Abstract
The addition of Cu to layered Bi₂Te₃-based thermoelectric alloys has been studied as an effective way to enhance thermoelectric transport properties. In this study, the influence of adding Cu to Bi₂Se₃ alloys, which have the same rhombohedral crystal structure as Bi₂Te₃, was investigated by synthesizing a series of Cu_xBi₂Se₃ (x..... More

Abstract
Cu–Sb–Se ternary chalcogenide compounds composed of earth-abundant low-toxicity elements are attracting attention as economical and ecofriendly semiconductors. Among them, permingeatite (Cu₃SbSe₄) is a potential thermoelectric material with high Seebeck coefficient and low lattice thermal conductivity. However, it is necessary to improve its thermoelectric properties through doping, as it has low..... More

Abstract
Dihydrogen sulfide (H₂S) gas has a flammable nature and is one of the most toxic and dangerous gases. Even small concentrations can be fatal to humans. Herein, we investigated the H₂S gas-sensing features of commercial pristine cerium oxide (CeO₂ ) and gadolinium (Gd)-doped CeO₂ (GDC) nanoparticles. First, the sensing materials..... More

Abstract
Bytizite (Cu₃SbSe₃ ) has attracted interest as a promising thermoelectric material because of its ultralow thermal conductivity; however, there are few experimental studies. This study investigated the optimal processing conditions for the synthesis of Cu₃SbSe₃ using mechanical alloying (MA) and hot pressing (HP). The MA powder exhibited an orthorhombic Cu₃SbSe₃..... More

Abstract
Famatinite (Cu₃SbS₄ ) is a promising p-type thermoelectric material because of its low lattice thermal conductivity and high Seebeck coefficient. In this study, famatinite powders, double-doped with Sn (a B^IV group element) and In (a B^III group element) to give Cu₃Sb_1-x-ySn_xIn_yS₄ (0.02 ≤ x ≤ 0.12 and 0.06 ≤..... More

Abstract
The effect of TiO₂ additive concentration and sintering temperatures on the densification of alumina (Al₂O₃ ) ceramics were investigated. Densified alumina specimens were prepared by uniaxial pressing at a pressure of 60 MPa followed by isothermal heating at either 1400, 1500, or 1600 o C for 2 h. The relative..... More

Abstract
Skinnerite (Cu₃SbS₃) has recently attracted attention as a promising thermoelectric material because of its low thermal conductivity. In this study, we performed the solid-state synthesis of Fe-doped skinnerite Cu₃Sb_1-yFe_yS₃ (y = 0.02−0.06) using mechanical alloying and hot pressing, and examined the samples’ thermoelectric properties relative to Fe doping content. All..... More

Abstract
Permingeatite (Cu₃SbSe₄) is a promising thermoelectric material with narrow bandgap energy and large carrier effective mass. However, doping is required to improve its electrical conductivity and thermoelectric properties. In this study, Cu₃Sb_1−y(Al/In)_ySe₄ doped with B^III-group elements (Al or In) at the Sb sites was synthesized using mechanical alloying followed by..... More

Abstract
Bi₂Te₃-based alloys have been extensively studied as thermoelectric materials near room temperature. In this study, the electrical, thermal, and thermoelectric transport properties of a series of Co-doped n-type Cu_0.008Bi₂Te_2.6Se_0.4 polycrystalline alloys (Cu_0.008Bi_2−xCo_xTe_2.6Se_0.4, x = 0, 0.03, 0.06, 0.09 and 0.12) are investigated. The electrical conductivity of the Cu_0.008Bi_1.97Co_0.03Te_2.6Se_0.4 (x =..... More

Abstract
Carbon-based thin film tool coatings, such as diamond-like carbon (DLC), have excellent lowfriction and anti-sticking properties. These thin films are widely used for the cutting and machining of increasingly widely-used lightweight non-metallic and non-ferrous metal materials, as a part of countermeasures against global warming. However, non-metallic and non-ferrous metal materials..... More

Abstract
In the present study, we analyzed the thermal and mechanical properties of Cu-graphite composites (CGCs) with spatially anisotropic graphite layers. These composites were fabricated using a combination of electroless plating and spark plasma sintering (SPS) processes. Thermal conductivities and thermal expansion coefficients of the composites were measured using differential thermal..... More

Abstract
As interest in hydrogen energy grows, eco-friendly methods of producing hydrogen are being explored. CuBi₂O₄ is one of the p-type semiconductor cathode materials that can be used for photoelectrochemical hydrogen production via environment-friendly water electrolysis. CuBi₂O₄ has a bandgap of 1.5 – 1.8 eV which allows it to photogenerate electrons..... More

Abstract
Despite the recent advances in nature-inspired superhydrophobic surfaces with multifunctional properties such as self-healing, self-cleaning, antibacterial material, anti-biofouling, and oil-water separation in various industrial applications, there have been very few reports of robust superhydrophobic surfaces fabricated via a low-cost method. Herein, we report a rationally designed, self-healable, robust, and superhydrophobic..... More

Abstract
In this study, Cu₃Sb_1-ySn_ySe₄ (0 ≤ y ≤ 0.08) permingeatites were synthesized via mechanical alloying followed by hot pressing. The phase transformation, microstructure, charge transport parameters of the permingeatites, and their thermoelectric properties were analyzed. The permingeatites were present in a single phase with a tetragonal structure, and secondary phases..... More

Abstract
We investigated the effect of Ni doping on the electrical, thermal, and thermoelectric transport properties of FeSe₂ polycrystalline alloys. FeSe₂ alloys exhibit both n-type and p-type conduction at different temperatures and thus their practicality as a thermoelectric material is somewhat limited. In this study, Fe_1-xNi_xSe₂ polycrystalline samples with x =..... More

Abstract
Re₂Te₅ is considered a potential thermoelectric material because of its intrinsically low thermal conductivity, due to its complex crystal structure. Herein, a series of Se-doped Re₂Te₅ (Re₂Te_5-xSe_x, x = 0, 0.2, 1, and 2) samples were synthesized, and their electrical and thermal transport properties were investigated. Pure orthorhombic Re₂Te₅ phases..... More

Abstract
Bi₂O₂Se oxyselenide has been actively studied as a potential n-type thermoelectric material because of its intrinsically low thermal conductivity and high Seebeck coefficient (S). However, Bi₂O₂Se has very low electrical conductivity (σ), resulting in relatively poor thermoelectric performance. Herein, we investigate the effect of Cu addition on the electrical and..... More

Abstract
The recycling of critical metals like cobalt and nickel from spent lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) is of immense importance in sustainable manufacturing. This work aims to purify Co(II) and Ni(II) present in acidic and ammonia solutions using ion exchange. AG-1-X8 resin modified with thiocyanate anions (R₄N⁺SCN⁻ resin) was used to separate..... More

Abstract
NbFeSb-based alloys are promising p-type half-Heusler materials with excellent thermoelectric performance, thermal stability, and naturally abundant constituent elements. Alloying and doping are powerful techniques for enhancing the thermoelectric properties of half-Heusler materials. This study experimentally investigated the effects of V alloying in NbFeSb codoped with Ti, Zr, and Sn. As..... More

Abstract
Nanostructured transparent conductors have been studied intensively for application to flexible and transparent electronic devices. Among diverse nanomaterials, electrospun nanofibers provide several advantages over other nanomaterials, including a high aspect ratio, uniform distribution, and a facile fabrication process. In the present study, an electrode composed of a core-shell (PVDF)-(Al) structured..... More

Abstract
The smelting reduction of spent LIBs produces metallic alloys containing Co, Cu, Fe, Mn, and Ni. These metallic alloys can be completely dissolved by 2 M HCl solution containing H₂O₂ as an oxidizing agent. Extraction of the leaching solution with D2EHPA results in a Fe(III) free raffinate. In this work,..... More

Abstract
Silica fibers were fabricated by sol-gel reaction and an electrospinning process. A high voltage source of electricity was applied to the prepared spinning solution to form the fibers. Macroporous silica fibers were prepared using polystyrene (PS) nanospheres as templates after calcination. The pore size could be controlled by adjusting the..... More

Abstract
This study investigated the microstructure and mechanical properties of Mg-1Gd-1Y-1Zn (at.%) alloys containing designed amounts of Ce or La. The Mg₅(Gd,Zn) phase formed in the as-cast Mg-Gd-Y-Zn-Ce/La alloys and disappeared after a homogenization treatment at 500°C for 24 h. The addition of Ce and La resulted in the formation of..... More

Abstract
In this study, mechanical alloying was performed to synthesize permingeatite Cu₃Sb_1-x-ySn_xBi_ySe₄ (0.02 ≤ x ≤ 0.06 and 0.02 ≤ y ≤ 0.04) doped with Sn and Bi. Hot pressing was subsequently conducted to achieve dense sintered bodies. When the Bi content was constant, the carrier concentration increased with the Sn..... More

Abstract
High quality Hg₂Br₂ crystal grown via the physical vapor transport (PVT) process is essential for the fabrication of the acousto-optic tunable filters (AOTFs) module. The full process flow, including powder purification and crystal growth, should be systematically established, but there have been few reports about the fully established process flow..... More

Abstract
Improving solar energy conversion efficiency and reducing energy loss have become critical issues in recent decades. Photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting provides an ideal method for solar energy harvesting and is a key factor in decreasing the use of fossil fuels. Thus, it is extremely important to identify cost-effective, highly active,..... More

Abstract
There is growing interest in the recovery of pure palladium (Pd) compound from cemented Pd from spent electroplating solutions due to increasing demand for Pd, and there is considerable motivation to develop an efficient recovery process. In conventional methods of leaching Pd metal, HCl solutions containing oxidizing agents are employed...... More

Abstract
Nodular graphite cast iron is used in the railway and automobile industries because of its excellent workability, abrasion resistance, mechanical strength, and hardenability. To use nodular graphite cast iron in harsh environments, it is essential to examine their friction–wear properties in conjunction with the surface hardness of the materials. Therefore,..... More

Abstract
Skinnerite Cu₃SbS₃, which consists of non-toxic and low-cost elements, is a potential thermoelectric material, however, studies on its thermoelectric properties are limited. In this study, the optimal conditions of mechanical alloying (MA) and hot pressing (HP) for the synthesis of the Cu₃SbS₃ phase were investigated, and its thermoelectric properties were..... More

Abstract
Si-doped Cu₁₂Sb_4-ySi_yS₁₃ (y = 0.1-0.4) compounds were prepared using solid-state synthesis. Each specimen consisted of a single tetrahedrite phase with a densely sintered body whose relative density exceeded 98.9%. The lattice constant decreased from 1.0357 nm to 1.0336 nm as the Si content increased. When the Si doping content (y)..... More