impurity ions to produce high purity potassium dihydrogen phosphate. The extraction efficiency of Mg (Ⅱ) in PMSM under different operating conditions were investigated from liquid-liquid and gas–liquid–liquid extraction by utilizing the segmented flow of the inlet and segmentation effect of the built-in metal mesh, as well as the multi-stage and continuous process. The results showed that the residence time was the main factor, when O/A=1 and the total flow rate of organic and aqueous phases Q=4 mL/min, the extraction equilibrium value was reached in only 79.5 s, while the conventional stirred extraction required 300 s. When the aqueous phase residence time was kept constant and the gas flow rate Q g = 2.5 mL/min, the maximum extraction efficiency of 31.04 % was achieved in only 26.5 s, which exceeded the equilibrium value of the conventional one-stage extraction. This indicated that the metal mesh segmentation and gas phase disturbance effectively increasing the contact area of the organic and aqueous phases and reducing the effective mass transfer distance. The continuous and multi-stage process also played a continuous role in strengthening the mass transfer. In addition, the flow patterns under different conditions, the total volume mass transfer coefficient (K L a), extraction kinetics and the correlation diagram of We aq − We o-g − E were used to further reveal the mechanism of mass transfer enhancement and the high extraction efficiency of PMSM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highly sensitive sensors have attracted considerable attention in areas such as electronic skin, health monitoring and artificial intelligence. Herein, a simple and efficient approach was proposed to fabricate hierarchically structured flexible sensors. A common metal mesh was used as a template and its pattern was transferred to the surface of a composite film of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) decorated polydopamine (PDA) and polyurethane (TPU) electrospun fibers by hot imprinting. The resulting film with a uniform convex microstructure array on the surface was used as the conductive sensing layer of the AgNPs/PDA/TPU sensor. The sensor exhibited a linear detection range increased from 15 kPa to 20 kPa compared to the control sensor without the microstructure. Furthermore, the sensitivity was improved from 8.13 kPa−1 to 10.44 kPa−1. The response time and recovery time of the sensor were determined to be 110 ms and 90 ms, respectively, and it maintained good stability at 10 kPa even after 1000 compression cycles. In addition, the sensor enabled real-time pressure signal detection for touch, joint movement and voice recognition, showing promising applications in health monitoring, pressure detection and human-machine interaction. [Display omitted] • Designing surface and internal dual microstructures for the sensing film layer. • Fabricating precise microstructure array via hot imprinting process. • Improving the sensor sensitivity and detection range by the microstructures. • Adjusting sensing performance flexibly with mesh template variation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The global community acknowledges water demand and accessibility as major challenges impacting human well-being. Forward Osmosis (FO) desalination coupled with concentrate solar power might represent a promising solution to combine water production with renewable sources. This work assesses the performance of a liquid-liquid separator (coalescer), an important component of the FO process, when using a polymeric thermo-responsive draw agent (PAGB2000). Experimental characterization of the coalescer is carried out for different regeneration temperatures (from 50 to 80 °C), residence time, draw concentration (from 0.30 to 0.60) and metal meshes. The separation efficiency of the coalescer can be as high as 95% for high residence time and regeneration temperatures (> 70 °C). Eventually, an analytical expression of the coalescer efficiency as function of the main operating parameters is proposed both to support desalination plant design and to enable understanding its applicability beyond its original context. • Experimental characterization of a liquid-liquid separator adopted in desalination. • Coalescers efficiency evaluation for different draw temperatures and concentrations. • Coalescer efficiency expression calibrated on the experimental outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A superhydrophilic and underwater superoleophobic cellulose graft copolymer/SiO 2 coated metal mesh (CASi/M) was fabricated through a facile and cost-effective process. As-prepared CASi/M could separate different oil-water mixture with a separation efficiency higher than 99.4 % and a flux up to 26940 L·m−2·h−1 only driven by gravity. The reusability experiment showed that the separation efficiency still exceeded 99.2 % after 25 cycles, which displayed superior reusability. Furthermore, CASi/M displayed superior stability in corrosive liquids such as acidic, alkaline, and salty environments. This work provides new sights in the development of durable and low-cost functional materials for rapid and efficient oil/water separation. [Display omitted] • Superhydrophobic CASi/M was fabricated with a facile and low-cost approach. • CASi/M showed a permeate flux up to 26940 L·m−2·h−1 solely driven by gravity. • CASi/M possessed the highest separation efficiency of 99.4 %. • CASi/M exhibited excellent multi-cycle performance and chemical resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the design of a novel atomized corona discharge coupled screen electrode dust collector, which integrates electrostatic capture and wet electrostatic dust removal technologies. The upper part of the dust collector features an atomized corona discharge electrode utilizing a threaded-wire hole design with uniform water distribution. This design effectively addresses the issue of electrode fatness that may arise from uneven distribution of the discharge electrode. In contrast, the lower part of the collector is equipped with four side-by-side silk screen electrodes, which serve to expand the dust collection area, facilitate secondary particle capture, and consequently enhance dust removal efficiency. The study delves into a detailed analysis of the impact of various parameters on discharge characteristics and dust removal efficiency, culminating in the identification of optimal parameters. • A dust removal device combining an atomized corona discharge device and an electrostatic capture device was designed, in which a threaded wire hole electrode was designed to effectively expand the corona discharge area. • The experimental results show that the addition of atomized water does not affect the charging of the particles, and a better discharge and dust removal effect can be obtained at a smaller flow rate (10 mL/min). • The effects of electrode spacing, flow rate and other factors on the dust removal efficiency were investigated, and the optimal dust removal efficiency was 91.56% when the atomized corona discharge device was coupled with metal mesh electrodes, which was significantly improved by 4.42%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The seepage blocking characteristics analyses of molten salt in tank foundations under different operating conditions were studied. • A method for blocking molten salt seepage based on the presetting metal mesh was proposed. • Parametric analysis and optimization were conducted to the proposed seepage blocking method. Leakage of molten salt storage tanks in concentrated solar power plants poses a major threat to operating safety. This paper focuses on arranging metal mesh in the storage tank foundation to control the seepage and migration range of molten salt in the thermal-steady foundation materials after leakage occurs. The influences of different conditions, including the metal mesh aperture, metal mesh position, operating temperature, and the mass of leaked molten salt, on the blocking effect were investigated through a custom-built experimental system that modeled the actual leaking process. The results showed that the metal mesh can effectively block seepage of molten salt. When the metal mesh aperture is made smaller or the mesh is placed further toward the bottom of the tank, the metal mesh has a significant blocking effect on molten salt seepage. Especially when the metal mesh aperture is 0.15 mm and the depth of placement is 325 mm, seepage of molten salt can be completely blocked. Nevertheless, it has been found that the depth of molten salt seepage distinctly increases with higher operating temperature or larger leaked molten salt mass. These experimental results will provide references for pollution control and disposition of molten salt leakage accidents and help power plant engineers re-examine tank foundation designs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thermochemical energy storage is a promising approach in thermal energy storage because of its advantages in high heat storage density, low heat loss and long period stability. The hydrated salt is a commonly used material in low temperature heat storage. A thermochemical energy storage experiment is conducted based on the material of MgCl 2 and CaCl 2 binary hydrated salt composite zeolite. In the preparation of binary hydrated salt, it's found that the optimum concentration is 15 wt% and the better mass ratio of MgCl 2 to CaCl 2 is 1:1.5. The metal mesh net packed method is adopted for further improvement of thermal performance. The results of energy release process show that the binary hydrated salt composite zeolite can increase the temperature rise up to 45.8 °C at the air velocity of 0.18 m/s. It can achieve the highest energy storage density of 719 kJ/kg and thermal efficiency of 41.9% at the air velocity of 0.32 m/s. Also, the combination with metal mesh packed nets can further improve the temperature rise peak, energy storage density and the thermal efficiency to 52.7 °C, 918 kJ/kg and 46.1%, respectively. This study provides references for multicomponent composite material preparation and thermochemical reactor improvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transparent conductive films (TCFs) that converge high transmittance and high conductive properties are essential for many optoelectronic devices, and efforts have been made to acquire films with high transmittance as well as low resistance of the thin layer by low-cost means. Here, we introduce a novel and simple strategy for the controlled in-situ templated synthesis of a transparent conductive metal mesh by utilizing the good reducibility to silver ions of the patterned tannic acid (TA)-based photoresists. To achieve this, mesh patterns with tunable line width were first printed using the TA-based negative photoresists by laser direct writing equipment. Within the patterned domains, the phenolic hydroxyl groups could interact with metal ions and act as reducing agents, thus accelerating the in-situ growth of silver nanoparticles to fabricate silver grids. By changing the line width of the designed patterns and the PH of the plating solution, the metal grids with a high transmission (T) of 91.5% and a thin-layer resistance (R s) as low as 4.15 Ω sq.−1 are ultimately achieved after annealing treatment. Our description demonstrates a simple and effective approach that is potentially scalable to other materials as well. [Display omitted] • Prepared a negative photoresist with high reduction and realized its controllable patterning. • Sliver mesh was prepared by in-situ reduction of Ag+ with patterned TA photoresist. • Investigated the pH-dependent reduction and ultimately the conductivity of the silver film. • High performance TCF was prepared by this controlled in-situ reduction strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The method of inserting wire mesh into the flame to suppress soot described in this manuscript is simple and easy to operate. • The method described in this manuscript achieves the highest soot suppression efficiency of nearly 100%. • The method described in this manuscript is simple and widely applicable to a wide range of burners and fuels. A simple and efficient strategy to suppress soot from acetylene diffusion flames is reported for the first time. Horizontally insertion of metal wire mesh into the acetylene diffusion flame is found to greatly suppress the soot emission. The effects of experimental parameters such as acetylene flow rate, wire mesh height above nozzle (WHAN), material of wire mesh, mesh number, and inner diameter of the burner nozzle on soot suppression in acetylene diffusion flames are investigated. In addition, the collected soot samples are characterized by TEM, HRTEM, XRD, BET and Raman. The soot suppression efficiency can reach 100 % by horizontal insertion of the metal wire mesh in the acetylene diffusion flame. The WHAN has a great influence on the effect of soot suppression. In the first 210 s of horizontally inserting the metal wire mesh into the flame, the total mass of collected soot first decreases and then increases with the increase of WHAN. The minimum total mass of soot is achieved when the normalized WHAN (obtained by dividing the wire mesh height above nozzle by flame height without insertion of the wire mesh) is at 0.1. This position corresponds to the soot particle inception zone of the acetylene diffusion flame. The flame is divided into two parts when the metal wire mesh is horizontally inserted into the flame. The temperature of the flame below the metal wire mesh decreases from 1770 K to 1480 K. The temperature of the flame above the metal wire mesh increases from 1590 K to 1780 K. The soot collected on the metal wire mesh grows into a volcano-shaped carbon (VSC) structure. The results of the schlieren imaging experiments show that this structure can promote the mixing of air and fuel in the lower region of the flame thereby suppressing the formation of soot particles. The soot analysis shows that the horizontal insertion of metal wire mesh into the flame leads to high amorphous feature and low degree of structural order of the soot, which means that the oxidation reactivity of the soot increases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The energy absorption of expanded metal tubes under quasi-static expanding is investigated by experiments and simulations. • An analytical model is developed to predict the mean force at steady state with good prediction accuracy. • Factors that influence the energy absorption of expanded metal tubes under quasi-static expansion in radial direction are discussed. The deformation process and energy absorption of metal wire mesh tubes under quasi-static expanding by a hemispherical-cylindrical indenter were investigated by experimental tests, finite element (FE) simulations and analytical modelling. Stainless steel and aluminum alloy tubes were tested on an MTS universal testing machine at a speed of 10 mm/min. The effects of mesh cell size and friction coefficient on the quasi-static force and specific energy absorption (SEA) were examined by FE analysis and analytical modelling. The analysis reveals that a combination of the mesh cell size and cross section dimension of the wire governs the energy absorption of tubes of equal overall dimension (diameter and length) and masses. In general, a decrease of the size of cells with constant height-to-width ratios leads to an increase of the specific energy absorption mainly due to the increased number of cells within the deformed region. An increase of the specific energy absorption is also achieved when the cell size is reduced by only decreasing the cell height. The maximum indenter force predicted by the proposed analytical model of the expanded tube deformation agrees well with the experimental results and FE simulations. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current work presents the application of a novel strategy for strengthening heated beam column (B-C) joints under a quasi-static cyclic load. This technique involves utilizing a layer of carbon fiber-reinforced polymers (CFRP) sheets with a layer of stainless-steel expanded metal sheet mesh (SSEMSM). These two layers are installed on the steel reinforcement cage inside the joint before concrete casting. Then the reinforced concrete B-C joints, after being cast and cured, were subjected to heat (i.e., 400 °C and 600 °C). The joints were divided into three groups: three joints were kept as is (i.e., reference joints; no strengthening was applied), whereas three joints were strengthened with the previously mentioned strategy. With a view to investigating the seismic behavior of RC joints, a quasi-static cyclic load was applied to the joints to simulate a seismic load. Results showed that the average maximum load capacity for upgraded joints (strengthened) increased by 30%, 19%, and 1% at ambient (i.e., 23 °C), 400 °C, and 600 °C temperatures, respectively, with respect to the reference joint (JCTA). More importantly, the experimental results reveal a significant increase in the cyclic response of strengthened joints (i.e., higher load capacity, greater displacement, higher dissipated energy, higher ductility, and slower degradation in the secant stiffness). • Response of heated RC beam-column joints under a quasi-static cyclic load. • Strengthening heated RC joints using CFRP-SSEMSM innovative system. • A novel strengthening strategy for improving the seismic performance of RC joints. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Edge effect on droplet condensation and frosting characteristics are revealed. • Reverse melting frequency inside hole is from 1.78 × 10−2 hz to 2.61 × 10−2 hz. • Existed flat-plate fitted frost thickness is 14.59 % smaller than the measured value. • Frost grows faster in the edge region than inside the hole region. To reduce the negative impact of frost formation on cold surfaces in low-temperature environments, metal wire mesh can be set in the air flow direction from the cold surface to reduce air humidity. To quantitatively determine the effectiveness of dehumidification after passing through a metal wire, the frosting process needs to be studied. To analyze the mechanism of frost formation under the horizontal wire mesh surface, the wire mesh was simplified as a flat plate with holes, or aperture plate, with plate temperature varying at a range of -15.0 °C to -5.0 °C. The results show that, as the plate temperature decreases, the droplet condensation and growth and droplet solidification stages gradually decrease, the average frost layer thickness and frost layer growth rate rise, and overall frost layer surface roughness increases. For a frosting duration of 1,800 s, compared to -5.0 °C, the average frost layer thickness from -7.5 °C to -15.0 °C inside the hole increased by 56.68 % and 156.41 %, while the plate edge region away from the hole increased by 40.76 % and 169.92 %, respectively. The reverse melting frequency gap between the inside hole region and the plate edge region away from the hole increases with the decreasing aperture plate temperature. At -15.0 °C, the reverse melting frequency inside the hole is 5.00 × 10−3 Hz lower than in the region of the plate edge away from the hole. The results of this article are beneficial for understanding the frosting process of wire mesh or perforated-fin heat exchanger. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Only microparticles larger than the holes of the metal mesh device are collected. • Transmittance for the metal mesh device changes upon trapping of microparticles. • The metal mesh device selectively detects large particles in excess small particles. A microparticle counter based on a metal mesh device was developed. The metal mesh device had a lattice-shaped structure with well-regulated holes of 1.8 μm. The collection percentages of differently sized microparticles using the metal mesh device were determined by flow cytometry. The cut-off point and hole size of the metal mesh device were identical. Polystyrene microparticles were detected from changes in the spectroscopic properties of the metal mesh device. When microparticles were trapped on the holes of the metal mesh device, the transmittance in the infrared spectra decreased. Microparticles smaller than the holes were not detected by the metal mesh device, whereas 2 and 3 μm microparticles were detected. Polystyrene and silica microparticles could be counted using the metal mesh device via calibration curves between the concentration of microparticles and the change level in the transmittance of the metal mesh device. The separation of microparticles from a mixture suspension using the metal mesh device was evaluated. Unlike a microfiber filter, only 2 μm microparticles were collected from coexisting 1 μm microparticles by the metal mesh device. Owing to its high separation ability, the metal mesh device selectively detected 2 μm microparticles in coexisting 10-equivalence 1 μm microparticles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ag mesh transparent conductive films (TCFs) were prepared on the commercial FTO/Glass substrate by ultrafast laser direct writing, trying to improve its overall photoelectric performances. The effects of laser scanning speed, laser fluence and Ag mesh height on photoelectric properties of the Ag mesh/FTO TCFs were systematically studied. The results indicated that a small scanning speed or a high laser fluence would cause excessive ablation of the FTO film and result in an increased Ag mesh line width, which was detrimental to the photoelectric properties of the resulting TCF. It was found that the optimal parameters for fabricating Ag mesh/FTO TCFs were a laser scanning speed of 2200 mm/s, a laser fluence of 0.050 J/cm2 and an Ag mesh height of 2500 nm. The as-fabricated TCF possessed the highest figure of merit of 13.03 × 10−2 Ω−1, which was significantly superior to that of the commercial FTO film. Finally, transparent heaters (THs) were prepared respectively based on the optimal Ag mesh/FTO TCF and the FTO/Glass substrate. The Ag mesh/FTO TH exhibited a more excellent heating performance than the FTO TH, further confirming that the overall photoelectric performance of the FTO/Glass substrate had been greatly improved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For the purpose of solving the safety problems of fire and explosion which may occur during hydrogen pipeline transportations, this paper experimentally investigates premixed hydrogen-air flame quenching behaviors under action of metal wire mesh in a closed tube. High-speed schlieren photography system is employed to reveal flame quenching results. Pressure transducer is adopted to test pressure changes. View from schlieren images, it is found that the wire mesh significantly enhances wrinkles of inverted flame front in lean-fuel combustion case (Φ = 0.42), but weakens the flame inversion extent for Φ = 1.00, 1.59, and 2.38 conditions. In addition, the results indicate that the flame quenching performance is improved pretty as the volume of metal wire mesh (V M) increases. Besides, compared with lean-fuel combustion cases, the wire mesh presents a more effective suppression effect on rich-fuel cases due to the coupling suppression effects on pressure waves and combustion process together. Moreover, it is found that the critical quenching speed increases linearly as V M increases, but the maximum critical quenching pressure is always kept at a constant value of approximately 0.115 MPa. The results may provide a significant reference for designing hydrogen flame arrestors to improve the safety of hydrogen pipeline transportations and engineering applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the most significant factors affecting the performance of a proton exchange membrane fuel cell is the flow path for the passage of air and water, which is responsible for oxygen dispersion. A three-dimensional fine mesh, with optimized flow paths, exhibits the best performance in commercialized fuel cell electric vehicles, but the manufacturing cost is significantly high. To achieve high performance at a lower cost, the possibility of using a combination of commercially available screen meshes was investigated. The overlapped screen meshes should provide improved mass transport similar to a 3-D fine mesh. By using an optimized combination of screen meshes (200 and 100 mesh) and gasket thickness (150 μm thinner than the mesh flow field), an improvement in oxygen mass transport was achieved. The suggested combination shows a lower oxygen gain (0.030 V) than a single mesh (0.050 V) and a conventional single serpentine flow field (0.150 V). • Single mesh and double meshes were used like a 3D fine mesh. • The thinner the single mesh, the better the performance. • The performance was further improved by double mesh optimization. • A low cost 3D flow field structure can be created using combinations of meshes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oil/water separation has recently attracted a great deal of attention for research due to the frequent occurrence of an oil spill as well as the increase of industrial and household oily wastewater. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to demonstrate underwater superoleophobic crosslinked phosphorylated poly(vinyl alcohol) hydrogel coated stainless steel mesh (CL-PPVA@SSM), which was fabricated using a simple dip-coating method and aldol reaction on the mesh substrate. The as-prepared CL-PPVA@SSM is capable of separating oil from a variety of different oil/water mixtures with high separation efficiency up to 99.2%, excellent recyclability and fast water permeate flux of 467.7 L m–2 h–1, which makes it suitable for the separation of oil-water mixtures from oil-water emulsions. Also, in the oil-water separation process, the CL-PPVA@SSM is capable to remove organic dye from the water. The CL-PPVA@SSM exhibits stability under various harsh conditions such as mechanical abrasion. Importantly, the CL-PPVA@SSM shows a massive potential to separate kitchen waste oil/water mixtures due to the underwater superoleophobic property as required for the recycling of kitchen waste oil. Therefore, this method has been met with a promising application prospect of practical application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

TiO 2 and ZnO are photocatalysts that degrade organic chemicals into smaller hydrocarbons in the presence of UV irradiation. Metal meshes have been previously used to harvest fog droplets from air streams. By merging these two observations, we hypothesize that TiO 2 /ZnO-coated metal meshes installed in the path of a fog-laden wind carrying contaminants, such as volatile organic compounds (VOCs), will degrade these VOCs providing pollution abatement. Stainless steel meshes are coated with a uniform, homogeneous and durable film of TiO 2 or ZnO nanoparticles using electrophoretic deposition (EPD) in a phosphate ester solution. The TiO 2 -coated metal meshes are first activated with UV irradiation and then exposed to a fog-stream in a fog-tunnel, where the fog is pre-seeded with a VOC surrogate, methylene blue (MB), of known concentration. UV–Vis spectroscopy measurements of the water harvested determine the extent of MB degradation. The mechanism by which the phosphate ester develops an electrical charge on a nanoparticle surface leads to a conformal coating over the steel mesh. Maximum MB (0.05 mM) degradation of 36% is observed. Similar photocatalytic degradation of MB by TiO 2 and ZnO coated meshes is also observed under direct UV irradiation from sunlight, confirming that the method is viable for outdoor installations. Image 1 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ex-situ method is suitable for the preparation and practical engineering application of large-sized adsorption materials like sponges. pH-responsiveness can solve the post-treatment problem of oil-absorbing sponges. Here, a facile ex-situ method is proposed to construct large-sized multi-functional oil-water separation materials by adsorbing pH-responsive magnetic core-shell structured nanoparticles (MNP) onto different substrates including sponge, metal mesh, and sandpaper. The MNPs are prepared by chemical coating and surface modification. The sponge can achieve in-situ renewable oil-water separation through the "oil absorption - oil desorption" process under different pH values, and the oil droplets exhibit a segmented wiredrawing desorption process. The generated secondary oily wastewater can be further separated through modified metal mesh, which can treat oily wastewater with more complex situations such as oil-water-oil three-phase mixtures. The detached nanoparticles (NP) can be easily recycled and reused through magnets. This method can achieve a large-scale in-situ treatment renewable oil-water separation process that integrates wastewater purification, oil collection, and material regeneration, which is environmentally friendly, energy-saving, and suitable for engineering applications. [Display omitted] • pH-responsive materials were prepared through ex-situ methods using core-shell NPs. • The renewable oil–water separation can be achieved through a pH-responsive sponge. • The pH-responsive filter mesh can treat complex three-phase oily wastewater. • The detached NPs can be easily recycled and reused through magnets. • The method realizes water purification, oil collection, and material regeneration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Duckweed, a floating macrophyte, has attracted interest in various fields such as animal feedstocks and bioenergy productions. Its enriched nutritional content and rapid growth rate make it particularly promising. However, common laboratory cultures of duckweed often experience fronds layering, diminishing the efficiency of sunlight capturing due to limited surface area on conventional cultivation platforms. In this work, we aimed to address the issue of fronds layering by introducing a novel cultivation platform - a superhydrophobic coated acrylic sheet. The sheet was prepared by spray-coating a suspension of beeswax and ethanol, and its effectiveness was evaluated by comparing the growth performance of giant duckweed, Spirodela polyrhiza , on this platform with that on a modified version. The superhydrophobic coated acrylic sheet (SHPA) and its variant with a metal mesh added (SHPAM) were employed as growing platforms, with a glass jar serving as the control. The plantlets were grown for 7 days with similar growth conditions under low light stress (25 μmol/m2/s). SHPAM demonstrated superior growth performance, achieving a mass gain of 102.12 ± 17.18 %, surpassing both SHPA (89.67 ± 14.97 %) and the control (39.26 ± 8.94 %). For biochemical compositions, SHPAM outperformed in chlorophyll content, protein content and lipid content. The values obtained were 1.021 ± 0.076 mg/g FW, 14.59 ± 0.58 % DW and 6.21 ± 0.75 % DW respectively. Therefore, this work proved that incorporation of superhydrophobic coatings on a novel cultivation platform significantly enhanced the biomass production of S. polyrhiza. Simultaneously, the biochemical compositions of the duckweeds were well-maintained, showcasing the potential of this approach for optimized duckweed cultivation. [Display omitted] • A new duckweed cultivation platform with maximal growing surface area and minimal water footprint was proposed. • Novel superhydrophobic platforms (SHPA and SHPAM) boost surface area by 5.22 time vs conventional cultivation. • S. polyrhiza 's biomass production was promoted by 1.37-fold and 1.30-fold in SHPAM and SHPA. • Biochemical compositions of duckweed namely chlorophyll, protein and lipid content were further enhanced in SHPAM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In no-till agroecosystems, presence of the earthworm Lumbricus terrestris L. can be a key driver in the replenishment of soil organic matter stocks post-harvest, through surface residue foraging and incorporation. The impact on such systems under different climatic conditions is, however, still unquantified. A field experiment was designed to determine incorporation of cereal harvest residues at three no-till agricultural sites in boreal conditions (SW Finland) focusing on L. terrestris impacts over the period from autumn harvest to spring sowing. Either spring barley, wheat or oats were cultivated at the sites. Following the harvests, representative masses of residues were applied on small experimental plots (0.25 m2) with cleaned soil surfaces in areas of inherently high (LT+: 10.6 ± 2.1 ind. 0.25 m-2) and low (LT-: 1.8 ± 0.7 ind. 0.25 m-2) L. terrestris density within the fields. Residues were covered with metal mesh caging and left until spring sowing, when changes in residue mass were recorded and plots sampled for earthworms. The reduction of straw residue mass varied between sites, from no difference between the LT+ and LT- treatments to 19 % and 59 % higher mass reduction in LT+. Amount of earthworm castings on the residues was also quantified and findings indicated a positive correlation with earthworm (also endogeic) density. For L. terrestris , earthworm species abundance relationships indicated competitive interaction with epigeics and positive interaction with endogeics. Results showed that L. terrestris foraging can enhance the incorporation of cereal surface residues outside of the boreal growing season and that earthworm surface casting also has a role in residue burial. However, the increase of incorporation by L. terrestris activity, interrupted by winter conditions, was moderate and did not lead to marked exposition of the soil surface by experimental end, even at those plots with the highest L. terrestris foraging. The incorporation rate estimates may have been unrepresentative due to the exceptionally late harvest during the study period. Investigations covering the whole year from multiple growing seasons are needed for a comprehensive assessment of earthworm impacts on crop surface residue dynamics. • Residue incorporation by L. terrestris studied outside the Boreal growing season. • Effects varied but incorporation rate up to 59 % higher when L. terrestris present. • Casting on residues by L. terrestris and other earthworms contribute to burial. • L. terrestris density had positive correlation with endogeics, negative with epigeics. • Free-residue approach presents an alternative in the study of earthworm foraging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Rapid and versatile strategy for fabricating superhydrophobic porous susbtrates. • Superhydrophobic cotton textiles with robust chemical and mechanical durability. • Gravity-driven continuous separation of oil/water mixtures with high effeciency. • Separation of surfactant-stabilized W/O and O/W emulsions. • Cleanup of crude oil spills. Special wettability membranes represent one of the smart, advanced, and energy-efficient solutions for the separation of contaminated oily wastewater as well as the treatment of crude oil spills. To increase sustainability and facilitate the large-scale applications of the superwetting membranes, novel renewable materials combined with rapid fabrication approaches should be explored. This study describes a simple and rapid strategy for fabricating superhydrophobic cotton textile (SCT) membranes via a solution immersion strategy from a few renewable and low-cost materials. The versatile fabrication approach was extended to fabricate other types of porous 2D/3D superhydrophobic substrates including metal mesh and melamine sponge. The fabricated SCT was employed for the gravity-driven continuous separation of immiscible oil/water mixtures with a high flux of 62500 ± 650 L. m−2. h−1 and high separation efficiency of > 99%. The SCT was employed for the demulsification of oil-in-water and water-in-oil emulsions as well as for the cleanup of crude oil spills. The fabricated SCT membranes exhibited high chemical and mechanical durability as well as excellent recyclability. Thus, the presented fabrication strategy offers a versatile, practical, and sustainable pathway toward the rapid construction of superhydrophobic porous membranes for efficient and diverse oil/water separations for the treatment of stratified and emulsified oily wastewater effluents and crude oil spills. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Low intrinsic thermal conductivity (TC) of polymer materials has severely limited their further applicability in electronic and electrical products. To enhance the TC, a strategy for constructing nanofiller-based thermal conductive networks by patterned self-assembly of electrospun nanofibers was first proposed in this paper. By selecting a regular metal mesh as the collector, the electrostatic field-induced directional deposition of nanofibers was achieved, thereby constructing interconnected heat transfer paths aligned in at least four directions. The in-plane TC of heat-pressed electrospun polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) nanofibers with 20 wt% loading of boron nitride nanosheets (BNNSs) can reach 7.27 W/(m·K). Electrical insulation of the PVDF/BNNS composites has also been confirmed, showing high volume resistivity and breakdown strength, which have increased by 460.0 % and 26.6 %, respectively, compared to pure PVDF. Finally, a double-layer composite film with waterproof and easy-cleaning characteristics was prepared for electronic device packaging. This simple and efficient preparation strategy for thermal conductive networks may bring new perspectives to thermal management applications. [Display omitted] • Thermal conductive networks interconnected in four directions were constructed by patterned electrospinning. • The thermal conductivity of the composites containing 20 wt% BN nanosheets reached 7.27 W/(m·K). • Significantly enhanced insulation and hydrophobicity were achieved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The widespread use of plastic materials, owing to their several advantageous properties, has resulted in a considerable increase in plastic consumption. Consequently, the production of primary and secondary microplastics has also increased. To identify, categorize, and quantify microplastics, several analytical methods, such as thermal analysis and spectroscopic methods, have been developed. They generally offer little insight into the size and shape of microplastics, require time-consuming sample preparation and classification, and are susceptible to background interference. Herein, we created a macroscale hyperspectral Raman method to quickly quantify and characterize large volumes of plastics. Using this approach, we successfully obtained Raman spectra of five different types of microplastics scattered over an area of 12.4 mm × 12.4 mm within just 550 s and perfectly classified these microplastics using a machine learning method. Additionally, we demonstrated that our system is effective for obtaining Raman spectra, even when the microplastics are suspended in aquatic environments or bound to metal-mesh nets. These results highlight the considerable potential of our proposed method for real-world applications. [Display omitted] • We obtained a hyperspectral Raman image of microplastics covering an area of 12.4 mm × 12.4 mm in just 10 min. • Machine learning model and image processing techniques were applied to analyze microplastics, sea sand, and dust effectively. • Our system successfully provided Raman images of microplastics in aquatic environments and on metal mesh nets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For high-performance gas sensors to be used in practical applications, high sensitivity and ultrafast response are essential. Herein, metal–organic framework (MOF)-derived Pt@ZnO porous nanofibers (PNFs) were constructed by using Pt@ZIF-8 as an electrospun precursor. This brand-new Pt@ZnO PNFs combined the benefits of the two classes of porous materials (MOFs and PNFs) and therefore exhibited open porous characteristics. This mesh fiber structure also prevented the growth and aggregation of ultra-small Pt clusters of about 2 nm. As a typical case study, the 0.5 mL Pt@ZnO PNFs demonstrated good sensing performances characterized by high acetone responses (12.2-fold improvement @ 20 ppm) and fast response/recovery times (2 s/5 s) in comparison with ZnO nanocubes. The Pt@ZnO PNFs also displayed good stability and selectivity towards acetone. We credited these improved sensing signals to synergic interactions between Pt clusters and ZnO nanoparticles, the catalytic spillover effect of Pt clusters, and unique mesh nanofiber structure with open porous characteristics. This work provides a novel design method to construct MOF-derived ultra-small noble metal cluster modified mesh metal oxide PNFs with high gas-sensing performance. [Display omitted] • MOF-derived Pt@ZnO porous nanofibers (PNFs) were designed and constructed. • The Pt@ZnO PNFs featured open porous characteristics and ultra-small Pt clusters (∼ 2 nm). • The Pt@ZnO PNFs showed a high and fast response (S =51.6, τ res =2 s) to 20 ppm acetone. • Schottky junctions were formed between Pt clusters and MOF-derived ZnO nanocrystals. • The acetone sensing enhancement mechanism of MOF-derived Pt@ZnO PNFs was discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The common approach for sand control in sandstone reservoir is the application of metal mesh screen (MMS). Production process and physical properties of production formation play a vital role on the service life of screen. A model was proposed to evaluate the erosion rate of commonly used screen. The simulation experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of formation properties, such as particle size and concentration of sand grains and production pressure differential, on the erosion of screen with monolayer metal wire mesh (MWM). The results show that: 1) The erosion rate of screen with monolayer MWM was increased exponentially with the flow velocity of crude oil containing sand; 2) With the increase of sand median grain size and sand content, the erosion rate increased first and then decreased. For a screen with certain accuracy, the erosion rate of monolayer MWM of screens may reach the maximum value with the change of median grain size and sand content; 3) A formula was proposed to predict the erosion rate under the effect of fluid velocity, particle size and concentration of sand. The mathematical model was verified by experimental results. • The erosion rate of monolayer metal mesh screen increases exponentially of fluid velocity. • Choosing an appropriate production rate or pressure can prolong the service life of screens. • With the increase of the sand size, the erosion rate of the screen first increases and then decreases. • A mathematical model of sand erosion is established based on the experimental data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The mesh with eco-friendly iron coating was prepared by one-step liquid phase reduction route. • The coated mesh has good superoleophobicity under pure and corrosive water. • The mesh can separate hot corrosive water from oils. • The mesh has good recyclability in oil/corrosive water separation. Although many underwater superoleophobic surfaces for separating immiscible oil/water mixtures have been constructed, the fabrication process of most of surfaces is non-green, complex, and time-consuming. Herein, a novel underwater superoleophobic stainless steel mesh (SSM) with eco-friendly coating was successfully prepared by simple and rapid one-step liquid phase chemical reduction route. The reduction treatment produces the iron (Fe) coating with micro/nano-structure, resulting in the underwater superoleophobicity, with oil contact angle as high as 152°. Such special wettability makes the surface to be readily wetted by water phase while repelling immiscible oil phase simultaneously. For this, the effective separation (separation efficiency: >96.2%) of oil/room temperature water and oil/hot (90 °C) water mixtures can be achieved by the decorated mesh. Specially, oil/hot corrosive water mixed liquid can be efficiently separated, and the mesh still maintains good separation efficiency (>94.6%) even after 30 cycles of separation. This research work provides a green, facile, and cost-effective strategy to construct the coating for oil/water filtration on metal mesh. It is expected that the as-fabricated mesh can be used as the filtration material for oily wastewater purification and oil spill treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report on highly transparent conductive hybrid thin-films based on copper (Cu)-mesh structures combined with conductive polymer films. The hybrid films show outstanding optical and electrical properties (transmittance of 81.7% at a wavelength of 550 nm, sheet resistance of 71.3 Ω/sq). The effective current collecting property of metal mesh structures as well as the excellent current spreading property of the conducting polymer enables the high performance of the hybrid transparent electrodes. Organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) employing the hybrid transparent electrodes result in 2.0-fold enhanced current and power efficiencies, compared to the control polymer electrode-based OLED without current collecting metal mesh structures. The results present that Cu-mesh structures combined with conductive polymer films show great promise for applications in low-cost, flexible indium tin oxide-free OLEDs. Image 1 • Hybrid transparent conductive films with Cu-mesh/polymer are presented. • The hybrid electrodes show the greatly reduced sheet resistance of polymer films. • The efficiency of OLEDs with hybrid electrodes is greatly improved by a factor of 2.0. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Silver nanowires (AgNWs) based conductive electrode have shown potential for use in large area flexible optoelectronic applications. Presently, considerable efforts are being made to lower the surface roughness and enhance the opto-electrical performance of AgNWs based transparent conductive electrode(TCE) for optoelectronic application, which require a smooth surface for high efficiency performance. In this work, we designed a hybrid metal electrode with low surface roughness fabricated by coating an AgNWs onto a metal mesh on Polyethylene terephthalate substrate (AgNW/MM/PET). The AgNW/MM/PET TCE, fabricated by a method of hot pressing after wire wound-rod coating process, exhibits a low surface roughness of 8 nm and 16.33 nm of maximum peak-to-valley value with the low sheet resistance of 0.668 Ω/sq. and a high optical transmittance of 91.25% at λ = 550 nm. In addition, the hot pressed AgNW/MM/PET TCE shows excellent mechanical stability along with long-term reliability in bending tests and strong adhesion in taping test, compared to the annealed AgNW/MM/PET TCE. Therefore, the hot pressed AgNW/MM/PET electrodes with low surface roughness and high opto-electrical performance could be a potential candidate to replace indium doped tin oxide electrodes in flexible electronic application. • Hot pressed Silver nanowire (AgNW) on Metal mesh (MM) electrode was prepared. • Hot pressed AgNW/MM/PET electrode exhibited low surface roughness of 8 nm. • Hot pressed AgNW/MM/PET exhibits 0.668 Ω/sq. with 91.25% of transmittance. • Hot pressed AgNW/MM/PET electrode was reliable in bending and taping test. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Metal –ion containing ink used to photodeposit Ag, Pt and Au metals on TiO 2 films. • Images and micropatterning generated on photocatalytic films. • Pt enhances a number of environmental beneficial photocatalytic processes. • Pt activity greater than Au which is greater than Ag for water reduction. Films of Ag, Pt and Au nanoparticles are photodeposited onto a range of commercial TiO 2 based photocatalytic materials, such as paint, tile, awning fabric and glass, as well as a TiO 2 sol-gel film, using an aqueous ink containing a sacrificial electron donor, glycerol, and the appropriate metal salt. The photodeposited metal films appear to be comprised of a fine covering of nanoparticular metal islands distributed evenly across the surface of the TiO 2 sol-gel film, with some large aggregated particles for Pt (106 nm) and Au (33 nm). The rate of deposition of Ag is particularly fast, since a 10 s exposure to 2 mW cm−2 UVA light produces a very noticeable colour change, which is ca. 60 times that of the other two metal-ion containing inks. When combined with a photomask, the metal inks are used to create finely detailed metal film images on the surfaces of a wide variety of different, mainly commercial, photocatalytic materials; a fine metal mesh photomask is used to make metal micro-patterns. When used to promote the photocatalysed oxidation of organic pollutants dissolved in aqueous solution, such as 4CP and MB, the enhancement in photocatalytic activity (compared to a plain TiO 2 film) exhibited by a photodeposited Pt on TiO 2 film is modest (16–35%), however, the enhancement is marked (234%) for the photocatalysed oxidation of CO to CO 2. In contrast, the Au and Ag films appear to depress the inherent activity of the naked TiO 2. The Pt/TiO 2 film also enhances significantly the photocatalysed oxidation of a film of soot (179%) but not of stearic acid (−23%); the Ag and Au films appear to impede the former reaction. The Pt/TiO 2 film exhibits the most significant enhancement in rate for the photocatalysed reduction of water to H 2 by ethanol, i.e. 62 times that of the Ag/TiO 2 film, which exhibits only a modest activity, which in turn is better than a naked TiO 2 film which shows no activity. The potential of the metal (ion) inks to more easily make photodeposited metal films on semiconductor photocatalyst films is discussed briefly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Experimental study on the effect of using saturated zeolite for cooling solar panels. • Different system configurations were measured at different solar radiations of 600, 800 and 1000 W/m2. • Temperature reduction of approximately 14.9 °C and 9 °C for radiation intensities of 600 and 1000 W/m2 respectively was achieved. This paper presents a novel experimental work for cooling photovoltaic panels using water saturated zeolite/activated alumina. Different system configurations, with 4 different zeolite thicknesses, were tested indoor. Moreover, the zeolite was tested with different added components (fins and metal mesh/particles) for enhancing the system performance. Three different radiations intensities were set for a period of 6 h and the results were compared with the uncooled system. The experimental results showed a significant solar panels temperature reduction of approximately 14.9 °C and 9 °C for radiation intensities of 600 and 1000 W/m2 respectively. The expected electrical efficiency, according to this temperature reduction, was calculated and an average enhancement of 10% and 7% at radiation of 600 and 1000 W/m2 intensity respectively was estimated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Kids preferred to lie near heat lamps when they were provided. • Kids were observed lying down and running more when on wood shavings than on metal mesh. • Kids tended to gain more weight when on wood shavings than on metal mesh. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of different flooring surfaces and a supplemental heat source (heat lamps) on location preference, behaviour and growth rate of dairy goat kids. Eighty female Saanen kids were enrolled in the study at 3 days of age (SD: 0.9 d) and allocated to one of four treatment pens (n = 4 pens/treatment, 5 goats/pen): 1) wood shavings with two 250 W heat lamps (WS+H), 2) wood shavings without heat lamps (WS), 3) metal mesh with two heat lamps (MM+H) or 4) metal mesh without heat lamps (MM). Kids were reared in treatment pens for 8 days. To assess location preference, pens were divided into equally sized zones and time spent lying or upright in each zone was determined from video recordings observed continuously for 19 h/d on two separate days. Average temperatures in the warm (zones 1 and 2), medium (zones 3 and 4) and cold (zones 5 and 6) zones were 15.0 °C, 11.8 °C, 10.8 °C and 11.7 °C, 11.1 °C, 11.2 °C in pens with and without heat lamps, respectively. Frequency of walking, running, self-grooming and interactions (environment and pen mate) were recorded over the whole pen on the same two observation days. Lying times and bouts were recorded continuously over the 8 days using accelerometers. Milk consumption was recorded daily, and body weight gain was calculated over the trial period on a pen level. Kids housed on wood shavings with heat lamps spent more time lying than in all other treatments (P < 0.001). Kids managed on wood shavings were observed running more often than kids on metal mesh (P = 0.04). Kids preferred to lie in the warm zone when heat lamps were present regardless of flooring type (% of time lying in warm zone: WS+H: 98%, MM+H: 94%; SEM: 7.0%; P < 0.001). Kids on average spent 97% of the time lying in the two end zones (1 and 6) and 3% in the middle zones (2 to 5), irrespective of treatment. Milk consumption was not affected by treatment, however, kids managed on wood shavings tended (P = 0.052) to gain more weight than kids on metal mesh. These results indicate that rearing kids on wood shavings improves welfare and performance, which can be further enhanced by providing an additional heat source. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]