Publikační činnost Centra energetických a environmentálních technologií / Publications of Centre of Energy and Environmental Technologies (9390)

Permanent URI for this collectionhttp://hdl.handle.net/10084/158299

Kolekce obsahuje bibliografické záznamy publikační činnosti (článků) akademických pracovníků Centra energetických a environmentálních technologií (9390) v časopisech registrovaných ve Web of Science od roku 2025 po současnost.
Do kolekce jsou zařazeny:

publikace, u nichž je v originálních dokumentech jako působiště autora (adresa) uvedena Vysoká škola báňská-Technická univerzita Ostrava (VŠB-TUO),
publikace, u nichž v originálních dokumentech není v adrese VŠB-TUO uvedena, ale autoři prokazatelně v době jejich zpracování a uveřejnění působili na VŠB-TUO.

Bibliografické záznamy byly původně vytvořeny v kolekci Publikační činnost akademických pracovníků VŠB-TUO, která sleduje publikování akademických pracovníků od roku 1990.

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Now showing 1 - 20 out of 23 results

Rapid microwave-assisted hydrothermal in situ synthesis of nano-ZnS/ kaolinite nanocomposite: a non-toxic photocatalyst active under UV and sunlight
(Elsevier, 2025) Smijová, Julie; Tokarský, Jonáš; Mamulová Kutláková, Kateřina; Peikertová, Pavlína; Gabor, Roman; Pavlovský, Jiří; Rajhelová, Hana
Clay mineral kaolinite (K) is suitable for the immobilization of nano-ZnS leading to increase in its photocatalytic activity (PA). Two synthesis methods, conventional hydrothermal (H) and microwave-assisted hydrothermal (M), and various reaction parameters (six reaction times, three nZn:nS molar ratios) for nano-ZnS/K nanocomposites were compared. In addition to XRPD, FTIR, DRS and SEM analyses, PA was determined on acid orange 7 under UV irradiation (lambda = 365 nm), and for selected samples also under natural sunlight. After 360 min of UV irradiation, PA 98 % (H; 210 min; 1:1) and 90 % (M; 30 min; 1:1) were reached. Under the sunlight, PA 97 % (H; 210 min; 2:1) and 93 % (M; 20 min; 2:1) were achieved after 540 min, respectively. Lipid peroxidation tests revealed the inhibition of peroxidation for all nanocomposites. The non-toxicity and hight PA under sunlight suggest the potential for outdoor use of nanocomposites in water purification or construction industry.
Deciphering key nano-bio interface descriptors to predict nanoparticle-induced lung fibrosis
(Springer Nature, 2025) Cao, Jiayu; Yang, Yuhui; Liu, Xi; Huang, Yang; Xie, Qianqian; Kadushkin, Aliaksei; Nedelko, Mikhail; Wu, Di; Aquilina, Noel J.; Li, Xuehua; Cai, Xiaomin; Li, Ruibin
The advancement of nanotechnology underscores the imperative need for establishing in silico predictive models to assess safety, particularly in the context of chronic respiratory afflictions such as lung fibrosis, a pathogenic transformation that is irreversible. While the compilation of predictive descriptors is pivotal for in silico model development, key features specifically tailored for predicting lung fibrosis remain elusive. This study aimed to uncover the essential predictive descriptors governing nanoparticle-induced pulmonary fibrosis.MethodsWe conducted a comprehensive analysis of the trajectory of metal oxide nanoparticles (MeONPs) within pulmonary systems. Two biological media (simulated lung fluid and phagolysosomal simulated fluid) and two cell lines (macrophages and epithelial cells) were meticulously chosen to scrutinize MeONP behaviors. Their interactions with MeONPs, also referred to as nano-bio interactions, can lead to alterations in the properties of the MeONPs as well as specific cellular responses. Physicochemical properties of MeONPs were assessed in biological media. The impact of MeONPs on cell membranes, lysosomes, mitochondria, and cytoplasmic components was evaluated using fluorescent probes, colorimetric enzyme substrates, and ELISA. The fibrogenic potential of MeONPs in mouse lungs was assessed by examining collagen deposition and growth factor release. Random forest classification was employed for analyzing in chemico, in vitro and in vivo data to identify predictive descriptors.ResultsThe nano-bio interactions induced diverse changes in the 4 characteristics of MeONPs and had variable effects on the 14 cellular functions, which were quantitatively evaluated in chemico and in vitro. Among these 18 quantitative features, seven features were found to play key roles in predicting the pro-fibrogenic potential of MeONPs. Notably, IL-1 beta was identified as the most important feature, contributing 27.8% to the model's prediction. Mitochondrial activity (specifically NADH levels) in macrophages followed closely with a contribution of 17.6%. The remaining five key features include TGF-beta 1 release and NADH levels in epithelial cells, dissolution in lysosomal simulated fluids, zeta potential, and the hydrodynamic size of MeONPs.ConclusionsThe pro-fibrogenic potential of MeONPs can be predicted by combination of key features at nano-bio interfaces, simulating their behavior and interactions within the lung environment. Among the 18 quantitative features, a combination of seven in chemico and in vitro descriptors could be leveraged to predict lung fibrosis in animals. Our findings offer crucial insights for developing in silico predictive models for nano-induced pulmonary fibrosis.
Band engineering in iron and silver co-doped double perovskite nanocrystals for selective photocatalytic CO2 reduction
(Royal Society of Chemistry, 2024) Ahmad, Razi; Zhang, Yu; Navrátil, Jan; Błoński, Piotr; Zdražil, Lukáš; Kalytchuk, Sergii; Naldoni, Alberto; Rogach, Andrey L.; Otyepka, Michal; Zbořil, Radek; Kment, Štěpán
Double metal cation halide perovskites are promising alternatives to lead halide perovskites due to their exceptional compositional flexibility and stability. However, their utilization in solar-light harvesting applications has been hindered by their large band gap and the complexity of producing doped or alloyed materials with desirable optoelectronic properties. In this study, we report the colloidal synthesis of iron-doped Cs2NaInCl6 double perovskite nanocrystals (NCs), leading to a significant extension of the absorption edge from 330 nm to 505 nm. We also demonstrate that simultaneous doping with Fe3+ and Ag+ ions allows significant reduction of the optical band gap and precise tuning of electronic band structures of the resulting NCs. The enhanced absorption in the visible region is attributed to the substitution of In-5s by the Fe-3d state, while the introduction of the Ag 4d state upshifts the valence band maximum, inducing a transformative change in the band structure, as confirmed by density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Remarkably, by precisely controlling the band positions of the Fe3+-doped Cs2Ag0.5Na0.5InCl6 NCs, we accomplished the selective photocatalytic reduction of CO2 into CH4, making them readily available for solar-energy conversion technologies.
Practical and scalable hydrogenation of nitro compounds using palladium-based nanocatalyst under ambient conditions
(Elsevier, 2024) Vakati, Venkateswarlu; Goyal, Vishakha; Alshammari, Ahmad S.; Kalevaru, V. Narayana; Wohlrab, Sebastian; Natte, Kishore; Zbořil, Radek; Jagadeesh, Rajenahally V.
Catalytic hydrogenation at ambient conditions represents an essential and practical methodology, which allows for the more convenient access of fine and bulk chemicals. Here, we report Pd-based nanoparticles (PdNPs@SiO2) as an efficient catalyst for the hydrogenation of nitroarenes to anilines at atmospheric pressure of hydrogen and at room temperature. This specific Pd-catalyst allows for the hydrogenation of various functionalized and structurally challenging nitroarenes to valuable anilines, which serve as key building blocks and versatile intermediates in chemical, pharmaceutical and agrochemical industries as well as material technologies. These Pd-nanoparticles exhibited excellent stability and can be recycled and reused at least 6 times without any significant drop in the activity. Notably, this ambient hydrogenation process can be scaled up to several grams.
Tailoring conductive MXene@MOF interfaces: New generation of synapse devices for neuromorphic computing
(American Chemical Society, 2024) Sharma, Akashdeep; Lee, Hyeon-Seung; Yeom, Chae-min; Surendran, Harikrishnan K.; Narayana, Chandrabhas; Eadi, Sunil Babu; Zbořil, Radek; Lee, Hi-Deok; Jayaramulu, Kolleboyina
Synapse devices, pivotal components in neuromorphic computing, demonstrate unique properties that are essential for advanced computing systems. These devices, characterized by their metal/resistive layer/metal structure, rely heavily on active layer material. One important challenge in developing synapse devices for artificial neural networks lies in constructing these networks at a hardware level to achieve in-memory computing, enabling the efficient processing of information while minimizing power consumption. Herein, we present a rational design and in situ synthesis of two-dimensional (2D/2D) heteronanostructures intricately integrating Ti-based metal carbide as Ti-MXene (Ti3C2) with copper-based metal-organic framework as Cu-tetrakis (4-carboxyphenyl) porphyrin (Cu-TCPP) through van der Waals interactions to form a hybrid as [Ti3C2@Cu-TCPP] (1). The hybrid exhibits synergistic properties of both counterparts with an intricate hierarchical structure, ensuring exceptional stability and remarkable conductivity, fundamental for the progression of advanced neuromorphic devices. The resultant hybrids show an advanced neuromorphic device with comprehensive comparative analysis using DC I-V sweeps was conducted to evaluate different device types, focusing on parameters such as the high-resistance state, low-resistance state, and on/off ratio. Results demonstrated that Ti3C2@Cu-TCPP@PVA-based devices exhibited an impressive on/off ratio of approximately 10(2), outperforming Cu-TCPP@PVA and Ti3C2@PVA-based devices. This highlights the superior performance of Ti3C2@Cu-TCPP@PVA and its potential for advanced applications in neural network systems. Furthermore, the conduction mechanism was elucidated, revealing the dominance of the space-charge limited conduction mechanism during the SET process and the Schottky emission mechanism during the RESET process.
Efficient pressure regulation in nonlinear shell-and-tube steam condensers via a Novel TDn(1+PIDn) controller and DCSA algorithm
(Springer Nature, 2025) Jabari, Mostafa; Ekinci, Serdar; Izci, Davut; Bajaj, Mohit; Blažek, Vojtěch; Prokop, Lukáš
Steam condensers are vital components of thermal power plants, responsible for converting turbine exhaust steam back into water for reuse in the power generation cycle. Effective pressure regulation is crucial to ensure operational efficiency and equipment safety. However, conventional control strategies, such as PI, PI-PDn and FOPID controllers, often struggle to manage the nonlinearities and disturbances inherent in steam condenser systems. This paper introduces a novel multistage controller, TDn(1 + PIDn), optimized using the diligent crow search algorithm (DCSA). The proposed controller is specifically designed to address system nonlinearities, external disturbances, and the complexities of dynamic responses in steam condensers. Key contributions include the development of a flexible multi-stage control framework and its optimization via DCSA to achieve enhanced stability, faster response times, and reduced steady-state errors. Simulation results demonstrate that the TDn(1 + PIDn) controller outperforms conventional control strategies, including those tuned with advanced metaheuristic algorithms, in terms of settling time, overshoot, and integral of time weighted absolute error (ITAE). This study marks a significant advancement in pressure regulation strategies, providing a robust and adaptive solution for nonlinear industrial systems.
Digital twin enabled smart microgrid system for complete automation: An overview
(Elsevier, 2025) Sahoo, Buddhadeva; Panda, Subhasis; Rout, Pravat Kumar; Bajaj, Mohit; Blažek, Vojtěch
Recent advancements in communication technology (CT) have ignited significant interest in the cutting-edge concept of the digital twin (DT), which holds the potential to revolutionize smart microgrid systems (SMGs). This study delves into the concepts and essential steps involved in constructing a DT-enabled smart microgrid (DT-SMG), emphasizing the necessity for complete automation to enhance device intelligence. Additionally, the paper discusses implementation standards for automation and the need for further modifications to accommodate future applications. The objective is to explore important DT-SMG use cases, and discuss the associated problems and potential solutions within DT-based automation frameworks. Recognizing the criticality of situational awareness, security, and resilience in DT-SMGs, the paper conducts a comparative study, highlighting the pros and cons gleaned from existing literature. These findings offer readers a comprehensive perspective, empowering them to develop and deploy DT technology across a spectrum of power system applications. Finally, the paper looks ahead to the future horizon of DT-SMGs.
Optimal parameter identification of photovoltaic systems based on enhanced differential evolution optimization technique
(Springer Nature, 2025) Parida, Shubhranshu Mohan; Pattanaik, Vivekananda; Panda, Subhasis; Rout, Pravat Kumar; Sahu, Binod Kumar; Bajaj, Mohit; Blažek, Vojtěch; Prokop, Lukáš
Identifying the parameters of a solar photovoltaic (PV) model optimally, is necessary for simulation, performance assessment, and design verification. However, precise PV cell modelling is critical for design due to many critical factors, such as inherent nonlinearity, existing complexity, and a wide range of model parameters. Although different researchers have recently proposed several effective techniques for solar PV system parameter identification, it is still an interesting challenge for researchers to enhance the accuracy of the PV system modelling. With the above motivation, this article suggests a stage-specific mutation strategy for the proposed enhanced differential evolution (EDE) that adopts a better search process to arrive at optimal solutions by adaptively varying the mutation factor and crossover rate at different search stages. The optimal identification of PV systems is formulated as a single objective function. It appears in the form of the Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) between the PV model current from the experimental data and the current calculated using the identified parameters considering the parameter constraints (limits). The I-V (current-voltage) characteristics/data with identified parameters are validated with the experimental data to justify the proposed approach’s accuracy and efficacy for different cells and modules. Extensive simulation has been demonstrated considering two different PV cells (RTC France & PVM-752-GaAs) and three different PV modules (ND-R250A5, STM6 40/36 & STP6 120/36). The results obtained from the proposed EDE technique show Root Mean Square Errors (RMSE) of 7.730062e-4, 7.419648e-4, and 7.33228e-4 respectively, in parameter identification of RTC France PV cell models based on single, double, and triple diodes. Also, the RMSE involved in parameter identification of PVM-752-GaAs PV cell models based on single, double, and triple diodes are 1.59256e-4, 1.408989e-4, and 1.30181e-4, respectively. The parameters identification of ND-R250A5, STM6 40/36 and STP6 120/36 PV modules involve RMSE values of 7.697716e-3, 1.772095e-3, and 1.224258e-2, respectively. All these RMSE values obtained with proposed EDE are the least as compared to other well-accepted algorithms, thereby justifying its higher accuracy.
Enhancing maize yield and quality with metal-based nanoparticles without translocation risks: A brief field study
(MDPI, 2024) Ernst, Dávid; Kolenčík, Marek; Šebesta, Martin; Žitniak Čurná, Veronika; Qian, Yu; Straka, Viktor; Ducsay, Ladislav; Kratošová, Gabriela; Ďurišová, Ľuba; Gažo, Ján; Baláži, Juraj
Our previous studies have shown physiological and yield intensification of selected crops with the application of nanoparticles (NPs). However, the impact on the quantitative, qualitative, and yield parameters of maize (Zea mays L.) in field conditions remains highly debated. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of zinc oxide (ZnO-NPs), gold NPs anchored to meso-biosilica (Au-NP-bioSi), and titanium dioxide (TiO2-NPs) as biological stimulants under field conditions during the vegetation season of 2021 in the Central European region. The study assessed the effects on the number of plants, yield, yield components, and nutritional quality, including mineral nutrients, starch, and crude protein levels. The potential translocation of these chemically-physically stable NPs, which could pose a hazard, was also investigated. The results indicate that Au-NP-bioSi and ZnO-NPs-treatments were the most beneficial for yield and yield components at a statistically significant level. Mineral nutrient outcomes were varied, with the NP-free variant performing the best for phosphorus-levels, while Au-NP-bioSi and ZnO-NPs were optimal for crude protein. Starch content was comparable across the TiO2-NPs, Au-NP-bioSi, and control variants. Importantly, we observed no hazardous translocation of NPs or negative impacts on maize grain quality. This supports the hypothesis that NPs can serve as an effective tool for precise and sustainable agriculture.
Brønsted acid-facilitated thioetherification cross-coupling reactions with nickel and visible light
(American Chemical Society, 2025) Nikitin, Maksim; Ötvös, Sándor B.; Ghosh, Indrajit; Philipp, Maximilian; Gschwind, Ruth; Kappe, C. Oliver; König, Burkhard
Transition metal-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions are essential in modern organic synthesis, facilitating the rapid creation of complex molecular structures. Traditionally, these reactions rely heavily on conventional bases, with only a few exceptions reported. Recently, we developed adaptive dynamic homogeneous catalysis (AD-HoC), a method that enables C(sp2)–S cross-couplings without needing traditional ligands, bases, or additives. Given the growing demand for protocols compatible with acidic conditions in metal-catalyzed cross-couplings, we revisited AD-HoC to pioneer acid-facilitated transition metal-catalyzed thioetherification. Our method enables the swift synthesis of thioethers using nickel and visible light, with a substoichiometric amount of Brønsted acid acting as an enabler. NMR kinetic studies indicate that in the absence of acid, the system displays an induction period characteristic of autocatalysis. Introducing the acid as a simple additive eliminates this induction period and significantly accelerates the reaction. Moreover, the protocol has been successfully scaled to gram-level synthesis using continuous flow technology, achieving productivities of over 100 g per hour in a commercially available lab-scale photoreactor. This highlights the method’s robustness and scalability, making it a powerful tool for large-scale applications.
Harnessing photocatalytic activity of mesoporous graphitic carbon nitride decorated by copper single-atom catalysts for oxidative dehydrogenation of N-heterocycles
(Elsevier, 2024) Gaikwad, Rahul P.; Warkad, Indrajeet R.; Chaudhari, Dinesh S.; Jiang, Shan; Miller, Jeffrey T.; Pham, Hien N.; Datye, Abhaya; Gawande, Manoj B.
This work describes the application of Cu single-atom catalysts (SACs) for photocatalytic oxidative dehydrogenation of N-heterocyclic amines to the respective N -heteroaromatics through environmentally benign and sustainable pathways. The mesoporous graphitic carbon nitride (mpg-C3N4), prepared by the one-step pyrolysis method, possesses a lightweight material with a high surface area (95 m(2) g(-1)) and an average pore diameter (3.6 nm). A simple microwave-assisted preparation method was employed to decorate Cu single-atom over mpg-C3N4 support. The Cu single-atom decorated on mpg-C3N4 support (Cu@mpg-C3N4) is characterized by various characterization techniques, including XRD, UV-visible spectrophotometry, HRTEM, HAADF-STEM with elemental mapping, AC-STEM, ICP-OES, XANES, EXAFS, and BET surface area. These characterization studies confirmed that the Cu@mpg-C3N4 catalyst exhibited high surface area, mesoporous nature, medium band gap, and low metal loading. The as-synthesized and well-characterized Cu@mpg-C3N4 single-atom photocatalyst is then evaluated for its efficacy in converting N-heterocycles into corresponding N-heteroaromatic compounds with excellent conversion and selectivity (>99 %). This transformation is achieved using water as a green solvent and a 30 W white light as a visible light source, demonstrating the catalyst's potential for sustainable and environmentally benign reactions.
Proof of inherent intelligence consensus mechanism empowering blockchain-enabled transactive energy
(IEEE, 2025) Hussain, Imran; Hussain, Hafiz Ashiq; Ullah, Nasim; Mišák, Stanislav
An evolving energy system with a dispersed infrastructure may not be compatible with traditional centralized optimization and management techniques. Blockchain, a peer-to-peer immutable distributed ledger technology, has the potential to significantly contribute to the management of emerging trends of decentralized power networks. However, complex optimization problems associated with the decentralized power grid are poorly integrated into the existing blockchain applications. Here, we suggest Proof of Inherent Intelligence (PoII), a novel prosumer-centric consensus mechanism designed to assist multi-interest party optimization challenges of the distributed power grid. We demonstrate PoII's operation and performance with comprehensive mathematical modeling of energy pool-market trading and scheduling optimization problems. The efficiency of the proposed framework is evaluated against the existing blockchain applications for peer-to-peer energy transactions in terms of latency, throughput, tolerance against adversaries, vulnerability, and optimization capabilities. A thorough case study of the power grid that includes thermal, wind, and intermittent generation sources is presented to assess the effectiveness of the proposed consensus mechanism. Power demand, reserves, trading, and scheduling scenarios in both the day-ahead and balancing markets are among the peer-to-peer energy transactional elements that are assessed to support the efficacy of the suggested consensus approach.
Investigation of thermal comfort under face masks wearing conditions in the smart building
(Frontiers Media S.A., 2025) Orman, Lukasz J.; Debska, Luiza; Honus, Stanislav; Radek, Norbert; Adamczak, Stanislaw; Siwczuk, Natalia
The paper analyses thermal comfort of people wearing face masks. The study took place in the selected classrooms of the smart building "Energis" located in Poland. In the experiments 100 respondents participated. They filled in the questionnaire forms, in which they expressed their subjective assessment of the indoor thermal environment. Simultaneously, measurements of the physical parameters within the rooms were performed with a microclimate meter. The results clearly show that the use of face masks influenced thermal sensations of the people - they felt warmer than without the face mask on (at the same air temperature). Moreover, the respondents who wore the masks indicated that the air was more humid in relation to the case when the masks are not applied. The comparison of the obtained actual thermal sensations of the respondents with the calculation results according to the thermal comfort model proved that the model was unable to properly predict thermal sensations of people wearing face masks.
Impact of polyethylene terephthalate microplastics on aerobic granular sludge structure and EPS composition in wastewater treatment
(MDPI, 2025) Jachimowicz, Piotr; Cydzik-Kwiatkowska, Agnieszka
Aerobic granular sludge (AGS) is a promising technology for wastewater treatment. Granules have a compact microbial structure and a high potential for pollutant removal. Despite its advantages, the impact of microplastics (MPs) on AGS remains poorly understood, posing a potential risk to the stability and efficiency of biological wastewater treatment processes. This study investigates the effects of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) MPs on AGS structure and extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) composition, providing new insights into the interaction between MPs and AGS. Four granular sequencing batch reactors (GSBRs) were operated with varying concentrations of PET MPs in the influent wastewater (0, 1, 10, 50 mg/L). Key findings include MP-induced changes in granule size distribution, with an increase in smaller granules (<90 mu m) observed in reactors exposed to PET MPs. EPS concentrations (51-77 mg/L) exhibited significant differences among reactors, with notable shifts in protein (PN) and polysaccharide (PS) fractions. A higher PET MP dose resulted in an increased PN/PS ratio (from 1.96 to 5.40) and elevated hydrophobicity of AGS. These changes suggest that MPs can alter AGS structure and EPS composition, potentially affecting granule stability and treatment performance. This study provides novel evidence on the disruptive effects of MPs in wastewater treatment systems, emphasizing the need to address MP pollution in the context of biological treatment processes. The results contribute to a deeper understanding of the interactions between MP and AGS and form the basis for strategies to mitigate their adverse effects.
Three-stage pyrolysis-catalytic dry reforming of waste polyolefins over MFI and Ni-MFI catalysts for BTEX and syngas production
(Elsevier, 2024) Inayat, Amer; Inayat, Alexandra; Klemencová, Kateřina; Schwieger, Wilhelm; Leštinský, Pavel
This work presents an experimental proof-of-concept study for a three-stage pyrolysis-catalytic dry reforming process for recovering valuable chemicals from waste plastics. It is demonstrated that depending upon the catalysts, process parameters and reactor configuration, plastic waste and carbon dioxide can be converted into a diverse array of valuable chemicals which can be used as secondary feedstocks in the chemical or petrochemical industry, thus decreasing dependency on fossil resources and contributing to waste reduction. For this work, waste polypropylene was thermally pyrolyzed and the emerging vapors were passed over HZSM-5 catalyst to obtain BTEX-rich pyrolysis oil and pyrolysis gases containing mainly C1 to C4 hydrocarbons. The gaseous products were separated, mixed with CO2 and passed over Ni-silicalite-1 catalyst to obtain syngas, thus upgrading the pyrolysis gases and contributing to CO2 reduction. This study may provide new insights towards the development of processes for the chemical recycling of waste plastics and CO2.
The effect of wood species on fine particle and gaseous emissions from a modern wood stove
(MDPI, 2024) Rinta-Kiikka, Henna; Dahal, Karna; Louhisalmi, Juho; Koponen, Hanna; Sippula, Olli; Krpec, Kamil; Tissari, Jarkko
Residential wood combustion (RWC) is a significant source of gaseous and particulate emissions causing adverse health and environmental effects. Several factors affect emissions, but the effects of the fuel wood species on emissions are currently not well understood. In this study, the Nordic wood species (named BirchA, BirchB, Spruce, SpruceDry, Pine and Alder) were combusted in a modern stove, and the emissions were studied. The lowest emissions were obtained from the combustion of BirchA and the highest from Spruce and Alder. The fine particle mass (PM2.5) was mainly composed of elemental carbon (50-70% of PM2.5), which is typical in modern appliances. The lowest PAH concentrations were measured from BirchA (total PAH 107 mu g/m3) and Pine (250 mu g/m3). In the ignition batch, the PAH concentration was about 4-fold (416 mu g/m3). The PAHs did not correlate with other organic compounds, and thus, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) or organic carbon (OC) concentrations cannot be used as an indicator of PAH emissions. Two birch species from different origins with a similar chemical composition but different density produced partially different emission profiles. This study indicates that emission differences may be due more to the physical properties of the wood and the combustion conditions than to the wood species themselves.
Mechanical properties, workability, and experiments of reinforced composite beams with alternative binder and aggregate
(MDPI, 2024) Marcalíková, Zuzana; Jeřábek, Jan; Gandel, Radoslav; Gabor, Roman; Bílek, Vlastimil; Sucharda, Oldřich
Arguably the most important element in the sustainability of concrete development is the discovery of an optimal sustainable binder and substitution for the increasingly depleted reserves of natural aggregates. Considerable interest has been shown in alkali-activated materials, which possess good characteristics and could be considered environmentally friendly because of their use of secondary materials in production. The aim of this study was the determination of the mechanical properties of three different mixtures based on the same locally accessible raw materials. The reference mixture contained Portland cement, the second mix contained a finely ground granulated blast furnace slag instead of cement, and the third mixture contained a portion of light artificial aggregate. The experiments focused on the testing and mutual comparison of the processability of the fresh mixture and mechanical characteristics (like compressive and flexural strength, as well as resistance to high temperatures and surface layer tear strength tests). Reinforced concrete beams without shear reinforcement and with three levels of reinforcement were also tested with a three-point bend test. The results show that, overall, the mechanical properties of all the tested mixtures were similar, but each had its own disadvantages. For example, the blast furnace slag-based mixture had a more vulnerable surface layer or a debatable loss of bulk density in the light aggregate mix at the expense of the mechanical properties. One of the main results of the research is that it was possible to technologically produce beams from the alkali-activated concrete (AAC) mixture. Then, the performed beam experiments verified the mechanism of damage, collapse, and load capacity. The obtained results are essential because they present the use of AAC not only in laboratory conditions but also for building elements. In beams without shear reinforcement, the typical tensile cracks caused by bending and shear cracks appeared under loading, where their character was affected depending on the degree of beam reinforcement and loading.
Advances of MXene heterostructure composites in the area of sensing and biomedical applications: An overview
(Elsevier, 2024) Ponnada, Srikanth; Kiai, Maryam Sadat; Yadav, Sarita; Palariya, Anjali; Vusa, Chiranjeevi Sreenivasa Rao; Bose, Rapaka Chandra; Nehra, Anita; Datta, Saikat; Pawar, Ravinder; Simha Martynková, Gražyna; Gadkari, Siddharth; Naskar, Susmita; Sharma, Rakesh K.
Among various two-dimensional materials, MXenes have emerged as versatile materials that incorporate transition metal carbide, nitride, and carbonitrides. MXenes are gaining paramount attraction among the scientific community in areas of catalyst, energy, electromagnetic shielding, and sensors due to their outstanding mechanical, electrical, sensing, optical, and tunable characteristics. The unique properties such as surface chemistry, graphene-like morphology, metal-like conductivity, and high hydrophilicity ameliorate MXene as an ideal 2D material for surface-related applications. This review focuses on the most recent reports on the surface modifications/surface chemistry and electrochemical sensing of different analytes using MXenes for biomedical applications, biomolecule detection, and environmental monitoring. The present review concisely summarizes different characterization techniques, such as X-ray diffraction methods and electron microscopy, for evaluating MXene characteristics. Apart from titanium carbide MXene, other MXene needs a careful investigation to accentuate the future perspectives of MXenes in sensor devices. This comprehensive review paper aims to inspire the scientific community that is intrigued by the potential properties, benefits, prospects, and difficulties of utilizing 2D materials in various biosensing and biomedical applications.
The innovative design of carbon dots on polymer texture for highly selective detection of amino compounds
(Elsevier, 2024) Maruthapandi, Moorthy; Durairaj, Arulappan; Saravanan, Arumugam; Luong, John H. T.; Bakandritsos, Aristides; Gedanken, Aharon; Zbořil, Radek
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are of growing concern due to their toxicity and environmental impact. Their facile detection is thus of a high importance but still challenging because they are unreactive and often present at very low concentrations. Developing sensing schemes for VOCs based on low-cost, sensitive, selective, and user-friendly methods is therefore crucial for environmental monitoring. To address these issues, we herein developed polymer supported carbon dots (CDs) by reacting tetraminobenzene with 2,4,6-trichlorophenyl oxalate using a simple reflux method. Owing to the selection of precursors, polymer supported fluorescent carbon dots (P-CDs) were grown decorating the synthesized polymeric spheres. The P-CDs composites were highly stable, and their fluorescence was drastically quenched by several VOC analytes (ethanolamine, diethanolamine, triethanolamine, and ammonia) due to the rich surface functional groups that could effectively and selectively interact with amines. The polymer component contributed to ascribing excellent photophysical and chemical stability, which is valuable particularly for sensing in complex matrices. As a result, the developed P-CDs exhibited superior properties when applied as VOC sensors, including high selectivity for several amines but not for other organic species, fast response, and very high stability, while offering a simple detection method, and minimum sample pre-treatment. The PCD design has extended potential for diverse sensing applications, including, for instance, control of prohibited transport of chemicals and post-toxic analysis.
A comparison between the quality of two level and three levels bidirectional buck-boost converter using the neural network controller
(IEEE, 2024) Gaied, Hajer; Flah, Aymen; Kraiem, Habib; Prokop, Lukáš
A comparison between two-phase and three-phase interlaced DC converter with parallel MOSFET is presented. PWM is evaluated using a two-way DC-DC converter to charge and discharge a battery. The results show an excellent DC voltage gain without an extremely high cycle load. The interlaced DC-DC converters with MOSFETs in parallel in two and three phases offer distinct advantages and limitations. The two-phase converter has a simpler design and a potentially lower cost due to the reduced number of components. However, it can present challenges in terms of precise voltage regulation and current balancing, due to the limited number of switching phases. On the other hand, the three-phase converter offers more precise voltage regulation and improved current balance thanks to its higher number of phases. While this results in increased design complexity and potentially higher cost, it allows for a more uniform distribution of current load among MOSFETs. The choice between the two will depend on the specific requirements of the application, acceptable trade-offs in terms of complexity, cost and performance, as well as the need for accurate voltage regulation and optimal current balancing.

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