Abstract The chemical and microstructural features of poly(styrenesulfonic acid) (PSSA)-grafted poly(ethylene-co-tetrafluoroethylene) (ETFE) polymer electrolyte membranes (ETFE-PEMs) through preparation procedures and grafting degree (GD) are investigated by solid-state 13C cross polarization/magic angle spinning solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (13C CP/MAS NMR) spectra, atomic force microscope (AFM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Doppler broadening (DB) of positron-annihilation radiation measurement. Especially, sequential order in the structural changes as a response to GD increase is discussed in detail by using the two-dimensional correlation spectroscopy (2D-CS) analyses. The grafting process at –CH2 sites occurs earlier than that at –CF2 ones. The chemical degradation of ETFE-PEMs (even at a low GD of 8.8 %) observed previously...

Abstract In the present work, composites of SnO2 and biocarbon from cashew residue were applied and reported for the first time as anode materials of Li-ion batteries. The composites were developed via a two-step synthesis route consisting of pretreating the cashew residue to create biocarbon, followed by compositing the biocarbon with SnO2. The calcination temperatures were set at 400 °C and 500 °C, and the synthesized samples were denoted as SOC400 and SOC500, respectively. These temperature points were chosen to be significantly lower than those used in previous studies to reduce production costs and enhance commercial competitiveness. The properties and morphologies of the...

Abstract Safety concerns in lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) poses safety risks due to flammable liquid electrolytes and dendrite formation. Solid polymer electrolytes (SPEs) offer a safer alternative, though limited by low ionic conductivity and poor dendrite resistance. In this study, a SPE based on poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) was modified to by blending with polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) to enhance mechanical strength and reduce crystallinity, while introducing sulfonate (SO3−) groups from linear alkylbenzene sulfonic acid (LABSA) to improve ion transport. At the optimized ratio of PEO:PVDF (1:0.7) and PEO:LAS (1:1.0), the SPE with LiTFSI exhibited high Li+ ion transference number (0.48) and improved diffusion...

Abstract The approach for detecting trace amounts of microplastics using surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) faces a significant challenge because the size of individual nanoparticles is considerably smaller than that of microplastics. Therefore, it is imperative to develop a type of nanoparticle that can form a larger surface area while still preserving excellent surface plasmon properties to enhance SERS analysis. Silver nanocubes (AgNCs) are an ideal candidate for meeting these specific requirements. Although prior studies have successfully investigated the impact of chemical parameters, it remains a challenge to synthesize AgNCs homogeneously. The current research underscores other experimental refinements that have been...

Abstract Advanced cryptographic devices employ multiscale countermeasures to bolster resilience against side-channel analysis (SCA). In masking-based defenses, secure substitution-boxes (S-boxes) and effective masking schemes are paramount. Additionally, the time-based hiding techniques, leveraging multiple clocks for individual encryption operations, offer significant protection. This article introduces a novel multiscale countermeasure: an improved tower field masking scheme integrated with an affine transformation-based dynamic S-box. Crucially, we incorporate Gold sequences to generate both a random clock source for horizontal hiding and random values for masking. Extensive evaluation using up to five million power traces demonstrates the robustness of our approach against standard correlation power...

Abstract Let D be a division ring with center F, and let n > 1 be an integer. A known result due to Kursov asserts that if D is finite-dimensional over F, then the commutator width of the general linear group GLn(D) is at most one greater than that of GLn(D). In the absence of the finite-dimensionality assumption, recent research has made significant progress, though the developments typically cease once F is infinite or D is algebraic over F. The purpose of this paper is to show that these restrictions are, in fact, unnecessary. Tran, N.S. (2026) Linear Algebra and its Applications, 728, pp. 376–382. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.laa.2025.09.015

Abstract In this work, we investigated the thermoelectric properties of MoS2 thin films deposited on SiO2/Si wafer substrates as prepared by the radio frequency (RF) magnetron sputtering technique. A fixed sputtering power of 200 W was maintained for 30 min to facilitate thin film deposition. After thin film deposition, as-deposited thin films were annealed by the vacuum annealing method at 550, 650, and 700 °C. The crystal structure, morphology, film thickness, and atomic composition of the MoS2 thin film were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) techniques, respectively. The elemental states of thin films were determined...

Abstract Background: Acellular tubular artery scaffolds offer structural support for vascular regeneration but are inherently limited by poor anticoagulant properties, which increases the risk of thrombus formation following implantation. This thrombogenicity remains a major obstacle to their clinical application, particularly in small-diameter vascular grafts. Methods: To address this challenge, the present study investigates the use of the Layer-by-Layer (LbL) assembly technique for heparin immobilization under low-speed rotation. Utilizing a roller tube system, heparin was immobilized onto decellularized scaffolds through electrostatic interactions facilitated by a DHI-based linker. This low-speed rotation LbL approach enhanced the uniformity and stability of heparin deposition compared...