Biomass-derived porous carbonaceous materials derived from affordable and sustainable resources have become attractive electrode materials for energy storage devices. These active electrode materials have garnered huge attention due to their high electrochemical activity, low cost, sustainable nature, and abundant availability. In the current study, K2CO3 activation was used to produce porous carbon (KePAC) with a high porosity from Keekar leaves. KePAC consists of a combination of mesoporosity and microporosity with a surface area of similar to 1383 m(2)g(-1) resulting in a high specific capacitance equal to 353 F g(-1) in KOH (6 M), 264 F g(-1) in H2SO4 (1 M), 156 F g(-1) in Na2SO4 (1 M) and 145 F g(-1) in LiOH (1 M) electrolytic solutions at a high current density of 1 A g(-1). Additionally, for a practical real time assessment of the material, symmetric devices were constructed utilizing 6 M KOH aqueous (aq.) electrolytes. At a current density of 0.5 A g(-1), the 1.6 V aqueous device provides a specific capacitance of 131 F g(-1). The aqueous device gives a highest energy density of similar to 46.56 Wh kg(-1) at power density of 400 W kg(-1). The satisfactory cycling retention (during the period of 13,000 GCD cycles) is obtained as 96.91% for the primary 3000 cycles at 10 A g(-1), 98.1% for next (3001 to 6000) cycles at 20 A g(-1), 100% for next (6001-9000) cycles at 30 A g(-1). As a rate capability study the symmetric device achieved cyclic retention of 98.36% for last (12001-13,000) cycles at 10 A g(-1). Such two devices connected in series were used to glow a red LED for five minutes to test a prototype for practical use. Such excellent stability and performance make KePAC a desirable material as an application of cheap and sustainable electrochemical energy storage.

We propose a generic empirical formula for total inelastic cross-sections for various target nuclei scattered by a proton at different energies, which is applicable over a wide range of energy from $15 ~MeV$ to $1~ TeV$. The proposed model is parameterized based on the fitting of extensively studied experimental cross-section data for the Aluminium and Carbon nucleus targets, considering factorization over high-energy and low-energy regimes. The parameters in high-energy formula are determined by the fitting of the high-energy saturation value of the inelastic scattering cross-section data with mass numbers. The universality of the empirical formula is investigated by comparing the model prediction with the experimental data of inelastic proton-nucleus scattering over a wide range from light elements such as Deuterium to heavy elements such as Uranium. A detailed comparison with the existing models and GEANT4 simulation is also presented.

Biomass-derived activated carbons (BACs) comprising highly porous structures and ultralightweight characteristics are potential microwave-absorbing materials (MAMs). Here, we report diverse BACs from rice stubble (PAAC), bajra husk (BJAC), royal palm leaves (RAC) and amla leaves (ACA) prepared via a two-step process involving carbonisation and KOH activation. The superimposed effect of natural hierarchical structure and activation results in exceptionally large specific surface area i.e., PAAC (1744.6 m2/g), ACA (1704 m2/g), BJAC (1613.5 m2/g) and RAC (1315 m2/g), enabling optimal balance the relatively adverse relationship between dielectric loss and impedance matching to attain effective microwave (MW) absorption. At minimal loading, PAAC10 achieves remarkably strong reflection loss (RLmin) of -69 dB with an effective absorption bandwidth (EABmax) of 4.4 GHz covering 75 % of the Ku band at 1.66 mm thickness. RAC20 exhibits an EABmax of 5 GHz at 1.67 mm, spanning 83.3 % of the Ku band. BJAC15 demonstrates an exceptional EABmax of 6.1 GHz, covering the entire Ku band at 2.2 mm, and 4.16 GHz spanning the whole X-band at 3.1 mm. The activation-induced hierarchical 3D porous conductive network enhances electromagnetic wave (EMW) scattering, interfacial polarization, and conductive losses. Simultaneously, the incorporation of oxygen-containing functional groups induces dipole polarization loss, contributing to a multi-component loss mechanism. Furthermore, by modulating dielectric properties and impedance matching through controlled material loading, BACs exhibit superior MW absorption with strong RL and ultra-broad EAB at minimal thicknesses. These findings provide valuable insights into the potential of BACs as high-performance, lightweight MAMs for advanced EMW absorbing applications.

Here we propose a Cu2O-ZnO-based high-aspect ratio core-shell nanowire (with radial p-n junction) for efficient photodetection via a cost-effective fabrication route. The proposed platform exploits enhanced active depletion area offered by radial p-n junction in high aspect ratio nanowires, along with this excellent transport properties of the device. This results in superior light-matter interaction and better charge collection efficiency. The proposed device demonstrates significant improvement in responsivity via a simple fabrication approach and offers a compact and cost-effective alternative to complex, highly sensitive photodetectors. It can find applications in remote sensing, medical diagnostics barcode readers, and wireless environmental monitoring. Moreover, the enhanced light-matter interaction via the proposed approach can be useful in various other applications such as Solar Cells, Light Emitting Diodes, and Optical Modulation.

In this work, the co-precipitation method has been utilized to synthesize MnCo2O4 (MCO) and MnCo2O4@Po- lyaniline (PMCO) nanocomposites. The wt% of polyaniline (PANI) has been varied from 0 to 30 %, keeping the MnCo2O4 precursor quantity constant. The nanocomposite with 20 wt% PANI (P20MCO) exhibits better electrochemical properties compared to other synthesized nanocomposite samples. The P20MCO nanocomposite exhibits specific capacitances of 765 F g- 1 at 0.5 A g- 1 and 88.13 % capacitance retention over 10,000 consecutive cycles. An asymmetric supercapacitor (ASC) has been constructed using P20MCO as cathode and commercially activated carbon as anode. The fabricated ASC device exhibits outstanding cycling stability with 91.48 % capacitance retention for 45,000 cycles at 12 A g- 1 . The ASC has the highest power density of 14.3 kW kg- 1 and specific energy density of 58 Wh kg- 1 . Moreover, a red LED is illuminated by a single device and putting two devices in series light the blue, green, and white LEDs. These ASCs glow a red LED for more than 13 min. Our results suggest that the P20MCO nanocomposite-based supercapacitor devices will be promising for energy storage applications because of their easy production approach and good electrochemical performance.

The charge storage performance of porous carbon could be improved by employing amassed redox active sites on its surface via heteroatom doping. Herein, the cavity mediation strategy is introduced to synthesize one-step heteroatom-doped porous carbon for supercapacitors. The heteroatom-doped porous carbon reveals decent micro/meso surface contributions with a high surface area (1254 m2g- 1). It shows a tremendous specific capacitance of 482 F g- 1 as compared to without nitrogen-doped porous carbon (270 F g- 1). In contrast, the heteroatom-doped porous carbon sustains attractive cycling retention performance as 96.5 %@ 25 A g- 1, 95 % @40 A g- 1, and 92.7 %@ 50 A g- 1 for 15 K, 18 K & 20 K Galvanostatic charge-discharge cycles, respectively. Moreover, the heteroatom-doped porous carbon electrodes-based symmetric supercapacitor device is fabricated in coin cell mode using PVA/KOH gel electrolyte. The device discloses a high energy density of 42.3 W h Kg- 1 at 796 W Kg- 1 power density. Alongside, it facilitates moderate cycling stability of 90 % with coulombic efficiency >= 99 % up to long-term rigorous 50 K charge discharge cycles at 16 A g- 1. Furthermore, a practical demonstration is also carried out by illuminating red and green LEDs with good brightness. This "waste to wealth" approach is truly practicable in achieving the colossal supercapacitive behavior of porous carbon to foster a sustainable energy storage system.

Abstract Electromagnetic interference and microwave-absorbing materials, initially developed for defense application, have evolved further into adaptable materials with potential applications in contemporary technologies, including domestic ones. Bench-side research has made notable strides, yet these absorbing materials remain quite limited and have not yet achieved widespread acceptance. In recent years, nanoscale synthesized materials have gained attention for their unique structures, which can boost the absorption performance of these materials. This review provides an overview of the absorbing materials, discussing some key factors that influence microwave absorption. The phenomena primarily responsible for absorption are favorably surveyed in the interaction section of the review. Data on the trendiest shapes are compiled and summarized in the article. The impact of shape and size on material efficiency is discussed alongside their mechanisms, while surpassing Snoek’s limits and increasing permeability values may break saturation barriers in microwave absorbers. This consideration of various shapes also paves the way for multifunctional materials in different fields, encouraging industry engagement in this area of research. This review also underlines the role and future prospects of nanoscale materials with unique shapes (nanospheres, cubes, flowers, fibers, sheets, and tubes) in this field and also in the emerging area of biomedical, sensing, thermal insulation, self-healing, and other applications. In the end, this review embraces future directions to develop MAMs as next-generation materials with multifunctional properties.

Porous carbonaceous materials derived from biomass, which are both cost-effective and obtained from sustainable resources, have emerged as appealing electrode materials for energy storage devices. These materials have received great interest as active electrode materials due to their ample, low-cost, sustainable nature and excellent electrochemical stability. In the present work, porous activated carbon (AC) was synthesized from Keekar leaves by dual activation using H2SO4 and KOH. This Keekar leaves derived AC (KLAC) possesses a surface area of similar to 1677m(2)g(-1) with a combination of micro and mesoporosity displaying a specific capacitance of 411F/g in 6 M KOH and 219.55F/g for 1 M H2SO4 electrolytic solution at a current density of 1 A/g. Further, the symmetric devices were fabricated using both aqueous (aq.) and polymer gel electrolytes for practical evaluation of the material. The aq. and gel device are capable of delivering a specific capacitance of 108.34 F/g and 88.45 F/ g, respectively, at a current density of 0.5 A/g. The aq. device offers a maximum energy density of 33.85 Whkg(-1) at a power density of 562.5 Wkg(-1). The outstanding capacitance retention of 89.5 % is demonstrated by the aq. device at a higher scan rate of 20 A/g after continuous 10,000 charging-discharging cycles. Such high performance and stability make KLAC a potential candidate as an affordable and sustainable electrochemical energy storage application.

The excitation functions of ^nat Mo( α , x) ^97 Ru and ^nat Mo( α , x) ^103 Ru reactions in the energy range of 10–22 MeV are determined using the stacked foil activation technique and offline γ -ray spectrometry. The correction for γ -self attenuation is performed in the present measurement. The theoretical predictions of cross-section for ^nat Mo( α , x) ^97 Ru and ^nat Mo( α , x) ^103 Ru reactions are calculated by TALYS. The results of the experiment are compared with the existing cross-section data available in the EXFOR database and different level density models by TALYS code. The uncertainty propagation in the measured cross-sections and correlation matrix using covariance analysis has been studied in this work.

The great potential for electromagnetic wave (EMW) absorption is revealed in two-dimensional (2D) Ti3C2Tx (MXene) thin sheets that have numerous surface flaws and an extensive spectrum of functional groups. In this study, Ti3AlC2 (MAX Phase) is etched, and then ultrasonic exfoliation is used to create 2D ultrathin Ti3C2Tx nanosheets; a type of MXene. The MnCo2O4 spherical particles were grown on the layered structure of Ti3C2Tx via a one-pot hydrothermal process. The synthesized Ti3C2Tx/MnCo2O4 composite provides superior bulk-to-surface and interfacial charge transfer capabilities due to their short charge transfer distance and extensive interface contact area to the EMW. This article thoroughly evaluates the loss impact in Ti3C2Tx/MnCo2O4 absorbers as -44.4 dB of reflection loss at 16.04 GHz with a thickness of 5.114 mm for the first time, which is essential for fabricating an effective microwave absorber.

In recent years (n,xp) cross sections of some long-lived radionuclei which are of importance in the upcoming fusion reactor technologies have been constrained using the surrogate ratio method. But the (n,xp) cross sections for the stable nuclei for which a great wealth of data is available from the direct measurements have not been constrained using surrogate ratio method yet, so that the consistency of the surrogate ratio method can be checked. In this study we have investigated the validity of surrogate ratio method by constraining 56Fe(n,xp) cross sections and then the results are compared with the available experimental data, evaluated data and the statistical model predictions. In this study 52Cr(n,xp) reaction has been used as the reference reaction in the surrogate ratio method. It is found in this study that (n,xp) cross sections constrained using surrogate ratio method are sensitive to the spin distribution of the compound nuclei populated in the surrogate reactions. It is also presented in this study that the proton emission probabilities for 57Fe and 53Cr are highly spin dependent. It is concluded that the surrogate ratio method is not suitable for constraining the (n,xp) cross sections.

In this study, we measured the 58 Ni( n , p ) 58 Co reaction cross section with neutron energies of 1.06, 1.86, and 2.85 MeV. The cross section was measured using neutron activation techniques and γ -ray spectroscopy, and it was compared with cross section data available in the EXFOR. Furthermore, we calculated the covariance matrix of the measured cross section for the aforementioned nuclear reaction. The uncertainties of the theoretical calculation for 58 Ni( n , p ) 58 Co reaction cross section were calculated via Monte Carlo method. In this study, we used uncertainties in the optical model and level density parameters to calculate uncertainties in the theoretical cross sections. The theoretical calculations were performed by using TALYS-1.96. In this study, we aim to analyze the effect of uncertainties of the nuclear model input as well as different experimental variables used to obtain the values of reaction cross section.

The excitation function of the Ni-58(n,p)Co-58 reaction was measured using the well-established neutron activation technique and gamma-ray spectroscopy. Neutrons in the energy range of 1.7 to 2.7 MeV were generated using the Li-7(p,n) reaction. The neutron flux was measured using the standard In-115(n,n ')(115)mIn monitor reaction. The results of the neutron spectrum averaged cross-section of Ni-58(n,p)Co-58 reactions were compared with existing cross-section data available in the EXFOR data library as well as with various evaluated data libraries such as ENDF/B-VIII.0, JEFF-3.3, JENDL-4.0, and CENDL-3.2. Theoretical calculations were performed using the nuclear reaction code TALYS. Various nuclear level density (NLD) models were tested, and their results were compared with the present findings. Realistic NLDs were also obtained through the spectral distribution method (SDM). The cross-section results, along with the absolute errors, were obtained by investigating the uncertainty propagation and using the covariance technique. Corrections for gamma-ray true coincidence summing, low-energy background neutrons, and gamma-ray self attenuation were performed. The experimental cross-section obtained in the present study is consistent with previously published experimental data, evaluated libraries, and theoretical calculations carried out using the TALYS code.

To enhance the efficiency of supercapacitors, the selection of appropriate electrode materials as well as electrolytes is essential. Highly porous materials have gained attention as electrode material while Redox Additive Electrolytes (RAE) have gained popularity as effective alternatives to traditional aqueous electrolytes. The present study discusses the fabrication of a highly porous Co-MOF (ZIF-67) grown on Keekar leaves-derived activated carbon (KLAC) to develop a suitable composite using a simple and inexpensive approach. The grown ZIF-67 material shows a polyhedron kind of morphology over the surface of KLAC with an overall surface area of 1012 m(2)/g. The synthesized material was evaluated for a three-electrode configuration in a 1 M Na2SO4 aqueous electrolyte and 0.2 M K-3[Fe(CN)(6)] in 1 M Na2SO4 (RAE). The ZIF-67/KLAC composite exhibits a high capacitance of 2880 F/g when electrochemically tested within RAE, at a specific current of 5 A/g as compared to 33.11 F/g when tested in 1 M Na2SO4 aqueous electrolyte, over a potential range of -0.1-0.5 V. Also, the cyclic stability in RAE is found to be superior (similar to 100 %) as compared to 1 M Na2SO4 (similar to 95.30 %) after continuous 5000 charge-discharge cycles. The lower resistance in RAE allows for faster ionic and electronic transmission, resulting in superior cyclic stability. Due to the excellent electrochemical outcomes, the suggested synergic of ZIF-67/KLAC/RAE may work as a highly effective supercapacitor assembly in the future.

Garnet-type solid-state electrolytes that conduct Li ions are increasingly being considered as very favorable options for all-solid-state lithium-ion batteries due to their stability toward Li metal, their broad electrochemical stability window, and ionic conductivity. Among these electrolytes, lithium lanthanum zirconate is emerging as a potential candidate. Doping these electrolytes with some trivalent elements that help to stabilize the conducting cubic phase can further enhance their performance. So, in this work, samples with different doping concentrations of Ga with Li7La3Zr2O12 have been prepared through the sol-gel technique, and the obtained samples were subjected to heat treatment at two different stages. The structural and electrical properties of the Li7-3xGaxLa3Zr2O12 (0 <= x <= 0.6) samples were investigated with different experimental methods. XRD analysis showed that adding Ga to the Li site helped to attain the pure phase cubic structure of LLZO calcined at 1000 degrees C. Analyzing the samples through scanning electron microscopy revealed the agglomeration of small particles for the formation of larger grains. The Li7-3xGaxLa3Zr2O12 with x = 0.4 revealed a stabilized cubic garnet-type crystal structure with improved total conductivity from 1.50 x 10-7 S cm-1 (x = 0.0 mol%) to 0.35 x 10-5 S cm-1 (x = 0.4 mol%) at 30 degrees C. The activation energy of the samples decreased with Ga from a value of 0.41 eV for x = 0.0 to 0.28 eV for x = 0.6. The activation energy and pre-exponential factor of total conductivity obeyed the Meyer-Neldel rule. An examination of the isothermal electrical conductivity and modulus spectra was carried out with the use of Jonscher's power law and stretched exponential techniques. The scaling method developed by Summerfield for analyzing AC conductivity spectra demonstrated that the electrical relaxation process of the samples is not affected by the temperatures and concentration of Ga.

Natural silver targets were irradiated using an alpha particle beam to measure the activation cross sections of radioisotopes within the energy range of 23-40 MeV. The newly obtained cross section data, compared with previous experimental results, underline the importance of this work in the context of nuclear reactions and medical applications. Alpha particle induced reaction with " at Ag involved the production of radioisotopes such as 111 In, 105 Ag, 106m Ag. In this study, we focused on calculating correlation matrices for the ' Ag(a,x) nuclear reactions. These matrices were generated by considering various interconnected variables, such as decay constants, particle number densities, y -ray intensities and detector efficiencies for both monitor and sample nuclear reaction products.

The requirement in resolving electromagnetic (EM) problems in stealth warhead technologies are excellent absorption ability, lightweight, and thin dimensions. In this direction, this study provides a straightforward hydrothermal one-pot method to synthesize superparamagnetic Mn-based ferrite co-doped with Co and Cu (MCCF), and the article presents its microwave absorption properties. Using cutting-edge techniques, the MCCF nanocomposite phase structure, morphological, superparamagnetic, and microwave absorption properties were measured and analyzed. MCCF-822 ferrite shows superparamagnetic properties simultaneously with a high M-s value 71.4 emu/g. Vector network analysis of MCCF-822 with 70 wt% loading demonstrates an effective absorption bandwidth (EAB) of 5.2 GHz with a maximum reflection loss (RLmax) of -19.2 dB at 2 mm thickness, and it spans almost 92.77 % frequency region (3.3-18 GHz range with RL < -10 dB) by varying thickness 1.7 mm-6 mm. At 60 wt% loading, it covers the whole X & K-u band with a thickness range from 2 to 9 mm with a good EAB of 4.3 GHz at 2.5 mm thickness with RLmax of -16 dB. The dual absorption bands are also present in MCCF-613, which increases the EAB with RLmax -52.99 dB at 9 mm, fulfilling the superparamagnetic properties. Thus, MCCF-822 is proposed as a cost-effective superior ferrite nanocomposite for microwave absorption applications.

Chlorpyrifos (CPS) is a nerve poisoning organophosphate pesticide that inhibits acetylcholinesterase enzyme and badly impacts the nervous system and disruption of hormones in living beings. Heterostructured semiconductor photocatalysts show outstanding adsorption of organic contaminants for environmental remediation. In this study, we have synthesized CdS/NiS nanocomposite via hydrothermal method and use NCs as promising water splitting photocatalyst. The prepared NCs were characterized by X-ray diffraction, SEM–EDX, PL, UV–visible, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). X-ray diffraction (XRD) results indicate that as synthesized CdS/NiS nanocomposite is composed of hexagonal CdS and rhombohedral structured NiS. Energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) gives the information of elemental composition, and the luminescence and band gap determination were done using PL and UV–visible spectroscopy. The CdS/NiS nanocomposite showed the enhanced optical properties as compared to CdS which confirmed the successful charge separation. The degradation of chlorpyrifos was therefore monitored to determine the efficiency of CdS/NiS hetrostructured photocatalyst and it was observed that 95.39

In the present study, cobalt ferrite (CF) nanoparticles were in-situ grown on MXene/carbon-based materials (activated carbon (AC), MWCNT, and GO) to develop composites via facile hydrothermal route. The MXene/CF/MWCNTs composite (FMCNT4) achieved an excellent maximum reflection loss (RLmax) of -67.04 dB at 16.24 GHz & a thickness of 5.94 mm, whereas at the thickness of 5.86 mm, the FMCNT4 obtained a maximum effective absorption bandwidth (EAB, RL < -10 dB) of 2.73 GHz. On the other hand, replacing MWCNTs with AC in the composite (FMAC4) showed RLmax of -46.52 dB at 18 GHz and 5.1 mm thickness, it also got an EAB of 2.54 GHz at 5.5 mm thickness. The MXene/CF/GO composite (FMGO5) obtained RLmax = -17.31 @ 17.12 GHz & 6 mm. The composite having MWCNTs showed the best performance, and the reason for this remarkable MW absorption performance originated from the high impedance matching followed by dielectric polarization and magnetic losses in the composite. The formation of multiple heterointerfaces between MXene, CF, and MWCNTs enhanced the interfacial polarisation, whereas the conducting MXene and MWCNTs also contributed to conduction polarization. Thus, the present investigation showcases FMCNT as an excellent synergetic nanocomposite for MW absorption applications.

Reduced graphene oxide (rGO) with diverse, layered structures and unique electronic characteristics was restricted in microwave wave absorption owing to the high dielectric and easy agglomeration properties. In situ, the polymerization method is adopted to prepare the rGO@PANI with codoped Mn2O3 and CoFe2O4 composites as an efficient microwave absorber. The resultant material is thoroughly characterized for phase and morphological analysis and dielectric and magnetic parameters, which revealed that Mn2O3 with CoFe2O4 particles was dispersed across the rGO@PANI composite. Our finding shows that at the 35 wt % loading, sample PGF 1 shows an EAB of 5.07 GHz with a maximum reflection loss (RLmax) of -22.79 dB at 2 mm thickness; for PGF 2, the achieved RLmax is -48.44 dB at 2.3 mm thickness with 3.6 GHz of EAB, while PGF 3 exhibits an EAB of 2.64 GHz and an RLmax of -47.03 dB at 7.28 GHz with a thickness of 3.4 mm. The notable differences in the conduction of electrons and electronic structure between the decorated Mn2O3 and CoFe2O4 particles and outer graphene layers significantly enhance interfacial polarization. By creating quicker electron transport routes, the 3D hierarchical rGO@PANI with codoped Mn2O3 and CoFe2O4 network topology further improves absorption outcomes. The well-thought-out planning and cooperative action of rGO@PANI sheets with codoped Mn2O3 and CoFe2O4 are intimately connected to high interfacial polarization, which results in incredibly efficient absorption with lightweight and thin thickness as suitable in the field of RADAR absorption. Remarkably, PGF 3 with 40 wt % loading shows the absorption of microwaves for the entire X and Ku bands only at a thickness of 2.4 mm and covers 92.5% of the whole frequency region (2-18 GHz) up to a thickness of 6 mm.