This study deals with the role of non-oxide sintering aids such as boron carbide (B 4 C) or -free boron (B) plus free carbon (C) -on the Spark Plasma Sintering treatment of silicon carbide. The results so obtained clearly show that free boron plus free carbon additions lead to the higher densification rates. This favourable behaviour with regards to the densification kinetics is accompanied by the absence of any abnormal grain growth. At the opposite, boron carbide additions do not significantly raise the densification kinetic after SPS treatment of SiC in comparison to pure silicon carbide. In this case, TEM investigations point out the formation of a borosilicate vitreous phase due to the dissolution process of B 4 C in contact with a native superficial silica layer surrounding the SiC grains. The resulting liquid phase leads to an abnormal grain growth coupled with undensifying process.

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Single-layer ceramic fuel cells consisting of Li0.15Ni0.45Zn0.4O2, Gd0.2Ce0.8O2 and a eutectic mixture of Li2CO3, Na2CO3 and K2CO3, were fabricated through extrusion-based 3D printing. The sintering temperature of the printed cells was varied from 700 °C to 1000 °C to identify the optimal thermal treatment to maximize the cell performance. It was found that the 3D printed single-layer cell sintered at 900 °C produced the highest power density (230 mW/cm2) at 550 °C, which is quite close to the performance (240 mW/cm2) of the single-layer cell fabricated through a conventional pressing method. The best printed cell still had high ohmic (0.46 Ω·cm2) and polarization losses (0.32 Ω·cm2) based on EIS measurements conducted in an open-circuit condition. The XRD spectra showed the characteristic peaks of the crystalline structures in the composite material. HR-TEM, SEM and EDS measurements revealed the morphological information of the composite materials and the distribution of the elements, respectively. The BET surface area of the single-layer cells was found to decrease from 2.93 m2/g to 0.18 m2/g as the sintering temperature increased from 700 °C to 1000 °C. The printed cell sintered at 900 °C had a BET surface area of 0.34 m2/g. The fabrication of single-layer ceramic cells through up-scalable 3D technology could facilitate the scaling up and commercialization of this promising fuel cell technology.

language barriers, completion time and ease to complete the PARCA-R-Q. Parental views on the hybrid clinic model were explored. An electronic link to the feedback was sent after verbal consent. The survey was re-designed after a feasibility study done for the first 6 months Results 31 parents completed the feedback, 14 in the feasibility study phase and 17 afterwards. 77% were preterm,71% spoke English as their first language and 71% completed the PARCA-R-Q before attending the developmental clinic. 93% of the PARCA-R-Q was completed by mothers and 6.4% needed aid from healthcare professionals. 86% preferred face to face formal assessments. 84% thought the PARCA-R provided ideas encouraging their child's developmental growth. However, 45% thought that the questionnaire needs improvement and is only somewhat useful. Conclusion The implementation of the PARCA-R questionnaire has been a positive change, empowering parents/guardians in the assessment of their child and providing them with ideas to boost the child's development. However, a significant number preferred face to face formal assessments. This is the first pilot data on parental feedback on the PARCA-R-Q. Further data with a larger cohort is needed to quantify the results.