Organic–inorganic hybrid glasses provide an attractive platform for tailoring optical properties through the controlled incorporation of functional organic molecules. In this study, methyl orange (MO)-doped 45S5 silicate–phosphate glasses containing (0.02, 0.04, 0.06, and 0.08 wt.
This study investigates the influence of different synthesis routes on the structure, defect chemistry, and multifunctional properties of ZnO/ZnFe₂O₄ heterostructured nanocomposites. Cold plasma, green synthesis, and co-precipitation methods were employed to control the ZnO/ZnFe₂O₄ phase ratios, crystallite size, and oxygen vacancy density. Comprehensive characterization using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy/energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEM/EDS), ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy (UV–Vis), Raman spectroscopy, and multivariate statistical analyses (principal component analysis (PCA), 3D-PCA, Pearson correlation, and hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA)) established clear synthesis–structure–function relationships. The cold plasma route yielded the most ZnO-rich and highly crystalline heterostructure (59
Nd3+-substituted Ni0.7Zn0.3Cr0.5Fe1.5-xNdxO4 nanoferrites (0.00 <= x <= 0.05) were synthesized by the sol-gel auto-combustion route to examine how rare-earth substitution tunes the structural, dielectric, electrical, and magnetic characteristics of Ni-Zn ferrites. X-ray diffraction with Rietveld refinement confirmed the formation of a single-phase cubic spinel structure for all compositions. The larger ionic radius of Nd3+ compared with Fe3+ causes lattice expansion/local strain and indicates preferential incorporation into the octahedral B-site network, as also supported by the Bertaut-type cation-distribution analysis. TEM revealed a progressive reduction in particle size with increasing Nd content, consistent with the observed microstructural evolution. Elemental mapping/EDS supported a uniform spatial distribution of constituent elements across the investigated samples. FTIR spectra showed ferrite-related low-wavenumber metal-oxygen vibrational features, with band-shape modifications attributable to Nd-induced perturbation of the local bonding environment. Dielectric spectroscopy showed the expected dispersion of epsilon ' and tan delta with frequency; moreover, epsilon ' and dielectric loss decrease with Nd substitution, suggesting suppression of space-charge/interfacial polarization and reduced charge carrier mobility at grain boundaries. The frequency dependence of sigma ac follows the typical ferrite response and is consistent with a hopping-assisted conduction mechanism; sigma ac decreases with increasing Nd content, indicating inhibited hopping between localized states (e.g., Fe2+/Fe3+). Room-temperature M-H measurements confirmed soft ferrimagnetic behavior for all compositions, while the gradual reduction in saturation magnetization and coercivity with Nd incorporation is correlated with weakened A-B superexchange interactions, magnetic dilution, increased Yafet-Kittel spin canting, and modified anisotropy. Overall, Nd3+ substitution provides a viable pathway to tailor the microstructure and multifunctional response of Ni-Zn-Cr ferrites for high-frequency and low-loss magnetic/dielectric device applications.
Photoredox catalysis has developed as an effective and adaptable tool for generating novel synthesis procedures. Among its different variants, heterogeneous photoredox catalysis stands out for many significant energy efficiency benefits. Herein, we examined a ternary TiO2/CDs/g-C3N4 (TCC) heterojunction as a photocatalyst for promoting C(sp3)-O bond formation upon illumination with blue LED light. A 10 wt% loading of TiO2 on carbon dots/g-C3N4 (CDCN) showed the best efficiency in the photocatalytic C(sp3)-O bond formation. The structural, optical, electronic properties, surface morphology, topography, functional group analysis, chemical states and elemental composition were characterized using various analysis techniques. HRTEM analysis shows the presence of spherical, monodispersed carbon dots (CDs) with a mean particle size of 6 nm. The CDs in the nanocomposite act as an electron mediator, thus forming a Z-scheme heterojunction between two semiconductors. The average diameter and d-spacing value of TiO2 on CDCN are assessed to be 12 and 0.23 nm, respectively. Further, the production of photoexcited holes and electrons during the photocatalytic process has been identified with the help of scavenging studies. The prepared photocatalyst shows excellent product yields of up to 99% within 5 h of reaction time with high turnover number (TON) and turnover frequency (TOF).
The increasing prevalence of antimicrobial resistance and the limitations of conventional wound dressings necessitate the development of sustainable and effective antimicrobial biomaterials. In this study, copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO NPs) were green synthesized using Turbinaria conoides extract and subsequently incorporated into starch/polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) electrospun nanofibrous scaffolds to enhance antimicrobial performance. The biosynthesized CuO NPs exhibited a characteristic surface plasmon resonance peak at 270–300 nm and a mean particle size of 68 nm with a zeta potential of −11.4 mV, indicating moderate colloidal stability. Structural and chemical analyses (FTIR and XRD) confirmed the formation of monoclinic CuO and phytochemical-mediated stabilization, while SEM revealed uniform nanoparticle distribution within nanofibers of 90–110 nm diameter. The CuO-loaded nanoscaffolds demonstrated significantly enhanced antimicrobial activity, with inhibition zones of 30 ± 0.2 mm (Escherichia coli), 27 ± 0.2 mm (Klebsiella pneumoniae), and 25 ± 0.3 mm (Staphylococcus aureus), outperforming both algal extract and CuO NPs alone. The improved efficacy is attributed to synergistic effects of nanoparticle incorporation and sustained release from the nanofibrous matrix. This study presents a novel integration of T. conoides-mediated CuO nanoparticles into biodegradable starch/PVA electrospun scaffolds, offering a sustainable and effective platform for antimicrobial wound dressing applications.
