Novel Biodegradable Zn Alloy with Exceptional Mechanical and In Vitro Corrosion Properties for Biomedical Applications.

A series of quaternary Zn-Al-Cu-Li alloys with different weight fractions of Cu, Al, and Li were developed and investigated for potential application in high load bearing bioresorbable implants. The developed alloys provided various fractions of binary and ternary intermetallic structures, which resulted in formation of multiphase microstructures containing a zinc-rich η-phase and LiZn4 and CuZn4 phases. The intermetallic phases promoted grain refinement and a good combination of mechanical properties. The developed Zn-2Al-4Cu-0.6Li alloy showed strength and ductility close to commercially pure Ti alloys with a UTS value of ∼535 MPa and elongation of 37%. The examination of in vitro corrosion behavior of the developed alloys in the modified Hanks' solution revealed suitable corrosion rates (∼38.5 µm/year). The moderate corrosion rate was controlled by the formation of a homogeneous layer of stable corrosion products that protected the alloys from the corrosive environment, particularly in the late stages of immersion. The developed alloys with the most promising mechanical and corrosion properties appeared to be biocompatible to mouse fibroblast cells and human umbilical mesenchymal stem cells, making them suitable candidates for implant applications.

Carbon Nanofibers Functionalized with Active Screen Plasma-Deposited Metal Nanoparticles for Electrical Energy Storage Devices.

Supercapacitors are energy storage devices with higher energy densities than conventional capacitors but lower than batteries or fuel cells. There is a strong interest in increasing the volumetric and gravimetric capacitance of these devices to meet the growing demands of the electrical and electronic sectors. The capacitance depends largely on the electrode material, and carbon nanofibers (CNFs) have attracted much attention because of their relatively low cost, large surface area, and good electrical conductivity as well as chemical and thermal stability. The deposition of metal nanoparticles on CNFs is a promising way to increase their surface properties and, ultimately, the capacitance of the devices. In this study, nickel and silver nanoparticles were deposited on CNFs using the active screen plasma technology. The CNFs were characterized, and their electrochemical performance was assessed in a three-electrode cell. The results show significant improvements over the untreated CNFs, particularly after functionalization with silver nanoparticles.