Abstract: Post-annealing treatments constitute a simple and cost-effective strategy to tailor the structure and photocatalytic performance of polymeric carbon nitride (PCN). In this work, PCNs synthesized from melamine and urea were subjected to post-annealing at 580 °C under air and CO₂ atmospheres to elucidate the role of hydrogen bonding, as well as other structural modifications induced by oxidizing atmospheres, on photocatalytic water splitting. Comprehensive structural, chemical, and textural characterization (XRD, FTIR spectroscopy, XPS, SSNMR, HRTEM, BET, TGA, and UV–Vis DRS) reveals that post-annealing induces markedly different effects depending on the precursor. For melamine-derived PCN, the treatment selectively disrupts hydrogen bonds between melon strands without introducing nitrogen vacancies, amorphization, or framework shortening. This structural rearrangement increases surface area, reduces particle size, slightly widens the band gap, and enhances water–framework interactions, resulting in a twofold improvement in the hydrogen evolution rate (HER), reaching ~3300 µmol h⁻¹ g·cat⁻¹ under visible-light irradiation. In contrast, urea-derived PCN undergoes only minor structural modifications, including slight exfoliation and possible nitrogen deficiency, which do not translate into a measurable enhancement of photocatalytic activity. These results demonstrate that selective hydrogen-bond disruption is a key factor governing charge transport and photocatalytic efficiency in PCN. Importantly, the optimized melamine-derived PCN achieves HER values comparable to those of urea-derived PCN while maintaining a substantially higher synthesis yield, highlighting its potential for scalable solar hydrogen production.

Abstract: Conductive thread is an integral aspect of smart textiles in the domain of electronic textiles (e-textiles). This study unveils the development of twelve distinct variants of conductive threads using twisting method, the fusion of copper filament with cotton and polyester threads. The threads are coated with a carbon paste solution enriched with dissolved sea salt. The carbon paste is obtained from non-functional dry cell batteries, conventionally categorized as hazardous electronic waste (e-waste), that underscores an economically viable and environmentally sustainable approach. Experiments proved that each variant demonstrates minimal electrical resistance. Comparative analysis against commercially available conductive threads on the market reveals a significant performance advantage. Notably, the ‘Carbon Coated Cotton Twisted Copper Thread-II’ showcases a record low resistance of 0.0164 Ω cm-1 which is approximately 19.39 times lower than the most efficient counterpart, ‘Bekinox VN type (12/1x275/100z)’. Further investigation also demonstrates the integration of these conductive threads into fabric-based flexible circuits marking a significant advancement in e-textiles. Future avenues of research may focus on optimization strategies for fabricating conductive threads and exploring their diverse applications in wearable technology and smart textiles, thus catalyzing further progress in the field.

Abstract:

The development of efficient, earth abundant electrocatalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is essential for alkaline water electrolysis. In this work, we prepared MnZnFe₂O₄, SrWO₄, and a MnZnFe₂O₄@SrWO₄ ferrite–tungstate heterostructure by simple co-precipitation and hydrothermal routes and evaluated them as OER catalysts in 1 M KOH. The catalysts are characterized by XRD, UV–Vis, FTIR, SEM, and EDX. The catalysts exhibit phase-pure components with intimate contact between the two phases, and a smaller particle size for the composite. The MnZnFe₂O₄@SrWO₄ exhibits modified electronic structure possibly due to the electronic interaction between Fe and W centers. Electrochemical measurements demonstrated an overpotential of 200 mV at 10 mA cm^-2, that exhibits a reduced Tafel slope (150 mV dec⁻¹), and displays lower charge-transfer resistance than the single-phase oxides. In addition, the composite retains >94% of its current over 24 h, indicating good durability. These results suggest that ferrite–tungstate coupling can be an effective strategy to non-noble OER catalysts.

Abstract:

Background: Food waste contains abundant (+)-catechin, but its efficient recovery remains challenging. This study aimed to prepare ionic liquid (IL)-modified sorbents and establish an efficient method for (+)-catechin recovery from chocolate waste via solid-phase extraction (SPE); Methods: Three serious of IL-modified sorbents (Sil-IL, ZIF67-IL, Sil@ZIF67-IL) were synthesized. Their adsorption performance was evaluated under different conditions; adsorption isotherms and kinetics were fitted to Langmuir/Freundlich and pseudo-first/second-order models, respectively. Sorbent stability and (+)-catechin recovery from chocolate waste extracts were tested; Results: Sil@ZIF67-Hmim showed the highest adsorption capacity (154.4 mg/g) at 25 °C within 120 min. Adsorption followed the Langmuir model (R²=0.99), indicating chemical adsorption. Sil@ZIF67-Hmim was subjected to repeated solid phase extraction (SPE) for five consecutive days, the recovery rate ranged from 98.1%-99.2%, and the relative standard deviation (RSD) was 3.2%-4.4%; Conclusion: Sil@ZIF67-Hmim is a high-efficiency sorbent for (+)-catechin recovery from chocolate waste, providing a novel approach for food waste valorization and highlighting the application potential of IL-modified MOF-silica composites.

Abstract:

This study investigates the application of Plasma Transferred Arc (PTA) surface treatment as an advanced method for the regeneration of railway wheels. Traditional wheel reprofiling, performed using semi-automatic lathes, involves the removal of at least 6 mm of metal from the running surface, leading to progressive rim thinning and eventual wheel replacement. Furthermore, the reprofiled surfaces lack any subsequent treatment to extend their operational lifespan. To address these limitations, PTA cladding was selected for its capability to produce enhanced surface layers with improved mechanical properties. Unlike commonly used diode laser treatments, PTA enables the deposition of alloying materials in wire form, providing a robust and controlled cladding process. The resulting surface structure comprises a heat-affected zone, a transition zone, and a remelted zone, all exhibiting significantly increased hardness compared to the untreated base metal. The cladding process allows for the incorporation of metal particles into the surface layer, facilitating the formation of a high-quality, wear-resistant top layer. These findings demonstrate the potential of PTA surface treatment to extend the service life of railway wheels by providing a durable and hard-wearing surface, thereby reducing maintenance frequency and costs [1–3].

Abstract:

Glasses with compositions 52.5B₂O₃:12.5SiO₂:25La₂O₃:5CaO:5ZnO:0.5Eu₂O₃ and50B₂O₃:10SiO₂:25La₂O₃:5CaO:5ZnO:5WO₃:0.5Eu₂O₃ (mol%) were prepared by conventional melt-quenching method and investigated by X-ray diffraction analyses, DSC analysis, DR-UV-Vis spectroscopy and photoluminescence spectroscopy. Physical properties like density, molar volume, oxygen molar volume and oxygen packing density were also determined. Glasses are characterized with high glass transition temperature (over 650 °C). DR-UV-Vis spectroscopy results indicate that the tungstate ions incorporate into the base borosilicate glass as tetrahedral WO₄ groups. The lower band gap energy values show that the introduction of WO₃ into the base borosilicate glass increases the number of non-bridging oxygen species in the glass structure. The emission intensity of the Eu³⁺ ion increases with the introduction of WO₃ due to the occurrence of non-radiative energy transfer from the tungstate groups to the active ion. The most intense luminescence peak observed at 612 nm suggest that the glasses are potential materials for red emission.

Abstract: This study aims development of wood-based particleboard contributing to resource, environmental and health impact issues. Conventional particleboard industry uses synthetic, mostly formaldehyde-based adhesives concerning environmental, health and utilization risks. Due to the increase of prices, restrictions and competition in wood processing industry the issue of biomass resources for particleboard production gains another primary importance. Responding to the outlined issues the study investigates suitability of available sawdust resources from production residues of cellular wood materials and recycled particleboards combined with natural suberinic acids as binder derived from birch outer bark. Impact of furnish structure, binder content (15–21%), pressing temperature (190–220 ℃), pressing rate (0.9–1.7 min/mm) and density (650–850 kg/m3) on the obtained particleboard properties was evaluated. Results show that it is possible to achieve requirement values proposed for boards for use as interior fitments including furniture according to EN 312, Type P2 for thickness swelling (≤ 17%) and internal bonding (≥ 0.40 N/mm2). The bending properties of the obtained particleboards are very close to the requirement values (MOE ≥ 1800 N/mm2, MOR ≥ 11 N/mm2), suggesting for the further improvement at the target density levels. Furnish structure, board thickness, density and pressing temperature are the most influencing factors on the achieved properties.

Abstract: The purpose of this study is the exploration of the catalytic performance of ZSM-5 zeolite produced from iron rich fly-ash without further addition of iron sites, in the removal of paracetamol through heterogenous Fenton reaction. The structural and textural characterization by powder X-ray diffraction and N2 adsorption isotherms showed that pure ZSM-5 phase was synthesized, but lower crystallinity and textural parameters were obtained when confronting with commercial ZSM-5. The XPS analysis revealed the presence of significant amounts of iron as well as yttrium, which increased the electronic properties of the samples surface, when compared with iron impregnated commercial ZSM-5. The catalytic reaction was followed through UV-spectroscopy and kinetic models were applied to the data, with the best fit obtained for pseudo-first-order model. All fly ash-based zeolites present enhanced paracetamol removal when compared with commercial iron loaded ZSM-5 which may be attributed to the more disorganized structure, able to accommodate large paracetamol species (dimers). On the other hand, the effect of yttrium on the electronic properties of iron sites may increase the formation of ●OH radicals, thus increasing the removal rate of paracetamol.

Abstract: Proteins with additives, especially in small quantities, are of great interest as a subject of a study. Machine learning approaches implemented to Raman spectroscopy data could provide an insight into chemical structure of such mixtures or conjugates. Although, de-cision tree model could be powerful in solving either classification or regression task and could provide accessible predictions, it is prone to overfitting. Ensemble models that implement several decision trees could overcome the determined problem. Five different model types are discussed: RandomForest, GradientBoosting, AdaBoost, Voting, and Stacking. Raman spectroscopy data of whey protein isolate (5 wt. %) with different amounts of hyaluronic acid (0, 0.1, 0.25, and 0.5 wt. %) were used as datasets. Optimiza-tion established that ensembles of 200 decision trees with a maximum depth of four were optimal. AdaBoostClassifier found to be the most efficient in finding differences between whey protein isolate and its conjugates with hyaluronic acid: 99.5% accuracy, 100% sen-sitivity, and 98.0% specificity. Stacking of RandomForest, GradientBoosting, and Ada-Boost regressors with final estimator of RidgeCV was the most effective approach in the regression task (R2 = 0.963). According to the feature importance plots, the Raman bands that were most influential in predicting the results were 1003 cm-1 (phenylalanine, ring breath), 1206 cm-1 (C–C stretching), 1240 cm-1 (amide III (β-sheet), N−H in-plane bend, C−N stretch), and 1399 cm-1 (aspartic and glutamic acids, C=O stretch of COO−).

Abstract: The next-generation therapeutic devices will rely on an intelligent integrated system, inte-grating different functions into one system. These individual chemical elements will pos-sess various required chemical and physical properties, demonstrating multi-functional characteristics. Upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) have many unique advantages, such as high optical stability, long-lived luminescence, high resistance to photobleaching, and strong tissue penetration ability, and are widely used in the biomedical field.

Abstract: TiO₂ improves its photocatalytic properties when combined with other oxides, such as ZrO₂. Unfortunately, this material does not exhibit a spectral response in the visible range, but this can be improved by adding WO₃. Here, the effect of the amount of WO₃ and the treatment temperature on TiO₂-ZrO₂-WO₃ materials applied in the solar photocatalytic oxidation of sildenafil was evaluated. The materials were synthesized using sol-gel method and were characterized by N₂, XRD, UV-Vis RDS, SEM, PL, and XPS. Photocatalytic activity was determined by degradation and mineralization of sildenafil. The most active photocatalysts were selected for stability testing and to determine the oxidizing species that dominate the reaction mechanism. The optimal amount of WO₃ that improves solar photocatalytic activity at both treatment temperatures was found to be 1% with a reaction mechanism based on OH· and h+. WO₃ reduces electron-hole pair recombination. At 500 °C, the crystallinity of the anatase phase is improved, while at 800 °C, the transformation to rutile is suppressed at low WO₃ concentrations. XPS observed the reduction of Ti⁴⁺ to Ti³⁺ and W⁶⁺ to W⁵⁺ in TiO₂-ZrO₂-WO₃ materials, which were found to be photoactive under sunlight with potential for use in industrial-scale reaction systems.

Abstract: The increasing environmental concerns associated with plastic waste have stimulated the development of fully bio-based and plastic-free materials for single-use applications. In this study, a bamboo-based fibrous composite composed entirely of plant-derived components was developed and evaluated with respect to its environmental behavior. Ecotoxicity was assessed using a standardized earthworm soil test (Eisenia fetida) conducted by an accredited third-party laboratory, while biodegradation behavior was examined under controlled aerobic composting conditions using a respirometric method. The ecotoxicological assessment showed no adverse effects on earthworm survival or body weight compared with the control compost. Biodegradation experiments performed in triplicate demonstrated that the composite achieved an average biodegradation rate of 86.4% after 360 days, with a reference material included to verify test validity. These results indicate that the bamboo-based fibrous composite exhibits low acute soil ecotoxicity and substantial biodegradability under controlled composting conditions. Within the scope of the present study, the findings provide experimental evidence regarding the environmental compatibility of fully bio-based bamboo composites and contribute to the evaluation of their biodegradation and ecotoxicological characteristics.

Abstract:

Poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) is widely used in various sectors due to its biocompatibility, mechanical strength, and chemical stability. However, its inert surface makes it challenging to functionalize and coat with antimicrobial agents to prevent microbial growth and biofilm formation. Therefore, in this work, antimicrobial activity was imparted to PET films using a Cu@Ag nanoparticle coating. The resulting materials were characterized by spectroscopic, thermal, and microscopic techniques, and their mechanical properties and antimicrobial efficacy against S. aureus and E. coli were evaluated. The results demonstrated significant antimicrobial activity and good retention of PET’s mechanical and thermal properties, which are relevant for potential applications in the biomedical and packaging sectors, where infection prevention is crucial.

Abstract: Cyclic freezing and thawing of concrete specimens are one of the main causes of cracking in concrete. Current procedures for assessing frost resistance of concrete in Germany rely mainly on the CIF and CDF tests that utilise qualitative estimation of cracks. Although these standard tests provide a general overview of the condition of concrete damage through the estimation of water saturation through capillary suction, mass of surface delamination, qualitative open surface damage, and relative dynamic modulus of elasticity, they do not take quantitative analysis of cracks directly into account. To facilitate this quantitative approach, cracks are studied in concrete samples exposed to specific standard cycles of freezing and thawing, then scanned using micro computed tomographic (µCT) imaging, and consequently cut for petrographic thin section analysis. The thin sections are scanned using light microscopy (LM). Deep learning frameworks were deployed to train semantic segmentation models to identify cracks, air pores, aggregate, and cement matrix. Both scanned modalities were co-registered using three experimental variations of varying processing complexity that rely on matching of Fourier-based shape descriptors and underlying features thereof to verify and validate the quality of segmentation inferred for various phases of concrete.

Abstract: During physical activities, sportswear and protective garments are frequently exposed to perspiration, which aids in regulating body temperature. The excess skin moisture must be swiftly evacuated from the fabric to prevent discomfort. Therefore, comprehending the drying kinetics of textile fabrics utilised in defence and sports garments is crucial. Regrettably, the current drying rate methodologies are unreliable due to non-isothermal conditions and uncontrolled velocities. This study investigated the droplet drying kinetics during evaporation from a ripstop defence fabric. A novel method was developed based on a modified Permetest skin model test protocol that adheres to the ISO 11092 standard. The proposed mathematical model incorporates structural and geometrical parameters of the sample fabric (average warp and weft diameters, warp and weft densities, weft and warp crimp, and sample thickness), as well as evaporation parameters (liquid properties and environmental test conditions). Visualising the droplet drying kinetics revealed three distinct evaporation phases. It was determined that the raw materials and fabric design structures significantly influence the evaporation kinetics. Fibres with hydrophilic character exhibit faster drying rates compared to hydrophobic fibres. In the context of ripstop defence fabrics, incorporating floats in the delimiting grid results in slower fabric drying.

Abstract: This review synthesizes four decades of scientific and industrial developments in pack-aging glass, integrating structural, technological, and sustainability perspectives. Glass remains the benchmark material for inert, transparent, and fully recyclable contain-ment, yet its scope has expanded from conventional bottles and vials to advanced func-tional and electronic encapsulation. Packaging glasses are classified into five main fami-lies—soda-lime, borosilicate, aluminosilicate, recycled (cullet-rich), and function-al/electronic—and compared across key domains: mechanical, thermal, chemical, opti-cal, barrier, and hermetic. Quantitative tables and normalized diagrams illustrate how compositional and processing trends govern structure, processability, and performance. Advances in forming, surface engineering, and melting practice are analyzed for their contributions to lightweighting, durability, and decarbonization. Sustainability is ad-dressed through cullet utilization, energy demand, life-cycle indicators, and regulatory alignment, defining pathways toward circular and low-carbon production. Overall, packaging glass emerges as a circular, chemically stable, and traceable material sys-tem, while advances in high-integrity glass formulations now support hermetic encap-sulation for diagnostic, electronic, and energy devices.

Abstract: This paper is dedicated to long term atmospheric corrosion behaviour of magnesium alloys. Five different magnesium alloys namely AZ31, AM60, AZ61, AZ80 and AZ91 were exposed for 4 years under harsh conditions at the marine corrosion site of Brest (France). From the results, the corrosion performance increased in the following order: AZ31<AM60<AZ91<AZ61<AZ80. The corrosion was highly localised during the first year of exposure, but more general corrosion prevailed after long term of exposure. All materials followed a power law with rather similar kinetics of corrosion. The observed difference in the corrosion performance of the alloys was explained by the amount of secondary phases as well as that of the Al-content in the α-Mg phase.

Abstract: A hybrid material based on the copolymerization of EDOT (3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) and Py (pyrrole), 1:1 monomer ratio, onto multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) was synthesized through a multistep functionalization approach. The resulting P(EDOT-co-Py)@MWCNT hybrid, poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene-co-pyrrol)@MWCNT hybrid, was characterized by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Raman spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). These characterizations confirmed the successive functionalization steps, the effective anchoring of the monomers, and the subsequent formation of the copolymer. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images revealed a homogeneous polymer coating along the nanotube surface, while preserving the structural integrity of the MWCNTs throughout the functionalization and polymerization processes. The P(EDOT-co-Py)@MWCNT hybrid was evaluated as an active electrode material for aluminum-ion storage in aqueous aluminum sulfate electrolyte. The system exhibited two distinct charge-storage mechanisms: at high current densities, proton surface adsorption dominated, whereas at lower rates, a faradaic contribution associated with polymer chain redox activity and the reversible extraction/insertion of Al³⁺ became prevalent. The hybrid electrode delivered high specific capacities, reaching 200.6, 106.3, and 44.3 mAh g⁻¹ at 0.10, 0.25, and 0.50 A g⁻¹, respectively. These values are comparable to—or even exceed—those reported for similar cathodic materials designed for Al³⁺ storage, highlighting P(EDOT-co-Py)@MWCNT hybrid as a highly promising cathode candidate for aqueous aluminum-ion energy-storage systems.

Abstract:

The microstructural evolution and tensile behavior of Inconel 617 welded joints produced by gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW) with ERNiCrCoMo-1 filler were systematically investigated. Detailed microstructural characterization revealed that Cr-rich M₂₃C₆ and Ti-rich MC carbides are the dominant precipitates, while Mo-rich M₆C forms locally along grain boundaries after thermal exposure. The fusion and weld zones exhibit fine dendritic morphologies with uniformly distributed precipitates, resulting in significant strengthening through precipitation and dislocation-pinning mechanisms. Owing to the low heat input and compositional compatibility between the weld and base metals, the heat-affected zone remains extremely narrow and free of compositional transitions. The welded joint attains tensile strengths of 920 MPa at room temperature and 605.5 MPa at 750 °C, corresponding to joint efficiencies of 117% and 121%, respectively, with fracture consistently occurring in the base metal. Deformation analysis shows that plasticity at room temperature is governed by planar slip and dislocation entanglement, whereas deformation twinning predominates at elevated temperatures owing to the reduced stacking-fault energy and the pinning effect of M₂₃C₆ carbides. These results provide key insights into the deformation and strengthening mechanisms controlling the high-temperature performance of GTAW-welded Inconel 617 joints and offer guidance for their application in advanced nuclear and high-temperature energy systems.

Abstract: The detection of nitro explosives is critical for security and environmental monitoring. This study investigates the aggregation-induced emission (AIE) properties of anthracene and naphthalene derivatives, under varying water fractions between 0% and 70%. These compounds exhibit enhanced fluorescence due to AIE, making them suitable candidates for sensing applications. We demonstrate that nitro compounds, including o-nitroaniline, m-nitroaniline, p-nitroaniline, and picric acid can effectively quench these AIE-active derivatives. The quenching phenomenon reveals that the electron-withdrawing nature of the nitro groups significantly impacts the fluorescence intensity of the probes. This research highlights the potential of these anthracene derivatives as sensitive fluorescent probes for the selected detection of nitro explosives, paving the way for advancements in sensing technologies.