Hybrid Materials Research Articles

Investigation of Various Finishing/Polishing Procedures on Color Stability of Composite Resins

Objective: The objective of this study was to assess the impact of various finishing and polishing systems on the color stability of composite resins treated with coffee. Methods: Fifty samples of each of nanohybrid and supra-nanohybrid composite resin materials were prepared and each material was randomly divided into 5 groups (n=10): Group 1: Control group (mylar strip), Group 2: One Gloss (one step), Group 3: One Gloss + polishing paste, Group 4: Soflex disk (multistep), Group 5: Soflex disk + polishing paste. The samples were colored in coffee solution for 144 hours to simulate six months of coffee consumption after polishing. The color of the samples before-after staining was measured with a spectrophotometer and ∆E00 values were calculated. Results: Material, polishing type and the interaction of these two parameters had a statistical effect on the color change values (p< 0,001). The ∆E00 values of supra-nanohybrid composite resin were higher than nanohybrid. Both materials exhibited color change above the thresholds of clinical perceptibility (PT> 0,8) and acceptability (AT> 1,8). In terms of polishing types, the highest ∆E00 was found in the control group and the lowest in the disk group. The additionally applied polishing paste caused a non-significant decrease in the color change of the single-step polishing system (p< 0,05) and a statistically significant increase in the multi-steps polishing system (p> 0,05). Conclusion: Considering the limitations of the study, it can be concluded that the use of multi-steps discs is more advantageous in preventing discoloration of composite resins.

Mechanical and absorption properties of carbon-basalt and glass fiber reinforced composites: A comprehensive study with implications for advanced manufacturing technology

In this research, a combination of hybrid and non-hybrid composite materials were tested for their mechanical properties and water absorption rates. The study focused on composites produced through hand-layup techniques, examining their void percentage, morphology, and elemental composition. Specifically, three different stacking sequences of hybrid composites were compared with three non-hybrid composites of equal thickness. Combining carbon and glass allows the composites to balance flexural (367 MPa, 23 GPa) and tensile (440 MPa, 5.7 GPa) strength and modulus, all while remaining cost-effective and easily accessible. The glass fiber-based composites exhibited exceptional impact (27 J/cm2) strength due to their interfacial solid bonding. Additionally, the study found that basalt and carbon-basalt composites had varying degrees of water absorption when exposed to seawater and river water. SEM and EDS Mapping analyses were conducted to understand better fibrous and granular composites' mechanical properties and water absorption behaviors. These analyses provided valuable insights and a comprehensive knowledge of composite properties. Ultimately, the study recommends using hybrid composite materials for specific applications based on desired flexural tensile strength, impact strength, or water absorption characteristics.

Scaling up hybrid insulation: Integration of lignocellulose and phase change materials for sustainable thermal management

This research addresses the need for eco-friendly, thermally protective packaging materials. A scalable process was developed that minimizes greenhouse gas emissions and produces hybrid materials with improved thermal insulation, energy storage, mechanical resilience, and water resistance. By using lignocellulose as a porous carrier and polyethylene glycol (PEG) as a phase change material (PCM), convective drying proved more effective for large-scale production than freeze-drying. The resulting materials are flexible, lightweight (0.03–0.04 g/cm³), and hydrophobic. They exhibit suitable thermal properties with latent heat capacities within 110–123 J/g and thermal conductivities within 0.037–0.042 W/mK. These hybrids are leak-free during phase transitions with tunable melting points, confirming their practicality. Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) shows that this method uses less energy and produces fewer carbon emissions than freeze-drying. Thus, convective drying is a promising scaling-up method for producing effective, eco-friendly temperature-responsive insulation materials for various applications requiring temperature control.

Synthesis and characterization of metronidazole-based ZnMoO₄ nanocomposite: Photocatalysis and antifungal activity

This study introduces a novel Metronidazole-Based ZnMoO₄ Nanocomposite (MTZ-ZnMO4), a hybrid material combining ZnMoO₄ and metronidazole (MTZ) that exhibits significant potential for photocatalytic and antifungal applications. The nanocomposite was synthesized using a facile hydrothermal method and characterized using various analytical techniques including X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier scanning electron microscope (FESEM), Energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), Photo-luminance emission spectra (PL) and UV-Visible spectroscopy. The photocatalytic performance of the nanocomposite was evaluated through the degradation of methylene blue (MB) visible light irradiation. Additionally, its antifungal properties were assessed against common fungi Aspergillus niger. Results demonstrated incorporation of MTZ resulted in enhanced photocatalytic degradation of MB under visible light irradiation and concentration dependent antifungal activity against Aspergillus niger. These findings highlight the material’s multifunctional potential for use in environmental remediation and catalytic applications, offering a promising approach to integrating photocatalytic and antifungul properties in a single nanocomposite.

Fabrication of metal‐organic frameworks macro-structures for adsorption applications in water treatment: A review

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are emerging porous organic–inorganic hybrid materials composed of metal centers/clusters and various organic ligands, which are widely used in water and wastewater treatment applications due to their large specific surface area, high porosity, tunable chemical properties and abundant active sites. However, pure MOFs powders have limitations such as poor recovery, blocked pipelines and secondary contamination in practical water treatment processes. Enabling the magnetization of MOFs or immobilizing MOFs as macroscopic MOFs materials offers new opportunities to improve solid–liquid separation performances of powdered MOFs. Besides, macroscopic MOFs materials with outstanding adsorption performance and mechanical properties by the combining of 3D particles and 2D nanosheets MOFs with other substrates are widely used for water treatment. This paper provides a comprehensive review of recent advancements in MOFs macro-structures. We firstly summarized the synthesis strategies of magnetic MOFs composites and various MOFs macro-structures such as hydrogels/aerogels, membranes, beads/spheres, others composites, etc. which can be constructed by various methods, including in-situ growth, solvothermal method, direct mixing, self-assembly, layer-by-layer growth, etc. Innovative preparation strategies to improve the mechanical properties of MOFs macro-structures were highlighted. Next the article discusses its application for adsorptive removal of various pollutants (i.e., dyes, heavy metal ions, oils and organic pollutants) from water. Finally, the challenges of macroscopic MOFs materials and their practical applications are presented, while future research directions to overcome these existing limitations are also pointed out.

Mn doping and core-shell engineering of silane-modified Mn-TiO2@SiO2 nanoparticles with drastically reduced photocatalytic activity for transparent UV-shielding hybrid materials

The photocatalytic ability and incompatibility with the organic matrix of TiO2 limit its application in UV-shielding hybrid materials. Tuning the electronic structure and engineering the morphology of TiO2 are effective in reducing photocatalytic activity but remain challenging in drastic reduction. Herein, a Mn-TiO2@SiO2 structure with an average size of 24.4 nm is constructed via a combination strategy of Mn doping and core–shell engineering to accelerate the recombination of carriers and build surface barriers. Impressively, compared with pure TiO2, the 2 %Mn-TiO2@SiO2 shows 336, 447, and 237 times lower photocatalytic reaction rate constants (k) for the degradation of three dyes (reactive red 120, methyl orange, and methyl blue), respectively, demonstrating the drastically reduced photocatalytic activity of Mn-TiO2@SiO2 structure. The characterizations and density functional theory calculations reveal that Mn doping introduces an occupied deep level and an unoccupied shallow level, which facilitates the co-trapping of electrons and holes, accelerating the recombination of carriers, and the SiO2 shell serves as a barrier to mitigate the interfacial charge transfer. Additionally, surface modification using silanes enables monodisperse core–shell structure and improves its compatibility with substrates, providing the UV-shielding Mn-TiO2@SiO2-C12 silane/fluorocarbon hybrid coatings with high transparency and anti-UV aging ability.

Quantum Chemical Stability Analysis of Phthalocyanine Metal One-Dimensional Polymers with Bidentate Ligands.

The combination of metal-phthalocyanine complexes and axially coordinated organic molecules into polymer chains presents a significant challenge in the synthesis of hybrid materials. A calculated structure for one-dimensional coordinate polymers with N-donor ligands using ab initio (PM6) and DFT (LanL2Dz) methods is presented. DFT methods have shown that there is a linear, one-dimensional structure without distorted geometry for the two bipyridine ligands. The components of the proposed polymers consist of square-planar Zn complexes of phthalocyanine (PcZn) connected via bridging ligands (L). Electronic properties of the monomer PcZnL of zinc phthalocyanine with bidentate ligands have been analyzed using calculations based on density functional theory (B3LYP6-31G(d,p)). Molecular orbital calculations show that this connection between the metallomacrocycle and the conjugated ligand results in a small energy gap, promising molecularly active materials as conductors. The crystallographic reports indicate that obtaining this kind of polymer with the participation of Pc Zn and bidentate ligands is possible.

One-pot radiolytically synthesized reduced graphene oxide-gold nanoparticles composites and exploration in energy storage

Graphene and its composites are of primary importance, particularly in the field of energy storage. Numerous bottom-up and top-down methods have been proposed in the literature to produce these materials with enhanced physicochemical properties. Recently, an innovative and green methodology was developed based on ionizing radiation, allowing the quantitative synthesis of graphene oxide-based materials. With the aim to extend this strategy for the preparation of hybrid nanomaterials, the objective of this work was the one-pot synthesis of nanocomposites composed of reduced graphene oxide – gold nanoparticles (rGO-AuNPs) via gamma ray-induced radiolytic reduction. UV–Vis Absorption Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy, Raman Spectroscopy and X-ray Photoemission Spectroscopy were utilized to comprehensively evaluate the reduction degree of graphene oxide and the formation of gold nanoparticles. Atomic Force Microscopy and Scanning Electron Microscopy were employed to obtain the morphological and topographical information on synthesized nanocomposites. Thermal properties were investigated by Thermogravimetric Analysis and electrical properties were investigated using Cyclic Voltammetry and Potentiostatic Charge and Discharge method. The results demonstrated the successful reduction of graphene oxide and gold ions through the drastic transformation of oxygen-containing functional groups and the formation of gold nanoparticles. Electrical characterization results highlighted the excellent electrical properties of radiosynthesized rGO-AuNPs composites and their great potential for supercapacitance application.

Can energy drinks affect the surface quality of bioactive restorative materials?

BackgroundsThis study aimed to compare the effects of different energy drinks on the surface roughness, weight loss, and color change of various bioactive restorative materials.MethodsCharisma Diamond One, Activa™ BioActive Restorative, Activa™ Presto™ and Equia Forte HT Fil samples were prepared using plastic molds (8 × 2 mm) (n = 10/groups). After polishing, the samples were weighed, their colors were recorded using a spectrophotometer according to the CIEDE2000 system, and their surface roughness was measured using a profilometer. The samples were immersed in Powerade, Burn, Monster and distilled water for 7 days. After immersion, all the measurements were repeated. Statistical analyses were performed using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test and the Mann‒Whitney U test (p < 0.05).ResultsAll energy drinks roughened the surface of Equia Forte HT Fil (p < 0.05). Powerade and Monster increased the Ra of all materials after 7 days (p < 0.05). Burns affected all materials except the Activa Bioactive (p < 0.05). Significant weight loss was observed in the Equia Forte group after immersion in all the energy drinks, whereas no weight loss was observed in the other groups. According to the color measurements, ΔE00 values were greater in the Burn and Monster groups, except for the Equia Forte HT Fil group (p < 0.05).ConclusionEnergy drinks affected bioactive materials to varying degrees. The glass hybrid material was the most affected, and the bioactive restorative materials based on the resin matrix were the least.

Strategically engineered multifunctional graphene oxide hybrid nanomaterials for efficient catalytic degradation and emerging contaminants treatment

The use of functional textiles is growing in all fields of science and technology. Surface functionalization is mainly used to impart conventional textiles with new functionalities and improved performances. In the present study, a cobalt ferrite nanoparticle/graphene oxide (CoFe2O4/GO) coated polyethylene terephthalate (PET) fabric with excellent catalytic and antibacterial properties, has been successfully developed. The PET-coated CoFe2O4/GO samples, ranging from 1 % to 5 % wt. were obtained using a simple dip-coating method in CoFeO/GO solution (1 mg/mL), and were investigated through several physiochemical characterization techniques. CoFe2O4/GO and PET fabric have been shown to establish an interfacial connection by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). X-ray diffraction (XRD) results showed that CoFe2O4/GO coating did not affect the PET crystallinity and that CoFe2O4/GO hybrid was incorporated in the PET samples, which was proved as well by the morphological study through Scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Furthermore, thermogravimetric characterisation (TGA) verified that the coating does not change or impair the quality of the fibre and that the PET@CoFe2O4/GO as made is thermally stable. Tensile strength tests demonstrated that coated fabrics exhibited outstanding mechanical properties in comparison with pristine PET. Moreover, the coated PET@CoFe2O4/GO fabric was used as a model catalytic system for peroxymonosulfate (PMS) activation in the rhodamine B (RhB) degradation reaction. Total Organic Carbon (TOC) measurements showed that TOC removal reached 89.82 % in only 12 min reaction. The results confirmed that the coated fabrics exhibited high catalytic performances, good stability and reusability in consecutive degradation experiments with a degradation rate over 60 % even after 7 degradation cycles; Moreover, it is easily and simply separated from the mixture, by removing the textile sample from the aqueous solution. It is worth mentioning that the PET@CoFe2O4/GO fabrics showed outstanding antibacterial activity against both Staphylococcus aureus (Gram-positive) and Escherichia coli (Gram-negative) bacteria with an inhibition diameter zone of up to 13 mm for PET@CoFe2O4/GO (5 %). Overall, these findings are of great importance as they permit the development of a novel multifunctional textile fabric, combining anti-bacterial activity, catalytic performance and mechanical properties. The study provides a textile-based catalyst with improved catalytic performance, re-usability in consecutive degradation reactions and easy catalyst separation compared to traditional supports. Thus, a huge potential application in several fields such as medicine, heterogeneous catalysis, and wastewater treatment.

Nano‐Enhanced Water Purification: Uncovering the Dye Adsorption Efficiency of Ni‐Zn‐S@Cyclodextrine Nanomaterial

AbstractThis research investigates the synthesis of a hybrid nanomaterial, denoted as Ni‐Zn−S@Cyclodextrine, through a cost‐effective and easy co‐precipitation method. The resulting nanomaterial has been thoroughly characterized and applied for the adsorptive removal of Crystal violet and Congo red dyes from their solutions. The study delves into the thermodynamics and kinetics of the sorption process, as well as helps to propose adsorption mechanism for both the dyes onto the Ni‐Zn−S@Cyclodextrine surface. A comprehensive analysis, encompassing techniques, such as XRD, FTIR, SEM‐EDX, TEM, TGA, Zeta potential, and XPS, have been conducted to explore the structural and morphological attributes of the prepared nanomaterial. Furthermore, key sorption parameters, including adsorbent's dosage, temperature, contact time, and solution pH, have been systematically optimized to achieve maximum efficiency. The TEM images of prepared nanomaterial indicated the particle size ranging between 60–80 nm. Moreover, it exhibited a strong affinity for both the dyes, with a maximum adsorption capacity of 138.20 mgg−1 for Congo red and 129.95 mgg−1 for Crystal violet dyes at 303 K. The thermodynamics of the adsorption process indicated an endothermic and spontaneous nature. Isotherm studies revealed that the data best aligned with the Freundlich isotherm, while the kinetics of the reaction adhered to a pseudo‐second order within the investigated temperature range.

Dynamically Tunable Circularly Polarized Selectivity in Plasmon-Enhanced Halide Perovskite Nanocrystal Glasses.

Ultrafast spin manipulation for optical spin-logic applications requires material systems with strong spin-selective light-matter interactions. The optical Stark effect can realize spin-selective light-matter interactions by breaking the degeneracy of spin-selective transitions with an external electric field. Halide perovskites have large exciton binding energies, which enable a room-temperature optical Stark effect. However, halide perovskites are prone to degradation when interacting with light and polar solvents, limiting further integration with nanophotonic structures. We demonstrate a hybrid material system consisting of CsPbBr3 nanocrystal glass weakly coupled to resonant plasmonic silver nanoparticles, showing ultrafast tunable spin-based polarization selectivity at room temperature. We performed circularly polarized pump-probe characterizations to investigate the optical Stark effect in this material system, which resulted in a maximum energy shift of ∼3.67 meV (detuning energy of 0.11 eV and pump intensity of 0.62 GW/cm2). We show that halide perovskite nanocrystal glasses have excellent resistance to heat and moisture, which may be favorable for integration with nanophotonic structures for further engineering polarization states, energy tuning, and coherence time.

Small Conjugated Organic Ligand-Modified Polyoxometalate-Based Hybrid Materials for Boosting Photocatalytic CO2 Reduction.

Photocatalytic carbon dioxide (CO2) reduction to value-added chemicals is a multielectron transfer process, and the crucial step is the synthesis of photocatalysts. The introduction of small conjugated organic ligands can make the catalytic active site of the compound easier to be exposed in the reaction system and fully contact with the substrate, accelerating the photocatalytic reaction process. In this paper, we synthesized two isomorphic compounds, namely, {[Co(mtrz)3·(H2O)2]2·[SiW12O40]}·6H2O (1) and {[Ni(mtrz)3·(H2O)2]2·[SiW12O40]}·6H2O (2) (mtrz = 1-methyl-1,2,4-triazole). We found that compound 1 has a great photocatalytic performance through a series of experiments, with a CO reduction yield of 7364.92 μmol g-1 h-1 and a CO selectivity of 82.5%. Furthermore, the high catalytic activity can be maintained over four cycle experiments. The catalytic mechanism of its photocatalytic system is also elucidated, which provides an idea for realizing efficient catalytic reduction of CO2 to CO.

In-situ growing Eu-MOF on TEMPO-oxidized cellulose nanofibers to form fluorescent films for Fe3+ detection

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are porous hybrid materials made of metal and organic linkers. Combining MOFs with polymers enhances their performance and addresses the issue of low stability. In this study, a uniform nanoscale Eu(III)-based metal-organic framework (Eu-MOF) was synthesized and grown in situ on TEMPO(2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidinyl-1-oxide)-oxidized cellulose nanofibrils (TOCNF), resulting in the formation of Eu-MOF@TOCNF fluorescence films through vacuum filtration. These films exhibited favorable mechanical properties, high transmittance, and stable fluorescence characteristics within the pH range of 3–11. The film produced the characteristic emission peak of Eu3+, recognized the selective quenching of Fe3+ within 0–100μM, and displayed an inverse relationship between fluorescence intensity at 616 nm and Fe3+ concentration. This approach holds significant promise for Fe3+ detection in solutions and offers a novel strategy for developing highly efficient optical sensors based on fluorescence specificity.

Gold Nanoparticles Modulate Excimer and Exciplex Dynamics of PDDCP-Conjugated Polymers.

How plasmonic nanostructures modulate the behavior of exciplexes and excimers within materials remains unclear. Thus, advanced knowledge is essential to bridge this gap for the development of optoelectronic devices that leverage the interplay between plasmonic and conjugated polymer hybrid materials. Herein, this work aims to explore the role of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) in modulating exciplex and excimer states within the conjugated polymer poly(2,5-di(3,7-dimethyloctyloxy) cyanoterephthalylidene) (PDDCP), known for its photoluminescent and semi-conductive properties, aiming to create innovative composite materials with tailored optical features. The spectral analysis was conducted to investigate the effects of AuNPs on the PDDCP, varying AuNP volume percentages to measure changes in the absorption profile, molar extinction coefficient (ε), absorption cross-section (σa), and optical bandgap (Eg). Fluorescence spectra of the mixture at different volume ratios were also examined to assess exciplex formation, while amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) profiles were analyzed to study the behavior and photochemical stability of the polymer-NP hybrid material. Increasing AuNP volume induced both blue and red shifts in the absorption profile of the PDDCP. Higher AuNPs concentrations correlated with decreased ε and σa, inversely impacting Eg. The emission spectra obtained at varied AuNP volume ratios indicated significantly enhanced exciplex and excimer formations. The ASE profiles remained consistent but showed reduced intensity with increasing AuNPs concentrations, indicating their influence on hybrid material behavior and stability. The findings suggest that AuNPs affect PDDCP's optical characteristics, altering the absorption profile, bandgap, and fluorescence spectra. Furthermore, the observed reduction in ASE intensity highlights their influence on the behavior and photochemical stability of the hybrid material. These results contribute to a better understanding of the versatile applications of plasmonic-conjugated hybrid polymers.

Synthesis and characterization of a novel GaN – Poly (3,4-ethylene dioxythiophene)-Poly(thiophene) Hybrid Nanocomposite: Dual functionality as an electrocatalyst for OFZ and photocatalyst for methylene blue degradation

We introduce GaN-PEDOT-PTh, a groundbreaking hybrid nanomaterial synthesized via a two-step process involving ammonolysis and chemical oxidative techniques. The successful formation of core–shell structures underscores the adaptability of the GaN-PEDOT-PTh approach, particularly in enhancing photocatalytic performance. These characteristics significantly elevate its catalytic efficiency, as notably demonstrated by the rapid degradation of methyl blue (MB). Impressively, the hybrid achieves a 95.77 % MB degradation rate within just 80 min, attributed to its effective suppression of rapid electron-hole recombination, thereby amplifying overall photocatalytic activity. Furthermore, we utilized differential pulse voltammetry to detect the OFZ (OFZ) drug, employing a GaN-PEDOT-PTh-modified GCE as the working electrode. Linear responses to OFZ within the concentration range of 0.3 × 10−7 to 4.1 × 10−8 M were observed, demonstrating sensitivities with detection limits (DL) and quantification limits (QL) of 23.52 × 10−8 M µA−1 and 78.33 × 10−8 M µA−1, respectively.

Synergistic Enhancement of Mechanical and Electrochemical Properties in Grafted Polymer/Oxide Hybrid Electrolytes.

Lithium metal batteries operated with high voltage cathodes are predestined for the realization of high energy storage systems, where solid polymer electrolytes offer a possibility to improve battery safety. Al2O3_PCL is introduced as promising hybrid electrolyte made from polycaprolactone (PCL) and Al2O3 nanoparticles that can be prepared in a one-pot synthesis as a random mixture of linear PCL and PCL-grafted Al2O3. Upon grafting, synergistic effects of mechanical stability and ionic conductivity are achieved. Due to the mechanical stability, manufacture of PCL-based membranes with a thickness of 50µm is feasible, yielding an ionic conductivity of 5·10-5S cm-1 at 60°C. The membrane exhibits an impressive performance of Li deposition in symmetric Li||Li cells, operating for 1200h at a constant and low overvoltage of 54mV and a current density of 0.2mA cm-2. NMC622|Al2O3_PCL|Li cells are cycled at rates of up to 1 C, achieving 140 cycles at >80% state of health. The straightforward synthesis and opportunity of upscaling as well as solvent-free polymerization render the Al2O3_PCL hybrid material as rather safe, potentially sustainable and affordable alternative to conventional polymer-based electrolytes.

Control over phase structures’ evolution within the novel organic–inorganic hybrid system for achieving a comprehensive thermal, mechanical, and dielectric properties

Significant challenges persist in developing high-performance, wave-transparent capable of operating above 500 ℃ using organic–inorganic hybrid materials. This study introduced a novel, highly reactive terminal carborane monomer, 4-(3-carborylphenyl) phthalonitrile (CB-Ph), to create a cross-linked network structure and inorganic phase. By integrating this with the conventional high-performance poly (phthalazine ether nitrate ketone) (PPENK), a novel organic–inorganic hybrid system was successfully constructed. Simultaneously, the modifications in the inorganic layer and phase structure of the material with increasing CB-Ph content were examined through nanoindentation and SEM analysis systems, establishing a structural foundation for optimizing the balance between thermal resistance, mechanical strength, and dielectric properties (balance of T-M−D). The thermal performance testing results indicates that the hybrid materials achieved high glass transition temperatures (Tg exceeding 500 ℃). This enhancement is attributable to the synergistic effects of cyanide side group micro-crosslinking and the phthalonitrile crosslinking network, which collectively restricted the movement of chain segments. The P-CB50 resin (PPENK+50 wt% CB-Ph), with its distinctive transition phase structure, boasts the most outstanding comprehensive performance. In terms of thermal stability, it not only features a Tg surpassing 500 ℃ In terms of thermal stability, it not only has a Tg exceeding 500 °C, but also loses only 5 % weight at 599.3° C in a nitrogen atmosphere (Td5%–N2 = 599.3 °C). Mechanical testing reveals that the flexural strength of the P-CB50 composite reaches an impressive 384.3 MPa, while the impact strength attains a significant 109.4 KJ/m2. Even at temperatures as high as 500 ℃, the dielectric constant of the P-CB50 composite material remains below 4, underscoring its superior high temperature wave-transparent properties. These results have firmly established a correlation between the phase structure of the hybrid system and the comprehensive performance of T-M−D, thereby laying a solid foundation for the development of high-temperature resistant and wave-transparent materials with enhanced overall performance.

Accelerating catalytic conversion and chemisorption of polysulfides for advanced Li-S batteries from incorporating Fe0.64Ni0.36@Co5.47N hetero-nanocrystals into boron carbonitride nanotubes

With the rapid development of large-scale clean energy, lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries are considered to be one of the most promising energy storage devices. In this manuscript, the polymetallic hetero-nanocrystal of iron nickel@cobalt nitride encapsulating into boron carbonitride nanotubes (Fe0.64Ni0.36@Co5.47N@BCN) was designed and optimized for use as a modified material for commercial polypropylene (PP) separators. The prepared Fe0.64Ni0.36@Co5.47N@BCN-12 hybrid material presents strong chemisorption and catalytic conversion capabilities, which endows the Fe0.64Ni0.36@Co5.47N@BCN-12//PP separator with enhanced polysulfide shuttling inhibition. The assembled Li-S cells with Fe0.64Ni0.36@Co5.47N@BCN-12//PP separators have minimized charge transfer resistance and faster redox kinetics. Additionally, cells with Fe0.64Ni0.36@Co5.47N@BCN-12//PP separator provide high reversible capacity of 674 mAh/g for 400 cycles at 0.5C and excellent cyclability for 1000 cycles at 2C with a low decay rate of 0.05 % per cycle. Therefore, this study provides a feasible functionalization route for improving the electrochemical performance of Li-S batteries through separator modification.

Construction of Molecularly Dispersed Polyoxometalate-Alumina Hybrid Hollow Nanoflowers via Water-Induced Kirkendall Effect.

Hybrid nanomaterials with controllable structures and diverting components have attracted significant interest in the functional materials field. Here, we develop a solvent evaporation-induced self-assembly (EISA) strategy to synthesize nanosheet-assembled phosphomolybdic acid (H3PMo)-alumina hybrid hollow spheres. The resulting nanoflowers display a high surface area (up to 697 m2 g-1), adjustable diameter, high chemical/thermal stability, and especially molecularly dispersed H3PMo species. By employing various microscopic and spectroscopic techniques, the formation mechanism is elucidated, revealing the simultaneous control of the morphology by heteropoly acids and water through the water-induced Kirkendall effect. The versatility of the synthesis method is demonstrated by varying surfactants, heteropoly acids, and metal oxide precursors for the facile synthesis of hybrid metal oxides. Spherical hybrid alumina serves as an attractive support material for constructing metal-acid bifunctional catalysts owing to its advantageous surface area, acidity, and mesoporous microenvironment. Pt-loaded hollow flowers exhibit excellent catalytic performance and exceptional stability in the hydrodeoxygenation of vanillin with recyclability for up to 10 cycles. This research presents an innovative strategy for the controllable synthesis of hybrid metal oxide nanospheres and hollow nanoflowers, providing a multifunctional platform for diverse applications.