Abstract: A method for producing a submicron-/nano-jute carbon/epoxy composite anti-corrosion coating is described. The method includes heating a jute stick, grinding the jute stick to form a first powder; pyrolyzing the first powder to form a pyrolyzed carbon; grinding the pyrolyzed carbon to form a second powder; ball milling the second powder under the wet conditions to form a submicron-/nano-jutecarbon; mixing the submicron-/nano-jutecarbon, and an epoxy resin to form a first mixture; mixing a hardener with the first mixture to form a second mixture, and coating the second mixture on a mild steel substrate and curing to form the submicron-/nano-jutecarbon/epoxy composite anti-corrosion coating.

Abstract: A twin pneumatic hammer is provided. The twin pneumatic hammer includes a first hammer head connected to a first pneumatic cylinder mounted on a first caliper arm, and a second hammer head connected to a second pneumatic cylinder mounted on a second caliper arm. The second hammer head is positioned opposite to the first hammer head. The first and second caliper arms are slidably coupled to a sliding track of a caliper base such that a distance between the first and second caliper arms may be adjusted. A plurality of tubing connects the first and the second pneumatic cylinders to a source of compressed air. An air controller is connected to the source of compressed air and performs a simultaneous impact stroke of the first and second hammer heads by controlling the release of compressed air into the plurality of tubing.

Abstract: A microgrid system is described. The microgrid system includes a Hodrick-Prescott filter configured to generate a filtered power based on an electrical power that is generated from an renewable energy. The microgrid system further includes a battery configured to output a battery power based on the electrical power and the filtered power. Also, the microgrid system includes a state of charge (SoC) control module configured to control charging and discharging of the battery by applying a feedback control on the output battery power.

Abstract: A method of adsorbing chloride ions from an aqueous solution with a nanocomposite. The nanocomposite including iron nanoparticles, aluminum nanoparticles and guar gum. The nanocomposite is in the form of extruded cylindrical particles in which the iron nanoparticles and the aluminum nanoparticles are dispersed in a matrix of the guar gum.

Abstract: A method for evaluating the foamability of a test solution. The method includes forming foam in a vertical measurement column including an open top end and a fritted plate proximal to a bottom end by passing a gas stream through the fitted plate and through the test solution present in the vertical measurement column at a gas volume rate (GVR) and a gas flow rate (GFR). The foam travels upwards in the vertical measurement column while the gas stream is passing through the test solution. The method further includes measuring the viscosity of the foam with a vibration viscometer disposed proximal to the top end of the vertical measurement column, and further recording a plurality of vibration viscometer measurement results and storing the results (a surfactant amount Csurf, the GVR, and the GFR) in memory to determine one or more foam properties of the test solution.

Abstract: The perovskite solar cell (PSC) includes a first layer containing a conducting material coated glass plate as a substrate, a second layer containing copper doped nickel oxide, a third layer containing a perovskite, a fourth layer containing nitrogen (N)-doped graphene quantum dots, a fifth layer containing phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester and a top layer including conductive layer. A method for producing the perovskite solar cell is also discussed.

Abstract: A method for producing a chromium nitride (CrN) thin film is provided. The method includes reactive radio frequency magnetron sputtering chromium onto a substrate in the presence of a gaseous mixture including nitrogen and argon to form the CrN thin film, where a ratio of the nitrogen gas to the argon gas is 1:2 to 1:10, and where the CrN thin film has an average thickness of 500 to 1500 nm. The CrN film as prepared by the method of the present disclosure can be used in sensors for cryogenic temperature.

Abstract: A body area network (BAN) architecture including a plurality of ultra-wideband (UWB) BAN node devices, a control node device, and a remote node device is described. The plurality of UWB BAN node devices measures real-time physiological data of a patient and transmits the physiological data to the control node device using UWB signals. The control node device encodes the UWB signals using an spectral amplitude coding-optical code division multiple access (SAC-OCDMA) encoder, modulates the encoded UWB signals using an on-off keying (OOK) scheme, combines the modulated UWB signals into an optical signal using an optical coupler, and transmits the combined optical signal through a free space optical (FSO) link to the remote node device. The remote node device decodes the combined optical signal using an SAC-OCDMA decoder, converts the decoded optical signal into an electrical signal, and analyzes the physiological data based on the electrical signal.

Abstract: Polymer/carbon nanotube composites made up of melamine, aldehyde, diaminoalkane monomeric units and carbon nanotubes having activated carbonyl groups. A method for removing heavy metals, such as Pb(II) from an aqueous solution or an industrial wastewater sample with these composites is introduced. A process of synthesizing the polymer/carbon nanotube composites is also described.

Abstract: A method for treating a well in a hydrocarbon-producing subterranean production zone. The method for treating well-producing hydrocarbons from a subterranean production zone includes dry mixing a granite waste powder (GWP) in a form of rock aggregates and a cement to form a mixture. Then the mixture is added to the cement composition containing water, pre-hydrated sodium bentonite, calcium chloride, a dispersant, and an alcohol-based defoamer to form a cement slurry. The cement slurry is prepared at a density of from 13.5 pounds per gallon (ppg) to 14.5 ppg and contains the GWP in a range of from 5 wt. % to 20 wt. % of the cement slurry. 10 wt. % to 15 wt. % perlite is added into the cement slurry to form a ternary blend which is cured and then the cured product is injected into the well to seal the well at the subterranean production zone.

Abstract: The perovskite solar cell (PSC) includes a first layer containing a conducting material coated glass plate as a substrate, a second layer containing copper doped nickel oxide, a third layer containing a perovskite, a fourth layer containing nitrogen (N)-doped graphene quantum dots, a fifth layer containing phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester and a top layer including conductive layer. A method for producing the perovskite solar cell is also discussed.

Abstract: The system has a non-rebound substrate and a first frame disposed around a peripheral edge thereof. The system further has an array of sensors, a digital sensor interface, and a control unit. The array of sensors is disposed in a center portion of the first frame. The array of sensors has at least 9 accelerometers configured in rows in a rectangular array in the central portion of the first frame. The control unit has a processor electrically connected to the digital sensor interface to receive data from the array of sensors, and has instructions to calculate a force, an impact point, and a distance from a user to the system based on the data received from the array of sensors.

Abstract: An drilling mud composition is described, which includes an aqueous base fluid, a viscosifier, and a weighting material The drilling mud composition also includes an anti-sagging agent that comprises a dimethylamino methyl ester, such as methyl 5-(dimethylamino)-2-methyl-5-oxopentanoate. The anti-sagging agent may be used to prevent barite sagging, where barite is used as a weighting material. Small amounts of the anti-sagging agent may be used to maintain a low sag factor while drilling, and without causing unwanted increases in viscosity. The anti-sagging agent is effective for both vertical and inclined wellbores.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method of making a zeolite. The method includes mixing an aluminum nitrate with an aqueous solution of NaOH to form a first mixture followed by mixing silica gel with the first mixture to form a second mixture. The second mixture is heated with microwave irradiation to form a first sample. The method further includes washing, drying, and ion exchanging the first sample with ammonium nitrate to form a second sample. The method includes calcining the second sample to form the zeolite, wherein the method does not use a seed or a structural directing agent.

Abstract: A segmented patch antenna is described. The segmented patch antenna comprises two rectangular parasitic elements. Each parasitic element comprises an integrated diode. The segmented patch antenna further comprises a main rectangular patch segment. The main rectangular patch segment comprises 3 slots, 2 slits and 3 diodes, respectively. The segmented patch antenna is suitable for use in multiple frequencies between 4.1 GHz and 5.7 GHz inclusive and configurable to operate in 12 independent modes.

Abstract: An electrocatalyst and a method of preparing the electrocatalyst are described. The electrocatalyst includes a porous foam substrate; and a catalytically active layer comprising NiVOx nanostructures, the catalytically active layer being disposed on an exterior surface and an interior pore surface of the porous metal foam substrate; where “x” is in the range of 1 to 3. A method of using the electrocatalyst for water oxidation is also described.

Abstract: The invention is directed to use of polystyrene wastes, such as Styrofoam® wastes, and carbon nanofibers to produce a highly hydrophobic composition or composite that can separate oil and water.

Abstract: Catalytic materials useful, e.g., in water oxidation performing at low overpotential and/or stable for applications such as solar-to-fuel conversion systems may include nanoscale, nanoporous Pd-containing materials. Thin-film Pd electrocatalysts may be obtained via Aerosol-Assisted Chemical Vapor Deposition (AACVD) on conducting surfaces. XRD and XPS analyses show a phase pure crystalline metallic Pd deposit. Surface morphology study reveals a nanoparticulate highly porous nanostructure. Under electrochemical conditions, such Pd electrocatalysts may conduct water oxidation at onset potentials starting around 1.43 V against a reversible hydrogen electrode (? of 200 mV, Tafel slope of 40 mV/dec), and/or may achieve around 100 mA/cm2 current density at 1.63 V against a reversible hydrogen electrode, and may exhibits long-term stability in oxygen evolution. Method of making such electrocatalysts and their uses are also provided.

Abstract: A method for enhancing the conductivity of MOF-5 by the development of an MOF-5 polymer composite material. The composite material incorporates a conductive polymer, preferably polyaniline, in the solvo-thermal synthesis pathway of MOF-5. The electrically conductive MOF-5 composite exhibits electric conductivity three orders of magnitude higher than that of MOF-5 while maintaining the crystallinity, robustness, and thermal stability of MOF-5.

Abstract: A microgrid system is described. The microgrid system includes a Hodrick-Prescott filter configured to generate a filtered power based on an electrical power that is generated from an renewable energy. The microgrid system further includes a battery configured to output a battery power based on the electrical power and the filtered power. Also, the microgrid system includes a state of charge (SoC) control module configured to control charging and discharging of the battery by applying a feedback control on the output battery power.