Uniform Particle Size Distribution Research Articles

Enhanced functionalization of superparamagnetic Fe3O4 nanoparticles for advanced drug enrichment and separation applications

Backgroundsuperparamagnetic ferroferric oxide (Fe3O4) nanoparticles can be extensively functionalized for applications in drug enrichment and separation. Their high magnetic responsiveness and controllable surface modification enable rapid drug enrichment and separation under external magnetic fields. This study aimed to enhance the application potential of superparamagnetic Fe3O4 nanoparticles in the field of drug enrichment and separation by functionalizing these nanoparticles to improve their biocompatibility and targeting capabilities.Methodssuperparamagnetic Fe3O4 nanoparticles functionalized with dopamine were synthesized using benzyl alcohol as the solvent and iron acetylacetonate as the precursor. The dopamine-functionalized superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles were used to analyze protein enrichment and separation. Characterization of the nanoparticles was conducted, including analysis of particle size distribution, Zeta potential, and fluorescence spectra using a fluorescence spectrophotometer.Resultsthe Fe3O4 nanoparticles maintained high magnetism from the original material and exhibited uniform particle size distribution and stable Zeta potential. The saturation magnetization of dopamine-functionalized superparamagnetic Fe3O4 nanoparticles showed no significant difference compared to before coating, indicating minimal influence of dopamine on the internal magnetic core of the nanoparticles. The Fe3O4 nanoparticles demonstrated good biocompatibility and stability.Conclusionfunctionalization of superparamagnetic Fe3O4 nanoparticles significantly enhances their efficiency in drug enrichment and separation processes, suggesting broad applications in the pharmaceutical industry.

DEM investigation into the small-strain stiffness of bio-cemented soils

AbstractBio-mediated methods, such as microbially induced carbonate precipitation, are promising techniques for soil stabilisation. However, uncertainty about the spatial distribution of the minerals formed and the mechanical improvements impedes bio-mediated methods from being translated widely into practice. To bolster confidence in bio-treatment, non-destructive characterisation is desired. Seismic methods offer the possibility to monitor the effectiveness and mechanical efficiency of bio-treatment both in the laboratory and in the field. To aid the interpretation of shear wave velocity measurements, this study uses the discrete element method to examine the small-strain stiffness of bio-cemented sands. Bio-cemented specimens with different characteristics, including properties of the host sand (void ratio, uniformity of particle size distribution) and properties of the precipitated minerals (distribution pattern, content, Young’s modulus), are modelled and subjected to static probing. The mechanisms affecting the small-strain properties of cemented soils are investigated from microscopic observations. The results identify two mechanisms controlling the mechanical reinforcement associated with bio-cementation, namely the number of effective bonds and the ability of a single bond to improve stiffness. The results show that the dominant mechanism varies with the properties of the host sand. These results support the use of seismic measurements to assess the mechanical efficiency and effectiveness of bio-mediated treatment.

Structural changes and in vitro bioaccessibility of CPP-febisgly complexes: Dependence on iron load

The effect of casein phosphopeptides (CPP) and ferrous bisglycinate (FebisGly) at different ratios (1:20, 1:10, and 1:5 w/w) on iron supplementation was investigated. The in vitro bioaccessibility, structural changes, antioxidant activity, and the effect of absorption inhibitors were also explored. The results demonstrated that CPP enhanced the bioaccessibility of FebisGly by 68.72 % ± 0.18 % and increased the β-sheet content from 21.60 % ± 0.23 % to 67.92 % ± 0.12 %, forming a stable secondary structure. The particle size distribution (PSD) and rheological analyses indicated that CPP significantly contributed to the formation of chelated irons, resulting in a uniform PSD and enhanced viscoelasticity. Moreover, it prolonged the gastric emptying time, reducing gastric irritation further. The carboxyl and amino groups in the CPP molecules participated in chelation reaction, improved the antioxidant activity, and competed with phytic acid, tannic acid, and cellulose for iron. Overall, these results laid a foundation for developing novel iron supplementation strategies.

Fast and selective isoprene gas sensor: Influence of polystyrene size and role of the au catalyst on gas sensing properties

Sacrificial methods using polystyrene (PS) templates are extensively applied in various research fields, particularly for fabricating gas sensors. The many processing advantages of these methods, such as a uniform particle size distribution, ease of manipulation, and potential for functionalization enable the fabrication of intricate nanostructures with precise control of the geometry and surface-area-to-volume ratio. Nevertheless, no previous study has investigated the fundamental correlation between the size of the PS particles used as a template and the performance of the resulting functional gas sensor. In this study, we fabricated In2O3 hollow hemispheres (HHs) with PS template sizes ranging from 200 to 3000 nm to explore the essential aspects for gas sensor applications. Notably, compared to In2O3 thin films, In2O3 HHs-based sensors prepared using a 3000 nm PS template exhibited a larger surface area, particularly when formed in a monolayer, and achieved an enhanced gas response to C2H5OH by approximately 132 times. By decorating In2O3 HHs with Au nanoparticles, the detection of C5H8 at 350 ℃ among various volatile organic compounds was significantly enhanced (increase ratio = 31.7), achieving a response of 483 and a theoretical detection limit as low as 743 parts per trillion (ppt). In addition, the highly porous structure with Au decoration achieved an extremely short response time of less than 2 s. These unprecedented results provide critical insights into conventional sensor technologies and pave the way for potential health-monitoring applications and bioelectronics.

Optimization of precursor structure by dispersants to promote nitrogen reduction process to prepare high-quality VN

In this study, three dispersants of polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP), polyethylene glycol (PEG) and citric acid (CA) are used to optimize the structure of the precursor in order to prepare high quality VN. Under optimum condition, the VN with nitrogen content of 17.94 % is prepared by adding 5 % PVP. The sequence of phase evolution from the precursor to VN is: APV → V2O5 → V6O13 → V7O13 → VO2 → V3O5 → V2O3 → (VC) → VN. The precursors of adding 5 % PVP have lower Ea of 0.17 kJ mol−1, 20.51 kJ mol−1 and 62.70 kJ mol−1 during reduction and nitration process, which is easier to be reduced and nitridated. PVP not only promotes the uniform dispersion of the carbon powders in the vanadium rich solution but also enhance the hydrogen bonding of APV ions to promote their nucleation and growth. The precursor with uniform and concentrated particle size distribution, complete and stable encapsulation of shell of APV and core of carbon powder, and uniform and moderate thickness of APV shell is successfully prepared by adding PVP. The precursor has a larger phase reaction interface and more reactive sites during the nitriding reduction process, which results in a faster reduction and nitriding rate. In comparison with the current process, the nitriding reaction temperature has been reduced from 1400 ∼ 1500 °C to 1150 ∼ 1200 °C, the reaction time has been shortened by 75 %, and the N2 consumption has been reduced by 40 %.

Preparation of nano magnesium oxide by mechanochemical method using magnesium chloride

Magnesium chloride is a magnesium resource that is widely present in seawater and salt lakes. Therefore, the use of magnesium chloride is of great significance for the low-cost preparation of high-performance magnesium materials. In this work, mechanical ball milling was used for the preparation of magnesium oxide nanoparticles from magnesium chloride. Ball milling improves the unevenness of the reaction process and generates magnesium oxide with a more uniform particle size distribution. First, a magnesium chloride complex was obtained by heating and evaporating a mixture of magnesium chloride and ethanol with a mass ratio of 1:2 at 110 °C. Next, pure magnesium hydroxide with a smaller crystal size was obtained by ball milling the prepared magnesium chloride complex with calcium hydroxide at 600 rpm for 3 h. Finally, the magnesium hydroxide was calcined at 1000 °C for 60 min to obtain nano magnesium oxide particles with a particle size of 670 nm.

Enhanced stability and reduced irritation of 4-n-butylresorcinol via nanoemulsion formulation: Implications for skin pigmentation treatment

4-n-butylresorcinol (4-nBR) is a valuable ingredient to lighten skin and reduce pigmentation, contributing to an even skin tone and a more youthful appearance. However, its poor solubility, low stability, and strong irritation to the skin limit its application. In this study, 4-nBR was prepared into 4-n-butylresorcinol nanoemulsion (4-nBR-NE) for the first time, enhancing the solubility and stability of 4-nBR while greatly reducing its skin irritation. The relationship between the viscosity of nanoemulsion and the formulation process, as well as the impact of surfactant ratio on the formability of 4-nBR-NE were further studied. This led to the successful development of a nanoemulsion with adjustable viscosity (AV-NE) and with a low surfactant content. The particle size of 4-nBR-NE was 13.34±0.16 nm with a PDI of 0.0853±0.0191, indicating a uniform particle size distribution. The encapsulation rate of 4-nBR-NE was determined to be 80.05±0.75% via UV-Vis spectrophotometry. In addition, 4-nBR-NE demonstrated excellent stability over several months, with negligible changes in particle size. Cellular and transdermal evaluations confirmed that the preparation of 4-nBR-NE effectively reduced the original irritation cause by 4-nBR on cells and skin. Then, 4-nBR-NE was incorporated into an essence. This advancement enhances the applicability of 4-nBR in treating pigmentation disorders such as melasma and freckles, thereby increasing its applicability in pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries.

Investigation on the structure and properties of nanostructured lipid carriers loaded with different contents of phytosterols and their impact on lipid oxidation

In this study, nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs) were prepared using walnut oil as a liquid lipid to load phytosterols (PS). The effects of different ratios of PS to lipids on the structural and functional properties of these carriers and lipid oxidation of PS-loaded carriers were investigated. The XRD, FTIR, and DSC results indicated that NLCs formulated with walnut oil as the liquid lipid were successful in incorporating PS. These NLCs exhibited a smaller average particle size (<300 nm) and a lower PDI (<0.3), along with a higher zeta potential. Furthermore, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) revealed that PS5-NLC displayed the most uniform particle size distribution and excellent dispersion. Notably, NLCs demonstrate high encapsulation efficiency and antioxidant capacity. Importantly, the bioaccessibility of PS in the carriers significantly increased from 23.5% to 86.8% compared with that of pure PS. Following a storage period of 21 days, the NLCs loaded with PS showed a lipid hydroperoxide (LH) value of 32.4 mmol/L and a malondialdehyde (MDA) content of 9.9 μmol/L, which were 13.6% and 33.3% lower, respectively, than those of the carriers without PS, indicating an effective reduction in lipid oxidation. This study is first to introduce the innovative use of walnut oil as a liquid lipid for preparing NLCs. It was observed that incorporating PS not only enhanced the bioaccessibility of these compounds but also effectively mitigated lipid oxidation. Overall, this study offers valuable insights into the development of PS delivery systems and broadens the potential applications of walnut oil.

Preparation of tenofovir amibufenamide fumarate spherical particles to improve tableting performance and sticking propensity by designing a spherical crystallization process

Tenofovir amibufenamide fumarate (TMF) is the first oral drug developed in Asia for the treatment of adult patients with chronic viral hepatitis B, however, further applications are limited by poor tableting performance and high sticking propensity. In this work, the spherulitic growth process of TMF has been designed and explored with the help of molecular dynamics simulation and process analysis technologies (ATR-FTIR, FBRM and EasyViewer). The spherical particles with high bulk density, good flowability and uniform particle size distribution are prepared by a simple quenching process. More importantly, experimental results show that spherical particles have higher average tensile strength (100.8% increase), higher plastic deformability and lower amount of punch sticking (87.4% decrease in 30 tablets) compared to the commercial powder products. These contributions not only shed light on the design principle of drug spherulitic growth processes, but also provide guidance for the manufacture of high-quality tablet products.

Capturing the random mechanical behavior of granular materials: A comprehensive stochastic discrete element method study

This research pioneers a stochastic discrete element method (DEM) by integrating the probability density evolution method (PDEM), offering a novel approach to connect particle-scale property uncertainties, specifically inter-particle friction coefficient (μ) and particle shear modulus (G_p), with macroscale soil behavior. Through 1,100 DEM simulations, this study reveals that, for uniform particle size distribution, the uncertainty in μ substantially affects large strain soil behaviour, with its effect being associated with packing density and soil state. The uncertainty effect of μ remains pronounced at the critical state, while the packing density effect diminishes. Stress distribution appears insensitive to uncertainty of μ, rather suggesting a predominant influence of particle size distributions. In contrast, uncertainty effect of μ becomes negligible on small strain behaviour, demonstrating limited effect on small strain stiffness. Uncertainty in G_p presents limited effects on large strain behaviour, including stress ratios and dilatancy. At small strains, G_p shows a significant impact on stiffness, diverging from minimal influence identified for μ. This study presents a framework that integrates experimental techniques to study particle-scale uncertainty propagation, enhancing predictions of macro-scale soil behavior. This approach could be beneficial for precise multi-scale simulations, incorporating particle-level uncertainties in engineering-scale models, thus improving geotechnical practice predictability.

Development of Advanced Solid-State Thermochromic Materials for Responsive Smart Window Applications.

This study introduces the synthesis and detailed characterization of a novel thermochromic material capable of reversible alterations in its thermotropic transmittance. Through an emulsion polymerization process, this newly developed material is composed of 75-85% octadecyl acrylate and 0-7% allyl methacrylate, demonstrating a pronounced discoloration effect across a narrow yet critical temperature range of 24.5-39 °C. The synthesized powder underwent a battery of tests, including differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetric analysis, as well as scanning electron microscopy. These comprehensive evaluations confirmed the material's exceptional thermal stability, uniform particle size distribution, and strong anchoring properties. Building upon these findings, we advanced the development of thermochromic polyvinyl butyral films and laminated glass products. By utilizing a coextrusion technique, we integrated these films into laminated glass, setting a new benchmark against existing glass technologies. Remarkably, the incorporation of thermochromic PVB films into laminated glass led to a significant reduction in solar irradiance of 20-30%, outperforming traditional double silver low-emissivity glass. This achievement demonstrates the exceptional shading and thermal insulation properties of the material. The research presented herein not only pioneers a valuable methodology for the engineering of smart materials with tunable thermotropic transmittance but also holds the key to unlocking enhanced energy efficiency across a spectrum of applications. The potential impact of this innovation on the realm of sustainable building materials is profound, promising significant strides toward energy conservation and environmental stewardship.

Electrostatic spraying for fine-tuning particle dimensions to enhance oral bioavailability of poorly water-soluble drugs

While spray-drying has been widely utilized to improve the bioavailability of poorly water-soluble drugs, the outcomes often exhibit suboptimal particle size distribution and large particle sizes, limiting their effectiveness. In this study, we introduce electrostatic spraying as an advanced technology tailored for poorly water-soluble drugs, enabling the fabrication of nanoparticles with fine and uniform particle size distribution. Regorafenib (1 g), as a model drug, copovidone (5 g), and sodium dodecyl sulfate (0.1 g) were dissolved in 200 ml ethanol and subjected to conventional-spray-dryer and electrostatic spray dryer. The electrostatic spray-dried nanoparticles (ESDN) showed smaller particle sizes with better uniformity compared to conventional spray-dried nanoparticles (CSDN). ESDN demonstrated significantly enhanced solubility and rapid release in water. In vitro studies revealed that ESDN induced apoptosis in HCT-116 cells to a greater extent, exhibiting superior cytotoxicity compared to CSDN. Furthermore, ESDN substantially improved oral bioavailability and antitumor efficacy compared to CSDN. These findings suggest that ESD shows potential in developing enhanced drug delivery systems for poorly water-soluble drugs, effectively addressing the limitations associated with CSD methods.

Characterization of bamboo shoot cellulose nanofibers modified by TEMPO oxidation and ball milling method and its application in W/O emulsion

It has rarely been reported that the modification of bamboo shoot nanofibers by oxidation combined with physical and applied in food emulsions. In this study, the combination of 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl radical (TEMPO)-mediated oxidation and the ball milling technique was employed to prepare bamboo shoot cellulose nanofibers (TOCNF) for W/O emulsions. A comparative study of the properties and structures of CNF prepared only by ball milling and TOCNF prepared by oxidation-ball milling was carried out, and a preliminary structural and rheological study of their application to emulsions was carried out. The results showed that TOCNF had higher water holding, swelling, and oil holding properties, cholesterol and glucose adsorption capacity than CNF. The combination of oxidative pretreatment and ball milling resulted in a dense entangled network structure, uniform particle size distribution, and high zeta potential value of TOCNF. The higher crystallinity of the TOCNF (68%) resulted in improved thermal stability. In addition, compared with the CNF-stabilized emulsion, with TOCNF dispersion as the internal aqueous phase, the emulsion droplets had a more uniform particle size distribution (6.61 ± 3.59 μm), higher gel strength, and thixotropic resilience of up to 71.24%. Thus, TEMPO oxidation combined with the ball milling method can be an effective means to improve nanofibers and provide a theoretical basis for expanding the application of bamboo shoot cellulose resources in the food colloid field.

Designing highly active hydrotalcite-derived NiAl catalysts for methane cracking to H2

Designing nickel-based methane cracking catalysts with excellent catalytic activity and surveying their transition during the catalytic process with varied reaction condition have been challenge. In this paper, NiAl catalysts were prepared by reduced hydrotalcite precursor for efficient catalytic methane cracking to produce hydrogen. The catalysts were characterized by XRD, N2 physisorption, XPS, SEM, TEM, Raman and TGA. The effects of preparation method, Ni/Al ratio and reaction temperature on methane cracking performance were revealed and the transformation for the Ni particles during the reaction process was analyzed. The results indicated that the catalyst performance of hydrotalcite-derived NiAl catalysts is superior to Ni/Al2O3 catalysts prepared by the conventional impregnation method, which maybe due to the better Ni dispersion and uniform average particle size distribution with around 12.7 nm compared with the agglomeration of the Ni/Al2O3 particles for up to 53.2 nm. The catalyst with a Ni/Al molar ratio of 3 exhibited the optimal catalytic activity with a stability for 75 min at nearly 90 % hydrogen yield at 700 °C. The reaction temperature also suggested a positive correlation between the hydrogen yield and the reaction temperature from 600 °C to 800 °C. Moreover, based on the investigation of the catalysts during the reaction transition state, Ni particles sintered rapidly from 10.2 nm to 31.2 nm at the beginning reaction time with the high hydrogen yield and then tended to be stable, which may be correlated well with the degree of graphitization of the deposited carbon. This paper provides a valuable design for efficient methane cracking catalysts.

Biomass Pellet Processing from Sugar Industry Byproducts: A Study on Pelletizing Behavior and Energy Usage

As global energy demand has increased, bioenergy has emerged as a viable option for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. This study focuses on using waste materials from the sugar industry, such as sugarcane straw, bagasse, and filter cake, to compress into pellets to investigate pelletizing behavior and energy usage. Raw material preparation was a critical phase influencing pelletizing efficiency. Biomass pellet quality depended on a uniform particle size distribution and adequate moisture content. A moisture content of 20% (wb) was found to be suitable for biomass pelletization from the sugar sector. Specific energy in the pelletizing process ranged from 144.28 to 197.85 Wh/kg. The suggested mixing ingredients (sugarcane leaves: bagasse: filter cake) of 0% sugarcane leaves, 90% bagasse, 10% filter cake, and 5% sugarcane leaves, 93.5% bagasse, and 1.5% filter cake resulted in pellets with a bulk density of over 600 kg/m3 and a durability of at least 97.5%. All aspects were assessed according to standardized criteria for developing biomass pellet processing technology from sugar industry byproducts. This method could improve efficiency, boost production volume, lower production costs, and promote the efficient and cost-effective use of renewable energy.

Nano-enhanced antifungal paint: Harnessing nanoparticle-based fungicides for enhanced durability and protection

The present study focuses on the development of nano particle-based fungicide formulations using organic compounds like Carbendazim, known for their broad-spectrum fungicidal activity and enhanced stability compared to traditional organic fungicides. The utilization of nanoparticles in anti-fungal paints represents a promising avenue with significant potential. The process involves obtaining a dispersion of fungicide molecules at the nano scale using a top-down approach, which entails reducing the size of larger particles to Nano-scale dimensions. The resulting nano-based fungicide dispersion offers several advantages, including a high surface-to-volume ratio, easy surface medication, uniform particle size distribution, and excellent stability. These properties make it well-suited for integration into paint formulations, signaling advancements in paint technology to meet the growing demand for durable, long-lasting, and environmentally friendly coatings. This aligns with the industry's focus on sustainability and performance enhancement. Overall, employing a top-to-bottom approach for obtaining fungicide active molecules in the nano range, with techniques such as wet milling, proves effective in enhancing paint formulations for improved efficacy and longevity.

Acoustics-driven multifunctional microreactor bioinspired by Phylum Porifera for bidirectional pumping and mixing production of silica nanofluids

The Phylum Porifera is one of the most primitive multicellular animals without a mouth, digestive cavity, or central nervous system. Its pores are strewn with flagella inside. Phylum Porifera wiggles its flagella to inhale the seawater, which brings in oxygen, bacteria, microscopic algae, and other organic debris to feed on. Inspired by this natural system, a microreactor based on sharp-edge has been developed and applied in microfluidics to achieve bidirectional pumping and mixing. Here we demonstrate a multifunctional microreactor for bidirectional pumping and mixing that mimics the internal flagella of the Phylum Porifera. The microreactor is designed based on microscale nonlinear acoustics to achieve functionalities via the acoustic streaming generated by the vibration of sharp-edge under the acoustic field. Numerical simulation is conducted to investigate the effect of sharp-edge numbers, dip angles, spreading angles, spacing of sharp-edges, and channel width on the pumping performance. And the bidirectional pumping is verified by experiments. Similarly, numerical simulation and experimental validation are conducted to investigate the effect of flow rate, amplitude, and sharp-edge density on mixing performance. Finally, to verify the application potential and good mixing performance of the developed microreactor, silica nanofluids were synthesized with excellent stability and uniform particle size distribution. These results not only provide important guidelines for the rational design of functional nanomaterials, but also shed new light on the development of efficient microreactors.

Potential application of nanoliposomes loaded with complex tannins from the seed shell of Euryale ferox in the anti-browning of fresh-cut asparagus lettuce

Surface browning of plant-derived fresh-cut products is mainly caused by conversion of the phenolic compounds into o-quinones under tyrosinase catalysis. In this study, the rarely reported complex tannins from Euryale ferox seed shell (ECTs) constituted by the units of 35.60% condensed tannins and 64.40% hydrolysable tannins were shown to suppress the activity of tyrosinase efficiently, supporting the exploitation of ECTs into novel anti-browning agents. However, the utilization of ECTs in food preservation is often restricted because of their chemical instability to external environment. Further fabrication of nanoliposomes loaded with ECTs (ECTs-NLs) herein was carried out to improve the stability of ECTs. DLS, TEM, FTIR, DSC and XRD confirmed that ECTs were encapsulated into nanoliposomes successfully, and ECTs-NLs appeared as vesicle-like spherical morphology with favorable encapsulation efficiency, uniform particle size distribution and negative zeta-potential. The resulting ECTs-NLs were relatively stable in the dark at 4 °C. Nanoliposomal encapsulation significantly enhanced ECTs stability, thus protecting inhibitory effect of ECTs against tyrosinase. Furthermore, anti-browning evaluation proved that ECTs-NLs had distinct advantages over free ECTs in alleviating surface browning of fresh-cut asparagus lettuces. These results suggested that nanoliposomes were effective in stabilizing ECTs and ECTs-NLs could be potentially applied to the fresh-cut food industry.

Simultaneous synthesis of carbon quantum dots and hydrothermal biochar from corn straw through hydrothermal treatment

In the realm of efficient agricultural production, the conversion of large volumes of agroforestry waste into sustainable, high-value materials is imperative to address pollution, curb carbon dioxide emissions, and alleviate the burden of costly waste disposal. This study endeavored to address these challenges by concurrently synthesizing carbon quantum dots fluorescent nanomaterials and hydrothermal biochar through hydrothermal carbonization (HTC), employing corn straw (CS) as the primary precursor material. The synthesized CS-based carbon quantum dots (CS-CDs) exhibited a typical graphite structure, with a uniform particle size distribution and a particle size average of 2.28 ± 0.5 nm. Notably, CS-CDs displayed excitation-dependent photoluminescence (PL) behavior, remarkable water solubility, high fluorescence stability, and specific recognition capabilities for Fe3+ detection. The detection range of CS-CDs for Fe3+ spanned from 50 to 2000 μM, with a limit of detection (LOD) of 5.32 μM. Meanwhile, during the HTC process, the solid fraction yielded hydrothermal biochar (HC) at a rate of 57.60 %. HC was enriched with essential elements and held promise as an organic carbon fertilizer or premium-quality fuel, thereby realizing the multifaceted utilization potential of CS resources. This study offers valuable insights and innovative strategies for the high-value and multifunctional utilization of agroforestry resources, contributing to the promotion of sustainable agricultural practices.

Exploring the ammonia gas sensing properties of Gd doped CeO2 thin films deposited by spray pyrolysis method

The present study investigates the synthesis and characterization of Gd-doped CeO2 thin films using a simple nebulizer spray pyrolysis method for ammonia sensing application. The films were prepared with varying Gd concentrations from 1 to 5 wt%. The structural, morphological, and optical properties of the samples were analyzed to examine the effect of Gd doping on physical parameters, and the results show that the 4 wt% Gd doped sample exhibits the highest crystallite size, uniform particle size distribution, and a smaller optical band gap. Additionally, the presence of defects and oxygen vacancies in the host lattice is enhanced in this sample. The gas sensing properties of the 4 wt% Gd doped CeO2 exhibits a gas responsivity of 731 %, rise time of 10.4 s, and fall time of 9.2 s indicating that the fabricated thin film sensor was found to be ideal for room temperature gas sensing application. Overall, the study demonstrates that the 4 wt% Gd doped CeO2 thin film is a promising candidate for commercial gas sensor applications.