Morphological Properties Research Articles

Comparative Analysis of Mechanical and Morphological Properties of Cordenka and Ramie Fiber-Reinforced Polypropylene Composites.

The depletion of conventional materials and their adverse environmental impacts have prompted a shift toward sustainable alternatives in composite materials engineering. In pursuit of this objective, this study investigated the mechanical properties of polypropylene matrix composites reinforced with Cordenka, an artificial cellulose fiber, and compared them to those reinforced with ramie, a natural cellulose fiber. Continuous strand composites were developed using the Multi-Pin-assisted Resin Infiltration (M-PaRI) process. The strands were subsequently sectioned into 15 mm lengths and injection-molded into dumbbell and strip specimens for mechanical characterization. The results showed that 20 wt% Cordenka/PP composites exhibited a tensile strength of 68.7 MPa, 2.04 times higher than neat PP and 1.66 times greater than the 20 wt% ramie/PP composites. Impact testing further demonstrated that Cordenka/PP composites absorbed 2 to 2.5 times more impact energy than ramie/PP composites, regardless of the presence of notches. Fiber length analysis indicated that Cordenka fibers maintained their length beyond the critical fiber length, allowing for efficient stress transfer and acting as a more effective reinforcement compared to ramie fibers, which were below this threshold. Consequently, the Cordenka/PP composites exhibited significantly enhanced mechanical performance. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis revealed fewer fiber pullouts in ramie-reinforced composites, suggesting superior interfacial adhesion to the PP matrix, although it did not translate to higher mechanical properties. These findings underscore the potential of Cordenka as a sustainable alternative to synthetic, non-biodegradable fibers in PP composites, providing improved mechanical properties and promising prospects for advanced composite applications.

Effect of Mechanically Exfoliated Graphite Flakes on Morphological, Mechanical, and Thermal Properties of Epoxy

Carbon-reinforced polymer composites form an important category of advanced materials, and there is an increasing demand to enhance their performance using more convenient and scalable processes at low costs. In the present study, graphitic flakes were prepared by the mechanical exfoliation of synthetic graphite electrodes and utilized as an abundant and potentially low-cost filler to fabricate epoxy-based composites with different additive ratios of 1–10 wt.%. The morphological, structural, thermal, and mechanical properties of these composites were investigated. It was found that the thermal conductivity of the composites increases by adding graphite, and this increase mainly depends on the ratio of the graphite additive. The addition of graphite was found to have a diverse effect on the mechanical properties of the composites: the tensile strength of the composites decreases with the addition of graphite, whilst their compressive strength and elastic modulus are enhanced. The results demonstrate that incorporating 5 wt% of commercially available graphite into epoxy not only raises the thermal conductivity of the material from 0.223 to 0.485 W/m·K, but also enhances its compressive strength from 66 MPa to 72 MPa. The diverse influence of graphite provides opportunities to prepare epoxy composites with desirable properties for different applications.

2D/3D Heterostructure Halide Perovskite Thin Films through an Innovative Spray‐Deposition of Bulky Organic Cation‐Containing Ammonium Salts

AbstractHybrid halide perovskite involving low‐dimensional (2D or quasi‐2D) perovskites and their three‐dimensional (3D) counterparts provide long‐term stability in solar photovoltaics (PV) applications. Besides stability, perovskite PV commercialization would scalability in roll‐to‐roll fabrication of large‐area devices. Herein, it is reported on a pneumatic spray‐deposition methodology utilized to fabricate 2D/3D heterostructure perovskite films with tunable morphological and optical properties. Ammonium salts featuring bulky organic cations, such as phenethylammonium iodide (PEAI), 2‐thiophenemethylammonium iodide (TMAI), cyclohexylmethylammonium iodide (CMAI), and n‐dodecylammonium iodide (DDAI) are spray‐deposited on top of 3D‐formamidinium lead triiodide (3D‐FAPbI3) perovskite thin films, to synthesize a series of 2D perovskites, including (PEA)2FAPb2I7, (TMA)2PbI4, (CMA)2FAPb2I7, and (DDA)2FAPb2I7. X‐ray diffraction (XRD) and grazing incidence wide‐angle X‐ray scattering measurements confirm the evolution of 2D perovskite layer with distinct crystal structure and dimensionality (n = 1 and 2). Additionally, field‐emission scanning electron microscopy reveals diverse surface morphologies achievable in the 2D perovskite layers. Hyperspectral photoluminescence mapping further demonstrates that the emission at ≈566–570 nm corresponds exclusively to the 2D perovskite phase with n = 2. This study advances the development of 2D/3D heterostructure perovskites using bulky organic cations and underscores the potential of pneumatic spray‐deposition as a scalable fabrication technique for producing next‐generation optoelectronic devices.

A Review on Formulation and Evaluation of Herbal Drugs Face Pack

The study aimed to formulate and evaluate an herbal face pack for glowing skin using natural ingredients such as multani mitti, turmeric, sandalwood, saffron, milk powder, rice flour, orange peel, and banana peel powder. These ingredients were sourced from the local market and processed for uniform formulation. The face pack was evaluated for several parameters, including its morphological, physicochemical, physical, and phytochemical properties, as well as its irritancy and stability under various conditions. The results indicated that the face pack was effective in providing a glowing effect on the skin, was free from irritation, and maintained its consistency even after stability testing. The study concluded that the herbal face pack is a viable product with significant potential for skin care benefits and supports its claims of enhancing skin glow

Estimating in situ prepared alkaline soluble flavan as an advanced adsorbent for rare earth elements

The design and synthesis of organic adsorbents for rare earth element (REEs) separation remain significant scientific aspect and industrial endeavor. In a single-pot reaction, acetone and resorcinol in acidic media over a two-day period facilitated the formation of the 2, 4, 4-trimethyl-7, 2′, 4′ trihydroxy flavan (flavan adsorbent). Under acidic conditions, flavan effectively adsorbs REEs (adsorbate), while under alkaline conditions, flavan rapidly dissolves completely. A series of adsorption experiments was conducted to determine the optimal adsorption conditions, including pH variations (1–5), REEs solution concentrations (250–1000 mg/L), adsorption time (5–60 min), and flavan mass (10–100 mg). The maximum adsorption capacity for flavan under optimal conditions was 258 mg g−1. Various analytical instruments were employed for flavan characterization, including Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), which were essential for analyzing the surface morphology and structural properties of the flavan. Adsorption isotherms suggested that the adsorption of REEs onto the flavan surface followed the Langmuir model, which in turn exhibited a theoretical adsorption capacity of 263.2 mg g−1 better off the Freundlich model. Kinetically, the adsorption of REEs on the flavan is best run in a pseudo-second-order model trajectory, which in turn exhibited an adsorption capacity value of 283 mg g−1. Interference studies revealed that flavan is a selective adsorbent; however, aluminum ions may exert a minor interference effect of 4% (in term of REEs uptake). Other competing elements, including Na, K, Mg, Ba, Mn, Cu, Fe, and Sn, exhibited a minimal decline in flavan uptake for REEs.

MARTINI Coarse-Grained Force Field for Thermoplastic Starch Nanocomposites.

Thermoplastic starch (TPS) is an excellent film-forming material, and the addition of fillers, such as tetramethylammonium-montmorillonite (TMA-MMT) clay, has significantly expanded its use in packaging applications. We first used an all-atom (AA) simulation to predict several macroscopic (Young's modulus, glass transition temperature, density) and microscopic (conformation along 1-4 and 1-6 glycosidic linkages, composite morphology) properties of TPS melt and TPS-TMA-MMT composite. The interplay of polymer-surface (weakly repulsive), plasticizer-surface (attractive), and polymer-plasticizer (weakly attractive) interactions leads to conformational and dynamics properties distinct from those in systems with either attractive or repulsive polymer-surface interactions. A subset of AA properties was used to parametrize the MARTINI-2 coarse-grained (CG) force field (FF) for the melt and composite systems. The missing bonded parameters of amylose and amylopectin and the bead types for 1-4 and 1-6 linked α-D glucose were determined using two-body excess entropy, density, and bond and angle distributions in the AA TPS melt. This new MARTINI-2 CG model was also compared with the MARTINI-3 model for the TPS melt. However, the requirement of a polarizable water model necessitates the use of MARTINI-2 FF for the composite system. This liquid-liquid partitioning-based FF shows freezing and compaction of polymer chains near the clay surface, further accentuated by lowering of dispersive interactions between pairs of high-covalent-coordination ring units of TPS polymers and the montmorillonite sheet. A rescaling of the effective dispersive component of TPS-MMT cross interactions was used to optimize the MARTINI-2 FF for the composite system with structural (chain size distribution), thermodynamic (chain conformational entropy and density), and dynamic (self-diffusion coefficient) properties obtained from long AA simulations forming the constraints for optimization. The obtained CG FF parameters provided excellent estimates for several other properties of the melt and composite systems not used in parameter estimation, thus establishing the robustness of the developed model.

Boosting sodium-ion battery performance with vanadium substituted Fe, Ni dual doped fluorophosphate cathode over a wide temperature range

Recently, polyanionic material has been identified as the most attractive choice for the cathode in sodium-ion batteries. However, the poor electronic conductivity of Na3V2(PO4)2F3 (NVPF) limits its electrochemical performance, while the presence of vanadium increases material costs. To address these challenges, we have synthesized carbon-coated Fe, Ni dual-doped NVPF (Na3V1.9Fe0.01Ni0.09(PO4)2F3) via a rota tumbler assisted sol-gel process and reported for the first time. Comprehensive studies reveal that dual doping significantly affects the structural, morphological, and electrochemical properties of the material. Rietveld refinement shows that doping adjusts the crystal structure, enlarging Na⁺ diffusion pathways and enhancing diffusion kinetics. Na3V1.9Fe0.01Ni0.09(PO4)2F3 exhibits a superior capacity of 115.58 mAhg−1 at 0.1C, 92.86 mAhg−1 at 2C, 87.79 % cyclic retention at 2C after 500 cycles. The optimized material demonstrates robust performance across a wide temperature range (55 °C to −21.1 °C). Furthermore, full-cell constructed using Na3V1.9Fe0.01Ni0.09(PO4)2F3 as cathode and hard carbon as anode delivers an impressive capacity of 87.01 mAhg−1 at 1C and a retention of 94.50 % for 100 cycles at 0.5C. Moreover, reducing the vanadium content in the cathode helps lower the overall manufacturing costs. Our research demonstrates that Na3V1.9Fe0.01Ni0.09(PO4)2F3 is a promising option for a high-performance cathode in sodium-ion batteries.

Morphology and Luminescence Properties of Transition Metal Doped Zinc Selenide Crystals.

Zinc selenide is an excellent matrix material to dope with rare-earth and transition metal to achieve mid-infrared luminescence to develop high power lasers. The luminescence, morphology and refractive index is significantly affected by the doping and defects generated due to size and valency of dopants, concentration, growth process and convection during the growth. The aim of the study is to investigate effect of point and line defects generated due to low doping of iron and chromium on the emission and morphology of the zinc selenide. Luminescence and morphological properties of large iron and chromium doped zinc selenide single crystals were studied to evaluate the effect of extremely low residual impurities and defects associated with the doping process. The emission properties following both short wavelength (i.e., ultraviolet; 350-370nm) excitation and longer wavelength (i.e., near infrared; 850-870nm) excitation were characterized. Luminescence emission bands were identified in both doped crystals. In addition to the primary emission bands, satellite peaks and intra-center transitions were also observed. Due to local population defects associated with the residual impurities (ppm to ppb) in the Fe-ZnSe and Cr-ZnSe crystals, peak emission wavelengths were observed to shift. The emission bands were found to decrease in intensity due to recombination of residual impurity co-dopants and complex defects generated during growth and fabrication. Cryogenic temperature analyses revealed a very clean emission band due to freezing of some of the point and line defects. An emission band observed at 980nm for both crystals at room temperature as well as cryogenic temperatures indicates a vibronic peak in ZnSe. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images of the local morphology support the conclusion that small crystallites in doped crystals are also present.

Visible light responsive heterophase Titania monoliths for the fast and efficient photocatalytic decontamination of organic pollutants

The article reports the synthesis of an ordered mesoporous network of heterophase TiO2 monoliths as a visible light-responsive photocatalyst using tri-block copolymers of Pluronic F108, P123 and F127 as structure-directing agents (SDAs) and temperature-controlled calcination (450–650 °C) has been carried out by direct templating-assisted hydrothermal approach. The structural/surface morphology and topographical properties of the photocatalyst are characterized using FE-SEM-EDAX, HR-TEM-SAED, p-XRD, VB-XPS, PLS, TG/DTA, UV-Vis-DRS, BET/BJH and zeta potential analysis. The undoped heterophase mesoporous TiO2 monoliths with in-built lattice/surface defects exhibit visible light photocatalytic properties, successfully dissipating Reactive Brown 10 (RB-10) dye. The influence of physicochemical parameters, such as SDAs, temperature, pH, dye concentration, catalyst dosage, photosensitizers and light intensities, are optimized for maximum photocatalytic performance at a shorter timespan. The F127-assisted mesoporous TiO2 monolith (550 °C) exhibits superior degradation kinetics (15 min) for RB-10 dye solution (20 ppm) at pH 2.0–3.0 using a photocatalyst dosage of 50 mg and 2 mM of KBrO3, irradiated with 150 W/cm2 tungsten lamp. The photocatalysts are fabricated without complicated chemical modifications and display topmost efficiency in quickly decontaminating persistent pollutants. The photoproducts from RB-10 photocatalytic degradation are investigated using HR-MS analysis. The photocatalyst can be reused efficiently for six cycles, even under extreme conditions.

Integrating Phase Change Materials Into Cotton Ring Spun Yarn Structure for Thermoregulating Function

ABSTRACTPhase change materials (PCMs) have been incorporated into textiles to provide thermoregulation and temperature buffering effects on the human body. From this point of view, the aim of this study was to develop the phase change material (PCM) incorporated into the yarns for the production of textiles with a thermo‐regulating function. In the study, two types of capsules poly(methyl methacrylate‐co‐methacrylic acid) (P(MMA‐co‐MAA)) walled and 1‐tetradecanol core, and gelatin‐gum Arabic walled and n‐octadecane core were synthesized and applied to cotton textile fibers using an alternative application method developed by the authors. PCM dispersion with 6% concentration was incorporated into cotton ring spun yarns at 62.5 and 80 mL/h feeding rates. Morphological and thermal properties of the capsules and spun yarns were investigated. Thermoregulation properties of fabricated yarns were detailed evaluated by segmenting thermal history (T‐history) curves into four phases and logarithmic and linear trendlines were applied to the temperature change data for unloaded and PCM incorporated yarns. Data including temperature range (°C), R2 (coefficient of determination or regression factor), rate coefficient (a) and duration of phase (s) were analyzed for both capsule types and feeding rate values. The results indicated that PCM capsules with ideal spherical morphology and enough energy storage capacity were successfully applied into the cotton fibers. All cotton yarns with PCM additives exhibited lower surface temperature values greater than 2°C which is considered sufficient for the thermoregulation effect although with some distinct variations in their temperature profiles and rate coefficients. Compared to untreated cotton ring spun yarn, the temperature difference for 1‐tetradecanol core@P(MMA‐co‐MAA) walled capsules was found to be around 4.29°C–4.56°C, whereas it was around 8.2°C–9°C for n‐octadecane core@gelatin‐gum Arabic walled capsules. With respect to all the results, obtained novel heat storage cotton yarn is a promising material for thermal energy storage and desirable thermal comfort applications.

Nanocrystalline NiTiB reinforced aluminum matrix composites: Synthesis, structural, mechanical and corrosion properties

In this study, aluminum composites were developed using a powder metallurgy route by incorporating varying amounts of nanocrystalline NiTiB into the Al2024 alloy. The effects of nanocrystalline NiTiB on the structural, morphological, corrosion, and mechanical properties of the aluminum composites were thoroughly investigated. The results showed that the base alloy and composites with 2% and 4% NiTiB exhibited the highest relative density. The composite with 4% NiTiB achieved the maximum hardness of 87.4 HV. Additionally, the inclusion of nanocrystalline NiTiB significantly improved the compressive strength, corrosion resistance, and wear resistance of the composites. Specifically, the compressive strength increased by approximately 2% with 2% NiTiB and by around 13% with 12% NiTiB. Corrosion resistance was highest in the composite with 4% NiTiB, as confirmed by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. In the wear-loss study, the wear loss of the composites was found to be reduced by 244% and 457% for those reinforced with 2% and 12% NiTiB, respectively. These findings underscore the potential of nanocrystalline NiTiB to enhance the performance of Al2024 composites in applications demanding superior corrosion resistance, mechanical strength, and wear resistance.

Segmentation uncertainty of vegetated porous media propagates during X-ray CT image-based analysis

Abstract Background and Aims Phase segmentation is a crucial step in X-ray computed tomography (CT) for image-based analysis (CT-IBA) to derive soil and root information. How segmentation uncertainty (SU) affects CT-IBA of vegetated soil has never been explored. Methods We proposed a new framework enabled by machine learning to measure SU and its propagation from the first to the second-order parameters derived from CT-IBA. Vegetated glass beads of varying moisture contents and plant species were CT scanned. Segmented images were used to determine volumetric fractions and morphological properties of each phase for determining the absolute permeability (K). Results Although the root phase is susceptible to SU, its influence on CT-IBA is minimal when the root content is low. However, its SU was magnified when the water phase is present. The grain phase has a lower SU susceptibility, but due to its large volumetric content, the IBA can be affected significantly. Fine roots were found to exhibit higher SU than coarse roots, indicating that root architecture has an effect on the segmentation of the root phase, and thus higher-order properties like K. Conclusion Segmentation of the grain phase is sensitive to SU. A small SU will lead to a remarkably erroneous estimation of pore morphological properties and K. To reduce SU, we suggest reducing the water content to a discontinuous state of a cohesionless vegetated porous media specimen before sending it for CT scanning and IBA. However, caution should be taken when fine roots were dried and experienced excessive shrinkage.

Mineral Heterostructures for Simultaneous Removal of Lead and Arsenic Ions

This study focuses on Pb2+ and As(V) adsorption on mineral heterostructures based on a mixture of Si, Fe, and Ti oxides (MOHs). Various techniques were performed to analyze the morphological and structural properties of the synthesized metal oxide samples. In addition to the experimental optimization of the parameters determined by the response surface method (RSM), the effects of pH, adsorbent dosage, temperature, and contact duration on the batch and column system adsorption efficiency of single-component and simultaneous lead and arsenate removal were tested. The pseudo-second-order kinetic model and Weber–Morris model were more relevant to the adsorption on the metal(loid)s. The adsorption of Pb2+ was related to the Langmuir isotherm model, while the adsorption of As(V) was fitted to the Freundlich isotherm model. The thermodynamic parameters indicate the spontaneity of the adsorption process with a low endothermic character. The MOHs were more effective in removing Pb2+ and As(V) in the multi-component system (87.7 and 46.1%, respectively) than in the single-component system (56.3 and 23.4%, respectively). This study demonstrates that mineral heterostructures can be effectively used to remove cations and anions from water systems, and due to their fast kinetics, they can be applied to the needs of rapid interventions after pollution.

Influence of Swift Heavy Ion Beam Irradiation on Optical, Structural, and Surface Morphological Properties of WO3 Thin Films Grown by RF Sputtering Method

Influence of Swift Heavy Ion Beam Irradiation on Optical, Structural, and Surface Morphological Properties of WO3 Thin Films Grown by RF Sputtering Method

A comparative study for optimizing photocatalytic activity of TiO2-based composites with ZrO2, ZnO, Ta2O5, SnO, Fe2O3, and CuO additives

Despite the widespread use of titanium dioxide (TiO2) in photocatalytic applications, its inherent limitations, such as low efficiency under visible light and rapid recombination of electron-hole pairs, hinder its effectiveness in environmental remediation. This study presents a comparative investigation of TiO2-based composites, including TiO2/ZrO2, ZnO, Ta2O3, SnO, Fe2O3, and CuO, aiming to assess their potential for enhancing photocatalytic applications. Photocatalysis holds promise in environmental remediation, water purification, and energy conversion, with TiO2 being a prominent photocatalyst. To improve efficiency and broaden applicability, various metal oxide composites have been explored. Composites were synthesized and characterized using techniques such as XRD, SEM, TEM, and zeta potential analysis to evaluate their structural and morphological properties. Photocatalytic performance was assessed by degrading herbicide Imazapyr under UV illumination. Results revealed that, the photo-activity of all prepared composites were more effective than the photo-activity of commercial hombikat UV-100. The photonic-efficiency is arranged according to the order TiO2/CuO > TiO2/SnO > TiO2/ZnO > TiO2/Ta2O3 > TiO2/ZrO2 > TiO2/Fe2O3 > Hombikat TiO2-UV100. All composites exhibited superior performance, attributed to enhanced light absorption and charge separation. The study underscores the potential of these composites for environmental remediation and energy conservation, offering valuable insights for the development of advanced photocatalysts.

Fabrication of Multifunctional Green-Synthesized Copper Oxide Nanoparticles Using Rumex vesicarius L. Leaves for Enhanced Photocatalytic and Biomedical Applications

Recently, the use of plant extracts has emerged as an innovative approach for the production of various nanoparticles. Enhancing green methods for synthesizing copper oxide (CuO) nanoparticles (NPs) is a key focus in the field of nanotechnology. This study presents a novel and eco-friendly synthesis of CuO NPs using Rumex vesicarius L. leaf extracts, offering a cost-effective and efficient method. The synthesized CuO NPs were evaluated for their cytotoxic effects against human cervical carcinoma (HeLa) cells, as well as their photocatalytic and antimicrobial activities. The morphology, size, and structural properties of the CuO NPs were characterized using various analytical techniques. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis confirmed the pure crystalline structure of the CuO NPs with a size of 19 nm, while transmission electron microscopy (TEM) showed particle sizes ranging from 5 to 200 nm. The photocatalytic performance of the CuO NPs was assessed through the photodegradation of crystal violet (CV) and methylene blue (MB) dyes under UV light. The NPs exhibited excellent decolorization efficiency, effectively degrading dyes in aqueous solutions under irradiation. Furthermore, the green-synthesized CuO NPs displayed strong antibacterial and antifungal activities against a variety of human pathogens. They also demonstrated significant dose-dependent cytotoxicity against the HeLa cancer cell line, with an IC50 value of 8 ± 0.54 μg/mL.

Impact of Graphene Nano particles on static and dynamic mechanical properties of basalt-glass fibre reinforced epoxy polymer hybrid composites

ABSTRACT This paper investigates the structure-property relationships in basalt – glass fabric reinforced hybrid polymer composites doped with graphene nanoplatelets. Basalt Glass fabrics were reinforced with 0.2 wt.% − 0.8 wt.% graphene using hand layup and compression moulding to fabricate laminated plates. The mechanical, morphological, and thermomechanical properties were characterised using tensile, flexural, impact, SEM, FTIR, XRD, and DMA testing. Results showed that low graphene loadings of 0.2 wt.% − 0.4 wt.% led to small, isolated graphene platelets decorating the basalt fibres. At 0.8 wt.% loading, extensive wrinkling, folding, and stacking of graphene sheets on the basalt was observed. FTIR revealed increasing sp2 C=C vibrations and XRD showed rising graphene peak intensities with higher loadings. While tensile and flexural strengths improved up to 0.6 wt.% graphene due to efficient stress transfer, impact energy increased consistently until 0.8 wt.% graphene owing to reinforcement effects. DMA exhibited enhanced storage modulus and restricted mobility with more graphene. An optimum graphene loading of 0.6 wt.% was found to maximise the mechanical performance through uniform dispersion and strong interfacial adhesion. The results demonstrate that graphene incorporation can substantially augment the strength, toughness, and thermomechanical properties of the composites at appropriate compositions prior to aggregation.

Investigation of electrochemical properties of lithium salt/poly(vinylidene fluoride)/polypyrrole blends

AbstractIn this study, structural, thermal, morphological, and electrochemical properties of poly(vinylidene fluoride)/polypyrrole (PVDF/PPy) blends are investigated. The investigation revealed phase separation between PPy and PVDF, a phenomenon supported by the thermodynamic interaction parameter. Increasing the PPy content from 10 to 50 wt% led to a significant reduction in the crystallinity of PVDF from 55.1% to 39.6%, and a corresponding decrease in the glass transition temperature (Tg) from 52.2 to 42.3°C. The enhanced interaction between components in the PVDF/PPy blends leads to an increase in local free volume due to the disruption of the polymer matrix. This disruption allows for greater molecular mobility, which in turn decreases the Tg. The increase in local free volume facilitates segmental motion of the polymer chains, thereby reducing the energy required for the transition from a glassy to a rubbery state. Ionic conductivity of the blends decreased with rising temperatures, likely due to interactions between the fluorine groups of PVDF and the NH groups of PPy. Notably, the transference number of lithium ions (tLi+) decreased from 0.30 to 0.14 as the PPy content increased from 10% to 50%, indicating a strong interaction between the cation and the polymer matrix.Highlights Electrochemical properties of poly(vinylidene fluoride)/polypyrrole (PVDF/PPy) blends are investigated. Interaction parameter‐supported phase separation is seen between PPy and PVDF. Intramolecular interactions of PVDF result in increasing local free volume. Ionic conductivity of the blends decreased with rising temperatures. tLi+ decreased with PPy increasing due to strong interaction of cation/matrix.

Enhanced performance of Mg and La co-doped TiO2(98%)−ZrO2(2%) photoanode for dye-sensitized solar cells

Abstract This study explores the effects of magnesium (Mg) and lanthanum (La) doping on the performance of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) utilizing TiO2(98%)−ZrO2(2%) (TZ, TZM, and TZL) photoanodes. The photoanodes were fabricated using a spin-coating sol–gel method, followed by calcination at 400°C. The structural, morphological, crystallographic, and optical properties of the proposed photoanode composites were characterized by X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, and ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy. The crystallite sizes of the synthesized thin films varied from 21.16 to 59.04 nm for the TZ, TZM, and TZL compositions. The current–voltage measurements of DSSCs based on TZL8 photoanode, cobalt sulfide-doped graphene counter electrode, and N719 dye revealed the highest efficiency of nearly 5.052%. The assembled DSSCs exhibited an open-circuit voltage of 0.74 V, a short-circuit current density of 9.964 mA/cm2, and a fill factor of 0.685. The enhancement in open-circuit voltage and short-circuit current density could be attributed to the improved electronic and microstructures of the proposed photoanodes.

Tailored electronic properties of PdAu nanocatalysts via one-step electrodeposition for high-performance glucose sensors

The development of efficient and reliable glucose sensors is crucial for the early detection and management of diabetes mellitus. This study introduces a novel one-step electrodeposition method for fabricating bimetallic palladium-gold (PdAu) nanocatalysts directly onto gold electrodes, aimed at enhancing the electrocatalytic performance for non-enzymatic glucose sensing. The one-step electrodeposition technique not only simplifies the fabrication process but also enables precise control over the morphology and electronic properties of the PdAu nanostructures. The optimized electronic interactions between palladium and gold within the nanocatalyst significantly enhance electron transfer kinetics, leading to a high electroactive surface area and improved catalytic activity for glucose oxidation. As a result, the PdAu electrodes demonstrated superior glucose sensing capabilities, with a low detection limit of 83 µM and an impressive sensitivity of 67.2 µA mM-1cm−2 across a linear range of 1–8 mM glucose. The catalyst also exhibited excellent selectivity against common interfering species, as well as remarkable stability and reproducibility over an extended period. These findings underscore the significance of the one-step electrodeposition method in producing bimetallic catalysts with tailored electronic properties, offering a promising approach for advancing electrochemical biosensors in diabetes diagnosis.