Materials Science and Engineering Commons^™

Engineering Sulfur Concrete Mixes: A Data-Driven Approach To Aggregate Packing And Binder Efficiency, Vasilia Al Khaldi, Abdel Hamid I. Mourad, Maisa El Gamal

All Works

Processing window (mass loss < 3%). A first-order, order-of-magnitude carbon-footprint estimate—presented with explicit caveats rather than as a full life-cycle assessment—indicates that replacing Portland cement with by-product sulfur is the dominant contributor to a substantial reduction in embodied CO₂ per cubic metre relative to equivalent-strength Portland cement concrete. The valorization of steelmaking by-products aligns with circular economy principles, enabling high-performance, recyclable, and low-carbon construction materials without chemical binder modification.

A Review Of Gallium And Germanium Recovery From Industrial Solid Residues, Ernest V. Oteng, Marthias Silwamba, Lana Alagha, Alex Luyima

Mining Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

The global demand for critical elements such as gallium (Ga) and germanium (Ge), and the shift toward circular mining has accelerated the development of new extraction and recovery processing these metals from industrial solid residues. This transition is driven by a substantial surge in demand for advanced technologies and the depletion of primary ore. Consequently, industrial solid residues, particularly zinc processing residues, smelter slags, flue dusts, and coal fly ash, are emerging as viable alternative sources. These residues incorporate Ga and Ge through isomorphic substitution in phases such as ferrites, silicates, and glassy aluminosilicates, and are enriched by industrial processes, …

Built To Fall: Ruin Value From Romanticist Ideal To Materials Design Philosophy, Vuk Uskoković

Administration and Staff Articles and Research

Ruin value is an architectural principle endorsing the use of designs and materials that would allow buildings to age beautifully and retain their aesthetics even when transformed into ruins. Here, the principle is extracted from the political context in which its proponent, Albert Speer, proposed it and discussed as a continuation of a longer Romanticist tradition of appreciation of weathering and the melancholy beauty of things in decline. Noting its reach well beyond architecture and across other artistic genres, the principle is brought here into the context of natural sciences and the following question is analyzed: Is there room for …

Sensors And Smart Food Packaging For Supply Chains: Bridging Expiration Dates And Actual Perishability, Muhammad Umar Azam, Jolina Rodrigues, Mohamed Hamid Salim, Sarath Haridas Kaniyamparambil, Khalid Askar, Imane Belyamani, Blaise L. Tardy, Nouha Alcheikh

All Works

The food supply chain is undergoing critical changes to minimize environmental hazards, such as those associated with packaging, and reduce food waste and loss. One of the critical components of the latter is associated with the high variance in the perishability of individual foodstuffs. Herein, we review the state of the art in smart sensor systems and emphasize the critical role they could play in addressing the mismatch between “batch” based expiry dates and individual food products’ time-dependent responses to spoilage. Following a brief overview of food shelf life and associated legislation, a subsequent section summarizes the development of sensors …

The Vegetated-Canopy Roughness Sublayer Through A Tke-Budget Lens, Giulia Salmaso, Raul Bayoan Cal, Marc Calaf

Mechanical and Materials Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

It is well understood that vegetated canopies perturb the atmospheric flow within and immediately above the canopy, deviating from the inertial sublayer (ISL) regime characteristic of non-vegetated rough surfaces. Only above a certain height, denoted as the roughness sublayer height (RSL, 𝑧∗), do these flows return to ISL-like behavior. This distinction is critical, as parameterizations in Earth System Models (ESMs) are typically developed for ISL flows. Yet, most 𝑧∗ estimates stem from studies over flat, homogeneous canopies and may be biased. In contrast, little is known about 𝑧∗ in non-homogeneous or heterogeneous canopies that are not of agricultural interest, with …

Thermo-Mechanical Behaviour Of Metal-Coated Optical Fibers For Distributed High-Temperature Sensing: From Laboratory Characterization To Industrial Case Validation, Koustav Dey, Rony Kumer Saha, Bohong Zhang, Laura Bartlett, Jeffrey D. Smith, Ronald J. O'Malley, Jie Huang

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Reliable distributed temperature sensing in high-temperature environments remains a significant challenge due to the thermal and mechanical limitations of conventional optical fibers. In particular, polymer-coated fibers degrade above ∼300 °C due to coating failure, mechanical fragility and hydrogen ingress. Metal-coated optical fibers offer a robust alternative for harsh environments such as Electric Arc Furnaces (EAFs), aerospace engines, nuclear systems, and oil and gas wells, owing to their superior mechanical strength and hermetic sealing. In this work, a first comprehensive experimental investigation of the thermo-mechanical behavior of metal-coated optical fibers for distributed high temperature sensing is presented over a wide temperature …

Complementary Thermodynamic Mechanisms Of Boron And Carbon Segregation At Grain Boundaries In Nickel Alloys, Tyler D. Dolezal, Rodrigo Freitas, Ju Li

Faculty Publications

Grain boundary stabilization by light interstitials is central to the performance of Ni-based superalloys, yet the thermodynamic mechanisms governing their interactions with substitutional chemistry remain poorly resolved. Here, we use hybrid Monte Carlo molecular dynamics simulations to quantify how boron and carbon modify the thermodynamic, structural, and chemical ordering of grain boundaries in Ni-Cr alloys. By analyzing interfacial state variables, site-resolved segregation spectra, local chemical ordering, and structural evolution, we show that boron and carbon stabilize grain boundaries through complementary pathways. Carbon drives saturation-controlled stabilization by recruiting Cr and conditioning boundary chemistry, while suppressing temperature-driven structural transformations of the boundary. …

The Effect Of Transition Metal Oxides On The Performance Of Triboelectric Nanogenerators, Md Arafat Hossain, Abdullah Mohammad Sarjish, Md. Wasikur Rahman, Victoria Padilla, Mohammed Jasim Uddin

Mechanical Engineering Faculty Publications

Triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) are a promising energy-harvesting technique that utilizes contact electrification and electrostatic induction to convert mechanical energy into electrical energy. Contact electrification can occur between any two surfaces that experience periodic physical contact and separation, regardless of the material type. Various materials have been investigated for triboelectrification in TENGs for different applications. Although polymers are used in TENGs, various transition metal oxides (TMOs), including binary, ternary, and doped binary/ternary oxides, have also been widely studied as filler materials to improve TENG performance. Introducing TMOs into the polymer matrix enhances the performance by increasing surface charge density and enabling …

Sla Elastic Resin Curing Test Data, Richard Amesimenu, Johnson Nwogu, Haijun Gong

Datasets

3D printing via stereolithography (SLA) enables high-resolution polymer components, but as-printed parts may exhibit incomplete polymerization and reduced mechanical performance. This study investigates the effects of UV post-curing time on SLA-printed elastic photopolymer resin. Specimens were evaluated using Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), uniaxial tensile testing (ASTM D412 Type C), and Durometer Type M hardness testing. Results show that increased post-curing enhances crosslink density, tensile strength, elastic modulus, and hardness, while extended curing may reduce ductility. An optimal post-curing window balancing stiffness and flexibility was identified. Testing datasets include DSC (dsc/), tensile testing (tensile/), and hardness testing (hardness/) results for uncured …

Flexural Performance Of Deficient Rc Beams Repaired With Gfrp Composite, Zena Aljazaeri, Hayder Alghazali, Zuhair Al-Jaberi, John J. Myers

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Fiber-reinforced polymer composite materials have been improved for use in repairing and strengthening existing infrastructure over the past few decades. This case study focuses on the effect of confinement with GFRP strips on the structural performance of out-of-service beams in bridge applications due to the impact of over-height vehicles or inadequate lap-spliced reinforcements. In this study, beams with inadequate lap splices in the tension zone were utilized to mimic the damaged area in out-of-service RC beams. The proposed repair technique is a glass fiber-reinforced polymer (GFRP) composite in the form of longitudinal sheets and U-wrapped strips. The experimental study determined …

Which Factors Are Most Important For Understanding Neighborhood-Scale Electrification Transitions In New York City, And How Do These Factors Interact Within Urban Energy Systems?, Aaryan Nair

Publications and Research

Building electrification has emerged as a central strategy for reducing greenhouse gas emissions from urban areas, yet its implementation remains uneven across cities due to differences in buildings, infrastructure, and local conditions. This literature review examines the factors that influence neighborhood-scale electrification transitions in New York City and explores how these factors interact within urban energy systems. Drawing on research from building science, energy systems, infrastructure planning, and sustainability transitions, the paper identifies five recurring categories of influence: building characteristics, demand characteristics, infrastructure conditions, planning and investment capacity, and socioeconomic conditions. The review finds that building age, typology, density, and …

Thermal And Electrical Properties Of (Cr,Mo,Ta,V,W)C High-Entropy Carbide Ceramics, Ali Sarikhani, Steven M. Smith, Suzana Filipovic, William G. Fahrenholtz, Gregory E. Hilmas

Materials Science and Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

The synthesis and characterization along with the resulting properties of fully dense (Cr,Mo,Ta,V,W)C high entropy carbide ceramics were studied. The ceramics were synthesized from metal oxide and carbon powders by carbothermal reduction, followed by spark plasma sintering at various temperatures for densification. Increasing the densification temperature resulted in grain growth and an increase in the lattice parameter. Thermal diffusivity increased linearly with testing temperature, resulting in thermal conductivity values ranging from ∼7 W/m•K at room temperature to ∼12 W/m•K at 200 °C. Measured heat capacity values matched theoretical estimates calculated using the Neumann-Kopp rule. Room temperature electrical resistivity decreased from …

The Role Of Mxene In The Process Of Sintering Hpcs To Ceramic, Jianyu Dai, Congjie Wei, Jeremy Watts, Chenglin Wu

Materials Science and Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

This work presents a detailed investigation of the pyrolysis and sintering processes of hydridopolycarbosilane (HPCS) polymers, focusing on the formation of β-silicon carbide (β-SiC) and the influence of Ti₃C₂–Ox in this process. Due to the computational limitations of density functional theory (DFT), molecular dynamics methods with appropriate potentials are necessary for simulating large-scale systems, however, the available potentials are limited when the modeling process evolves relatively more element types or complex chemical-mechanical processes are studied. In this work, a machine learning based MACE (Multi-body ACE) model is adopted and trained to accurately capture the polymer's transformation …

Manufacturing Routes For Oxide Dispersion Strengthened Alloys, Ertugrul Demir, Seung Min Ha, Alexander Killips, Guan Cheng Chen, Yitian Chi, Dileepa Maddumage, Dalong Zhang, Xiaochun Li, Haiming Wen, Enrique Lavernia

Materials Science and Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Oxide dispersion strengthened alloys are promising structural materials for high temperature, irradiation, and mechanically demanding environments because their performance depends on fine and stable oxide dispersoids distributed within a metallic matrix. However, reliable fabrication remains challenging because precursor oxide nanoparticles or oxide forming species must be transformed into stable oxide dispersoids without excessive agglomeration, coarsening, contamination, or loss during processing. This review critically compares powder metallurgy, additive manufacturing, and liquid metallurgy routes for ODS alloy fabrication, with emphasis on oxide evolution, microstructure control, mechanical performance, scalability, and industrial maturity. Powder metallurgy remains the most reliable route for producing fine and …

Synergistic Reinforcement Of Lignin–Chitosan Hydrogels Using Vanillin As A Sustainable Green Crosslinker, Moses Ayitey-Adjin Jr., Mohammad Jahid Hasan, Jeremy Erb, Kishore Chand, Garry S. Crosson, Kenya Crosson, Esteban Ureña-Benavides, Erick Salvador Vasquez-Guardado

Chemical and Materials Engineering Faculty Publications

While bio-based hydrogels derived from lignin and chitosan are promising sustainable adsorbents, their practical application is hindered by poor mechanical stability. This study addresses this limitation by synthesizing lignin-chitosan hydrogels using vanillin as a green, bio-derived crosslinker via a facile solution-casting method. The formation of imine (Schiff base) linkages between the aldehyde groups of vanillin and the primary amines of chitosan was confirmed by FTIR spectroscopy (C = N stretching at ~ 1602 cm^− 1). SEM and TGA results demonstrated a reduction in the pore size of the crosslinked hydrogel and an enhanced residual thermal mass. Rheological and …

Percolation-Induced Thermo-Rheological Transitions In Biobased Graphene Nanoplatelet Nanofluids, Abiodun A. Saka, Tobechukwu K. Abor, Anthony C. Okafor, Monday U. Okoronkwo

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Biobased lubricants with thermally responsive rheology are increasingly needed for high-efficiency mechanical systems. Graphene nanoplatelet (GnP) nanofluids in vegetable oils are promising candidates, yet their percolation-driven thermo-rheological transitions remain insufficiently understood. In particular, the coupled concentration–temperature landscape controlling network-mediated flow transitions has not previously been established. Here, surfactant-free GnP nanofluids were prepared in high-oleic soybean oil (HOSO) at concentrations of 0.025–2.15% v/v (ϕ), and their rheological response was mapped between 25°C and 80 °C under steady-shear and oscillatory conditions. Below the percolation threshold (ɸ ≤ 0.1% v/v), the nanofluids exhibit near-Newtonian behavior, moderate reversible viscosity enhancement, and classical Arrhenius-type temperature …

A Semantic Data Management Framework For Uncertainty Quantification In Synchrotron Diffraction Pattern Analysis, Ayorinde E. Olatunde, Ozan Dernek, Erika I. Barcelos, Roger H. French, Anirban Mondal

Student Scholarship

Advancements in technology have enabled scientists and engineers in the synchrotron science domain to generate high-dimensional data. To conduct a machine learning study on these data, an analyst undergoes multiple analytical stages, including dimensionality reduction, predictive modelling, and uncertainty quantification (UQ).

To ensure reproducibility in science, it is necessary to document the semantic relationships among the stages of the analysis to enable provenance, interoperability, and knowledge reuse. In this work, we present a Semantic Data Management (SDM) framework rooted in FAIR principles that provides ontologies for UQ workflows. We illustrate the application of UQ ontology in synchrotron diffraction pattern analyses …

Effect Of Rheology Modification On Fiber Orientation And Dispersion In 3d-Printed Ultra-High-Performance Concrete, Haodao Li, Alfred Addai-Nimoh, Seongho Han, Kamal H. Khayat

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

The extrusion process in 3D concrete printing (3DCP) facilitates horizontal alignment of steel fibers along the printing direction, thus enhancing the load-bearing capacity of printed elements. However, such shear-induced fiber alignment is highly sensitive to rheological properties. This study investigates how variations in dynamic yield stress (τd) and plastic viscosity (μ), influence the extrudability, fiber orientation and dispersion, and anisotropic mechanical behavior of ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC). Five viscosity-modifying agent (VMA) types were incorporated at two content levels to modify the rheology of printable UHPC. Results showed that moderate VMA additions improved printability, whereas excessive contents markedly increased τd and μ; …

Review: Mechanics Of Mycelium Materials, Md Anwar Sadat Anik, Ehsanul Azim, Gerardo I. Zapata, Mohammad R. Islam

Mechanical Engineering Faculty Publications

The biological growth of fungal root structure, called mycelium, can be engineered to develop innovative fibrous and biocomposite materials. Mycelium materials have potential as sustainable alternatives to petroleum-derived materials for load-bearing applications. To realize this potential, there is an increasing effort dedicated to understanding the mechanics of mycelium materials. This work presents a systematic review of our current understanding of the mechanics of mycelium materials with a specific focus on structure–property relationships. The review first explores how the mycelium’s fiber network structure varies depending on whether it is grown as a two-dimensional (2D) membrane, a cellular foam, or as a …

Sustainable Hydrogel From Biowaste: Synthesis And Characterization Of Pectin And Starch-Based Hydrogels Derived From Fruit Peel, Aneesa Rasheed Anwar, Roudha Sultan Almarri, Munawwar Ali Khan, Pramod Kumbhar

All Works

Arid regions such as the United Arab Emirates face persistent challenges in agricultural productivity due to water scarcity, poor soil quality, and the overuse of chemical fertilizers. As a sustainable alternative, biodegradable hydrogels offer promising solutions owing to their high swelling capacity, water retention ability, and controlled release of water and nutrients. This study explored the synthesis and characterization of eco-friendly hydrogels derived from pectin and starch extracted from orange and banana peels, respectively. These biopolymers are cross-linked using calcium and polyvinyl alcohol, forming hydrogels suitable for agricultural applications. The quality of the extracted biopolymers was assessed by analyzing moisture …

Comparative Lca Of Germanium Production From Coal Fly Ash Using Chlorinated Distillation And Solvent Extraction, Dennis Dadzie, Kwame Awuah-Offei, Michael Moats, Nasib Al Habib, Weston Hartzell

Mining Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Germanium is increasingly important for high-tech applications, yet its supply chain is vulnerable, with production limited to a few countries. Although prior research has explored alternative techniques for extracting and recovering germanium, the literature lacks comparative life-cycle evidence that quantifies their environmental burdens and translates findings into actionable (policy) recommendations. This paper presents a cradle-to-gate life-cycle assessment that compares the environmental burdens of producing 1 kg of single-crystal germanium from coal fly ash via chlorinated distillation (CD) and solvent extraction (SX). Under the study's assumptions, CD has lower potential impacts in 15 of 19 impact categories, while both routes show …

Electrospinning Of Covalent Organic Frameworks (Cofs) For Adsorption Of Heavy Metal Ions, Samar A. Salim

Nanotechnology Research Centre

This study reported the synthesis, electrospinning, and heavy metal adsorption of covalent organic frameworks (COFs) integrated into poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) nanofibers. COF-1 and COF-2 were synthesized by solvothermal and reflux techniques, respectively, and subsequently incorporated into PMMA via electrospinning with different loadings (0.1%, 0.5%, and 1.0%). The synthesized PMMA_COF nanofibers were analyzed utilizing X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS). PMMA_COF nanofibers with fiber diameters of 350-450 nm were obtained. The structural and morphological investigations validated the effective integration of COFs into the PMMA matrix, with COF-1 demonstrating superior dispersion …

How Does Competitive Adsorption Between Vma And Pce Influence Yield Stress Of Cement Paste? A Novel Insight From Interparticle Forces And Percolation Threshold, Huamin Sun, Le Teng, Xiaohan Yu, Xin Shu, Zhangli Hu, Jiaping Liu, Kamal H. Khayat

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Viscosity modifying admixture (VMA) and polycarboxylate superplasticizer (PCE) are often combined to optimize rheological properties of cement-based materials. However, the competitive adsorption of these complex admixtures can greatly influence rheological properties. Many studies have investigated the variation of yield stress due to competitive adsorption between VMA and PCE; but the mechanisms are not fully understood. This study aims to shed a new light on this question in cement paste systems prepared with low water-to-binder ratios of 0.16–0.30. The competitive adsorption of VMA and PCE was quantitatively assessed using the Total Organic Carbon and Ultraviolet-Visible Spectroscopy measurements. The effect of competitive …

Nb–Zr Interdiffusion In The (Hf,Ta,Ti,Nb)B2–(Hf,Ta,Ti,Zr)B2 High-Entropy Boride System, Ana C. Feltrin, Yue Zhou, Stefano Curtarolo, Gregory E. Hilmas, William G. Fahrenholtz

Materials Science and Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Niobium (Nb) presents a challenge for achieving homogeneous solid solutions in high-entropy boride and carbide ceramics. In this work, we synthesized (Hf,Ta,Ti,Zr)B₂ (Zr-HEB) and (Hf,Ta,Ti,Nb)B₂ (Nb-HEB) ceramics by boro/carbothermal reduction, followed by densification via spark plasma sintering (SPS). Diffusion couples were prepared to investigate the interdiffusion behavior of Nb and zirconium (Zr) in these complex systems at temperatures between 2000°C and 2200°C. Aside from Nb and Zr, the other elements exhibited no significant concentration gradient across the diffusion interface. Nb exhibited lower diffusion coefficients ((Formula presented.) Nb = 1.7 x 10⁻¹⁷–1.2 x 10⁻¹⁶ m^{2 …}

Magnetic Field-Induced Transformation In Polycrystalline Ni2mnal Heusler Type Magnetic Shape Memory Alloy, Choji J. Daches, Joseph W. Newkirk, Mario Buchely, Laura N. Bartlett

Materials Science and Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

The martensitic and magnetic transformations, as well as the mechanical properties, of Ni₂MnAl alloys in as-cast (AC) and heat-treated (HT) conditions were investigated. Magnetic-field-induced strain was evaluated via magnetostriction, with reversible strains of 0.14% and 0.2% achieved in the martensitic phase at 2 K for the AC and HT alloys, respectively. Transformation temperatures and Curie temperatures were determined under constant applied magnetic field, revealing that γ-phase inclusions in the AC microstructure suppress antiferromagnetic domain response, yielding a lower magnetization (∼8.4 emu g⁻¹) compared to the HT alloy (∼13.4 emu g⁻¹). Both alloys exhibited hysteretic behavior in the martensitic state and …

Unveiling Corrosion Behavior And Passive Film Performance Of L12-Strengthened Ni28cr15cu8ti8fe26-Xco15+X Multi-Principal Element Alloys, Liran Huang, Zhiqiang Fu, Chenliang Chu, Shiyu Liu, Xiaohui Qin, Yunzhu Shi, Yongxiang Tan, Haiming Wen

Materials Science and Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

L12 precipitates are usually induced into face-centered cubic (FCC) multiple-principal element alloys (MPEAs) to improve their moderate yield strength; however, the precipitation also influences the corrosion resistance. This study investigated the corrosion behavior and passive film performance of a series of L1₂-strengthened Ni₂₈Cr₁₅Cu₈Ti₈Fe_26-xCo_15+x (x = 0, 3, 6, and 9 at.%) MPEAs in 3.5 wt.% NaCl solution. The size and density of the L1₂ nanoprecipitates were regulated via tuning Fe and Co content. With decreasing Fe/Co ratio, the radii of these nanoprecipitates gradually increased within the …

Thiol-Based Neuroprotective Copolymers Acutely Restore Redox Metabolism And Mediate Vasogenic Edema In A Mouse Model Of Traumatic Brain Injury, Evan T. Curtis, Brandon Z. Mcdonald, Aria W. Tarudji, Aaron M. Priester, Anthony J. Convertine, Forrest M. Kievit

Materials Science and Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Effective pharmaceutical interventions for treating the secondary damage associated with traumatic brain injury (TBI) are limited due to poor delivery into the brain, insufficient target engagement, and an incomplete understanding of the pathophysiological changes that occur post-impact. Thus, nanoparticles (NP), which have an enhanced permeation and retention-like effect within the perturbed blood-brain barrier, have grown as a potential candidate for treating TBI. We have investigated the antioxidant capacity of thiol-based NP, termed neuroprotective copolymers (NPC3), and their ability to neutralize reactive oxygen species (ROS) and lipid peroxidation products (LPOx). Here, we assessed the efficacy of NPC3 for alleviating the secondary …

Finite-Temperature Grain-Boundary Segregation In High-Entropy Carbides, Marium M. Mou, Tarek Md Anamul Haque, Samuel E. Daigle, Josiah Roberts, William G. Fahrenholtz, Jon Paul Maria, Douglas E. Wolfe, Eva Zurek, Stefano Curtarolo, Donald W. Brenner

Materials Science and Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

High-entropy carbides are promising candidates for extreme-temperature environments, but their grain-boundary chemistry remains difficult to resolve because segregation involves both chemical disorder and finite-temperature configurational sampling. Here, we quantify temperature-dependent grain-boundary segregation in high-entropy carbides using a universal message-passing atomic cluster expansion (MACE) machine learning interatomic potential combined with a hybrid Monte Carlo–molecular dynamics workflow. A 53.1 (Formula presented.) (Formula presented.) symmetric tilt grain boundary was sampled for six representative high-entropy carbide compositions containing group IV, V, and VI transition metals at 300 and 2000 K. Element-resolved metal-sublattice composition profiles reveal composition-dependent segregation modes. Several chemistries exhibit selective near-boundary enrichment …

Thermal And Mechanical Properties Of Zirconium Carbide Manufactured Via Ceramic On-Demand Extrusion, Clare Sabata, Yue Zhou, Jeremy L. Watts, Gregory E. Hilmas

Materials Science and Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Zirconium carbide (ZrC) was fabricated by material extrusion additive manufacturing (AM) followed by pressureless sintering at 2000°C for two hours, achieving a relative density of 90.3 %. SEM analysis revealed grains of 4.6 ± 1.8 μm; XRD confirmed single phase ZrC. A stoichiometry of ZrC_0.92 was determined by XPS. Four-point flexure testing exhibited a strength of 331.3 ± 57.1 MPa and Young's modulus of 232.8 ± 13.1 GPa. Vickers hardness was 13.6 ± 1.0 GPa and 11.6 ± 0.5 GPa at 4.91 and 9.81 N, respectively. Indentation fracture resistance was 2.9 ± 0.2 MPa⋅m^1/2; Griffith analysis confirmed …

Harnessing Tio2-Based Nanofilaments: A Pathway To Enhanced Optoelectronic Performance In Dye-Sensitized And Perovskite Light Harvesters, Zahraa Ismail, Tarek A. Elmelegy, Hassan Nageh, Sameh Abdellatif

Mechanical Engineering

This study explores the integration of TiO2-based nanofilaments into dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) and perovskite solar cells (PSCs) to enhance their optoelectronic performance. Despite the advancements in one-dimensional lepidocrocite TiO2 nanofilaments, there remains a significant gap in understanding their optical scattering mechanisms and dual applicability in both types of solar cells. We synthesized TiO2 nanofilaments and compared their performance to conventional P25 TiO2 in terms of morphology, electrical, and optical properties. The results indicate that the DSSC utilizing nanofilaments achieved a short-circuit current density of 8.2 mA/cm² and a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 6.9%, compared to 7.1 mA/cm² and …