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Thickness dramatically affects the functionality of coatings. Accordingly, the techniques in use to determine the thickness are of utmost importance for coatings research and technology. In this review, we analyse some of the most appropriate methods for determining the thickness of metallic coatings. In doing so, we classify the techniques into two categories: (i) destructive and (ii) non-destructive. We report on the peculiarity and accuracy of each of these methods with a focus on the pros and cons. The manuscript also covers practical issues, such as the complexity of the procedure and the time required to obtain results. While the analysis focuses most on metal coatings, many methods are also applicable to films of other materials.

Today industrial electroplating is mainly carried out using direct current even if the use of modulated currents could offer greats opportunities. Adjusting the amplitude and length of the current’s pulses it is possible to control grain size, porosity and homogeneity of the deposits; the use of modulated currents could also decrease the environmental impact of deposition processes as they require a much lower percentage of organic additives. The aim of this work is to assess, through both theoretical and experimental investigation, how the deposition parameters affect the various characteristics of the deposit. We used a commercial acid copper bath for the depositions performing both pulse and reverse pulse sequences. The coatings have been characterised by estimating the deposition yield, homogeneity, hardness and reflectivity. Using pulsed currents, we obtained shinier and brighter films respect to those produced with stationary currents; the deposition efficiency was also improved. Bipolar currents, on the other hand, favour more homogeneous deposits over the entire deposition area, and are less affected by the edge effect.

Physical Vapor Deposition (PVD) is a widely utilized process in various industrial applications, serving as a protective and hard coating. However, its presence in fields like fashion has only recently emerged, as electroplating processes had previously dominated this reality. The future looks toward the replacement of the most hazardous and toxic electrochemical processes, especially those involving Cr(VI) and cyanide galvanic baths, which have been restricted by the European Union. Unfortunately, a complete substitution with PVD coatings is not feasible. Currently, the combination of both techniques is employed to achieve new aesthetic features, including a broader color range and diverse textures, rendering de facto PVD of primary interest for the decorative field and the fashion industry. This review aims to outline the guidelines for decorative industries regarding PVD processes and emphasize the recent advancements, quality control procedures, and limitations.

Ligands L1 and L2 are composed, respectively, by a diethylenetriamine or a dipropylenetriamine moiety linked at their extremities to anthracene units through methylene bridges and form stable 1:1 complexes with Zn(II), in which the metal is coordinated by all three nitrogens of the ligands. Zn(II) binding by L1 leads to a marked enhancement of the fluorescence emission, thanks to the inhibition of the photoinduced electron transfer (PET) process from the benzylic amine groups of the triamine sub-unit to the excited fluorophore, which normally quenches the emission of fluorescent polyamine receptors. Conversely, the emission of L2 is somewhat quenched by Zn(II) binding likely due—as also indicated by ab initio calculations and molecular dynamics simulations—to the formation of cation π quenching contacts between the metal and the anthracene moieties that overcome the effects of PET inhibition. The Zn(II) complexes of both ligands are able to bind ketoprofen (KP) in its anionic form, thanks to the formation of COO−—Zn(II) coordinative bonds, to form [KPZnL]+ and [(KP)2ZnL] (L = L1 or L2) ternary adducts. While KP binding to [ZnL2]2+ enhances the fluorophore emission, coordination of KP to [ZnL1]2+ slightly reduces the anthracene emission, due, once again, to the formation in the L1 ternary complexes of marked cation π contacts.

The electrochemical behaviour of steel, copper, and titanium current collectors was studied in aqueous solutions of lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide (LiTFSI) at various concentrations, from 0.5 up to 20 m. As the concentration of the electrolyte increases, the electrochemical window of water stability widens according to the “water-in-salt” concept. The metal grids have been studied electrochemically, both under anodic and cathodic conditions, by means of cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry. Subsequently, a microscopic analysis with SEM and compositional analysis with XPS was carried out to evaluate the surface modifications following electrochemical stress. We found that copper is not very suitable for this kind of application, while titanium and steel showed interesting behaviour and large electrochemical window.

This study investigates the influence of sevoflurane and desflurane on the electrochemical behavior of the Fe(III)-acetylacetonate (Fe(acac)3) complex. Using cyclic voltammetry (CV), we demonstrate that while Fe(acac)3 exhibits reversible redox behavior in an oxygen-free environment, the presence of dissolved oxygen renders the system irreversible, leading to the formation of a thick, reddish film on the electrode surface upon potential cycling. Notably, the addition of sevoflurane and desflurane restores the electrochemical reversibility and dramatically inhibits this film formation. Raman spectroscopy of the resulting films confirmed structural changes which are consistent with this inhibiting action. Furthermore, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis reveals that the iron in the film remains predominantly in the Fe3+ oxidation state even after prolonged electrochemical reduction cycles. These findings suggest that the anesthetics act by inhibiting the interaction between the Fe(acac)3 complex and oxygen, likely through a spin–decoherence mechanism. This work highlights the critical role of anesthetics in modifying the electrochemical behavior of metal-oxygen complexes, with potential implications for sensing, electrocatalysis, and bio-oriented systems.

Ionic Liquids are a promising alternative to water electrolytes for the electrodeposition of metals. These solvents have a much larger electrochemical window than water that expands the potential of electrodeposition. However, mass transport in Ionic Liquids is slow. The slow mass transport dramatically affects the rate of reactions at the solid–liquid interface, hampering the exploitation of Ionic Liquids in high-throughput electrodeposition processes. In this paper, we clarify the origin of such poor mass transport in the diffusion–advection (convection) regime. To determine the extent and the dynamics of the convection boundary layers, we performed Rotating Disk Electrode (RDE) experiments on model reactions along with the finite element simulation. Both the experiments and the finite element modelling showed the occurrence of peaks in the RDE curves even at relatively high rotation rates (up to 2000 rpm). The peak in the RDE is the fingerprint of partial diffusion control that happens for the relative extent of the diffusion and convection boundary layers. In looking for a close match between the experiments and the simulations, we found that the ohmic drop plays a critical role and must be considered in the calculation to find the best match with the experimental data. In the end, we have shown that the combined approach consisting of RDE experiments and finite elements modelling providing a tool to unravel of the structure of the diffusion and convection boundary layers both in dynamic and stationary conditions.

BackgroundPartial lesions of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) are more common than is generally thought, accounting for about 10–12% of ACL injuries. Selective reconstruction may be considered as an option in isolated bundle rupture. The purpose of this study is to evaluate both subjective and objective clinical results, as well as functional recovery time, after selective arthroscopic single-bundle reconstruction in a consecutive series of patients affected by partial ACL rupture.Materials and methodsThirty-six patients undergoing selective reconstruction of a single ACL bundle were retrospectively evaluated from a series of 354 ACL reconstructions performed over a 3-year period. Although the suspicion of partial lesions was present at clinical and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) evaluation, final diagnosis was obtained during arthroscopy. All patients were operated using the same technique and type of fixation, and undergoing the same functional recovery protocol.ResultsMean follow-up was 64 months (48–84 months). All patients but one achieved good functional recovery and returned to their sports within a mean period of 6.1 months. A single patient complained of postoperative instability 1 year after the index operation and needed further surgery. No complications were recorded.ConclusionsSelective reconstruction of partial ACL injury is a method to bear in mind because it offers quick functional recovery. Specific technical and diagnostic steps should be performed and discussed with patients preoperatively.Level of evidenceLevel 4, retrospective study.

Results are presented concerning the influence on the water splitting process of enantiopure tartaric acid present in bulk solution. Stainless steel and electrodeposited nickel are used as working electrode (WE) surface. The latter is obtained by electrodeposition on the two poles of a magnet. The influence and role played by the chiral compound in solution has been assessed by comparing the current values, in cyclic voltammetry (CV) experiments, recorded in the potential range at which oxygen evolution reaction (OER) occurs. In the case of tartaric acid and nickel WE a spin polarization of about 4% is found. The use of the chiral environment (bulk solution) and ferromagnetic chiral Ni electrode allows for observing the OER at a more favorable potential: About 50 mV (i.e., a cathodic, less positive, shift of the potential at which the oxygen evolution is observed).

Recently, the new updates in legislation about drinking water control and human health have increased the demand for novel electrochemical low-cost sensors, such as potentiometric ones. Nowadays, the determination of chloride ion in aqueous solutions has attracted great attention in several fields, from industrial processes to drinking water control. Indeed, chloride plays a crucial role in corrosion, also influencing the final taste of beverages, especially coffee. The main goal is to obtain devices suitable for continuous and real-time analysis. For these reasons, we investigated the possibility to develop an easy, low-cost potentiometric chloride sensor, able to perform analysis in aqueous mediums for long immersion time and reducing the need of periodic calibration. We realized a chloride ion selective electrode made of Ag/AgCl sintered pellet and we tested its response in model solutions compatible with drinking water. The sensor was able to produce a stable, reproducible, and accurate quantification of chloride in 900 s, without the need for a preliminary calibration test. This opens the route to potential applications of this sensor in continuous, in situ, and real time measurement of chloride ions in industrial processes, with a reduced need for periodic maintenance.