The excessive use of plastics, especially single‑use plastics (SUPs), is posing substantial risks to ecosystems and human health, driven by burgeoning production and unsustainable consumption behaviours. Circular economy approaches are increasingly promoted as a sustainable model for addressing this global wicked problem, yet their success ultimately depends on consumer acceptance and participation. This study investigates Taiwanese consumers’ preferences for circular economy policies targeting the phase‑out of SUPs, recognising consumers as key actors in enabling behavioural change and supporting business transitions. Using a discrete choice experiment, the study examined preferences for improvements in public knowledge, the ability of businesses and consumers to shift to circular practices, reductions in SUPs use, and associated changes in annual income tax. In a context where 94
A series of undoped and 1-9 mol% Eu3+ doped Ba2La4Zn2O10 phosphor are synthesized via solution combustion route utilizing Gaseteria brachyphylla (G. brachyphylla) gel as fuel. The optimized phosphor is explored for its potential in optical thermometry and latent fingerprints (LFPs) visualization applications. Under 394 nm excitation, Eu3+ doped Ba2La4Zn2O10 phosphors exhibited strong red emission associated with D-5(0)-> F-J transitions. The calculated Commission Internationale de l'& Eacute;clairage (CIE) coordinates (x = 0.6335, y = 0.3656) confirmed that the emitted light lies in the red spectral region, with an exceptional color purity (CP) of similar to 87.05 % with correlated color temperature (CCT) of 1876 K. Judd-Ofelt (J-O) parameters (Omega(2), Omega(4)) and other radiative properties are analyzed through photoluminescence (PL) emission spectra to gain insights into the luminescent behavior of Ba2La4Zn2O10:Eu3+ phosphors. The temperature-dependent emission study demonstrated that the luminescence intensity retained 88.57 % of its initial value at 420 K, with a high activation energy (E-a) of about 0.24 eV, highlighting the material's excellent thermal stability. The maximum relative sensitivity (S-r ) of the Ba2La4Zn2O10:5Eu(3+) phosphor is determined to be 2.46 % K-1 at 300 K. Furthermore, bright, clear red-emitting fingerprint images are developed using the powder-dusting method on multiple surfaces, including magazine paper, painted wood, and glass. These images exhibited excellent clarity, revealing well-defined Level I-III ridge features under 365 nm UV light. These results suggest that Ba2La4Zn2O10:5Eu(3+) phosphors hold strong potential for display technologies and LFPs visualization applications.
In this note, we reexamine decoherence effects in quantum field theories with gravity duals. The thought experiment proposed in [1, 2], which reveals novel decoherence patterns associated with black holes, also manifests itself from the perspective of the boundary theory. In particular, we consider a moving mirror coupled to quantum critical theories characterized by a dynamical exponent z that are dual to asymptotically Lifshitz geometries. The interference experiment occurs on the boundary, where a superposition of two spatially separated quantum states of a mirror is maintained for a finite time tau 0 before recombination. We find that the interaction with a quantum field at finite temperature, arising from the presence of a Lifshitz black hole, leads to a constant decoherence rate. In contrast, for the zero-temperature case corresponding to pure Lifshitz spacetime, the decoherence rate vanishes in the large-time limit tau 0 -> infinity. Remarkably, in the zero-temperature regime, the decoherence exhibits a power-law decay at large tau 0 as z -> infinity, a behavior reminiscent of the decoherence patterns seen in extremal black hole geometries. In addition, we investigate the decoherence of one particle in an EPR pair constructed holographically. Our results indicate that causality plays a crucial role in determining whether the entanglement leads to the suppression of decoherence in the other particle.
Background: The development of eco-friendly and efficient nanomaterials for environmental remediation and energy storage is crucial for sustainable technology. Vanadium pentoxide (V2O5) is a promising material due to its excellent optical, photocatalytic, and electrochemical properties. However, its performance can be further enhanced through strategic doping and green synthesis approaches. Methods: A bio-fueled solution combustion method was used to synthesize undoped and samarium-doped V2O5 (V2O5:Sm-3(+)) nanoparticles (NPs) utilizing Ocimum tenuiflorum leaf extract as a sustainable fuel. Structural, morphological, and optical properties were analyzed using XRD, FE-SEM, TEM, EDAX, XPS, and UV-Vis spectroscopy. Significant findings: XRD confirmed orthorhombic V2O5 with Sm-3(+) substitution. FE-SEM and TEM showed a transition from nanosheets to hierarchical flower-like structures at higher doping levels. The bandgap narrowed from 2.72 eV to 2.16 eV, enhancing visible-light absorption. V2O5:9Sm(3)(+) NPs exhibited 96.51 % photocatalytic degradation of Malachite Green within 100 min under sunlight and excellent recyclability. Phytotoxicity tests confirmed environmental safety, while electrochemical studies revealed superior supercapacitor performance with a high specific capacitance of 332.28 F/g and 93 % retention after 5000 cycles. The enhanced properties are attributed to Sm-3(+) induced structural and electronic modifications, demonstrating the potential of bio-synthesized V2O5:Sm-3(+) for sustainable applications.
Developing multifunctional materials that simultaneously address demands in optoelectronics, energy storage, and biometric security remains a critical challenge. A series of undoped and Nd3+ doped Sr2ZnGe2O7 (x = 1-5 mol %) phosphors synthesized via both solid-state and solution combustion routes, designed to integrate tunable near-infrared luminescence, robust electrochemical performance, and high-resolution forensic imaging within a single material platform. Under 808 nm excitation, the phosphors exhibit sharp emissions at 899, 1065, and 1345 nm, corresponding to 4F3/2 -> 4IJtransitions of Nd3+, with emission quenching at higher dopant concentrations governed by dipole-dipole interactions. Electrochemical studies reveal a specific capacitance of 178.79 F g-1, an energy density of 2.50 Wh kg-1, and 92.04 % capacity retention over 5000 cycles, driven by favorable charge transport dynamics linked to microstructural differences arising from synthesis strategy. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy further confirms accelerated ion diffusion and reduced interfacial resistance. Beyond energy applications, the same materials enable ambient-light latent fingerprint visualization across varied substrates, resolving all three forensic ridge detail levels, including sweat pore morphology and 3D poroscopic features. This work demonstrates a unified materials framework that bridges photonic, electrochemical, and biometric functionalities offering a new pathway toward integrated, multifunctional devices for next-generation security and energy technologies.
