As a potential adsorption material,it is still a challenge for activated carbon fiber(ACF)in efficient adsorption of ethanol due to its nonpolar surface,which is mainly emitted from the grain drying industry.This stud...As a potential adsorption material,it is still a challenge for activated carbon fiber(ACF)in efficient adsorption of ethanol due to its nonpolar surface,which is mainly emitted from the grain drying industry.This study prepared surface polarity-modified ACF using the heteroatom doping method.The modified ACF possessed a richer array of strongly polar oxygen/nitrogen-containing functional groups(primarily phenolic hydroxyl and lactone groups),a larger specific surface are1,and a more developed micropore structure.The adsorption capacities of ethanol for O-ACF and N-ACF were 4.110 mmol/g and 1.698 mmol/g,respectively,which were 11.3 times and 4.7 times those of unmodified ACF.This was a significant improvement over our previous work(0.363 mmol/g).The improvement of adsorption capacity for the N-ACF was mainly due to the higher specific surface are1,greater number of micropores(more adsorption sites)and abundant existence of defects,whereas,for O-ACF,the improvement mainly relied on the abundant presence of oxygen-containing functional groups on the surface.However,water had a negative effect on the adsorption of ethanol for the modified ACF due to competitive adsorption and the disappearance of capillary condensation.It was further revealed that the adsorption process of ethanol and water was quite different.It obeyed the linear driving force(LDF)model for ethanol adsorption,however,the intraparticle diffusion(IPD)model for water adsorption.展开更多
To promote early rapid osteogenesis and prevent late implant-related infection,it is critical to develop ef-fective and reliable surface treatment technologies for enhancing both osteogenic and antibacterial prop-erti...To promote early rapid osteogenesis and prevent late implant-related infection,it is critical to develop ef-fective and reliable surface treatment technologies for enhancing both osteogenic and antibacterial prop-erties of titanium alloy implants.Reduced graphene oxide(rGO)is considered a promising modification candidate.However,whether rGO retains its osteogenic and antibacterial functions after being applied to modify titanium alloy surfaces depends on the surface treatment technology employed.In this study,rGO was integrated onto the surface of Ti-35Nb-2Ta-3Zr(TNTZ)alloy through friction stir processing(FSP),yielding a consolidated TNTZ/F-rGO composite.The incorporation of rGO not only significantly im-proved the microhardness and hydrophilicity of the material,but also exhibited positive biological effects in vitro experiments:it effectively promoted the proliferation,osteogenic differentiation,alkaline phos-phatase(ALP)production and extracellular matrix mineralization of BMSCs.Furthermore,TNTZ/F-rGO ex-hibited potent antibacterial activity via surface-contact mechanisms.In summary,the rGO-modified in-tegrated titanium alloy has excellent osteogenic properties and high-efficiency antibacterial ability.This study provides new insights and strategies for the design of graphene-based biomaterials and implant surface modification technologies.展开更多
Hydrogen peroxide(H_(2)O_(2))oxidation and reduction reactions(HPOR/HPRR)are pivotal in various innovative electrochemical energy conversion devices.A comprehensive understanding of these mechanisms is critical for ca...Hydrogen peroxide(H_(2)O_(2))oxidation and reduction reactions(HPOR/HPRR)are pivotal in various innovative electrochemical energy conversion devices.A comprehensive understanding of these mechanisms is critical for catalyst design and performance improvement in these applications.In this work,we systematically investigate the HPOR/HPRR mechanisms on low-index Pt surfaces,specifically Pt(111),Pt(100)and Pt(110),through density functional theory(DFT)calculations combined with the computational hydrogen electrode(CHE)model.For HPOR,all the low-index Pt surfaces exhibit a unified potential-determining step(PDS)involving the electrochemical oxidation of hydroperoxyl intermediates(HOO*).The binding free energy of HOO*(Δ_(GHOO*))emerges as an activity descriptor,with Pt(110)exhibiting the highest HPOR activity.The HPRR mechanism follows a chem-electrochemical(C-EC)pathway.The rate-determining step(RDS)of HPRR is either the cleavage of the HO-OH bond(chemical)or the reduction of HO(electrochemical),depending on their respective activation energies.These activation energies are functions of the HO*binding free energy,Δ_(GHO*),establishingΔ_(GHO*)as the descriptor for HPRR activity prediction.Pt(111)and Pt(100)are identified as the most active HPRR catalysts among the studied metal surfaces,although they still experience a significant overpotential.The scaling relationship betweenΔ_(GHOO*)andΔ_(GHO*)reveals a thermodynamic coupling of HPOR and HPRR,explaining their occurrence on Pt surfaces.These findings provide important insights and activity descriptors for both HPOR and HPRR,providing valuable guidance for the design of electrocatalysts in H_(2)O_(2)-related energy applications and fuel cells.展开更多
Currently, a conventional two-step method has been used to generate black silicon （BS） surfaces on silicon substrates for solar cell manufacturing. However, the performances of the solar cell made with such surface ...Currently, a conventional two-step method has been used to generate black silicon （BS） surfaces on silicon substrates for solar cell manufacturing. However, the performances of the solar cell made with such surface generation method are poor, because of the high surface recombination caused by deep etching in the conventional surface generation method for BS. In this work, a modified wet chemical etching solution with additives was developed. A homogeneous BS layer with random porous structure was obtained from the modified solution in only one step at room temperature. The BS layer had low reflectivity and shallow etching depth. The additive in the etch solution performs the function of pH-modulation. After 16-min etching, the etching depth in the samples was approximately 200 nm, and the spectrum-weighted-reflectivity in the range from 300 nm to 1200 nm was below 5%. BS solar cells were fabricated in the production line. The decreased etching depth can improve the electrical performance of solar cells because of the decrease in surface recombination. An efficiency of 15.63% for the modified etching BS solar cells was achieved on a large area, p- type single crystalline silicon substrate with a 624.32-mV open circuit voltage and a 77.88% fill factor.展开更多
The addition of high-content crumb rubber(HCCR)in asphalt can effectively address waste tire pollution and provide sustainable environmental and economic advantages.However,the practical application of conventional ru...The addition of high-content crumb rubber(HCCR)in asphalt can effectively address waste tire pollution and provide sustainable environmental and economic advantages.However,the practical application of conventional rubberized binders is significantly limited by high viscosity and poor storage stability.To address these issues,researchers have pretreated crumb rubber(CR)with oil,but high-temperature performance remains insufficient.Therefore,this study aimed to optimize the viscosity,storage stability,and rheological properties of high-content crumb rubber-modified asphalt(HCCRMA)by varying the pretreatment levels of CR and incorporating various additives,including styrene-butadiene-styrene(SBS),deoiled asphalt(DA),or recycled low-density polyethylene(RLDPE).In addition,CR was pretreated with waste cooking oil(WCO)at various ratios,pre-swelling temperatures,and times.The results show that DA exhibits excellent storage stability and lower viscosity compared with other modifiers in HCCRMA,and the 4%RLDPE with pretreated HCCR has the greatest high-temperature rutting resistance.The inclusion of RLDPE increases the stiffness and elasticity of the modified asphalt,which results in greater high-temperature performance.Additionally,the fluorescence microscopy(FM)test confirms that SBS exhibits better dispersion than other modifiers and forms a more homogeneous phase separation in the HCCRMA.All in all,this research achieved an optimal balance of storage stability and rheological properties in asphalt modified with pretreated HCCR and 6%SBS,which provides a valuable reference for performance improvement of HCCR-modified binders.展开更多
This study experimentally investigates the influence of surfacewettability on the frosting characteristics of three types of corrugated structures(Types A,B,and C)under controlled low-temperature conditions.The experi...This study experimentally investigates the influence of surfacewettability on the frosting characteristics of three types of corrugated structures(Types A,B,and C)under controlled low-temperature conditions.The experiments were conducted in a constant-temperature bath at a cold surface temperature of–5℃,relative humidity of 90%,and ambient air temperature of 10℃.The results reveal that the variation trends of frost morphology,frost mass,and frost layer thickness are generally consistent across surfaces with different wettability.Among the tested surfaces,frost crystal formation and complete surface coverage occurred latest on the superhydrophobic surface(CA=153.9–165.8℃),next on the bare aluminumsurface(75.3–83.2℃),and earliest on the hydrophilic surface(5.3–7.5℃).At the same frosting duration,the superhydrophobic surface exhibited a sparse and fluffy frost layer,the bare aluminum surface formed a rough and dense frost,while the hydrophilic surface developed a fine and compact frost layer.The amount of frost formation decreased in the order of hydrophilic>bare aluminum>superhydrophobic,indicating that the superhydrophobic surface provides the most significant anti-frosting effect during the initial stages of frost formation.For instance,on the Type A corrugated structure,after 15 min of frosting,the frost mass on the superhydrophobic surface was 38.78%and 68.45%lower than those on the bare aluminum and hydrophilic surfaces,respectively.After 30 min,these differences were 4.99%and 25.26%,respectively.Overall,the superhydrophobic surface exhibited the smallest frost mass and frost layer thickness,demonstrating superior anti-frosting performance compared with the other surface types.展开更多
Flubendiamide is a commonly used pesticide with low water solubility and a high organic carbon sorption constant,causing it to adhere to soil particles and negatively impact soil ecosystems.First,chili plant stems,typ...Flubendiamide is a commonly used pesticide with low water solubility and a high organic carbon sorption constant,causing it to adhere to soil particles and negatively impact soil ecosystems.First,chili plant stems,typically discarded after the harvest season,represent an abundant local biomass resource with significant potential for utilization,and were converted into biochar through pyrolysis.Here,we describe the synthesis of biochar modified with iron and chitosan to increase the diversity of functions and surface functional groups of biochar.The resulting chitosan-modified magnetic biochar(CMBC)presents a full range of functional groups of chitosan and iron oxide as shown by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy.The correlation between flubendiamide concentration and the dose of biochar on adsorption was explored.The flubendiamide adsorption efficiency of CMBC(1%mass ratio of soil)reached 68.03%in 90 min.The highest adsorption capacity achieved was 0.95 mg·g^(−1).The flubendiamide adsorption mechanism by CMBC can be described with a pseudo-second-order kinetic model.The experiment data closely fit a Freundlich isotherm model(R^(2)=0.998),and the low residual sum of squares values demonstrate the high model applicability.In this study,we present a comprehensive overview of pesticides,alongside kinetic and isotherm model studies of flubendiamide adsorption by CMBC.We emphasize the potential of modified biochar to enhance environmental remediation applications.展开更多
Oral immunization is an alternative or supplementary approach that can significantly improve dog vaccination coverage,especially for free-roaming dogs.Safe and effective oral rabies vaccines for dogs are still being s...Oral immunization is an alternative or supplementary approach that can significantly improve dog vaccination coverage,especially for free-roaming dogs.Safe and effective oral rabies vaccines for dogs are still being sought.In our previous studies,we generated a genetically modified rabies virus(RABV) ERA strain,rERAG_(333E),containing a mutation from arginine(Arg,R) to glutamic acid(Glu,E) at residue 333 of the G protein(G_(333E)).Our previous results demonstrated that rERAG_(333E) was safe for adult mice and dogs,and oral vaccination with rERAG_(333E) induced a strong and long-lasting protective immune response in dogs.Here,we further investigated the safety and immunogenicity of rERAG_(333E) in nontarget species,including suckling mice,rhesus monkeys,foxes,raccoon dogs,piglets,goats,and sheep.Suckling mice studies demonstrated that the G_(333E) mutation significantly reduced the virulence of the ERA strain.All of the suckling mice aged 10 days and above survived and showed no apparent signs of disease after intracerebral inoculation with rERAG_(333E).Animal studies demonstrated that rERAG_(333E) was safe in rhesus monkeys,foxes,raccoon dogs,piglets,goats,and sheep.None of those animals inoculated orally with 10 times the intended field dose of rERAG_(333E) showed abnormal clinical signs before and after the booster immunization with Rabvac 3,an inactivated rabies vaccine.Meanwhile,oral inoculation with rERAG_(333E) induced strong neutralizing antibody(NA) responses to RABV in rhesus monkeys,foxes,raccoon dogs,and piglets.These results demonstrated that rERAG_(333E) has the potential to serve as a safe oral rabies vaccine for dogs.展开更多
Interfacial interactions between rough mineral particles have garnered considerable attention as they directly determine particle agglomeration and floatability.This study comprehensively investigates the agglomeratio...Interfacial interactions between rough mineral particles have garnered considerable attention as they directly determine particle agglomeration and floatability.This study comprehensively investigates the agglomeration characteristics of siderite particles after argon(Ar)plasma surface modification through settling tests,flocs size measurements,and fractal dimension calculations.Ar plasma surface modification promotes the agglomeration of siderite particles,as evidenced by increased floc size and density.The agglomeration mechanism induced by Ar plasma surface modification is evaluated using a theoretical model combining the surface element integration(SEI)approach,differential geometry,and the composite Simpson's rule.Changes in surface roughness,wettability,and charge are considered in this model.Compared to the unpretreated siderite particles,the energy barrier for interaction of the 30-min Ar plasma-pretreated siderite particles decreases from 2.3×10-^(17)J to 1.6×10^(-17)J.This reduction provides strong evidence for the agglomeration behavior of siderite particles.Furthermore,flotation experiments confirm that Ar plasma surface modification is conducive to the aggregation flotation of siderite.These findings offer crucial insights into particle aggregation and dispersion behaviors,with notable application in mineral flotation.展开更多
The presence of a surface oxide film(B_(2)O_(3))on boron(B)particles significantly compromises their combustion efficiency and kinetic performance in fuel-rich solid propellants.This study proposes an innovative conti...The presence of a surface oxide film(B_(2)O_(3))on boron(B)particles significantly compromises their combustion efficiency and kinetic performance in fuel-rich solid propellants.This study proposes an innovative continuous modification strategy combining non-thermal plasma(NTP)etching with fluorocarbon passivation.Characterization and kinetic analysis revealed that reactive plasma species—including atomic hydrogen(H),electronically excited molecular hydrogen(H_(2)^(*)),vibrationally excited molecular hydrogen(H_(2)v),and hydrogen ions(H^(+))—dominate the reduction of B_(2)O_(3)through lowering the transition energy barrier and shifting the reaction spontaneity.Subsequent argon plasma fragmentation of C_(8)F_(18)generates fluorocarbon radicals that form conformal passivation coatings(thickness:7 nm)on purified boron surfaces.The modified boron particles exhibit 37.5℃lower exothermic peak temperature and 27.2%higher heat release(14.8 kJ/g vs.11.6 kJ/g)compared to untreated counterparts.Combustion diagnostics reveal 194%increase in maximum flame height(135.10 mm vs.46.03 mm)and 134%enhancement in flame propagation rate(4.44 cm/s vs.1.90 cm/s).This NTP-based surface engineering approach establishes a scalable pathway for developing highperformance boron-based energetic composites.展开更多
We are sorry for the mistakes of Affiliation,"a State Key Laboratory of Advanced Fiber Materials,Center for Advanced Low-Dimension Materials,Donghua University,Shanghai 201620,China"should be replaced by&quo...We are sorry for the mistakes of Affiliation,"a State Key Laboratory of Advanced Fiber Materials,Center for Advanced Low-Dimension Materials,Donghua University,Shanghai 201620,China"should be replaced by"a State Key Laboratory of Advanced Fiber Materials,Center for Advanced Low-Dimension Materials,College of Materials Science and Engineering,Donghua University,Shanghai 201620,China".We apologized for the inconvenience caused by this error.展开更多
Polypropylene （PP） was treated by an oxygen capacitively coupled radio frequency plasma （CCP） under a radio frequency （RF） power of 200 W for exposure time of 1, 5, and 10 rain. The ageing process of the plasma-...Polypropylene （PP） was treated by an oxygen capacitively coupled radio frequency plasma （CCP） under a radio frequency （RF） power of 200 W for exposure time of 1, 5, and 10 rain. The ageing process of the plasma- treated PP was studied at an ageing temperature of 90 ~C during an ageing time up to 25 h. The formation of the nanotextures with different geometry and aspect ratio and the grafting of large number of oxygen- containing groups were achieved on as-treated PP surfaces under the oxygen CCP treatment for the increased exposure time. The hydrophilicity on the as-treated PP surfaces with the stable nanotextures was rapidly depressed during the ageing process at 90 ℃ due to the restructuring of chemical composition. The surface restructuring rate was dependent on the aspect ratio and the oxygen-containing groups on the nanotextured PP with increasing exposure time. The hydrophobic over-recovery to high hydrophobicity and superhydrophobicity were observed on the post-aged surfaces with the stable nanofibrils from as-treated hydrophilic surfaces. The superhydrophobicity with the low water adhesion was achieved on the post-aged surfaces preserving the nanofibrils with high aspect ratio and large distance due to the decrease of the oxygen-containing groups after the surface restructuring.展开更多
The present work aimed to study the interaction between plasma proteins and PVP-modified surfaces under more complex protein conditions. In the competitive adsorption of fibrinogen （Fg） and human serum albumin （HSA...The present work aimed to study the interaction between plasma proteins and PVP-modified surfaces under more complex protein conditions. In the competitive adsorption of fibrinogen （Fg） and human serum albumin （HSA）, the modified surfaces showed preferential adsorption of HSA. In 100% plasma, the amount of Fg adsorbed onto PVP-modified surfaces was as low as 10 ng/cm2, suggesting the excellent protein resistance properties of the modified surfaces. In addition, immunoblots of proteins eluted from the modified surfaces after plasma contact confirmed that PVP-modified surfaces can repel most plasma proteins, especially proteins that lalav important roles in the nrocess of blood coagulation.展开更多
The poor surface antibacterial properties are one of the important factors limiting the application of Carbon Fibers Reinforced Polyetheretherketone (CFR-P) composites as artificial bone replace materials. Some of the...The poor surface antibacterial properties are one of the important factors limiting the application of Carbon Fibers Reinforced Polyetheretherketone (CFR-P) composites as artificial bone replace materials. Some of the Two-Dimensional (2D) nanomaterials with unique lamellar structures and biological properties have been demonstrated to have excellent antibacterial properties. Antibacterial properties can be improved by feasible chemical strategies for preparing 2D nanomaterials coating on the surface of CFR-P. In this work, Black Phosphorus (BP) coating was prepared on the originally chemically inert CFR-P surface based on wet chemical pretreatment. The physical and chemical properties, including surface microstructure, chemical composition and state, roughness and hydrophilicity were characterized. The antibacterial ratios against Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus), Escherichia coli (E. coli), and Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans) were evaluated. The results indicated that hydrophilicity of BP coating on CFR-P was significantly higher compared to that of the pure CFR-P. Wet chemical pretreatment using mixed acid reagents (concentrated sulfuric acid and concentrated nitric acid) introduced hydroxyl, carboxyl and nitro groups on CFR-P. The BP coating exhibited the antibacterial rate of over 98% against both S. aureus and E. coli. In addition, the antibacterial rate of BP coating against the main pathogenic bacteria of dental caries, Streptococcus mutans, reached 45%.展开更多
The effect of laser surface melting on the corrosion resistance of AZ31 Mg alloy in 0.1 M NaCl solution was investigated using different laser processing conditions(energy densities of 14 and 17 J cm^(-2)).Laser treat...The effect of laser surface melting on the corrosion resistance of AZ31 Mg alloy in 0.1 M NaCl solution was investigated using different laser processing conditions(energy densities of 14 and 17 J cm^(-2)).Laser treatment induced rough surfaces primarily composed of oxidized species of Mg.XPS analysis revealed that the surface concentration of Al increased significantly as a consequence of LSM.Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy showed that the laser treatment remarkably increased the polarization resistance of the AZ31 Mg alloy and induced a passive-like region of about 100 mV,as determined by potentiodynamic polarization.Analysis of the results obtained provide solid evidence that within the immersion times used in this study,LSM treatment increased the corrosion resistance of AZ31 Mg alloy under open circuit conditions and anodic polarization.展开更多
Although humic acid(HA)can inhibit TiO2photocatalysis,it can sensitize TiO2and induce significant visible‐light(VL)activity in phenol degradation.This favorable effect of HA was negligible on phosphate‐modified TiO...Although humic acid(HA)can inhibit TiO2photocatalysis,it can sensitize TiO2and induce significant visible‐light(VL)activity in phenol degradation.This favorable effect of HA was negligible on phosphate‐modified TiO2(P‐TiO2),but significantly stronger on Nafion‐modified TiO2(Nf‐TiO2).The reaction rate constants for phenol degradation on Nf‐TiO2increased from(0.003±0.001)to(0.025±0.003)min?1when the reaction was performed in the presence of20mg/L HA.The different effects of HA on P‐TiO2and Nf‐TiO2photocatalysis cannot be attributed to adsorption changes,because the adsorption capacities of P‐TiO2and Nf‐TiO2were only slightly lower than that of TiO2at an initial HA concentration of20mg/mL.Scavenger tests,electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy,and H2O2detection were taken to understand the low VL activity of the P‐TiO2/HA suspension.The main active species for phenol degradation in the TiO2and Nf‐TiO2suspensions were superoxide radicals.There were negligible amounts of superoxide radicals in the P‐TiO2/HA suspension,possibly because a direct four‐electron oxygen reduction reaction occurred.The better VL activity of Nf‐TiO2was rationalized on the basis of Mott–Schottky and electrochemical impedance plots.Nafion modification resulted in cathodic shifts of the energy band positions,increased electron density,and less resistance to electron transfer across the interface between TiO2and electrolytes.All these factors facilitated electron transfer and improved the production of active species.Phosphate modification therefore did not improve the VL response of HA sensitized TiO2,and low concentrations of HA can facilitate VL photocatalytic degradation of organic pollutants on Nafion surface‐modified TiO2.展开更多
Continued advancement of protein array, bioelectrode, and biosensor technologies will necessitate development of methods that allow for increased protein immobilization capacity and more control over protein orientati...Continued advancement of protein array, bioelectrode, and biosensor technologies will necessitate development of methods that allow for increased protein immobilization capacity and more control over protein orientation. Toward these ends, we developed a method involving modification of chitosan with nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA) to achieve immobilization of a larger amount of His-tagged protein than is possible with current methods. The immobilization capacity of our method was evaluated using His-tagged GFP (Green Fluorescent Protein) as a model protein. The average immobilization density on modified glass was about 32 ng/mm2. Our method is suitable for use on a variety of solid surfaces, including glassy carbon, silicon wafers, polycarbonate, and beaten gold.展开更多
Marine biofouling causes serious harms to surfaces of marine devices in transportation,aquaculture,and offshore construction.Traditional antifouling methods pollute the environment.A novel and green antifouling strate...Marine biofouling causes serious harms to surfaces of marine devices in transportation,aquaculture,and offshore construction.Traditional antifouling methods pollute the environment.A novel and green antifouling strategy was developed to prevent effectively the adhe sion of bacteria and microalgae.An antifouling surface was fabricated via coating Turgencin BMox2(TB)onto dopamine-modified 304stainless steel(304 SS).The surface physical and chemical properties before and after modification were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectrometer(FTIR),X-ray photoelectron spectrometer(XPS),contact angle measurement(CA),3D optical profilometer,ellipsometer,and atomic force microscope(AFM).Antimicrobial peptide was coated onto the surface of 304 SS successfully,and the surface morphology and wettability of the modified sample were modified.Moreover,cytocompatibility of the peptide was evaluated by co-culture of peptide and cells,indicating promising cell biocompatibility at the modified sample surface.At last,antifouling performance and electrochemical corrosion were tested.Results show that the adhesion rates of Vibrio natriegens and Phaeodactylum tricornutum on the antifouling surface were reduced by 99.85% and 67.93%,respectively from those of untreated samples.Therefore,the modified samples retained superior corrosion resistance.The study provide a simply and green way against biofouling on ship hulls and marine equipment.展开更多
Porous SiO2 has been chemically modified with functional ortho-, meta- or para-nitrophenyl moieties using the heterogeneous route. This synthetic route involved the reaction of carbaldehyde derivatives with 3-aminopro...Porous SiO2 has been chemically modified with functional ortho-, meta- or para-nitrophenyl moieties using the heterogeneous route. This synthetic route involved the reaction of carbaldehyde derivatives with 3-aminopropyl trimethoxysilane prior to immobilization on the support. The new modified surfaces have been characterized by elemental analysis, FT-IR, 13C NMR of the solid state, nitrogen adsorption-desorption isotherm, BET surface area, B.J.H. Pore sizes, thermogravimetry curves (TGA) and scanning electron microscope (SEM). The new materials exhibit good chemical and thermal stability. These products were employed as a Cu(II) adsorbent from aqueous solutions at room temperature using the batch technique. Flame atomic absorption spectrometry was used to determine the Cu(II) concentration in the filtrate after the adsorption process. The results indicate that under the optimum conditions, the maximum adsorption value for Cu(II) was 20.0 mg Cu(II) g-1 modified silica, whereas the adsorption capacity of the unmodified silica was only 1.0 mg Cu(II) g-1 silica. On the basis of these results, it can be concluded that it is possible to modify chemically SiO2 with functional groups and use it as adsorbents for metals in aqueous media.展开更多
基金supported by the National Key R&D Program of China(Nos.2022YFB4101500 and 2022YFE0209500)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.22276191 and 21976177)the Qinghai Province Air Pollution Assessment and Fine Management Support Project,and the University of Chinese Academy of Science.
文摘As a potential adsorption material,it is still a challenge for activated carbon fiber(ACF)in efficient adsorption of ethanol due to its nonpolar surface,which is mainly emitted from the grain drying industry.This study prepared surface polarity-modified ACF using the heteroatom doping method.The modified ACF possessed a richer array of strongly polar oxygen/nitrogen-containing functional groups(primarily phenolic hydroxyl and lactone groups),a larger specific surface are1,and a more developed micropore structure.The adsorption capacities of ethanol for O-ACF and N-ACF were 4.110 mmol/g and 1.698 mmol/g,respectively,which were 11.3 times and 4.7 times those of unmodified ACF.This was a significant improvement over our previous work(0.363 mmol/g).The improvement of adsorption capacity for the N-ACF was mainly due to the higher specific surface are1,greater number of micropores(more adsorption sites)and abundant existence of defects,whereas,for O-ACF,the improvement mainly relied on the abundant presence of oxygen-containing functional groups on the surface.However,water had a negative effect on the adsorption of ethanol for the modified ACF due to competitive adsorption and the disappearance of capillary condensation.It was further revealed that the adsorption process of ethanol and water was quite different.It obeyed the linear driving force(LDF)model for ethanol adsorption,however,the intraparticle diffusion(IPD)model for water adsorption.
基金financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.52272283,52311530772,and 52274387)the Science and Technology Commission of Shanghai Municipality(No.22S31902900)+4 种基金the Shanghai Medical Key Specialty(No.2024ZDXK0048)the Medical Key Subject of Xuhui District(No.SHXHZDXK202302)the National Key Research and Development Program of China(No.2024YFE0109000)the Medical-Engineering Cross Foundation of Shanghai Jiao Tong University(No.YG2024LC04)the Institute-level Research Project of Xuhui District Dental Center(No.SHXYF202212).
文摘To promote early rapid osteogenesis and prevent late implant-related infection,it is critical to develop ef-fective and reliable surface treatment technologies for enhancing both osteogenic and antibacterial prop-erties of titanium alloy implants.Reduced graphene oxide(rGO)is considered a promising modification candidate.However,whether rGO retains its osteogenic and antibacterial functions after being applied to modify titanium alloy surfaces depends on the surface treatment technology employed.In this study,rGO was integrated onto the surface of Ti-35Nb-2Ta-3Zr(TNTZ)alloy through friction stir processing(FSP),yielding a consolidated TNTZ/F-rGO composite.The incorporation of rGO not only significantly im-proved the microhardness and hydrophilicity of the material,but also exhibited positive biological effects in vitro experiments:it effectively promoted the proliferation,osteogenic differentiation,alkaline phos-phatase(ALP)production and extracellular matrix mineralization of BMSCs.Furthermore,TNTZ/F-rGO ex-hibited potent antibacterial activity via surface-contact mechanisms.In summary,the rGO-modified in-tegrated titanium alloy has excellent osteogenic properties and high-efficiency antibacterial ability.This study provides new insights and strategies for the design of graphene-based biomaterials and implant surface modification technologies.
基金Supported by the Shanxi Province Grant(202203021212007,2023SHB003).
文摘Hydrogen peroxide(H_(2)O_(2))oxidation and reduction reactions(HPOR/HPRR)are pivotal in various innovative electrochemical energy conversion devices.A comprehensive understanding of these mechanisms is critical for catalyst design and performance improvement in these applications.In this work,we systematically investigate the HPOR/HPRR mechanisms on low-index Pt surfaces,specifically Pt(111),Pt(100)and Pt(110),through density functional theory(DFT)calculations combined with the computational hydrogen electrode(CHE)model.For HPOR,all the low-index Pt surfaces exhibit a unified potential-determining step(PDS)involving the electrochemical oxidation of hydroperoxyl intermediates(HOO*).The binding free energy of HOO*(Δ_(GHOO*))emerges as an activity descriptor,with Pt(110)exhibiting the highest HPOR activity.The HPRR mechanism follows a chem-electrochemical(C-EC)pathway.The rate-determining step(RDS)of HPRR is either the cleavage of the HO-OH bond(chemical)or the reduction of HO(electrochemical),depending on their respective activation energies.These activation energies are functions of the HO*binding free energy,Δ_(GHO*),establishingΔ_(GHO*)as the descriptor for HPRR activity prediction.Pt(111)and Pt(100)are identified as the most active HPRR catalysts among the studied metal surfaces,although they still experience a significant overpotential.The scaling relationship betweenΔ_(GHOO*)andΔ_(GHO*)reveals a thermodynamic coupling of HPOR and HPRR,explaining their occurrence on Pt surfaces.These findings provide important insights and activity descriptors for both HPOR and HPRR,providing valuable guidance for the design of electrocatalysts in H_(2)O_(2)-related energy applications and fuel cells.
文摘Currently, a conventional two-step method has been used to generate black silicon （BS） surfaces on silicon substrates for solar cell manufacturing. However, the performances of the solar cell made with such surface generation method are poor, because of the high surface recombination caused by deep etching in the conventional surface generation method for BS. In this work, a modified wet chemical etching solution with additives was developed. A homogeneous BS layer with random porous structure was obtained from the modified solution in only one step at room temperature. The BS layer had low reflectivity and shallow etching depth. The additive in the etch solution performs the function of pH-modulation. After 16-min etching, the etching depth in the samples was approximately 200 nm, and the spectrum-weighted-reflectivity in the range from 300 nm to 1200 nm was below 5%. BS solar cells were fabricated in the production line. The decreased etching depth can improve the electrical performance of solar cells because of the decrease in surface recombination. An efficiency of 15.63% for the modified etching BS solar cells was achieved on a large area, p- type single crystalline silicon substrate with a 624.32-mV open circuit voltage and a 77.88% fill factor.
基金supported by the Transportation Science and Technology Program of Henan Province(grant number:2023-4-2)the Key Research and Development Program of Ningxia Science and Technology Department(grant number:2022BEG02008)+2 种基金China Communications Construction Group Co.,Ltd.Science and Technology R&D Project(grant number:2021KJW02)the Research and Development Program of Henan Transportation Investment Group Co.,Ltd.(grant number:HNJT2025-1-9)the Postdoctoral Fellowship Program of CPSF(grand number:GZC20251139).
文摘The addition of high-content crumb rubber(HCCR)in asphalt can effectively address waste tire pollution and provide sustainable environmental and economic advantages.However,the practical application of conventional rubberized binders is significantly limited by high viscosity and poor storage stability.To address these issues,researchers have pretreated crumb rubber(CR)with oil,but high-temperature performance remains insufficient.Therefore,this study aimed to optimize the viscosity,storage stability,and rheological properties of high-content crumb rubber-modified asphalt(HCCRMA)by varying the pretreatment levels of CR and incorporating various additives,including styrene-butadiene-styrene(SBS),deoiled asphalt(DA),or recycled low-density polyethylene(RLDPE).In addition,CR was pretreated with waste cooking oil(WCO)at various ratios,pre-swelling temperatures,and times.The results show that DA exhibits excellent storage stability and lower viscosity compared with other modifiers in HCCRMA,and the 4%RLDPE with pretreated HCCR has the greatest high-temperature rutting resistance.The inclusion of RLDPE increases the stiffness and elasticity of the modified asphalt,which results in greater high-temperature performance.Additionally,the fluorescence microscopy(FM)test confirms that SBS exhibits better dispersion than other modifiers and forms a more homogeneous phase separation in the HCCRMA.All in all,this research achieved an optimal balance of storage stability and rheological properties in asphalt modified with pretreated HCCR and 6%SBS,which provides a valuable reference for performance improvement of HCCR-modified binders.
基金supported by the Science and Technology Research Project of Henan Province(No.232102241014)the Key scientific research project of Henan Province Colleges and Universities(No.22A470002)Doctoral Fund Project of Henan Polytechnic University(No.B2021-37).
文摘This study experimentally investigates the influence of surfacewettability on the frosting characteristics of three types of corrugated structures(Types A,B,and C)under controlled low-temperature conditions.The experiments were conducted in a constant-temperature bath at a cold surface temperature of–5℃,relative humidity of 90%,and ambient air temperature of 10℃.The results reveal that the variation trends of frost morphology,frost mass,and frost layer thickness are generally consistent across surfaces with different wettability.Among the tested surfaces,frost crystal formation and complete surface coverage occurred latest on the superhydrophobic surface(CA=153.9–165.8℃),next on the bare aluminumsurface(75.3–83.2℃),and earliest on the hydrophilic surface(5.3–7.5℃).At the same frosting duration,the superhydrophobic surface exhibited a sparse and fluffy frost layer,the bare aluminum surface formed a rough and dense frost,while the hydrophilic surface developed a fine and compact frost layer.The amount of frost formation decreased in the order of hydrophilic>bare aluminum>superhydrophobic,indicating that the superhydrophobic surface provides the most significant anti-frosting effect during the initial stages of frost formation.For instance,on the Type A corrugated structure,after 15 min of frosting,the frost mass on the superhydrophobic surface was 38.78%and 68.45%lower than those on the bare aluminum and hydrophilic surfaces,respectively.After 30 min,these differences were 4.99%and 25.26%,respectively.Overall,the superhydrophobic surface exhibited the smallest frost mass and frost layer thickness,demonstrating superior anti-frosting performance compared with the other surface types.
基金supported by research funds of Jeonbuk National University in 2024 and partly supported by the National Research Foundation of Korea(NRF-2019R1A2C1006441)from the Ministry of Education.
文摘Flubendiamide is a commonly used pesticide with low water solubility and a high organic carbon sorption constant,causing it to adhere to soil particles and negatively impact soil ecosystems.First,chili plant stems,typically discarded after the harvest season,represent an abundant local biomass resource with significant potential for utilization,and were converted into biochar through pyrolysis.Here,we describe the synthesis of biochar modified with iron and chitosan to increase the diversity of functions and surface functional groups of biochar.The resulting chitosan-modified magnetic biochar(CMBC)presents a full range of functional groups of chitosan and iron oxide as shown by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy.The correlation between flubendiamide concentration and the dose of biochar on adsorption was explored.The flubendiamide adsorption efficiency of CMBC(1%mass ratio of soil)reached 68.03%in 90 min.The highest adsorption capacity achieved was 0.95 mg·g^(−1).The flubendiamide adsorption mechanism by CMBC can be described with a pseudo-second-order kinetic model.The experiment data closely fit a Freundlich isotherm model(R^(2)=0.998),and the low residual sum of squares values demonstrate the high model applicability.In this study,we present a comprehensive overview of pesticides,alongside kinetic and isotherm model studies of flubendiamide adsorption by CMBC.We emphasize the potential of modified biochar to enhance environmental remediation applications.
基金supported by the Natural Science Foundation of Heilongjiang Province,China (YQ2022C040)。
文摘Oral immunization is an alternative or supplementary approach that can significantly improve dog vaccination coverage,especially for free-roaming dogs.Safe and effective oral rabies vaccines for dogs are still being sought.In our previous studies,we generated a genetically modified rabies virus(RABV) ERA strain,rERAG_(333E),containing a mutation from arginine(Arg,R) to glutamic acid(Glu,E) at residue 333 of the G protein(G_(333E)).Our previous results demonstrated that rERAG_(333E) was safe for adult mice and dogs,and oral vaccination with rERAG_(333E) induced a strong and long-lasting protective immune response in dogs.Here,we further investigated the safety and immunogenicity of rERAG_(333E) in nontarget species,including suckling mice,rhesus monkeys,foxes,raccoon dogs,piglets,goats,and sheep.Suckling mice studies demonstrated that the G_(333E) mutation significantly reduced the virulence of the ERA strain.All of the suckling mice aged 10 days and above survived and showed no apparent signs of disease after intracerebral inoculation with rERAG_(333E).Animal studies demonstrated that rERAG_(333E) was safe in rhesus monkeys,foxes,raccoon dogs,piglets,goats,and sheep.None of those animals inoculated orally with 10 times the intended field dose of rERAG_(333E) showed abnormal clinical signs before and after the booster immunization with Rabvac 3,an inactivated rabies vaccine.Meanwhile,oral inoculation with rERAG_(333E) induced strong neutralizing antibody(NA) responses to RABV in rhesus monkeys,foxes,raccoon dogs,and piglets.These results demonstrated that rERAG_(333E) has the potential to serve as a safe oral rabies vaccine for dogs.
基金financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.52204284)the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation(No.2025MD784125)+2 种基金the Natural Science Foundation of Shaanxi Province,China(No.2024JC-YBQN-0365)the Shaanxi Province Postdoctoral Science Foundation,China(No.2025BSHSDZZ363)Outstanding Youth Science Fund of Xi’an University of Science and Technology,China(No.202308)。
文摘Interfacial interactions between rough mineral particles have garnered considerable attention as they directly determine particle agglomeration and floatability.This study comprehensively investigates the agglomeration characteristics of siderite particles after argon(Ar)plasma surface modification through settling tests,flocs size measurements,and fractal dimension calculations.Ar plasma surface modification promotes the agglomeration of siderite particles,as evidenced by increased floc size and density.The agglomeration mechanism induced by Ar plasma surface modification is evaluated using a theoretical model combining the surface element integration(SEI)approach,differential geometry,and the composite Simpson's rule.Changes in surface roughness,wettability,and charge are considered in this model.Compared to the unpretreated siderite particles,the energy barrier for interaction of the 30-min Ar plasma-pretreated siderite particles decreases from 2.3×10-^(17)J to 1.6×10^(-17)J.This reduction provides strong evidence for the agglomeration behavior of siderite particles.Furthermore,flotation experiments confirm that Ar plasma surface modification is conducive to the aggregation flotation of siderite.These findings offer crucial insights into particle aggregation and dispersion behaviors,with notable application in mineral flotation.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.U2341249,12005076,22205112)the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities(No.2025201012)。
文摘The presence of a surface oxide film(B_(2)O_(3))on boron(B)particles significantly compromises their combustion efficiency and kinetic performance in fuel-rich solid propellants.This study proposes an innovative continuous modification strategy combining non-thermal plasma(NTP)etching with fluorocarbon passivation.Characterization and kinetic analysis revealed that reactive plasma species—including atomic hydrogen(H),electronically excited molecular hydrogen(H_(2)^(*)),vibrationally excited molecular hydrogen(H_(2)v),and hydrogen ions(H^(+))—dominate the reduction of B_(2)O_(3)through lowering the transition energy barrier and shifting the reaction spontaneity.Subsequent argon plasma fragmentation of C_(8)F_(18)generates fluorocarbon radicals that form conformal passivation coatings(thickness:7 nm)on purified boron surfaces.The modified boron particles exhibit 37.5℃lower exothermic peak temperature and 27.2%higher heat release(14.8 kJ/g vs.11.6 kJ/g)compared to untreated counterparts.Combustion diagnostics reveal 194%increase in maximum flame height(135.10 mm vs.46.03 mm)and 134%enhancement in flame propagation rate(4.44 cm/s vs.1.90 cm/s).This NTP-based surface engineering approach establishes a scalable pathway for developing highperformance boron-based energetic composites.
文摘We are sorry for the mistakes of Affiliation,"a State Key Laboratory of Advanced Fiber Materials,Center for Advanced Low-Dimension Materials,Donghua University,Shanghai 201620,China"should be replaced by"a State Key Laboratory of Advanced Fiber Materials,Center for Advanced Low-Dimension Materials,College of Materials Science and Engineering,Donghua University,Shanghai 201620,China".We apologized for the inconvenience caused by this error.
基金supported by the projects supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.51005032 and 51321004)
文摘Polypropylene （PP） was treated by an oxygen capacitively coupled radio frequency plasma （CCP） under a radio frequency （RF） power of 200 W for exposure time of 1, 5, and 10 rain. The ageing process of the plasma- treated PP was studied at an ageing temperature of 90 ~C during an ageing time up to 25 h. The formation of the nanotextures with different geometry and aspect ratio and the grafting of large number of oxygen- containing groups were achieved on as-treated PP surfaces under the oxygen CCP treatment for the increased exposure time. The hydrophilicity on the as-treated PP surfaces with the stable nanotextures was rapidly depressed during the ageing process at 90 ℃ due to the restructuring of chemical composition. The surface restructuring rate was dependent on the aspect ratio and the oxygen-containing groups on the nanotextured PP with increasing exposure time. The hydrophobic over-recovery to high hydrophobicity and superhydrophobicity were observed on the post-aged surfaces with the stable nanofibrils from as-treated hydrophilic surfaces. The superhydrophobicity with the low water adhesion was achieved on the post-aged surfaces preserving the nanofibrils with high aspect ratio and large distance due to the decrease of the oxygen-containing groups after the surface restructuring.
基金financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.20974086,20974122 and 20920102035)the Ministry of Education of China(209151)the Scientific Research Foundation for the Returned Overseas Chinese Scholars and State Education Ministry
文摘The present work aimed to study the interaction between plasma proteins and PVP-modified surfaces under more complex protein conditions. In the competitive adsorption of fibrinogen （Fg） and human serum albumin （HSA）, the modified surfaces showed preferential adsorption of HSA. In 100% plasma, the amount of Fg adsorbed onto PVP-modified surfaces was as low as 10 ng/cm2, suggesting the excellent protein resistance properties of the modified surfaces. In addition, immunoblots of proteins eluted from the modified surfaces after plasma contact confirmed that PVP-modified surfaces can repel most plasma proteins, especially proteins that lalav important roles in the nrocess of blood coagulation.
基金support of the National Natural Science Foundation of China(61971301)In part by the Central Guidance on Local Science and Technology Development Fund of Shanxi Province under Grant YDZJSX2021A018+1 种基金Shanxi Province Higher Education Science and Technology Innovation Plan Project(2022L060)the Fundamental Research Program of Shanxi Province(Nos.202203021212227,202303021212082).
文摘The poor surface antibacterial properties are one of the important factors limiting the application of Carbon Fibers Reinforced Polyetheretherketone (CFR-P) composites as artificial bone replace materials. Some of the Two-Dimensional (2D) nanomaterials with unique lamellar structures and biological properties have been demonstrated to have excellent antibacterial properties. Antibacterial properties can be improved by feasible chemical strategies for preparing 2D nanomaterials coating on the surface of CFR-P. In this work, Black Phosphorus (BP) coating was prepared on the originally chemically inert CFR-P surface based on wet chemical pretreatment. The physical and chemical properties, including surface microstructure, chemical composition and state, roughness and hydrophilicity were characterized. The antibacterial ratios against Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus), Escherichia coli (E. coli), and Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans) were evaluated. The results indicated that hydrophilicity of BP coating on CFR-P was significantly higher compared to that of the pure CFR-P. Wet chemical pretreatment using mixed acid reagents (concentrated sulfuric acid and concentrated nitric acid) introduced hydroxyl, carboxyl and nitro groups on CFR-P. The BP coating exhibited the antibacterial rate of over 98% against both S. aureus and E. coli. In addition, the antibacterial rate of BP coating against the main pathogenic bacteria of dental caries, Streptococcus mutans, reached 45%.
基金the State Research Agency(Ministry of Science and Innovation of Spain),the Spanish National Research Council(CSIC)and the European Regional Development Fund(ERDF)for the support under the project RYC2019-027006-I(AEI/FEDER/UE)。
文摘The effect of laser surface melting on the corrosion resistance of AZ31 Mg alloy in 0.1 M NaCl solution was investigated using different laser processing conditions(energy densities of 14 and 17 J cm^(-2)).Laser treatment induced rough surfaces primarily composed of oxidized species of Mg.XPS analysis revealed that the surface concentration of Al increased significantly as a consequence of LSM.Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy showed that the laser treatment remarkably increased the polarization resistance of the AZ31 Mg alloy and induced a passive-like region of about 100 mV,as determined by potentiodynamic polarization.Analysis of the results obtained provide solid evidence that within the immersion times used in this study,LSM treatment increased the corrosion resistance of AZ31 Mg alloy under open circuit conditions and anodic polarization.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(21377084)Special Fund for Agro-Scientific Research in the Public Interest(201503107)Shanghai Municipal International Cooperation Foundation(15230724600)~~
文摘Although humic acid(HA)can inhibit TiO2photocatalysis,it can sensitize TiO2and induce significant visible‐light(VL)activity in phenol degradation.This favorable effect of HA was negligible on phosphate‐modified TiO2(P‐TiO2),but significantly stronger on Nafion‐modified TiO2(Nf‐TiO2).The reaction rate constants for phenol degradation on Nf‐TiO2increased from(0.003±0.001)to(0.025±0.003)min?1when the reaction was performed in the presence of20mg/L HA.The different effects of HA on P‐TiO2and Nf‐TiO2photocatalysis cannot be attributed to adsorption changes,because the adsorption capacities of P‐TiO2and Nf‐TiO2were only slightly lower than that of TiO2at an initial HA concentration of20mg/mL.Scavenger tests,electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy,and H2O2detection were taken to understand the low VL activity of the P‐TiO2/HA suspension.The main active species for phenol degradation in the TiO2and Nf‐TiO2suspensions were superoxide radicals.There were negligible amounts of superoxide radicals in the P‐TiO2/HA suspension,possibly because a direct four‐electron oxygen reduction reaction occurred.The better VL activity of Nf‐TiO2was rationalized on the basis of Mott–Schottky and electrochemical impedance plots.Nafion modification resulted in cathodic shifts of the energy band positions,increased electron density,and less resistance to electron transfer across the interface between TiO2and electrolytes.All these factors facilitated electron transfer and improved the production of active species.Phosphate modification therefore did not improve the VL response of HA sensitized TiO2,and low concentrations of HA can facilitate VL photocatalytic degradation of organic pollutants on Nafion surface‐modified TiO2.
文摘Continued advancement of protein array, bioelectrode, and biosensor technologies will necessitate development of methods that allow for increased protein immobilization capacity and more control over protein orientation. Toward these ends, we developed a method involving modification of chitosan with nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA) to achieve immobilization of a larger amount of His-tagged protein than is possible with current methods. The immobilization capacity of our method was evaluated using His-tagged GFP (Green Fluorescent Protein) as a model protein. The average immobilization density on modified glass was about 32 ng/mm2. Our method is suitable for use on a variety of solid surfaces, including glassy carbon, silicon wafers, polycarbonate, and beaten gold.
基金Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.51905468,51375355)the Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province(No.BK20190916)+1 种基金the“Blue Project”of Yangzhou Universitythe Yangzhou City-Yangzhou University Cooperation Foundation(No.YZU201801)。
文摘Marine biofouling causes serious harms to surfaces of marine devices in transportation,aquaculture,and offshore construction.Traditional antifouling methods pollute the environment.A novel and green antifouling strategy was developed to prevent effectively the adhe sion of bacteria and microalgae.An antifouling surface was fabricated via coating Turgencin BMox2(TB)onto dopamine-modified 304stainless steel(304 SS).The surface physical and chemical properties before and after modification were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectrometer(FTIR),X-ray photoelectron spectrometer(XPS),contact angle measurement(CA),3D optical profilometer,ellipsometer,and atomic force microscope(AFM).Antimicrobial peptide was coated onto the surface of 304 SS successfully,and the surface morphology and wettability of the modified sample were modified.Moreover,cytocompatibility of the peptide was evaluated by co-culture of peptide and cells,indicating promising cell biocompatibility at the modified sample surface.At last,antifouling performance and electrochemical corrosion were tested.Results show that the adhesion rates of Vibrio natriegens and Phaeodactylum tricornutum on the antifouling surface were reduced by 99.85% and 67.93%,respectively from those of untreated samples.Therefore,the modified samples retained superior corrosion resistance.The study provide a simply and green way against biofouling on ship hulls and marine equipment.
文摘Porous SiO2 has been chemically modified with functional ortho-, meta- or para-nitrophenyl moieties using the heterogeneous route. This synthetic route involved the reaction of carbaldehyde derivatives with 3-aminopropyl trimethoxysilane prior to immobilization on the support. The new modified surfaces have been characterized by elemental analysis, FT-IR, 13C NMR of the solid state, nitrogen adsorption-desorption isotherm, BET surface area, B.J.H. Pore sizes, thermogravimetry curves (TGA) and scanning electron microscope (SEM). The new materials exhibit good chemical and thermal stability. These products were employed as a Cu(II) adsorbent from aqueous solutions at room temperature using the batch technique. Flame atomic absorption spectrometry was used to determine the Cu(II) concentration in the filtrate after the adsorption process. The results indicate that under the optimum conditions, the maximum adsorption value for Cu(II) was 20.0 mg Cu(II) g-1 modified silica, whereas the adsorption capacity of the unmodified silica was only 1.0 mg Cu(II) g-1 silica. On the basis of these results, it can be concluded that it is possible to modify chemically SiO2 with functional groups and use it as adsorbents for metals in aqueous media.
