Graphene-based materials and their role in electrocatalysis related to hydrogen production have been intensively investigated by many authors, often justified through a low price of such materials. ...In this study we used single-step electrodeposition/graphene oxide reduction route to prepare Ni@reduced- graphene-oxide composites for electrochemical hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). As the precursors for reduced graphene oxide, two different home-made graphene oxides were used. When compared to pure electrodeposited Ni, composite catalysts show improved catalytic activity which depends on Ni electrodeposition time in a volcano-type fashion. Using electrochemically prepared graphene oxide, HER overvoltage needed to reach 10 mA cm-2 was reduced to only -97 mV, showing the improvement by roughly 200 mV when compared to pure electrodeposited Ni. It was concluded that structural disorder and surface oxidation of graphene-based materials are the key properties for reaching high HER activities of such prepared catalysts. Based on this observation, it was discussed whether it is economically justified to use high quality graphene oxide for the preparation of HER catalysts, as the price (production and commercial) of this material can be extremely high, often exceeding the price of platinum.
The paper describes the mechanical properties and the corrosion behaviour of three Al?Si alloys in 0.5 M NaCl solution. The alloys have exhibited similar values of hardness, but the highest tensile ...strength and the lowest elongation have shown the specimens of alloy with 11.38 % of silicon. Higher content of both copper and magnesium has contributed to better tensile strength and lower elongation of as-cast hypoeutectic alloys. The harmful effects of iron on mechanical properties of all alloys have been reduced to some extent by nickel and cobalt addition. The differences in the values of the open circuit potential of the examined alloys were insignificant. The thickness of the protective oxide layer has increased over time, and the layer has become very compact. Slight differences in the values of the corrosion potential of the alloys were determined, whereas the lowest value of the corrosion current was indicated for the hypereutectic alloy. The presence of intermetallic phases in the alloys has shown that the oxide film was not consistent. The severe pits have not been found at the surface of the corroded samples. Based on the obtained results, the examined alloys may be used for the manufacturing of the internal combustion engine parts.
nema
Fluoride release is important characteristic of glass-ionomer cements. Quantity of fluoride ions released from the glass-ionomer cements has major importance in definition of their biological ...activity. The objectives of this study were to define the quantity of fluoride ions released from the experimental glass-ionomer cements and to define the effect of fluoride ions released from the experimental glass-ionomer cements on their cytotoxicity. Concentrations of the fluoride ions released in the evaluated glass-ionomer cements were measured indirectly, by the fluoride-selective WTW, F500 electrode potential, combined with reference R503/D electrode. Statistical analyses of F-ion concentrations released by all glass-ionomers evaluated at two time points, after 8 and after 24 hours, show statistically higher fluoride releases from RMGICs: Vitrebond, Fuji II LC and Fuji Plus, when compared to conventional glass-ionomer cements: Fuji Triage, Fuji IX GP Fast and Ketac Silver, both after 8 and after 24 hours. Correlation coefficient between concentrations of fluoride ion released by evaluated glass-ionomer cements and cytotoxic response of UMR-106 osteoblast cell-line are relatively high, but do not reach levels of biological significance. Correlation between concentrations of fluoride ion released and cytotoxic response of NIH3T3 mouse fibroblast cell line after 8 hours is high, positive and statistically significant for conventional GICs, Fuji Triage and Fuji IX GP Fast, and RMGIC, Fuji II LC. Statistically significant Correlation coefficient between concentrations of fluoride ion released and cytotoxic response of NIH3T3 cell line after 24 hours is defined for RMGIC Fuji II LC only.
The paper presents an examination of the possibility of applying raspberry flower extract (Rubus idaeus L.) as a green inhibitor of general corrosion of copper in 3% NaCl. Raspberry flowers (Rubus ...idaeus L.) sort Polka were collected from the Moševac near Maglaj city, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Raspberry flower extract in ethanol was obtained by ultrasonic extraction. A significant content of polyphenol was found in the raspberry flower extract by UV/VIS spectrophotometry analysis. Results obtained by DC techniques (by the methods of Tafel extrapolation, potentiodynamic polarization and linear polarization) prove that the corrosion rate decreases in the presence of the raspberry flower extract. Tests performed by the method of electrochemical impedance spectroscopy prove that the tested extracts slow down the kinetics of the corrosion process, which is visible through the increase in resistance. The results of the conducted tests prove that in an aggressive medium, such as 3% NaCl solution, Polka raspberry flower extract can be used as an inhibitor of copper's corrosion.
Plant extracts contain a large number of organic compounds, and one of the large groups of compounds present are phenolic compounds. Researchers have shown that a certain number of these compounds ...can be used as effective metal corrosion inhibitors. Plant extracts of raspberries (leaves, flowers, and fruit) were obtained by ultrasonic extraction using 96% ethanol as a solvent. The UV/Vis spectrophotometric method was used to determine the content of total phenols in plant extracts. Phenolic acids and flavonoids in plant extracts were separated and quantified using the HPLC method. Tafel extrapolation was used for electrochemical characteristics. The corrosion characteristics and behavior of bronze in 3% NaCl solution, with and without the presence of plant extracts were investigated. The content of total phenols in leaves was found to be 107.14±3.63 mg/g in flowers 148.99±9.02 mg/g and in fruits was 8.75±0.61 mg/g. Leaf extract in a concentration of 0.04828 g/L according to the Tafel extrapolation method provides the best protection for bronze in a 3% NaCl solution. The same concentration in the case of flower and fruit extracts proved to be the most favorable.
U radu su prikazani rezultati istraživanja opterećenosti teškim metalima na relaciji tlo-biljka-životinja područja Srednje-bosanskog kantona. Istraživanja su obuhvatila analizu sadržaja kadmija (Cd), ...žive (Hg) i željeza (Fe) u jetrenom i bubrežnom tkivu domaće janjadi. S područja općine Kakanj žrtvovano je 8 janjadi, od kojih su uzeti uzorci tkiva jetre i bubrega, a Zenice 7 janjadi, od kojih su također uzeti uzorci tkiva jetre i bubrega. Sadržaj teških metala (Cd, Hg i Fe) u uzetim uzorcima, utvrđen je na ICP-MS (masena spektrometrija s induktivno spregnutom plazmom), u skladu s evropskim standardima (EN 13805 : 2002, IDT) i (EN 15763, 2009, IDT). Utvrđena srednja količina Cd u uzorcima tkiva jetre s područja općine Kakanj iznosila je 0,115, a Zenice 0,261 mg/kg. Srednja vrijednost količine Cd u uzorcima tkiva bubrega sa područja općine Kakanj iznosila je 0,197, a Zenice 0,476 mg/kg. Sadržaj kadmija je veoma varijabilan na oba lokaliteta. Nije utvrđena statistički značajna razlika između lokaliteta. Općenito, sadržaj kadmija je ispod gornje granice dozvoljene količine prema Direktivi Europske Komisije. Utvrđene količine Fe na oba istraživana lokaliteta su znatno ispod gornje granice dozvoljenih vrijednosti. Na oba lokaliteta u uzetim uzorcima istraživanih tkiva nije utvrđena prisutnost žive.
Hypereutectic Al–13.5Si alloy containing 1.47% of copper and 1.30% of magnesium was designed as a potential material for internal combustion engine pistons. The optical microscopy and scanning ...electron microscopy (SEM) revealed the fine dendrites of α-Al phase and significantly dispersed eutectics in as-cast specimens. Several intermetallic phases were observed indicating different crystallization velocities and alloy composition nonuniformities. The tensile testing and hardness measurements performed at room temperature have shown an excellent tensile strength and hardness of as-cast specimens, but low elongation due to a complex multiphase structure. The mechanical examinations at 250 °C and 300 °C have presented a decrease in tensile strength and an increase in elongation, while hardness was slightly changed. The fractographic analysis has shown the features of the brittle as well as ductile fracture. The areas of dimples and areas containing particles with smooth surfaces were detected. Electrochemical methods, Tafel linear polarization, cyclic voltammetry, chronoamperometric measurement and impedance spectroscopy were employed to determine the corrosion behavior of as-cast specimens in 0.5 M NaCl solution. The resistant oxide layer formed on the surface was not entirely consistent due to the appearance of intermetallic phases. SEM examinations of corroded samples did not discover severe pits on their surfaces.
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