Unlocking high capacitive energy-density in Sm-doped Pb(MgNb)O-PbTiO thin films strain and domain engineering.

Relaxor ferroelectrics have garnered significant attention in the field of energy storage due to their exceptional properties, such as high recoverable energy density and impressive efficiency. In this work, we explore (001)-oriented and partially strained Sm-doped Pb(MgNb)O-30PbTiO (Sm-PMN-30PT) thin films, prepared by pulsed laser deposition using TbScO substrates and SrRuO electrodes. We employ a comprehensive approach to evaluate the structural, compositional, and energy storage properties of Sm-PMN-30PT thin films.

Hydrophobic Nanostructured Coatings of Colloidal Lignin Particles Reduce Nutrient Leaching and Enhance Wheat Agronomic Performance and Nutritional Quality.

Traditional farming practices are increasingly being replaced with more sustainable approaches, including the development of slow-release fertilizers (SRFs), to mitigate environmental stress and ensure food security for the ever-growing global population. Despite the rising focus on eco-friendly materials like biopolymers for fertilizer coatings, optimizing their hydrophobicity remains a significant challenge. In this context, nanotechnology offers a promising route toward achieving hydrophobicity and sustainability.

Copper oxide nanoparticles-decorated cellulose acetate: Eco-friendly catalysts for reduction of toxic organic dyes in aqueous media.

In this study, we aimed to gain insight into the potential of catalytic reduction using copper oxide nanoparticles decorated cellulose acetate as a biosupport (CuO@CA) for the removal of specific pollutants. The prepared catalyst was submitted to a series of spectroscopy techniques for characterization purposes. The results of the catalytic tests on methylene orange (MO) and methylene blue (MB) solutions suggest that the elimination efficiency may be influenced by several factors, including the catalyst dose and the concentration of the pollutant.

Thermally Stable Capacitive Energy-Density and Colossal Electrocaloric and Pyroelectric Effects of Sm-Doped Pb(MgNb)O-PbTiO Thin Films.

Sm-doped Pb(MgNb)O-PbTiO (Sm-PMN-PT) bulk materials have revealed outstanding ferroelectric and piezoelectric properties due to enhanced local structural heterogeneity. In this study, we further explore the potential of Sm-PMN-PT by fabricating epitaxial thin films by pulsed laser deposition, revealing that Sm doping significantly improves the capacitive energy-storage, piezoelectric, electrocaloric, and pyroelectric properties of PMN-PT thin films. These Sm-PMN-PT thin films exhibit fatigue-free performance up to 10 charge-discharge cycles and maintain thermal stability across a wide temperature range from -40 to 200 °C.

A novel approach for adsorption of organic dyes from aqueous solutions using a sodium alginate/titanium dioxide nanowire doped with zirconium cryogel beads.

The presence of organic dyes in wastewater raises significant environmental and human health concerns, owing to their high toxicity. In light of this, a novel adsorbent material with porous cryogel architecture was developed and employed for the effective removal of organic dyes from an aqueous solution. Initially, a titanium dioxide nanowire doped with zirconium HZTO was synthesized by the hydrothermal process.

Copper phosphorylated cellulose nanofibers mediated azide-alkyne cycloaddition click reaction in water.

Heterogenous copper-catalyzed azide-alkyne cycloaddition reaction (CuAAC) was performed by using the phosphorylated carbohydrate-based cellulose nanofibers loaded with copper(II) ions. The copper-containing phosphorylated cellulose nanofibers (here after noted Cu(II)-PCNFs) were prepared in two different morphologies, namely the paper and foam ones and characterized by different techniques, including Scanning Electronic Microscopy (SEM), Energy Dispersive X-ray (EDX), Brauner-Emmett-Teller (BET), FT-IR spectroscopy (FTIR), Thermal Gravimetric Analysis (TGA), X-ray Photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM). Cu(II)-PCNFs showed high activity in the CuAAC reaction when applied to the ligation of various organic azides and terminal alkynes without any reducing agent, resulting in the regioselective synthesis of 1,4-disubstituted-1,2,3-triazoles in water at room temperature.

The benefits of combining 1D and 3D nanofillers in a piezocomposite nanogenerator for biomechanical energy harvesting.

Mechanical energy harvesting using piezoelectric nanogenerators (PNGs) offers an attractive solution for driving low-power portable devices and self-powered electronic systems. Here, we designed an eco-friendly and flexible piezocomposite nanogenerator (c-PNG) based on H(ZrTi)O nanowires (HZTO-nw) and BaCaZrTiO multipods (BCZT-mp) as fillers and polylactic acid (PLA) as a biodegradable polymer matrix. The effects of the applied stress amplitude, frequency and pressing duration on the electric outputs in the piezocomposite nanogenerator (c-PNG) device were investigated by simultaneous recording of the mechanical input and the electrical outputs.

Thermal-stability of the enhanced piezoelectric, energy storage and electrocaloric properties of a lead-free BCZT ceramic.

The lead-free BaCaZrTiO (BCZT) relaxor ferroelectric ceramic has aroused much attention due to its enhanced piezoelectric, energy storage and electrocaloric properties. In this study, the BCZT ceramic was elaborated by the solid-state reaction route, and the temperature-dependence of the structural, electrical, piezoelectric, energy storage and electrocaloric properties was investigated. X-ray diffraction analysis revealed a pure perovskite phase, and the temperature-dependence of Raman spectroscopy, dielectric and ferroelectric measurements revealed the phase transitions in the BCZT ceramic.

Design of lead-free BCZT-based ceramics with enhanced piezoelectric energy harvesting performances.

The design of lead-free ceramics for piezoelectric energy harvesting applications has become a hot topic. Among these materials, BaCaZrTiO (BCZT) and BaTiSnO (BTSn) are considered as potential candidates due to their enhanced piezoelectric properties. Here, the structural, electrical, piezoelectric and piezoelectric energy harvesting properties of the (1 - )BaCaZrTiO-BaTiSnO (BTSn, = 0.

Thermally-stable high energy storage performances and large electrocaloric effect over a broad temperature span in lead-free BCZT ceramic.

BaCaZrTiO (BCZT) relaxor ferroelectric ceramics exhibit enhanced energy storage and electrocaloric performances due to their excellent dielectric and ferroelectric properties. In this study, the temperature-dependence of the structural and dielectric properties, as well as the field and temperature-dependence of the energy storage and the electrocaloric properties in BCZT ceramics elaborated at low-temperature hydrothermal processing are investigated. X-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy results confirmed the ferroelectric-paraelectric phase transition in the BCZT ceramic.

The effects of different packaging materials, temperatures and water activities to control aflatoxin B production by and in stored peanuts.

Aflatoxins (AFs) are secondary metabolites produced by aflatoxigenic strains of and , the most toxic being aflatoxin B (AFB). The purpose of the present work was to investigate the effects of industrial-grade packaging materials (low-density polyethylene, polypropylene, polyethylene-laminated aluminium); temperatures (25 °C, 30 °C); and water activities (0.74 , 0.