Search Results (8,462)

Yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) thermal barrier coatings suffer from t′ phase destabilization and insufficient thermal insulation above 1200 ℃. In this work, YbO_1.5-stabilized ZrO₂ powders (xYbSZ, x = 4–12 mol% YbO_1.5 on a cation basis, equivalent to 2–6 mol% Yb₂O₃) were synthesized by chemical co-precipitation, consolidated by spark plasma sintering, and evaluated at 1300 ℃ in terms of phase stability, sintering behavior, thermal conductivity, and fracture toughness. A common compositional boundary near 8 mol% YbO_1.5 was identified across all four responses. 8YbSZ retained the metastable t′ phase with a monoclinic content below 10 mol% after 300 h at 1300 ℃, whereas grain coarsening accelerated markedly and the thermal conductivity reduction efficiency per unit doping at 1000 ℃ was approximately halved beyond this composition, with κ decreasing from 2.41 to 1.96 W·m⁻¹·K⁻¹ across the series. The toughness gain produced by thermal treatment fell from 34% (4YbSZ) to about 10% (10–12YbSZ) as the dominant toughening mechanism shifted from transformation and microcrack toughening (4–6 mol%) to ferroelastic domain switching (8 mol%), with both being lost in the compositions in which the cubic phase predominated. These results identify 8 mol% YbO_1.5 as the optimal composition balancing phase stability, sintering resistance, thermal insulation, and mechanical integrity for TBC applications at 1300 ℃. Full article

Conventional oral and injectable drug administration still struggles with unstable plasma levels, weak targeting, and considerable systemic toxicity, problems that become especially acute in chronic disease management. Implantable and wearable biomedical devices offer one path around these limits, yet device-only platforms continue to fall short on drug loading, release control, and protection of fragile therapeutics. Integrating nanoparticle-based biomaterials into such devices has therefore moved from a research curiosity to a serious clinical strategy. As a result, understanding the design principles, translational challenges, and clinical potential of these hybrid platforms has become increasingly important. This review provides a comprehensive assessment of four major nanoparticle families—polymeric carriers (PLGA, chitosan, and micelles), lipid-based vehicles (liposomes, SLNs, and NLCs), inorganic systems (gold, mesoporous silica, iron oxide, and calcium phosphate), and hybrid composites—focusing on how their physicochemical properties govern drug encapsulation, release behavior, and tissue compatibility. These classes are then linked to specific implantable formats such as drug-eluting stents, nano-enabled scaffolds, and reservoir depots, and to wearable formats including transdermal patches, microneedle arrays, biosensor-coupled patches, and patient-actuated devices. A dedicated section addresses stimuli-responsive release driven by pH, enzymes, temperature, and electrical or magnetic fields, alongside closed-loop platforms that pair real-time biosensing with on-demand dosing. Surface engineering strategies, ligand targeting, antifouling coatings, antimicrobial layers, and immune-modulating chemistries are also discussed, together with the central translational hurdles: long-term stability, foreign body response, scale-up, sterilization, and regulatory classification of combination products. Finally, the review outlines near-term directions, including AI-driven dosing, 4D bioprinting, biomimetic nanocarriers, gene therapy delivery, and bioresorbable electronics, that together suggest where these hybrid platforms are likely to mature next. Full article

This study focuses on the deposition of nickel thin-films onto glass fiber fabric via DC magnetron sputtering and explores their potential for broadband microwave absorption applications. A total of twelve laminate samples were prepared by integrating the coated fabrics with epoxy resin, with sputtering powers ranging from 0.5 to 2 kW and deposition times ranging from 10 to 90 min. The microstructure, surface resistance, electromagnetic parameters, and microwave absorption performance were systematically characterized using SEM, XRD, four-point probe measurements, and vector network analysis, supplemented by the Lorentz model fitting and simulation validation. The results indicate that the nickel coatings exhibit a non-uniform arc-like morphology, with preferential growth along the (111) crystallographic plane, while the (200) and (220) planes form under specific conditions. The surface resistance reaches up to 10⁸ Ω·m, suggesting the absence of a continuous conductive network. Electromagnetic parameter analysis reveals that the laminates display dielectric-loss-dominated microwave absorption, and the Lorentz fitting identifies double resonance peaks under prolonged or high-power sputtering. The addition of a dielectric matching layer further enhances the absorption performance. All samples achieve wideband absorption within the Ku-band. Notably, the samples prepared at 1 kW for 30 min and at 1 kW for 90 min both exhibit a reflectivity of ≤−10 dB across the entire 8–18 GHz frequency range. The experimental results are in good agreement with simulations. The bulk density of the laminates is approximately 1.8 g/cm³. These findings confirm that magnetron-sputtered nickel-coated continuous glass fiber fabrics hold considerable promise for wideband microwave absorption applications. Full article

In the present work, polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) was selected as the primary raw material and fully dissolved in N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) solvent. Hydroxymethyl cellulose (HMC), acrylic acid (AA) monomer with outstanding chelating performance, and UR were added in sequence. On this basis, composite nanofiber membrane substrates of PVP/AA/HMC/UR were fabricated by means of electrospinning. Afterwards, silane coupling agent KH-560 was blended with polylactic acid (PLA). A uniform PLA/KH-560 functional coating was covered on the surface of the as-prepared nanofiber membrane via microfluidic coating treatment, and the target composite nanofiber adsorbent was ultimately obtained. Relevant performance characterization results indicated that moderate addition of HMC could greatly optimize the tensile strength of the membrane material, whereas excessive HMC dosage would cause a deterioration in mechanical strength. Moreover, the breaking elongation presented a slight declining trend, and the integrated mechanical stability of the membrane could fully meet the service demands for cyclic reuse. As a functional monomer, acrylic acid effectively boosted the material’s adsorption performance toward typical heavy metal ions, including Zn²⁺, Cu²⁺ and Pb²⁺. In simulated acidic wastewater generated from rare earth mining and extraction (pH = 3 and pH = 6.5), the removal efficiency of the as-prepared material for the three heavy metal ions all exceeded 95%. Even after being soaked in strong acid solution at pH 2 for 8 h, its adsorption rate was still maintained at 88.5%. In the cyclic experiment, the adsorption efficiency stayed above 75% after two recycling runs, decreased to roughly 55% in the third cycle, and dropped below 30% at the fourth reuse stage. The introduction of UR imparted remarkable acid-resistant structural stability to the composite material. The membrane structure remained complete without damage after long-term immersion in a pH 2 strong acid environment, and high-efficiency heavy metal removal capability could be guaranteed when the solution pH was not lower than 3. Targeting the practical treatment dilemma of acidic heavy metal-containing wastewater from rare earth exploitation and extraction, this research successfully developed a novel eco-friendly adsorbent featuring superior acid resistance, high adsorption performance and certain recyclability. This newly designed material makes up for the deficiencies in traditional adsorbents represented by activated carbon, including poor heavy metal removal ability in acidic media and secondary pollution risks resulting from disposable use. The research findings can offer a novel technical reference and feasible approach for the purification of acidic rare earth wastewater in practical engineering applications. Full article

Aiming at the rapid corrosion of degradable magnesium alloys in physiological environments and the insufficient long-term protection of single plasma electrolytic oxidation (PEO) coatings, Mg-Mn-Fe layered double hydroxide (LDH) and baicalin (BA)-loaded LDH/BA composite coatings were prepared in situ on PEO-pretreated ZE21C magnesium alloy substrates. BA was stably anchored on the LDH surface via coordination bonds between its oxygen-containing functional groups and laminate metal sites. Benefiting from the physical barrier of the LDH lamellar structure and the corrosion inhibition effect of baicalin, the LDH/BA coating significantly improved the corrosion resistance of the magnesium alloy matrix. The composite coating exhibited peroxidase-like catalytic activity for reactive oxygen species generation, which could be enhanced by near-infrared irradiation. It also possessed stable photothermal conversion performance and pH-responsive drug release behavior under acidic conditions. Biological characterization demonstrated that BA-loaded LDH composite coatings exert potent inhibitory effects on 143B cell proliferation. This work integrates long-term corrosion resistance, controlled drug release, and photoresponsive catalytic functions onto magnesium alloy surfaces, providing an effective strategy for developing high-performance biodegradable magnesium alloys. Full article

Stable emulsified oil droplets are difficult to separate because of persistent interfacial films and colloidal stability. Garlic-extract-functionalized Fe₃O₄ magnetic colloids, operationally denoted Allicin@Fe₃O₄, were prepared by in situ coprecipitation as organic–inorganic building blocks for gel-like interfacial capture. The sample name identifies the allicin-containing garlic-extract route and does not imply that allicin was proven to be the predominant surface species. SEM, FTIR, and XRD supported deposition of an organic, sulfur/oxygen-containing surface layer and retention of crystalline Fe₃O₄, but these methods are not species-specific. The colloids removed more than 95% of emulsified oil within 20 min and reached an experimental equilibrium apparent uptake of approximately 380 mg·g⁻¹. Tests across pH 3–11, 0–50 g·L⁻¹ NaCl, 15–55 °C, and representative coexisting ions showed robust but condition-dependent removal. Removal remained above 90% after five reuse cycles and was approximately 84% after ten cycles. Calculations using allicin as a representative garlic organosulfur molecule suggest how polar sulfur/oxygen regions and allyl segments could favor oil–droplet anchoring and association; they do not establish the surface composition of the extract-derived coating. The capture behavior is consistent with transient, gel-like particle–droplet association coupled to magnetic recovery. These results connect bio-derived surface functionalization, gel-related colloidal structuring, and magnetic separation under the tested batch conditions. Full article

Fresh-peeled garlic cloves are a very convenient ready-to-cook product; however, their high perishability requires packaging systems that maintain the quality of the garlic while addressing the need for more sustainable materials. This study evaluated the quality evolution of peeled garlic cloves during refrigerated storage (5 °C) in microperforated modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) systems consisting of trays sealed with egg white protein (EWP)-based films, either uncoated (EWP-U) or coated with beeswax (EWP-BW). Their performance was compared with commercial polylactic acid (PLA) and oriented polypropylene (OPP) films. The EWP-based packages generated an internal atmosphere of approximately 7% O₂ and 15% CO₂, under which peeled garlic cloves showed delayed fungal decay, reduced yeast and mold growth, and mitigated surface discoloration compared with other packaging systems, whose atmospheres remained closer to air. However, weight loss was promoted in the garlic cloves packaged with EWP-U films. The hydrophobic coating applied in EWP-BW films improved the water vapor barrier properties compared with EWP films, thus reducing the weight loss observed in the garlic cloves, but increasing fungal decay. These results suggest that an optimized packaging system should combine the lower water vapor transmission rate provided by EWP-BW films with the internal gas composition achieved in EWP-U packages. Accordingly, EWP-BW films represent a promising bio-based alternative for preserving the quality of peeled garlic cloves, provided that the effective O₂ and CO₂ transmission rates through the package are appropriately adjusted to generate a more favorable modified atmosphere. Full article

Buried interfaces and interphases often govern performance loss in rechargeable batteries, although their functions are frequently inferred from spatially averaged composition, surface-sensitive measurements, or cell-level electrochemical response. In this Perspective, an interface denotes the geometrical boundary between adjacent phases, whereas an interphase denotes a finite-thickness region whose composition or structure differs from those of the adjoining bulk phases. Rather than organizing the discussion by focused ion beam (FIB) modality or battery chemistry alone, we adopt an architecture-first, evidence-bounded framework and compare three classes of buried-interface architecture: engineered particle coatings; electrochemically generated solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) and cathode–electrolyte interphase (CEI) regions together with lithium-metal deposits; and solid–solid contacts in all-solid-state batteries. For each class, the formation route and required function are related to spatial descriptors, including thickness distribution, lateral continuity, pore or gap topology, chemical gradients, contact area, and contact retention. FIB-enabled cross-sectioning, tomography, and correlative spectroscopy can register morphology, chemistry, and contact geometry within a common spatial frame, but they do not directly measure ionic conductivity, electronic leakage, adhesion energy, or local reaction rate. Such functional attribution therefore requires complementary electrochemistry, spectroscopy, modeling, temporal observation, and representative sampling. Across the three classes, durable interfacial function depends on chemically selective transport pathways that remain spatially continuous and mechanically viable during processing, cycling, and storage. Full article

Carbon black (CB) nanoparticles (~20 nm) offer high specific surface area and conductivity for self-sensing cementitious composites, but strong interparticle van der Waals forces drive agglomeration in alkaline pore solutions, limiting sensing reliability. This study introduces a nanoscale interfacial engineering strategy in which CB nanoparticles are adsorbed onto polypropylene (PP) fiber surfaces as spatially organized conductive elements, with EDS evidence of enhanced hydrate coverage at the fiber–matrix interface. Three CB dosages (0.5%, 1.0%, and 1.5% by binder mass) with 0.5% PP fiber were investigated. Nanoparticle coating and interfacial micro-structure were characterized by SEM-EDS, while FTIR was used to verify that the fiber backbone remained chemically unmodified; piezoresistive response and durability were assessed via cyclic compression, DIC, and hygrothermal cycling. The 1.0% CB nanocomposite lies within the effective percolation window (~0.9–1.2%), showing high linearity, a stable gauge factor (~100), and distinct FCR acceleration for early-warning sensing. The 1.5% CB composite yields higher sensitivity but scattered responses due to nanoparticle clustering; 0.5% CB remains below the percolation threshold with a discontinuous network. After 60 hygrothermal cycles, the 1.0% nanocomposite retains >93% of its gauge factor with minimal resistance drift. The nano-engineered CB–PP fiber architecture offers a scalable route integrating crack bridging, percolation networking, and durable self-sensing in cementitious nanocomposites for structural health monitoring. Full article

The Earth’s environment is deteriorating, and biodiversity is declining. The use of plant-based cellulose nanofibers (CNFs) as structural materials can reduce environmental impact, and further technological developments are anticipated. This review article introduces types of cellulose derived from wood, weeds, bamboo, and fruits, and examines the potential technological applications of CNFs. It is hypothesized that maintaining an appropriate content of Mn, Ca, and O—including the interactions of Ca within carbon-based structures—could contribute to plant health, while the exclusion of elements such as V, Cd, and Sn (regardless of the effectiveness of partial sequestration) could promote cell activity. Calcium deposition can influence wood growth depending on the elemental composition in the bark, and a hypothesis regarding pH adjustment for shoot formation is proposed (see textbook on inorganic chemistry). Furthermore, manufacturing processes for CNFs and their mechanical properties—including evaluation methods—are summarized. This overview focuses on nanostructures that exhibit heterogeneous functional and mechanical properties and offer potential benefits in reducing environmental impact through processes such as 3D printing and coating. CNFs derived from fruit peels can yield lightweight and durable materials. Furthermore, the roles of proteins and fruit-derived components in neutralizing acidic environments and reducing oxides are discussed. A concept is proposed that links the processing of fruit-peel-based materials with environmental applications such as forest restoration and combating desertification. The hypothesis is put forward that cytoplasmic activity and cell wall strengthening could be enhanced through chlorophyll-related processes and water transport mechanisms. Optimizing pH conditions could promote shoot formation in plants such as conifers. Sustainable greening can be achieved through the use of cellulose-based materials in combination with water-retaining components such as bamboo-derived resources. The interaction between CNFs, plant bark, and water-bound proteins can contribute to forest regeneration and the curbing of slash-and-burn practices. Overall, this approach can contribute to environmental remediation, the reduction of environmental impact, and urban greening in degraded regions. Full article

Sandwich composite floor panels are widely used in aircraft interior structures because of their lightweight and high stiffness-to-weight characteristics. However, the guided-wave response of such panels is strongly influenced by their multilayer configuration, honeycomb core, attenuation behavior, sensor-path geometry, and excitation frequency. In this study, an active guided-wave-based Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) configuration was experimentally evaluated on an aerospace-type sandwich composite floor panel using a piezoelectric (PZT) sensor network. The specimen consisted of glass fiber reinforced polyetherimide (GFR-PEI) face sheets and a phenolic-coated aramid honeycomb core. Controlled bonded patch-induced surface perturbations were sequentially applied over 25 predefined panel regions to introduce repeatable local mass-loading and damping changes. Guided-wave measurements were performed using an Acellent ScanGenie system over a frequency range of 75–600 kHz with 25 kHz increments and twelve directed actuator–receiver paths. The results showed that the measured Damage Index (DI) response depends strongly on excitation frequency, sensing path, and perturbation location. The 400–450 kHz range produced relatively higher DI values under the tested configuration, and 425 kHz yielded the highest mean DI among valid measurements. However, the valid sensing coverage at 425 kHz was only 50%; therefore, this frequency was not interpreted as the most robust overall monitoring frequency. Lower frequencies around 100–150 kHz provided full sensing coverage while maintaining relatively high DI values. Frequencies above 550 kHz showed reduced measurement reliability due to increased attenuation and poor usable signal response. Overall, the study provides a comparative sensitivity assessment of a guided-wave-based PZT network on a sandwich composite floor panel under controlled bonded patch-induced perturbations, rather than a direct validation of realistic internal sandwich-panel damage mechanisms. Full article

Pyrolysis is a leading route for valorizing lignocellulosic residues, yet detailed multi-step kinetic schemes have so far been deployed only in costly commercial simulators, limiting reproducibility. This work couples thermogravimetric (TGA) characterization with process simulation in the free, open-source simulator DWSIM to predict the pyrolysis product distribution of corn cob from Córdoba, Colombia. The lignocellulosic composition (hemicellulose 24.3 ± 2.9, cellulose 36.4 ± 3.0, lignin 39.3 ± 0.9 wt%) was obtained by deconvolving the derivative thermogravimetric (DTG) curve with a five-parameter asymmetric double sigmoidal (Asym2sig) function (R² > 0.9996). Pseudocomponent activation energies from the Coats–Redfern method (154.2, 124.6, and 29.9 kJ/mol) calibrated the primary reactions of a 17-reaction Ranzi scheme, extended with 18 secondary gas-phase steam reforming reactions. Validated against eight lignocellulosic biomasses, the calibrated model yielded a consolidated R² = 0.853 and average absolute deviation (AAD) = 9.8%, with char predictions most accurate (AAD = 8.9%). For corn cob, a bio-oil-optimized yield of 55.0 wt% was predicted at 500 °C, transitioning to a syngas-rich regime (51.0 wt% gas) at 750 °C. This constitutes the calibrated Ranzi-scheme implementation in DWSIM, offering an accessible, reproducible pathway for biomass pyrolysis modeling. Full article

Atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO₂) has reached an unprecedented 430 ppm, warming the planet by 50% compared with pre-industrial times and prompting a search for a quick and effective solution to control CO₂ emissions. As a robust, renewable, biodegradable, and sustainable material, nanocellulose can serve as a strong support for many active molecules. Nanocellulose, whether in suspension, aerogel, or membrane form, is not sufficient for efficient CO₂ capture and separation; hence, active molecules, such as silanes, amines, zeolites, and metal–organic frameworks (MOFs), are introduced via chemical modification, such as grafting, or via physical mixing as fillers or additives to make nanocellulose effective for CO₂ capture and separation. Introducing amine or silane molecules into nanocellulose has proven to be an effective strategy for achieving a satisfactory CO₂ absorption capacity exceeding 6 mmol/g. Nanocellulose membranes, when fabricated with MOFs or zeolites and used as a coating with polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) to create a thin-film composite membrane (TFC), can achieve CO₂ permeance of more than 600 GPU for CO₂ separation from flue gas, with CO₂/N₂ selectivity close to 40. This review provides an overview of nanocellulose-based CO₂ capture and separation materials developed over the last 10 years, along with the related challenges that must be overcome to meet current performance and demand. To facilitate readability, the author has provided a brief introduction to the origin, performance, and scale-up developments of nanocellulose at the start of this review. Full article

Traditional structural strengthening methods involve high costs, increased self-weight of the structure, and complex construction procedures. In this context, there is a need for alternative materials that improve the mechanical performance of concrete without compromising its functionality. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of applying fiberglass layers to concrete with a design compressive strength of f’c = 20.59 MPa (210 kg/cm²). An applied research approach was used, with a quantitative methodology and a quasi-experimental design. Cylindrical concrete specimens measuring 12 cm × 6 cm were cured for 28 days and then coated with 1, 2, and 3 layers of fiberglass. The results showed that fiberglass has a chemical composition dominated by sodium (54.28%), silicon (25.64%), magnesium (9.98%), and aluminum (7.19%), which contributes to its stiffness and stability. Regarding compressive strength, the control specimens achieved an average strength of 20.69 MPa, while specimens coated with 1, 2, and 3 layers of fiberglass reached average strengths of 21.72 MPa, 23.49 MPa, and 25.71 MPa, respectively. These values represent increases of 4.98%, 13.53%, and 24.26% compared to conventional concrete. In terms of flexural strength, the control beams reached an average value of 3.50 MPa, whereas beams reinforced with 1, 2, and 3 fiberglass layers achieved average strengths of 3.66 MPa, 3.89 MPa, and 4.10 MPa, respectively. The results demonstrate that fiberglass improves both the compressive and flexural performance of concrete by providing external confinement, delaying crack propagation, and increasing the load-bearing capacity of the structural elements. It is concluded that fiberglass constitutes an effective and technically viable alternative for strengthening concrete structures. Full article

Among the vast array of technologies available for surface modification of materials, sputtering emerges as one of the most versatile methods through coating deposition. Included in the family of physical vapor deposition (PVD) techniques, sputtering allows the production of coatings with a great variety of characteristics, based on a bottom-up approach that forms coatings from individual species (atoms or ions). This versatility is achieved by controlling: (i) the layer architecture, from monolithic to multilayers, (ii) the structures, from amorphous to nanocrystalline or nanocomposite, until highly crystallized, including epitaxial; (iii) the morphologies, from very porous through columnar or zig-zag to very dense and featureless; (iv) the chemical composition, allowing the deposition of metallic, polymeric, ceramic or composite materials types. In this paper, after a brief introduction of sputtering as a deposition technology, we will review the application of sputtering for depositing protective coatings to which an extra functionality is provided: (a) aesthetic color; (b) high-temperature lubrication; and (c) temperature sensing ability. Full article