Interaction-centered categorization of cytocompatible self-healing hydrogels for bioprinting and 3D cell culture, based on diverse crosslinking designs.
Biodegradable MIL-100(Fe) nanoparticles act as controlled iron reservoirs: in Fe-deficient Arabidopsis they promote longer roots, restore chlorophyll absorption peaks and show fluorescence in roots/xylem, supporting iron release and uptake by plants.
Needle-punched jute/viscose nonwovens achieved up to 89.77% filtration efficiency, tunable pore sizes, improved abrasion resistance, and biodegradability, demonstrating strong potential for sustainable erosion control.
This study provides a comparative assessment of different keratin-based animal fibres in limepozzolan mortars with emphasis on the coupled mechanical, hygric, and thermal performance relevant for heritage conservation applications. Horse...
Sustainable synthesis of PET-derived carbon, activated with lemon juice and modified with Ni(OH) 2 to develop electrochemical sensors for detecting paracetamol and linezolid in aqueous systems.
Mechanochemical modification provides a solvent-free approach to tuning the thermal properties of high sulfur content materials.
A hot injection method is established which yields small bimetallic gallium-based particles with narrow size polydispersity. The growth is arrested via CO 2 evolution from the molecular precursors.
Dopant-free hole-transport materials (HTMs) are crucial for enhancing both the power conversion efficiency and operational stability of perovskite solar cells, yet their performance is strongly influenced by molecular structure. In...
Redox flow batteries (RFBs) are promising for large-scale energy storage due to their modularity and long cycle life; however, their commercialization is limited by low power density and the high...
Perovskite solar cells based on organic–inorganic lead halide materials are advancing toward practical implementation, yet their potential risks to human health remain insufficiently understood, particularly in relation to direct skin contact during handling and processing. In this study, we evaluated the skin toxicity of methylammonium lead iodide (MAPbI3), a representative perovskite material, together with its precursor and decomposition-related compounds, methylammonium iodide (MAI) and lead iodide (PbI2), using A375 skin-derived cells and a reconstructed three-dimensional human epidermis model following OECD Test Guideline 439. To reflect distinct exposure scenarios, we examined aqueous suspensions, filtered fractions containing dissolved and nanosized species, and solid powders. MAPbI3 and PbI2 significantly reduced cell viability, whereas organic MAI showed weaker and partially reversible effects. In the reconstructed epidermis model, powdered MAPbI3 caused marked tissue damage and reduced cell viability to a level comparable to that induced by sodium dodecyl sulfate, although the histological features differed between the two treatments. Filtered fractions also retained measurable cytotoxicity. These findings indicate that lead iodide perovskites pose a previously underappreciated skin-contact hazard and highlight the importance of human-relevant testing strategies for evaluating the safety of emerging photovoltaic materials.
Graphene-coated textiles are attracting increasing interest due to their electrical conductivity, flexibility, and durability, making them promising materials for wearable electronics, energy storage, and smart fabrics. However, the influence of graphene loading on the overall performance of textile substrates remains insufficiently explored. In this study, flax textiles were coated with controlled amounts of graphene using a sustainable process and systematically characterized. Raman spectroscopy and FE-SEM analyses confirmed uniform graphene deposition, while TGA enabled quantification of the graphene loading. FTIR results indicated that the chemical structure of the flax fibers remained preserved after coating. The graphene layer modified the surface properties, transforming the textile from hydrophilic to hydrophobic and slowing its natural biodegradation. Electrical conductivity increased with graphene content, with a sharp transition occurring above 2 wt%, where the fabric became conductive. At approximately 3 wt% graphene, the textile exhibited excellent electrothermal heating performance, reaching 180 °C under an applied voltage of 20 V. Photothermal experiments showed that the temperature increased to about 70 °C after 5 minutes of solar exposure. This temperature rise was sufficient to induce a bactericidal effect under sunlight, effectively inhibiting bacterial growth. These results demonstrate that controlled graphene deposition can effectively tailor the multifunctional properties of flax textiles, combining flexibility, environmental sustainability, and efficient thermal management. Such materials show strong potential for applications in solar-heated garments, self-disinfecting fabrics, and solar-driven water purification.
The emergence of antibiotic resistance in clinically significant pathogens, coupled with their ability to form persistent biofilms, presents a severe challenge in the management of burns and wound infections. To help mitigate the overuse of antibiotics and reduce the prevalence of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria, we have developed a modular theranostic system by blending two types of biocompatible copolymer building blocks, a chromogenic and an antimicrobial component, respectively. For this purpose, a parent active ester copolymer, poly[(hydroxy ethyl acrylamide)-co-(4-benzophenone acrylamide)-co-(pentafluorophenyl acrylate)-co- (ECOSURF EH-3 acrylate)] was synthesized via free radical polymerization. Two different chromogenic building blocks for bacterial enzyme detection were obtained from the parent polymer by functionalization of the pentafluorophenyl acrylate units with enzyme-labile chromogenic compounds, either 5-bromo-4-chloro-3-indolyl β-d-glucuronide (X-GLUC) or 4-nitrophenyl-β-d-glucuronide (PNPG). The antimicrobial building block for infection prevention and treatment was prepared from the parent active ester polymer by modification with antimicrobial peptide SAAP-148. The chromogenic-antimicrobial polymer blend responded to the bacterial enzyme β-glucuronidase with the release of chromophores that produce a visible colour change, enabling rapid, equipment-free proof-of-concept chromogenic detection of Escherichia coli, a major cause of healthcare-associated infections. This polymer blend also demonstrated potent antimicrobial activity against E. coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Acinetobacter baumannii, including multidrug-resistant strains.
Recently, two-dimensional structured perovskites have emerged as promising alternatives to conventional three-dimensional analogs to overcome the instability of perovskite solar cells. However, combining these perovskites with traditional charge transport layers could induce interfacial losses, such as charge recombination, series resistance, and energy barriers. Herein, we integrate a Dion–Jacobson phase two-dimensional perovskite with the mono-layered chalcogenides of tin disulfide and gallium selenide as charge transport materials. The fully two-dimensional solar cell structure enables van der Waals coupling without dangling bonds, decreased non-radiative recombination, and reduced lattice mismatch at interfaces. We analyze the effects of key material parameters, such as perovskite thickness, bulk defect density, parasitic resistances, effective density of states, and operating temperature, on the photovoltaic performance of fully two-dimensional solar cells. We analyze the simulated band alignment, recombination profiles, and impedance characteristics to elucidate the carrier transport mechanism. Following simulation optimization, the best-performing Dion–Jacobson-based perovskite device attained an optimal power conversion efficiency of 18.06% under the standard solar spectrum. In addition, the simulated efficiency was reduced by only 10% over the operating temperature range of 300–450 K, indicating relatively stable temperature-dependent performance under the investigated simulation conditions.
Toward the development of efficient and eco-friendly Cu2ZnSnS4 (CZTS) photoactive materials, substitution strategies have emerged as an effective method to control the band gap energy and improve the properties of this material, thereby enhancing its performance. In this work, (AgxCu1−x)2ZnSnS4 compounds (involving Cu–Ag substitution) with 0 ≤ x ≤ 1 were synthesized by a solid-state reaction of pure elements. X-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy indicated that while pure Cu2ZnSnS4 adopted the kesterite-type structure, the fully substituted AgZnSnS4 crystallized in the stannite-type structure, revealing a gradual phase transformation from the kesterite phase to the stannite phase with the increasing Ag content together with lattice expansion. Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy measurements showed that the deviation between the experimental Ag concentrations and the theoretically calculated values decreased as the Ag content increased. Diffuse reflectance spectroscopy of the obtained samples revealed the tunability of the optical properties through cation (Cu–Ag) substitution. The band gap energy increased from 1.33 eV to 1.89 eV with the Ag substitution ratio, showing considerable potential in photovoltaic photocatalytic applications. Additionally, photocatalytic tests were carried out using these bulk materials in powder form in the presence of blue methylene dye, and their photodegradation was investigated under visible light. The efficiency for the photocatalytic degradation of blue methylene dye in the unsubstituted (free-Ag) powder material, which has the most developed crystal structure and the narrowest band gap, was the highest, reaching up to 94.6% with a degradation rate constant (k) of 0.0156 min−1 after 180 minutes at pH 10 under non-scavenger conditions.
Annealing at 100 °C for 90 min offers an additive-free approach to enhance crystallinity and piezoelectric performance of bio-based PHBV nanofiber mats under high-frequency stimulation for application in biomedical implants and self-powered sensors.
SDS restructures IL-rich aggregates: low SDS promotes compact mixed aggregates, while 4 mM SDS causes transient destabilization, enhanced mobility, heterogeneity, and a viscosity minimum. Further SDS restores compact aggregates.
Anatase TiO2 nanostructures synthesized through hydrothermal synthesis methods are cutting-edge materials with great potential for photocatalytic H2 evolution. Despite its potential, the wide optical bandgap and low catalytic activity of...
The potential-step method is one of the promising approaches for electrochemical carbon dioxide (CO2) reduction because it can flexibly change the catalyst surface and control intermediate species, especially on metal sulfide catalysts. However, how potential modulation affects the catalyst surface state and reaction mechanism is still under discussion. Here, in this work, using copper sulfide (CuS) as a representative metal sulfide-based CO2 reduction electrocatalyst, the surface states of the catalyst were investigated to gain insight into the role of the anion during the potential-step method. X-ray diffraction patterns after anodic and cathodic application revealed that the cathodic potential generated Cu0 sites, while the subsequent anodic potential produced Cu2O by the introduction of OH− from the electrolyte. Additional cathodic potential re-reduced the Cu2O to close the catalytic cycle. In situ Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and a CO2 reduction activity comparison among CuS, Cu0, Cu0 + S2−, and Cu2O clarified that bulk S stabilized the *CO intermediate to suppress further reaction, while surface-adsorbed S promoted *H supply to enhance the CO2 reduction activity. Furthermore, the presence of O on the surface promoted carbon–carbon bond formation. The results in this work show that each metal sulfide anion plays a specific role in controlling the selectivity of the electrochemical CO2 reduction product under potential-step conditions, bringing important insights for catalyst design.
Corrosion of stainless steels often produces a duplex structure of an outer iron oxide and inner chromium oxide. The effect of irradiation on multilayer oxides and, in particular, the role of the interface on defect transport are not well understood. In this work, model thin film stacks of epitaxial Fe2O3/Cr2O3/Al2O3(0001) and Cr2O3/Fe2O3/buffer Cr2O3/Al2O3(0001) were synthesized by molecular beam epitaxy and irradiated with 100 keV Fe+ in stages to 5.0 dpa. Irradiation conditions were chosen to limit atomic displacements and Fe+ implantation to the top film only. Structural characterization by X-ray diffraction showed that the d-spacing of the top film was expanded by the irradiation. Cation vacancy defect characterization by Doppler broadening and lifetime positron annihilation spectroscopy revealed that cation defects were present in Cr2O3 after irradiation of the top Fe2O3 film. Based on defect mobility and stability, it is suggested that oxygen interstitials cross from Fe2O3 to Cr2O3 and react with the lattice to generate cation vacancies. This transport is found to be asymmetric: no defects are observed in Fe2O3 when the top Cr2O3 film is irradiated. This asymmetry is attributed to the lower defect mobility in Cr2O3 than Fe2O3.
Supercapacitors are attractive energy storage systems owing to their high-power output, quick charge–discharge behaviour and remarkable cycling stability and they serve as an intermediate technology between conventional capacitors and batteries.
