Bulk copper, copper-graphene and copper-graphite composites were produced from copper-thermally expanded graphite (TEG) powder mixtures with 0-3 wt.% TEG contents via modified powder metallurgy process that includes powder milling in a planetary mill at 350 rpm for 5 hours, compaction, and vacuum annealing at 1030 °C for 1 hour. Phase composition and microstructure of the composites were analysed by XRD and SEM techniques. According to Raman spectroscopy, TEG transforms into a few layer graphene flakes in case of composites with 0.1-1 wt.% of carbon additive, while for 3 wt.% of carbon additive it remains in the form of graphite. The addition of 0.1 wt.% TEG results in the tensile strength increase up to 160 MPa (from 93 MPa for pure copper specimen synthesized via the similar synthesis route). Vickers hardness obtained for Specimens under the study is independent fromthe composite composition.

Anisotropic gold nanoparticles have been recognized as promising agents for medical diagnostics and cancer therapy due to their wide functionality, photothermal effect, and ability for optical signal amplification in the near-infrared range. In this work, a simple and rapid method for the preparation of bone-shaped gold nanoparticles coated with a dye-impregnated silica shell with an aminated surface is proposed. The possibility of further functionalization the nanostructures with a delivery vector using folic acid as an example is demonstrated. The average size of the resulting tags does not exceed 70 nm, meeting the criteria of cell endocytosis. The prepared tags exhibit surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) spectra at excitation with lasers of 632.8 and 785 nm. Cell imaging is performed on HeLa cells based on the most pronounced SERS bands as a tracking signal. The obtained images, along with scanning electron microscopy of cell samples, revealed the tendency of tags to agglomerate during endocytosis followed by the “hot spots” effect. To evaluate the toxic and proliferative effect of the nanotags, an MTT assay was performed with two HeLa and HEP G2 cell lines. The results revealed higher viability for HEP G2 cells.

The development of novel proton-conducting membrane materials for electrochemical power units, i.e., low temperature fuel cells (FCs), efficiently working up to 300 °C, is a critical problem related to the rapid shift to hydrogen energy. Polyantimonic acid (PAA) is characterized by high conductivity, sufficient thermal stability and can be regarded as a prospective proton-conducting material. However, the fabrication of bulk PAA-based membranes with high proton conductivity remains a challenging task. In the present work, for the first time, the authors report the investigation on proton conductivity of bulk PAA-based membranes in the temperature range 25–250 °C, both in dry air and in moisturized air. Using PAA powder and fluoroplastic as a binder, fully dense cylindrical membranes were formed by cold uniaxial pressing. The structures of the PAA-based membranes were investigated by SEM, EDX, XRD and Raman techniques. STA coupled with in situ thermo-XRD analysis revealed that the obtained membranes corresponded with Sb₂O₅·3H₂O with pyrochlore structure, and that no phase transitions took place up to 330 °C. PAA-based membranes possess a high-grain component of conductivity, 5 × 10⁻² S/cm. Grain boundary conductivities of 90PAA and 80PAA membranes increase with relative humidity content and their values change non-linearly in the range 25–250 °C.

The processes of the TiO₂–CeO₂–ZrO₂ system evaporation were studied by high-temperature mass spectrometry. The values of the activities of TiO₂ and CeO₂ at 2250 K indicate a positive deviation TiO₂ activity from the ideal behavior and result an increase in the activity coefficient of CeO₂ compared to the binary system CeO₂–ZrO₂.