A variety of superhard coatings with Vickers plastic hardness exceeding 40 GPa have been reported by several research groups during the last five years (for recent reviews see refs [1,2]). However, one has to distinguish between superhard nanocomposites, such as nc-TiN/a-Si3N4, nc-TiN/a-Si3N4/aand nc-TiSi2, nc-(Ti1-xAlx)N/a-Si3N4, nc-TiN/TiB2, ncTiN/BN, etc. where the high hardness originates f...

Abstract Titanium diboride (TiB 2 ) is considered a promising material for wettable cathodes in aluminum electrolysis. The demand associated with the development of inert anode technologies to eliminate CO emissions caused by conventional reduction process. has been given special attention due its superior properties, such as high wettability, good electrical conductivity, wear resistance, and ...

Excess use of chemical pesticides in agriculture assisting the accomplishment of agri-food production targets. But, indiscriminate use of chemical pesticide is the serious concern for environment and human, which deteriorating the soil health, nutritional quality of food and increasing resistance in phyto-pathogens and pests. Nanotechnology provided the sustainable solution in this regard by de...

In the field of hard protective coatings, nano-crystalline Ti-B-N films are great importance due to adjustable microstructure and mechanical properties through their B content. Here, we systematically study this influence on during reactive as well non-reactive DC magnetron sputtering. The different deposition routes allow for an additional, very effective key parameter modify bond characterist...

Tailoring materials to obtain unique, or significantly enhanced material properties through rationally designed structures rather than chemical constituents is principle of metamaterial concept, which leads to the realization of remarkable optical and mechanical properties. Inspired by the recent progress in electromagnetic and mechanical metamaterials, here we introduce the concept of ferroele...

As socie ty becomes more comfortable discussing genetics and its related ethics, a new technology is blossoming in the background. Nanotechnology may speak the same societal language as does genetics, in that both technological movements involve tiny science and large imagination. In a way, it is natural—and almost inevitable—that the genetic revolution and the nanotechnology revolution be comp...

In this work, we present new results about the non-enzymatic detection of lindane by using CuO-MnO2 hierarchical nano-microstructures. The linear range for the determination of lindane is up to 700 μM with a limit of detection of 4.8 nM, which is much lower than for other non-enzymatic lindane sensors.