Pub Date : 2026-05-01Epub Date: 2026-01-31DOI: 10.1016/j.mseb.2026.119181
Mohammad Shahsavani, Javad Tashkhourian
The detection of gallic acid in food products is critically important in the food industry due to its role as a potent antioxidant. However, excessive consumption of gallic acid at high concentrations has been associated with adverse health effects, particularly hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity. This study presents the development of CeO2-ZnO nanospheres modified carbon paste electrochemical sensor (CeO2-ZnO/CPE) as an economical, reusable, and efficient sensing platform for determining gallic acid in different tea samples. The electrochemical analysis demonstrated that the CeO2-ZnO/CPE displayed significantly enhanced electrocatalytic activity for gallic acid oxidation compared to a bare carbon paste electrochemical sensor. The detection of gallic acid was accomplished through the implementation of the square wave voltammetry technique after optimizing the operational parameters. The sensor demonstrated a proportional increase in the oxidation peak current across two linear ranges (0.01–1.0 μmol/L and 1.0–100.0 μmol/L) and a detection limit of 5.3 nmol/L. The fabricated sensor exhibited excellent repeatability (RSD = 1.6%), robust reproducibility (RSD = 1.5%), and exceptional selectivity toward gallic acid, even when challenged with potentially interfering ionic and biological species. The sensor's robust performance was confirmed through validation studies using square wave voltammetry on various tea matrices, including green, black, and sour teas. The recovery studies yielded excellent results (99.1–102.3%), further validating the method's reliability for the complex sample analysis.
{"title":"Facile construction of CeO2-ZnO nanospheres modified carbon paste electrochemical sensor for the determination of gallic acid as a crucial antioxidant","authors":"Mohammad Shahsavani, Javad Tashkhourian","doi":"10.1016/j.mseb.2026.119181","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mseb.2026.119181","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The detection of gallic acid in food products is critically important in the food industry due to its role as a potent antioxidant. However, excessive consumption of gallic acid at high concentrations has been associated with adverse health effects, particularly hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity. This study presents the development of CeO<sub>2</sub>-ZnO nanospheres modified carbon paste electrochemical sensor (CeO<sub>2</sub>-ZnO/CPE) as an economical, reusable, and efficient sensing platform for determining gallic acid in different tea samples. The electrochemical analysis demonstrated that the CeO<sub>2</sub>-ZnO/CPE displayed significantly enhanced electrocatalytic activity for gallic acid oxidation compared to a bare carbon paste electrochemical sensor. The detection of gallic acid was accomplished through the implementation of the square wave voltammetry technique after optimizing the operational parameters. The sensor demonstrated a proportional increase in the oxidation peak current across two linear ranges (0.01–1.0 μmol/L and 1.0–100.0 μmol/L) and a detection limit of 5.3 nmol/L. The fabricated sensor exhibited excellent repeatability (RSD = 1.6%), robust reproducibility (RSD = 1.5%), and exceptional selectivity toward gallic acid, even when challenged with potentially interfering ionic and biological species. The sensor's robust performance was confirmed through validation studies using square wave voltammetry on various tea matrices, including green, black, and sour teas. The recovery studies yielded excellent results (99.1–102.3%), further validating the method's reliability for the complex sample analysis.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18233,"journal":{"name":"Materials Science and Engineering: B","volume":"327 ","pages":"Article 119181"},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146080269","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}
Herein, we report glycine-nitrate combustion synthesis of zinc oxide (ZnO) and strontium (Sr) doped zinc oxide (SZO-x, where x = 1,2,3, and 4% Sr doping) nanoparticles. The impact of Sr doping on ZnO's structural, optical, and photocatalytic properties has been assessed through comprehensive characterizations techniques. XRD analysis confirmed the incorporation of Sr into ZnO lattice, as evidenced by peak shifts and lattice parameters variations, with SZO-3 exhibiting smallest crystallite size. BET studies revealed SZO-3's superior surface properties, with significantly increased specific surface area, pore size, and total pore volume. UV–vis spectroscopy confirmed a band gap narrowing from 3.21 eV to 3.14 eV, while PL spectroscopy revealed the lowest PL emission intensity for SZO-3. Raman spectroscopy confirmed phase purity, while FT-IR identified surface functional groups in synthesized samples. FE-SEM analysis revealed a reduction in particle size with increasing Sr doping, while EDX analysis confirmed Sr incorporation in doped sample. Among all the samples, SZO-3 exhibited exceptional visible-light photocatalytic activity, degrading 98.2% methylene blue (MB) in 100 min, 99% indigo carmine (IC) in 80 min, while 51.5% textile industrial effluent (IE), and 83.5% mixed dyes were degraded in 120 min. Operating parameters such as doping amount of Sr, catalyst loading and pH of the dye solution critically influenced degradation. All degradation reactions followed first-order kinetics (R2> 0.96), with SZO-3 exhibiting superior rate constant (0.031 min−1) and stability across four photocatalytic cycles. Radical quenching experiments confirmed the role of hydroxyl radicals (•OH) as the primary reactive species driving the photocatalytic degradation process.
{"title":"Sr doped ZnO nanoparticles: Assessment of structural and optical properties towards enhanced visible-light-driven photocatalytic degradation of textile dyes","authors":"Abhishek R. Bhapkar , Hozefa Dhila , Rishi Prasad , Khalil Gheisari , Kishor Kumar Sadasivuni , Shekhar Bhame","doi":"10.1016/j.mseb.2026.119225","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mseb.2026.119225","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Herein, we report glycine-nitrate combustion synthesis of zinc oxide (ZnO) and strontium (Sr) doped zinc oxide (SZO-x, where x = 1,2,3, and 4% Sr doping) nanoparticles. The impact of Sr doping on ZnO's structural, optical, and photocatalytic properties has been assessed through comprehensive characterizations techniques. XRD analysis confirmed the incorporation of Sr into ZnO lattice, as evidenced by peak shifts and lattice parameters variations, with SZO-3 exhibiting smallest crystallite size. BET studies revealed SZO-3's superior surface properties, with significantly increased specific surface area, pore size, and total pore volume. UV–vis spectroscopy confirmed a band gap narrowing from 3.21 eV to 3.14 eV, while PL spectroscopy revealed the lowest PL emission intensity for SZO-3. Raman spectroscopy confirmed phase purity, while FT-IR identified surface functional groups in synthesized samples. FE-SEM analysis revealed a reduction in particle size with increasing Sr doping, while EDX analysis confirmed Sr incorporation in doped sample. Among all the samples, SZO-3 exhibited exceptional visible-light photocatalytic activity, degrading 98.2% methylene blue (MB) in 100 min, 99% indigo carmine (IC) in 80 min, while 51.5% textile industrial effluent (IE), and 83.5% mixed dyes were degraded in 120 min. Operating parameters such as doping amount of Sr, catalyst loading and pH of the dye solution critically influenced degradation. All degradation reactions followed first-order kinetics (<em>R</em><sup><em>2</em></sup> <em>></em> 0.96), with SZO-3 exhibiting superior rate constant (0.031 min<sup>−1</sup>) and stability across four photocatalytic cycles. Radical quenching experiments confirmed the role of hydroxyl radicals (<sup>•</sup>OH) as the primary reactive species driving the photocatalytic degradation process.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18233,"journal":{"name":"Materials Science and Engineering: B","volume":"327 ","pages":"Article 119225"},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146080271","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 : 2026-05-01Epub Date: 2026-01-27DOI: 10.1016/j.mseb.2026.119236
Yuncheng Li, Jian Wang
Light-metal perovskite hydrides have received significant attention as hydrogen storage materials due to their high capacity for storing hydrogen. Using first-principles calculations, we systematically investigated the structural, hydrogen storage, mechanical, electronic, and optical properties of double perovskite hydrides K2LiXH6 (X = Si, Ge, Sn). The gravimetric hydrogen storage capacities are 5.04 wt%, 3.68 wt%, and 2.86 wt%, respectively, with K2LiSnH6 exhibiting a desorption temperature (344.70 K) close to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) 2025 target. All compounds are metallic, brittle, anisotropic, and thermodynamically stable. High ultraviolet absorption coefficients (>104 cm−1) suggest potential light-assisted hydrogen release. This work systematically characterizes the structure-performance relationships of group-IV substituted K2LiXH6, offering theoretical guidance for the design of novel hydrogen storage materials.
{"title":"Exploring the structural stability, hydrogen storage capacity, electronic and optical properties of K2LiXH6 (X = Si, Ge, Sn) hydrides: A first-principles study","authors":"Yuncheng Li, Jian Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.mseb.2026.119236","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mseb.2026.119236","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Light-metal perovskite hydrides have received significant attention as hydrogen storage materials due to their high capacity for storing hydrogen. Using first-principles calculations, we systematically investigated the structural, hydrogen storage, mechanical, electronic, and optical properties of double perovskite hydrides K<sub>2</sub>LiXH<sub>6</sub> (X = Si, Ge, Sn). The gravimetric hydrogen storage capacities are 5.04 wt%, 3.68 wt%, and 2.86 wt%, respectively, with K<sub>2</sub>LiSnH<sub>6</sub> exhibiting a desorption temperature (344.70 K) close to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) 2025 target. All compounds are metallic, brittle, anisotropic, and thermodynamically stable. High ultraviolet absorption coefficients (>10<sup>4</sup> cm<sup>−1</sup>) suggest potential light-assisted hydrogen release. This work systematically characterizes the structure-performance relationships of group-IV substituted K<sub>2</sub>LiXH<sub>6</sub>, offering theoretical guidance for the design of novel hydrogen storage materials.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18233,"journal":{"name":"Materials Science and Engineering: B","volume":"327 ","pages":"Article 119236"},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146080272","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 : 2026-05-01Epub Date: 2026-01-29DOI: 10.1016/j.mseb.2026.119233
Dinesh , Neeraj Dhariwal , Arun Sharma
Metal halide perovskites have made an significant impact in the scientific world due to their interesting applications in photovoltaics and optoelectronics. Metal halide perovskite single crystals were synthesized and comprehensively characterized using a multi-technique approach to elucidate its structural, electronic, optical, thermal, mechanical, and functional properties. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction (SCXRD) revealed Pna21 space group and molecular packing while scanning electron microscopy (SEM) highlighted continues arrangement of atoms throughout the crystal lattice. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) validated the elemental composition and oxidation states, supporting the material's chemical stability. The frontier molecular orbitals (HOMO-LUMO) and non-covalent interaction (NCI) investigations revealed detailed information about the electronic structure and intermolecular interactions corroborating the system's stability. Mechanical resilience was assessed using the Vickers microhardness technique, which indicated that the crystals possesses moderate resistance to deformation. DSC and TGA confirmed the thermal stability of the material up to 200 °C. Impedance and modulus spectroscopy elucidated the conduction mechanism and confirmed the non-Debye to Debye type behaviour in the compound as a function of temperature. The optical band gap analysis indicated a direct allowed transition with a band gap of 1.75 eV, suggesting a suitable semiconductor nature for optoelectronic applications. Finally, the material exhibited substantial humidity sensing behaviour, highlighting its potential for environmental sensing applications
{"title":"Crystal engineering and humidity response of metal halide perovskite [Ph3MeP]2CuBr4 single crystals: A combined experimental and theoretical approach","authors":"Dinesh , Neeraj Dhariwal , Arun Sharma","doi":"10.1016/j.mseb.2026.119233","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mseb.2026.119233","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Metal halide perovskites have made an significant impact in the scientific world due to their interesting applications in photovoltaics and optoelectronics. Metal halide perovskite single crystals were synthesized and comprehensively characterized using a multi-technique approach to elucidate its structural, electronic, optical, thermal, mechanical, and functional properties. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction (SCXRD) revealed Pna21 space group and molecular packing while scanning electron microscopy (SEM) highlighted continues arrangement of atoms throughout the crystal lattice. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) validated the elemental composition and oxidation states, supporting the material's chemical stability. The frontier molecular orbitals (HOMO-LUMO) and non-covalent interaction (NCI) investigations revealed detailed information about the electronic structure and intermolecular interactions corroborating the system's stability. Mechanical resilience was assessed using the Vickers microhardness technique, which indicated that the crystals possesses moderate resistance to deformation. DSC and TGA confirmed the thermal stability of the material up to 200 °C. Impedance and modulus spectroscopy elucidated the conduction mechanism and confirmed the non-Debye to Debye type behaviour in the compound as a function of temperature. The optical band gap analysis indicated a direct allowed transition with a band gap of 1.75 eV, suggesting a suitable semiconductor nature for optoelectronic applications. Finally, the material exhibited substantial humidity sensing behaviour, highlighting its potential for environmental sensing applications</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18233,"journal":{"name":"Materials Science and Engineering: B","volume":"327 ","pages":"Article 119233"},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146080266","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 : 2026-05-01Epub Date: 2026-01-30DOI: 10.1016/j.mseb.2026.119222
Ahmad Saadi Samra , Samra Zafar , Muhammad Ahmad , Muhammad Husnain , Ramazan Kahraman , Bilal Mansoor , Kamran Ali , R.A. Shakoor
This study investigates the fabrication of Ni-B-NbC composite coatings using the electrodeposition technique, where different loadings of Niobium Carbide (NbC) particles were introduced into a Nickel‑boron matrix (NiB). The effect of NbC incorporation with different concentrations (2, 4, and 6 g/L) on the coating's structural morphology, surface characteristics, mechanical strength, and electrochemical behavior was comprehensively analyzed. Structural observations confirmed that NbC particles were successfully embedded within the NiB matrix, while maintaining the characteristic cauliflower-like surface texture. The microhardness of the coatings increased progressively with higher NbC content, achieving a peak value of 1873 HV at 6 g/L. Similarly, the corrosion resistance enhanced consistently, with the maximum charge transfer resistance (Rct) reaching 5260 Ω·cm2 at the same particle concentration. The optimized Ni-B-NbC coating (6 g/L) exhibited simultaneous improvements in hardness (∼127%) and corrosion resistance (∼92%) compared with the unreinforced NiB layer. These enhancements stem from dispersion strengthening and refinement of the grain structure, which collectively harden the matrix and reduce active surface exposure. Additionally, the filling of micro-defects by NbC particles contributes to the barrier effect. Complementary COMSOL Multiphysics simulations revealed that the co-deposition of NbC modifies the local current density distribution during electrodeposition, influencing coating uniformity and integrity. The overall improvement in corrosion and mechanical aspects indicates the potential of Ni–B–NbC composite coatings for harsh service environments in oil and gas, automobile, and aerospace applications.
{"title":"Enhanced mechanical and electrochemical behavior of electrodeposited Ni-B-NbC coatings: experimental characterization and COMSOL simulation","authors":"Ahmad Saadi Samra , Samra Zafar , Muhammad Ahmad , Muhammad Husnain , Ramazan Kahraman , Bilal Mansoor , Kamran Ali , R.A. Shakoor","doi":"10.1016/j.mseb.2026.119222","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mseb.2026.119222","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study investigates the fabrication of Ni-B-NbC composite coatings using the electrodeposition technique, where different loadings of Niobium Carbide (NbC) particles were introduced into a Nickel‑boron matrix (Ni<img>B). The effect of NbC incorporation with different concentrations (2, 4, and 6 g/L) on the coating's structural morphology, surface characteristics, mechanical strength, and electrochemical behavior was comprehensively analyzed. Structural observations confirmed that NbC particles were successfully embedded within the Ni<img>B matrix, while maintaining the characteristic cauliflower-like surface texture. The microhardness of the coatings increased progressively with higher NbC content, achieving a peak value of 1873 HV at 6 g/L. Similarly, the corrosion resistance enhanced consistently, with the maximum charge transfer resistance (Rct) reaching 5260 Ω·cm<sup>2</sup> at the same particle concentration. The optimized Ni-B-NbC coating (6 g/L) exhibited simultaneous improvements in hardness (∼127%) and corrosion resistance (∼92%) compared with the unreinforced Ni<img>B layer. These enhancements stem from dispersion strengthening and refinement of the grain structure, which collectively harden the matrix and reduce active surface exposure. Additionally, the filling of micro-defects by NbC particles contributes to the barrier effect. Complementary COMSOL Multiphysics simulations revealed that the co-deposition of NbC modifies the local current density distribution during electrodeposition, influencing coating uniformity and integrity. The overall improvement in corrosion and mechanical aspects indicates the potential of Ni–B–NbC composite coatings for harsh service environments in oil and gas, automobile, and aerospace applications.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18233,"journal":{"name":"Materials Science and Engineering: B","volume":"327 ","pages":"Article 119222"},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146080915","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 : 2026-05-01Epub Date: 2026-02-11DOI: 10.1016/j.mseb.2026.119286
Biswajit Samanta , V. Nandhini , Chinmay Routray , Ashish Jain , N. Ambika , Abhiram Senapati , S. Balakrishnan
The thermo-physical properties of Fe1-xTix [x = 45, 50 & 55 at.% Ti] alloys were systematically investigated using X-ray diffraction (XRD), High-temperature X-ray diffraction (HTXRD), Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), and Scanning Electron Microscopy with Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (SEM-EDS). Arc melting was used to synthesize the alloy samples. The homogeneity and composition of the homogenized alloy (1073 K/120 h) have been confirmed by SEM-EDS analysis. Rietveld refinement was used to determine the lattice parameters and relative phase fractions of the constituent phases. The average thermal expansion coefficients for the FeTi phase were found to be αai = 1.109 × 10−5 K−1 (linear) and αvi = 3.324 × 10−5 K−1 (volumetric). The Cp of the single-phase FeTi intermetallic compound was measured employing heat flux DSC, utilizing conventional “three-step” procedures. Using an analytical framework based on the quasi-harmonic Debye-Grüneisen model, a correlation between Cp and the enthalpy increment (HT – H298.15) was established across the temperature range 0–860 K. The model enables the deconvolution of the total heat capacity into vibrational, anharmonic, and electronic contributions, providing deeper insight into the thermal behavior of the FeTi intermetallic compound.
{"title":"Experimental investigation and modeling of the thermo-physical properties of Fe1-xTix [x = 45, 50 & 55 at.% Ti] alloys","authors":"Biswajit Samanta , V. Nandhini , Chinmay Routray , Ashish Jain , N. Ambika , Abhiram Senapati , S. Balakrishnan","doi":"10.1016/j.mseb.2026.119286","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mseb.2026.119286","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The thermo-physical properties of Fe<sub>1-x</sub>Ti<sub>x</sub> [x = 45, 50 & 55 at.% Ti] alloys were systematically investigated using X-ray diffraction (XRD), High-temperature X-ray diffraction (HTXRD), Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), and Scanning Electron Microscopy with Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (SEM-EDS). Arc melting was used to synthesize the alloy samples. The homogeneity and composition of the homogenized alloy (1073 K/120 h) have been confirmed by SEM-EDS analysis. Rietveld refinement was used to determine the lattice parameters and relative phase fractions of the constituent phases. The average thermal expansion coefficients for the FeTi phase were found to be α<sub>a</sub><sup>i</sup> = 1.109 × 10<sup>−5</sup> K<sup>−1</sup> (linear) and α<sub>v</sub><sup>i</sup> = 3.324 × 10<sup>−5</sup> K<sup>−1</sup> (volumetric). The C<sub>p</sub> of the single-phase FeTi intermetallic compound was measured employing heat flux DSC, utilizing conventional “three-step” procedures. Using an analytical framework based on the quasi-harmonic Debye-Grüneisen model, a correlation between C<sub>p</sub> and the enthalpy increment (H<sub>T</sub> – H<sub>298.15</sub>) was established across the temperature range 0–860 K. The model enables the deconvolution of the total heat capacity into vibrational, anharmonic, and electronic contributions, providing deeper insight into the thermal behavior of the FeTi intermetallic compound.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18233,"journal":{"name":"Materials Science and Engineering: B","volume":"327 ","pages":"Article 119286"},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146189934","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 : 2026-05-01Epub Date: 2026-02-12DOI: 10.1016/j.mseb.2026.119290
Qiong Wu , Sitian Cai , Dawei Shi , Shilin Li , Weiqiang Liu , Yuqing Li , Zhanjia Wang , Jingwen Liao , Zongbo Liao , Jin Tang , Qingfang Huang , Ming Yue
In order to solve the problems of waste caused by the surface buildup of the diffusion source of the two-step grain boundary diffusion method, we propose a Dy vapor deposition diffusion to achieve the optimization of magnet microstructure and performance, and realize a large-scale production of Dy vapor deposition diffusion magnets at the scale of thousands of pieces, in which Dy diffuses along the grain boundaries and forms a continuous and homogeneous (Dy,Nd)2Fe14B shell layer structure. Test results indicate that after vapor deposition diffusion treatment, the weight gain ratio of Dy is 0.6 wt%, the coercivity of the magnet increased from 13.95 kOe to 21.36 kOe, and the decreases of remanent magnetization and maximum magnetic energy product are significantly lower than those of the conventional coating method. Microanalysis confirms that the vapor deposition method results in a more even distribution of Dy in the grain boundary region, with a diffusion depth of 800 μm and no elemental buildup on the surface, which effectively improves the utilization of heavy rare earths. This work provides a feasible solution for the industrialized production of high-performance Nd-Fe-B magnets.
{"title":"Industrialization of one-step grain boundary diffusion method to achieve optimized core-shell structure and magnetic performance","authors":"Qiong Wu , Sitian Cai , Dawei Shi , Shilin Li , Weiqiang Liu , Yuqing Li , Zhanjia Wang , Jingwen Liao , Zongbo Liao , Jin Tang , Qingfang Huang , Ming Yue","doi":"10.1016/j.mseb.2026.119290","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mseb.2026.119290","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In order to solve the problems of waste caused by the surface buildup of the diffusion source of the two-step grain boundary diffusion method, we propose a Dy vapor deposition diffusion to achieve the optimization of magnet microstructure and performance, and realize a large-scale production of Dy vapor deposition diffusion magnets at the scale of thousands of pieces, in which Dy diffuses along the grain boundaries and forms a continuous and homogeneous (Dy,Nd)<sub>2</sub>Fe<sub>14</sub>B shell layer structure. Test results indicate that after vapor deposition diffusion treatment, the weight gain ratio of Dy is 0.6 wt%, the coercivity of the magnet increased from 13.95 kOe to 21.36 kOe, and the decreases of remanent magnetization and maximum magnetic energy product are significantly lower than those of the conventional coating method. Microanalysis confirms that the vapor deposition method results in a more even distribution of Dy in the grain boundary region, with a diffusion depth of 800 μm and no elemental buildup on the surface, which effectively improves the utilization of heavy rare earths. This work provides a feasible solution for the industrialized production of high-performance Nd-Fe-B magnets.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18233,"journal":{"name":"Materials Science and Engineering: B","volume":"327 ","pages":"Article 119290"},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146189932","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 : 2026-05-01Epub Date: 2026-02-11DOI: 10.1016/j.mseb.2026.119278
H.H. Mohamed , H. Nady , Ibraheem O. Ali , Ebtsam K. Alenezy , M.M. El-Rabiei , Ahmed Mourtada Elseman , Tarek M. Salamd
Copper- and cadmium-doped M0.2Ni0.8MoO4 nanocomposites were synthesized via a sol-gel method using polyvinyl alcohol as a stabilizer. Their structural, optical, and magnetic properties were characterized using XRD, XPS, HRTEM, UV–Vis DRS, and VSM. XRD analysis confirmed the formation of a single-phase monoclinic α-NiMoO4 structure (C2/m), with Cd2+ incorporation leading to greater lattice expansion and smaller crystallite size (33.3 nm) than Cu2+ doping (52.6 nm). XPS revealed Ni2+, Cu2+, Cd2+, and mixed-valence Mo6+/Mo5+ states, with the Cu-doped sample showing more oxygen vacancies that promote the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). UV–Vis DRS revealed ligand-to-metal charge transfer and d-d transitions, with Cd doping inducing a redshift and narrowing the bandgap from 3.62 to 3.58 eV, enhancing light-harvesting efficiency. VSM measurements revealed room-temperature soft ferromagnetism in both samples, with the Cd-doped NiMoO4 exhibiting a higher saturation magnetization (Ms = 3.30 emu g−1) and coercivity (Hc = 45.03 Oe) than the Cu-doped counterpart (Ms = 0.64 emu g−1, Hc = 37.59 Oe), reflecting strain-induced magnetic disorder rather than vacancy-mediated coupling. HRTEM analysis showed well-defined crystalline domains for Cu0.2Ni0.8MoO4, whereas Cd0.2Ni0.8MoO4 consisted of smaller (≈30–35 nm), porous, and defect-rich nanoparticles, indicative of enhanced local structural distortion. The electrocatalytic performance of Cu0.2Ni0.8MoO4 and Cd0.2Ni0.8MoO4 cathodes for the HER in 1.0 M PBS was evaluated by polarization and EIS analyses. The Cu0.2Ni0.8MoO4/NF electrode exhibited superior activity, achieving 59.66 mA cm−2 at −1.1 V and a lower overpotential of 279.7 mV at 20 mA cm−2, compared with 35.97 mA cm−2 and 420.8 mV for the Cd-doped electrode. EIS confirmed faster charge transfer and enhanced HER kinetics for the Cu-doped catalyst.
以聚乙烯醇为稳定剂，采用溶胶-凝胶法制备了掺杂铜和镉的M0.2Ni0.8MoO4纳米复合材料。采用XRD、XPS、HRTEM、UV-Vis DRS和VSM对其结构、光学和磁性进行了表征。XRD分析证实形成了单相单斜α-NiMoO4结构（C2/m），与Cu2+掺杂（52.6 nm）相比，Cd2+掺杂导致了更大的晶格膨胀和更小的晶粒尺寸（33.3 nm）。XPS显示出Ni2+、Cu2+、Cd2+和混合价态Mo6+/Mo5+，其中cu掺杂样品显示出更多的氧空位，促进了析氢反应（HER）。UV-Vis DRS显示了配体到金属的电荷转移和d-d跃迁，Cd掺杂引起了红移，并将带隙从3.62 eV缩小到3.58 eV，提高了光收集效率。VSM测量结果显示，两种样品均具有室温软铁磁性，其中掺杂cd的NiMoO4的饱和磁化强度（Ms = 3.30 emu g−1）和矫顽力（Hc = 45.03 Oe）高于掺杂cu的NiMoO4 (Ms = 0.64 emu g−1,Hc = 37.59 Oe)，反映的是应变诱导的磁性紊乱，而不是空位介导的耦合。HRTEM分析显示Cu0.2Ni0.8MoO4的晶体结构清晰，而Cd0.2Ni0.8MoO4由更小（≈30-35 nm）、多孔和富含缺陷的纳米颗粒组成，表明局部结构畸变增强。采用极化和EIS分析评价了Cu0.2Ni0.8MoO4和Cd0.2Ni0.8MoO4阴极在1.0 M PBS中对HER的电催化性能。Cu0.2Ni0.8MoO4/NF电极在−1.1 V下的过电位为59.66 mA cm−2，在20 mA cm−2下的过电位为279.7 mV，而镉掺杂电极的过电位为35.97 mA cm−2，过电位为420.8 mV。EIS证实了cu掺杂催化剂更快的电荷转移和增强的HER动力学。
{"title":"Synergistic transition-metal doping in M0.2Ni0.8MoO4 (M = Cu, Cd) nanocomposites for enhanced hydrogen evolution","authors":"H.H. Mohamed , H. Nady , Ibraheem O. Ali , Ebtsam K. Alenezy , M.M. El-Rabiei , Ahmed Mourtada Elseman , Tarek M. Salamd","doi":"10.1016/j.mseb.2026.119278","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mseb.2026.119278","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Copper- and cadmium-doped M<sub>0.2</sub>Ni<sub>0.8</sub>MoO<sub>4</sub> nanocomposites were synthesized via a sol-gel method using polyvinyl alcohol as a stabilizer. Their structural, optical, and magnetic properties were characterized using XRD, XPS, HRTEM, UV–Vis DRS, and VSM. XRD analysis confirmed the formation of a single-phase monoclinic α-NiMoO<sub>4</sub> structure (C2/m), with Cd<sup>2+</sup> incorporation leading to greater lattice expansion and smaller crystallite size (33.3 nm) than Cu<sup>2+</sup> doping (52.6 nm). XPS revealed Ni<sup>2+</sup>, Cu<sup>2+</sup>, Cd<sup>2+</sup>, and mixed-valence Mo<sup>6+</sup>/Mo<sup>5+</sup> states, with the Cu-doped sample showing more oxygen vacancies that promote the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). UV–Vis DRS revealed ligand-to-metal charge transfer and d-d transitions, with Cd doping inducing a redshift and narrowing the bandgap from 3.62 to 3.58 eV, enhancing light-harvesting efficiency. VSM measurements revealed room-temperature soft ferromagnetism in both samples, with the Cd-doped NiMoO<sub>4</sub> exhibiting a higher saturation magnetization (<em>M</em><sub><em>s</em></sub> = 3.30 emu g<sup>−1</sup>) and coercivity (<em>H</em><sub><em>c</em></sub> = 45.03 Oe) than the Cu-doped counterpart (<em>M</em><sub>s</sub> = 0.64 emu g<sup>−1</sup>, <em>H</em><sub><em>c</em></sub> = 37.59 Oe), reflecting strain-induced magnetic disorder rather than vacancy-mediated coupling. HRTEM analysis showed well-defined crystalline domains for Cu<sub>0.2</sub>Ni<sub>0.8</sub>MoO<sub>4</sub>, whereas Cd<sub>0.2</sub>Ni<sub>0.8</sub>MoO<sub>4</sub> consisted of smaller (≈30–35 nm), porous, and defect-rich nanoparticles, indicative of enhanced local structural distortion. The electrocatalytic performance of Cu<sub>0.2</sub>Ni<sub>0.8</sub>MoO<sub>4</sub> and Cd<sub>0.2</sub>Ni<sub>0.8</sub>MoO<sub>4</sub> cathodes for the HER in 1.0 M PBS was evaluated by polarization and EIS analyses. The Cu<sub>0.2</sub>Ni<sub>0.8</sub>MoO<sub>4</sub>/NF electrode exhibited superior activity, achieving 59.66 mA cm<sup>−2</sup> at −1.1 V and a lower overpotential of 279.7 mV at 20 mA cm<sup>−2</sup>, compared with 35.97 mA cm<sup>−2</sup> and 420.8 mV for the Cd-doped electrode. EIS confirmed faster charge transfer and enhanced HER kinetics for the Cu-doped catalyst.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18233,"journal":{"name":"Materials Science and Engineering: B","volume":"327 ","pages":"Article 119278"},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146189929","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 : 2026-05-01Epub Date: 2026-02-11DOI: 10.1016/j.mseb.2026.119276
G.Alan Sibu , V. Balasubramani , D. Siva Priya , S. AlFaify , Mohd Shkir
This study systematically investigates the influence of Yttrium (Y) doping on the structural, morphological, optical, and optoelectronic properties of Magnesium Oxide (MgO) thin films fabricated via the cost-effective Jet Nebulizer Spray Pyrolysis (JNSP) technique. Maintaining a constant deposition temperature at 450ᴼC, the Yttrium concentration was precisely varied (3 wt%, 5 wt% and 7 wt%). XRD analysis revealed a crucial doping-induced structural phase transition, the 3 wt% sample exhibited an amorphous structure, while higher concentrations (5 wt% and 7 wt%) resulted in a polycrystalline structure. Notably, the 5 wt% Y-doped film achieved the highest degree of crystallinity. This structural evolution was corroborated by FESEM, which showed a progression from a rough, agglomerated morphology at 3 wt% to significantly smoother and more uniform surfaces at 5 wt% and 7 wt%. Compositional integrity and successful Y incorporation were confirmed by EDX and XPS. UV-Vis spectroscopy demonstrated that Y-doping effectively tunes the film's optical response, the optical bandgap was found to be monotonic, with the 5 wt% film exhibiting the highest bandgap and the 7wt% film the lowest. To demonstrate practical utility, the 7 wt% MgO+Y film was selected for the fabrication of a Cu/MgO+Y/n-Si MOS Schottky Barrier diode. This device exhibited promising photosensitivity and responsivity under light illumination, validating the suitability of Y-doped MgO thin films for next-generation UV photodetectors and other high-performance optoelectronic applications.
{"title":"Precision engineering of magnesium oxide thin films: Optimizing structural, optical and optoelectronic performance via Yttrium doping for UV photodetection","authors":"G.Alan Sibu , V. Balasubramani , D. Siva Priya , S. AlFaify , Mohd Shkir","doi":"10.1016/j.mseb.2026.119276","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mseb.2026.119276","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study systematically investigates the influence of Yttrium (Y) doping on the structural, morphological, optical, and optoelectronic properties of Magnesium Oxide (MgO) thin films fabricated via the cost-effective Jet Nebulizer Spray Pyrolysis (JNSP) technique. Maintaining a constant deposition temperature at 450<sup>ᴼ</sup>C, the Yttrium concentration was precisely varied (3 wt%, 5 wt% and 7 wt%). XRD analysis revealed a crucial doping-induced structural phase transition, the 3 wt% sample exhibited an amorphous structure, while higher concentrations (5 wt% and 7 wt%) resulted in a polycrystalline structure. Notably, the 5 wt% Y-doped film achieved the highest degree of crystallinity. This structural evolution was corroborated by FESEM, which showed a progression from a rough, agglomerated morphology at 3 wt% to significantly smoother and more uniform surfaces at 5 wt% and 7 wt%. Compositional integrity and successful Y incorporation were confirmed by EDX and XPS. UV-Vis spectroscopy demonstrated that Y-doping effectively tunes the film's optical response, the optical bandgap was found to be monotonic, with the 5 wt% film exhibiting the highest bandgap and the 7wt% film the lowest. To demonstrate practical utility, the 7 wt% MgO+Y film was selected for the fabrication of a Cu/MgO+Y/n-Si MOS Schottky Barrier diode. This device exhibited promising photosensitivity and responsivity under light illumination, validating the suitability of Y-doped MgO thin films for next-generation UV photodetectors and other high-performance optoelectronic applications.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18233,"journal":{"name":"Materials Science and Engineering: B","volume":"327 ","pages":"Article 119276"},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146190390","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 : 2026-05-01Epub Date: 2026-02-10DOI: 10.1016/j.mseb.2026.119273
Enyi He , Ruixiang Zhang , Shuqi Tan , Xicong Ye , Zhenyu He , Yu Cheng , Yongsheng Ye , Haihua Wu , Bo Song
Designing and preparing microwave absorbing materials with ultra-wideband and wide-angle absorption characteristics is key to solving electromagnetic pollution problems. This study, based on previously developed zinc ferrite hollow composite microspheres and reduced graphene oxide composite materials, employs 3D printing technology to prepare a filled gradient structure absorber and optimizes its structural parameters to achieve optimal absorption performance. Experimental results show that the prepared absorber, at a thickness of 9 mm, achieves an EAB of 11.8 GHz, covering the frequency ranges of 4.13–5.92 GHz and 7.99–18 GHz. It exhibits outstanding polarization insensitivity, demonstrating stable broadband, wide-angle absorption performance in both TE and TM polarization modes. The gradient structure design effectively improves impedance matching between the absorber and free space, facilitating the entry of electromagnetic waves. The synergistic effect of macroscopic boundary diffraction and microscopic absorption mechanisms further enhances the absorption performance. Additionally, by utilizing combinations of different absorbers and filling the gradient layers with the most suitable composite materials, the EAB of the absorber reaches 9.83 GHz at a physical thickness of 6 mm, with a minimum reflection loss of −46.46 dB. Compared to single-material absorber step-structure absorbers, the multi-material absorber step-structure absorber exhibits a 33% reduction in total thickness and a 61% decrease in volume, providing significant reference for the development of lightweight absorbers.
{"title":"Design and performance study of gradient structure microwave absorber based on rGO-ZnFe₂O₄ composite microspheres","authors":"Enyi He , Ruixiang Zhang , Shuqi Tan , Xicong Ye , Zhenyu He , Yu Cheng , Yongsheng Ye , Haihua Wu , Bo Song","doi":"10.1016/j.mseb.2026.119273","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mseb.2026.119273","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Designing and preparing microwave absorbing materials with ultra-wideband and wide-angle absorption characteristics is key to solving electromagnetic pollution problems. This study, based on previously developed zinc ferrite hollow composite microspheres and reduced graphene oxide composite materials, employs 3D printing technology to prepare a filled gradient structure absorber and optimizes its structural parameters to achieve optimal absorption performance. Experimental results show that the prepared absorber, at a thickness of 9 mm, achieves an EAB of 11.8 GHz, covering the frequency ranges of 4.13–5.92 GHz and 7.99–18 GHz. It exhibits outstanding polarization insensitivity, demonstrating stable broadband, wide-angle absorption performance in both TE and TM polarization modes. The gradient structure design effectively improves impedance matching between the absorber and free space, facilitating the entry of electromagnetic waves. The synergistic effect of macroscopic boundary diffraction and microscopic absorption mechanisms further enhances the absorption performance. Additionally, by utilizing combinations of different absorbers and filling the gradient layers with the most suitable composite materials, the EAB of the absorber reaches 9.83 GHz at a physical thickness of 6 mm, with a minimum reflection loss of −46.46 dB. Compared to single-material absorber step-structure absorbers, the multi-material absorber step-structure absorber exhibits a 33% reduction in total thickness and a 61% decrease in volume, providing significant reference for the development of lightweight absorbers.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18233,"journal":{"name":"Materials Science and Engineering: B","volume":"327 ","pages":"Article 119273"},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146190561","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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