Pub Date : 2026-01-27DOI: 10.1016/j.matchemphys.2026.132135
Jiaxuan Xu , Xiaoduan Li , Zhen Cao , Zhaofeng Liu , Wei Sun , Qiang Guo , Man Zhao , Jiawei Tang , Yixiang Bao , Jian Wang , Zhaokui Li , Xi Wu , Xiaotai Zhang
Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) membranes have been widely employed in wastewater treatment and biochemical industry, due to its superior physicochemical and mechanical stability. However, the intrinsic strong hydrophobicity of PTFE matrix results in inferior water permeability and severe membrane fouling in practical operation. Although the hydrophilic modification is considered as an effective strategy to settle the drawback, the introduction of a robust hydrophilic coating on the non-stick PTFE substrate is still a great challenge. This work was dedicated to customizing a hydrophilic PTFE hollow fiber membrane with a commercialized amphipathic terpolymer, poly(vinyl butyral-co-vinyl alcohol-co-vinyl acetate) (PVA-TP). Based on the successive acidic hydrolysis/glutaraldehyde (GA)-crosslinking and alkaline hydrolysis, a hydrophilic network was constructed and physically wrapped on the nano-fibrils and nodes of PTFE membrane. The pore size of PTFE membrane was almost maintained after modification. Due to the enhanced hydrophilicity (water contact angle∼30°), the water flux of modified membrane was nearly triple that of the pristine, and the resistance against bovine serum albumin (BSA) and humic acid (HA) was improved. Moreover, the hydrophilic network presented excellent stability in acidic, alkaline, and oxidative environment. Given the simplicity and robustness, this work provided a promising hydrophilic tactics for PTFE membrane in wastewater treatment.
{"title":"Robust hydrophilic modification of polytetrafluoroethylene hollow fiber membrane with an amphipathic terpolymer for improved permeability and fouling resistance","authors":"Jiaxuan Xu , Xiaoduan Li , Zhen Cao , Zhaofeng Liu , Wei Sun , Qiang Guo , Man Zhao , Jiawei Tang , Yixiang Bao , Jian Wang , Zhaokui Li , Xi Wu , Xiaotai Zhang","doi":"10.1016/j.matchemphys.2026.132135","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.matchemphys.2026.132135","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) membranes have been widely employed in wastewater treatment and biochemical industry, due to its superior physicochemical and mechanical stability. However, the intrinsic strong hydrophobicity of PTFE matrix results in inferior water permeability and severe membrane fouling in practical operation. Although the hydrophilic modification is considered as an effective strategy to settle the drawback, the introduction of a robust hydrophilic coating on the non-stick PTFE substrate is still a great challenge. This work was dedicated to customizing a hydrophilic PTFE hollow fiber membrane with a commercialized amphipathic terpolymer, poly(vinyl butyral-<em>co</em>-vinyl alcohol-<em>co</em>-vinyl acetate) (PVA-TP). Based on the successive acidic hydrolysis/glutaraldehyde (GA)-crosslinking and alkaline hydrolysis, a hydrophilic network was constructed and physically wrapped on the nano-fibrils and nodes of PTFE membrane. The pore size of PTFE membrane was almost maintained after modification. Due to the enhanced hydrophilicity (water contact angle∼30°), the water flux of modified membrane was nearly triple that of the pristine, and the resistance against bovine serum albumin (BSA) and humic acid (HA) was improved. Moreover, the hydrophilic network presented excellent stability in acidic, alkaline, and oxidative environment. Given the simplicity and robustness, this work provided a promising hydrophilic tactics for PTFE membrane in wastewater treatment.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18227,"journal":{"name":"Materials Chemistry and Physics","volume":"353 ","pages":"Article 132135"},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2026-01-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146080228","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-27DOI: 10.1016/j.matchemphys.2026.132137
Kunyang Fan , Yan Li , Yan Wang , Wenhuang Jiang , Qingquan Liu , Yanyan Huang , Lingling Fan , Yelong Xiao
To advance the development of high-performance copper-based materials for complex frictional environments, MoSi2-reinforced Cu–graphene nanosheet (GNS) composites were fabricated via mechanical ball milling and spark plasma sintering (SPS). The effects of MoSi2 on the microstructure, electrical conductivity, and tribological behavior of the composites were systematically investigated under diverse service conditions, including room temperature, elevated temperature (200 °C), and current-carrying friction. Results reveal that MoSi2 addition refined the copper grain structure, increased hardness, and improved interfacial compatibility, thereby enhancing the overall structural integrity of the composites. Although a moderate decrease in electrical conductivity was observed, the composites exhibited significant improvements in friction reduction and wear resistance, particularly at room temperature, where the predominant wear mechanism shifted from adhesive to abrasive. At 200 °C, softening of the Cu matrix led to increased friction and wear, with MoSi2 providing limited enhancement due to thermal instability. Under current-carrying conditions, the combined effects of mechanical wear and arc erosion dominated the tribological response. Nevertheless, the in-situ formation of lubricious SiO2 tribofilms, derived from MoSi2 oxidation, effectively suppressed surface damage. The dominant wear mechanisms identified were adhesive wear, abrasive wear, and arc erosion. These findings offer strategic insights into interface engineering and high-temperature tribological optimization for multifunctional Cu-based composites in extreme service environments.
{"title":"Effect of MoSi2 addition on the tribological performance of Cu–GNS composites under thermal and current-carrying conditions","authors":"Kunyang Fan , Yan Li , Yan Wang , Wenhuang Jiang , Qingquan Liu , Yanyan Huang , Lingling Fan , Yelong Xiao","doi":"10.1016/j.matchemphys.2026.132137","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.matchemphys.2026.132137","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>To advance the development of high-performance copper-based materials for complex frictional environments, MoSi<sub>2</sub>-reinforced Cu–graphene nanosheet (GNS) composites were fabricated via mechanical ball milling and spark plasma sintering (SPS). The effects of MoSi<sub>2</sub> on the microstructure, electrical conductivity, and tribological behavior of the composites were systematically investigated under diverse service conditions, including room temperature, elevated temperature (200 °C), and current-carrying friction. Results reveal that MoSi<sub>2</sub> addition refined the copper grain structure, increased hardness, and improved interfacial compatibility, thereby enhancing the overall structural integrity of the composites. Although a moderate decrease in electrical conductivity was observed, the composites exhibited significant improvements in friction reduction and wear resistance, particularly at room temperature, where the predominant wear mechanism shifted from adhesive to abrasive. At 200 °C, softening of the Cu matrix led to increased friction and wear, with MoSi<sub>2</sub> providing limited enhancement due to thermal instability. Under current-carrying conditions, the combined effects of mechanical wear and arc erosion dominated the tribological response. Nevertheless, the in-situ formation of lubricious SiO<sub>2</sub> tribofilms, derived from MoSi<sub>2</sub> oxidation, effectively suppressed surface damage. The dominant wear mechanisms identified were adhesive wear, abrasive wear, and arc erosion. These findings offer strategic insights into interface engineering and high-temperature tribological optimization for multifunctional Cu-based composites in extreme service environments.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18227,"journal":{"name":"Materials Chemistry and Physics","volume":"353 ","pages":"Article 132137"},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2026-01-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146080249","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-27DOI: 10.1016/j.matchemphys.2026.132132
Jianhui Yang , Chunhai Liu , Qiang Fan
This work employs density functional theory (DFT) to systematically investigate the electronic structure, optical properties, elastic response, mechanical behavior, and thermodynamic characteristics of ScB2C2. The calculated structural parameters show good agreement with available experimental data. Analysis of the density of states (DOS) and optical spectra confirms metallic behavior, with specific orbital contributions identified in the bonding interactions. Charge density difference and Mulliken population analyses reveal a bonding nature characterized by a mixture of ionic and covalent interactions. The optical spectra demonstrate polarization-dependent anisotropy across the visible and ultraviolet ranges. Calculated mechanical properties indicate that ScB2C2 is mechanically stable, machinable, and brittle, with a low hardness value of 8.4 GPa and notable incompressibility. The degree of mechanical anisotropy is quantified using established anisotropy indices and visualized through three-dimensional surface contours, confirming pronounced anisotropic characteristics. Finally, thermodynamic evaluations predict a melting point of 2556 K, a Debye temperature of 1076.2 K, and a high thermal conductivity of 56.3 W m−1 K−1, suggesting potential for high-temperature applications. However, the low predicted superconducting transition temperature (0.02 K) indicates limited suitability for superconducting applications.
本文采用密度泛函理论（DFT）系统地研究了ScB2C2的电子结构、光学性质、弹性响应、力学行为和热力学特性。计算得到的结构参数与实验数据吻合较好。态密度（DOS）和光谱分析证实了金属行为，在键相互作用中确定了特定的轨道贡献。电荷密度差和Mulliken种群分析揭示了一种以离子和共价相互作用混合为特征的键合性质。光谱显示偏振相关的各向异性在可见光和紫外范围内。力学性能计算表明，ScB2C2具有机械稳定性、可切削性和脆性，硬度值较低，为8.4 GPa，不可压缩性显著。利用已建立的各向异性指数对力学各向异性程度进行量化，并通过三维表面轮廓进行可视化，确认了明显的各向异性特征。最后，热力学评估预测熔点为2556 K，德拜温度为1076.2 K，导热系数为56.3 W m−1 K−1，表明其具有高温应用的潜力。然而，较低的预测超导转变温度（0.02 K）表明超导应用的适用性有限。
{"title":"DFT reveals anisotropic mechanical properties and high thermal conductivity in ScB2C2: Linking bonding to macroscopic behavior","authors":"Jianhui Yang , Chunhai Liu , Qiang Fan","doi":"10.1016/j.matchemphys.2026.132132","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.matchemphys.2026.132132","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This work employs density functional theory (DFT) to systematically investigate the electronic structure, optical properties, elastic response, mechanical behavior, and thermodynamic characteristics of ScB<sub>2</sub>C<sub>2</sub>. The calculated structural parameters show good agreement with available experimental data. Analysis of the density of states (DOS) and optical spectra confirms metallic behavior, with specific orbital contributions identified in the bonding interactions. Charge density difference and Mulliken population analyses reveal a bonding nature characterized by a mixture of ionic and covalent interactions. The optical spectra demonstrate polarization-dependent anisotropy across the visible and ultraviolet ranges. Calculated mechanical properties indicate that ScB<sub>2</sub>C<sub>2</sub> is mechanically stable, machinable, and brittle, with a low hardness value of 8.4 GPa and notable incompressibility. The degree of mechanical anisotropy is quantified using established anisotropy indices and visualized through three-dimensional surface contours, confirming pronounced anisotropic characteristics. Finally, thermodynamic evaluations predict a melting point of 2556 K, a Debye temperature of 1076.2 K, and a high thermal conductivity of 56.3 W m<sup>−1</sup> K<sup>−1</sup>, suggesting potential for high-temperature applications. However, the low predicted superconducting transition temperature (0.02 K) indicates limited suitability for superconducting applications.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18227,"journal":{"name":"Materials Chemistry and Physics","volume":"353 ","pages":"Article 132132"},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2026-01-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146170809","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-27DOI: 10.1016/j.matchemphys.2026.132057
Yusuf Zakariyya , Hafeez Yusuf Hafeez , Khairia Mohammed Al-Ahmary , Saedah R. Al-Mhyawi , Eman A. Alabbad , Amal Abdullah Aboras , J. Mohammed , Abdussalam Balarabe Suleiman
Providing sustainable and economically feasible cocatalyst to hamper the effect of photocorrosion in CdS-based photocatalyst for hydrogen production is of great important. Herein, a novel and facile synthesis using ultrasonication assisted method was employed to load MoS2 and rGO nanosheets on CdS NRs without addition of any reducing agent or surfactant. Various characterization techniques, including XRD, FTIR, BET, UV–Vis and FE-SEM, were used to provide information on the structure, chemical composition, morphology and optical properties of the prepared photocatalysts. The photocatalytic activity of the as-synthesized rGO-CdS/MoS2 composite was investigated under visible light irradiation in the presence of Na2S/Na2SO3 solution as sacrificial agent. The optimized composite (CMS-2G) produced an exceptional amount of hydrogen up to 191.94 mmolg−1h−1 which is 29.9-fold and 4.4-fold more than bare CdS and CMS-10 composite respectively. This improved amount of hydrogen is attributed to the effect of ultrasonically dispersed MoS2 and rGO on CdS NRs leading to effective heterojunction formation by wrapping MoS2 on the surface of nanostructured CdS NRs which also reduced the band gap from 2.4 to 2.16 eV. The rGO in the composite serves as electron sink which aided the swift movement of photoexcited electrons to partake quickly in the redox reaction. The photostability of CdS has considerably increased under continues irradiation. Suggestively, this system presents a simple method for the development of a highly efficient, noble-metal free and economical photocatalyst for water splitting to produce hydrogen under solar irradiation.
{"title":"Overcoming photocorrosion in CdS-based photocatalyst via MoS2/rGO cocatalyst decoration: A facile strategy for sustainable H2 production","authors":"Yusuf Zakariyya , Hafeez Yusuf Hafeez , Khairia Mohammed Al-Ahmary , Saedah R. Al-Mhyawi , Eman A. Alabbad , Amal Abdullah Aboras , J. Mohammed , Abdussalam Balarabe Suleiman","doi":"10.1016/j.matchemphys.2026.132057","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.matchemphys.2026.132057","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Providing sustainable and economically feasible cocatalyst to hamper the effect of photocorrosion in CdS-based photocatalyst for hydrogen production is of great important. Herein, a novel and facile synthesis using ultrasonication assisted method was employed to load MoS<sub>2</sub> and rGO nanosheets on CdS NRs without addition of any reducing agent or surfactant. Various characterization techniques, including XRD, FTIR, BET, UV–Vis and FE-SEM, were used to provide information on the structure, chemical composition, morphology and optical properties of the prepared photocatalysts. The photocatalytic activity of the as-synthesized rGO-CdS/MoS<sub>2</sub> composite was investigated under visible light irradiation in the presence of Na<sub>2</sub>S/Na<sub>2</sub>SO<sub>3</sub> solution as sacrificial agent. The optimized composite (CMS-2G) produced an exceptional amount of hydrogen up to 191.94 mmolg<sup>−1</sup>h<sup>−1</sup> which is 29.9-fold and 4.4-fold more than bare CdS and CMS-10 composite respectively. This improved amount of hydrogen is attributed to the effect of ultrasonically dispersed MoS<sub>2</sub> and rGO on CdS NRs leading to effective heterojunction formation by wrapping MoS<sub>2</sub> on the surface of nanostructured CdS NRs which also reduced the band gap from 2.4 to 2.16 eV. The rGO in the composite serves as electron sink which aided the swift movement of photoexcited electrons to partake quickly in the redox reaction. The photostability of CdS has considerably increased under continues irradiation. Suggestively, this system presents a simple method for the development of a highly efficient, noble-metal free and economical photocatalyst for water splitting to produce hydrogen under solar irradiation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18227,"journal":{"name":"Materials Chemistry and Physics","volume":"353 ","pages":"Article 132057"},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2026-01-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146170757","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are extensively utilized in industrial applications due to their unique physicochemical and antimicrobial properties. However, the development of eco-friendly and scalable synthesis methods remains a challenge. This study introduced a novel AgNP-embedded Polyvinyl Alcohol/Chitosan (PVA/CS) hydrogel with enhanced photocatalytic and antibacterial properties, synthesized via a green, plant-mediated approach. AgNPs were biosynthesized using Asparagus officinalis (AO) extract, where phytochemicals from the AO stem acted as reducing agents, leading to the formation of spherical AgNPs (around 80 nm). The synthesized nanocomposite exhibited a porous structure, excellent water absorption capacity (swelling ratio: 236.29 %), and superior mechanical properties compared to the pristine hydrogel. The photocatalytic efficiency of the hydrogel was evaluated for the degradation of dye pollutants, specifically Methylene blue (MB) and Congo red (CR). After 210 min of direct sunlight exposure, the bio-fabricated hydrogel nanocomposite achieved degradation efficiencies of 72 %, follow pseudo-first-order with a rate constant of k = 0.00591 min−1 (MB) and 71 % with k = 0.00927 min−1 (CR). This study advances prior research on AgNP-based hydrogels by integrating a sonication-assisted green synthesized AgNPs, which enhances their stability, dispersibility, and interaction with the hydrogel matrix. Unlike conventional AgNP-based hydrogels that rely on chemical synthesis and UV-assisted photocatalysis, this study presents an eco-friendly and energy-efficient approach that operates effectively under natural sunlight. Furthermore, the optimization of synthesis conditions ensures improved photocatalytic efficiency, addressing limitations in previous studies related to particle aggregation and reduced stability. These findings contribute to the advancement of biodegradable and reusable AgNP-based hydrogels for potential applications in wastewater treatment and environmental remediation.
{"title":"Photocatalytic degradation of azo dyes assisted by biosynthesized AgNPs loaded in physically cross-linked PVA/CS hydrogel nanocomposites","authors":"Hassan Mahmoodi Esfanddarani, Mrutyunjay Panigrahi","doi":"10.1016/j.matchemphys.2026.132129","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.matchemphys.2026.132129","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are extensively utilized in industrial applications due to their unique physicochemical and antimicrobial properties. However, the development of eco-friendly and scalable synthesis methods remains a challenge. This study introduced a novel AgNP-embedded Polyvinyl Alcohol/Chitosan (PVA/CS) hydrogel with enhanced photocatalytic and antibacterial properties, synthesized via a green, plant-mediated approach. AgNPs were biosynthesized using <em>Asparagus officinalis</em> (AO) extract, where phytochemicals from the AO stem acted as reducing agents, leading to the formation of spherical AgNPs (around 80 nm). The synthesized nanocomposite exhibited a porous structure, excellent water absorption capacity (swelling ratio: 236.29 %), and superior mechanical properties compared to the pristine hydrogel. The photocatalytic efficiency of the hydrogel was evaluated for the degradation of dye pollutants, specifically Methylene blue (MB) and Congo red (CR). After 210 min of direct sunlight exposure, the bio-fabricated hydrogel nanocomposite achieved degradation efficiencies of 72 %, follow pseudo-first-order with a rate constant of k = 0.00591 min<sup>−1</sup> (MB) and 71 % with k = 0.00927 min<sup>−1</sup> (CR). This study advances prior research on AgNP-based hydrogels by integrating a sonication-assisted green synthesized AgNPs, which enhances their stability, dispersibility, and interaction with the hydrogel matrix. Unlike conventional AgNP-based hydrogels that rely on chemical synthesis and UV-assisted photocatalysis, this study presents an eco-friendly and energy-efficient approach that operates effectively under natural sunlight. Furthermore, the optimization of synthesis conditions ensures improved photocatalytic efficiency, addressing limitations in previous studies related to particle aggregation and reduced stability. These findings contribute to the advancement of biodegradable and reusable AgNP-based hydrogels for potential applications in wastewater treatment and environmental remediation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18227,"journal":{"name":"Materials Chemistry and Physics","volume":"353 ","pages":"Article 132129"},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2026-01-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146080225","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-24DOI: 10.1016/j.matchemphys.2026.132116
K. Ponnazhagan , Jayanthi R , Lulup Kumar Sahoo , J. Deepak , Nandini Robin Nadar , S.C. Sharma , Subrat Kumar Tripathy , B.R. Radha Krushna , I.S. Pruthviraj , Lambodaran Ganesan , Sindhya K.S. , H. Nagabhushana , Divya Vijayalakshmi Dharmarajan
Accurate dopamine detection is essential due to its critical role in motor function, emotional regulation, and neurological health. In this study, an electrochemical sensor was fabricated using holmium-doped titanium dioxide (Ho–TiO2, HTO) synthesized via a simple, cost-effective combustion method. Structural characterization confirmed successful Ho3+ ion incorporation, enhancing electron transfer and surface activity through oxygen vacancy formation. The HTO-modified carbon paste electrode (HTO-ME) exhibited a significantly larger electroactive surface area (0.103 cm2) compared to the unmodified electrode (0.028 cm2), resulting in improved redox performance. Electrochemical analysis revealed excellent sensitivity, linearity (R2 = 0.999), a low detection limit (0.1095 μM), and quantification limit (0.365 μM) at optimal pH 7.0. Selectivity tests showed high accuracy (R2 = 0.99), and scan-rate studies indicated a diffusion-controlled process. The electrode maintained 91.17 % of its initial signal over repeated cycles and demonstrated strong repeatability (RSD = 1.55 %) and reproducibility (RSD = 1.66 %). It also allowed simultaneous detection of dopamine and uric acid with negligible interference (R2 = 0.99). In real sample analysis using dopamine injection solutions, the sensor achieved an average recovery of 91.6 %, highlighting its potential for clinical and diagnostic use.
{"title":"Structural & electrochemical advancements in Ho3+ - Doped TiO2 for ultrasensitive, interference -free dopamine detection","authors":"K. Ponnazhagan , Jayanthi R , Lulup Kumar Sahoo , J. Deepak , Nandini Robin Nadar , S.C. Sharma , Subrat Kumar Tripathy , B.R. Radha Krushna , I.S. Pruthviraj , Lambodaran Ganesan , Sindhya K.S. , H. Nagabhushana , Divya Vijayalakshmi Dharmarajan","doi":"10.1016/j.matchemphys.2026.132116","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.matchemphys.2026.132116","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Accurate dopamine detection is essential due to its critical role in motor function, emotional regulation, and neurological health. In this study, an electrochemical sensor was fabricated using holmium-doped titanium dioxide (Ho–TiO<sub>2</sub>, HTO) synthesized via a simple, cost-effective combustion method. Structural characterization confirmed successful Ho<sup>3+</sup> ion incorporation, enhancing electron transfer and surface activity through oxygen vacancy formation. The HTO-modified carbon paste electrode (HTO-ME) exhibited a significantly larger electroactive surface area (0.103 cm<sup>2</sup>) compared to the unmodified electrode (0.028 cm<sup>2</sup>), resulting in improved redox performance. Electrochemical analysis revealed excellent sensitivity, linearity (R<sup>2</sup> = 0.999), a low detection limit (0.1095 μM), and quantification limit (0.365 μM) at optimal pH 7.0. Selectivity tests showed high accuracy (R<sup>2</sup> = 0.99), and scan-rate studies indicated a diffusion-controlled process. The electrode maintained 91.17 % of its initial signal over repeated cycles and demonstrated strong repeatability (RSD = 1.55 %) and reproducibility (RSD = 1.66 %). It also allowed simultaneous detection of dopamine and uric acid with negligible interference (R<sup>2</sup> = 0.99). In real sample analysis using dopamine injection solutions, the sensor achieved an average recovery of 91.6 %, highlighting its potential for clinical and diagnostic use.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18227,"journal":{"name":"Materials Chemistry and Physics","volume":"353 ","pages":"Article 132116"},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2026-01-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146170807","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-23DOI: 10.1016/j.matchemphys.2026.132071
Khadijah H. Alharbi
Water pollution with dyes not only causes cancer, but also prevents aquatic organisms from getting sunlight. For this reason, dyes are classified as hazardous compounds that must be disposed of. This work describes the capacity of mixed systems of Fe2O3, MoS2, and GO based nano-composites to degrade the dye methylene blue (MB). The discussion includes structural and thermal analyses for the compositions Fe2O3, MoS2, Fe2O3/GO, MoS2/Go, Fe2O3/MoS2, and MoS2/Fe2O3/GO. The absence of contaminants in nanocomposites is confirmed by XRD, FTIR, and EDX. SEM and TEM micrographs support the production of tertiary nanocomposites in relation to the morphological deviations. The micrographs reveal that MoS2 retains a nanosheet morphology, Fe2O3/GO forms semi-spherical Fe2O3 grains (∼23 nm) anchored on GO sheets, and the ternary MoS2/Fe2O3/GO exhibits markedly increased roughness, mixed grain–sheet interfaces, and broadened MoS2 domains, all of which collectively enhance the accessible surface area and adsorption capability toward MB. This is a result of the triple mixture's roughness, which gave it an adequate structure and a bigger surface area for effectively adsorbing organic dyes. Further, SEM introduces Molybdenum sulfide with an average size of 87 nm. On the other hand, thermal analysis reveals that the composition studied in theory exists in the condensed state within the defined temperature range, which accounts for why the E∗ is nearly equal to the ΔH. For example, ternary nanocomposite E∗, and ΔH hit 709.9, and 701.2 kJ mol−1, respectively. The degradation effectiveness of MB dye hits 39.66, 56.90, 74.14, 58.62, 86.21, and 93.10 % for MOS2, Fe2O3, MOS2/GO, Fe2O3/GO, MOS2/Fe2O3, and MOS2/Fe2O3/GO, respectively, After 100 min in visible light.
{"title":"Synergistic improvement in methylene blue dye removal efficiency of MoS2 nanoparticles via incorporation of Fe2O3/GO for effective wastewater remediation","authors":"Khadijah H. Alharbi","doi":"10.1016/j.matchemphys.2026.132071","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.matchemphys.2026.132071","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Water pollution with dyes not only causes cancer, but also prevents aquatic organisms from getting sunlight. For this reason, dyes are classified as hazardous compounds that must be disposed of. This work describes the capacity of mixed systems of Fe<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>, MoS<sub>2</sub>, and GO based nano-composites to degrade the dye methylene blue (MB). The discussion includes structural and thermal analyses for the compositions Fe<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>, MoS<sub>2</sub>, Fe<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>/GO, MoS<sub>2</sub>/Go, Fe<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>/MoS<sub>2</sub>, and MoS<sub>2</sub>/Fe<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>/GO. The absence of contaminants in nanocomposites is confirmed by XRD, FTIR, and EDX. SEM and TEM micrographs support the production of tertiary nanocomposites in relation to the morphological deviations. The micrographs reveal that MoS<sub>2</sub> retains a nanosheet morphology, Fe<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>/GO forms semi-spherical Fe<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> grains (∼23 nm) anchored on GO sheets, and the ternary MoS<sub>2</sub>/Fe<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>/GO exhibits markedly increased roughness, mixed grain–sheet interfaces, and broadened MoS<sub>2</sub> domains, all of which collectively enhance the accessible surface area and adsorption capability toward MB. This is a result of the triple mixture's roughness, which gave it an adequate structure and a bigger surface area for effectively adsorbing organic dyes. Further, SEM introduces Molybdenum sulfide with an average size of 87 nm. On the other hand, thermal analysis reveals that the composition studied in theory exists in the condensed state within the defined temperature range, which accounts for why the E∗ is nearly equal to the ΔH. For example, ternary nanocomposite E∗, and ΔH hit 709.9, and 701.2 kJ mol<sup>−1</sup>, respectively. The degradation effectiveness of MB dye hits 39.66, 56.90, 74.14, 58.62, 86.21, and 93.10 % for MOS<sub>2</sub>, Fe<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3,</sub> MOS<sub>2</sub>/GO, Fe<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>/GO, MOS<sub>2</sub>/Fe<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3,</sub> and MOS<sub>2</sub>/Fe<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>/GO, respectively, After 100 min in visible light.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18227,"journal":{"name":"Materials Chemistry and Physics","volume":"353 ","pages":"Article 132071"},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2026-01-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146080226","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-23DOI: 10.1016/j.matchemphys.2026.132112
Mohammed RASHEED, Ameen Khaleefah
Mullite (3Al2O3·2SiO2) nanoparticles were synthesized via the sol–gel method and calcined at 900–1100 °C to investigate temperature-dependent structural, dielectric, and antibacterial properties. Structural characterization by X-ray diffraction (XRD) confirmed the presence of rhombohedral Al2O3, amorphous SiO2, and orthorhombic mullite phases. The corresponding crystallite sizes, calculated using the Scherrer equation, were approximately 5–7 nm, while the particle sizes observed by AFM and FE-SEM were about 135 nm, 83 nm, and 46 nm for Al2O3, SiO2, and mullite, respectively. FTIR and UV–Vis analyses verified strong Al–O–Si bonding and a band gap of 3.8–4.0 eV, indicating improved optical transparency. FE-SEM, AFM, and TEM revealed uniform nanostructures with grain growth from 12 nm to 20 nm and reduced porosity upon calcination. Dielectric studies showed stable polarization with low loss ( ≈ 0.01–0.05) and frequency-dependent conductivity following Jonscher's law. Antibacterial tests (ADM and SPM) demonstrated significant inhibition of E. coli and S. aureus, attributed to reactive oxygen species generation and enhanced surface reactivity. The combined thermal stability, dielectric reliability, and bioactivity position these sol–gel-derived mullite nanoparticles as promising materials for antibacterial ceramic and dielectric applications.
{"title":"Sol–gel-derived mullite nanoparticles: Structural, antibacterial, and frequency-dependent impedance analysis","authors":"Mohammed RASHEED, Ameen Khaleefah","doi":"10.1016/j.matchemphys.2026.132112","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.matchemphys.2026.132112","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Mullite (3Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>·2SiO<sub>2</sub>) nanoparticles were synthesized via the sol–gel method and calcined at 900–1100 °C to investigate temperature-dependent structural, dielectric, and antibacterial properties. Structural characterization by X-ray diffraction (XRD) confirmed the presence of rhombohedral Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>, amorphous SiO<sub>2</sub>, and orthorhombic mullite phases. The corresponding crystallite sizes, calculated using the Scherrer equation, were approximately 5–7 nm, while the particle sizes observed by AFM and FE-SEM were about 135 nm, 83 nm, and 46 nm for Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>, SiO<sub>2</sub>, and mullite, respectively. FTIR and UV–Vis analyses verified strong Al–O–Si bonding and a band gap of 3.8–4.0 eV, indicating improved optical transparency. FE-SEM, AFM, and TEM revealed uniform nanostructures with grain growth from 12 nm to 20 nm and reduced porosity upon calcination. Dielectric studies showed stable polarization with low loss (<span><math><mrow><mi>tan</mi><mspace></mspace><mi>δ</mi></mrow></math></span> ≈ 0.01–0.05) and frequency-dependent conductivity following Jonscher's law. Antibacterial tests (ADM and SPM) demonstrated significant inhibition of <em>E. coli</em> and <em>S. aureus</em>, attributed to reactive oxygen species generation and enhanced surface reactivity. The combined thermal stability, dielectric reliability, and bioactivity position these sol–gel-derived mullite nanoparticles as promising materials for antibacterial ceramic and dielectric applications.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18227,"journal":{"name":"Materials Chemistry and Physics","volume":"353 ","pages":"Article 132112"},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2026-01-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146080250","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-23DOI: 10.1016/j.matchemphys.2026.132110
Xiangfeng Jing , Hongyan Bai , Yun Zhao , Dan Luo , Xuqiang Zhang
Vertically oriented Schottky-junction MoO2@MoO3 nanotube arrays (NTAs) are prepared via a simple in-situ calcination strategy using anodized (NH4)2MoO4@MoO3 NTAs as raw material under vacuum condition. The structural and photoelectric characteristics of self-assembly photocatalyst reveals that the MoO2@MoO3 NTAs possess stable geometric structure, narrow optical bandgap, and fast electron-hole pairs transport compared to pristine MoO3 nanosheets that are prepared by calcining (NH4)2MoO4@MoO3 at atmospheric environment. These enhanced properties originate from the semi-metallic MoO2 co-catalyst within the Schottky junction, coupled with a well-matched interface structure between MoO2 and MoO3 that generates a strong built-in electric field. Consequently, MoO2@MoO3 NTAs exhibit evaluable photocatalytic activities for degrading organic dyes. Using methyl orange (MO) as target pollutant, the composite catalyst achieves 60.5 % of degradation efficiency within 120 min under simulated sunlight irradiation, which is approximately 3.9 times higher than MoO3 nanosheets. Moreover, the vertically oriented NTAs structure on the Mo substrate facilitates separation and recovery of samples, while showing acceptable cycling stability. The superior photocatalytic performances are attributed to synergistic effects arising from intrinsic attributes, including matched energy bands and interfaces, high electrical conductivity, abundant reaction sites, broad spectral absorption, and abundant oxidative active species. These findings provide a novel approach for developing high-efficiency MoO3-based photocatalysts.
{"title":"Schottky-junction MoO2@MoO3 nanotube arrays: in-situ preparation and photocatalytic activity","authors":"Xiangfeng Jing , Hongyan Bai , Yun Zhao , Dan Luo , Xuqiang Zhang","doi":"10.1016/j.matchemphys.2026.132110","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.matchemphys.2026.132110","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Vertically oriented Schottky-junction MoO<sub>2</sub>@MoO<sub>3</sub> nanotube arrays (NTAs) are prepared via a simple in-situ calcination strategy using anodized (NH<sub>4</sub>)<sub>2</sub>MoO<sub>4</sub>@MoO<sub>3</sub> NTAs as raw material under vacuum condition. The structural and photoelectric characteristics of self-assembly photocatalyst reveals that the MoO<sub>2</sub>@MoO<sub>3</sub> NTAs possess stable geometric structure, narrow optical bandgap, and fast electron-hole pairs transport compared to pristine MoO<sub>3</sub> nanosheets that are prepared by calcining (NH<sub>4</sub>)<sub>2</sub>MoO<sub>4</sub>@MoO<sub>3</sub> at atmospheric environment. These enhanced properties originate from the semi-metallic MoO<sub>2</sub> co-catalyst within the Schottky junction, coupled with a well-matched interface structure between MoO<sub>2</sub> and MoO<sub>3</sub> that generates a strong built-in electric field. Consequently, MoO<sub>2</sub>@MoO<sub>3</sub> NTAs exhibit evaluable photocatalytic activities for degrading organic dyes. Using methyl orange (MO) as target pollutant, the composite catalyst achieves 60.5 % of degradation efficiency within 120 min under simulated sunlight irradiation, which is approximately 3.9 times higher than MoO<sub>3</sub> nanosheets. Moreover, the vertically oriented NTAs structure on the Mo substrate facilitates separation and recovery of samples, while showing acceptable cycling stability. The superior photocatalytic performances are attributed to synergistic effects arising from intrinsic attributes, including matched energy bands and interfaces, high electrical conductivity, abundant reaction sites, broad spectral absorption, and abundant oxidative active species. These findings provide a novel approach for developing high-efficiency MoO<sub>3</sub>-based photocatalysts.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18227,"journal":{"name":"Materials Chemistry and Physics","volume":"353 ","pages":"Article 132110"},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2026-01-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146080377","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
This study investigates the incorporation of quercetin, a natural anticancer agent, into UiO-66-NH2 metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) using two strategies: in-situ encapsulation during MOF synthesis and ex-situ loading into preformed frameworks. Both methods successfully produced quercetin-loaded MOFs with distinct structural and functional features. In-situ loading caused significant structural changes, reducing surface area and porosity, whereas ex-situ loading preserved the original framework. Drug loading capacities were 41.1 % for in-situ and 67.13 % for ex-situ formulations. Both systems displayed pH-responsive release, but with different mechanisms: the in-situ formulation followed a super Case II transport, showing rapid quercetin release under acidic conditions (up to 90.98 % at pH 1.2), while the ex-situ formulation exhibited anomalous (non-Fickian) diffusion, providing gradual and sustained release, especially at physiological pH. Biological evaluation in liver cancer cell lines (Huh7 and JHH6) showed that the ex-situ formulation retained higher anticancer activity compared to the in-situ formulation. These findings highlight that the method of drug incorporation strongly influences MOF structure, release behavior, and therapeutic performance, offering valuable guidance for designing responsive nanocarriers for targeted cancer therapy.
{"title":"Tuning quercetin delivery through in-situ and ex-situ loading of UiO-66-NH2 for pH-responsive liver cancer therapy","authors":"Layla Afianti Maksum , Witri Wahyu Lestari , Murni Handayani , Ozi Adi Saputra , Caecilia Sukowati , Claudio Tiribelli , Lory Saveria Crocè , Fajar Rakhman Wibowo , Maulidan Firdaus , Tonang Dwi Ardyanto","doi":"10.1016/j.matchemphys.2026.132099","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.matchemphys.2026.132099","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study investigates the incorporation of quercetin, a natural anticancer agent, into UiO-66-NH<sub>2</sub> metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) using two strategies: in-situ encapsulation during MOF synthesis and ex-situ loading into preformed frameworks. Both methods successfully produced quercetin-loaded MOFs with distinct structural and functional features. In-situ loading caused significant structural changes, reducing surface area and porosity, whereas ex-situ loading preserved the original framework. Drug loading capacities were 41.1 % for in-situ and 67.13 % for ex-situ formulations. Both systems displayed pH-responsive release, but with different mechanisms: the in-situ formulation followed a super Case II transport, showing rapid quercetin release under acidic conditions (up to 90.98 % at pH 1.2), while the ex-situ formulation exhibited anomalous (non-Fickian) diffusion, providing gradual and sustained release, especially at physiological pH. Biological evaluation in liver cancer cell lines (Huh7 and JHH6) showed that the ex-situ formulation retained higher anticancer activity compared to the in-situ formulation. These findings highlight that the method of drug incorporation strongly influences MOF structure, release behavior, and therapeutic performance, offering valuable guidance for designing responsive nanocarriers for targeted cancer therapy.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18227,"journal":{"name":"Materials Chemistry and Physics","volume":"354 ","pages":"Article 132099"},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2026-01-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146191527","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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