Search Results (68)

Geomembranes are widely used in water storage ponds and irrigation systems in arid and semi-arid regions. The residual damage of geomembranes will lead to soil pore blockage, water infiltration obstruction, and soil degradation. This study investigated the effects of geomembrane residues at different depths on soil under drought and rainfall conditions. Using a ZHS multifunctional climate chamber to simulate dry–wet cycles, the effects of residual geomembranes on soil evaporation and cracking processes were investigated, along with their impacts on soil aggregates and aggregate-associated organic carbon. Results showed that with increasing residual geomembrane content, the Mean Weight Diameter (MWD) of aggregates decreased by 3.95%, 28.25%, and 51.41%, and the Geometric Mean Diameter (GMD) decreased by 10.59%, 42.35%, and 61.18%, respectively, compared to the residual geomembrane-free treatment. Organic carbon content in all aggregate size fractions consistently declined. Under the same dry–wet cycling conditions and soil thickness, residual moisture content decreased with higher residual geomembrane addition. Meanwhile, residual geomembrane enrichment promoted soil cracking, as evidenced by increased crack ratio and fractal dimension, and the initial evaporation rate increased with increasing residual geomembrane content. Compared to the control group, residual geomembrane significantly reduced residual moisture content, reducing it by 4.48–29.37%, 7.14–21.92%, and 4.19–35.95%, respectively. The final crack ratio increased by 5.33–58.89%, 0.97–63.39%, and 0.87–72.46%, respectively. Meanwhile, the final fractal dimensions increased by 0.50–15.26%, 2.92–15.96%, and 3.22–13.33%, respectively. Mechanistically, residual geomembrane fragments occupy soil pores and reduce interparticle cohesion, thereby promoting the expansion of crack ratios and disrupting aggregate stability, which accelerates organic carbon decomposition. This study provides scientific insights into how residual geomembranes affect soil ecosystems and supports agricultural soil conservation and management. Full article

Polymers play a central and multifaceted role in cultural heritage science, serving both as functional materials in conservation treatments, such as cleaning, consolidation, adhesion and protection, and as constituents of a wide range of historical artefacts, including paper and canvas, waterlogged wooden wrecks, musical instruments, and modern plastics used in art. Although numerous studies have examined the use of polymers in archaeology and cultural heritage conservation, most have focused on specific polymers, individual conservation treatments, or categories of artefacts. A comprehensive and integrated assessment of the multifunctional role of polymers, both as conservation materials and as constituents of heritage objects, remains lacking. The aim of this review is to provide a critical and comprehensive overview of natural and synthetic polymers in cultural heritage science, examining their applications in conservation treatments, their long-term stability and aging, and the challenges and opportunities associated with their preservation and sustainable use. This review examines the main classes of natural and synthetic polymers used in conservation, evaluating their mechanisms of action, performance, limitations, and long-term behavior across different applications. It also examines the chemical decomposition pathways and the resulting degradation phenomena occurring in polymeric materials, both as conservation products and as constituents of cultural artefacts, together with current stabilization strategies aimed at mitigating aging and deterioration. This review provides a critical appraisal of current challenges and future perspectives in cultural heritage conservation, highlighting emerging trends and research directions for the development of more effective, sustainable, and compatible polymer-based solutions for cultural heritage conservation. Full article

The study investigated and quantified the feasibility of using waste derived from shea tree fruit shells (Vitellaria paradoxa) as an organic multifunctional additive for building ceramic bodies, focusing on its influence on thermal behavior, pore formation, and mechanical performance. The scope of the research included sieve analysis, chemical analysis (WDXRF), phase composition analysis (XRD), thermal analysis coupled with evolved gas analysis (DTA–TG–EGA), and the evaluation of the physical and mechanical properties of the obtained ceramic materials. The analyses demonstrated that the shea waste was characterized by a high content of organic matter, a loss in ignition of 93.84%, and a calorific value of 19.421 kJ/g. The incorporation of biomass resulted in increased porosity and reduced apparent density of the ceramic materials. The relative porosity increased from 27.00% for the reference sample to 34.98% for the sample containing 30% shea waste. Simultaneously, the compressive strength decreased from 23.67 MPa to 10.10 MPa, while the flexural strength decreased from 8.96 MPa to 4.76 MPa. Partial replacement of conventional mineral additives and, in particular, partial substitution of fossil-derived kiln fuel demand with high-calorific biomass enabled a reduction in overall CO₂ emissions associated with ceramic production. This includes both process-related emissions from raw material decomposition and fuel-related emissions generated in the tunnel kiln. In addition, a reduced contribution of carbon originating from inorganic mineral sources (including carbonates) to total emissions covered by emission trading systems (ETSs) was observed. Despite the reduction in mechanical parameters, samples containing up to 20% shea waste retained properties suitable for application in the production of ceramic building materials. Full article

Division (DIV), reciprocal (REC), square root (SR), and reciprocal square root (RSR) are fundamental operations in digital signal processing (DSP), communication, and matrix decomposition applications. However, implementing these functions using dedicated hardware units increases area and resource utilization when multiple operations are required within the same system. This paper presents a multifunctional fixed-point architecture that supports DIV, REC, SR, and RSR operations within a unified Newton–Raphson-based framework. The proposed design employs scaling and de-scaling techniques to facilitate architectural parameterization across generic fixed-point formats, piecewise polynomial approximations for seed generation, and hardware sharing between the seed computation and Newton–Raphson stages to enhance overall computational efficiency. The architecture was described in Verilog–HDL and evaluated through FPGA and ASIC implementation flows. To demonstrate the feasibility of the design, the experimental validation and implementation scope were focused on a specific of 16 bits word-length. FPGA synthesis results show that the proposed multifunctional unit achieves operating frequencies comparable to dedicated implementations while reducing hardware cost by approximately 40% compared with separate arithmetic units. Exhaustive simulations using a 16-bits representation yield SQNR values ranging from 72.03 dB to 81.03 dB across the supported operations. Furthermore, ASIC implementation using an Intel 16 nm PDK confirms the feasibility of the proposed approach for advanced technology nodes under the verified format. These results demonstrate that the proposed architecture provides an effective trade-off among accuracy, latency, and hardware efficiency, making it well suited for high-performance fixed-point DSP accelerators. Full article

A novel macromolecular photoinitiator (MPI) was synthesized from a copolymer of maleic anhydride and methyl methacrylate and subsequently functionalized with 3-hydroxy-2-methoxy-1,2-diphenylpropan-1-one moieties via a polymer-analogous acylation reaction. The structure and physicochemical properties of the MPI were characterized by IR, UV–Vis, NMR, DSC, and TGA analyses. TiO₂ nanoparticles were successfully functionalized with the MPI, yielding materials with enhanced surface activity and photoinitiating efficiency. The MPI-modified TiO₂ facilitated efficient UV-induced polymerization of methyl methacrylate, as confirmed by DLS and SEM analyses. Compared with unmodified fillers, the resulting composites exhibited improved dispersion, accelerated polymerization rates, and enhanced mechanical properties. This hybrid strategy offers a promising approach for the development of high-performance polymer nanocomposites through the integration of surface-engineered inorganic fillers and photoreactive polymers. Full article

p-Methoxy-m-nitrobenzoic acid (MNBA) serves as a valuable chemical intermediate across numerous domains. Nevertheless, the synthesis of MNBA through non-catalytic oxidation processes invariably results in the production of environmentally polluting substances. In this study, we report an environmentally benign catalytic oxidation system for the synthesis of MNBA using water as a solvent. Based on the two-step TEMPO/KBr/NaOCl/NaClO₂ system, which achieved a 91.4% yield at 70 °C, we have devised a simplified one-step procedure employing the TEMPO/KBr/NaClO₂ system. This less energy-intensive input method yields 90.1% MNBA at 60 °C. Systematic optimization has revealed that temperature, time, and oxidant quantity are critical parameters. Furthermore, acidic conditions have been found to reduce yields due to the decomposition of NaClO₂. The aqueous-phase approach completely avoids organic solvents and facilitates product isolation. A synergistic catalytic mechanism involving N-oxoammonium intermediates is proposed. This work establishes a sustainable strategy for preparing multifunctional aromatic carboxylic acids, addressing key challenges in both ecological impact and industrial scalability for fine chemical production. Full article

6063 aluminum alloy has broad application prospects in aerospace and microelectronic thermal management systems due to its good thermal conductivity and moderate strength. However, its extremely high hot cracking susceptibility during the laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) process limits the direct manufacturing of complex components. This study proposes a strategy combining material composition modification with advanced structural design. By introducing TiH₂ nanoparticles (1.0~4.5 wt.%) to modify the 6063 aluminum alloy powder, Diamond-type porous structures based on triply periodic minimal surfaces (TPMS) were successfully fabricated using LPBF technology. The results show that the introduction of TiH₂ significantly suppresses the solidification cracking of the aluminum alloy. The underlying mechanism is that the L1₂-structured Al₃Ti particles, generated by the in situ decomposition of TiH₂ in the melt pool, provide high-density heterogeneous nucleation sites. This leads to a drastic decrease in the average grain size from 30.46 μm to 0.75 μm (a reduction of 97.5%), achieving a remarkable columnar-to-equiaxed transition (CET). In terms of mechanical properties, the 3.0 wt.% TiH₂ addition group exhibits excellent plateau stress (28.5 MPa) and energy absorption capacity, which is mainly attributed to the synergistic effect of fine-grain strengthening and Orowan dispersion strengthening. Thermal tests reveal that the thermal conductivity of the 3.0 wt.% group reaches 123 W/(m·K) at 100 °C. The healing of cracks reconstructs the macroscopic heat conduction paths, resulting in a significant improvement in thermal conductivity compared with the unmodified group. This work provides a theoretical reference for the development of high-performance, crack-free, and multi-functional integrated aluminum alloy components via additive manufacturing. Full article

The CO₂ storage–regeneration (CO₂-SR) process represents a promising strategy for integrating CO₂ capture and catalytic conversion within a single cyclic operation using multifunctional catalysts. In this concept, CO₂ is first stored on basic sites and subsequently converted through methane activation, enabling the coupling of CO₂ capture and reforming reactions in a single reactor. In this work, a series of unsupported Ni–Ba catalysts were investigated as model multifunctional materials for the CO₂-SR process. Catalysts with different Ni/Ba ratios were prepared to analyze how the distribution of storage and catalytic sites influences the cyclic CO₂ capture–conversion behavior. In addition, Rh was introduced as a promoter either during synthesis by co-precipitation or ex situ by impregnation, allowing to evaluate the influence of Rh location and surface enrichment on the catalytic properties. Rh incorporation in the NiBa catalyst (Ni/Ba = 10/1 and Ni/Rh = 100/1) increased the specific surface area (BET area 64 m²·g⁻¹ vs. 55 m²·g⁻¹ for NiBa) and reduced the NiO crystallite size from 250.4 Å to 231.5 Å, indicating improved dispersion of the metallic phase. XPS analysis revealed the coexistence of Rh⁰ and Rh³⁺ species, suggesting that Rh acts as a redox mediator that facilitates hydrogen activation and promotes hydrogen spillover to neighboring Ni sites. Raman and CO₂-TPD results show that Ba-derived domains stabilize carbonate species responsible for CO₂ storage, while Rh enhances catalyst reducibility and modifies the kinetics of carbonate decomposition during the regeneration stage. Transient CO₂–CH₄ pulse experiments demonstrate that the CO₂-SR process proceeds through a dynamic surface cycle involving reversible carbonate formation on Ba-derived basic sites coupled with methane activation on Ni-containing interfacial sites. The results indicate that catalyst performance is governed by a hierarchical surface architecture composed of Ni–O–Ba interfacial domains, reversible Ba–O–Ba carbonate storage sites, and more stable Ba-rich domains. The distribution of these domains, controlled by the Ni/Ba ratio and the dispersion of the metallic phase, determines the reversibility of carbonate formation and the efficiency of the cyclic CO₂ storage–regeneration process. Full article

Engineering carbon nanostructures directly on carbon fiber fabrics offers an effective route to constructing hierarchical multifunctional coating systems. In this study, methane-based chemical vapor deposition (CVD) was employed to investigate nanocarbon coating formation on woven carbon fabrics supported by electrodeposited Ni catalysts. Catalyst morphology was systematically engineered through surface pretreatment, electric-field configuration, and pulse electrodeposition. At 700 °C, methane activation was insufficient to sustain continuous nanocarbon growth, indicating a temperature-dependent activation threshold. Raising the growth temperature to 900 °C enabled sustained methane decomposition and produced dense nanocarbon coatings; hydrogen assistance suppressed amorphous deposition and promoted more ordered nanofilament features. Pulse electrodeposition refined Ni catalyst dispersion and nucleation density, improving coating uniformity compared with direct-current deposition. Structural ordering was further supported by Raman spectroscopy (D and G bands with an average ID/IG of 0.678 ± 0.068 for methane-grown samples versus 0.798 ± 0.011 for electrodeposition-only controls) and by HRTEM revealing multi-layer graphitic walls (~0.34 nm interlayer spacing). Together, the results support a methane-derived dissolution–diffusion–precipitation growth pathway governed by catalyst morphology, temperature, and gas composition. This controllable, textile-compatible catalyst engineering approach provides a scalable route to hierarchical graphitic coatings for carbon-fabric-based composites, electromagnetic interference shielding, and thermal management applications. Full article

Phenothiazine is a heteroaromatic molecule capable of various noncovalent interactions, including halogen bonding and π-stacked association. Despite its broad use in functional materials and pharmaceutical ingredients, a systematic comparison of these interaction modes has been lacking. Here, we report a combined experimental and computational study of intermolecular interactions of phenothiazine with a prototypical halogen-bond (HaB) donor (tetrabromomethane), planar π-electron acceptors (tetracyanopyrazine and tetrafluoro-p-benzoquinone), and multifunctional species capable of both interaction types (iodo- and bromo-3,5-dinitrobenzenes). X-ray structural analysis revealed that CBr₄ forms exclusively C–Br···π halogen bonds with the aromatic rings of phenothiazine, whereas all π-acceptors yield alternating donor–acceptor stacks characterized by multiple short contacts indicative of multicenter interactions. Notably, co-crystals of iodo- and bromodinitrobenzenes with phenothiazine display only π-stacked architectures. Density-functional calculations showed that isolated HaB complexes involving N, S, or π sites of phenothiazine possess comparable binding energies (≈−3 kcal mol⁻¹), whereas π-stacked complexes are substantially stronger (≈−9–12 kcal mol⁻¹). QTAIM, NCI, NBO, and energy-decomposition analyses indicated that while amounts of charge transfer in halogen-bonded and π-stacked complexes are comparable, the enhanced stability of the latter originates primarily from a large dispersion contribution. These results rationalize the solid-state preference for π-stacking over halogen bonding in systems where both motifs are accessible and clarify the hierarchy and physical origin of noncovalent interactions involving phenothiazine, providing guidance for the design of supramolecular assemblies and functional materials based on this versatile electron donor. Full article

During recent decades, bone cancer-related diseases have remained hard to treat because of poor diagnosis, systemic toxicity, and restricted conventional treatments. Hence, the fabrication of functionalised nanoparticles offers a promising alternative by limiting side effects and improving therapeutic outcomes. In this study, zinc-substituted hydroxyapatite (Zn-HA) nanoparticles were fabricated from biogenic tuna fish bone waste via a thermal decomposition method and subsequently functionalised with Catharanthus roseus (CR) flower extract to synthesise a Zn-HA/CR nanocomposite. Structural and compositional characterisations verified Zn ions incorporation into the HA lattice and efficient CR-derived phytochemical functionalisation without altering the hexagonal HA phase. Compared to pure hydroxyapatite, the Zn-HA/CR nanocomposite exhibited improved surface morphology, enhanced swelling behaviour and degradation, and increased microhardness. The nanocomposite demonstrated significantly enhanced antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. The Zn-HA/CR nanocomposite also showed strong, dose-dependent antioxidant activity in DPPH assays. Furthermore, in vitro cytotoxicity studies using MG-63 (HOS) osteosarcoma cancer cells revealed that the proposed nanocomposite leads to pronounced morphological alterations and reduced cell viability. The prepared Zn-HA/CR nanocomposite would be a potential nanocomposite for enhanced antioxidant and anticancer activity, which highlights this composite as a multifunctional biomaterial platform for therapeutic applications. Full article

Natural antibacterial food packaging materials endowed with environmental responsiveness are garnering substantial research interest in sustainable food preservation. This study reports the development of a pH-responsive antimicrobial composite film through encapsulation of eugenol—a natural phenolic compound—within zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 (ZIF-8). The engineered eugenol@ZIF-8 system demonstrated pH-dependent release characteristics, with cumulative release reaching 32.2% at pH 6 versus merely 0.61% at pH 7 over 4 h. Subsequent integration of this nanocarrier into a polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)/hydroxypropyltrimethyl ammonium chloride chitosan (HACC) matrix yielded a multifunctional composite film for active food packaging applications. The characterization of film revealed that while eugenol@ZIF-8 incorporation slightly compromised mechanical strength (tensile resistance decreased by 18.7%) and flexibility (elongation at break reduced to 54.3% of control), it significantly enhanced hydrophobicity (water contact angle increased to 92.5°) and thermal stability (decomposition temperature elevated by 34 °C). The composite film demonstrated synergistic antibacterial efficacy through the combined action of Zn²⁺ ions, ZIF-8 nanostructures, and eugenol, achieving 88% inhibition against E. coli. Practical validation through fresh noodle preservation trials confirmed the material’s effectiveness, with the optimized formulation (PVA-HACC-2% eugenol@ZIF-8, PHEZ2) extending shelf life by >5 days compared to conventional packaging. This work establishes a novel strategy for engineering intelligent ZIF-based packaging systems that respond to food spoilage microenvironments, offering significant potential for reducing food loss. Full article

Peroxymonosulfate (PMS)-based advanced oxidation is often hindered by pH instability and the lack of post-reaction separation. Herein, commercial magnesium hydroxide (Mg(OH)₂) is introduced as a multifunctional catalyst to address these limitations. Mg(OH)₂ effectively catalyzed PMS decomposition via a nonradical pathway dominated by singlet oxygen (¹O₂) generation, achieving rapid and complete degradation of electron-rich pollutants like bisphenol A (BPA) within 40 min. The system exhibits exceptional pH self-regulation, stabilizing the solution at ~9.8 and maintaining high efficiency across an initial pH range of 3–11. Mechanistic studies confirm ¹O₂ as the primary reactive species with a steady-state concentration of 1.67 × 10⁻¹² M. The catalyst demonstrates strong resistance to common anions and humic acid, along with excellent stability over four cycles. Furthermore, Mg(OH)₂ enables in situ flocculation and removal of degradation products. This work highlights Mg(OH)₂ as an efficient, stable, and multifunctional activator, offering a integrated strategy for practical wastewater treatment. Full article

Straw returning, a core practice in conservation tillage, promotes sustainable intensification; however, it faces challenges such as inefficient decomposition, nutrient competition, and pathogen accumulation. To address these limitations, this study aimed to develop a multifunctional microbial consortium specifically designed for straw-incorporating cropping systems. The consortium comprises four Bacillus strains with complementary enzymatic systems, isolated from diverse ecological niches. It exhibited robust lignocellulolytic enzyme production, with manganese peroxidase (7709.33 U/L), laccase (450.65 U/L), endo-β-1,4-glucanase (154.67 U/mL), and filter paper activity (309.18 U/L). The consortium significantly enhanced rice straw degradation by 37.18% and increased nitrogen (N) release by 16.13% compared to the control. Moreover, the consortium exhibited a 67.56% inhibition rate against Magnaporthe oryzae and reduced both the incidence rate and disease index of leaf blast and panicle blast. Field trials revealed increases in the rice grain yield of 9.63% and 6.94% when applied alone and 6.75% and 5.18% when co-applied with straw residues. These findings highlight the multifunctional agricultural potential of the consortium and provide a sustainable strategy to overcome the limitations of straw-incorporating farming systems. Full article

Dehumidification plays a vital role across industrial, commercial, and residential settings, where controlling moisture is essential for maintaining air quality, protecting materials, and ensuring comfort. Calcium chloride (CaCl₂) is a widely used, low-cost desiccant, but it suffers from a critical drawback: under humid conditions, particles tend to agglomerate, which reduces their ability to absorb water. In addition, when the salt dissolves in hydration water, its contact surface with moist air decreases, and corrosive liquid leakage can occur. Embedding CaCl₂ into hydrophilic porous matrices offers a solution by dispersing particles more effectively, preventing agglomeration, increasing the contact area, and retaining liquid within the pore network to suppress leakage. In this study, we introduce a novel approach for fabricating carbon-based foams impregnated with CaCl₂, produced through the thermal decomposition of glucose under self-induced pressure. These foams exhibit a composite architecture that integrates CaCl₂ and calcium carbonate, enabling controlled porosity through selective dissolution. Importantly, the in situ transformation of CaCl₂ into calcite refines the internal structure, improving both stability and acids absorption performance. FTIR confirmed the strong hydrophilicity of the foam walls, which enhances water vapor uptake while preventing leakage of saturated salt solutions. The carbon matrix further suppresses salt particle agglomeration during moisture absorption, resulting in high efficiency. These multifunctional foams not only capture water vapor and volatile acids but also show potential as phase change materials. Mechanical testing revealed tunable behavior among the fabricated foams, ranging from high-stiffness structures with superior energy absorption (e.g., C2) to more compliant foams with extended strain capacity (e.g., A2), illustrating their versatility for practical applications. Full article