Recent Publications
Explore the latest findings from the Materials Factory team, advancing knowledge in materials science and engineering through high-impact research.
This study presents a novel approach combining Membrane Distillation (MD) and photo-oxidation for continuous water recovery and arsenic (As) remediation. Using polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) mixed matrix membranes (MMMs) with titanium dioxide (TiO₂) nanoparticles as a photocatalyst, the process converts arsenite (As(III)) to arsenate (As(V)) while recovering water from contaminated solutions. Tests on the membranes under UV radiation showed up to 80% water recovery and 95% oxidation efficiency of As(III) at a reaction rate of 0.0106 min⁻¹. Although effective, the UV exposure led to membrane embrittlement over five cycles, indicating a need for improved durability in photocatalytic membranes for long-term use.
Palladium diselenide (PdSe2), a transition-metal dichalcogenide (TMDC), has received interest for its intriguing optical and electrical characteristics. Despite its relevance for flexible electronics, its mechanical properties have been only scarcely investigated. In this work, we examined time-dependent mechanical response, wear, and nanoductility of PdSe2 grown using chemical vapor transport. Specifically, we measured hardness, elastic modulus, creep characteristics, activation volume, strain rate sensitivity, and wear resistance using nanoindentation and nanoscratch experiments. The obtained values of Young's modulus and hardness are promising for flexible electronic applications. Due to its strain hardening and strain-rate sensitivity, PdSe2 is ductile like aluminum and could endure significant deformation without losing structural integrity.
Environmentally Friendly Photothermal Membranes for Halite Recovery from Reverse Osmosis Brine via Solar-Driven Membrane Crystallization
Modern society and industrial development rely heavily on the availability of freshwater and minerals. Seawater reverse osmosis (SWRO) has been widely adopted for freshwater supply, although many questions have arisen about its environmental sustainability owing to the disposal of hypersaline rejected solutions (brine). This scenario has accelerated significant developments towards the hybridization of SWRO with membrane distillation–crystallization (MD-MCr), which can extract water and minerals from spent brine. Nevertheless, the substantial specific energy consumption associated with MD-MCr remains a significant limitation. In this work, energy harvesting was secured from renewables by hotspots embodied in the membranes, implementing the revolutionary approach of brine mining via photothermal membrane crystallization (PhMCr). This method employs self-heating nanostructured interfaces under solar radiation to enhance water evaporation, creating a carefully controlled supersaturated environment responsible for the extraction of minerals. Photothermal mixed matrix photothermal membranes (MMMs) were developed by incorporating graphene oxide (GO) or carbon black (CB) into polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) solubilized in an eco-friendly solvent (i.e., triethyl phosphate (TEP)). MMMs were prepared using non-solvent-induced phase separation (NIPS). The effect of GO or GB on the morphology of MMMs and the photothermal behavior was examined. Light-to-heat conversion was used in PhMCr experiments to facilitate the evaporation of water from the SWRO brine to supersaturation, leading to sodium chloride (NaCl) nucleation and crystallization. Overall, the results indicate exciting perspectives of PhMCr in brine valorization for a sustainable desalination industry.
NbAs2, a topological semimetal, has stirred considerable interest for its potential usage in magnetic and fault-tolerant quantum computation superconductor devices, owing to its superconductivity, enormous magnetoresistance, and anisotropic magneto-transport attributes. Yet, its environmental stability, a crucial factor for practical applications, remains largely unexplored. Herein, a comprehensive examination of the stability and electronic properties of the (001) surface of NbAs2 utilizing density functional theory (DFT) and surface science experiments is conducted. The theoretical deductions reveal that As atoms, organized in a buckled honeycomb configuration, terminate the bare (001) surface, akin to the tensile blue arsenene monolayer along the armchair direction. This study further demonstrates that the oxidation barrier is particularly low (only 0.2 eV), highlighting that the (001) surface is highly prone to oxidation under standard conditions, forming a As2O5+Nb2O5/NbAs2 heterostructure. Additionally, it observes that oxidation adversely affects the electronic characteristics of the topological semimetal NbAs2. The conclusions underscore the need for NbAs2 to be managed under high vacuum conditions or to be encapsulated for any usage in the ambient atmosphere in order to retain its electronic properties for practical purposes.