To evaluate the cleaning efficacy and biological effects of ultrasonic (US)-activated sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) for root surface decontamination and decellularisation in delayed tooth replantation. Cementum discs prepared from extracted healthy single-rooted teeth were treated with varying NaOCl concentrations (1%-5.25%), with or without US activation. Necrotic periodontal ligament (PDL) tissue clearance, cementum integrity and elemental composition were inspected by scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. Biocompatibility of the treated cementum discs with human periodontal ligament cells (PDLCs) and rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells was assessed, alongside osteogenic differentiation, inflammatory cytokine expression, collagen type I (COL-I) and receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand (RANKL)/osteoprotegerin (OPG) signalling. A Sprague-Dawley rat maxillary incisor delayed replantation model was established to assess invivo healing outcomes of US-activated NaOCl, evaluated by micro-computed tomography, haematoxylin and eosin staining and Masson's trichrome staining and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) histochemistry. Increasing NaOCl concentration accelerated removal of necrotic PDL. US activation significantly shortened NaOCl treatment time (p < 0.05) and allowed effective necrotic PDL removal at 1% NaOCl without damaging cementum. Treated cementum surfaces showed higher calcium/phosphorus and lower carbon/nitrogen contents (p < 0.01). US-assisted 1% NaOCl enhanced cell adhesion, osteogenic differentiation and COL-I expression while reducing interleukin-6, tumour necrosis factor-α and the RANKL/OPG ratio. Invivo, NaOCl combined with US activation significantly reduced root resorption volume (p < 0.05), preserved periodontal architecture, and decreased TRAP-positive osteoclast counts compared with saline or untreated controls. US-activated 1% NaOCl achieves rapid, selective removal of necrotic periodontal tissue while preserving cementum and producing a decellularised surface. This strategy attenuates inflammatory responses, suppresses osteoclastogenesis, mitigates inflammatory root resorption and may extend the therapeutic window for delayed tooth replantation.

Glassy carbon electrodes modified with Au@NiCo-glycerolates for non-enzymatic detection of glucose in beverages.

Biopolymers, particularly polysaccharides such as pectin, chіtosan and alginate, offer significant potential in addressing numerous current environmental and health issues. In contrast to synthetic polymers, natural polysaccharides possess valuable properties such as biodegradability, biocompatibility, and non-toxicity. Due to that, they have proven their efficiency in biomedical applications for drug encapsulation and delivery, wound healing and tissue engineering. Moreover, their natural origin and environmental compatibility make them highly suitable for applications in agriculture, particularly in soil conditioning and remediation. These well-known, commercially available biopolymers have unique functional properties which, when combined, can improve their physicochemical properties synergistically. Methods of Calcium Alginate and mixed polysaccharides based on Alginate and Pectins A and LM synthesis in the form of spherical beads with adjustable diameter were developed, and the influence of the nature and concentration of the components on their properties was analysed. The morphology of the synthesized polysaccharide gels (based on Alginate, Alginate-Pectin A and Alginate-Pectin LM) was examined by means of electron microscopy (SEM), while their chemical structure was confirmed by FTIR. The elemental composition of the synthesised polysaccharides was studied using energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), while their thermostability and thermolysis processes were analysed using thermogravimetric analysis. It was demonstrated that the synthesised polysaccharide beads could withstand steam sterilisation at 121 °C without undergoing significant changes. This opens up the possibility of using them in various biomedical technologies. Studying the swelling kinetics of polysaccharide gels in different solvents (water, saline and phosphate-buffered saline (PBS)) enabled us to determine their inherent Fick diffusion type. The developed mixed polysaccharides show promise as a synthetic soil conditioner for agricultural use and for targeted delivery and controlled release of medicine.

Acanthite (Ag₂S) as an indicator of late-stage silver mineralization in the Zawar Pb–Zn system, Rajasthan, India: Insights from Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Energy-Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDS) microtextural studies

Pure and silver-doped zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles were synthesized via phyto-mediation using Stachytarpheta jamaicensis leaf extract to develop an eco-friendly method for synthesizing nanoparticles with enhanced properties. Zinc nitrate and silver nitrate were employed as precursors for ZnO and Ag-doped ZnO nanoparticles, respectively. The synthesized nanoparticles were characterized using Ultraviolet-Visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and Scanning Electron Microscopy - Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (SEM-EDS) to investigate their optical and morphological properties. Results revealed that the absorption peaks of the synthesized nanoparticles confirmed the formation of nanoparticles, with Ag doping causing a red shift in the absorption spectrum. SEM images indicated a spherical morphology, with slight agglomeration in the doped samples. Doping with silver enhanced the optical properties, which could have potential applications in catalysis, sensing, and biomedical fields. Furthermore, the nanoparticle extracts were subjected to antimicrobial test against two bacterial strains ( Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus ) using a modified disk diffusion method and compared with the antibacterial effect with the standard antibacterial drug, Ampicillin. Ampicillin only showed antibacterial activity against S. aureus and had no antibacterial effect on E. Coli. Result of this study showed that the 5% and 10% Ag-doped ZnO NPs showed strong antibacterial activity against both gram-positive ( S. aureus ) and gram-negative ( E. coli ) bacterial strains.

CuO/TiO₂ nanocomposites were synthesized using an economical drop-casting method and subsequently irradiated with high-energy C⁺ ions at fluence levels of 1 × 10¹⁴, 1 × 10¹⁵, 1 × 10¹⁶, and 1 × 10¹⁷ ions cm⁻². While ion irradiation of metal oxide materials is well established, the systematic investigation of C⁺ ion effects on the structural and optical properties of CuO/TiO₂ nanocomposites under these specific fluence conditions has been limited. This study therefore contributes new insight into how controlled C⁺ irradiation can tailor the behavior of this composite. These un-irradiated and irradiated nanocomposites were characterized using various techniques such as Energy Dispersive X-Ray Spectroscopy (EDX), Raman Spectroscopy, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), Photoluminescence (PL) Spectroscopy and Diffuse Reflectance Spectroscopy (DRS) to analyze structural, morphological and optical properties of these nanocomposites. The Raman and EDX analysis confirmed the formation of pure CuO/TiO 2 nanocomposites. The SEM results represent the spherical morphology of these nanocomposites in aggregated form. PL spectra’s depicted the pure and C + ions irradiated nanocomposites were the same before and after C + irradiation in the Photoluminescence emission. DRS results indicated that band gap energy was decreased as the fluence rate of C + ions increased up to 1 × 10 17 ions cm -2 .

Synergistic enhancement of dewatering and Co-recovery of oil and gas from oily scum via integrated Hydrothermal-Mechanical process.

Abstract We demonstrated the formation of two-dimensional-like Ge 1− y Sn y ultra-thin crystal by segregation method using Al/Ge 1− x Sn x stacked structure formed on Ge(111) substrate. We verified the formation of the Ge 0.88 Sn 0.12 epitaxial layer, the Al epitaxial layer on Ge 0.88 Sn 0.12 , and the Ge 1− y Sn y -segregation layer with a Sn composition of 4.3–7.4% on the Al epitaxial layer with the simultaneous formation of the Al 2 O 3 cap layer by scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) analysis with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. Furthermore, high resolution STEM observation clarified that the Ge 1− y Sn y segregation layer showed two-dimensional-like structure rather than diamond structure. We also evaluated the crystallographic properties of segregated Ge 1− y Sn y -nanosheet such as a lattice spacing of out-of-plane direction, the lattice constant, and the buckling height to be 2.6 Å, 3.0 Å, and ~0.7–1.0 Å, respectively. This report suggests the segregation method featuring group-IV compound epitaxial layer is a possible approach to develop various new materials of group-IV compound nanosheet.

ABSTRACT Carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) composites exhibit high specific strength and stiffness, making them suitable for applications such as helicopter rotor blades, high‐speed vehicles, missile components and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). These applications may present situations of intense sand erosion and hence the erosion resistance of CFRPs needs to be enhanced, and the use of a strong nano‐filler can help achieve this. In the current study, the carbon fiber‐epoxy interface was modified with variable carboxyl functionalize graphene (G‐COOH) content (0.15, 0.53, 0.8, and 1.1 wt. % relative to the weight of the carbon fiber fabric) using an effective electrophoretic deposition technique and the products deposited were confirmed using X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The G‐COOH‐deposited fabrics were used for composite fabrication through the vacuum‐assisted resin transfer molding (VARTM) technique. All the G‐COOH‐deposited carbon fiber composites showed lower erosive wear rate at 30°, 60° and 90° angles compared to the pristine carbon fiber (PCF) composite. The 0.15 wt. % G‐COOH‐deposited carbon fiber composite exhibited the highest erosion resistance at 30° (28%) and 60° (13%) angles of impingement. In contrast, the 1.1 wt. % G‐COOH‐deposited carbon fiber composite showed the highest erosion resistance/lower wear rate (12%) at 90° angle of impingement among all compositions. The PCF composite showed the poorest erosive wear resistance, with the lowest resistance at 60° and 90° impingement while the 0.8 wt.% composite exhibited the lowest wear resistance among G‐COOH‐deposited composites at all angles. However, the 0.8 wt.% composite exhibited the highest wear resistance of 15% at 30° angle of impingement compared to other angles. The Al 2 O 3 erodent fragments were deposited into the samples with their highest prominence at 90°, particularly in epoxy‐rich regions across all composites. The deposition morphology and erosive failure mechanisms were analyzed using scanning electron microscope (SEM), while the cross‐sectional G‐COOH deposition morphology within the composite was observed using focused ion beam scanning electron microscope (FIB‐SEM). The interphase thickness was measured with energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy (EDS) carbon line scanning, and G‐COOH at the interphase was identified through Raman intensity mapping. EDS area mapping of the eroded surface, analyzed using the electron beam source of FIB‐SEM, confirmed the presence of higher number of Al 2 O 3 fragments at higher angles compared to lower angles, with a similar trend observed in G‐COOH‐deposited composites. Additionally, the eroded specimens of G‐COOH‐deposited composites exhibited various major failure mechanisms, such as adhered fiber fracture, interphase failure or adhered G‐COOH, and debonding of G‐COOH/epoxy clusters, whereas the PCF composite primarily exhibited fiber debonding, matrix fracture, and fiber fracture as the dominant failure mechanisms.

Halide perovskite light-emitting diodes promise high-efficiency1-3, low-cost optoelectronics, yet their operational instability remains a critical barrier to practical deployment. Here we develop a multimodal in situ electron microscopy approach that integrates four-dimensional scanning transmission electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and atomic-resolution imaging to directly visualize structural and chemical evolution in a working halide perovskite light-emitting diode with nanometre precision. Our in situ biasing measurements uncover nanoscale structural and chemical transformations initiated at transport layer interfaces, including the formation of metallic lead and lead-rich secondary phases, as well as strain-driven grain fragmentation. On biasing, we observe the partial transformation of the metallic Al contact to insulating AlCl3. Crucially, whereas the bulk of the perovskite emitter remains relatively intact, our experiment shows that degradation is localized at interfaces. By comparing in situ and ex situ measurements, these results establish a mechanistic link between interfacial strain, ionic transport and electrochemical reactions in working devices, and provide a broadly applicable framework for nanoscale degradation analysis in complex multilayered optoelectronic systems using multimodal in situ biasing microscopy.

Green zero-valent iron nanoparticles from Cistus ladanifer by-products for glyphosate remediation in water and soil.

The blue stain of lotus rhizome, a major postharvest issue, is hypothesized to result from polyphenol-iron complexation; however, direct in situ evidence and molecular-level identification of the pigments have been lacking. This study employed a multimodal analytical approach to unravel this process from the cellular to the molecular level. Transmission electron microscope and electrolyte leakage results demonstrated that cellular damage was a prerequisite, enabling the colocalization of polyphenols and Fe3+ at lesion sites, as visualized by scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and confocal fluorescence microscopy. Raman spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy verified complex formation, while mass spectrometry identified specific chelates. The mechanism involves polyphenol-mediated reduction of Fe3+ followed by chelation. Ascorbic acid effectively mitigated bluing by competitively reducing/chelating Fe3+, disrupting this redox cycle. This work definitively establishes the mechanism and proposes ascorbic acid as a viable antidiscoloration strategy.

Abstract As part of a substrate characterization, plant-specific zinc–magnesium (ZM) alloyed steel substrates were investigated. The substrates differ in their manufacturing specifications, which influences the formation and composition of the ZM layers in the near-surface region. The structural and chemical characterization of the sample surfaces were performed using confocal Raman spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with integrated energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDX). The ZM substrates exhibit a heterogeneous and sample-dependent phase distribution. Different Zn- and Mg-rich phases could be clearly distinguished optically, allowing for the identification of areas of advanced corrosion. A comparative approach revealed pronounced qualitative differences in the relative proportions of individual phases between the various substrates. Phase-specific oxides were identified spectroscopically. A significant shift of the characteristic band in the region around 200 cm −1 by ± 20 cm −1 was observed, which can be qualitatively attributed to an increased or decreased magnesium content in the phase and the resulting formation of Mg-rich oxides. Near-surface phase formation was strongly influenced by the alloy composition, the cooling rate, and the layer thickness. Wavenumber shifts showed that increased Mg and Al contents favored the formation of ternary phases, decreased cooling rates led to Mg enrichment of the surface, and smaller layer thicknesses resulted in thinner, more amorphous oxide layers.

Nowadays, steel has become an important part of our life due to its extensive applications in automotive, household appliances, business machine and heavy construction such as marine and chemical industries. Mild steel is selected for construction because of its mechanical properties and machine-ability at a low price, while at the same time; they have to be resisted against corrosion phenomena. Nano TiO2 can be used for high lubrication‚ high conductivity‚ and high adsorption rate as well as catalytic performance‚ chemical industry‚ aerospace, and other fields. Characterization of this TiO2 are made by X-ray diffraction, Particle size analysis, Scanning electron microscopy, Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, Thermo gravimetric and differential thermal analysis techniques.

Green synthesis emerged as an effective approach for the eco-friendly synthesis of nanoparticles with improved biological applications. This study assesses the potential of root extract of Swertia cordata for the green synthesis of silver nanoparticles and examines their antimicrobial and antioxidant properties. Different analytical techniques such as UV-visible spectroscopy, Zeta potential, X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis, were employed to characterize silver nanoparticles. The formation of silver nanoparticles was initially verified using UV-visible spectroscopy, which exhibited a characteristic absorption peak at 454 nm. XRD analysis revealed the face-centered cubic (FCC) crystalline structure. The zeta potential of −35 mV indicated the highest colloidal stability due to repulsion between the particles. The DLS confirms that the particle size distribution was between 80 and 120 nm. EDX analysis detected silver as the highest amount in the sample. The biosynthesized silver nanoparticles exhibit remarkable antibacterial activity against both Gram-negative bacteria and Gram-positive bacteria. The largest zone of inhibition was observed against Streptococcus pneumoniae (29 ± 1.5 mm) at a dose of 0.9 mg/mL. The synthesized silver nanoparticles also showed efficient and strong antifungal activity against two fungal strains, viz., Penicillium nutatum and Rhizopus stolonifera. The free radical scavenging activity of the synthesized silver nanoparticles was highest (69.5%) at 50 ppm of AgNPs concentration. The results confirm that silver nanoparticles synthesized from S. cordata root extract exhibited remarkable antimicrobial and antioxidant potential, making it therapeutic alternative for treating several diseases.

We report the rapid, sustainable, facile, environmentally friendly synthesis of copper oxide nanosheets (CuO NSs) and their application as a nanocatalyst for the synthesis of 2-substituted 1,3-benzothiazoles. The CuO NSs were characterized by various analytical techniques, including UV-Vis, fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) mapping. CuO NSs were successfully utilized in the environmentally-friendly synthesis of biologically active 2-substituted 1,3-benzothiazole derivatives in an aqueous ethanol medium. The desired products were obtained in excellent yields without the formation of side products. The synthetic efficacy of this compound is underscored by its high-yielding protocol across a diverse range of substrates and ability to operate under mild reaction conditions. The nanosheet morphology of CuO provides abundant active sites, enabling exceptional catalytic efficiency. The catalyst is readily recoverable and reusable over multiple cycles without significant loss of activity. This operationally simple strategy combines high atom economy, excellent recyclability, and environmentally benign conditions, offering a valuable route to benzothiazole frameworks of pharmaceutical and industrial relevance.

Accurate quantification of n-type dopant, such as phosphorus (P) and arsenic (As) in silicon-germanium (SiGe), is critical for source/drain engineering, junction control, and device variability in advanced complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor. Especially for As in SiGe, conventional microanalysis techniques, such as transmission electron microscopy combined with energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy or electron energy loss spectroscopy, struggle at technologically relevant doping levels and suffer from peak-overlap issues for As in the presence of Ge. Common secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) platforms, such as magnetic sector (MS), quadrupole (Quad), and time-of-flight (ToF), face severe mass interferences at limited mass resolving power as well as low ion yields. Here, we translate the Orbitrap™-SIMS workflow, previously validated for P in Si/SiGe, to As in SiGe, combine it with self-focusing SIMS (SF-SIMS) for patterned features, and benchmark Orbitrap™-SIMS against ToF-SIMS, Quad-SIMS, and MS-SIMS. Using blanket Si1−xGex standards and patterned Ge1−y−zSiySnz:As fins, we show that the exceptional mass resolving power of the Orbitrap™ mass analyzer eliminates the dominant As interferences (e.g., As− vs GeH−; AsSi− vs GeSiH−/29SiGe−/30Si73Ge−; and AsGe− vs 73Ge76Ge−/Ge2H−) and detection limits improve by &amp;gt;1 order of magnitude versus ToF-SIMS and MS-SIMS when SF-relevant clusters are used. As a result, only Orbitrap™-SIMS recovers the physically correct “top-only” As-doped segment in Ge1−y−zSiySnz fins, whereas other mass analyzers erroneously report As throughout the fin due to unresolved overlaps and high backgrounds. These results are confirmed by fast Fourier transform-scanning spreading resistance microscopy 2D carrier distribution mapping.

Double carbonates are minerals with a calcite-type structure with alternating cation layers composed of Ca and Mg/Fe coordinated by carbonate groups. While the perfectly ordered AB-stacked crystal is the thermodynamically most stable configuration, natural mineral formation pathways can leave signatures through kinetically trapped disorder, such as AB antisite cation substitutions. This study probes the degree of cation ordering in naturally occurring double-carbonate samples. In particular, the dependence of structural order on the distribution of Fe A and B crystallographic sites (the A site is the Ca layer, and the B site is the Mg/Fe layer) is examined. Mössbauer, X-ray diffraction, X-ray absorption spectroscopies (both the X-ray absorption near edge structure, XANES, and extended X-ray absorption fine structure, EXAFS), and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy were used to collect a comprehensive experimental data set, which we interpret using density functional theory to elucidate the structural effects of cation disorder. Our results show that the A (nominally Ca) site can host a relatively high Fe fraction. We discuss the implications in terms of mineral formation.

Reliable quantification of the chemical composition of graphene-related 2D materials (GR2M) as powders and liquid suspensions is a challenging task. Analytical methods such as X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) are recommended by standardization bodies. The specific parameters to be measured are also defined, e.g., the oxygen-to-carbon (O/C) atomic ratio, the trace metal impurities, or the functional groups. In this contribution, for the first time, results of a systematic study on the capability of energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) at a scanning electron microscope (SEM) to reliably quantify the O/C ratio and impurities remained from the synthesis of selected GR2M are reported. The robustness of SEM/EDS analysis is verified for various measurement conditions (different excitations and EDS detectors) and the validity of the results is tested by comparison to the established XPS analysis. Moreover, an ionic liquid is used as a reference material for the quantification of the light elements such as C, N, O and F. The study clearly demonstrates the reliability of the fast and widely available SEM/EDS as a standard method for the quantification of the elemental composition of GR2M and generally of light materials.

The Fukushima Daiichi incident underscored the need for improved accident-tolerant fuel (ATF) materials in nuclear reactors. FeCrAl oxide dispersion-strengthened (ODS) alloys have emerged as promising ATF cladding materials due to their high temperature stability, oxidation resistance, and mechanical robustness. However, the influence of silicon (Si) as a minor alloying element on FeCrAl ODS properties remains insufficiently explored. This study investigates the effects of the Si addition on the microstructure and densification of Fe12.5Cr4.5Al ODS model alloys fabricated via powder metallurgy. Silicon was incorporated in varying concentrations (0 to 4.00 wt%). The model alloys were characterized using optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, autopycnometer densitometer, and Vickers hardness testing. The observation results indicated that the Si content significantly refines the microstructures, leading to a reduced grain boundary size and enhanced mechanical properties. The Vickers hardness measurements demonstrated a consistent increase in hardness with higher Si content, suggesting improved resistance to deformation. However, the Si addition led to a decrease in alloy density, highlighting a trade-off between mechanical strengthening and densification. Silicon plays a crucial role in grain refinement and strengthening mechanisms within FeCrAl ODS alloys. Despite the observed reduction in density, the enhancements in hardness and microstructural refinement provide valuable insight for optimizing ATF cladding materials.