Hot corrosion significantly impacts the service life of TiAl-based components in aero-engine environments. In this work, the hot corrosion behavior of Ti45Al8Nb alloy is systematically and comparatively investigated when exposed to molten Na2SO4 at 900 °C and molten Na2SO4–NaCl (75:25 wt%) at 700–900 °C. Under identical experimental conditions, the mixed-salt environment causes markedly higher material loss, severe scale spallation, and intensified microstructural damage compared with pure Na2SO4, and the corrosion severity exhibits a strong temperature dependence. In pure Na2SO4, a relatively compact multilayer corrosion scale composed of Ti-, Al-, and Nb-rich phases develops, in which Nb promotes stratified oxide formation that suppresses inward diffusion of corrosive species. In contrast, in the NaCl-containing environment, Cl− ions trigger chlorine-induced self-sustaining reactions at the metal–scale interface, reducing scale adherence and accelerating degradation. Meanwhile, Nb participates in the acidic dissolution of Al2O3, while sulfur species contribute to internal sulfidation, primarily through TiS formation, leading to enhanced pit nucleation and deepening. These mechanisms collectively destabilize the corrosion scale, intensify intergranular attack, and result in a significantly higher degradation rate.
{"title":"Microstructural evolution and hot corrosion mechanisms of Ti45Al8Nb alloy exposed to pure and mixed molten salt systems","authors":"Xueqing Wang, Tingrui Xu, Dijuan Han, Rui Hou, Zhixiang Qi, Yuede Cao, Guang Chen","doi":"10.1016/j.apsusc.2026.166274","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apsusc.2026.166274","url":null,"abstract":"Hot corrosion significantly impacts the service life of TiAl-based components in aero-engine environments. In this work, the hot corrosion behavior of Ti45Al8Nb alloy is systematically and comparatively investigated when exposed to molten Na<ce:inf loc=\"post\">2</ce:inf>SO<ce:inf loc=\"post\">4</ce:inf> at 900 °C and molten Na<ce:inf loc=\"post\">2</ce:inf>SO<ce:inf loc=\"post\">4</ce:inf>–NaCl (75:25 wt%) at 700–900 °C. Under identical experimental conditions, the mixed-salt environment causes markedly higher material loss, severe scale spallation, and intensified microstructural damage compared with pure Na<ce:inf loc=\"post\">2</ce:inf>SO<ce:inf loc=\"post\">4</ce:inf>, and the corrosion severity exhibits a strong temperature dependence. In pure Na<ce:inf loc=\"post\">2</ce:inf>SO<ce:inf loc=\"post\">4</ce:inf>, a relatively compact multilayer corrosion scale composed of Ti-, Al-, and Nb-rich phases develops, in which Nb promotes stratified oxide formation that suppresses inward diffusion of corrosive species. In contrast, in the NaCl-containing environment, Cl<ce:sup loc=\"post\">−</ce:sup> ions trigger chlorine-induced self-sustaining reactions at the metal–scale interface, reducing scale adherence and accelerating degradation. Meanwhile, Nb participates in the acidic dissolution of Al<ce:inf loc=\"post\">2</ce:inf>O<ce:inf loc=\"post\">3</ce:inf>, while sulfur species contribute to internal sulfidation, primarily through TiS formation, leading to enhanced pit nucleation and deepening. These mechanisms collectively destabilize the corrosion scale, intensify intergranular attack, and result in a significantly higher degradation rate.","PeriodicalId":247,"journal":{"name":"Applied Surface Science","volume":"60 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.7,"publicationDate":"2026-02-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146146431","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"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 : 2026-02-09DOI: 10.1016/j.apsusc.2026.166246
Ruozhen Wu, Yuanpeng Liu, Kewei Huang
The layered metal dichalcogenides (LMDs) are promising candidates for efficiently detecting H2S gas. However, little attention has been devoted to revealing the effect of different semiconductor types in heterostructures with the same components on gas sensing performance. Herein, we constructed n-n and p-n type SnS2/MoS2 heterostructures by hybridizing n- and p-type semiconducting MoS2 with pristine SnS2. Compared to pristine SnS2 and MoS2, the formation of SnS2/MoS2 heterostructures showed a great improvement in H2S sensing performance at room temperature. In particular, the n-n type SnS2/MoS2 exhibited the highest response values, which were 47.9- and 4.4-folds higher, respectively, than the pristine SnS2 and MoS2 toward 1 ppm H2S. The mechanism of distinct-type SnS2/MoS2 heterostructures on H2S sensing is attributed to the synergistic effect of energy level alignment and heterojunction type. The results of n-n and p-n heterojunction effecting H2S sensing would provide guidance to the steps of enhancing the sensing properties of LMDs-based sensors and be extended to other applications
{"title":"Contact physics in n-n and p-n type SnS2/MoS2 heterostructures enable enhanced H2S sensing","authors":"Ruozhen Wu, Yuanpeng Liu, Kewei Huang","doi":"10.1016/j.apsusc.2026.166246","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apsusc.2026.166246","url":null,"abstract":"The layered metal dichalcogenides (LMDs) are promising candidates for efficiently detecting H<ce:inf loc=\"post\">2</ce:inf>S gas. However, little attention has been devoted to revealing the effect of different semiconductor types in heterostructures with the same components on gas sensing performance. Herein, we constructed n-n and p-n type SnS<ce:inf loc=\"post\">2</ce:inf>/MoS<ce:inf loc=\"post\">2</ce:inf> heterostructures by hybridizing n- and p-type semiconducting MoS<ce:inf loc=\"post\">2</ce:inf> with pristine SnS<ce:inf loc=\"post\">2</ce:inf>. Compared to pristine SnS<ce:inf loc=\"post\">2</ce:inf> and MoS<ce:inf loc=\"post\">2</ce:inf>, the formation of SnS<ce:inf loc=\"post\">2</ce:inf>/MoS<ce:inf loc=\"post\">2</ce:inf> heterostructures showed a great improvement in H<ce:inf loc=\"post\">2</ce:inf>S sensing performance at room temperature. In particular, the n-n type SnS<ce:inf loc=\"post\">2</ce:inf>/MoS<ce:inf loc=\"post\">2</ce:inf> exhibited the highest response values, which were 47.9- and 4.4-folds higher, respectively, than the pristine SnS<ce:inf loc=\"post\">2</ce:inf> and MoS<ce:inf loc=\"post\">2</ce:inf> toward 1 ppm H<ce:inf loc=\"post\">2</ce:inf>S. The mechanism of distinct-type SnS<ce:inf loc=\"post\">2</ce:inf>/MoS<ce:inf loc=\"post\">2</ce:inf> heterostructures on H<ce:inf loc=\"post\">2</ce:inf>S sensing is attributed to the synergistic effect of energy level alignment and heterojunction type. The results of n-n and p-n heterojunction effecting H<ce:inf loc=\"post\">2</ce:inf>S sensing would provide guidance to the steps of enhancing the sensing properties of LMDs-based sensors and be extended to other applications","PeriodicalId":247,"journal":{"name":"Applied Surface Science","volume":"1 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.7,"publicationDate":"2026-02-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146146463","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"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 : 2026-02-09DOI: 10.1016/j.apsusc.2026.166261
M. Hassan, S. Laureti, I. Bergenti, F. Spizzo, L.Del Bianco, L. Gnoli, G. Barucca, A. Ullrich, A. Mezzi, M. Albrecht, G. Varvaro
Non-magnetic oxide/Co-based heterostructures with perpendicular magnetic anisotropy (PMA) are highly attractive for energy-efficient spintronic applications, owing to the tunability of their magnetic properties via external electric fields. SrTiO3 (STO)/Co systems, in particular, offer strong potential due to the high dielectric constant of STO, which enables efficient voltage control of interfacial magnetism by interface charge accumulation. Although PMA has been previously observed, its microscopic origin remains unclear. Here, we investigate the mechanism responsible for PMA in Co/X (X = Pd, Pt) thin films on STO(1 1 1) and STO(1 0 0) substrates with mixed terminations. The results indicate a strong influence of STO orientation, reflected in different surface reactivity, as well as of the nature of the capping layer. These findings shed light on the interfacial factors that control PMA in STO/Co/X (X = Pd, Pt) heterostructures, suggesting that optimal PMA can be achieved by employing STO(1 1 1) substrates with a pure SrO34- termination, thereby enabling the development of advanced energy-efficient spintronic devices.
{"title":"On the origin of perpendicular magnetic anisotropy in STO/Co/X (X = Pd, Pt) sputtered films","authors":"M. Hassan, S. Laureti, I. Bergenti, F. Spizzo, L.Del Bianco, L. Gnoli, G. Barucca, A. Ullrich, A. Mezzi, M. Albrecht, G. Varvaro","doi":"10.1016/j.apsusc.2026.166261","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apsusc.2026.166261","url":null,"abstract":"Non-magnetic oxide/Co-based heterostructures with perpendicular magnetic anisotropy (PMA) are highly attractive for energy-efficient spintronic applications, owing to the tunability of their magnetic properties via external electric fields. SrTiO<sub>3</sub> (STO)/Co systems, in particular, offer strong potential due to the high dielectric constant of STO, which enables efficient voltage control of interfacial magnetism by interface charge accumulation. Although PMA has been previously observed, its microscopic origin remains unclear. Here, we investigate the mechanism responsible for PMA in Co/X (X = Pd, Pt) thin films on STO(1<!-- --> <!-- -->1<!-- --> <!-- -->1) and STO(1<!-- --> <!-- -->0<!-- --> <!-- -->0) substrates with mixed terminations. The results indicate a strong influence of STO orientation, reflected in different surface reactivity, as well as of the nature of the capping layer. These findings shed light on the interfacial factors that control PMA in STO/Co/X (X = Pd, Pt) heterostructures, suggesting that optimal PMA can be achieved by employing STO(1<!-- --> <!-- -->1<!-- --> <!-- -->1) substrates with a pure SrO<sub>3</sub><sup>4-</sup> termination, thereby enabling the development of advanced energy-efficient spintronic devices.","PeriodicalId":247,"journal":{"name":"Applied Surface Science","volume":"314 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.7,"publicationDate":"2026-02-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146146146","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
With the rapid evolution of wearable electronic technologies, single-functional films have become insufficient to satisfy the increasingly complex and diversified performance requirements of next-generation devices. Nevertheless, achieving the cross-scale integration of materials and the balance of multiple functionalities remains a significant challenge in the design of multifunctional flexible films. To address this issue, a flexible multifunctional composite film (LMS) with a brick–sand architecture was fabricated via a facile vacuum filtration approach, integrating liquid metal (LM), MXene, and sodium alginate (SA) to achieve synergistically enhanced properties. The unique brick–sand structure composed of three functional components effectively reinforces interfacial friction and a variety of noncovalent interactions, including hydrogen bonding, dipole–dipole interactions, and van der Waals forces, thereby imparting the film with superior mechanical robustness. Owing to the intrinsic high electrical conductivity of MXene and the hierarchical layered configuration of the composite, the LMS film exhibits remarkable electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding and stress-sensing capabilities. Furthermore, liquid metal microdroplets are uniformly distributed between the layers, forming an in-plane dual percolation network with MXene that simultaneously promotes electrical and thermal conduction, thus enhancing electro-/photothermal conversion efficiency. As a result, the LMS film demonstrates outstanding comprehensive performance, including high tensile strength (98.49 MPa), excellent EMI shielding effectiveness (45 dB, 28,347.17 dB cm2 g⁻1), efficient electrothermal heating (6 V, 73.3 °C), and superior photothermal conversion (71.8 °C within 280 s). These findings highlight the promising potential of the LMS film as a multifunctional, flexible shielding material for next-generation wearable electronic devices.
随着可穿戴电子技术的快速发展，单一功能的薄膜已经无法满足下一代设备日益复杂和多样化的性能要求。然而，实现材料的跨尺度集成和多种功能的平衡仍然是多功能柔性薄膜设计的重大挑战。为了解决这一问题，通过简单的真空过滤方法制备了具有砖砂结构的柔性多功能复合膜（LMS），将液态金属（LM）、MXene和海藻酸钠（SA）整合在一起，以实现协同增强的性能。由三种功能组分组成的独特砖砂结构有效地加强了界面摩擦和各种非共价相互作用，包括氢键、偶极子-偶极子相互作用和范德华力，从而赋予薄膜优越的机械坚固性。由于MXene固有的高导电性和复合材料的分层结构，LMS薄膜具有显著的电磁干扰屏蔽（EMI）和应力传感能力。此外，液态金属微滴均匀分布在层间，与MXene形成平面内双渗透网络，同时促进了电导和热传导，从而提高了电/光热转换效率。因此,LMS电影展示了出色的综合性能,包括抗拉强度高(98.49 MPa),优秀的EMI屏蔽效能(45 dB, 28347 .17 dB cm2 g⁻1),高效电热加热(6 V, 73.3 °C),和优越的光热光谱分析转换(71.8 °C 280 s)内。这些发现突出了LMS薄膜作为下一代可穿戴电子设备的多功能柔性屏蔽材料的巨大潜力。
{"title":"Synergistic brick–sand structured liquid metal/MXene/sodium alginate films for high-performance flexible multifunctional devices","authors":"Jiangli Wu, Changgeng Li, Shunxing Wan, Wei Shang, Xiu-Zhi Tang, Yunjun Ruan, Tong Guo","doi":"10.1016/j.apsusc.2026.166245","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apsusc.2026.166245","url":null,"abstract":"With the rapid evolution of wearable electronic technologies, single-functional films have become insufficient to satisfy the increasingly complex and diversified performance requirements of next-generation devices. Nevertheless, achieving the cross-scale integration of materials and the balance of multiple functionalities remains a significant challenge in the design of multifunctional flexible films. To address this issue, a flexible multifunctional composite film (LMS) with a brick–sand architecture was fabricated via a facile vacuum filtration approach, integrating liquid metal (LM), MXene, and sodium alginate (SA) to achieve synergistically enhanced properties. The unique brick–sand structure composed of three functional components effectively reinforces interfacial friction and a variety of noncovalent interactions, including hydrogen bonding, dipole–dipole interactions, and van der Waals forces, thereby imparting the film with superior mechanical robustness. Owing to the intrinsic high electrical conductivity of MXene and the hierarchical layered configuration of the composite, the LMS film exhibits remarkable electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding and stress-sensing capabilities. Furthermore, liquid metal microdroplets are uniformly distributed between the layers, forming an in-plane dual percolation network with MXene that simultaneously promotes electrical and thermal conduction, thus enhancing electro-/photothermal conversion efficiency. As a result, the LMS film demonstrates outstanding comprehensive performance, including high tensile strength (98.49 MPa), excellent EMI shielding effectiveness (45 dB, 28,347.17 dB cm<sup>2</sup> g⁻<sup>1</sup>), efficient electrothermal heating (6 V, 73.3 °C), and superior photothermal conversion (71.8 °C within 280 s). These findings highlight the promising potential of the LMS film as a multifunctional, flexible shielding material for next-generation wearable electronic devices.","PeriodicalId":247,"journal":{"name":"Applied Surface Science","volume":"73 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.7,"publicationDate":"2026-02-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146146153","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"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 : 2026-02-09DOI: 10.1016/j.apsusc.2026.166242
Saikat Das, Abhishek Hazarika, Rachita Newar, Nitul Kalita, Binoy K. Saikia, Mohammad Qureshi, Arabinda Baruah
Herein, a novel g-C3N5/Fe3O4composite was successfully fabricated and characterized,employing discarded metal oil containers as an economical and eco-friendly iron source for synthesizing Fe3O4nanoparticles. The integration of g-C3N5, which features a narrower band gap and superior surface adsorption capability compared to the conventional g-C3N4, notably improved the composites’ visible light absorption and dye adsorption properties. Among all the synthesized samples, the FeGCN 1:2 composite, with the highest Fe3O4loading, demonstrated exceptional photocatalytic efficiency, achieving 98% methylene blue degradation in the presence of visible light within a short duration, having a rate constant of pseudo-first-order kinetics of 0.02303 min−1. Methylene blue, which is a cationic dye, has been used here as a model water pollutant for photocatalytic performance evaluation of the engineered material. The remarkable photocatalytic enhancement was mainly attributed to the synergistic interplay between g-C3N5and Fe3O4, which promoted effective charge carrier separation and facilitated the formation of reactive oxidative species. Furthermore, utilizing waste-derived Fe3O4not only minimized production costs but also promoted environmental sustainability by valorizing waste materials. Consequently, this study offers a green, cost-effective, and efficient strategy for the development of advanced photocatalysts for dye degradation and other environmental purification applications.
{"title":"Synthesis and mechanistic investigation of scrap metal-derived Fe3O4/g-C3N5 heterojunction photocatalyst for efficient H2O2-assisted degradation of cationic dye under visible light","authors":"Saikat Das, Abhishek Hazarika, Rachita Newar, Nitul Kalita, Binoy K. Saikia, Mohammad Qureshi, Arabinda Baruah","doi":"10.1016/j.apsusc.2026.166242","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apsusc.2026.166242","url":null,"abstract":"Herein, a novel g-C<ce:inf loc=\"post\">3</ce:inf>N<ce:inf loc=\"post\">5</ce:inf>/Fe<ce:inf loc=\"post\">3</ce:inf>O<ce:inf loc=\"post\">4</ce:inf><ce:hsp sp=\"0.25\"></ce:hsp>composite was successfully fabricated and characterized,<ce:hsp sp=\"0.25\"></ce:hsp>employing discarded metal oil containers as an economical and eco-friendly iron source for synthesizing Fe<ce:inf loc=\"post\">3</ce:inf>O<ce:inf loc=\"post\">4</ce:inf><ce:hsp sp=\"0.25\"></ce:hsp>nanoparticles. The integration of g-C<ce:inf loc=\"post\">3</ce:inf>N<ce:inf loc=\"post\">5</ce:inf>, which features a narrower band gap and superior surface adsorption capability compared to the conventional g-C<ce:inf loc=\"post\">3</ce:inf>N<ce:inf loc=\"post\">4</ce:inf>, notably improved the composites’ visible light absorption and dye adsorption properties. Among all the synthesized samples, the FeGCN 1:2 composite, with the highest Fe<ce:inf loc=\"post\">3</ce:inf>O<ce:inf loc=\"post\">4</ce:inf><ce:hsp sp=\"0.25\"></ce:hsp>loading, demonstrated exceptional photocatalytic efficiency, achieving 98% methylene blue degradation in the presence of visible light within a short duration, having a rate constant of pseudo-first-order kinetics of 0.02303 min<ce:sup loc=\"post\">−1</ce:sup>. Methylene blue, which is a cationic dye, has been used here as a model water pollutant for photocatalytic performance evaluation of the engineered material. The remarkable photocatalytic enhancement was mainly attributed to the synergistic interplay between g-C<ce:inf loc=\"post\">3</ce:inf>N<ce:inf loc=\"post\">5</ce:inf><ce:hsp sp=\"0.25\"></ce:hsp>and Fe<ce:inf loc=\"post\">3</ce:inf>O<ce:inf loc=\"post\">4</ce:inf>, which promoted effective charge carrier separation and facilitated the formation of reactive oxidative species. Furthermore, utilizing waste-derived Fe<ce:inf loc=\"post\">3</ce:inf>O<ce:inf loc=\"post\">4</ce:inf><ce:hsp sp=\"0.25\"></ce:hsp>not only minimized production costs but also promoted environmental sustainability by valorizing waste materials. Consequently, this study offers a green, cost-effective, and efficient strategy for the development of advanced photocatalysts for dye degradation and other environmental purification applications.","PeriodicalId":247,"journal":{"name":"Applied Surface Science","volume":"314 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.7,"publicationDate":"2026-02-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146146432","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"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 : 2026-02-09DOI: 10.1016/j.apsusc.2026.166281
B. Unnikrishnan, Divya Mathew, K. Sreekanth, Riya Alex, Suman Sreedharan, K. Jayachandran, E.K. Radhakrishnan
In this study, a novel, sustainable two-step carbon valorization method was developed to synthesis activated carbon (S) and carbon quantum dots (CQDs) from partially combusted coconut shell charcoal (C) for the integrated adsorption and catalytic degradation of aniline blue (AB) and treatment of textile industry effluent. The synthesized activated charcoal exhibited a highly porous, sponge-like structure with a carbon content of 90.4%, as confirmed by FE-SEM and EDX analyses, and showed excellent surface activation characteristics. FTIR analysis showed oxygenated functional groups (O–H, C–H, C=O, and C–O) in C, when activated to S increased the surface reactivity by enhancing C–O stretching while reducing O–H and C–H signals. Along with this optimized surface chemistry, S demonstrated an adsorption capacity of 240.4 mg g⁻1 for 1000 mg L⁻1 of AB, achieving 96.16% dye removal and equilibrium within 30 min. The adsorption data fitted well with the Temkin isotherm (r2 = 0.96) and pseudo-second-order kinetic model (r2 = 0.99), indicating adsorption is controlled by an adsorbate-adsorbent interaction with the availability of functional groups on the surface of the sorbent, contributing to the speed of the adsorption. CQDs synthesized hydrothermally from the same carbon precursor exhibited a good colloidal stability, a 5% quantum yield, an average size of 5.1 nm, and a zeta potential of − 24.26 mV. The CQDs demonstrated efficient catalytic activity, achieving 91.15% degradation of AB within 4 min under visible light. Further, the synthesized activated charcoal retained a high desorption ability (45%) even after three cycles, highlighting its reusability. The practical viability of this system was validated through the combined treatment of textile effluent using S and CQDs, resulting in a significant (p < 0.05) reduction in dye concentration and an improvement in seed germination rates from 20% (untreated) to 73.33% (treated). This research presents a scalable and sustainable approach using agricultural waste for the purification of dye-contaminated wastewater, with strong potential for environmental remediation.
{"title":"Chemisorption and catalytic degradation of aniline blue in water through a two-step process utilizing the activated carbon and carbon quantum dots and its application for the textile effluent remediation","authors":"B. Unnikrishnan, Divya Mathew, K. Sreekanth, Riya Alex, Suman Sreedharan, K. Jayachandran, E.K. Radhakrishnan","doi":"10.1016/j.apsusc.2026.166281","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apsusc.2026.166281","url":null,"abstract":"In this study, a novel, sustainable two-step carbon valorization method was developed to synthesis activated carbon (S) and carbon quantum dots (CQDs) from partially combusted coconut shell charcoal (C) for the integrated adsorption and catalytic degradation of aniline blue (AB) and treatment of textile industry effluent. The synthesized activated charcoal exhibited a highly porous, sponge-like structure with a carbon content of 90.4%, as confirmed by FE-SEM and EDX analyses, and showed excellent surface activation characteristics. FTIR analysis showed oxygenated functional groups (O–H, C–H, C=O, and C–O) in C, when activated to S increased the surface reactivity by enhancing C–O stretching while reducing O–H and C–H signals. Along with this optimized surface chemistry, S demonstrated an adsorption capacity of 240.4 mg g⁻<ce:sup loc=\"post\">1</ce:sup> for 1000 mg L⁻<ce:sup loc=\"post\">1</ce:sup> of AB, achieving 96.16% dye removal and equilibrium within 30 min. The adsorption data fitted well with the Temkin isotherm (r<ce:sup loc=\"post\">2</ce:sup> = 0.96) and pseudo-second-order kinetic model (r<ce:sup loc=\"post\">2</ce:sup> = 0.99), indicating adsorption is controlled by an adsorbate-adsorbent interaction with the availability of functional groups on the surface of the sorbent, contributing to the speed of the adsorption. CQDs synthesized hydrothermally from the same carbon precursor exhibited a good colloidal stability, a 5% quantum yield, an average size of 5.1 nm, and a zeta potential of − 24.26 mV. The CQDs demonstrated efficient catalytic activity, achieving 91.15% degradation of AB within 4 min under visible light. Further, the synthesized activated charcoal retained a high desorption ability (45%) even after three cycles, highlighting its reusability. The practical viability of this system was validated through the combined treatment of textile effluent using S and CQDs, resulting in a significant (p < 0.05) reduction in dye concentration and an improvement in seed germination rates from 20% (untreated) to 73.33% (treated). This research presents a scalable and sustainable approach using agricultural waste for the purification of dye-contaminated wastewater, with strong potential for environmental remediation.","PeriodicalId":247,"journal":{"name":"Applied Surface Science","volume":"24 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.7,"publicationDate":"2026-02-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146146427","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
The rapid recombination of photogenerated charge carriers in both the bulk phase and at interfaces remains a primary obstacle in photocatalysis. Herein, a novel magnetic-field-responsive S-scheme heterojunction photocatalyst was constructed via the in-situ growth of CuFe2O4 on Fe-doped BiOCl (denoted as FBOC/CFO). Under visible light assisted by a 100 mT magnetic field (MF), the optimized FBOC/CFO catalyst achieved 94.8% removal of doxycycline (DC) within 40 min, corresponding to a reaction rate constant 4.4 times higher than that of pure BiOCl and 1.6 times higher than that without MF. Detailed characterizations and theoretical calculations revealed a proposed synergistic spin-space double regulation mechanism: the external MF enhanced bulk charge separation via the Lorentz force and spin polarization effects, while the interfacial built-in electric field (IEF) within the heterojunction drove directional spatial charge transfer. This dual regulation drastically suppressed charge recombination, substantially promoted the generation of ·O2– and ·OH, and led to the efficient degradation and detoxification of DC. Furthermore, the FBOC/CFO system demonstrated excellent stability and magnetic recoverability, broad pH applicability (3–11), and versatile pollutant removal efficacy in complex water matrices. This work presents a novel design strategy for high-performance photocatalysts through the rational coupling of external field manipulation and heterojunction engineering.
{"title":"Synergistic effect of magnetic field and interfacial built-in electric field for efficient photocatalytic removal of doxycycline via an Fe-doped BiOCl/CuFe2O4 S-scheme heterojunction","authors":"Xufei Li, Xinhua Wang, Shumin Yang, Jing Lu, Youzhi Liu, Weizhou Jiao","doi":"10.1016/j.apsusc.2026.166285","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apsusc.2026.166285","url":null,"abstract":"The rapid recombination of photogenerated charge carriers in both the bulk phase and at interfaces remains a primary obstacle in photocatalysis. Herein, a novel magnetic-field-responsive S-scheme heterojunction photocatalyst was constructed via the in-situ growth of CuFe<ce:inf loc=\"post\">2</ce:inf>O<ce:inf loc=\"post\">4</ce:inf> on Fe-doped BiOCl (denoted as FBOC/CFO). Under visible light assisted by a 100 mT magnetic field (MF), the optimized FBOC/CFO catalyst achieved 94.8% removal of doxycycline (DC) within 40 min, corresponding to a reaction rate constant 4.4 times higher than that of pure BiOCl and 1.6 times higher than that without MF. Detailed characterizations and theoretical calculations revealed a proposed synergistic spin-space double regulation mechanism: the external MF enhanced bulk charge separation via the Lorentz force and spin polarization effects, while the interfacial built-in electric field (IEF) within the heterojunction drove directional spatial charge transfer. This dual regulation drastically suppressed charge recombination, substantially promoted the generation of ·O<ce:inf loc=\"post\">2</ce:inf><ce:sup loc=\"post\">–</ce:sup> and ·OH, and led to the efficient degradation and detoxification of DC. Furthermore, the FBOC/CFO system demonstrated excellent stability and magnetic recoverability, broad pH applicability (3–11), and versatile pollutant removal efficacy in complex water matrices. This work presents a novel design strategy for high-performance photocatalysts through the rational coupling of external field manipulation and heterojunction engineering.","PeriodicalId":247,"journal":{"name":"Applied Surface Science","volume":"30 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.7,"publicationDate":"2026-02-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146146426","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
The electrocatalytic methanol oxidation reaction (MOR) faces challenges, such as low OH– concentration at the catalyst interface, along with the poisoning of active sites by competitively adsorbed water molecules. Although heteroatom doping is an established strategy to enhance MOR activity, conventional methods primarily focus on electronic structure modulation and often involve complex synthesis. Here, we report an ultrafast silicon doping strategy, via a mere 20-second room-temperature immersion, to construct Co-O-Si bonds in Co(OH)2 on nickel foam (Si-Co(OH)2/NF). This technique enables the synergistic regulation of both the electronic structure and, more critically, the local interfacial microenvironment. The introduced Co-O-Si bonds induce lattice strain and generate oxygen vacancies, promoting electron transfer. In situ ATR-SEIRAS studies provide direct evidence that silicon doping establishes a hydrophobic interfacial microenvironment, which effectively mitigates water poisoning and facilitates OH– transport to active sites. Consequently, the Si-Co(OH)2/NF catalyst exhibits superior MOR activity, achieving 100 mA cm−2 at 1.41 V vs. RHE, significantly lower than the 1.56 V required for the Co(OH)2/NF, while maintaining high formate selectivity. This work highlights the crucial yet often overlooked role of microenvironment engineering in doping strategies and presents an exceptionally facile and efficient pathway for advanced catalyst design.
电催化甲醇氧化反应（MOR）面临着催化剂界面OH -浓度低、水分子竞争性吸附导致活性位点中毒等挑战。虽然杂原子掺杂是提高MOR活性的既定策略，但传统的方法主要集中在电子结构调制上，并且通常涉及复杂的合成。在这里，我们报告了一种超快硅掺杂策略，通过仅仅20秒的室温浸泡，在泡沫镍上的Co(OH)2中构建Co- o- si键（Si-Co(OH)2/NF）。这种技术能够协同调节电子结构，更重要的是，局部界面微环境。引入的Co-O-Si键诱导晶格应变并产生氧空位，促进电子转移。原位ATR-SEIRAS研究提供了直接证据，证明硅掺杂建立了疏水界面微环境，有效减轻了水中毒，促进了OH -转运到活性位点。因此，Si-Co(OH)2/NF催化剂表现出优异的MOR活性，在1.41 V比RHE下达到100 mA cm - 2，显著低于Co(OH)2/NF所需的1.56 V，同时保持了高甲酸选择性。这项工作强调了微环境工程在掺杂策略中至关重要但经常被忽视的作用，并为先进的催化剂设计提供了一个非常简单和有效的途径。
{"title":"Interfacial microenvironment engineering triggered by rapid silicon doping for promoted methanol electrooxidation","authors":"Jingwen Pu, Baohong Xie, Yaxin Sun, Qian Yang, Jing Xie, Pei Chen, Gang Wang, Feng Yu","doi":"10.1016/j.apsusc.2026.166279","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apsusc.2026.166279","url":null,"abstract":"The electrocatalytic methanol oxidation reaction (MOR) faces challenges, such as low OH<ce:sup loc=\"post\">–</ce:sup> concentration at the catalyst interface, along with the poisoning of active sites by competitively adsorbed water molecules. Although heteroatom doping is an established strategy to enhance MOR activity, conventional methods primarily focus on electronic structure modulation and often involve complex synthesis. Here, we report an ultrafast silicon doping strategy, via a mere 20-second room-temperature immersion, to construct Co-O-Si bonds in Co(OH)<ce:inf loc=\"post\">2</ce:inf> on nickel foam (Si-Co(OH)<ce:inf loc=\"post\">2</ce:inf>/NF). This technique enables the synergistic regulation of both the electronic structure and, more critically, the local interfacial microenvironment. The introduced Co-O-Si bonds induce lattice strain and generate oxygen vacancies, promoting electron transfer. <ce:italic>In situ</ce:italic> ATR-SEIRAS studies provide direct evidence that silicon doping establishes a hydrophobic interfacial microenvironment, which effectively mitigates water poisoning and facilitates OH<ce:sup loc=\"post\">–</ce:sup> transport to active sites. Consequently, the Si-Co(OH)<ce:inf loc=\"post\">2</ce:inf>/NF catalyst exhibits superior MOR activity, achieving 100 mA cm<ce:sup loc=\"post\">−2</ce:sup> at 1.41 V vs. RHE, significantly lower than the 1.56 V required for the Co(OH)<ce:inf loc=\"post\">2</ce:inf>/NF, while maintaining high formate selectivity. This work highlights the crucial yet often overlooked role of microenvironment engineering in doping strategies and presents an exceptionally facile and efficient pathway for advanced catalyst design.","PeriodicalId":247,"journal":{"name":"Applied Surface Science","volume":"15 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.7,"publicationDate":"2026-02-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146146428","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"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 : 2026-02-09DOI: 10.1016/j.apsusc.2026.166257
Alexander N. Bondarchuk, Iván Corrales-Mendoza, Ulises M. García-Pérez, Luis Á. Arellanes-Mendoza, Sergio A. Tomás
Magnéli-phase ceramics (MC), which combine high electrical conductivity and structural stability, are promising materials for electrodes in electrochemical devices. In this work, titanium dioxide (TiO2) films were formed by laser irradiation in air on porous MC substrates for photoelectrode applications. The formation of TiO2 on the laser-treated surfaces was confirmed by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). XPS analysis further revealed reduced titanium species (Ti3+/Ti2+) in the subsurface regions of both treated and untreated ceramics, indicating intrinsic chemical heterogeneity. The laser-fabricated structures, evaluated as photoelectrodes in a photoelectrochemical cell, exhibited photocurrent densities of 0.16 mA cm−2 under blue LED illumination (455 nm) and 43 μA cm−2 under AM 1.5G irradiation, both measured at 1.23 V vs. RHE. The MC substrates, synthesized under vacuum (21 kPa) at 1000–1350 °C from TiO2 mixed with the polymer Glycix, simultaneously acted as a carbon source, foaming agent, and binder. This study reveals that laser-induced TiO2 formation on Magnéli-phase ceramics offers a promising strategy for designing stable and conductive photoelectrodes.
磁振子相陶瓷（MC）具有较高的导电性和结构稳定性，是电化学器件中极具发展前景的电极材料。在这项工作中，二氧化钛（TiO2）薄膜在空气中通过激光照射在多孔MC衬底上形成，用于光电极应用。通过x射线衍射（XRD）和x射线光电子能谱（XPS）证实了TiO2在激光处理表面的形成。XPS分析进一步发现，处理过和未处理过的陶瓷的亚表面区域都有减少的钛（Ti3+/Ti2+），表明了内在的化学异质性。激光制备的结构作为光电化学电池中的光电极，在蓝色LED照明（455 nm）下的光电流密度为0.16 mA cm - 2，在AM 1.5G照射下的光电流密度为43 μA cm - 2，两者在1.23 V vs. RHE下测量。MC底物由TiO2与高分子Glycix混合，在1000-1350 °C的真空（21 kPa）条件下合成，同时作为碳源、发泡剂和粘合剂。该研究表明，激光诱导二氧化钛在magnazli相陶瓷上形成，为设计稳定和导电的光电极提供了一种很有前途的策略。
{"title":"Laser-induced growth of TiO2 coatings on conductive Magnéli-phase ceramics prepared under vacuum using a Glycerol–Citrate polyester precursor","authors":"Alexander N. Bondarchuk, Iván Corrales-Mendoza, Ulises M. García-Pérez, Luis Á. Arellanes-Mendoza, Sergio A. Tomás","doi":"10.1016/j.apsusc.2026.166257","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apsusc.2026.166257","url":null,"abstract":"Magnéli-phase ceramics (MC), which combine high electrical conductivity and structural stability, are promising materials for electrodes in electrochemical devices. In this work, titanium dioxide (TiO<ce:inf loc=\"post\">2</ce:inf>) films were formed by laser irradiation in air on porous MC substrates for photoelectrode applications. The formation of TiO<ce:inf loc=\"post\">2</ce:inf> on the laser-treated surfaces was confirmed by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). XPS analysis further revealed reduced titanium species (Ti<ce:sup loc=\"post\">3+</ce:sup>/Ti<ce:sup loc=\"post\">2+</ce:sup>) in the subsurface regions of both treated and untreated ceramics, indicating intrinsic chemical heterogeneity. The laser-fabricated structures, evaluated as photoelectrodes in a photoelectrochemical cell, exhibited photocurrent densities of 0.16 mA cm<ce:sup loc=\"post\">−2</ce:sup> under blue LED illumination (455 nm) and 43 μA cm<ce:sup loc=\"post\">−2</ce:sup> under AM 1.5G irradiation, both measured at 1.23 V vs. RHE. The MC substrates, synthesized under vacuum (21 kPa) at 1000–1350 °C from TiO<ce:inf loc=\"post\">2</ce:inf> mixed with the polymer Glycix, simultaneously acted as a carbon source, foaming agent, and binder. This study reveals that laser-induced TiO<ce:inf loc=\"post\">2</ce:inf> formation on Magnéli-phase ceramics offers a promising strategy for designing stable and conductive photoelectrodes.","PeriodicalId":247,"journal":{"name":"Applied Surface Science","volume":"15 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.7,"publicationDate":"2026-02-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146146454","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"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 : 2026-02-09DOI: 10.1016/j.apsusc.2026.166273
K. Idczak, E. Wachowicz
This study investigates the intercalation of ytterbium (Yb) beneath the graphene grown on 4H–SiC(0001) as a strategy to modulate the electronic properties of the graphene/SiC system. A combination of theoretical and experimental methods was employed to elucidate the mechanisms governing Yb intercalation and its impact on doping behavior. Theoretical calculation reveals that Yb preferentially intercalates beneath the buffer and graphene layers, with the most energetically favorable configurations inducing significant charge transfer and n-type doping. At specific concentrations, intercalation leads to the emergence of a Van Hove singularity near the Fermi level, offering a pathway to engineer flat-band electronic states. Experimental results confirm that intercalation may occur already at room temperature and is highly sensitive to both Yb coverage and system annealing at various temperatures.
{"title":"Determining key parameters for doping graphene by Yb intercalation on 4H-SiC(0001) surface","authors":"K. Idczak, E. Wachowicz","doi":"10.1016/j.apsusc.2026.166273","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apsusc.2026.166273","url":null,"abstract":"This study investigates the intercalation of ytterbium (Yb) beneath the graphene grown on 4H–SiC(0001) as a strategy to modulate the electronic properties of the graphene/SiC system. A combination of theoretical and experimental methods was employed to elucidate the mechanisms governing Yb intercalation and its impact on doping behavior. Theoretical calculation reveals that Yb preferentially intercalates beneath the buffer and graphene layers, with the most energetically favorable configurations inducing significant charge transfer and n-type doping. At specific concentrations, intercalation leads to the emergence of a Van Hove singularity near the Fermi level, offering a pathway to engineer flat-band electronic states. Experimental results confirm that intercalation may occur already at room temperature and is highly sensitive to both Yb coverage and system annealing at various temperatures.","PeriodicalId":247,"journal":{"name":"Applied Surface Science","volume":"31 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.7,"publicationDate":"2026-02-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146146147","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"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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