XRD Results Research Articles

A novel application of waste poplar sawdust biochar: preparation of a shape-stable composite phase-change material with excellent thermal energy-storage performance

ABSTRACT The practical application of phase-change materials (PCMs) is limited due to leakage and low thermal conductivity. In this study, waste poplar sawdust (PW) and its derived biochar (PWC) were used as encapsulation materials, with stearic acid (SA) as the phase-change material, to successfully prepare composite phase-change materials with no leakage and high thermal conductivity. The microstructure and pore structure of PW and PWC were studied through SEM and nitrogen adsorption–desorption curves. The analysis results of FTIR, XRD and TGA indicated SA/PW and SA/PWC had excellent chemical compatibility and thermal stability. Excitingly, compared to SA/PW, SA/PWC exhibited higher latent heat and thermal conductivity. DSC results showed that the phase-change latent heat of SA/PWC can reach 100 J/g, which was 21% higher than that of SA/PW and the thermal conductivity increased by 87% times compared to SA/PW . In addition, SA/PW and SA/PWC still exhibited good thermal energy storage capacity after 200 thermal cycles. This research not only effectively resolved the leakage and low thermal conductivity challenges associated with PCMs but also introduced a novel utilization strategy for waste poplar sawdust, thereby significantly expanding its application potential.

Efficient recovery of rare earth elements from ion-adsorption rare earth tailings: Based on the addition of pyrite calcination modification

Rare earth tailings constitute a significant amount of solid waste that remains after industrial (NH4)2SO4 leaching and typically contain rare earth elements (REEs), primarily Ce. This study aimed to fully recover REEs from rare earth tailings by calcination with pyrite under both air and N2 atmospheres, followed by dilute H2SO4 leaching or bioleaching. The results of XRD, SEM-EDS, TIMA, SEM-BSE, XPS, and ICP-MS analyses indicated that Ce and Mn were mainly present in the form of CeO2 and MnO2, respectively, whereas Fe existed in both Fe2O3 and Fe2(SO4)3 forms. Leaching experiments with dilute H2SO4 demonstrated that the co-calcination of rare earth tailings with pyrite significantly enhanced the recovery of REEs. Notably, calcination in air resulted in a significantly higher extraction rate of Ce (95.55 %) than that in N2 (83.82 %). This difference was attributed to the presence of O2, which promoted the oxidation of pyrite and facilitated the reduction of Ce(IV) to Ce(III). In contrast, incomplete oxidation of pyrite occurred in the N2 atmosphere, leading to a high residual Ce(IV) content in the tailings that could not be leached by the dilute acid. Subsequently, sufficient recovery of Ce (97.52 %) from the tailings calcined in the N2 atmosphere was achieved by bioleaching using Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans and pyrite. Thus, this study provides theoretical support for the efficient recovery of REEs from mining tailings or secondary sources containing CeO2.

Effect of arsenic green synthesis nanoparticles on multi-drug resistant Acinetobacter baumannii

Multidrug-resistant strains of Acinetobacter baumannii are pathogenic agents of hospital infections, especially in the intensive care unit (ICU). The purpose of this study is to investigate the antibacterial effects and biosynthesis of arsenic nanoparticles (ARn) using pink rose petals on multi-drug resistant strains of A. baumannii. In this study, plant bioactive molecules present in rose petals are responsible for the synthesis of ARn. The characteristics of ARn were determined through FTIR, EDX, DLS, SEM, UV-Vis, and XRD techniques. In addition, the antibacterial activity of biosynthesized ARn was investigated against multi-drug resistant A. baumannii. The results of SEM revealed that the ARn were spherical with an average diameter of 75.71 nm. The results of XRD confirmed the crystal structure of arsenic oxide phase. The results of antibacterial effects exhibited that the lowest MIC of ARn was 800 μg/ml on the standard strain of A. baumannii and 800 μg/ml against clinical strains of multi-drug-resistant A. baumannii. The results of this study provided an new green synthesis method for ARn, which have a high potential on multi-drug-resistant A. baumannii. This study has the potential to pave the way for further research and developments in this field.

The effect of carbon addition on the synthesis process and the physical/electrocatalytic properties of FeTiO3 nanopowder produced by solution combustion synthesis method

The FeTiO3 nanopowder is a vital engineering material known for its exceptional performance in energy generation, storage, electrochemical sensors, and catalysis. However, synthesizing FeTiO3 nanopowder with high crystallinity and phase purity typically requires specialized equipment and controlled heat treatment due to the instability of Fe2+ ions. Using the one-step solution combustion synthesis (SCS) method, FeTiO3 nanopowder withe high crystallinity were successfully produced utilizing basic equipment. Additionally, the influence of carbon additives on phase transitions, as well as the physical and physicochemical properties of the synthesized powder, was examined. XRD results indicate that increasing the amount of fuel, particularly glycine, creates a stable environment for the crystallization of FeTiO3 nanoparticles. Moreover, enhancing the carbon content in precursor solutions with urea enhances reduction conditions and boosts the stability of FeTiO3 in the final product. The presence of carbon additives in glycine-fuel samples leads to unfavorable outcomes by increasing the levels of TiO2 and Fe3O4 undesirable phases. Incorporating additive carbon into the urea-synthesized precursor solution resulted in a particle size increase exceeding 50 nm and raised the combustion temperature by a minimum of 230 °C. Furthermore, the presence of 15 wt% additive carbon in the sample synthesized with glycine improved the specific surface area of particles from 2.44 m2/g to 18.41 m2/g. Obtained results have shown that achieving high crystallinity of FeTiO3 nanopowder is feasible through a one-step solution combustion synthesis process. This can be accomplished by carefully choosing the synthesis conditions, such as the type and quantity of fuel, along with the carbon additive.

Carbon-based magnetic nano-particle utilizing nano-biochar as core and its immobilizing lipase for biodiesel preparation

Using the transesterification capacity of lipase to produce eco-friendly biodiesel is a promising method for the achievement of a Net Zero future. The method of immobilized lipase enhances the usability of the enzyme and improves its stability. Carbon-based magnetic nano-particles (C-MNPs) with nano-biochar as the precipitation core were prepared as the support to immobilize Candida antarctica lipase B (CalB) for biodiesel preparation. The nano-biochar particles were derived through the calcination of rice straw powder and subsequently ground to the nanoscale. FT-IR, XRD, SEM, and VSM results showed that the obtained C-MNPs with a diameter of 13–17 nm were showing excellent superparamagnetism, and effectively immobilized the lipase on them (CalB@C-MNPs). The optimal reaction conditions in a 100-mL stoppered flask for biodiesel production were dissolving 5 g soybean oil in 3 mL tert-butanol solvent, adding 1.16 mL methanol (molar ratio of methanol to oil 5:1), 0.15 mL water, and 0.2 g CalB@C-MNPs, and then shaking at 200 rpm and 30 °C for 24 h. Its primarily optimized conversion efficiency of biodiesel was 83.1 %. After repeated use of immobilized CalB for 8 cycles, the remaining activity and biodiesel yield were 79.7 % and 66.3 %, respectively. As a robust catalyst, CalB@C-MNPs exhibited outstanding transesterification efficiency, the ability for rapid recovery under an external magnetic field, and a promising candidate in biodiesel production.

Evaluation of the remediation effect of solid waste synergistic materials on heavy metal-contaminated soil

In this study, we investigated the effect of various solid waste materials such as fly ash (CFA), steel slag, and kaolinite on the simultaneous stabilization of As, Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn in the soil of abandoned lead-smelting slag plant. Synchronous stabilization of HMs in highly contaminated soils was achieved using the application of 29 % formulated material Fe/Ca-Si based co-remediation material (FCS) with a ratio of FeSO4 + CFA + kaolinite of 14 %: 12 %: 3 %, the bioavailable content of HMs As, Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn was reduced by 71.55 %, 49.62 %, 91.35 %, 61.37 %, and 41.45 %, respectively, and had little effect on the pH of the soil. Leaching toxicity analyses guaranteed the safety of restorative materials. The results of the field validation experiments showed that the FCS was able to effectively reduce the content of HMs in plant rhizomes and stabilized with maintenance time. European Community Bureau of Reference (BCR) and Wenzel sequential extraction procedures showed that FCS promoted the transformation of HMs in soil from unstable to stable phases. The analysis of soil microbial community diversity by FCS showed that it created a favorable soil living environment for microorganisms and was conducive to the stabilization of HMs. SEM, Surface scanning analysis, XRD, and FTIR results showed that FCS reacts with HMs to form a stable phase. Cost analysis showed that it has certain economic benefits. In conclusion, FCS is feasible for soil remediation in lead-smelting slag-polluted areas and also provides a way for high value-added utilization of solid waste.

Low-temperature magnetic refrigeration in Gd20Tb20Er20Al20M20 (M = Fe, Co) high-entropy metallic glasses

This paper focuses on the magnetocaloric effect (MCE) of Gd20Tb20Er20Al20M20 (M = Fe, Co) high-entropy metallic glasses (HE-MGs). XRD and TEM results indicate that both HE-MGs are amorphous. Magnetic studies show that both HE-MGs display spin-glass behavior, undergo a second-order phase transition from ferromagnetic to paramagnetic, and exhibit soft magnetic properties at the Curie temperature (TC). Notable large and broad table-like magnetic entropy change characteristics of Gd20Tb20Er20Al20Fe20 (Gd20Tb20Er20Al20Co20) appear near a TC of 92 (51) K. Hence, under 7 T magnetic field, |-∆SMmax|, ∆ TFWHM, and RCP are 7.83 (10.10) J·kg-1·K-1, 120.07 (71.88) K, and 1008.26 (805.70) J·kg-1, respectively. Furthermore, the modulation of the magnetic and magnetocaloric properties of the samples after substitution of Fe for Co was revealed by the intricate 3d-3d and 3d-4f exchange interactions within the system. The magnetic phase transition critical behaviors in both HE-MGs were analyzed using the scaling law to clarify the deviation of amorphous materials from the mean-field theory. Thus, this study not only highlights the potential of this material for low-temperature magnetic refrigeration applications, but also expands our understanding of its physical properties.

Effect of Temperature on Zirconia Powder Synthesized from Amang Zirconium Oxychloride Precursor

Silica (SiO2) is widely used in numerous applications, including ceramic membranes, and can be extracted from rice husks, which is an agricultural waste containing high amounts of silica. In fact, it is essential to reduce the vast amounts of discarded rice husks as open burning of the rice husk can have detrimental effects on the environment due to the release of hazardous pollutants. For the rice husk to be used, a suitable sintering temperature should be obtained to ensure the membrane synthesized has the desired porous structure. A high sintering temperature can affect the melting condition of the membrane’s porous structure. While a low sintering temperature may not give the required porosity. Therefore, this study aims to evaluate the effect of sintering temperature on the pore size of the membrane fabricated from kaolin, polyvinyl alcohol, and rice husk ash. The rice husk was initially treated with hydrochloric acid (HCl) and heated at 900 ℃ to produce rice husk ash. The membranes fabricated were then sintered at 1000 ℃ to 1400 ℃. X-ray fluorescence (XRF) results show that 71.36% of silica was successfully extracted from the rice husk. According to the XRD results, only two membranes sintered at 1300 °C and 1400 °C have crystallinity forms. Because the ceramic membrane contains a crystalline phase, it was determined that 1300 °C is an appropriate temperature for sintering. It also has a low absorption percentage (88.89%) and the desired porosity (69.93%).

Synergistic adsorption-photocatalytic remediation of methylene blue dye from textile industry wastewater over NiFe LDH supported on tyre-ash derived activated carbon

The photocatalytic performance of the multilayered NiFe LDH/Activated Carbon was evaluated for the degradation of methylene blue (MB) in industrial textile wastewater, considering prior adsorption on the photocatalyst surface. The XRD, XPS, BET, TEM and FE-SEM results confirmed that the highly exposed mesoporous layers, carbon backbone, and interlayer anions serve as active sites responsible for the adsorption of MB dye due to the expected electrostatic interactions. Electrochemical methods such as CV, LSV and EIS revealed the improved conductivity and supported the interactions observed. Encouraged by these interactions, the irradiation of visible light enabled the degradation of methylene blue, and the degradation products were monitored using UPLC chromatograms and MS spectra. The removal efficiencies of the MB dye were found to be 17.5 %, 51.2 %, 67.1 %, 84.8 %, and 94.2 % due to photolysis, adsorption, and degradation on AC, NiFe LDH nanosheets, and NiFe LDH/AC nanocomposite, respectively. The results of the UPLC chromatograms and MS spectra suggested that MB was mineralized into simpler fragments after 30 min of visible light irradiation. Scavenging studies were examined using a series of scavenging agents. However, the maximum photodegradation was attained in the absence of the scavengers. The reusability studies showed that the MB photodegradation efficiency declined by 20.8 %, possibly due to the loss of the catalyst during the washing step. Nonetheless, the NiFe LDH/AC structure remained intact, suggesting the strong stability of the photocatalyst. The plausible degradation mechanism and probable degradation pathway of MB were outlined and supported by the chromatographs and MS results. The overall results suggest that photocatalysis of cationic dyes such as MB on NiFe LDH/AC should be encouraged to work towards sustainable solutions for textile water treatment.

Synthesis of nano zero valent zinc-reduced graphene oxide nanocomposite using a novel electrochemical technique for the adsorptive degradation of methyl orange

Indiscriminate disposal of effluent contaminated with persistent azo dyes has become a significant environmental issue. Since the conventional wastewater treatment processes are ineffective in removing azo dyes completely, many studies are currently being focused on finding effective methods to degrade azo dyes. We herein report a novel in-situ synthesis of a nanocomposite with nano-zero valent zinc (nZVZ) and reduced graphene oxide (rGO) that can effectively remove methyl orange, an azo dye, from an aqueous solution via adsorptive degradation. nZVZ-rGO nanocomposite was synthesized by electrochemical reduction of Zn2+ ions on rGO. The presence of nZVZ particles on rGO with an average metal-loading of 4 % was confirmed by SEM-EDS, TEM, XPS and XRD results. Batch experiments showed that a maximum removal efficiency of 99.6 % of methyl orange can be achieved with 25 mg L−1 initial dye concentration and by optimizing the pH, nanocomposite dosage and contact time. However, a noticeable reduction in removal efficiency was observed in the presence of anions such as Cl-, SO42- and CO32-. The degradation of methyl orange was monitored using UV-Visible spectroscopy, HPLC and FTIR spectroscopy. The peaks corresponding to -NN- group, –C-N bond and –SO3Na group have completely disappeared in the product spectrum of FTIR analysis, indicating the degradation of methyl orange. The adsorptive degradation process of methyl orange obeys the Sips model (R2=0.9820) indicating a complex heterogenous adsorption mechanism while the kinetic model was shown to be pseudo-second-order model (R2=0.9999).

MgOMo2C/multiwalled carbon nanotube composite for high-performance supercapacitor applications

Magnesium molybdate (MgMoO4) nanostructure has been successfully prepared and employed as a catalyst for the production of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (CNTs) by the chemical vapor deposition method. The prepared nanostructure materials are characterized through XRD, TEM, FTIR, BET and Raman spectroscopy. The XRD results and TEM images confirm the formation of the plate-like MgMoO4 structure, as well as the existence of Mo2C and CNTs in the type of bundles structure (CNTBs). The high dispersion and stability of Mo nanoparticles in the composite of plate-like MgMoO4 is responsible for the formation of CNTBs with uniform diameters. Thus, the plate-like MgMoO4 nanoparticles and the MgOMo2C@CNTBs hybrid material are assessed as electrodes in a supercapacitor device for the first time. The produced hybrid supercapacitor MgOMo2C@CNTBs has a good specific capacitance (354 F g−1) and strong cycling stability (82 percent capacity retention over 2000 cycles)

A deterministic mechanism for efficient removal of arsenic and lead from wastewater using rapidly synthesized TiO2-(α-Fe2O3) nanoshells

Removal of heavy metals from wastewater using efficient techniques became demanding wherein various nanomaterials with tailored physicochemical traits can be useful. Thus, PLAL approach at an optimum laser energy was used to make TiO2-(α-Fe2O3) nanoshells (TFNSs) by mixing nanoparticles (NPs) suspension of TiO2NPs (TNPs) and α-Fe2O3NPs (FNPs) at 50 to 50 ratio. The produced nanocomposites were customized by targeting Ti that was submerged in deionized water as growth medium and then irradiate using the laser pulses with an optimum laser energy 10.6 J/cm2, spot focused size of 1.2 ± 0.2 mm, frequency of 6 Hz, and laser beam with a pulse duration of 8 ns for 15 minutes. In the course of the ablation process, the solution was agitated to achieve the formation of TNPs, FNPs, and TFNSs by preventing the formation of craters on the target surface. The obtained NSs were characterized to evaluate their structural, morphological, optical absorption and fluorescence characteristics. TEM micrographs of the liquid suspension confirmed the existence of spherical nanocrystallites of TiO2-(α-Fe2O3)NSs with mean diameter ≈12.4 ± 1.31 nm. XRD and FTIR results have been used to identify the samples crystalline nature and high purity. LSPR absorption bands of TFNSs were evidenced at 230 to 300 nm. These NSs showed prominent fluorescence peaks escorted with blue shift. Arsenic and lead removal efficiency of TFNSs from wastewater was better (over 99% at pH = 9) than TNPs and FNPs. The removal of arsenic and lead from wastewater by TNPs, FNPs and TFNSs were explained using a possible mechanism. The obtained results suggest that the proposed NSs can be potential for wastewater treatment, contributing towards sustainable growth.

Impact of Inverse Manganese Promotion on Silica-Supported Cobalt Catalysts for Long-Chain Hydrocarbons via Fischer–Tropsch Synthesis

One of the challenges in Fischer–Tropsch synthesis (FTS) is the high reduction temperatures, which cause sintering and the formation of silicates. These lead to pore blockages and the coverage of active metals, particularly in conventional catalyst promotion. To address the challenge, this article investigates the effects of the preparation method, specifically the inverse promotion of SiO2-supported Co catalysts with manganese (Mn), and their reduction in H2 for FTS. The catalysts were prepared using stepwise incipient wetness impregnation of a cobalt nitrate precursor into a promoted silica support. The properties of the catalysts were characterized using XRD, XPS, TPR, and BET techniques. The structure–performance relationship of the inversely promoted catalysts in FTS was studied using a fixed-bed reactor to obtain the best performing catalysts for heavy hydrocarbons (C5+). XRD and XPS results indicated that Co3O4 is the dominant cobalt phase in oxidized catalysts. It was found that with increase in Mn loading, the reduction temperature increased in the following sequence 10%Co/SiO2 < 10%Co/0.25%Mn-SiO2 < 10%Co/0.5%Mn-SiO2 < 10%Co/3.0%Mn-SiO2. The catalyst with the lowest Mn loading, 10%Co/0.25%Mn-SiO2, exhibited higher C5+ selectivity, which can be attributed to less MSI and higher reducibility. This catalyst showed the lowest CH4 selectivity possibly due to lower H2 uptake and higher CO chemisorption.

Design and Evaluation of Inorganic/Organic Hybrid Bio-composite for Site-Specific Oral Delivery of Darifenacin

Benign hyperplasia (BHP) is a common disorder that affects men over the age of 60 years. Transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) is the gold standard for operative treatment, but a range of drugs are also available to improve quality of life and to reduce BHP-associated urinary tract infections and complications. Darifenacin, an anti-muscarinic agent, has been found effective for relieving symptoms of overactive bladder associated with BHP, but the drug has poor solubility and bioavailability, which are major challenges in product development. An inorganic/organic bio-composite with gastric pH-resistant property was synthesized for the targeted oral delivery of Darifenacin to the lower gastrointestinal tract (GIT). This development was accomplished through co-precipitation of calcium carbonate in quince seed-based mucilage. The FTIR, XRD, DSC, and TGA results showed good drug-polymer compatibility, and the SEM images showed calcite formation in the quince hydrogel system. After 72 h, the drug release of 34% and 75% were observed in acidic (0.1N HCl) and 6.8 pH phosphate buffer, respectively. A restricted/less drug was permeated through gastric membrane (21.8%) as compared to permeation through intestinal membrane (65%.) The developed composite showed significant reduction in testosterone-induced prostatic hyperplasia (2.39 ± 0.12***) as compared to untreated diseased animal group. No sign of organ toxicity was observed against all the developed composites. In this study, we developed an inorganic–organic composite system that is highly biocompatible and effective for targeting the lower GIT, thereby avoiding the first-pass metabolism of darifenacin.Graphical

Upconversion-nanoparticle-assisting near-infrared photosensitive effect at 1550 nm in organic photorefractive devices

The near-infrared (NIR) photosensitive photorefractive device is a promising optoelectronic unit in the optical signal/information processing and telecommunication. In this work, the upconversion-assisting NIR photosensitive device is presented by adding the upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) to the photorefractive composite with (Vlieg et al., 2022; Vlieg et al., 2022) [6,6]-phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester (PC61BM) as visible photosensitizer. The XRD and TEM results indicated the hexagonal β-phase nanoparticles of UCNPs. The PL measurement under the 1550-nm excitation showed the upconversion emission peaks of NaYF4:Er@NaYF4 nanocrystals at the visible lights of 525 nm, 545 nm and 650 nm. The SEM images revealed that the CRA-DR1 photorefractive composite takes on a good morphology due to the uniform distribution of UCNPs. The two-beam coupling (TBC) experiment without external electric filed indicated the coupling gain coefficient of 77.4 cm−1 at 1550 nm in the CRA-DR1/ECZ/PC61BM/(5 %)UCNPs composite. This upconversion-assisting photosensitive effect will open up the novel approaches for organic NIR photorefractive devices.

Curcumin‐loaded nanoparticles developed from sodium caseinate and OSA starch and the in vitro semi‐dynamic elderly digestion behaviour of fortified yogurt

SummaryCurcumin is a bioactive substance, while poor stability and low bioavailability limit its effective utilisation. Curcumin‐loaded nanoparticles were prepared using the wall materials containing OSA starch alone (HI), sodium caseinate alone (SC), and a mixture of OSA starch and sodium caseinate (HS). Compared to HI and SC, HS had obvious network structure and smaller particle size, with the loading capacity higher than 20%. The storage stability at 4 °C were higher in HS and SC, FTIR and XRD results showed that all nanoparticles encapsulated curcumin through hydrogen bonding. When nanoparticles were added to yogurt, HI showed slower curcumin release during in vitro semi‐dynamic elderly digestion, whereas SC and HS can better accelerate the digestion rate of proteins in yogurt, leading to a decrease in the apparent viscosity of digestive emptying products. This study provided a reference for curcumin delivery wall materials and pushed forward development of functional foods for elderly.

Crystal structure, chemical bonds and microwave dielectric properties of ultra-low loss Li2Mg2GaTi2O8F ceramics

Ceramics of Li2Mg2GaTi2O8F (LMGTOF) were prepared by the traditional solid-state method. XRD and TEM results confirmed that a single phase of Li2Mg2GaTi2O8F, with an Fd-3m space group and a cubic spinel structure, was formed by the ceramics. It was shown by the results that the lattice parameters of the ceramics at 1050 °C were measured as a = b = c = 8.36576 Å, with a volume of V = 585.485549 Å3. Furthermore, it was observed through the analysis of the Raman peak at 718 cm−1 that an inverse relationship was exhibited between the Raman shift and εr. Similarly, an opposing trend was also demonstrated between the Q × f value and FWHM. By bond valence analysis, it was shown that Mg2+, Ga3+, and Ti4+ ions were in a “rattling” state, and the large positive deviation between εcorr and εtheo was attributed to the strong “rattling” effect induced by the cations. At 1050 °C, the best microwave dielectric properties (εr = 14.58, Q × f = 76,689 GHz, and τf = −52 ppm/°C) were exhibited by LMGTOF ceramics.

Microstructural and electrical properties of La0.9B0.1AlO3 (B=Pr, Nd, Sm) ceramics obtained by rare-earth ion doping

This study used the solid-phase method to prepare thermosensitive perovskite ceramics, La0.9B0.1AlO3 (B = Pr, Nd, Sm). The XRD and EDS results indicated that all components presented a single phase and all elements were uniformly distributed, formed a good solid solution. The SEM results clearly illustrated that the doped elements had enhanced the surface morphology, resulting in more uniform grain formation. The TEM results showed that linear defects were present, which led to an uneven stress distribution; consequently, this enhanced the carrier transport. The alternating current (AC) impedance showed that the grain boundary resistance determined the overall complex impedance and exhibited a different conductive mechanism with increasing temperature, from polariton to ion conduction. With the introduction of Nd3+, the conductivity of La0.9Nd0.1AlO3 increased and its temperature range increased from 600 – 1400 °C to 100–1500 °C. In La0.9Sm0.1AlO3, the presence of Sm2+ enhances the aging stability by elevating the oxygen vacancy concentration and the aging drift rate (ΔR/R0) was found to be lower than 2 %. In addition, DFT-based calculations were performed to investigate the property changes in the crystal structure and energy band structure of pure and doped LaAlO3. This study demonstrated an effective way to improve the performance of high-temperature thermistor materials using different doping strategies.

Synergistic adsorption-photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue by Fe3O4/HKUST-1 composite modified with graphene oxide

Abstract Methylene blue (MB) is the most commonly used cationic dye, but the complex structure of MB makes it harder to be removed from the wastewater by conventional techniques. The integration of adsorption and photocatalytic has been proposed to overcome the drawbacks of the sole technology for more efficient and eco-friendly removal. A magnetic MOF composite, Fe3O4/HKUST-1, was successfully synthesized using the solvothermal method. The addition of graphene oxide (GO) uses the in situ method. XRD and FTIR results revealed the presence of GO, which was dispersed into the composite. SEM images for the composite showed GO(20)/Fe3O4/HKUST-1 was octahedral with Fe3O4 and GO distributed on the surface and between HKUST-1. When the initial concentration of MB was 50 mg/L, the composites exhibited high MB removal efficiency (92,75%) under irradiation through the combination of adsorption-photocatalytic. The effective removal of Fe3O4/HKUST-1 combined with the photocatalyst properties of GO, makes the composite highly efficient for applications in water purification. The adsorption kinetics of MB on the GO(20)/Fe3O4/HKUST-1 were well-fitted with the pseudo-second-order kinetic model.

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.