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In this work, electron beam irradiation technology was used to increase the dielectric and energy storage performance of polypropylene (PP) films. Electron beam irradiation makes no difference on the crystal morphology but decreased the crystallinity and crystal size of PP. Besides, irradiation improved the thermal stability and polarity of PP. The irradiated PP films behaved much higher dielectric constant than pure PP films. Actually, the dielectric constant of the irradiated PP with 30 kGy was 3.98, while the dielectric constant of pristine PP was only 2.8. Furthermore, the irradiated PP films still kept low dielectric loss and AC conductivity. Weibull distribution test results proved electron beam irradiation improved the breakdown strength of PP films. The discharged energy storage of PP films increased from 1.3 J/cm3 of pristine PP film to 3.6 J/cm3 of irradiated PP with 30 kGy film. Moreover, the PP film irradiated with 30 kGy displayed an excellent charge–discharge efficiency of more than 95%. This research provides an easy and practical approach to investigate dielectric PP material for energy storage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Silicon (Si) protrusions were grown by local surface melting and resolidified on a Si(111) fragment with a narrow current path that was fabricated using a microgrinder at the center of the fragment. The narrow path was resistively heated by passing a current through it until it burned. The surface of the narrow path and fragment gradually melted with increasing current, and the melted Si started to flow from the narrow path to its sides owing to the surface tension of the melted Si. When the fragment surface near the path was locally irradiated with an electron-beam, melted Si accumulated in the irradiation region, resulting in Si protrusions of ∼600 μ m in height. The formation mechanism of the Si protrusion was discussed based on in situ optical microscope observations up to the burn-out of the Si narrow path. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract With the continuous decreasing in sizes of functional materials and devices, people are being asked to perform a flexible, accurate, in-situ and non-thermal welding of nanowires at the nanoscale. In this work, a well deliberated procedure including three typical stages: sharpening, hooking and welding, was carried out in sequence by in-situ TEM to realize the high demand welding of SiOx nanowire to macroporous carbon film. It was found that the brittle SiOx nanowire was non-thermally softened under energetic e-beam irradiation, and the flexibility and accuracy of welding could be achieved by adjusting the beam spot size, irradiation location and irradiation time. It was demonstrated that the nanocurvature effect of SiOx nanowire and the ultra-fast energy deposition effect induced by energetic e-beam irradiation dominated the diffusion, evaporation and plastic flow of atoms and the resulting nanowire re-shaping and nanowelding processes. In contrast, the traditional knock-on mechanism and e-beam heating effect are inadequate to explain these phenomena. Therefore, such a study is crucial not only to the flexible technical controlling but also to the profound fundamental understanding of energetic e-beam-induced nanowire re-shaping and nanowelding.

[Display omitted] • Activated carbon fibers were modified by electron beam irradiation for N-doping. • The pore characteristics of activated carbon fiber did not change until 200 kGy dose. • The N-Q group ratio of activated carbon fiber increased until 200 kGy dose. • Dimethyl methylphosphonate adsorption capacity has highly correlated with N-Q group. • Electron beam irradiation is effective method to dope nitrogen functional group. Despite international agreements, chemical warfare agents are still used in civilian terrorism or military operations. This study investigated the development of adsorbents for chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear protective suits to protect humans effectively from the ongoing threat of chemical warfare agents. Activated carbon fibers were modified using electron beam irradiation at various doses for use as an adsorption material in chemical protective overgarments. The textural properties of activated carbon fibers were studied using Brunauer–Emmett–Teller and Barrett–Joyner–Halenda equations with N 2 /77 K isotherm adsorption–desorption curves. The surface properties of electron beam irradiated activated carbon fibers were characterized using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The dimethyl methylphosphonate adsorption capacity of the activated carbon fibers were measured by breakthrough experiments. The textural properties of activated carbon fibers were not observed to significantly change despite to electron beam irradiation. Especially, dimethyl methylphosphonate adsorption capacity of the activated carbon fibers irradiated at 200 kGy increased by approximately 14 times compared to the untreated activated carbon fibers. The enhanced dimethyl methylphosphonate adsorption capacity of the e-beam irradiated activated carbon fibers can be attributed to a change in their surface functional group. As a results, it was considered that e-beam irradiation method could replace commonly surface treatment method (pyrolysis method and plasma method) for N-doping of activated carbon fibers because it has high economic efficiency and low pore loss ratio. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Low-viscosity hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) was obtained by electron beam irradiation, and its use as an excipient for improving the properties of spray dried pharmaceutical powders was investigated. The minimum molecular weight of HPMC which could maintain the capacity of encapsulation and powder modification was explored. As the irradiation dose was increased from 10 to 200 kGy, the molecular weight and viscosity of HPMC decreased linearly. However, its main structure and degrees of methoxy and hydroxypropyl substitution were not significantly affected. The irradiated HPMC could encapsulate particles during spray drying and, thus, modify powder properties. Furthermore, the water content of spray-dried powders with irradiated HPMC was lower than that with parent HPMC. After the spray-dried powder with irradiated HPMC was prepared into granules, their dissolution rate was also faster. However, in order to achieve high encapsulation, the molecular weight of HPMC should be ensured to be above 7.5 kDa. The designated low-viscosity HPMC obtained by electron beam irradiation is a suitable powder-modification material for use in spray drying, and it shows promise as a superior excipient in medicine, food, paint industries, among others. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the mechanisms of radiation induced defect generation is essential for assessment of materials to be used in nuclear environments. In the current work, we investigate the effect of 10 MeV electron irradiation on the generation and possible ordering of defects/oxygen vacancies in hydroxyapatite (HAP) powders. Comprehensive analyses of X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR) and Raman spectra establish that (a) HAP has a high level of structural stability even after exposure to electron irradiation; (b) irradiation leads to the generation of surface defects/oxygen vacancy predominantly in the PO 4 3− polyanion site, particularly in part of asymmetric bonding within the P–O bonds and (c) there is noticeable evidence for an ordered arrangement of oxygen vacancies within the HAP irradiated at 1 MGy dose. These radiation-induced defects, such as oxygen vacancies, can migrate within the HAP lattice, leading to formation of defect/oxygen vacancies clusters which ultimately results in the ordering tendency of oxygen vacancies within the lattice. The observed ordering, as evidenced by the photoluminescence intensities, aligns with the sequence HAP-1MGy > HAP-20MGy > HAP , providing further support for the presence of ordered oxygen vacancies. • Effect of 10 MeV electron irradiation on defects and oxygen vacancies in hydroxyapatite is investigated. • HAP maintains structural stability despite high-dose electron irradiation. • Irradiation mainly creates surface defects/oxygen vacancies at the PO₄³⁻ site, particularly in asymmetric P–O bonds. • Significant evidence indicates an ordered arrangement of oxygen vacancies in the HAP-1MGy sample. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of different electron beam irradiation doses (2, 4, 8 KGy) and various types of fatty acids (lauric acid, stearic acid, and oleic acid) on the formation, structure, physicochemical properties, and digestibility of starch-lipid complex were investigated. The complexing index of the complexes was higher than 85 %, indicating that the three fatty acids could easily form complexes with starch. With the increase of electron beam irradiation dose, the complexing index increased first and then decreased. The highest complexing index was lauric acid (97.12 %), stearic acid (96.80 %), and oleic acid (97.51 %) at 2 KGy radiation dose, respectively. Moreover, the microstructure, crystal structure, thermal stability, rheological properties, and starch solubility were analyzed. In vitro digestibility tests showed that adding fatty acids could reduce the content of hydrolyzed starch, among which the resistant starch content of the starch-oleic acid complex was the highest (54.26 %). The lower dose of electron beam irradiation could decrease the digestibility of starch and increase the content of resistant starch. [Display omitted] • The starch-lipid complex was prepared using the alkaline solution method. • Starch was pretreated with different doses of electron beam irradiation. • Low irradiation doses can promote the formation of the complex. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the effects of microwave (MW, 300W, 900W), electron beam irradiation (EBI, 8, 24 KGy), and their combination (MW-EBI, EBI-MW) on the morphology, structure and physicochemical properties of red adzuki bean starch. MW or EBI treatments had little effect on starch morphology, but high-frequency MW and high doses of EBI combined modification resulted in starch granule cracking. Both EBI and MW treatments retained the C-type crystalline structure of the starch but reduced the relative crystallinity, Mw, and short-range ordering. Besides, starch's short chain (A, B 1) content, pasting temperature, solubility, and RDS content were significantly increased. In contrast, long chain (B 2 , B 3), SDS + RS content, ΔH, SP, and RDS content were decreased considerably after MW and EBI treatments. Furthermore, the effect of MW and EBI combined modification on starch was higher than the single modification, and the MW-EBI modification was more effective than EBI-MW. Therefore, this study provides a green and efficient method to modify starch, which helps to broaden the scope of starch application. [Display omitted] • E-beam irradiation (EBI) and microwave (MW) treatment increased starch's short chain content. • EBI-WM treatment reduced starch's molecular weight and relative crystallinity. • EBI-WM treatment increased starch's solubility and pasting temperature. • WM pretreatment-EBI posttreatment on starch's effects were more significant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As an important part of the fields such as renewable energy and electric vehicles, electrochemical energy storage technology faces significant challenges in improving energy density, extending battery life and improving safety. We successfully prepared a composite battery separator of polyvinylidene fluoride-chlorotrifluorinylene (PVDF-CTFE) and fluorinated polyimide (F-PI) -based materials, mixed it with different contents of boehmite nanoparticles, and then modified it by different doses of electron beam irradiation to improve the performance, especially to overcome the problem of maintaining capacity decline in high-speed charging environment. The results showed that the prepared battery separators exhibited outstanding thermal stability, electrochemical properties and ionic conductivity with 12 % boehmite nanoparticles. After 1000 high-speed charge and discharge cycles in current density of 10C, the battery based on the modified separator still maintained a capacity retention rate of 84.4 %, with the initial discharge specific capacity of 111.9 mAhg−1. This means that irradiated separators not only maintain a high energy density in a high-speed charging environment, but also overcome the problem of maintaining capacity decline. Electron beam irradiation further improved the comprehensive performance of the separator. After 1000 and 1500 cycles at the current density of 10C and 15C, the specific discharge capacity of the battery can still retain more than 90 % and 80 % of the initial specific discharge capacity, which provides a longer life in practical applications. [Display omitted] • PVDF-CTFE/F-PI separator containing 12 % boehmite was modified by differnt does of electron beam irradiation for high-rate lithium-ion batteries. • The prepared separators showed outstanding thermal stability, mechanical properties and electrochemical properties. • After 1000 and 1500 cycles at the current density of 10C and 15C, the specific discharge capacity of the battery can still retain more than 90 % and 80 %. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bacterial cellulose (BC) had been considered as a promising Pickering stabilizer for its non-toxicity, high purity, and biocompatibility. The electron beam irradiation (EBI) technology had gained significant attention in the field of cellulose degradation due to its operational convenience and mild reaction conditions. Pickering emulsions using BC degraded by EBI as Pickering stabilizers were successfully prepared. Irradiated bacterial cellulose nanofibers (IBCNFs) exhibited a high aspect ratio(30–80 μm in length and 21–109 nm in width) and high absolute zeta potential (-50 mV). The optimal emulsification performance of IBCNFs was observed at an irradiation dosage of 100 kGy (IBC-100). The emulsions based on IBC-100 achieved an EI value of 96.15 ± 0.19%, while those based on IBC-500 obtained an EI value of 59.93 ± 1.47%. Stable Pickering emulsions were prepared when the concentration of IBC-100 stabilizer exceeded 0.3 wt% with a fixed oil phase of 30%, or when the rapeseed oil phase was below 50% while maintaining a fixed suspension of 0.5 wt% IBCNFs. Confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) demonstrated that IBCNFs facilitated the formation of a dense interfacial layer at the oil-water interface and formed a three-dimensional network within the water phase. Which effectively hindered the aggregation and flocculation between individual oil droplets. Furthermore, rheological findings demonstrated that emulsions possessed primarily exhibited properties of elasticity, and their gel strength could be enhanced by adjusting the irradiation dosages of IBCNFs. Moreover, environmental stability experiments indicated that IBCNFs-based emulsions exhibited exceedingly high temperature (20–80 °C) and pH tolerance (4–12). Flocculation occurred under high acid (pH = 2) conditions and at high ionic levels (≥ 40 mM NaCl), without causing disruption to the emulsion droplet structure. This study provided an innovative approach to preparing cellulose nanofibers with high aspect ratio, which could be utilized as emulsion stabilizers. The study also demonstrated that Pickering emulsions based on IBCNFs exhibit excellent stability and rheological properties. IBCNFs have promising potential to serve as a natural Pickering emulsifier for stabilizing oil-in-water emulsions in various food applications, cosmetic and pharmaceutical formulations. • Pickering emulsions using bacterial cellulose degraded by electron beam irradiation (EBI) as stabilizers were prepared. • IBCNFs facilitated the formation of a densely packed interfacial layer at the oil-water interface and a three-dimensional network. • The stability and rheological properties of IBCNFs-based Pickering emulsion were found to be dependent on the irradiation dosages of EBI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To broaden the application of amorphous poly-α-olefin copolymer in the heat shrinkable material industry, in this study, effects of absorbed dose on the softening point, gel content, DSC properties and rheological properties of dimer acid polyamide/amorphous α-olefin copolymer blends were studied. When the mass ratio of dimer acid polyamide was ≤25%, dimeric acid polyamide/amorphous α-olefin copolymer blends presented radiation degradation characteristics, the softening point, the corresponding temperature Tj of the intersection of the storage modulus G′ and loss modulus G″ with temperature change, and intrinsic viscosity |η*| decreased with absorbed dose increasing; during the oscillating temperature test, the phase angle increased obviously with absorbed dose increasing, which showed viscoelastic transition characteristics. When the mass ratio of dimer acid polyamide was ≥50%, the blends presented radiation crosslinking characteristics, the dependence of viscoelastic transition on temperature and the dependence of intrinsic viscosity on frequency were reduced with absorbed dose increasing.

Boron nitride nanosheets (BNNSs) exfoliated from hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) show great potential in polymer-based composites due to their excellent mechanical properties, highly thermal conductivity, and insulation properties. Moreover, the structural optimization, especially the surface hydroxylation, of BNNSs is of importance to promote their reinforcements and optimize the compatibility of its polymer matrix. In this work, BNNSs were successfully attracted by oxygen radicals decomposed from di-tert-butylperoxide (TBP) induced by electron beam irradiation and then treated with piranha solution. The structural changes of BNNSs in the modification process were deeply studied, and the results demonstrate that the as-prepared covalently functionalized BNNSs possess abundant surface hydroxyl groups as well as reliable structural integrity. Of particular importance is that the yield rate of the hydroxyl groups is impressive, whereas the usage of organic peroxide and reaction time is greatly reduced due to the positive effect of the electron beam irradiation. The comparisons of PVA/BNNSs nanocomposites further indicate that the hydroxyl-functionalized BNNSs effectively promote mechanical properties and breakdown strength due to the enhanced compatibility and strong two-phase interactions between nanofillers and the polymer matrix, which further verify the application prospects of the novel route proposed in this work.

The influence of ionizing radiation on the physicochemical properties of quercetin and rutin in the solid state was studied. Quercetin and rutin were irradiated with the standard recommended radiation dose (25 kGy) according to EN 522 standard. The samples were irradiated by electron beam radiation. EPR studies indicate the formation of a small number of free radicals due to irradiation. Moreover, some radicals recombined with the mean lifetime of 1200 and 93 h, and a stable radical concentration reached only 0.29 and 0.90 ppm for quercetin and rutin, respectively. The performed spectroscopic study (FT-IR) confirmed the radiostability of the flavonoids tested. Chromatographic tests (HPLC, HPLC-MS) showed that irradiation of quercetin and rutin with a 25 kGy dose did not change the physicochemical properties of the tested compounds. Degradation products were not observed. The antioxidant activities were determined by the 2,2-diphenyl-1-pycrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging activity assay, ABTS Radical Scavenging Assay (ABTS), Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power Assay (FRAP), Cupric Ion Reducing Antioxidant Capacity Assay (CUPRAC). The conducted research confirmed that exposure to ionizing radiation does not change the chemical structure of tested flavonoids and their antioxidant properties.

This study investigated the electric field distribution of underground cable insulation in cross-linked polyethylene/zinc oxide (XLPE/ ZnO) nanoparticles (NPs) for medium-voltage (MV) cables. The ZnO NPs that were obtained by three methods of preparation were classified using transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The obtained ZnO NPs were semi-spheres with sizes of 35–55 nm on TEM images. XLPE/ ZnO films with various ZnO NP weight contents (i.e., 0, 1, 3, and 5%) were exposed to varied dosages of 3-MeV electron beam (EB); 0 kGy, 15 kGy, 20 kGy, and 25 kGy. The optimum film XLPE/ 5-ZnO, which has ZnO NP content (5 wt%), irradiated at 25 kGy, according to alternating current (AC)/ DC conductivity (AC: 1 × 10−4 S/m; DC: 12.44 × 10−2 S/m) in minimum relative permittivity (2.24), was obtained. COMSOL Multiphysics was used to simulate the electric field distribution within an MV cable of 25-kGy XLPE/ 5-ZnO insulation. The maximum uniform electric field was found in the middle of the 25-kGy XLPE/5-ZnO film sample, rather than at the top or bottom, which might be attributed to the significantly low relative permittivity of the new 25-kGy XLPE/5-ZnO film cable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigated the spectral property changes in anti-adhesion films, which were cross-linked and surface-modified through electron beam irradiation, using terahertz time-domain spectroscopy (THz-TDS). Polyethylene oxide (PEO), which is a biocompatible and biodegradable polymer, was the main component of these anti-adhesion films being manufactured for testing. The terahertz characteristics of the films were affected by the porosity generated during the freeze-drying and compression processes of sample preparation, and this was confirmed using optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging. An anti-adhesion polymer film made without porosity was measured by using the THz-TDS method, and it was confirmed that the refractive index and absorption coefficient were dependent on the crosslinking state. To our knowledge, this is the first experiment on the feasibility of monitoring cross-linking states using terahertz waves. The THz-TDS method has potential as a useful nondestructive technique for polymer inspection and analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a cost-effective and eco-friendly approach to acid recovery, diffusion dialysis (DD) has attracted much attention but still suffers from dissatisfactory selectivity and low-efficiency, especially for low-concentration acidic wastewater. Herein, a robust graphene-based composite membrane was fabricated for high-selective acid recovery via DD process from low-concentration acidic solution by starting from graphene oxide (GO) and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) mixed dispersion, which was treated by electron beam (E-beam) irradiation and vacuum-filtration in sequence. It was proved that the E-beam irradiation not only initiated the GO reduction, but also caused covalent PVA decoration on sheets, which endowed the obtained composite membrane with tolerance to intense ultrasonication and resistance to swelling in water. Tunable ability to block metal ion permeation and higher H+ permeation than coexisting metal ions also were substantiated, which contributed to around 5.1 × 10−3 m h−1 of H+ dialysis coefficients (U H +) from low-concentration mixed HCl solution (pH = 1, 0.2 mol L−1 metal chloride), rivaling that of commercial DD membrane (DF-120B) from high-concentration acid solution (≥1 mol L−1). More importantly, separation factor from the HCl/FeCl 3 mixed solution reached up to 387.2, an order of magnitude higher than that of DF-120B membrane (24.3) and also superior to most of the reported DD membranes. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Natural fiber-reinforced polymer composites offer many benefits over predictable composite materials, such as accessibility, low-cost, lightweight, and high definite mechanical properties. However, the applications of these materials are quiet restricted due to the contests in realizing a good interface between the fibers and matrix. This is highly influenced by the fiber surface characteristics and the polymer matrix properties. Therefore, this work discusses the incorporation of newsprint microcrystalline fibers (NPMCFs) in styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR) based composite. The fibers were first treated with (consistent concentration (10 w/100 w) coupling agents to fiber, respectively. The coupling agents namely: vinyl acetate versatic ester (VAcVe), maleic anhydride (MA), and phenol-formaldehyde resin (PFR), followed by surficial modification by irradiation with 30 kGy electron beam. Pristine and produced fibers were compounded to SBR. Mixing the ingredients was carried out on a rubber roll mill and then molded on a hot press to induce sulfur vulcanization. Characterization of the yielded fibers was investigated using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometry (FTIR). The mechanical properties of composites, such as tensile strength (TS), tensile modulus, tensile set, and crosslinking density demonstrated enhanced values as a result of enforcing the SBR matrix. The morphological examination via scanning electron microscopy (SEM) techniques explicitly indicated the adhesion of the prepared fibers to SBR moiety. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) confirmed a remarkable improvement in the thermal stability of the developed MA and PFR/SBR composites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In pursuit of miniaturization in the semiconductor industry, two-dimensional (2D) materials are used to fabricate new electronic devices. The topological insulator (TI) material bismuth telluride (Bi2Te3), as an emerging 2D material, has potential applications in electronic and spintronic devices due to its unique electrical properties. It is well known that the surface-to-volume ratio increases as the thickness of the material decreases, resulting in a more prominent edge effect. Therefore, for a single-layer Bi2Te3, the atomic structure of the edge plays a crucial role in its electrical properties. Here, combining first-principles calculations and in situ transmission electron microscopy (TEM) experimental studies, we report that there are two types of edge structures in single-layer Bi2Te3: semiconducting flat edges and metallic zigzag edges. The dynamic evolution process of the edge structure with atomic resolution shows that the proportions of these two edges change with continuous electron beam irradiation. Our findings demonstrate the viability to use electron beam as an effective tool to precisely tailor the edge of Bi2Te3 with desired properties, which paves the way for implementation of single-layer Bi2Te3 in electronics and spintronics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anatase TiO 2 samples with three different morphologies were successfully prepared by the solvothermal method, and their photoelectric properties were tested. The mixed anatase TiO 2 demonstrated the best photoelectrochemical water splitting performance with a photocurrent density of 0.84 mA/cm2 (1.23V vs. reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE)), carrier concentration of 1.29 × 1022 cm-3, and interface resistance of 29.20 Ω. Further, the anatase TiO 2 samples with different morphologies were doped with nitrogen ions by electron beam irradiation in order to modify the defect concentration in these samples. Among them, the photocurrent density of mixed anatase TiO 2 irradiated by 100 kGy obtained the highest current density at 0.99 mA/cm2 (1.23 V vs. RHE). Moreover, its carrier concentration reached 2.46 × 1022 cm-3 and interface resistance was reduced to 11.24 Ω. The photocatalytic properties of TiO 2 with different morphologies and the effects of irradiation and nitrogen doping on the properties of the samples were investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Real-time structural changes in Na-β″-alumina were observed in situ using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) with electron beam irradiation. Na-β″-alumina has been widely investigated as a solid electrolyte material for sodium–sulfur secondary batteries owing to its high ionic conductivity. This high conductivity is known to be due to the Na+ ions on the loosely packed conduction planes of Na-β″-alumina. In the present study, we acquired real-time videos of the generation of spinel blocks caused by the conduction of Na+ ions. In addition, by observing Na extraction during electron beam irradiation, we experimentally confirmed that spinel block generation originates from the Na+ ion conduction, which has been a subject of recent debate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electron beam irradiation technology has gained more attention as it appears to be a promising economically and environmentally sustainable alternative to traditional wet-chemical processing. It is an advanced approach that is clean, solvent-free, time-saving, and ecologically benign with acceptable handling and operation properties. This review provides a study of the latest literature on the technology of electron beam irradiation surface modification of textile. Considerable emphasis is also placed on the most novel applications of electron beam irradiation such as the functionalization of textile materials, which leads to the development of alternative sustainable techniques or revolutionary advanced materials soon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Perfluorinated and hydrocarbon surfactants are important contaminants in wastewater. In this study, degradation of surfactants including PFOS, LAS, and CTAB under electron beam irradiation is investigated under different irradiation conditions (0–10 kGy absorbed dose, pH 3–11). Fulvic acid and H2O2 are used as active species inhibitors to study the effect of OH and eaq− on surfactants degradation. Irradiation degradation products of surfactants are analyzed by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. The degradation mechanisms of surfactants are summarized according to the experimental results. It shows that surfactants degradation is promoted at a high absorbed dose and pH value. The degradation rate of PFOS, LAS, and CTAB is 93.8%, 89.1%, and 80.6% maximum, respectively. The eaq− plays a dominant role in the breakage of C–C bonds in surfactants. The bonds of C–F, C–S, and C–N are mainly destroyed by OH. The degradation of surfactants follows pseudo-first-order kinetics. Degradation products of surfactants include various long and short-chain molecules. Furthermore, concentrations of short-chain products increase with absorbed dose because of further degradation of long-chain products. This study shows the potential application for electron beam irradiation technology to remove perfluorinated and hydrocarbon surfactants from wastewater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pharmaceutical compounds were emerging contaminants, and the accumulation of pharmaceutical compounds in the environment increased the risk to humans and ecosystems. In this study, electron beam irradiation was applied to degrade indomethacin (IDM) in aqueous solution. IDM degradation followed pseudo-first-order kinetics and 300 μM IDM could be completely degraded at only 2 kGy. According to the quenching experiment, the dose constant ratios of oxidative radicals (•OH) and reductive radicals (e−aq and •H) could be calculated as k•OH: keaq and •H=4.79:1. As the concentration of H2O2 increased from 0 to 10 mM, the dose constant increased from 1.883 to 2.582 kGy−1. However, degradation effect would be restrained in the existence of NO−3, NO−2, CO2−3, HCO−3, SO2−, and humic acid due to their competition for the active species. Theoretical calculation revealed the radical attacking sites of IDM molecule and the most probable pathways were proposed with identification of intermediates. The attack of •OH mainly resulted in the cleavage of amide bond, indole ring opening, demethoxylation, and •OH addition. Dechlorination and the reduction of the carbonyl group occurred on IDM molecular through the reduction of e−aq and •H. The intermediates could continue to be degraded to small molecule acid, such as formic acid, acetic acid, and oxalic acid. Furthermore, highly toxic IDM transformed into less toxic products during the irradiation process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To attain thermoplastic polymer composites with enhanced thermal and mechanical properties as well as long‐term durability, in this study, polyurethane‐coated carbon fiber (CF) and electron beam (EB) irradiation are adopted as an effective reinforcing filler and efficient crosslinking process, respectively. For this purpose, polyamide 6 (PA)‐based composites with different CF contents of 1–10 wt% were fabricated through melt‐compounding and compression molding, and then irradiated with various EB doses of 50–200 kGy. The SEM and FT‐IR data reveal that CFs are well dispersed in the PA matrix with excellent interfacial adhesion via specific intermolecular interactions, which are even enhanced for the composites with crosslinked PA matrices after the EB irradiation. As the result, the thermal stability (initial decomposition temperature and residue at 800°C) and dynamic mechanical properties of PA/CF composites increased noticeably with increasing the CF content and EB irradiation dose. The initial storage modulus of 1.90 GPa for neat PA at 30°C was improved significantly to 2.94 GPa by 10 wt% CF addition and to 4.67 GPa by 200 kGy EB irradiation. In particular, the long‐term mechanical properties of PA/CF composites, which were evaluated using a stepped isothermal method based on the time–temperature superposition principle, were found to be highly enhanced by the synergistic effect of CF filler reinforcement, EB‐induced PA matrix crosslinking, and improved interfacial adhesion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The nonviable allogeneic human skin grafts might be considered as the most suitable skin substitutes in the treatment of extensive and deep burns. However, in accordance to biological security such grafts require the final sterilization prior to clinical application. The aim of the study was to verify the influence of electron beam irradiation of three selected doses: 18, 25, and 35 kGy on the extracellular matrix of human skin. Prior to sterilization, the microbiological tests were conducted and revealed contamination in all examined cases. Individual groups were subjected to single electron beam radiation sterilization at proposed doses and then subjected to microbiological tests again. The results of microbiological testing performed for all irradiation doses used were negative. Only in the control group was a growth of microorganisms observed. The FTIR spectrometry tests were conducted followed by the histological evaluation and mechanical tests. In addition, cost analysis of radiation sterilization of individual doses was performed. The results of spectroscopic analysis, mechanical tests, and histological staining showed no significant changes in composition and characteristics of tested tissues after their irradiation, in comparison to control samples. The cost analysis has shown that irradiation with 18 kGy is the most cost‐effective and 35 kGy is the least favorable. However, according to biological risk reduction, the recommended sterilization dose is 35 kGy, despite the higher price compared to the other doses tested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, the dyeing properties of polypropylene, nylon 6, and polyester, which were pretreated using electron beam irradiation, were investigated. The effects of exposure doses (0–300 kGy) and different oxidation periods in the air on the synthetic fabrics were studied. The optimum conditions were achieved at 300 kGy for 1-hour oxidation time. The dye absorbance occurred in all layers of the fabrics, as determined using Raman spectroscopy. Further, the morphology and chemical composition of the surface of the fabric were studied using scanning electron microscopy. Additionally, the dyeing procedure exhibited good coloration behavior and features, commercially acceptable leveling properties, and excellent color fastness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Blends from the thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) of Propylene/1-butene copolymers (PPB) and Ethylene–propylene–diene monomer (EPDM) were successfully prepared by melt-mixed in an internal mixer and crosslinking through highenergy electron beam irradiation technology. The foaming process was achieved with the assistance of eco-friendly supercritical carbon dioxide (sc-CO2). The effect of EPDM content on foaming, morphology, thermal, and mechanical properties of EPDM/PPB blends with varied irradiation dose were investigated. Microstructural analysis revealed a perfect compatibility of PPB and EPDM in TPE. The increased EPDM content caused a decrease in the mechanical properties (hardness and tensile strength) of TPE; however, it has been improved with the increased irradiation dose. The thermal analysis indicated that the addition of EPDM and high-energy electron beam crosslinking resulted in a new melting peak near 150 °C in TPE, and a new crystalline phase appears during the crystallization process. Repeated processing performance tests showed that the incorporation of higher PPB content reduces the loss of mechanical properties of the prepared blend. The micro-morphology of the cell structure in foamed TPE material was investigated, and it was found that the size of cell structure gradually decreased with the increased EPDM content; however, the cell size has a tendency to increase first and then decrease with the increase of irradiation dose. At 40 kGy irradiation dose, the cell structure size is the largest among all EPDM/PPB foams. The cyclic compression test of the TPE foamed material showed that the material’s resistance to repeated compression got promoted with the increased EPDM content.

In the present work, microstructural images by scanning and transmission electron microscopy have been analyzed for the surface modification of AM60 magnesium alloy. For such an objective, the pulsed electron beam irradiation technique was used at different values of the surface energy. Both scanning and transmission electron microscopes were utilized to examine the microstructure change after the irradiation, compared to the as-cast magnesium alloy. Obtained results revealed wavy surfaces of AM60 samples after the irradiation process. Due to having lower crack density, the superior irradiation condition was obtained at 5 J/cm2 for 10 pulses for AM60 magnesium alloy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphene‐like films (GLFs) are selectively deposited on the silicon oxide/silicon structures preirradiated with electrons at various electron energies and irradiation doses. These films demonstrate high conductivity and are used as a gate material for metal‐oxide‐semiconductor (MOS)‐based devices. It is shown that high‐quality capacitance–voltage characteristics of the GLF‐gated MOS structures can be obtained if both an energy and a dose are carefully tuned. Using the GLF‐gated MOS as a pseudo‐field effect transistor structure, a notable current modulation in the selectively grown GLF is observed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A series of polymer blends based on plasticized starch (PLST), poly(vinyl alcohol), alginic acid (AG), and chitosan (CS) were prepared by solution casting. The different blends were exposed to electron beam irradiation to different doses to form hydrogels. The blends before and after electron beam irradiation were characterized in terms of gel fraction (%), swelling in water (%), FTIR spectroscopic analysis, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and rheological measurements. As a practical application in the field agriculture, the hydrogels were used as growth promotion of corn plants. The results showed that the gel fraction was increases by increasing the ratio of PVA in the blends and was decreased by the addition of AG or CS due to the occurrence of degradation. On the other hand, opposite results was found in swelling in water. The corn plant growth indicated an improvement in corn plant height in presence of CS or AG polymers in starch (PLST), poly(vinyl alcohol) blends also, more improvement in corn plant heights in case of blends modified with MgSO4. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When ionizing irradiation interacts with a media, it can form reactive species that can react with the constituents of the system, leading to eradication of bioburden and sterilization of the tissue. Understanding the media's properties such as polarity is important to control and direct those reactive species to perform desired reactions. Using ethanol as a polarity modifier of water, we herein generated a series of media with varying relative polarities for electron beam (E-beam) irradiation of cornea at 25 kGy and studied how the irradiation media's polarity impacts properties of the cornea. After irradiation of corneal tissues, mechanical (tensile strength and modulus, elongation at break, and compression modulus), chemical, optical, structural, degradation, and biological properties of the corneal tissues were evaluated. Our study showed that irradiation in lower relative polarity media improved structural properties of the tissues yet reduced optical transmission; higher relative polarity reduced structural and optical properties of the cornea; and intermediate relative polarity (ethanol concentrations = 20-30% (v/v)) improved the structural properties, without compromising optical characteristics. Regardless of media polarity, irradiation did not negatively impact the biocompatibility of the corneal tissue. Our data shows that the absorbed ethanol can be flushed from the irradiated cornea to levels that are nontoxic to corneal and retinal cells. These findings suggest that the relative polarity of the irradiation media can be tuned to generate sterilized tissues, including corneal grafts, with engineered properties that are required for specific biomedical applications. Extending the shelf-life of corneal tissue can improve general accessibility of cornea grafts for transplantation. Irradiation of donor corneas with E-beam is an emerging technology to sterilize the corneal tissues and enable their long-term storage at room temperature. Despite recent applications in clinical medicine, little is known about the effect of irradiation and preservation media's characteristics, such as polarity on the properties of irradiated corneas. Here, we have showed that the polarity of the media can be a valuable tool to change and control the properties of the irradiated tissue for transplantation. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sterilization of medical devices is commonly performed using radiation methods. However, collagen materials can be damaged when using standard radiation doses (25 kGy). Small increases of radiation dose can allow for increases in the acceptable initial bioburden load of aseptically manufactured devices while maintaining required sterility assurance levels, which is often critical in early stage translational settings. In this study, we hypothesized that small increases in radiation dose from 15 to 20 kGy would result in significant changes to several key characteristics of collagen scaffolds. Scaffolds were manufactured by lyophilizing the pepsin digest of dense bovine connective tissue in cylindrical molds and were irradiated at either 0, 15, 17.5, or 20 kGy with an additional group packaged in nitrogen and irradiated at 17.5 kGy. Groups were evaluated for changes to the soluble collagen and glycosaminoglycan mass fractions, protein banding patterns in electrophoresis, a collagen fragmentation assay, and resistance to enzymatic degradation. All parameters were statistically analyzed using one-way analysis of variance with Tukey's correction for multiple comparisons. The soluble collagen mass fraction was significantly decreased in the 20 kGy group; however, there was no significant effect of radiation dose or a nitrogen-rich environment on the other measured parameters, including protein banding patterns, fragmented collagen content, and resistance to enzymatic degradation. Statement of Clinical Significance : Collagen scaffolds have proven useful in clinical applications but can be damaged by standard radiation doses. Low-dose sterilization may be a viable alternative that minimally impacts key properties of these scaffolds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Virgin styrene‐butadiene rubber (SBR) was replaced by devulcanized waste tire rubber (DWR) 50/50 and used as a rubber base for preparing composites to depend on different silicate types at fixed content 40 phr (part per hundred part of rubber). All composites were mixed on a rubber roll mill and then subjected to electron beam irradiation to induce cross‐linking at a dose of 100 kGy. Different silicate fillers were used in this study such as precipitated silica (PS) 40 phr, waste glass window (WG) – PS 20/20 phr, fly ash (FA)‐PS 20/20 phr, and micaosilica (MS)‐PS 20/20 phr. Waste silicate was treated with (3‐aminopropyl) trimethoxysilane (APTMS) and blended with PS. Mechanical properties were measured for the composites like ultimate tensile strength, elongation at break, tensile modulus, and the cross‐link density was calculated from the mechanical study. As well as, application for floor tiles included compression set and abrasion resistance measurements. All results indicated an enhancement in ultimate tensile strength, modulus, and cross‐link density by adding silicate fillers and more enhanced in the electron beam irradiated samples. For the application of floor tiles, the MS filler gave a good compression set and abrasion resistance followed by other silicate fillers (PS, FA), except WG. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Postmortem metabolism in shrimp is an important factor affecting muscle quality during its preservation. Electron beam irradiation (EBI) can effectively kill microorganisms and inactivate enzymes. In this study, the tandem mass tag (TMT) method was used to study the changes in the muscle metabolism of Solenocera melantho postmortem before and after EBI (6 kGy). The TMT method identified a total of 656 proteins, including 120 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) (56 upregulated, 64 downregulated). The analysis of these results showed that EBI can inactivate most enzymes and slow down their corresponding metabolic processes. These results also showed that irradiation can denature some proteins. The study revealed the effects of EBI on the muscle quality of S. melantho at the molecular level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was carried out to assess the effect of irradiated chitosan as an elicitor on the biochemical traits associated with resistance to purple blotch disease in onion. Chitosan was electron beam irradiated at 100 kGy dose to obtain low molecular weight chitosan. Irradiated chitosan at 20 and 0.04% concentration and different time intervals was used as a biological elicitor cum antimicrobial agent against purple blotch disease in onion. Field grown onion (Variety Basanvant 780) plants were foliar sprayed with irradiated chitosan and the biochemical responses were monitored using parameters namely chlorophylls, carotenoids, antioxidant enzymes, phenols, and antifungal enzyme β-1,3 Glucanase using standard methods. Compared to control treatment, a positive correlation with irradiated chitosan treatment was observed for an increase in β-1,3-glucanase, peroxidase activity, and contents of total phenolics, chlorophylls, and carotenoids, which cumulatively contributed to resistance response against the purple blotch disease. Irradiated chitosan (0.04%) treated onion plants at 30, 45, and 60 DAT showed a higher total phenolics, β-1,3-glucanase activity, and peroxidase activity besides enhanced antioxidant properties. The results suggest that irradiated chitosan has elicited resistance responses against purple blotch disease in onion. The increased production of antioxidant metabolites may provide value addition to onion as a food commodity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fluorapatite compounds of calcium and strontium; (Ca10(PO4)6F2 and Sr10(PO4)6F2), are being explored as alternative to borosilicate glass matrix for nuclear waste immobilization. This study is aimed at investigating the thermodynamic behavior of these compounds as well as the effect of temperature and electron radiation on their crystal lattice. Heat capacity and enthalpy increments of these compounds were measured using calorimetric technique. Thermal expansion up to 1073 K was measured by High Temperature X‐ray Diffraction (HT‐XRD). Electron beam radiation induced polymeric phosphate linkage formation in the structure was evidenced by vibrational spectroscopy (FTIR and Raman). Combined XRD, IR and Raman study revealed that Ca10(PO4)6F2 is more resistant towards structural damage upon electron beam irradiation as compared to Sr10(PO4)6F2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Main charging characteristics of LiTaO3 ferroelectric crystals under electron beam irradiation are presented. Experiments were carried out in a wide energy range of irradiating defocused electron beams. The main characteristics of the surface potential, the secondary electron emission current and the displacement current were found to be significantly different from those of classical dielectrics. Specifics of charging polarized ferroelectric crystals are due to the presence of a double layer of charges at the surface. We developed the four-layer charge distribution model which describes a superposition of the initial field and the electric field formed as a result of two-layer distribution of charges created under electron beam irradiation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electron beam irradiated sheep wool with absorbed radiation doses ranging from 0 to 165 kGy showed good adsorption properties toward copper cations. The Cu(ii) being Lewis acid generated several types of complex salts based on carboxylates or cysteinates with ligands available in keratin. Under these conditions, cross-links were formed between the keratin chains. Experimental data obtained from Cu(ii) adsorption using the concentration of 800–5,000 mg/L were tested for fitting to 10 isotherm models. Various compositions and architectures of the Cu(ii)-complexes were specified to be responsible for different isotherm model fittings. The copper cation showed adherence to Langmuir, Flory–Huggins, and partially Redlich–Peterson models. The latter clearly distinguished the native wool from the modified ones. Another aim is to investigate the conditions for the adsorption of anti-microbial nanoparticles in addition to the redox-active metals on radiation-modified wool taking into account that the diffusion of nanoparticles into the modified wool is governed by electrostatic interactions.

The effect of electron beam irradiation on the amorphous chalcogenide film As38S36Se26 was studied. The formation of cones with a Gaussian profile on the surfaces of the films was found after local electron irradiation. Exposition dependent evolution of height surface nanostructures has been detected. The dependence of the height of surface nanostructures on the dose of irradiation is analyzed. Charge accumulation model into interaction region between the film and the electron beam was used to explain the electron-induced phenomena of the surface structure of amorphous As38S36Se26 films. Charges relaxation times, and electron beam penetration depth into film, and the initial and inverse doses are determined.

Iron oxide nanoparticles with a mean size of approximately 5 nm were synthesized by irradiating micro-emulsions containing iron salts with energetic electrons. The properties of the nanoparticles were investigated using scanning electron microscopy, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, selective area diffraction and vibrating sample magnetometry. It was found that formation of superparamagnetic nanoparticles begins at a dose of 50 kGy, though these particles show low crystallinity, and a higher portion is amorphous. With increasing doses, an increasing crystallinity and yield could be observed, which is reflected in an increasing saturation magnetization. The blocking temperature and effective anisotropy constant were determined via zero-field cooling and field cooling measurements. The particles tend to form clusters with a size of 34 nm to 73 nm. Magnetite/maghemite nanoparticles could be identified via selective area electron diffraction patterns. Additionally, goethite nanowires could be observed.

Advanced wound dressings that can deliver potent antibacterial action are still much in need, especially for treating wound infections caused by drug-resistant bacteria. In this research, we utilized electron beam (EB) irradiation to develop antibacterial hydrogel sheet dressings from poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) and silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) in a two-step processing and evaluated their bactericidal efficacy, as well as the AgNP release. The effect of the irradiation dose on the swelling, gel fraction, network parameters, and mechanical properties of the hydrogels was first determined to establish the optimal doses for the two-step processing. The prototypic hydrogel sheets were then formed in the first EB irradiation and served as a matrix for the AgNP synthesis by the reduction of the silver nitrate precursors during the second EB irradiation. The diffusion assay showed that the minimal inhibition concentration (MIC) of the AgNP-load hydrogels was 0.25 and 0.5 mg/cm2 against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, respectively. At these MIC levels, the released AgNPs increased sharply before reaching the maximum, ~950 and 1800 ppb, at 24 h as analyzed by atomic absorption. Therefore, we successfully demonstrated that this two-step processing by EB irradiation provides a convenient platform to fabricate AgNP-loaded hydrogel dressings that can be further developed for wound healing.

Fibrous polyurethane-based scaffolds have proven to be promising materials for the tissue engineering of implanted medical devices. Sterilization of such materials and medical devices is an absolutely essential step toward their medical application. In the presented work, we studied the effects of two sterilization methods (ethylene oxide treatment and electron beam irradiation) on the fibrous scaffolds produced from a polyurethane-gelatin blend. Scaffold structure and properties were studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), a stress-loading test, and a cell viability test with human fibroblasts. Treatment of fibrous polyurethane-based materials with ethylene oxide caused significant changes in their structure (formation of glued-like structures, increase in fiber diameter, and decrease in pore size) and mechanical properties (20% growth of the tensile strength, 30% decline of the maximal elongation). All sterilization procedures did not induce any cytotoxic effects or impede the biocompatibility of scaffolds. The obtained data determined electron beam irradiation to be a recommended sterilization method for electrospun medical devices made from polyurethane-gelatin blends.

The use of bioactive molecules derived from medicinal plants in wound healing has recently attracted considerable attention in both research and public interest. In this work, we demonstrated the first attempt to incorporate the extract from Thai red onion skins in hydrogel patches intended for transdermal delivery. The red onion skin extract (ROSE) was first prepared and evaluated for cytotoxicity by MTT assay with both L929 and human dermal fibroblast cells. Hydrogel patches with porous microstructure and high water content were fabricated from polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) by electron beam irradiation and characterized for their physical, mechanical, morphological, and cytocompatible properties prior to the loading of ROSE. After decontamination by electron beam irradiation, the in vitro release profile exhibited the burst release of extract from ROSE-coated hydrogel patches within 5 h, followed by the sustained release up to 48 h. Finally, evaluation of skin permeation using Franz cell setup with a newborn pig skin model showed that the permeation of ROSE from the hydrogel patch increased with time and reached the maximum of 262 µg/cm2, which was well below the cytotoxicity threshold, at 24 h. These results demonstrated that our ROSE-coated hydrogel patches could potentially be used in transdermal delivery.

This study investigated the effects of electron beam irradiation (EBI) on the structural, physicochemical, and functional properties of lentil starch with varying maltose content. EBI did not significantly disrupt the starch's surface structure or cause amorphization of starch and maltose crystals, but it significantly reduced the intensity of starch's XRD peaks. The presence of maltose intensified internal growth ring damage, leading to more cross-link and rearrangement between short chains, improving short-range ordering of lentil starch and enhancing starch's solubility and thermal stability. Additionally, adding maltose that EBI then treats can lead to an increased content of slowly digestible starch in samples.

Creating a diverse dipolar microenvironment around the active site is of great significance for the targeted induction of intermediate behaviors to achieve complicated chemical transformations. Herein, an efficient and general strategy is reported to construct hypercross-linked polymers (HCPs) equipped with tunable dipolar microenvironments by knitting arene monomers together with dipolar functional groups into porous network skeletons. Benefiting from the electron beam irradiation modification technique, the catalytic sites are anchored in an efficient way in the vicinity of the microenvironment, which effectively facilitates the processing of the reactants delivered to the catalytic sites. By varying the composition of the microenvironment scaffold structure, the contact and interaction behavior with the reaction participants can be tuned, thereby affecting the catalytic activity and selectivity. As a result, the framework catalysts produced in this way exhibit excellent catalytic performance in the synthesis of glycinate esters and indole derivatives. This manipulation is reminiscent of enzymatic catalysis, which adjusts the internal polarity environment and controls the output of products by altering the scaffold structure., (© 2024 The Author(s). Advanced Science published by Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)

The current high-capacity lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), reliant on flammable liquid electrolytes (LEs) and nickel-rich cathodes, are plagued by safety hazards, especially the risk of hazardous gas release stemming from internal side reactions. To address these safety concerns, an electron beam (E-beam)-induced gel polymer electrolyte (E-Gel) is introduced, employing dipentaerythritol hexaacrylate (DPH) as a bi-functional cross-linkable additive (CIA). The dual roles of DPH are exploited through a strategically designed E-beam irradiation process. Applying E-beam irradiation on the pre-cycled cells allows DPH to function as an additive during the initial cycle, establishing a protective layer on the surface of the anode and cathode and as a cross-linker during the E-beam irradiation step, forming a polymer framework. The prepared E-Gel with CIA has superior interfacial compatibility, facilitating lithium-ion diffusion at the electrode/E-Gel interface. The electrochemical assessment of 1.2 Ah pouch cells demonstrates that E-Gel substantially reduces gas release by 2.5 times compared to commercial LEs during the initial formation stage and ensures superior reversible capacity retention even after prolonged cycling at 55 °C. The research underscores the synergy of bifunctional CIA with E-beam technology, paving the way for large-scale production of safe, high-capacity, and commercially viable LIBs., (© 2024 The Authors. Small published by Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)

An amorphous carbon deposition layer (CDL) with nanoscale thickness induced by scanning electron microscope (SEM) electron beam is studied as a carbon-based protective layer on copper (Cu). CDL is prepared by inducing the deposition of pollutants or hydrocarbons in the cavity of SEM through electron beam irradiation (EBI). Wrinkles and cracks will not form and the interfacial spacing of CDL/Cu is smaller than Graphene/Cu (Gr/Cu). The thickness and coverage of the interfacial oxide layer of CDL/Cu are all smaller than that of the Gr/Cu after the same oxidation conditions. Characterization of Raman mapping also demonstrates that CDL shows better oxidation inhibition effects than graphene. The structure of CDL is determined to be C = C and C = O, CH 3 - and C-O can be loaded vertically on CDL. Density functional theory (DFT) is employed for demonstrating the smaller interfacial gap of CDL/Cu, less wrinkles and cracks and larger adsorbing energy of water/oxygen compared with Gr/Cu. Molecular dynamic (MD) simulation also indicates that the diffusion of water or oxygen into CDL/Cu is more difficult and the oxidation of Cu covered by CDL is well suppressed. This work provides a new approach for the study of carbon-based antioxidant materials on Cu., (© 2024 Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)

Cu-based materials are used in various industries, such as electronics, power generation, and catalysis. In particular, monolayered cuprous oxide (Cu2O) has potential applications in solar cells owing to its favorable electronic and magnetic properties. Atomically thin Cu2O samples derived from bulk cuprite were characterized by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM). Two voltages, 80 kV and 300 kV, were explored for in situ observations of the samples. The optimum electron beam parameters (300 kV, low-current beam) were used to prevent beam damage. The growth of novel crystal structures, identified as Cu, was observed in the samples exposed to isopropanol (IPA) and high temperatures. It is proposed that the exposure of the copper (I) oxide samples to IPA and temperature causes material nucleation, whereas the consequent exposure via e-beams generated from the electron beam promotes the growth of the nanosized Cu crystals.

Being both a cause and a victim of water scarcity and nutrient deficiency, agriculture as a sustainable livelihood is dependent now on finding new suport solutions. Biodegradable hydrogels usage as soil conditioners may be one of the most effective solutions for irrigation efficiency improvement, reducing the quantity of soluble fertilizers per crop cycle and combating pathogens, due to their versatility assured by both obtaining method and properties. The first goal of the work was the obtaining by electron beam irradiation and characterization of some Sodium Alginate-g-acrylamide/acrylic Acid hydrogels, the second one being the investigation of their potential use as a soil conditioner by successive experiments of absorption and release of two different aqueous nutrient solutions. Alginate-g-acrylamide/acrylic Acid hydrogels were obtained by electron beam irradiation using the linear accelerator ALID 7 at 5.5 MeV at the irradiation doses of 5 and 6 kGy. For this were prepared monomeric solutions that contained 1 and 2% sodium alginate, acrylamide and acrylic acid in ratios of 1:1 and 1.5:1, respectively, for the obtaining of materials with hybrid properties derived from natural and synthetic components. Physical, chemical, structural and morphological characteristics of the obtained hydrogels were investigated by specific analysis using swelling, diffusion and network studies and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy and Scanning Electron Microscopy. Four successive absorption and release experiments of some synthetic and natural aqueous solutions with nutrients were performed.