Sulphur in steel, primarily introduced during ironmaking through coke, forms sulphide non-metallic inclusions, which adversely affect hot working processes and steel properties, reducing impact toughness, ductility, weldability, and corrosion resistance. To mitigate these effects, desulphurisation techniques remove sulphur by forming stable sulphides in the slag phase, primarily through ladle slag treatment. Understanding sulphur thermodynamics in liquid iron is essential for controlling its solubility and activity during steelmaking. This study reviews existing methods for determining sulphur solubility in iron melts, highlighting challenges due to its high solubility and complex phase interactions. It also examines element-sulphur reactions and the conditions for sulphide formation. Overall, this work provides a comprehensive analysis of sulphur’s role in steel metallurgy and offers insights to optimise desulphurisation practices for improved steel quality.
GaSe nanoparticles were synthesized by pulsed-laser ablation in liquid (PLAL) using Bridgman-grown GaSe single crystals as targets. The laser ablation was performed in distilled water using a Nd:YAG laser operating at a wavelength of 1064 nm, pulse energy of 135 mJ, pulse duration of 10 ns, and repetition rate of 10 Hz. The structural, morphological, compositional, and vibrational properties of the synthesized nanoparticles deposited on glass and silicon substrates were investigated by XRD, SEM, EDS, and Raman spectroscopy. XRD analyses confirmed the preservation of the hexagonal -GaSe phase with crystallite sizes of approximately 10–30 nm. SEM observations revealed quasi-spherical nanoparticles with dimensions in the nanometer range, while EDS verified the presence of Ga and Se without detectable impurity phases. Raman measurements demonstrated the retention of the characteristic GaSe phonon modes and revealed substrate-dependent variations in the vibrational response of the nanoparticle layers. These results demonstrate that PLAL is an effective method for producing crystalline GaSe nanoparticles while preserving the fundamental structural characteristics of the parent material. The observed substrate-dependent behavior highlights the potential of GaSe nanostructures for future optoelectronic and nanophotonic applications.
Deep mechanistic insight into electrocatalyst stability is essential to design durable, resource-efficient fuel cells. Nanoparticulate electrocatalysts degrade via diverse nanoscale processes, yet particle-to-particle heterogeneity in structure, support interaction, and local microenvironment make true particle-level quantification and understanding impossible with classical approaches. Here we scale up identical-location scanning transmission electron microscopy to track the structural evolution of hundreds of carbon-supported Pt–Co nanoparticles, a prototypical oxygen reduction reaction electrocatalyst. We present a three-step image analysis workflow comprising segmentation, tracking, and degradation-event classification with progressive automation, including machine-learning-assisted segmentation of overlapping particles. By pairing nanoscale resolution and local history with population-level statistics, the pipeline enables unbiased identification and quantification of degradation pathways across statistically meaningful particle sets. We reveal clear particle size- and shape-dependent effects, showing that smaller and irregular nanoparticles are more prone to detachment. Together, these advances provide a data-driven framework for probing electrocatalyst degradation at scale, informing the rational design of next-generation materials.
Plasma-induced electrochemical anodization (PA) is introduced as an alternative strategy for fabricating titanium oxide nanostructures using environmentally benign, chloride-based electrolytes. Unlike conventional anodization methods that rely on metallic cathodes and fluoride-containing acidic electrolytes, the PA approach employs an atmospheric-pressure plasma jet (APPJ) as the cathode, enabling anodization in aqueous sodium chloride solutions with optional ethylene glycol addition. By adjusting electrolyte composition and processing conditions, hierarchical flower-like microstructures composed of densely packed nanotube-like TiO2 features were obtained. The most uniform and well-defined structures were obtained with 2.5 M NaCl and ethylene glycol. Additional oxygen plasma treatment modified surface chemistry and enhanced wettability without altering surface morphology. Biological evaluation demonstrated that PA-treated surfaces significantly reduced platelet adhesion and activation, decreased Escherichia coli attachment by up to 92%, and promoted endothelial cell adhesion and spreading. Smooth muscle cells also exhibited increased adhesion to modified surfaces; however, their morphology was altered, with reduced spreading and a nonuniform distribution. Overall, the more pronounced response of endothelial cells indicates a favorable trend toward endothelialisation. These findings demonstrate that plasma-induced electrochemical anodization enables the fabrication of titanium surfaces with multifunctional biological performance, combining reduced thrombogenicity and bacterial adhesion with enhanced endothelial response. The use of fluoride-free electrolytes further highlights the potential of this approach for applications in cardiovascular and other blood-contacting biomedical devices.
A set of solid reference materials of electrical steel with a wide list of standardized impurity and alloying components has been developed for determination of B, C, N, Al total, Al acid-soluble, Si, P, S, Ca, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Ni, Cu, Nb, Mo, and Sn. The RM set allows monitoring the accuracy of determination of elements by spectral methods. The consistency and stability of the chemical composition of the set were confirmed, and the error values of the certified elements were evaluated. Using this RM set the linear calibration graphs for determination of all the elements by spark atomic emission spectrometry (SAES) ( R 2 = 0.9817 – 0.9998) and X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (XRF) ( R 2 = 0.8141 – 0.9999) with detection limits of 0.1 – 170 and 0.8 – 18 ppm correspondingly were plotted. Using the Wilcoxon statistical criterion, the possibility of joint use of the developed and Czech SPL SST-1A – SST-4A sets for the determination of components by SAES and XRF was demonstrated. The developed kit is used in the laboratories of a metallurgical enterprise.
