Pub Date : 2026-05-01Epub Date: 2026-02-10DOI: 10.1016/j.mseb.2026.119252
G. Vinod , J. Prashanth , N. Harikumar , N. Suryam , Gajula Kiran , K. Sudhakar , B. Sreematha , Byru Venkatram Reddy , L. Naga Prasad , J. Laxman Naik
The current study used the citrate sol-gel auto-combustion method to fabricate Yb3+-doped Cu0.7Mg0.3Fe2O4 (Cu0.7Mg0.3Fe2-xYbxO4; x = 0.00, 0.004, 0.008, 0.012, 0.016, 0.020) ferrite nanoparticles. The P-XRD observations confirmed the presence of nano-spinel crystallites with sizes between 35.84 nm and 37.92 nm. According to FE-SEM and TEM data, Yb3+ doping improved grain dispersion and slightly increased grain size. All the FE-SEM micrographs showed spherical, well-structured, polycrystalline particles believed to consist of multiple grains. FT-IR measurements identify the two ferrite characteristic bands, υ1 (∼386–401 cm−1) and υ2 (∼510–574 cm−1). Additional Yb3+ doping decreased the optical band gap from 3.35 to 2.81 eV. As the temperature increases, the DC resistivity decreases in both the ferromagnetic and paramagnetic regions. CMYF nano-ferrites exhibit standard dielectric behaviour in terms of dielectric constant, dielectric loss, and AC conductivity. A lower loss tangent in Yb-doped CuMg nano-ferrite materials is beneficial for deflection coupling and high-frequency applications. Coercivity (Hc) increased, and saturation magnetisation (Ms) decreased in proportion to the addition of Rare-Earth Yb3+ ions. The highest coercivity (204.441 Oe) and the lowest saturation magnetisation (21.799 emu/g) of CMYF-5 make it suitable for high-frequency, microwave, and magnetic recording applications, as well as magnetoelectric composite applications, where magnetic stability and reduced loss are essential.
{"title":"Investigation of RE-Yb3+ doped CuMg nanoparticles via citrate sol-gel auto-combustion method for Magnetoelectric applications: Structural, optical, electrical and magnetic properties","authors":"G. Vinod , J. Prashanth , N. Harikumar , N. Suryam , Gajula Kiran , K. Sudhakar , B. Sreematha , Byru Venkatram Reddy , L. Naga Prasad , J. Laxman Naik","doi":"10.1016/j.mseb.2026.119252","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mseb.2026.119252","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The current study used the citrate sol-gel auto-combustion method to fabricate Yb<sup>3+</sup>-doped Cu<sub>0.7</sub>Mg<sub>0.3</sub>Fe<sub>2</sub>O<sub>4</sub> (Cu<sub>0.7</sub>Mg<sub>0.3</sub>Fe<sub>2-x</sub>Yb<sub>x</sub>O<sub>4</sub>; x = 0.00, 0.004, 0.008, 0.012, 0.016, 0.020) ferrite nanoparticles. The P-XRD observations confirmed the presence of nano-spinel crystallites with sizes between 35.84 nm and 37.92 nm. According to FE-SEM and TEM data, Yb<sup>3+</sup> doping improved grain dispersion and slightly increased grain size. All the FE-SEM micrographs showed spherical, well-structured, polycrystalline particles believed to consist of multiple grains. FT-IR measurements identify the two ferrite characteristic bands, υ<sub>1</sub> (∼386–401 cm<sup>−1</sup>) and υ<sub>2</sub> (∼510–574 cm<sup>−1</sup>). Additional Yb<sup>3+</sup> doping decreased the optical band gap from 3.35 to 2.81 eV. As the temperature increases, the DC resistivity decreases in both the ferromagnetic and paramagnetic regions. CMYF nano-ferrites exhibit standard dielectric behaviour in terms of dielectric constant, dielectric loss, and AC conductivity. A lower loss tangent in Yb-doped Cu<img>Mg nano-ferrite materials is beneficial for deflection coupling and high-frequency applications. Coercivity (Hc) increased, and saturation magnetisation (Ms) decreased in proportion to the addition of Rare-Earth Yb<sup>3+</sup> ions. The highest coercivity (204.441 Oe) and the lowest saturation magnetisation (21.799 emu/g) of CMYF-5 make it suitable for high-frequency, microwave, and magnetic recording applications, as well as magnetoelectric composite applications, where magnetic stability and reduced loss are essential.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18233,"journal":{"name":"Materials Science and Engineering: B","volume":"327 ","pages":"Article 119252"},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146190392","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 application of a nanocomposite photocatalyst consisting of ZnO tetrapod (ZnO-T) nanoparticles encapsulated in a poly[ε]caprolactone (PCL) matrix for the treatment of polluted water. ZnO-T nanoparticles were synthesized using a flame torch reactor and incorporated into PCL fibres by electrospinning. Characterization through SEM confirmed successful integration and particle distribution. Photocatalytic tests with Methylene blue under UV light illumination revealed that nanocomposites with 20–50% ZnO-T load reached 92% degradation efficiency, with a pseudo-first-order rate constant of up to k = 0.015 min−1, outperforming similar matrices loaded with commercial ZnO and TiO2 nanoparticles. The ZnO-T-PCL nanocomposites also demonstrated good stability retaining approximately 85% of their initial photocatalytic activity after 15 consecutive cycles with minimal Zn leaching, making them effective and durable for environmental applications.
{"title":"ZnO tetrapod/poly[ε]caprolactone fibre nanocomposite photocatalysts for water purification","authors":"Martynas Tichonovas , Emilija Mockutė , Deimantė Puzerė , Tadas Prasauskas , Dainius Martuzevičius , Tomas Tamulevičius , Domantas Peckus , Simas Račkauskas","doi":"10.1016/j.mseb.2026.119271","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mseb.2026.119271","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study investigates the application of a nanocomposite photocatalyst consisting of ZnO tetrapod (ZnO-T) nanoparticles encapsulated in a poly[<em>ε</em>]caprolactone (PCL) matrix for the treatment of polluted water. ZnO-T nanoparticles were synthesized using a flame torch reactor and incorporated into PCL fibres by electrospinning. Characterization through SEM confirmed successful integration and particle distribution. Photocatalytic tests with Methylene blue under UV light illumination revealed that nanocomposites with 20–50% ZnO-T load reached 92% degradation efficiency, with a pseudo-first-order rate constant of up to k = 0.015 min<sup>−1</sup>, outperforming similar matrices loaded with commercial ZnO and TiO<sub>2</sub> nanoparticles. The ZnO-T-PCL nanocomposites also demonstrated good stability retaining approximately 85% of their initial photocatalytic activity after 15 consecutive cycles with minimal Zn leaching, making them effective and durable for environmental applications.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18233,"journal":{"name":"Materials Science and Engineering: B","volume":"327 ","pages":"Article 119271"},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146190522","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.2026.119297
Anil Kumar Singh, Pritam Deb
Spin-polarized electronic bands despite zero net magnetization, even in the absence of spin–orbit coupling, along with vanishing stray fields and high dynamic speed, offer a versatile platform for next-generation spintronics devices. Crystal anisotropy, typically induced via external stimuli, expedites time-reversal symmetry breaking in antiferromagnets; however, its extrinsic origin often compromises structural stability. Here, we demonstrate an effective approach to achieve the sought-after altermagnetic phase through designing atomically thin antiferromagnet/nonmagnet van der Waals (vdW) heterostructures with high structural stability, which offers an intrinsic route to reduce the crystal symmetry. Although vdW heterostructures have been extensively studied for tailoring magnetic properties, their potential in the realization of altermagnetism remains unexplored. It is worth highlighting that the heterostructure exhibits significant magnetotransport behavior arising from spin–orbit interaction induced non-zero Berry curvature, which contributes to the anomalous Hall conductivity () and a finite spin Hall conductivity. It also governs spin-momentum locking and leads to a weak out-of-plane Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction that breaks antiunitary symmetries and induces weak ferromagnetism, thereby enabling anomalous Hall response. This study provides a novel approach to realize strong altermagnetism in decoupled space-spin symmetry systems and fosters emergent spin transport behaviors.
{"title":"Emergence of anomalous Hall effect in a semiconducting van der Waals heterostructure with a strong altermagnetic feature","authors":"Anil Kumar Singh, Pritam Deb","doi":"10.1016/j.mseb.2026.119297","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mseb.2026.119297","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Spin-polarized electronic bands despite zero net magnetization, even in the absence of spin–orbit coupling, along with vanishing stray fields and high dynamic speed, offer a versatile platform for next-generation spintronics devices. Crystal anisotropy, typically induced via external stimuli, expedites time-reversal symmetry breaking in antiferromagnets; however, its extrinsic origin often compromises structural stability. Here, we demonstrate an effective approach to achieve the sought-after altermagnetic phase through designing atomically thin antiferromagnet/nonmagnet van der Waals (vdW) heterostructures with high structural stability, which offers an intrinsic route to reduce the crystal symmetry. Although vdW heterostructures have been extensively studied for tailoring magnetic properties, their potential in the realization of altermagnetism remains unexplored. It is worth highlighting that the heterostructure exhibits significant magnetotransport behavior arising from spin–orbit interaction induced non-zero Berry curvature, which contributes to the anomalous Hall conductivity (<span><math><mrow><mo>∼</mo><mn>59</mn><mo>.</mo><mn>2</mn><mspace></mspace><msup><mrow><mi>Ω</mi></mrow><mrow><mo>−</mo><mn>1</mn></mrow></msup><mspace></mspace><msup><mrow><mi>cm</mi></mrow><mrow><mo>−</mo><mn>1</mn></mrow></msup></mrow></math></span>) and a finite spin Hall conductivity. It also governs spin-momentum locking and leads to a weak out-of-plane Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction that breaks antiunitary symmetries and induces weak ferromagnetism, thereby enabling anomalous Hall response. This study provides a novel approach to realize strong altermagnetism in decoupled space-spin symmetry systems and fosters emergent spin transport behaviors.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18233,"journal":{"name":"Materials Science and Engineering: B","volume":"327 ","pages":"Article 119297"},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146189930","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: 2026-01-22DOI: 10.1016/j.mseb.2026.119223
Ellapu Bhanu Prakash , Anil Prasad Dadi , Vijay Maitra , Tathagata Ghose , Ashok Ray , Sushanta Bordoloi
This work presents a comprehensive investigation of AlGaN/GaN HEMTs employing different surface engineering strategies. Devices with different cap configurations such as without GaN cap, with GaN cap and with AlN cap is numerically analyzed to evaluate their DC and RF performance. The influence of these cap configurations on the 2DEG density, drain current, transconductance, leakage behavior, breakdown voltage, gate capacitance, and high-frequency figures of merit is systematically assessed. Compared with uncapped devices, the GaN capped HEMT exhibited improved ON-state current, enhanced transconductance, and reduced gate leakage. The AlN capped HEMT further demonstrated superior characteristics, including a significant increase in ON-state current (697 mA/mm), a higher I/I ratio (1.62 × 10), enhanced breakdown voltage (962 V), and improved Johnson and Baliga figures of merit. These results provide insight into the trade-off between ON-state performance and OFF-state reliability, and offer practical guidelines for the design of high-performance AlGaN/GaN HEMTs through optimized cap-layer selection.
{"title":"Cap-layer engineering in AlGaN/GaN HEMTs with AlN buffer for enhanced breakdown and Johnson Figure of Merit","authors":"Ellapu Bhanu Prakash , Anil Prasad Dadi , Vijay Maitra , Tathagata Ghose , Ashok Ray , Sushanta Bordoloi","doi":"10.1016/j.mseb.2026.119223","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mseb.2026.119223","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This work presents a comprehensive investigation of AlGaN/GaN HEMTs employing different surface engineering strategies. Devices with different cap configurations such as without GaN cap, with GaN cap and with AlN cap is numerically analyzed to evaluate their DC and RF performance. The influence of these cap configurations on the 2DEG density, drain current, transconductance, leakage behavior, breakdown voltage, gate capacitance, and high-frequency figures of merit is systematically assessed. Compared with uncapped devices, the GaN capped HEMT exhibited improved ON-state current, enhanced transconductance, and reduced gate leakage. The AlN capped HEMT further demonstrated superior characteristics, including a significant increase in ON-state current (697 mA/mm), a higher I<span><math><msub><mrow></mrow><mrow><mi>o</mi><mi>n</mi></mrow></msub></math></span>/I<span><math><msub><mrow></mrow><mrow><mi>o</mi><mi>f</mi><mi>f</mi></mrow></msub></math></span> ratio (1.62 × 10<span><math><msup><mrow></mrow><mrow><mn>8</mn></mrow></msup></math></span>), enhanced breakdown voltage (962 V), and improved Johnson and Baliga figures of merit. These results provide insight into the trade-off between ON-state performance and OFF-state reliability, and offer practical guidelines for the design of high-performance AlGaN/GaN HEMTs through optimized cap-layer selection.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18233,"journal":{"name":"Materials Science and Engineering: B","volume":"327 ","pages":"Article 119223"},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146006820","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 : 2026-04-01Epub Date: 2026-01-05DOI: 10.1016/j.mseb.2025.119171
Vijay Kumar Srivastava , A. Sowndarya , T. Daniel Thangadurai , Zdenek Sofer , S. Jayavani , Hanna J. Maria , Sabu Thomas
A feasible substitute for traditional batteries, solid-state rechargeable energy storage technologies provide benefits like higher energy density, improved safety, and longer cycle life. Nanomaterials (NMs) have confirmed great potential in overcoming the drawbacks of conventional lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), particularly carbon-based materials like graphene and carbon nanotubes (CNTs). To meet the increasing need for high-performance energy storage technologies, particularly for electric vehicles (EVs), more advancements are necessary. The incorporation of carbon-based nanomaterials into all-solid-state batteries (ASSBs) with photo-rechargeable characteristics is investigated in this study. ASSB performance in terms of energy density, cycle life, and power density can be greatly improved by the special qualities of CNTs and graphene, including their large surface area, superior mechanical strength, and electrical conductivity. To optimize the anode, cathode, and electrolyte materials, this study explores the most current revisions on the use of carbon-based NMs in ASSBs. Additionally, the possibilities of photo-rechargeable ASSBs made possible by the combination of charge-separation and light-harvesting mechanisms are examined. This assessment seeks to aid in the creation of next-generation energy storage systems by offering a thorough summary of current developments and prospective viewpoints.
{"title":"Carbon-based nanocomposites for all-solid-state rechargeable energy storage devices","authors":"Vijay Kumar Srivastava , A. Sowndarya , T. Daniel Thangadurai , Zdenek Sofer , S. Jayavani , Hanna J. Maria , Sabu Thomas","doi":"10.1016/j.mseb.2025.119171","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mseb.2025.119171","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>A feasible substitute for traditional batteries, solid-state rechargeable energy storage technologies provide benefits like higher energy density, improved safety, and longer cycle life. Nanomaterials (NMs) have confirmed great potential in overcoming the drawbacks of conventional lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), particularly carbon-based materials like graphene and carbon nanotubes (CNTs). To meet the increasing need for high-performance energy storage technologies, particularly for electric vehicles (EVs), more advancements are necessary. The incorporation of carbon-based nanomaterials into all-solid-state batteries (ASSBs) with photo-rechargeable characteristics is investigated in this study. ASSB performance in terms of energy density, cycle life, and power density can be greatly improved by the special qualities of CNTs and graphene, including their large surface area, superior mechanical strength, and electrical conductivity. To optimize the anode, cathode, and electrolyte materials, this study explores the most current revisions on the use of carbon-based NMs in ASSBs. Additionally, the possibilities of photo-rechargeable ASSBs made possible by the combination of charge-separation and light-harvesting mechanisms are examined. This assessment seeks to aid in the creation of next-generation energy storage systems by offering a thorough summary of current developments and prospective viewpoints.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18233,"journal":{"name":"Materials Science and Engineering: B","volume":"326 ","pages":"Article 119171"},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145928185","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 : 2026-04-01Epub Date: 2026-01-06DOI: 10.1016/j.mseb.2025.119176
Aamir A. Khatri, Riddhi B. Palan, Trusha D. Ahir, G.K. Solanki
The growing demand of multifunctional materials capable of addressing challenges in various fields has positioned layered Transition Metal Dichalcogenides (TMDCs) as highly promising candidates due to their exceptional electronic and optical behaviour. Owing to that, in this work MoSe2 single crystals synthesized via a simple Direct Vapor Transport (DVT) technique have been studied for their bifunctional role in photodetection and photocatalytic applications due its characteristic layered properties, tunable band gap, and strong light–matter interactions. The as grown crystals were thoroughly characterized using various analytical techniques like PXRD, FESEM–EDAX, UV–Visible spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy followed by their utilization in the fabrication of crystal-based photodetector and as a photocatalyst for photocatalytic degradation of dye. The photodetector device fabricated demonstrated stable visible-light photoresponse with a responsivity of 1.34 mA/W and fast rise/decay times of 122/107 ms, highlighting its efficient carrier dynamics and effective photodetection capabilities. Further, photocatalysis carried out using a unique catalyst-coated glass substrate enabled an efficient photodegradation, achieving 82.36 % degradation of 10 ppm methylene blue dye under visible-light illumination (20 W LED), followed by evaluation under varying pH conditions. Recyclability tests over multiple cycles showed negligible loss in photocatalytic activity along with no significant change in the MoSe2 crystal structure after reusability, demonstrating excellent stability and practical reusability of the MoSe2 as photocatalyst. Thus, this work establishes MoSe2 as an efficient bifunctional TMDC material, highlighting its dual capability in high-performance photodetection and sustainable environmental remediation, thereby underscoring its strong potential for practical optoelectronic and wastewater treatment applications.
由于层状过渡金属二硫族化物（TMDCs）具有优异的电子和光学性能，因此对能够解决各个领域挑战的多功能材料的需求不断增长，这使得TMDCs成为极有前途的候选材料。因此，在本研究中，通过简单的直接蒸汽传输（DVT）技术合成的MoSe2单晶由于其层状特性、可调带隙和强光-物质相互作用，在光探测和光催化应用中具有双重功能。利用PXRD、FESEM-EDAX、紫外-可见光谱、拉曼光谱等分析技术对生长的晶体进行了全面表征，并将其用于制备晶体基光电探测器和作为光催化降解染料的光催化剂。所制备的光电探测器具有稳定的可见光响应，响应率为1.34 mA/W，上升/衰减时间为122/107 ms，突出了其高效的载流子动力学和有效的光电探测能力。此外，使用独特的催化剂涂层玻璃基板进行光催化，实现了有效的光降解，在可见光照明（20 W LED）下，对10 ppm的亚甲基蓝染料实现了82.36%的降解，随后在不同的pH条件下进行了评估。多次循环的可回收性测试表明，重复使用后，MoSe2光催化活性的损失可以忽略不计，晶体结构也没有明显变化，证明了MoSe2作为光催化剂具有良好的稳定性和可重复使用性。因此，这项工作确立了MoSe2作为一种高效的双功能TMDC材料，突出了其在高性能光探测和可持续环境修复方面的双重能力，从而强调了其在实际光电和废水处理应用中的强大潜力。
{"title":"Bifunctional MoSe2 crystals for high-performance photodetection and photocatalytic wastewater treatment","authors":"Aamir A. Khatri, Riddhi B. Palan, Trusha D. Ahir, G.K. Solanki","doi":"10.1016/j.mseb.2025.119176","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mseb.2025.119176","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The growing demand of multifunctional materials capable of addressing challenges in various fields has positioned layered Transition Metal Dichalcogenides (TMDCs) as highly promising candidates due to their exceptional electronic and optical behaviour. Owing to that, in this work MoSe<sub>2</sub> single crystals synthesized via a simple Direct Vapor Transport (DVT) technique have been studied for their bifunctional role in photodetection and photocatalytic applications due its characteristic layered properties, tunable band gap, and strong light–matter interactions. The as grown crystals were thoroughly characterized using various analytical techniques like PXRD, FESEM–EDAX, UV–Visible spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy followed by their utilization in the fabrication of crystal-based photodetector and as a photocatalyst for photocatalytic degradation of dye. The photodetector device fabricated demonstrated stable visible-light photoresponse with a responsivity of 1.34 mA/W and fast rise/decay times of 122/107 ms, highlighting its efficient carrier dynamics and effective photodetection capabilities. Further, photocatalysis carried out using a unique catalyst-coated glass substrate enabled an efficient photodegradation, achieving 82.36 % degradation of 10 ppm methylene blue dye under visible-light illumination (20 W LED), followed by evaluation under varying pH conditions. Recyclability tests over multiple cycles showed negligible loss in photocatalytic activity along with no significant change in the MoSe<sub>2</sub> crystal structure after reusability, demonstrating excellent stability and practical reusability of the MoSe<sub>2</sub> as photocatalyst. Thus, this work establishes MoSe<sub>2</sub> as an efficient bifunctional TMDC material, highlighting its dual capability in high-performance photodetection and sustainable environmental remediation, thereby underscoring its strong potential for practical optoelectronic and wastewater treatment applications.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18233,"journal":{"name":"Materials Science and Engineering: B","volume":"326 ","pages":"Article 119176"},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145928183","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 : 2026-04-01Epub Date: 2026-01-08DOI: 10.1016/j.mseb.2026.119187
Didwmsha Goyari, Perumal Alagarsamy
The systematic investigations of enhancement in the magnetic properties of thick amorphous HITPERM (Fe70Co15Zr7B5Cu3) films by incorporating SiO2 spacer layers in the multilayer [HITPERM (x)/ [SiO2 (z = 0–6) /HITPERM (x)]n=0–3] films, deposited using the magnetron sputtering, along with the numerical simulation on the interlayer exchange couplings, are reported. All single-layer and multilayer as-deposited films exhibit amorphous structure, but show distinct variations in the magnetic properties with respect to x, z, and n. As n increases, the magnetic domains transform from a stripe domain pattern to an in-plane pattern, resulting in a change in the hysteresis loops from transcritical to in-plane orientation with uniaxial magnetic anisotropy (Ku). In addition, a substantial reduction in coercivity (HC), the field required for saturation (HS), and an increase in the remanence ratio (MR/MS) from 64 % to ∼100 % with increasing n from 0 to 3 are observed, summarizing an enhancement in the magnetic properties. The interlayer magnetic coupling between the HITERM layers and the switching behavior strongly depend on the measurement angle between the easy axis and the applied field direction, z, n, and temperature (T). The hysteresis loops at lower temperatures reveal switching of HITPERM layers either individually or collectively, depending on z and n. The numerical simulation corroborates the experiment findings and helps in understanding the nature of interlayer exchange coupling between HITPERM layers, depending on the spacer layer thickness, and for optimizing the soft magnetic properties, particularly for applications in magnetic sensors.
{"title":"Tuning magnetic properties of thick amorphous HITPERM films: Investigating multilayer effects and spacer layer influence on interlayer exchange coupling through numerical simulation","authors":"Didwmsha Goyari, Perumal Alagarsamy","doi":"10.1016/j.mseb.2026.119187","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mseb.2026.119187","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The systematic investigations of enhancement in the magnetic properties of thick amorphous HITPERM (Fe<sub>70</sub>Co<sub>15</sub>Zr<sub>7</sub>B<sub>5</sub>Cu<sub>3</sub>) films by incorporating SiO<sub>2</sub> spacer layers in the multilayer [HITPERM (<em>x</em>)/ [SiO<sub>2</sub> (<em>z</em> = 0–6) /HITPERM (<em>x</em>)]<sub><em>n</em>=0–3</sub>] films, deposited using the magnetron sputtering, along with the numerical simulation on the interlayer exchange couplings, are reported. All single-layer and multilayer as-deposited films exhibit amorphous structure, but show distinct variations in the magnetic properties with respect to <em>x</em>, <em>z</em>, and <em>n</em>. As <em>n</em> increases, the magnetic domains transform from a stripe domain pattern to an in-plane pattern, resulting in a change in the hysteresis loops from transcritical to in-plane orientation with uniaxial magnetic anisotropy (<em>K</em><sub><em>u</em></sub>). In addition, a substantial reduction in coercivity (<em>H</em><sub>C</sub>), the field required for saturation (<em>H</em><sub><em>S</em></sub>), and an increase in the remanence ratio (<em>M</em><sub><em>R</em></sub>/<em>M</em><sub><em>S</em></sub>) from 64 % to ∼100 % with increasing <em>n</em> from 0 to 3 are observed, summarizing an enhancement in the magnetic properties. The interlayer magnetic coupling between the HITERM layers and the switching behavior strongly depend on the measurement angle between the easy axis and the applied field direction, <em>z</em>, <em>n</em>, and temperature (<em>T</em>). The hysteresis loops at lower temperatures reveal switching of HITPERM layers either individually or collectively, depending on <em>z</em> and <em>n</em>. The numerical simulation corroborates the experiment findings and helps in understanding the nature of interlayer exchange coupling between HITPERM layers, depending on the spacer layer thickness, and for optimizing the soft magnetic properties, particularly for applications in magnetic sensors.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18233,"journal":{"name":"Materials Science and Engineering: B","volume":"326 ","pages":"Article 119187"},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145928274","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 reports the synthesis and multifunctional evaluation of cobalt–copper ferrite (CoCuFe2O4)-based nanocomposites integrated with graphene oxide (GO) and zinc sulfide (ZnS) for environmental remediation and sensing applications. Four materials were prepared: pure CoCuFe2O4 (S1) via conventional co-precipitation and calcination at 800 °C, CoCuFe2O4/ZnS (S2), CoCuFe2O4/GO (S3), and CoCuFe2O4/ZnS@GO (S4) through ultrasonic-assisted co-precipitation. Structural, morphological, magnetic, optical, and electrical characteristics were examined using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDS), vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM), UV–Vis–NIR spectroscopy, and impedance analysis. Crystallite size and microstrain, determined using multiple XRD models (C-S, M-S, W-H, H-W, SSP, and SSM), confirmed significant refinement in S4 (∼74.6 nm) due to strain effects. UV–Vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy revealed direct band gaps ranging from 1.39 to 2.03 eV, enhancing visible light absorption. Photocatalytic studies demonstrated outstanding dye degradation efficiency, with S3 achieving 99.9 % methylene blue removal in 80 min and S4 achieving 99.6 % rhodamine B degradation in 180 min under halogen light illumination, maintaining stability across pH 4–10. Solar-driven photocatalysis further confirmed superior degradation of MB, RHB, and the antibiotic moxifloxacin, reaching efficiencies up to 99.9 %. Additionally, S3 and S4 exhibited remarkable humidity sensing responses, indicating high sensitivity and stability. These findings highlight the synergistic role of ZnS and GO in improving structural, optical, and functional properties of CoCuFe2O4, establishing the CoCuFe2O4/ZnS@GO ternary nanocomposite as a promising candidate for halogen/sunlight-driven photocatalysis and advanced humidity sensing in environmental applications.
{"title":"Multifunctional CoCuFe2O4 decorated GO & ZnS nanocomposites for halogen light & sunlight assisted photocatalytic degradation (Dye & Antibiotic) and humidity sensing: Microstructural, optical and electromagnetic properties","authors":"Md. Iftekhar Rahman Sarker , Md. Lutfor Rahman , Md. Jakir Hossain , Bristy Biswas , Md. Farid Ahmed , Shirin Akter Jahan , Nahid Sharmin","doi":"10.1016/j.mseb.2025.119168","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mseb.2025.119168","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study reports the synthesis and multifunctional evaluation of cobalt–copper ferrite (CoCuFe<sub>2</sub>O<sub>4</sub>)-based nanocomposites integrated with graphene oxide (GO) and zinc sulfide (ZnS) for environmental remediation and sensing applications. Four materials were prepared: pure CoCuFe<sub>2</sub>O<sub>4</sub> (S1) via conventional co-precipitation and calcination at 800 °C, CoCuFe<sub>2</sub>O<sub>4</sub>/ZnS (S2), CoCuFe<sub>2</sub>O<sub>4</sub>/GO (S3), and CoCuFe<sub>2</sub>O<sub>4</sub>/ZnS@GO (S4) through ultrasonic-assisted co-precipitation. Structural, morphological, magnetic, optical, and electrical characteristics were examined using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDS), vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM), UV–Vis–NIR spectroscopy, and impedance analysis. Crystallite size and microstrain, determined using multiple XRD models (C-S, M-S, W-H, H-W, SSP, and SSM), confirmed significant refinement in S4 (∼74.6 nm) due to strain effects. UV–Vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy revealed direct band gaps ranging from 1.39 to 2.03 eV, enhancing visible light absorption. Photocatalytic studies demonstrated outstanding dye degradation efficiency, with S3 achieving 99.9 % methylene blue removal in 80 min and S4 achieving 99.6 % rhodamine B degradation in 180 min under halogen light illumination, maintaining stability across pH 4–10. Solar-driven photocatalysis further confirmed superior degradation of MB, RHB, and the antibiotic moxifloxacin, reaching efficiencies up to 99.9 %. Additionally, S3 and S4 exhibited remarkable humidity sensing responses, indicating high sensitivity and stability. These findings highlight the synergistic role of ZnS and GO in improving structural, optical, and functional properties of CoCuFe<sub>2</sub>O<sub>4</sub>, establishing the CoCuFe<sub>2</sub>O<sub>4</sub>/ZnS@GO ternary nanocomposite as a promising candidate for halogen/sunlight-driven photocatalysis and advanced humidity sensing in environmental applications.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18233,"journal":{"name":"Materials Science and Engineering: B","volume":"326 ","pages":"Article 119168"},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145928277","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}
Lithium titanate (Li4Ti5O12, LTO) anodes are widely used in energy storage systems, yet their efficient recycling remains challenging due to the high energy demand and complexity of conventional processes. This study presents a solvent-assisted direct recycling strategy for LTO anodes recovered from three representative sources: commercial powders, electrode manufacturing scrap, and cycle-aged cells. The process employs sequential N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP) and ethanol treatments followed by low-temperature vacuum drying (≤110 °C), thereby eliminating high-temperature calcination while preserving the spinel structure. Structural and morphological characterizations confirm that the LTO spinel framework is largely retained after recycling, with only minor source-dependent variations in lattice parameters and particle morphology. Scrap-derived LTO exhibits particle-size distributions, thermal stability, and electrochemical behavior comparable to those of commercial LTO. In contrast, LTO recovered from cycle-aged cells shows increased surface-related degradation and interfacial resistance, leading to reduced rate capability and capacity retention. Notably, all recycled materials maintain a stable voltage plateau at approximately 1.55 V vs. Li+/Li, indicating preservation of the intrinsic lithium intercalation mechanism. To address performance degradation in recycled materials, a compositional blending strategy combining recycled and commercial LTO is investigated. Blended electrodes demonstrate improved rate performance and cycling stability compared with recycled LTO alone. Overall, this work provides a manufacturing-relevant evaluation of solvent-assisted direct recycling for LTO anodes and offers practical guidance for reuse-oriented implementation in lithium-ion battery systems.
钛酸锂（Li4Ti5O12， LTO）阳极广泛应用于储能系统，但由于其高能量需求和传统工艺的复杂性，其有效回收仍然具有挑战性。本研究提出了一种溶剂辅助的直接回收策略，用于从三个代表性来源回收的LTO阳极：商业粉末，电极制造废料和循环老化电池。该工艺采用连续n -甲基-2-吡咯烷酮（NMP）和乙醇处理，然后进行低温真空干燥（≤110℃），从而在保留尖晶石结构的同时消除了高温煅烧。结构和形态表征证实，LTO尖晶石骨架在回收后大部分被保留，晶格参数和颗粒形态只有轻微的源依赖性变化。废料衍生的LTO表现出与商业LTO相当的粒度分布、热稳定性和电化学行为。相比之下，从循环老化的细胞中恢复的LTO显示出增加的表面相关降解和界面阻力，导致速率能力和容量保持能力降低。值得注意的是，所有的回收材料都保持了一个稳定的电压平台，大约在1.55 V vs. Li+/Li，表明保留了固有的锂嵌入机制。为了解决回收材料性能下降的问题，研究了一种将回收材料与商业LTO相结合的复合混合策略。与单独回收LTO相比，混合电极具有更好的倍率性能和循环稳定性。总的来说，这项工作为LTO阳极的溶剂辅助直接回收提供了与制造相关的评估，并为锂离子电池系统中面向再利用的实施提供了实用指导。
{"title":"Solvent-assisted direct recycling of Li4Ti5O12 anodes for sustainable lithium-ion battery production","authors":"Chui-Chang Chiu , Wen-Chia Hsu , Chung-Chieh Chang , Yu-Cheng Chiu","doi":"10.1016/j.mseb.2026.119224","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mseb.2026.119224","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Lithium titanate (Li<sub>4</sub>Ti<sub>5</sub>O<sub>12</sub>, LTO) anodes are widely used in energy storage systems, yet their efficient recycling remains challenging due to the high energy demand and complexity of conventional processes. This study presents a solvent-assisted direct recycling strategy for LTO anodes recovered from three representative sources: commercial powders, electrode manufacturing scrap, and cycle-aged cells. The process employs sequential <em>N</em>-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP) and ethanol treatments followed by low-temperature vacuum drying (≤110 °C), thereby eliminating high-temperature calcination while preserving the spinel structure. Structural and morphological characterizations confirm that the LTO spinel framework is largely retained after recycling, with only minor source-dependent variations in lattice parameters and particle morphology. Scrap-derived LTO exhibits particle-size distributions, thermal stability, and electrochemical behavior comparable to those of commercial LTO. In contrast, LTO recovered from cycle-aged cells shows increased surface-related degradation and interfacial resistance, leading to reduced rate capability and capacity retention. Notably, all recycled materials maintain a stable voltage plateau at approximately 1.55 V vs. Li<sup>+</sup>/Li, indicating preservation of the intrinsic lithium intercalation mechanism. To address performance degradation in recycled materials, a compositional blending strategy combining recycled and commercial LTO is investigated. Blended electrodes demonstrate improved rate performance and cycling stability compared with recycled LTO alone. Overall, this work provides a manufacturing-relevant evaluation of solvent-assisted direct recycling for LTO anodes and offers practical guidance for reuse-oriented implementation in lithium-ion battery systems.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18233,"journal":{"name":"Materials Science and Engineering: B","volume":"326 ","pages":"Article 119224"},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146023505","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 : 2026-04-01Epub Date: 2026-01-16DOI: 10.1016/j.mseb.2026.119212
Ayşe Nur Şahin , Ahmet Altındal , Zeynep Güven Özdemir
In this study, the ammonia (NH₃/NH₄+) sensing performance of two-dimensional covellite phase copper sulfide (CuS) nanoplates in aqueous media was investigated for the first time using QCM-based sensors. Hydrothermally synthesized CuS nanoplates were characterized by X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) and Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope (FE-SEM) analyses. The CuS-coated quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) electrode exhibited clear and concentration-dependent frequency shifts ranging from approximately 1.4 to 2 MHz for NH₃ concentrations between 18.25 and 91.25 ppm. It was observed that the frequency shifts were related to NH₃ adsorption, and at higher concentrations, irreversible adsorption became dominant on the surface. UV–vis measurements showed these findings, and chemical changes in the solution pointed to the adsorption mechanism. The BET analysis also confirmed the mesoporous nature of the CuS nanoplates, providing a suitable surface for NH₃ adsorption and correlating well with the concentration-dependent QCM frequency shifts. The Elovich model showed the best fit in kinetic analyses, and the Langmuir model in isotherm analyses. These results demonstrate that both monolayer and heterogeneous adsorption behaviors are effective on the CuS surface. The findings provide a basis for the development of next-generation, low-cost, and portable CuS-based sensors that can be used in areas such as environmental monitoring, water quality control, and nuclear waste management.
{"title":"Irreversible adsorption behavior of CuS nanoplate-based QCM sensors toward aqueous Ammonia: Adsorption kinetics and isotherm insights","authors":"Ayşe Nur Şahin , Ahmet Altındal , Zeynep Güven Özdemir","doi":"10.1016/j.mseb.2026.119212","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mseb.2026.119212","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In this study, the ammonia (NH₃/NH₄<sup>+</sup>) sensing performance of two-dimensional covellite phase copper sulfide (CuS) nanoplates in aqueous media was investigated for the first time using QCM-based sensors. Hydrothermally synthesized CuS nanoplates were characterized by X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) and Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope (FE-SEM) analyses. The CuS-coated quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) electrode exhibited clear and concentration-dependent frequency shifts ranging from approximately 1.4 to 2 MHz for NH₃ concentrations between 18.25 and 91.25 ppm. It was observed that the frequency shifts were related to NH₃ adsorption, and at higher concentrations, irreversible adsorption became dominant on the surface. UV–vis measurements showed these findings, and chemical changes in the solution pointed to the adsorption mechanism. The BET analysis also confirmed the mesoporous nature of the CuS nanoplates, providing a suitable surface for NH₃ adsorption and correlating well with the concentration-dependent QCM frequency shifts. The Elovich model showed the best fit in kinetic analyses, and the Langmuir model in isotherm analyses. These results demonstrate that both monolayer and heterogeneous adsorption behaviors are effective on the CuS surface. The findings provide a basis for the development of next-generation, low-cost, and portable CuS-based sensors that can be used in areas such as environmental monitoring, water quality control, and nuclear waste management.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18233,"journal":{"name":"Materials Science and Engineering: B","volume":"326 ","pages":"Article 119212"},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145978947","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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