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Hydroxyapatite (HA) exhibits several desirable characteristics, but it still lacks osteoinduction, which is a necessary requirement for a bone scaffold. HA-based composites with different amounts of Bioglass® (BG) were prepared using spark plasma sintering (SPS). Careful selection of the SPS parameters avoided undesirable reactions between the calcium phosphate (CaP) and bioglass (BG present in the form of powder and fibres), as confirmed through X-ray diffraction analysis. Scanning electron microscopy images of the composite scaffolds revealed a fibre like appearance of the glassy region. The in vitro bioactivity and biodegradation analyses were performed by immersing the composites in simulated body fluid (SBF) and tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane (Tris), respectively. The ability to obtain only the CaP phase and glassy phase with desirable bioactive and biodegradation behaviour, indicated that these SPS scaffolds can be employed as bone scaffolds for clinical trials, after further in vivo analyses.

This study explores the enhancement of silicon-based solar cell performance and durability through the application of zinc oxide (ZnO) nanocomposite film coatings. Utilizing the sol–gel method, ZnO nanorods were synthesized and dispersed within a polyvinyl butyral (PVB) matrix, resulting in uniform nanocomposite films. Comprehensive characterization using X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), UV-Visible spectroscopy, and contact angle measurements confirmed the effective integration and desirable properties of ZnO within the PVB matrix. The ZnO coatings demonstrated superior UV absorptivity, significantly blocking UV radiation at 355 nm while maintaining high transparency in the visible range. This led to improvements in key photovoltaic parameters, including short circuit current (Jsc), open-circuit voltage (Voc), efficiency (η), and fill factor (FF). Although a minor reduction in Isc was observed due to the ZnO layer's influence on the light absorption spectrum, the overall efficiency and fill factor experienced notable enhancements. Furthermore, the thermal load on the solar cells was effectively reduced, mitigating UV-induced degradation and thereby prolonging the operational lifespan of the solar panels. Under damp heat conditions, the coated solar panels exhibited remarkable durability compared to their uncoated counterparts, underscoring the protective advantages of ZnO films. These findings highlight the potential of ZnO nanocomposite coatings to significantly boost the efficiency, reliability, and longevity of silicon-based solar panels, making them more viable for long-term deployment in diverse environmental conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the current research, basmati rice starch (BRS) has been modified with octenyl succinic anhydride (OSA). The properties of BRS and modified basmati rice starch (MBRS) were evaluated, and subsequently, the effect of their addition to polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) in two different ratios (70/30 and 30/70) to prepare blend films was studied. The degree of substitution of MBRS was 0.00483%, which was found within the permitted range of Food and Drug Administration guidelines. The pH (6.1 vs. 5.8) and viscosity average molecular weight (1.5 x 104 and 1.275 x 104 Da) were found to be lower for MBRS, solubility (11.52 vs. 13.60%), swelling power (11.5 vs. 13.60 g/g), and oil absorption (2.4 vs. 3.2 g/g) capacities were higher. FTIR and XRD studies revealed minor differences in the MBRS spectra owing to the low substitution. The blend films cast with PVA and MBRS showed higher film thickness, hydration characteristics, transparency, and UV-blocking efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A series of (x)Cu0.05Co0.95Fe2O4/(1–x) La0.15Bi0.85FeO3 (CCFO/LBFO) based nanocomposites has been prepared for varying concentrations of CCFO (x = 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, and 0.5). The formation of the required phase was confirmed using X-ray diffraction technique. Transmission electron microscope was used to investigate the surface morphology and particle distribution of the prepared nanocomposites. Electrical properties analysis such as impedance, electric modulus, and dietetic shows that the sample has active grain boundaries due to charge accumulation at low frequencies which transforms into subsequent grain activity as the frequency approaches higher values. The prepared nanocomposites were analyzed using vibrating sample magnetometer to study the magnetic properties. The increase in saturation magnetization and retentivity was investigated with increasing the concentrations of CCFO. The prepared nanocomposites are very useful for applications in various fields especially magnetic storage devices, sensors technologies, and microwave devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Green approaches for nanoparticle synthesis have emerged as biocompatible, economical, and environment-friendly alternatives to counteract the menace of microbial drug resistance. Recently, the utilization of honey as a green source to synthesize Fe2O3-NPs has been introduced, but its antibacterial activity against one of the opportunistic MDR pathogens, Klebsiella pneumoniae, has not been explored. Therefore, this study employed Apis mellifera honey as a reducing and capping agent for the synthesis of iron oxide nanoparticles (Fe2O3-NPs). Subsequent to the characterization of nanoparticles, their antibacterial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties were appraised. In UV-Vis spectroscopic analysis, the absorption band ascribed to the SPR peak was observed at 350 nm. XRD analysis confirmed the crystalline nature of Fe2O3-NPs, and the crystal size was deduced to be 36.2 nm. Elemental analysis by EDX validated the presence of iron coupled with oxygen in the nanoparticle composition. In ICP-MS, the highest concentration was of iron (87.15 ppm), followed by sodium (1.49 ppm) and other trace elements (<1 ppm). VSM analysis revealed weak magnetic properties of Fe2O3-NPs. Morphological properties of Fe2O3-NPs revealed by SEM demonstrated that their average size range was 100–150 nm with a non-uniform spherical shape. The antibacterial activity of Fe2O3-NPs was ascertained against 30 clinical isolates of Klebsiella pneumoniae, with the largest inhibition zone recorded being 10 mm. The MIC value for Fe2O3-NPs was 30 µg/mL. However, when mingled with three selected antibiotics, Fe2O3-NPs did not affect any antibacterial activity. Momentous antioxidant (IC50 = 22 µg/mL) and anti-inflammatory (IC50 = 70 µg/mL) activities of Fe2O3-NPs were discerned in comparison with the standard at various concentrations. Consequently, honey-mediated Fe2O3-NP synthesis may serve as a substitute for orthodox antimicrobial drugs and may be explored for prospective biomedical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents research on the synthesis and characterization of a nanocomposite material consisting of graphene oxide (GO) decorated with calcium oxide (CaO), for the use in energy storage. The co-precipitation method was used to prepare the nanocomposite. The presence of CaO and GO in the sample was confirmed by X-ray diffraction (XRD), which revealed a crystallite size of 18 nm for CaO and 9 nm of CaO/GO. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images showed a well-dispersed nanocomposite structure, and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) confirmed the presence of Ca, C, and O elements in the sample. Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy was used to analyze the chemical composition and structural properties of the nanocomposite. UV-visible spectroscopy revealed a direct band gap of 3.78 eV for the nanocomposite, indicating its potential application for use in electrochemical energy storage and photoconductive devices. Zeta potential measurement indicated good physical stability of the nanocomposite. These results suggest that the CaO/GO nanocomposite has promising properties for various technological applications, particularly in the field of thermal energy storage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]