Multiferroic composites offer a promising framework for room-temperature multifunctional materials by combining distinct ferroic orders across phase boundaries. In this study, BaTiO3/Co0.5Mn0.5Fe1.98Nb0.02O4 (BTO-CMFNO) composite ceramics were prepared by high-temperature solid-state consolidation. Multiphase XRD Rietveld refinements, complemented by SEM/EDX and HR-TEM analyses, confirmed a tri-phase architecture comprising BaTiO3, spinel ferrite, and the in-situ growth of an M-type barium hexaferrite (BaFe12O19) interphase. Notably, while bulk XRD showed a pseudo-cubic profile broadening, local HR-TEM and SAED spot arrays provided qualitative evidence of nanoscale rectangular symmetry consistent with tetragonal distortions in the BaTiO3 matrix. Evaluating the optical diffuse reflectance via Tauc plots yielded effective bulk optical absorption edges (Eg) decreasing from 1.44 eV (BTO-CMFNO25) to 1.35 eV (BTO-CMFNO75) for direct transitions, driven by lower-energy Fe3+ electronic transitions. Temperature-dependent electrical transport measurements demonstrated that BTO-CMFNO25 limits conductive leakage pathways, maintaining a high room-temperature electrical resistivity of ∼ 1.0 × 108 Ω.cm. Polarization P(E) hysteresis loops showed that while BTO and BTO-CMFNO25 display characteristic ferroelectric-like response, higher ferrite loadings (BTO-CMFNO50 and BTO-CMFNO75) transition into lossy, elliptical P(E) loops due to ohmic leakage through the percolating ferrite network. Conversely, room-temperature magnetic measurements revealed smooth, kink-free M(H) loops and unimodal dM/dH switching field distributions consistent with cooperative magnetization reversal between the soft spinel and in-situ hard BaFe12O19 phases, reaching a maximum saturation magnetization (Ms) of 25.8 emu/g. These findings establish key processing-microstructure-property relationships in in-situ tri-phase ceramics, identifying BTO-CMFNO25 as a primary baseline structure for future magnetoelectric coupling studies, while establishing prospective transport and magnetic guidelines for high-frequency and sensing hypotheses

In recent years, there has been a growing interest in biomaterials for improving human living conditions. Hydroxyapatite (HAp), a biomaterial widely used in bone and teeth restoration, has been doped with iron (Fe) and terbium (Tb) to enhance its electronic properties and potential biomedical applications. Theoretical calculations revealed a decreasing trend in bandgap values with increasing concentrations of Fe and Tb, suggesting a shift from insulating to semiconducting behavior. The synthesized Fe and Tb doped HAp samples were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The results showed that the addition of Fe and Tb dopants led to changes in the lattice parameters, crystallinity, and morphology of HAp structure. The doped HAp samples exhibited improved thermal stability, and their FTIR and Raman spectra confirmed the presence of the phosphate group. SEM analysis revealed sphere-like nanoparticles and EDX results confirmed the presence of Fe and Tb in the doped samples. The (Ca+Tb+Fe)/P molar ratios were close to the ideal value of 1.667. The study demonstrates the potential of Fe and Tb-doped HAp as multifunctional materials in biomedicine and other fields requiring tunable electrical properties.

This study explores the enhancement of photocatalytic activity in one-dimensional TiO2 nanotubes (TiNT) through strontium (Sr) doping, using the incipient impregnation method to introduce Sr concentrations ranging from 0.2 to 1.0 wt

The selective oxidation of the C alpha- OH group of benzylic alcohols is a crucial process for the conversion of lignin into useful products. In this study, we describe the synthesis and characterization of magnetic strontium hexaferrite, SrFe12O19. The SrFe12O19 nano-powder was produced through coprecipitation at a pH level of 10. The catalyst has been studied using various methods such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) combined with energy-dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX), UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS), and magnetic field dependence measurements. The study aimed to evaluate the photocatalytic performance of SrFe12O19 in selective oxidation of benzylic alcohols and degradation of methylene blue under visible light. Additionally, the magnetic properties of the catalyst were also investigated. Magnetic properties were also investigated. M-SrFe12O19 with a band near 2 eV, showed excellent photocatalytic degradation performance at ca. 90% of MB under visible light. The photocatalytic degradation activity was evaluated for three cycles, and the results demonstrate that it maintains its photodegradation potency, with significant photo-degradation conversion of 89%, 87%, and 84%. The experiment clearly demonstrated that the reaction kinetics followed a pseudofirst order. The oxidation of benzyl alcohol (BzOH) was successfully carried out over SrFe12O19 in the presence of hydrogen peroxide, a highly effective green oxidant, under visible light. Notably, the experiment results showed a maximum conversion of BzOH, reaching approximately 70%, with absolute selectivity towards benzaldehyde (BzCHO). Furthermore, the yield of aldehyde increases according to the Hammett constant, with the highest yield being obtained for 2-hydroxybenzaldehyde (sigma = -0.37). The synthesized M-SrFe12O19 material shows potential as an eco-friendly method for lignin valorization.

In this work, for the first time, the MoO3/TiO2/rGO nanocomposites with different weight ratios of rGO (0%, 5%, 10%, and 20%) were fabricated using pulsed laser ablation technique. The as-fabricated nanocomposites were employed for photodegradation of Methylene Blue (MB) under UV light irradiation. The morphological, struc-tural, and chemical properties of the fabricated photocatalysts were characterized using XRD, TEM, SEM, UV -DRS, XPS, FTIR, TGA, DSC, and PL. Comparative experimental studies displayed that MoO3/TiO2/rGO nano -composites fabricated with 5% rGO showed the highest photocatalytic degradation (95%) of MB under UV irradiation. This superior photocatalytic performance could be ascribed to the narrow bandgap of the fabricated nanocomposites as well as the synergistic effect of the three components.

Polymer nanocomposite films of cellulose propionate/styrene-maleic anhydride copolymer/molybdenum (CP/SMAC/Mo) were fabricated by pulsed laser ablation of Mo in the polymer solution for 10, 20, and 30 min. The films were then characterized by various analytical methods. X-ray diffraction (XRD) revealed that the addition of Mo to CP/SMAC removed the crystalline peaks of Mo without changing the amorphous nature of the copolymer. According to the scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) patterns, Mo atoms were trapped in the amorphous polymer stacks. The energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectrum features C, O, and Mo. FTIR confirmed the embedding of Mo in the polymers. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential thermal analysis (DTA) were carried out on the samples. The pristine polymer film exhibited a band gap energy of 2.9 eV, which decreased to 2.05 eV because of the loading of the Mo nanoparticles. The intensity of the photoluminescence (PL) peak of the films increases with ablation time such that the absorption intensity of the film at a λmax of 426 nm increases by trifold during the 30 minutes of irradiation, which is consequently due to the increased amount of Mo in the nanostructure. The incorporation of Mo in the polymer matrix enhances the dielectric constant (ε') (6.28-18.13) and ac conductivity (σac) (3.19 × 10−5-1.12 × 10−4 S/cm) of the polymer with negligible dielectric loss. The results suggest possible technological utilization of these materials in such applications as supercapacitors, light-emitting diodes, and organic optoelectronic devices, among others.

In this study, the influence of Ag atom doping on NiO thin films was investigated, focusing on their optical, structural, surface morphological, and chemical composition properties. The NiO thin films were doped with Ag atoms at concentrations of 2 at.% and 4 at.%, resulting in significant changes in their structural and surface morphological characteristics. Optical measurements showed variations in transmittance and optical band gap energies for the doped films compared to undoped NiO. FTIR analysis revealed distinctive peaks corresponding to Ni-O and Ag-O bonds, confirming the successful doping process. The Ag-doped NiO thin films exhibited improved antibacterial activity against E. coli and enhanced photodegradation efficiency for Methylene Blue and Malachite Green dyes. These findings highlight the potential of Ag-doped NiO thin films for applications in photocatalysis and antimicrobial materials.

Electrochemical capacitor with a solid electrolyte composed of Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) with different concentrations of Copper Chloride (CuCl2) salt, p-type Nickel Oxide (NiO), and n-type Manganese Oxide (MnO2) electrodes prepared as staked thin films deposited on an ITO glass, synthesized by electrodeposition and spin coating techniques. A variety of techniques have been used to characterize the obtained films. The structural properties and surface morphology studied through X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy show a high degree of crystallinity within the electrolyte. FTIR spectra analysis confirms the complex formation of CuCl2-doped PVA. Electrochemical Impendence Spectroscopy (EIS) shows that the addition of CuCl2 enhances the specific capacitance of the electrochemical capacitor with high retention and stability during the repeated process of charge and discharge. Meanwhile, Hall effect measurements and EIS reveal a reverse effect after adding 10, 15, and 20 wt.% CuCl2 to the PVA. Results indicate that the electrolytes possess higher concentrations, higher charge carrier densities, and higher mobility, but lower specific capacitances. The highest specific capacitance obtained is 1.220 F.g-1 for the sample of 10 wt.% CuCl2 with 87.8% capacity retention after performing 350 cycles of charge and discharge. The GCD curves reveal a presence of internal resistance and a combination of capacitor and battery-like behavior.

This study aims to examine the effect of foliar magnetic iron oxide (Fe 3 O 4 ) nanoparticles (IONP) application on the physiology, photosynthetic parameters, magnetic character, and mineral element distribution of cherry tomatoes ( Solanum lycopersicum var. cerasiforme ). The IONP suspension (500 mg L -1 ) was sprayed once (S1), twice (S2), thrice (S3), and four times (S4) a week on seedlings. Upon 21 days of the treatments, photosynthetic parameters (chlorophyll, carotenoids, photosynthetic yield, electron transport rate) were elucidated. Inductivelycoupled plasma -optical emission spectrometer (ICP-OES) and vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) were used to determine the mineral elements and abundance of magnetic power in the seedlings. In addition, the RTqPCR method was performed to quantify the expressions of photosystem-related ( PsaC , PsbP6 , and PsbQ ) and ferritin-coding ( Fer-1 and Fer-2 ) genes. Results revealed that the physiological and photosynthetic indices were improved upon S1 treatment. The optimal dosage of IONP spraying enhances chlorophyll, carotenoid, electron transport rate (ETR), and effective photochemical quantum yield of photosystem II (Y(II)) but substantially diminishes non -photochemical quenching (NPQ). However, frequent IONP applications (S2, S3, and S4) caused growth retardation and suppressed the photosynthetic parameters, suggesting a toxic effect of IONP in recurrent treatments. Fer-1 and Fer-2 expressions were strikingly increased by IONP applications, suggesting an attempt to neutralize the excess amount of Fe ions by ferritin. Nevertheless, frequent IONP treatment fluctuated the mineral distribution and caused growth inhibition. Although low -repeat foliar applications of IONP (S1 in this study) may help improve plant growth, consecutive applications (S2, S3, and S4) should be avoided.

Root-to-shoot translocation of nanoparticles (NPs) is a matter of interest due to their possible unprecedented effects on biota. Properties of NPs, such as structure, surface charge or coating, and size, determine their uptake by cells. This study investigates the size effect of iron oxide (Fe3O4) NPs on plant uptake, translocation, and physiology. For this purpose, Fe3O4 NPs having about 10 and 100 nm in average sizes (namely NP10 and NP100) were hydroponically subjected to barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) in different doses (50, 100, and 200 mg/L) at germination (5 days) and seedling (3 weeks) stages. Results revealed that particle size does not significantly influence the seedlings' growth but improves germination. The iron content in root and leaf tissues gradually increased with increasing NP10 and NP100 concentrations, revealing their root-to-shoot translocation. This result was confirmed by vibrating sample magnetometry analysis, where the magnetic signals increased with increasing NP doses. The translocation of NPs enhanced chlorophyll and carotenoid contents, suggesting their contribution to plant pigmentation. On the other hand, catalase activity and H2O2 production were higher in NP10-treated roots compared to NP100-treated ones. Besides, confocal microscopy revealed that NP10 leads to cell membrane damages. These findings showed that Fe3O4 NPs were efficiently taken up by the roots and transported to the leaves regardless of the size factor. However, small-sized Fe3O4 NPs may be more reactive due to their size properties and may cause cell stress and membrane damage. This study may help us better understand the size effect of NPs in nanoparticle-plant interaction.

Polymer nanocomposite films of cellulose propionate/styrene-maleic anhydride copolymer/molybdenum (CP/ SMAC/Mo) were fabricated by pulsed laser ablation of Mo in the polymer solution for 10, 20, and 30 min. The films were then characterized by various analytical methods. X-ray diffraction (XRD) revealed that the addition of Mo to CP/SMAC removed the crystalline peaks of Mo without changing the amorphous nature of the copolymer. According to the scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) patterns, Mo atoms were trapped in the amorphous polymer stacks. The energy -dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectrum features C, O, and Mo. FTIR confirmed the embedding of Mo in the polymers. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential thermal analysis (DTA) were carried out on the samples. The pristine polymer film exhibited a band gap energy of 2.9 eV, which decreased to 2.05 eV because of the loading of the Mo nanoparticles. The intensity of the photoluminescence (PL) peak of the films increases with ablation time such that the absorption intensity of the film at a lambda max of 426 nm increases by trifold during the 30 min of irradiation, which is consequently due to the increased amount of Mo in the nanostructure. The incorporation of Mo in the polymer matrix enhances the dielectric constant ( epsilon') (6.28 -18.13) and ac conductivity ( sigma ac ) (3.19 x 10 - 5 -1.12 x 10 -4 S/cm) of the polymer with negligible dielectric loss. The results suggest possible technological utilization of these materials in such applications as supercapacitors, light -emitting diodes, and organic optoelectronic devices, among others.

Magnesium oxide (MgO) samples were manufactured at different temperatures using various solvents of water and ethanol. MgO structure was also modeled and its vibration modes were calculated. The kind of solvent as-used in the synthesis and calcination temperature caused changes in the lattice parameter, crystallinity, and crystallite size. The crystallite size increased with increasing production temperature for both series of the MgO. The morphology and bandgap energy were also affected significantly by the solvent and calcination temperature.

The effect of adding strontium to nanocomposites formed of g-C 3 N 4 /TiO 2 nanotubes (TiNT) (g-C 3 N 4 : 4.0 wt%) on the photocatalytic activity was herein investigated using formic acid as a model target pollutant. g-C 3 N 4 material was prepared by a solvothermal method using a mixture of urea and cyanuric chloride as precursors and acetonitrile as a solvent at 220 degrees C for 15 h, while TiNT material was obtained by the alkaline hydrothermal method of P25 at 130 degrees C for 20 h. A series of xSr-gC 3 N 4 /TiNT nanocomposites were then synthesized through progressive incorporation of strontium (from 0.2 to 1.0 wt%) at the surface of the composites. Samples were then characterized mainly using N 2 adsorption - desorption measurements, X-ray diffraction, UV - vis diffuse reflectance, Raman and photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopies, and scanning and transmission electron microscopy (with energy -dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and Z -mapping). The Sr -containing g-C 3 N 4 /TiNT composites were then also fully characterized by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) for their dielectric properties, while a deep kinetics analysis was also performed. Such an approach allowed us to establish a correlation between photocatalytic performance and the material ' s propensity to be polarized. Results emphasize the beneficial role of ferroelectricity induced by adding strontium. Indeed, enhancement of the photocatalytic activity by 2.3 times compared to a Sr -free counterpart was related to the material ' s ability to be polarized for Sr loadings <= 0.6 wt%. At higher Sr loadings, supplementary factors (decrease of the anatase crystallinity, formation of TiO 2 (B), disruption of the g-C 3 N 4 /TiO 2 interaction, or lower mobility of photogenerated charges) negatively impact the activity, counterbalancing partly the beneficial ferroelectric effect. In this way, this study emphasizes the role played by ferroelectric effects in enhancing the photocatalytic ability of a given semiconductor.

The effects of adding Dy to the hydroxyapatite (HAp) structure were investigated experimentally and theoretically. The as-obtained experimental results with an increasing amount of Dy are as follows. X-ray diffraction, Raman, and Fourier transform infrared measurements verified the HAp structure for each specimen. The crystallinity, lattice parameters, lattice stress, strain, and anisotropic energy density were affected. Thermal stability and stoichiometry were not affected. It was observed that all the Dy-doped HAps have smaller crystallite size values compared to the un-doped HAp. The cell viability obtained from mouse fibroblast cell (L929) was higher than 82

To evaluate the potential role of in situ formed Sr-Ti-O species as a ferroelectric component able to enhance the photocatalytic properties of an adjacent TiO2 semiconductor, Cu-doped/graphene oxide (GO)/TiO2 nanotubes (TiNTs) composites (with 0.5 wt % Cu and 1.0 wt % GO) have been synthesized while progressive amounts of strontium (up to 1.0 wt %) were incorporated at the surface of the composite through incipient wetness impregnation followed by post-thermal treatment at 400 °C. The different resulting photocatalytic systems were then first deeply characterized by means of N2 adsorption-desorption measurements, X-ray diffraction (XRD), UV-vis diffuse reflectance (UV-vis DR), Raman and photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopies, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) (with energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectroscopy and Z-mapping). In a second step, optimization of the kinetic response of the Sr-containing composites was performed for the formic acid photodegradation under UV irradiation. The Sr-containing Cu/GO/TiNT composites were then fully characterized by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) for their dielectric properties showing clearly the implication of polarization induced by the Sr addition onto the stabilization of photogenerated charges. Finally, a perfect correlation between the photocatalytic kinetic evaluation and dielectric properties undoubtedly emphasizes the role of ferroelectric polarization as a very valuable approach to enhance the photocatalytic properties in an adjacent semiconductor.

Laser synthesis is rapidly emerging to be an efficient and unique method for the synthesis of a wide spectrum of nanomaterials owing to its ease of setup, simplicity, and generation of high-purity nanomaterials. This study explores a pulse laser ablation protocol in the synthesis of ZnO-TiO2 (ZT) and ZnO-TiO2-reduced graphene oxide (ZT-rGO) nanocomposites. The effect of rGO loading (5 %, 10 %, and 20 %) was investigated on the nature of the crystalline nanostructures formed, the increased thermal stability achieved, and the effective removal of methylene blue dye. Following fabrication, the nanocatalyst materials were characterized by TEM, PXRD, SEM/EDX, AFM, UV-Vis, TGA, and FTIR. Using UV illumination, the as-synthesized photocatalysts were evaluated in the photodegradation of methylene blue (MB) as a model dye pollutant. Among the nanocomposites, the ZT-rGO 5 % shows the best photocatalytic activity by having a preferential rate constant of 0.149 min-1. The nanocomposites were prepared in 30 min, providing 98.5 % MB removal within just 30 min, using 10 mg/L of MB and 20 mg/L of the catalyst. During the photodegradation process, the rGO component serves as an electron trap, thus enhancing the formation of holes which are the mainstay of any photocatalytic process. As demonstrated by the work reported, the laser ablation technique shows great promise in the fabrication of ZT-rGO nanocomposites and similar analogs relevant to the efficient decolorization of wastewater.

In this study, the influence of magnetic content of NiFe1.93Dy0.07O4 spinel ferrite on the structural, morphological, optical, and magneto-dielectric properties of BaTiO3 materials was investigated. NiFe1.93Dy0.07O4 magnetic nanoparticles and BaTiO3 dielectric materials were firstly synthesized using the hydrothermal method and sol-gel auto-combustion route, respectively. Then, different contents of the magnetic nanoparticles were added to BaTiO3 to form a series of BaTiO3/(NiFe1.93Dy0.07O4)(x) samples (abbreviated as BTO/(NDFO)(x)) with x = 0, 2, 5, 10, 20, and 100 %. The analysis of the structure via X-ray diffraction (XRD) technique revealed a transformation from a tetragonal structure for the pristine BTO sample to a cubic structure upon the inclusion of magnetic nanoparticles. The morphological observations and chemical composition analyses via scanning electron microscope (SEM) coupled with EDX system showed the successful formulation of biphasic products. The optical properties were investigated, and it was found that the inclusion of the magnetic phase diminishes the bandgap energy (E-g) of final BTO/(NDFO)(x) samples. Furthermore, vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) was used to investigate the magnetization properties. The values of saturation magnetization (M-S) and remanent (M-r) magnetization are rising with the increase of magnetic phase content. However, the coercivity (H-c) does not show a regular variation with the increase of NDFO content. The dielectric properties were also investigated for different BaTiO3/(NiFe1.93Dy0.07O4)(x) samples. The obtained results showed that the real permittivity (epsilon') and dielectric tangent loss (tan delta) increased with increasing temperature. Remarkably, the addition of magnetic content provokes a reduction in tan delta values compared to the pristine BTO sample. The lowest values of tan delta and highest frequency stability were noticed in the sample added with 10 % of magnetic phase. The impedance and modulus were also determined and discussed.

Zn doped Mg2FeTiO6 double perovskite was synthetized by solid state reaction method with various Zn concentrations. The synthesis process was developed in detail. The XRD analysis shows A-site substitution of Magnesium cations with those of zinc giving the Mg2(1-x)Zn2xFeTiO6 nanopowders of grain size in the order of 20 nm dissolved in monoclinic crystal system of P2(1)/c space group. The magnetization measurement for an applied magnetic field of +/- 10 kOe range at the temperatures 10 and 300 K shows that the Mg2(1-x)Zn2xFeTiO6 nano experienced a transition from ferromagnetic to paramagnetic behavior by varying the Zn-doping percentage. The gamma shielding properties for Mg2(1-x)Zn2xFeTiO6 of the prepared material were assessed experimentally through measured the linear attenuation coefficient (LAC). The mass attenuation coefficient (MAC) values were calculated and compared with XCOM data from LAC values. The Zn-doping percentage enhanced all gamma shielding properties. For example, the LAC at 184 keV records 0.34819, 0.48421, 0.58233, 0.62176, 0.6503, and 0.68917 cm(-1) for CS0, CS0.1, CS0.2, CS0.3, CS0.4, and CS0.5, respectively. In contrast, the mean free path increases from 1.4510 to 3.1374 cm at 184 keV and 810 keV, denoting any system's reduced radiation absorption efficiency with increasing energy. The radiation protection efficiency (RPE) reduced gradually with rising energy, and RBE values for the CS0.5 sample ranged between 96.8121 and 79.6815% at energy 184-810 keV. Based on these results, it is concluded that CS0.5 can be used in the gamma shielding field.

Heterojunctions of alternating MnO2 and NiO thin films were deposited on an Indium Tin Oxide (ITO). The MnO2 and NiO thin films were synthesized by electrodeposition and sol-gel methods respectively. The structural morphology of the synthesized heterojunctions was investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The microstructural and chemical compositions were examined by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), and Raman techniques. The optical properties were investigated by Ultraviolet-Visible (UV) analysis. The electrical conductivity, specific capacitance, and charge carrier density were determined using the Hall effect and Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) methods. As a result, it was found that the MnO2 and NiO thin films crystallize in tetragonal and cubic crystal systems respectively. Increasing the number of NiO/MnO2 heterojunctions increases the electrical conductivity from 9.7 x 10- 7 to 1.2 x 10-3 S.cm- 1, the bandgap decreased 3.16 to 2.62 eV, the volume carrier density rises from 5.17 x 1011 to 4.62 x 1012 cm-3. The specimens constituted of two and four alternative staked MnO2 and NiO layers are characterized by a specific capacitance of 3.6 x 103 and 5.8 x 103 F.g -1 and capacitance retention of 14.8 and 12.9% which consider them promising materials for supercapacitor devices.