New Generation Of Materials Research Articles

Characterization of the Structural and Electrochemical Properties of Praseodymium Oxide as an Efficient Oxygen Electrode for Intermediate Solid Oxide Cells

Solid oxide cells are a promising, potentially zero-emission energy source that can play a significant role in the future of the world's energy industry. A classical solid oxide cell (SOC) consists of a cathode, an anode, and an electrolyte. The cathode (oxygen electrode in fuel mode) is responsible for the catalytic reduction of oxygen. Obtaining a functional oxygen electrode with adequate performance is one of the key challenges that is still unresolved. Especially since the general trend in this field indicates obtaining efficient cells at temperatures as low as 600°C and even 500°C. Lowering the operating temperature of the cell is associated with lowering the costs of this technology; this is a crucial factor for the fast commercialization of the technology. One of the main phenomena that needs to be solved is the high polarization resistance of the cathode. This is an important factor because the polarization resistance on this electrode constitutes the vast majority of the entire cell. There is a need for new cathode materials that will have better parameters than currently known materials such as LSC or LSCF, which are already state-of-the-art [1]. One of the promising materials with potential use in SOC is praseodymium oxide [2, 3]. This compound has a very good affinity for oxygen while exhibiting low electrode conductivity. Moreover, it is highly variable and, due to its relatively new status as an oxygen electrode material, is still unknown.The present work shows the result of the research on a high-performance oxygen electrode composed of praseodymium oxide for intermediate-temperature SOCs. Praseodymium oxide is a complex compound with properties that need to be better understood. There is a limited number of articles in the literature referring to praseodymium oxide as a potential oxygen electrode. The material shows several transformations in different temperature ranges. Simultaneously, it is among the most promising, cobalt-free, new-generation materials employed in SOCs.The spin-coating method applied the oxygen electrode to CGO (Ce0.8Gd0.2O2-d) as a typical barrier layer. The material was analysed by XRD, HT-XRD, HT-Raman spectroscopy to determine the structural parameters in a range of 400 °C – 1000 °C. The conductivity parameters was determined by Van der Pauw method. The electrochemical properties of this oxygen electrode material were determined using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. For this purpose, a series of symmetrical samples were prepared. The thickness of the cathode has been optimised. Annealing temperature's impact was investigated, and at 600 °C, a polarisation resistance of 24 mΩ cm-2 was achieved. Detailed studies were conducted on various pO2 values to identify the electrode processes. The experiments, supported by DRT analysis, demonstrated the electrode processes and their efficiency. Stability experiments were conducted to demonstrate the oxygen electrode stability during operation. Additional impedance tests in a wet air atmosphere were performed to determine stability. The last step of experiment was a fuel cells, with proposed oxygen electrode material, characterized in long time period. Acknowledgements This research has been supported by National Science Centre (NCN) DAINA 2 project number UMO-2020/38/L/ST8/00513: “Porous metal supported micro-scale solid oxide fuel cells: fundamentals, fabrication and testing”.[1] T.A.Z. de Souza, C.J.R. Coronado, J.L. Silveira, G.M. Pinto, J. Clean. Prod. 279 (2021) 123814. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.JCLEPRO.2020.123814.[2] C. Nicollet, A. Flura, V. Vibhu, A. Rougier, J.M. Bassat, J.C. Grenier, Int. J. Hydrogen Energy 41 (2016) 15538–15544. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhydene.2016.04.024.[3] L. Yefsah, J. Laurencin, M. Hubert, D.F. Sanchez, F. Charlot, K. Couturier, O. Celikbilek, E. Djurado, Solid State Ionics 399 (2023) 1–14. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssi.2023.116316.

Corrosion behavior of high manganese steel by iron-oxidizing bacteria in wastewater at the bottom of liquefied natural gas storage tanks

High manganese steel is a new generation of material for the fabrication of liquefied natural gas (LNG) storage tanks. The corrosion behavior of high manganese steel induced by iron-oxidizing bacteria (IOB) living in wastewater from LNG tanks bottom was investigated. The results revealed that IOB can induce a generation of a dense and thick biotransformation film on the steel. Interestingly, the biotransformation film could be able to reduce the corrosion rate of high manganese steel by 71 % and alleviate the formation of corrosion pits. A corrosion inhibition mechanism is postulated, elucidating the protective role of the iron-manganese oxide composite biofilm.

Smart Dental Materials: Unravelling the Exciting Future of Dentistry

Dental materials have changed significantly over the years, with new materials being developed and introduced at a rapid pace. Smart materials are used in dentistry because of their excellent biocompatibility and ability to respond to physiological changes and local environmental stimuli to protect the teeth and promote oral health. Smart dental materials change one or more of their characteristics in response to inputs. They actively contribute to the functionality of the structure or apparatus. Smart materials are an answer to the requirement of environment-friendly and responsive materials. Smart materials are a new generation of materials which hold a good promise for the future in the field of bio‑smart dentistry. They offer significant possibilities, but considerable research is required in this field of material science. It is the need of the hour that all dentists should be aware of these innovative materials to enable their use and utilize their optimal properties in day-to-day practice to provide quality and effective holistic treatment. The objective of this article is to shed light and improve understanding on the various bioactive and smart materials being used in dentistry today and to provide a perspective on the exciting future of these smart dental biomaterials.

Biocompatibility and performance of new generation dental composites

Dental composites have undergone significant advancements in recent years, with new-generation materials being developed to improve both biocompatibility and mechanical performance. These innovations have led to the increased use of dental composites in restorative dentistry, particularly in both anterior and posterior restorations. Biocompatibility remains a key concern, as the release of unreacted monomers, such as bisphenol A glycidyl methacrylate (Bis-GMA), can cause local tissue irritation or systemic effects. Modern composites aim to reduce these risks by incorporating alternative resin systems and advanced photo initiators. Nanotechnology has further enhanced the performance of these materials by improving mechanical strength and wear resistance, but questions about the safety of nanoparticles and their long-term biological effects continue to be explored. In addition to biocompatibility, the mechanical properties of new-generation composites have been significantly optimized. The introduction of bulk-fill composites allows for deeper polymerization and faster placement, reducing clinical procedure times while maintaining high mechanical integrity. Polymerization shrinkage, a common issue in traditional composites, has been minimized in newer formulations, reducing the risk of marginal gaps and microleakage. The effectiveness of different light-curing units, such as light-emitting diode (LED) versus halogen lights, plays a crucial role in achieving optimal polymerization depth, especially in posterior restorations where light penetration can be limited. Long-term clinical outcomes depend on several factors, including material choice, placement technique, and patient adherence to oral hygiene. Despite the improvements in composite materials, the longevity of restorations still faces challenges such as wear, fracture, and degradation over time. Continued research into the safety, effectiveness, and clinical performance of new-generation composites is essential to ensuring patient safety and enhancing the durability of restorations in the future. These advancements promise to address many of the limitations seen in earlier dental materials while offering superior performance and patient satisfaction.

Synergetic benefits of zinc antimony oxide/reduced graphene oxide hybrid anode for enhanced sodium-ion storage

Organic-inorganic hybrid nanocomposites are rapidly evolving as a new generation of materials with attractive properties for electrochemical energy storage. Unfortunately, their practical applications in sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) still require further research due to the unsatisfactory cycling stability and rate performance. This work explores using zinc antimony oxide/reduced graphene oxide (ZSO/rGO) hybrid nanocomposite as an anode material in SIBs. After 150 cycles at 0.05 A g−1, the ZSO/rGO electrode delivers a specific capacity of 357.21 mAh g−1 with a coulombic efficiency of 99.3 %, which is almost 2.5-fold higher than the specific capacity of the pristine ZSO electrode. An in-situ Raman spectroscopy study demonstrates that the sodiation/desodiation mechanism in the ZSO/rGO electrode involves the conversion and alloying reactions in the ZSO nanoparticles. Further electrochemistry analysis reveals that the nanocomposite anode shows synergistic effects by coupling diffusion and surface contribution, in which the latter plays an important role.

Impressive nonlinear optical response of π-conjugated, photoluminescent soft nanoparticles in polymer matrix

Nonlinear optical (NLO) materials are useful for applications varying from modulation of optical signals to cancer therapy. Besides inorganic crystals and organic molecules with defined structures, carbonized products have emerged as a new generation of materials showing good NLO properties. Due to the small sizes, the NLO performance of such materials mainly originates from nonlinear absorption. Obtaining a product with a high content of π-conjugated moiety is the key to improving the NLO performance. By using aldehydes bearing π units as the precursors, in this work we synthesized three polymeric nanoparticles (PNPs) through one-step pyrolysis, which also have large contents of π-conjugated structures. It was found that a larger size of π unit in the precursor led to a higher content as well as the size of the π-conjugated structure, which induced a bathochromic shift in the emission and an improved performance in the NLO response. When embedded in polymethylmethacrylate films, the products showed reverse saturable absorption (RSA) behavior with β up to 4.20 × 10−6 m W−1 and optical limit threshold down to 0.0012 J cm−2, which are comparable to those of metal-doped counterparts. This work gives deep insight on the structure-property relationship of the pyrolyzed products from π-conjugated small molecules, which is also useful for the preparation of task-specific carbon dots (CDs) or PNPs in future.

MXene 2D Ti3C2Tx production and spin-orbit effect (SOI) of Ti3C2(OH)2 in the Electronic Structure

Research on new-generation materials to meet the energy needs has begun to attract attention. Energy storage in materials is a general research subject. As a result of the reaction of MAX phase 312 Ti3SiC2 powder with hydrofluoric acid, a new 2D nanosized layered powder called MXene, similar to graphene, was obtained. MXenes, which have been studied in various sectors, especially energy, have attracted the attention of researchers owing to their multilayered structure. When Ti3SiC2 powder was treated with hydrofluoric acid (HF), an accordion-like two-dimensional Ti3C2Tx MXene structure was formed. In MXenes, surface coatings such as –O,–OH, and –F groups, which determine and affect various aspects of 2D materials, such as conductivity, constitute the application area. In this study, Ti3C2(OH)2–O and/or–OH surface terminations were examined using density functional theory (DFT) with the effect of hydrofluoric acid etching time. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM and FESEM) were used to examine the MXene-phase Ti3C2Tx powder and first-principles calculations were performed. The structural and electronic properties of MAX and MXene compounds were obtained. The spin-orbit effect (SOI) was examined in the electronic structure of MXene. The total and partial densities of states (DOS) with and without spin orbit were calculated.

New-Generation Materials for Hydrogen Storage in Medium-Entropy Alloys.

This study presents the design, preparation, and characterization of thirty new medium-entropy alloys (MEAs) in three systems: Al-Ti-Nb-Zr, Al-Ti-Nb-V, and Al-Ti-Nb-Hf. The hardness of the alloys ranged from 320 to 800 HV0.3. Among the alloys studied, Al15Ti40Nb30Zr15 exhibited the highest-reversible hydrogen storage capacity (1.03 wt.%), with an H/M value of 0.68, comparable to LaNi5, but with a reduced density (5.11 g·cm-3) and without rare earth elements. This study further reveals a strong correlation between hardness and hydrogen absorption/desorption; higher hardness is responsible for reduced hydrogen uptake. This finding highlights the interplay between a material's properties and hydrogen storage behavior in MEAs, and has implications for the development of efficient hydrogen storage materials.

Product Ecodesign: An Application of Bio-Based Materials in the Personal Care Packaging Industry

The increasing amount of plastic materials produced and their persistence in the natural environment after the use stage makes them highly critical from the environmental viewpoint and human health and much efforts are being made to find valid alternatives worldwide. This is particularly true for the packaging industry where the use of plastics is more intense and products often have a very short useful life. Ecodesign is a recognized approach capable of proposing effective solutions to reduce the impact of plastic materials, including their replacement with alternative ones. In this view, bioplastics have been recognized as a new generation of materials characterized by a potential lower environmental burden, along their life cycle, including the end-of-life phase. The same cannot yet be said for their technological and production performance, both at an industrial level and the use phase, especially for durable products.This article refers to the personal care industry and aims at exploring, in the Circular Economy framework, the Ecodesign of a personal care plastic dispenser. In this specific sector, the use of bio-based materials is still very limited and in an early stage, differently, from other industries (e.g. agri-food) where, instead, the applications are much more widespread. In particular, a material substitution solution drew on bio-based materials has been adopted in respect of conventional polypropylene and polyethylene. The technological performances of such bio-based materials have been evaluated through laboratory, production and use tests; the results obtained highlight that they are reaching levels comparable to conventional plastics. The regulatory, environmental and economic implications of their potential use at an industrial level are also discussed.

Preparation and application of chromatographic stationary phase based on two-dimensional materials

The stationary phase is the heart of chromatographic separation technology and a critical contributor to the overall separation performance of a chromatographic separation technique. However, traditional silicon-based materials designed for this purpose usually feature complex preparation processes, suboptimal permeability, pronounced mass-transfer resistance, and limited pH-range compatibility. These limitations have spurred ongoing research efforts aimed at developing new chromatographic stationary phases characterized by higher separation efficiency, adaptable selectivity, and a broader scope of applicability. In this context, the scientific community has made significant strides toward the development of new-generation materials suitable for use as chromatographic stationary phases. These materials include carbon-based nanomaterial arrays, carbon quantum dots, and two-dimensional (2D) materials. 2D-materials are characterized by nanometer-scale thicknesses, extensive specific surface areas, distinctive layered structures, and outstanding mechanical properties under standard conditions. Thus, these materials demonstrate excellent utility in various applications, such as electrical and thermal conductivity enhancements, gas storage and separation solutions, membrane separation technologies, and catalysis. Graphene, which is arguably the most popular 2D-material used for chromatographic separation, consists of a 2D-lattice of carbon atoms arranged in a single layer, with a large specific surface area and efficient adsorption properties. Its widespread adoption in research and various industries is a testament to its versatility and effectiveness. In addition to graphene, the scientific community has developed various 2D-materials that mirror the layered structures of graphene, such as boron nitride, transition-metal sulfides, and 2D porous organic frameworks, all of which offer unique advantages. 2D porous organic frameworks, in particular, have received attention because of their nanosheet morphology, one-dimensional pores, and special interlayer forces; thus, these frameworks are considered promising candidate chromatographic stationary phase materials. Such recognition is especially true for 2D-metal organic frameworks (MOFs) and 2D-covalent organic frameworks (COFs), which exhibit low densities, high porosities, and substantial specific surface areas. The modifiability of these materials, in terms of pore size, shape, functional groups, and layer-stacking arrangements allows for excellent separation selectivity, highlighting their promising potential in chromatographic separation. Compared with their three-dimensional counterparts, 2D-MOFs feature a simple pore structure that offers reduced mass-transfer resistance and enhanced column efficiency. These attributes highlight the advantages of 2D-MOF nanosheets as chromatographic stationary phases. Similarly, 2D-COFs, given their high specific surface area and porosity, not only exhibit great thermal stability and chemical tolerance but also support a wide selection of solvents and operational conditions. Therefore, their role in the preparation of chromatographic stationary phases is considered highly promising. This review discusses the latest research developments in 2D porous organic framework materials in the context of gas- and liquid-chromatographic stationary phases. It introduces the synthesis methods for these novel materials, elucidates their retention mechanisms, and describes the applications of other 2D-materials, such as graphene, its derivatives, graphitic carbon nitride, and boron nitride, in chromatography. This review aims to shed light on the promising development prospects and future directions of 2D-materials in the field of chromatographic separation, offering valuable insights into the rational design and application of new 2D-materials in chromatography.

Woven Agarose-Cellulose Composite Aerogel Fibers with Outstanding Radial Elasticity for Personal Thermal Management.

Aerogel fibers are good thermal insulators, suitable for weaving, and show potential as the next generation of intelligent textiles that can effectively reduce heat consumption for personal thermal management. However, the production of continuous aerogel fibers from biomass with sufficient strength and radial elasticity remains a significant challenge. Herein, continuous gel fibers were produced via wet spinning using agarose (AG) as the matrix, 2,2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl radical-oxidized cellulose nanofibers (TOCNs) as the reinforcing agent, and no other chemical additives by utilizing the gelling properties of AG. Supercritical drying and chemical vapor deposition (CVD) were then used to produce hydrophobic AG-TOCN aerogel fibers (HATAFs). During CVD, the HATAF gel skeleton was covered with an isostructural silica coating. Consequently, the HATAFs can recover from radial compression under 60% strain. Moreover, the HATAFs have low densities (≤0.14 g cm-3), high porosities (≥91.8%), high specific surface areas (≥188 m2 g-1), moderate tensile strengths (≤1.75 MPa), excellent hydrophobicity (water contact angles of >130°), and good thermal insulating properties at different temperatures. Thus, HATAFs are expected to become a new generation of materials for efficient personal thermal management.

Ecologically Friendly Building Materials: A Case Study of Clay–Ash Composites for the Efficient Management of Fly Ash from the Thermal Conversion of Sewage Sludge

The European Union’s initiative to reduce carbon dioxide emissions has paved the way for the exploration of innovative building materials that are environmentally friendly and meet all requirements of durability and strength. These criteria can be met by combining natural resources used in the production of building materials with waste materials that would otherwise be landfilled, having a negative impact on the environment. This study focuses on such materials and presents the results of recent research conducted at the Warsaw University of Life Sciences. The aim was to develop a new generation of materials fully compliant with the principles of the circular economy and sustainable development. Simultaneously, these materials should have no adverse effects on human health and be strong enough to carry the required loads. This study proposes the combination of a natural raw material—in the form of clay—with fly ash from the incineration of sewage sludge to produce a new generation of materials. Several samples were prepared using fly ash from two sources and then were fired at 950 °C. The resulting composites underwent physico-chemical and strength tests. These tests not only confirmed the high strength and durability of the obtained product but also the neutralization of the heavy metals originally present in the fly ash.

Polymer composite materials and technologies used in sports industry: a review

The article provides a review of scientific and technical literature, including Russian and foreign periodicals, patents for inventions in the field of creating products for the sports industry from polymer composite materials. The technologies and technical solutions used to achieve the assigned tasks, the advantages and disadvantages of using the methods are considered. It is shown that the use of modern achievements in materials science, a new generation of materials and advanced technologies can contribute to the achievement of high sports results.

Functionalization of the NiTi Shape Memory Alloy Surface through Innovative Hydroxyapatite/Ag-TiO2 Hybrid Coatings.

The objective of this research was to develop a surface modification for the NiTi shape memory alloy, thereby enabling its long-term application in implant medicine. This was achieved through the creation of innovative multifunctional hybrid layers comprising a nanometric molecular system of silver-rutile (Ag-TiO2), known for its antibacterial properties, in conjunction with bioactive submicro- and nanosized hydroxyapatite (HAp). The multifunctional, continuous, crack-free coatings were produced using the electrophoretic deposition method (EPD) at 20 V/1 min. Structural and morphological analyses through Raman spectrometry and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) provided comprehensive insights into the obtained coating. The silver within the layer existed in the form of nanometric silver carbonates (Ag2CO3) and metallic nanosilver. Based on DTA/TG results, dilatometric measurements, and high-temperature microscopy, the heat treatment temperature for the deposited layers was set at 800 °C for 2 h. The procedures applied resulted in the creation of a new generation of materials with a distinct structure compared with the initial nanopowders. The resulting composite layer, measuring 2 μm in thickness, comprised hydroxyapatite (HAp), apatite carbonate (CHAp), metallic silver, silver oxides, Ag@C, and rutile exhibiting a defective structure. This structural characteristic contributes significantly to its heightened activity, influencing both bioactivity and biocompatibility properties.

(Invited) Clay: A Ubiquitous Sustainable Material for Energy Applications

Silicates and their precursors make up the majority of the land mass on Earth in the form of inorganic components of soil, silt, and sediment. Clay minerals, essentially hydrous silicates or aluminosilicates, are widely used in a variety of applications and industries, including ceramic goods, cement, drilling fluids, molding sands, anti-corrosion paints, paper manufacturing process, water treatment, polymer-clay composites for automotive industries, and even in medicine and pharmaceutical applications. Lately, it has found use in developing cost-effective ink, drug delivery, food packaging using oxygen barrier properties, and battery separators.Structure-property features of clays reveal that one can functionalize clays leveraging their porous structures, tunable surface areas, remarkable thermal and mechanical stabilities, and abundant reserves, which make clay one of the cheapest natural materials from a sustainable source and one of the most sought-after materials for a variety of applications. Clays generally have layered structures with the possibility of interchangeable intercalated ions and tunable chemical properties. They are composed of alternating tetrahedral silica (T) and octahedral alumina (O) sheets arranged in a 1:1 ratio (T-O). The tetrahedral sheets are formed from Si4+ ions coordinated with oxygen; however, the Al3+ metal ion is the central atom in the octahedral sheet. Bentonite or Montmorillonite is one of the most used clay minerals owing to its abundance and low cost. Notably, naturally occurring Bentonite has some octahedral sites occupied by the Mg2+ and Fe2+ ions. The presence of these ions allows tuning chemical properties and mechanical strength by functionalizing with organic molecules within the octahedral layers. Over the decades, polymer-based clay composites have been developed using this technique. Herein, we shed light on a new strategy to create hybrid clay films made from small organic molecules with charges at two ends, known as zwitter ions. Using this novel approach, we have developed cost-effective, environmentally benign, and biocompatible clay films with unique physical and chemical properties, where the clay galleries are infused with intercalating zwitter ions. The insertion of these ions increases the interlayer spacing while simultaneously allowing the formation of mechanically robust and thermally and chemically durable clay films. These hybrid clay films can be used as membranes and have been characterized using powder X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectra, rheology, ATR-IR spectra, DSC-TGA, dynamic mechanical analyses, and imaging techniques. The effect of varying the carbon chain length and changing functional groups in these zwitter ion species has been verified to significantly impact the clay slurry's rheology and control the clay films' interlayer spacing. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy studies of the hybrid films confirm that intercalation of zwitter ions in the clay structures leads to improved ionic conductivity of the clays. A series of impedance spectroscopy experiments conducted using various electrolytes reveal remarkable improvements in the ionic conductivity of the hybrid clay films. Contrary to metal ion batteries due to dendritic growth causing thermal degradation of the batteries, the hybrid clay films possess high thermal and mechanical stability that makes them versatile for energy materials. A cost-effective solution to engineering such hybrid films provides an efficient and recycle-free avenue to develop a new generation of materials from sustainable sources for energy applications, especially for battery separators and capacitors for the future.

(Invited) Energy Materials Development at Ceres: From Nanometers to Megawatts

Ceres’ unique metal supported SteelCell® SOC technology is increasingly establishing itself as the global standard for SOC, combining robustness, efficiency and low manufacturing cost. The technology is rapidly moving from demonstration to true volume production, with Robert Bosch GmbH in Germany and Doosan Fuel Cell in South Korea both having licenses to manufacture Ceres SteelCell® cells and stacks at the hundreds of MW per year scale with factories under construction. Ceres acts as design authority to licensees who manufacture Ceres-developed technology at scale. As such Ceres specifies the raw materials required for cell manufacture and has ultimate responsibility for the validation of any new suppliers of raw materials proposed by licensees.In addition to supporting the high-volume scale up of current generations of SteelCell technology, Ceres has an extensive R&D program to develop future technology generations which offer improved performance, lower cost and/or lower degradation. A very detailed understanding of the behavior of the materials used in cells, stacks and systems is required to enable future optimization and/or the development of novel materials. This particularly includes the challenges of understanding degradation phenomena, which due to the extended timescales involved are poorly characterized in academic literature. To enhance this understanding Ceres has a number of academic collaborations, most notably with Imperial College London to use leading-edge experimental and computational techniques to understand material behavior affecting initial performance, degradation (particularly changes at interfaces) and corrosion of metallic components. Information gained from these collaborations is used to enable reliable lifetime prediction for current-generation stacks and systems to be undertaken using computer models to predict performance through-life using degradation models derived from theoretical understanding. Theoretical understanding of materials behavior also drives innovation in new generations of materials offering enhanced performance and/or durability, enabling Ceres to maintain its competitive advantage in SOC technology.

Carbon-Based Nanomaterials Decorated Electrospun Nanofibers in Biosensors: A Review.

Nanomaterials have revolutionized scientific research due to their exceptional physical and chemical capabilities. Carbon-based nanomaterials such as graphene and its derivates have excellent electrical, optical, thermal, physical, and chemical properties that have made them indispensable in several industries worldwide, including medicine, electronics, and energy. By incorporating carbon-based nanomaterials as nanofillers in electrospun nanofibers (ESNFs), smoother and highly conductive nanofibers can be achieved that possess a large surface area and porosity. This approach provides a superior alternative to traditional materials in the development of improved biosensors. Carbon-based ESNFs, among the most exciting new-generation materials, have many applications, including filtration, pharmaceuticals, biosensors, and membranes. The electrospinning technique is a highly efficient and cost-effective method for producing desired nanofibers compared to other methods. Various types of natural and synthetic organic polymers have been successfully utilized in solution electrospinning to produce nanofibers directly. To create diagnostics devices, various biomolecules like antibodies, enzymes, aptamers, ligands, and even cells can be bound to the surface of nanofibers. Electrospun nanofibers can serve as an immobilization matrix to create a biofunctional surface. Thus, biosensors with desired features can be produced in this way. This study comprehensively reviews biosensors that integrate nanodiamonds, fullerenes, carbon nanotubes, graphene oxide, and carbon dots into electrospun nanofibers.

The potential of zeolite nanocomposites in removing microplastics, ammonia, and trace metals from wastewater and their role in phytoremediation.

Nanocomposites are emerging as a new generation of materials that can be used to combat water pollution. Zeolite-based nanocomposites consisting of combinations of metals, metal oxides, carbon materials, and polymers are particularly effective for separating and adsorbing multiple contaminants from water. This review presents the potential of zeolite-based nanocomposites for eliminating a range of toxic organic and inorganic substances, dyes, heavy metals, microplastics, and ammonia from water. The review emphasizes that nanocomposites offer enhanced mechanical, catalytic, adsorptive, and porosity properties necessary for sustainable water purification techniques compared to individual composite materials. The adsorption potential of several zeolite-metal/metal oxide/polymer-based composites for heavy metals, anionic/cationic dyes, microplastics, ammonia, and other organic contaminants ranges between approximately 81 and over 99%. However, zeolite substrates or zeolite-amended soil have limited benefits for hyperaccumulators, which have been utilized for phytoremediation. Further research is needed to evaluate the potential of zeolite-based composites for phytoremediation. Additionally, the development of nanocomposites with enhanced adsorption capacity would be necessary for more effective removal of pollutants.

Research on Different Physical Property Characterization Approaches for OLED Materials

Organic light-emitting diode, which is also commonly known as OLED, is one of the advanced materials for the development of the modern display technology. In the past decade, it has been well developed and successfully applied in display, lighting, screen devices and other fields. Before formally releasing them in the market, OLED materials need to be comprehensive tests on their performance to determine all parameters, of which their physical properties are of great importance to be included. In this paper, to systematically investigate on physical properties of OLED material, different approaches have been studied, including electroluminescence spectroscopy (ELS), photoluminescence spectroscopy (PL), time-correlated single-photon counting (TCSPC), and other approaches. At same time, this study also provides detailed information of each method of these characterizations for OLED materials. Through these analyses, the optical as well as electrical properties of these materials are well-studied. Overall, this research aims to gain a deeper understanding of OLED materials, which not only contributes to its future development, but also paves an avenue for the new generation of materials with advanced functions.

How to Repair the Next Generation of Wind Turbine Blades

Ensuring the sustainability of wind turbine blades will be an important requirement for new wind turbines to be installed in the coming years and decades. Several new wind turbines with blades from recyclable materials have already been installed, among which are blades based on recyclamine® and EzCiclo. The wind turbines of the new generation are subject to extreme mechanical and physical loading, can be damaged during service time, and will require maintenance and repair. In this paper, technologies for the repair and recycling of the new generation of materials for wind turbine blades are reviewed. Repair technologies for thermoplastic blades, recyclamine®- and vitrimer-based composites, and other new blade composites are discussed.