Artículos SCI

Within these studies, atomic-scale molecular dynamics simulations have been performed to analyze the behavior of water droplets and ice clusters on hydrophilic and hydrophobic surfaces subjected to high-frequency vibrations. The methodology applied herewith aimed at understanding the phenomena governing the anti-icing and deicing process enabled by surface acoustic waves (SAWs). The complex wave propagation was simplified by in-plane and out-of-plane substrate vibrations, which are relevant to the individual longitudinal and transverse components of SAWs. Since the efficiency of such an active system depends on the energy transfer from the vibrating substrate to water or ice, the agents influencing such transfer as well as the accompanying phenomena were studied in detail. Apart from the polarization of the substrate vibrations (in-plane/out-of-plane), the amplitude and frequency of these vibrations were analyzed through atomic-scale modeling. Further, the surface wettability effect was introduced as a critical factor within the simulation of water or ice sitting on the vibrating substrate. The results of these studies allow identification of the different phenomena responsible for water and ice removal from vibrating surfaces depending on the wave amplitude and frequency. The importance of substrate wetting for anti-icing and deicing has also been analyzed and discussed concerning the future design and optimization of SAW-based systems.

Aromatic hydrocarbons play a pivotal role in various industrial applications, serving as essential building blocks to produce polymers, resins, and specialty chemicals. Traditionally, their synthesis has been reliant on fossil fuels, raising concerns about environmental sustainability and resource depletion. However, recent advancements in the field have paved the way for a paradigm shift, with a focus on biomass-derived synthesis gas as a renewable and environmentally friendly feedstock. This review explores innovative shortcuts in the synthesis of aromatic hydrocarbons, a key area of research that holds promise for a more sustainable and efficient future. As we delve into the intricacies of biomass-derived synthesis gas conversion, we will examine breakthroughs in catalyst development, process optimization, and integrated approaches. By scrutinizing these advancements, we aim to provide a comprehensive overview of the current state of the art, highlighting both challenges and opportunities for further exploration. The urgency of addressing environmental concerns and the growing demand for renewable alternatives underscore the importance of reevaluating the methodologies. The unique characteristics of biomass-derived synthesis gas coupled with co-gasification processes present an intriguing avenue for redefining the landscape of aromatic hydrocarbon synthesis. Through this exploration, we seek to unravel the complexities of these innovative shortcuts, offering insights that may contribute to a more sustainable and greener future for the chemical industry.

The thermal memory effect, TME, has been studied in Ni₅₅Fe₁₉Ga₂₆ shape memory alloys, fabricated as ribbons via melt-spinning and as pellets via arc-melting, to evaluate its dependence on the martensitic structure and the macrostructure of the samples. When the reverse martensitic transformation is interrupted, a kinetic delay in the subsequent complete transformation is only evident in the ribbon samples, where the 14M modulated structure is the dominant phase. In contrast, degradation of the modulated structure or the presence of the γ phase significantly reduces the observed TME. In such cases, the magnitude of the TME approaches the detection limits of commercial calorimeters, and only high-resolution calorimeter at very low heating rate (40 mK h⁻¹) can show the effect. Following the kinetic arrest and subsequent cooling, the reverse martensitic transformation was completed at several heating rates to confirm the athermal nature of the phenomenon.

Plasticized cellulose bioplastics with antioxidant and antimicrobial properties were prepared by blending cellulose and glycerol in a mixture of trifluoroacetic acid and trifluoroacetic anhydride, adding a solution of beeswax in chloroform, and subsequent drop-casting. Optical, chemical, structural, mechanical, thermal, and hydrodynamic properties were fully characterized. In addition, the biodegradability in seawater was investigated by determination of the biological oxygen demand. The incorporation of beeswax ruled out the transparency and UV blocking, modified the main mechanical parameters, and improved the thermal stability and the antioxidant capacity, as well as the hydrodynamic and barrier properties. In general, these features were comparable to those of common petroleum-based food packaging plastics. Such changes were explained by the incorporation of beeswax into the polymer matrix, as determined by infrared spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction. These cellulosebeeswax bioplastics were evaluated as viable food packaging materials by determination of the overall migration by using Tenax (R) as a dry food simulant, oxygen permeability at different relative humidities, measurement of antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli and Bacillus cereus, and through preservation of fresh-cut pear slices, showing results similar to those obtained by using low-density polyethylene.

Dye Sensitized Solar Cells (DSSCs) have recently gained renewed interest for their potential in indoor light harvesting and powering wireless devices. However, to fully exploit their potential, crucial aspects require further attention, in particular, the improvement of spectral compatibility and low-light harvesting mechanisms, as well as the development of efficient photoanodes through high-yield scalable methods. In this article, we propose the use of nanocomposite photoanodes integrating mesoporous TiO2 nanoparticles, ITO nanotubes (NT), and anatase TiO2 shells (ITO@TiO2 NT) prepared by step-by-step method relying on mild temperature conditions and avoiding toxic precursors. These photoanodes outperform previous attempts to implement low-dimensional ITO and ITO@TiO2 nanowires and nanotubes for outdoor light conversion, demonstrating a power conversion efficiency under low artificial light intensity of 24 % for at 0.014 mW cm-2, a 166 % increase compared to the conventional architectures. Advanced microstructural, optical, and electrochemical characterizations have revealed that the strong scattering effect of the light in the visible range coupled with enhanced charge collection at low-intensity illumination are the essential mechanisms responsible for such enhanced energy conversion. Remarkably, our devices retain up to 90 % of the normal incidence efficiency even under glancing illumination, while conventional reference devices retain only 30 %.

Direct upgrading of biogas by CO2 methanation aims to produce a gas to be injected into the grid. Operating at moderate pressures favors thermodynamics, but catalyst surface and reaction mechanism under realistic conditions are not well investigated. We study the role of basic and metallic sites on performance and mechanism of clean biogas methanation (CO2/CH4=1/1 v/v) at 1, 5 and 7 bar. Ni/Mg/La/Al hydrotalcite-derived catalysts, with different Ni and La contents, are investigated combining tests and physico-chemical characterization, including quasi-in situ XPS at 7 bar, with CO2-adsorption and methanation DRIFTS at 1 and 7 bar, respectively. An optimized catalyst (6.5 wt% La, 35 wt% Ni) with 3-4 nm Ni0 and balanced basicity, achieves 96 LCH4*gcat- 1* h- 1 (300 degrees C, 7 bar). DRIFTS confirm catalysts activity experimental trend. Optimizing Ni and La results in higher consumption rates of formate intermediate and sufficient Ni0 sites for CO formation. Increasing pressure to 7 bar promotes CO and m-HCOO reactivity.

This Letter reports on the first cross-section measurements for the 94Sr(alpha, n)97Zr and 86Kr(alpha, n)89Sr reactions. In particular, our measurement of 94Sr(alpha, n)97Zr is the first weak r-process reaction cross section obtained using a radioactive ion beam. This experiment was enabled by the use of novel solid helium targets, comprised of silicon thin films with high helium incorporation obtained via a sputtering technique. Yield measurements were performed at center-of-mass energies of 10.4 and 9.0 MeV for the 86Kr(alpha, n)89Sr reaction, and 9.9 MeV for 94Sr(alpha, n)97Zr, extending into the respective Gamow energy windows for a temperature of 5 GK. Reactions were uniquely identified by prompt gamma rays detected in coincidence with heavy ions selected by a recoil mass spectrometer. The obtained cross sections are smaller than predicted for both reactions. In the case of 94Sr(alpha, n)97Zr, the reaction rate found here is lowered by an order of magnitude at temperatures below 5 GK, which is expected to impact the predicted abundance of ruthenium, a signature weak r-process element.

This work presents a straightforward strategy for achieving specific overheating during flash experiments by adjusting the initial electrical parameters. To do that, an extensive experimental analysis was performed to evaluate the temperature evolution of dense ZnO specimens during controlled-current ramping at different furnace temperatures, which in turn modified the initial electrical resistance of the sample. A detailed electrical explanation of controlled-current ramp flash processes is provided and, for the first time, a practical equivalence between current-ramp and temperature-ramp flash methodologies is established. By parameterizing the experiments in terms of an effective power density, a consistent heating pattern following the blackbody radiation trend was identified, despite the different electrical characteristics of each experiment. Finally, a “flash heating map” is introduced, which can be used to determine the starting electrical parameters necessary to achieve a specific temperature increase, whether employing current or temperature ramps.

Exploring synergistic interactions between nanomaterials that can enhance their collective properties in ways that individual components cannot achieve represents an avenue for advancing beyond the current state of the art. This approach is particularly relevant in the context of ABX(3) nanocrystals, where pursuing cooperation could help to overcome current challenges associated with light generation. Transparent photoluminescent coatings are developed by combining perovskite nanomaterials and porous scaffolds of high optical quality phosphor nanoparticles. Fine tuning of the spectral content of the emission is achieved with the photoexcitation wavelength, allowing the demonstration of white light emission with tunable hues.

Transition metal diborides (TMB₂), such as ZrB₂ and HfB₂, are a class of ultra-high-temperature ceramics (UHTCs) that have attracted considerable attention due to their performance in extreme environments. Their implementation is burdened by the high energetic requirement of traditional synthetic procedures. Here, we report a novel methodology, termed as Flash Joule Heating-Boro/Carbothermal Reduction (FJH-BCTR), for the instantaneous synthesis of phase-pure sub-micron powders of several TMB₂ and composite within seconds and without any external source of heating. The immediate synthesis is attributed to the Joule heat generated by the current, enabling extremely fast heating and cooling rates and, therefore, avoiding excessive grain growth. The advantages of FJH-BCTR are thoroughly displayed and can be summarized as; highly efficient, it allows a dramatic drop in terms of energy and time; universal, several TMB₂ and composite can be prepared; and flexible, different experimental parameters can be tuned to achieve the desired phase.

A joint theory-experimental study is presented of irregularly shaped nano-pores in amorphous silicon. STEM- ELLS spectra were measured for each pore. The observed helium 1 s 2- 1 s 2 p( 1 P ) excitation energies were found to be shifted from that of a free atom. The relation between the helium density in the pore and these energy shifts is explored and shown to be completely consistent with earlier studies of helium in its bulk condensed phases as well as encapsulated as bubbles in solid silicon. The density, pressure and depth of the pores, all key properties for applications, were determined. An alternative and novel method for determining the depth of the pores more accurately is presented.

Magnetron sputtering (MS) is an emerging technique to prepare electrocatalysts for oxygen and hydrogen evolution reactions that take place in alkaline water electrolysis. It is a physical vapour deposition method that provides a strict control over the composition, chemical state, and microstructure. It permits to adjust complex stoichiometries and guarantees reproducibility. This technology allows to deposit electrocatalysts on suitable current collectors to get anode and cathode electrodes in a one-step process. Furthermore, MS is an environment friendly technology with easy scalability for industrial electrode production. Additionally, when operated in an oblique angle deposition configuration, it allows precise control of the microstructure of the deposits that can be tuned from compact to mesoporous. On this brief review we discuss recent studies on the field showing the possibility of using MS for the preparation of catalyst layers with complex compositions, bi-layer structure configurations, and bimetallic, trimetallic, and multicomponent alloys.

In this paper, we investigate the Casimir-Lifshitz free energy mechanism that governs both ice growth and melting near metal surfaces, with a particular focus on the role of oxidation. Our study reveals that metals such as gold, iron, and aluminum induce incomplete premelting, resulting in micron-sized liquid water layers when in contact with ice. These layers could have significant implications for the defrosting of metallic surfaces. When exposed to water vapor at the triple point, aluminum and other metals can induce the formation of notably thick layers of either liquid water or ice, which can theoretically become infinitely thick if other interactions are disregarded. However, when aluminum undergoes oxidation to form alumina, its behavior changes dramatically. Alumina surfaces cause complete melting when in direct contact with bulk ice and result in only micron-sized layers of water or ice in vapor conditions. In contrast, magnetite, the oxidized form of iron, retains metalliclike behavior due to its high dielectric constant, similar to other metals, and continues to support thick layers of water or ice. This distinction highlights the significant influence of oxidation on the dynamics of ice growth and melting near different metal surfaces.

Plasma treatment of seeds is an efficient procedure to accelerate germination, to improve initial stages of plant growth, and for protection against pathogen infection. Most studies relate these beneficial effects with biochemical modifications affecting the metabolism and genetic growth factors of seeds and young plants. Using barley seeds, in this work, we investigate the redistribution of ions in the seed surface upon their treatment with cold air plasmas. In addition, we investigate the effect of plasma in the lixiviation of ions through the seeds' hull when they are immersed in water. Ion redistribution in the outer layers of air plasma-treated seeds has been experimentally determined through X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis in combination with in-depth chemical profiling with gas cluster ion beams. The results show that in the shallowest layers of the seed hull (at least up to a depth of similar to 100 nm) there is an enrichment of K+ and Ca2+ ions, in addition to changes in the O/C and N/C atomic ratios. These data have been confirmed by the electron microscopy/fluorescence analysis of seed cuts. Observations have been accounted for by a Monte Carlo model, simulating the electrostatic interactions that develop between the negative charge accumulated at the seed surface due to the interaction with the plasma sheath and the positive ions existing in the interior. Furthermore, it is shown that upon water immersion of plasma-treated seeds mobilized ions tend to lixiviate more efficiently than in pristine seeds. The detection of a significant concentration of NO3 - anions in the water has been attributed to a secondary reaction of nitrogen species incorporated into the seeds during plasma exposure with reactive oxygen species formed on their surface during this treatment. The implications of these findings for the improvement of the germination capacity of seeds are discussed.

Microscopy provides a proxy for assessing the operation of perovskite solar cells, yet most works in the literature have focused on bare perovskite thin films, missing charge transport and recombination losses present in full devices. Here we demonstrate a multimodal operando microscopy toolkit to measure and spatially correlate nanoscale charge transport losses, recombination losses and chemical composition. By applying this toolkit to the same scan areas of state-of-the-art, alloyed perovskite cells before and after extended operation, we show that devices with the highest macroscopic performance have the lowest initial performance spatial heterogeneity—a crucial link that is missed in conventional microscopy. We show that engineering stable interfaces is critical to achieving robust devices. Once the interfaces are stabilized, we show that compositional engineering to homogenize charge extraction and to minimize variations in local power conversion efficiency is critical to improve performance and stability. We find that in our device space, perovskites can tolerate spatial disorder in chemistry, but not charge extraction.

In the context of CO2 valorisation, the reverse water-gas shift reaction (RWGS) is gathering momentum since it represents a direct route for CO2 reduction to CO. The endothermic nature of the reaction posses a challenge when it comes to process energy demand making necessary the design of effective low-temperature RWGS catalysts. Herein, multicomponent Cs-promoted Cu, Ni and Pt catalysts supported on TiO2 have been studied in the low-temperature RWGS. Cs resulted an efficient promoter affecting the redox properties of the different catalysts and favouring a strong metal-support interaction effect thus modulating the catalytic behaviour of the different systems. Positive impact of Cs is shown over the different catalysts and overall, it greatly benefits CO selectivity. For instance, Cs incorporation over Ni/TiO2 catalysts increased CO selectivity from 0 to almost 50%. Pt-based catalysts present the best activity/selectivity balance although CuCs/TiO2 catalyst present comparable catalytic activity to Pt-studied systems reaching commendable activity and CO selectivity levels, being an economically appealing alternative for this process.

This study presents the photocatalytic degradation of the aminophosphonate ethylenediaminetetra(methylenephosphonic acid) (EDTMP) with a range of different doped nanoparticles (NP). The photocatalysts were based on TiO2 benchmark P25 and gold (Au) doped either with sodium (Na), potassium (K) or yttrium (Y). The synthesized photocatalysts were characterized via TEM, XRF, XRD, UV-DRS (band gap estimation) and N2-phys- isorption. Photocatalytic pre-screening at pH values of 3, 7 and 10 indicated highest o-PO4 release of EDTMP at pH 7 and 10 for NP either doped with K or Y. The results of LC/MS analysis showed that the NPs doped with 5 % Y (Au2/Y5/P25) resulted in the fastest degradation of EDTMP. The target compound was completely degraded within 60 min, 4 times faster than photochemical treatment of unadulterated EDTMP. Importantly, also the transformation products were accelerated by the photocatalytic treatment with Au2/P25 either doped with 5 % Y or 10 % K. The results of scavenger experiments indicated that the enhanced photocatalytic degradation of EDTMP is primarily attributable to the presence of hydroxyl radicals in the bulk and to a lesser extent to center dot O2- and electron-holes (h+) at the surface of the catalysts. The study demonstrates that the catalytic efficiency of TiO2 nanocomposites is significantly influenced by the choice of dopants, which affect particle size, band gap, and photocatalytic activity. Yttrium at low concentrations (i.e., 5 wt% Y) doping emerged as particularly effective, enhancing both the visible light absorption and h+ separation, leading to superior photocatalytic performance in the degradation of EDTMP. The Au content also plays a crucial role in enhancing the photocatalytic efficiency. However, the combination of Au and Na doping was found to be less effective for this photocatalysis in aqueous media, potentially due to larger particle sizes and insufficient dopant contents. In conclusion, the findings emphasise the necessity of optimising both the selection of dopants and the design of catalysts in order to enhance photocatalytic applications.

This study investigates the impact of cerium promotion on NiMgAl catalysts for methane dry reforming (DRM) at 750 degrees C. A series of NiMgAl-Ce oxides with varying cerium content NiMgAlCe-x (x: rate of substitution of aluminium by cerium) were synthesized via co-precipitation method, aiming to enhance catalytic activity through the incorporation of nickel into hydrotalcite structures and cerium promotion. The obtained systems calcined at 800 degrees C, reduced at 750 degrees C and used catalysts were characterized by ICP, BET, XRD, SEM, H2-TPR, TPO and O2-TG analysis. The results demonstrate that cerium content influences specific surface area, with higher cerium promoting increased surface area but hindering catalytic activity and improved carbon resistance of the catalysts.. Activity improved with reaction temperature, with NiMgAl achieving the highest conversion, with CH4 conversion dropping from 16% at 450 degrees C to 95.0% at 750 degrees C. Stability tests at 750 degrees C, revealed decreased activity in cerium-containing catalysts. On the other hand in the case of catalysts without prior reduction, the catalytic activity of NiMgAlCe-1 and NiMgAlCe-2 catalysts are better, however, the NiMgCe solid presents a total catalytic inertia. This result suggests that the presence of aluminium is bringing a Lewis acidity favours this reducibility suggesting an influence on redox behaviour. Carbon fibers formation was observed, but it did not significantly affect reactor performance.

Escalating SOx and NOx emissions from industrial plants necessitates customized scrubbing solutions to improve removal efficiency and tackle cost limitations in existing wet FGD units. This work investigates the real-time intensified removal pathways via an innovative two-stage countercurrent spray tower configuration strategically integrating NaOH (Ma) and NaOH/NaClO (Ma/Mb) to remove SOx and NOx emissions simultaneously from the industrial stack through a comprehensive parametric study of absorbents concentration, reaction temperature, gas flow rate, liquid to gas ratio (FL/FG), and absorbent showering head. Flue gas stream comprising SO2 bearing 4500 ppm, SO3 bearing 300 ppm, 70 ppm NO, and 50 ppm NO2 brought into contact with two scrubbing solutions as Ma, and a complex absorbent of Ma/Mb at varying respective ratios. Ninety-two percent SOx emissions were removed using 5% NaOH with double-stage scrubbing, while NOx removal was observed below 50%. Adding NaClO facilitates additional "free radical (ClO-)" chemical pathways for gases to react and decompose into ionic forms for easier solubilization so as to significantly enhance the removal capacities for both SOx and NOx compounds. NaClO oxidizer, along with NaOH, boosted the respective removal efficiencies of SOx to 99.6% and 92% NOx, proving complementary media integration advantages arising from staged exposure and bubbly interphase mass transfer phenomena. The customized synergistic effect of Ma and Mb promoted the development of an additional free radical oxidation route while sustaining the solubilization of SOx/NOx in caustic, driving toward fractional detoxification. A dimensionless emission performance model was developed along with mechanism validation through DFT in context to the successful formation of residual salts by applying the DMol3 tool in Materials Studio by exploring the convergence analysis, geometry optimization, and COSMO sigma profile.

Poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) is a piezoelectric and thermoplastic material with great potential for additive manufacturing (AM) applications. Using barium titanate (BaTiO₃) as filler, PVDF-based composite materials were developed, characterized, and processed by AM material extrusion (MEX). The morphological features and phase transformations occurring throughout the processing of BaTiO₃-filled PVDF, from the compounding to the printed part, were analyzed. The morphology of the powder feedstock after dispersion in a high-energy ball mill changed from spheroidal to laminar and β-phase formation was favored. Microhardness gradually increased with the BaTiO₃ content, obtaining an enhancement of ~60% for a content of 25 vol%, and supported the good dispersion of the filler. A ~48% increase of the dielectric permittivity was also achieved. After extrusion, filaments with a filler content of 15 vol% showed a more stable diameter, as well as higher crystallinity and surface roughness, compared with those with lower BaTiO₃ contents. Material extrusion of filament and direct printing of pellets based on MEX were successfully used to obtain AM parts. Composite parts showed enhanced surface roughness, hydrophilicity, and flexural modulus (up to ~33% for the 7 vol% composite compared with the PVDF), thus leading to superior mechanical characteristics and potential biomedical applications.

Dredged material is a common environmental and economic issue worldwide. Tons of highly contaminated material, derived from cleaning the bottoms of bays and harbours, are stored until depuration. These volumes occupy huge extensions and require costly treatments. The Ria of Huelva (southwest Spain) receives additionally high metal contamination inputs from the Odiel and Tinto Rivers which are strongly affected by acid mine drainage (acid lixiviates with high metal content and sulphates). These two circumstances convert the port of Huelva into an acceptor/accumulator of contamination. The current study proposes an alternative active treatment of dredged material and mining residues using ASEC (Adiabatic Sonic Evaporation and Crystallization) technology to obtain distilled water and valuable solid conglomerates. Different samples were depurated and the efficiency of the technology was tested. The results show a complete recovery of the treated volumes with high-quality water (pH similar to 7, EC < 56 mu S/cm, complete removal of dissolved elements). Also, the characterization of the dried solids enable the calculation of approximate revenues from the valorization of some potentially exploitable elements (Rio Tinto: 4 M, Tharsis: 3.7 M, dredged material: 2.5 M USD/yr). The avoidance of residue discharge plus the aggregated value would promote a circular economy in sectors such as mining and dredging activities.

Accurate quantification of efficiency enables rigorous comparison between different photoluminescent materials, providing an optimization path critical to the development of next-generation light sources. Persistent luminescent materials exhibit delayed and long-lasting luminescence due to the temporary storage of optical energy in engineered structural defects. Standard characterization methods do not provide a universal comparison of phosphor performance, hindering the evaluation of the efficiency of the various processes involved in afterglow. Here, a protocol is established to determine the quantum yield of persistent phosphors by considering the ratio of photons emitted in the afterglow and during charging to those absorbed. The method is first applied to transparent single crystals of the most common persistent phosphors, such as SrAl2O4:Eu2+,Dy3+ and Y3Al2Ga3O12:Ce3+,Cr3+. The versatility of the methodology is demonstrated by quantifying the quantum yield of a ZnGa2O4:Cr3+ thin film, a material widely used in in vivo imaging. The high efficiency of strontium aluminate is confirmed, and a strong dependence of the obtained values on the illumination conditions is revealed, highlighting a trade-off between efficiency and brightness. The results contribute to the development of standardized protocols for analyzing afterglow mechanisms and assessing overall efficiency, facilitating rigorous comparison and optimization of persistent materials beyond trial-and-error approaches.

Smart textiles represent a revolutionary approach to wearable technology with applications ranging from healthcare to energy harvesting. This review paper explores the importance of textile technologies and highlights their potential to revolutionize consumer electronics. Conventional technologies are sometimes heavy, and lack comfort and flexibility, but smart textiles seamlessly integrate into everyday clothing, improving wearability and user experience. The article emphasizes the need for sustainable sourcing and environmentally friendly production methods, as well as responsible manufacturing and disposal practices. Manufacturing techniques such as wet spinning, melt spinning, electrostatic spinning, weaving, knitting, and printing are detailed and shed light on their role in incorporating electronics into textiles. Several applications of textile-based devices are being explored, including biochemical sensing, temperature monitoring, energy harvesting, energy storage, and smart displays. Each application demonstrates the versatility and potential of smart textiles in different areas. Despite optimistic progress, challenges remain, from improving energy efficiency to protecting user privacy and data security. The review analyzes these problems and suggests future improvements, including interdisciplinary collaboration to find new solutions. Finally, an overview of the current state of smart textiles provides the future of this technology. It serves as an in-depth reference for academics and readers interested in understanding recent advances and discoveries in textile technologies, highlighting the importance of this rapidly growing industry.

Different stoichiometries of lead-free BaZr0.2Ti0.8O3-Ba0.7Ca0.3TiO3 (BCZT) prepared by mechanosynthesis and sintered by either conventional sintering (CS) or hot pressing (HP) techniques were studied to establish the dependence of piezoelectric and dielectric properties on sintering parameters and microstructure. All synthesized stoichiometries showed a pseudocubic perovskite phase with homogeneously distributed A- and B-cations in the structure. The BCZT retained the pseudocubic symmetry after sintering and an average grain size <1.8 m was obtained in all cases. HP sintering hindered the secondary phase segregation observed in the CS ceramics and increased the relative density. Piezoelectric coefficients (d33) ranging from 5.1 to 21 pC/N and from 10.0 to 88.0 pC/N were obtained for CS and HP ceramics, respectively, despite the pseudocubic symmetry and the fine grain size. The higher d33 values for the HP ceramics are a consequence of the higher density, better chemical homogeneity and lower sintering temperature and time required for the mechanosynthesized BCZT powders with high sintering activity.

The instability and limited scalability of halide perovskites hinder their long-term viability in applications as X-ray detectors. Here, we introduce a sol-gel ship-in-bottle approach to produce a monolithic perovskite@metal-organic framework (MOF) composite, combining the properties of the individual building blocks and enhancing density, robustness, and stability. By tuning seed particles below 100 nm, we achieve highly crystalline, dense composites with up to 40% perovskite loading. Structural and optical characterization unveils perovskite nanocrystals forming within MOF mesopores, maximizing stability and preventing degradation, maintaining over 90% photoluminescence and structural integrity after weeks of exposure to humidity, heat, and solvents. Proposed as an innovative class of scintillator, these monolithic perovskite@MOFs attenuate X-rays efficiently and exhibit outstanding stability under high radiation doses equivalent to 110,000 typical chest X-rays, with a radioluminescence lifetime of 10 ns, outperforming commercial scintillators. This approach offers vast potential for developing high-performance, cost-effective, and stable devices for radiation detection and other optoelectronic applications.

Active and sustainable food packaging materials were prepared through solvent casting, by blending tea waste (TW) extract rich in bioactive molecules with a neat polylactide (PLA) polymeric matrix. The optimization of tea waste extraction using a response surface methodology allowed achieving efficient yield and high phenolic content, which significantly enhanced the antioxidant properties of the resulting bioplastics. TW extract incorporation into PLA films increased UV-blocking capability, while keeping the oxygen permeability performance. Mechanical testing revealed improved ductility and toughness in TW extract-containing films compared to pure polylactide film, ascribed to the plasticizing effect of TW polyphenols. Food packaging assays showed effective moisture retention, comparable to low-density polyethylene (LDPE) plastics, antioxidant activity, and excellent bacteria barrier properties allowing the use for food packaging applications. Moreover, migration tests and detection of non-intentionally added substances (NIAS) allowed to establish the safety and regulatory compliance of these bioplastics.

Laser-induced graphene (LIG) is widely used to fabricate microsupercapacitors (MSCs) on various sustainable substrates, such as wood, cork, and lignin. However, the fabrication of MSCs, especially high energy density devices on paper, has rarely been reported. In this work, LIG electrodes are fabricated on wax-coated paper, followed by electrochemical deposition of manganese oxide (MnO2). The obtained LIG/MnO2 supercapacitors exhibit a maximum areal capacitance of 86.9 mF cm-2, while a device with pristine LIG electrodes exhibit a capacitance of 9.1 mF cm-2, both measured at a current density of 0.1 mA cm-2. In addition, the supercapacitor exhibits good cycling stability, retaining 80% of its initial capacitance after 1000 charge/discharge cycles at a current density of 1 mA cm-2. Notably, the LIG/MnO2 supercapacitor exhibits an exceptionally high energy density of 7.3 mu Wh cm-2 at a power density of 38.8 mu W cm-2. In summary, a simple, fast, scalable, reproducible, and energy-efficient fabrication method is represented using electrochemical deposition of manganese oxide on paper-based laser-induced graphene, which are natural, abundant, and sustainable materials, paving the way for large-scale production of environmentally friendly supercapacitors.

An easy, fast, scalable, and energy-efficient fabrication method utilizing electrochemical deposition of manganese oxide on paper-based laser-induced graphene is reported. The study demonstrates the potential application of these electrodes in degradable and flexible high-energy density supercapacitors, paving the way for large-scale production of environmentally friendly energy storage devices using natural, abundant, and sustainable materials.

Microplastics fibers shed from washing synthetic textiles are released directly into the waters and make up 35% of primary microplastics discharged to the aquatic environment. While filtration devices and regulations are in development, safe disposal methods remain absent. Herein, we investigate catalytic hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) as a means of integrating this waste (0.28 million tons of microfibers per year) into the circular economy by catalytic upcycling to carbon nanomaterials. Herein, we show that cotton and polyester can be converted to filamentous solid carbon nanostructures using a Fe-Ni catalyst during HTC. Results revealed the conversion of microfibers into amorphous and graphitic carbon structures, including carbon nano- tubes from a cotton/polyethylene terephthalate (PET) mixture. HTC at 200 degrees C and 22 bar pressure produced graphitic carbon in all samples, demonstrating that mixed microfiber wastes can be valorized to provide potentially valuable carbon structures by modifying reaction parameters and catalyst formulation.

Efficient hydrogen generation from water-splitting is widely acknowledged as a priority route to promote the hydrogen economy. Anion exchange membrane water electrolyzers (AEMWE) offer multiple advantages in improving performance and minimizing the cost limitations of current electrolysis technologies. However, the persistence of issues related to the limited electrocatalytic activity of such materials and their poor stability under operating conditions makes developing highly active, stable, platinum-group-metal-free electrocatalysts for oxygen evolution reaction (OER) necessary. We report the development of Prussian blue analogues (PBA)-derived NiFe-based electrocatalysts through a mild aqueous phase precipitation method, followed by thermal stabilization and phosphorus doping. The formation of the NiFe-PBA-precursor with a framework nanocubic Ni(II)[Fe(III)(CN)₆]_2/3 structure was confirmed by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and inductively coupled plasma analysis. The NiFe-PBA-precursor was subjected to thermal stabilization and phosphorus doping to provide the material with enhanced OER catalytic activity and stability. The existence of OER active sites based on NiFe and NiFeP has been revealed by transmission electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and electrochemical characterization in a three-electrode cell configuration in a 1 M KOH electrolyte. NiFe-PBA and NiFeP-PBA were assembled at the anode side of an AEMWE, resulting in an excellent electrochemical performance both in terms of current density at 2.0 V using 1 M KOH (1.21 A cm⁻²) and durability, outperforming the benchmark catalyst.