Compositional Effects and Optical Properties of P2O5 Doped Magnesium Silicate Mesoporous Thin Films

Structural, optical, and electrochemical properties of tungsten-doped cadmium zinc phosphate nanoporous materials for energy storage and peroxide detection

The demand for clean, efficient, and sustainable energy storage solutions drives significant advancements in materials science. This study investigates the synthesis and characterization of cadmium zinc phosphates (CdO-ZnO-P2O5) doped with different tungsten (CZWP) concentrations using the sol-gel method. The structural, binding energy, morphological, Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) analysis, thermal, optical, and electrochemical properties were thoroughly examined. X-ray diffraction (XRD) confirmed a crystalline structure with tunable properties influenced by tungsten doping. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) revealed well-ordered nanoparticles exhibiting a homogeneous distribution that was enhanced by W doping. BET reveals a moderate specific surface area, mesoporous structure, and dual-porosity characteristics, offering insights into their potential applications in photocatalysis, energy storage, and gas sensing. The TGA results indicate that tungsten doping in cadmium zinc phosphate reduces the material's coordinated water content and increases the thermal stability of the material. Optical analyses demonstrated a shift in the bandgap and an increase in optical electronegativity, highlighting the material's potential in optoelectronics. Electrochemical characterization using cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) identified an optimal doping level of 2.0% W for improved charge transfer and specific capacitance, confirming its suitability for supercapacitors. Furthermore, the 2.0% W-doped electrode exhibited outstanding performance in hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) sensing, achieving high sensitivity, a wide linear range, and low detection limits. These findings highlight CZWP nanostructures as promising candidates for energy storage and sensing applications.

Exploring of spectroscopic, dielectric, and bioactivity performance of bioglass/sodium alginate-PVP loaded-Amoxicillin/Clavulanic Acid microspheres for bone tissue engineering

This study aims to develop an innovative drug delivery bio-system using bioglass (BIOGLASS) and biopolymers of Sodium Alginate (SA) and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) in microsphere form as a carrier for Amoxicillin/Clavulanic Acid drug. In this work BIOGLASS/SA-PVP and Amoxicillin/Clavulanic Acid loaded BIOGLASS/SA-PVP microspheres (0%, 5%, 10%, and 15%) were synthesized using the ion crosslinking method technique. The fabricated microspheres were analyzed using FT-IR, FESEM/EDX, and XRD confirming the in-vitro examination. XRD and FTIR data demonstrate the effective creation of the apatite layer and the appearance of new apatite peaks at both 605 cm-1 and 565 cm-1, distinguishing the prolonged vibrations associated with the [Formula: see text] group. SEM images reveal that the prepared bio-beads have a spherical shape, with sizes falling in the micro-scale. The dielectric constant (ε'), the dielectric loss (ε"), and the AC conductivity (σ) were slow at the frequency range of 4 Hz to 8 MHz at room temperature. The antibacterial examinations of the fabricated microspheres were performed employing agar diffusion procedure against the clinical pathogens Gram+ and Gram- bacteria. The SBF (simulated body fluid) experiments display the formation of a hydroxy appetite coating on the microsphere's surfaces that approves their significant bioactivity. Furthermore, antimicrobial results of BIOGLASS/SA-PVP/Amoxicillin/Clavulanic Acid microspheres reveal a notable impact on the antimicrobial performance. The in-vitro tests established that fabricated bio-microspheres are a promising opportunity for bone tissue engineering (substitutes and regeneration), signifying their promise for bone application.

Humidity sensing using Zn(1.6 - x)Na0.4CuxTiO4 spinel nanostructures

In this paper, we present a humidity sensing material based on nanostructured Zn(1.6 - x)Na0.4CuxTiO4 spinel to enhance optical and sensitivity performance. Nano-porous of Zn (1.6 - x) Na0.4CuxTiO4 spinel were synthesized using sol gel reactions and calcined at 700 °C. The nanostructures of Zn(1.6 - x)Na0.4CuxTiO4 spinel underwent thorough characterization through multiple techniques. X-ray diffractometry (XRD) coupled with Rietveld refinement using FullProf software, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Raman Spectroscopy, and optical analysis were employed to assess various aspects of the nanostructures. These techniques were utilized to determine the phase composition, particle size distribution, chemical bonding, and the tunable band gap of the nanostructures. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis of Zn(1.6 - x)Na0.4CuxTiO4 samples revealed well-defined and prominent peaks, indicating a highly crystalline cubic spinel structure. The lattice parameter was decreased from 8.4401 to 8.4212 Å with increasing Cu content from 0 to 1.2 mol%. UV-visible diffuse reflectance spectra were employed to investigate the optical characteristics of copper-doped Zn1.6Na0.4TiO4. The applicability of Cu@NaZT spinel nanostructures in humidity sensors was evaluated at ambient conditions. The fabricated sensor was investigated in a wide span of humidity (11-97%). The examined sensor demonstrates a low hysteresis, excellent repeatability, fast response and recovery. The response and recovery times were estimated to be 20 s and 6 s respectively. The highest sensitivity was achieved at 200 Hz. The proposed sensor can be coupled easily with electronic devices as the humidity-impedance relationship is linear.

Synthesis and characterization of chitosan-corn starch-SiO2/silver eco-nanocomposites: Exploring optoelectronic and antibacterial potential

This work discusses the physicochemical and antimicrobial characteristics of chitosan-corn starch eco-nanocomposites integrated with silica@Ag nano-spheres. These composites were synthesized through sol-gel polymerization and subsequently exposed to simulated body fluid (SBF). The incorporation of Ag into the eco-nanocomposites led to a decrease in diffuse reflectance across the entire wavelength range. The dielectric permittivity exhibited an increase up to 52.1 at a frequency of 100 kHz, while the ac conductivity reached a value of 5.2 ∗ 10-6 (S cm-1) at the same frequency for the sample with the highest Ag content. The study utilized XRD and FTIR techniques to examine the materials before and after in vitro testing and evaluated the antibacterial properties of the eco-nanocomposites against several pathogenic microorganisms, including Staphylococcus haemolyticus, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Escherichia coli, using the agar diffusion method. The eco-nanocomposites demonstrated bioactivity by forming a hydroxy appetite layer on their surfaces and were capable of releasing silver (Ag) at concentrations of 1.3, 1.9, and 2.5 mol%. This study suggests that chitosan-corn starch-SiO2-based doped with Ag eco-nanocomposite has the potential for various applications, including biomedical and environmental fields, where their antibacterial properties can be utilized to combat harmful microorganisms.

Investigation of Pozzolanic Properties of Sugarcane Bagasse Ash for Commercial Applications

The ideal climatic and environmental conditions for sugarcane cultivation are present all year round in the tropical island of Sri Lanka. Given the annual sugar consumption of the nation, a significant amount of sugarcane bagasse ash (SCBA), a by-product with no intended commercial use but potential environmental and health risks, is produced. Numerous studies have been conducted recently to assess the viability of using SCBA as a pozzolanic material in structural applications. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the microstructure of SCBA samples from three sugar manufacturing facilities in Sri Lanka to identify the pozzolanic capacities. Several quantitative and qualitative characterization techniques have been utilized for the investigations. While maintaining the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) 618 specification as the standard for pozzolanic properties, a comparative investigation of the attributes of samples from each location was conducted. Beyond that, the relationship between the SCBA generation process parameters and their impact on the properties of SCBA have been identified. Finally, the SCBA source of the Pelwatte unit has been identified as the ideal source for the pozzolanic material from the three locations, considering quality and the extent of additional treatments required before use. Other prospective areas of research on SCBA and its potential applications have been recognized.

Sol-Gel/Gel Casting Nanoarchitectonics of Hybrid Fe2O3–ZnO/PS-PEG Nanocomposites and Their Optomagnetic Properties

Polymer networks incorporated with iron and zinc oxide nanoparticles have superparamagnetic and electrical characteristics where it can be employed in a variety of significant applications. To achieve optimal distribution and connection of nanoparticles in various polymeric matrices, it is required to investigate their dispersion performance with varied contents and the impact on their physical characteristics. A controlled sol-gel method is used combined with gel casting to synthesize organic-inorganic nanocomposites of (ZnO)x(1 − x)Fe2O3 loaded within a polystyrene-polyethylene glycol matrix. The structural and morphological assembly of the hydrogen bonds between the inorganic and organic parts is verified using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning/transmission electron microscope (SEM/TEM) for the synthesized nanocomposites. The existence of the Fe aggregates, Zn/Fe pairs, and organic molecules was also confirmed by FTIR spectra. Optical and magnetic properties were evaluated. The band gap, refractive index, optical dielectric constant, and optical electronegativity were extracted.