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The degradation of methylene blue dye via tribocatalysis using 0.5Ba(Zr0.2Ti0.8)O3‒0.5(Ba0.7Sr0.3)TiO3 (BST‒BZT) ceramic powders was investigated under various conditions. The tribocatalytic process was initiated using magnetic stirring with a polytetrafluoroethylene‐coated magnetic bar in a glass beaker setup. The degradation efficiency was evaluated at different stirring speeds of 300, 500, and 700 rpm. The results showed significant variation in degradation rates, with the highest degradation efficiency of ∼73% achieved within 12 h at a rotational speed of 700 rpm. Additionally, the impact of pH on the degradation process was examined by adjusting the dye solution to pH levels of 3, 6, and 9. The degradation efficiency increased with higher pH levels, with the maximum degradation occurring in the basic medium (pH 9). Kinetic analysis revealed that the degradation process adhered to pseudo‐first‐order kinetics, with rate constants of 0.023, 0.035, and 0.104 min⁻1 at different stirring speeds of 300, 500, and 700 rpm, respectively. This study showcases the potential of BST‒BZT ceramics as efficient tribocatalysts for degrading organic pollutants in wastewater, emphasizing the impact of stirring speed and pH on degradation efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Environmental sustainability and the effective use of renewable resources are critical subjects that need to be integrated into our educational systems through practical, hands-on learning. This paper focuses on the fabrication of aluminium-air batteries using waste materials, providing an innovative and cost-effective DIY approach to energy storage education. Utilizing aluminium from food packaging and graphite from pencils, this study demonstrates the construction and functionality of an aluminium-air battery to run an LED, highlighting its potential applications in educational settings and low-cost energy solutions. The paper aims to inspire the adoption of environmentally friendly practices and enhance students' understanding of electrochemical energy conversion through accessible and engaging DIY projects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the application of a Wheatstone bridge, specifically through the utilization of a meter bridge constructed on chart paper using pencil graphite. Employing the Wheatstone bridge principle, this study aims to achieve precise measurements of an unknown resistance. Results indicate an error margin between measured and calculated values of less than 10%, highlighting the efficiency and accuracy of this approach. The demonstrated effectiveness of the meter bridge serves as an educational resource, particularly beneficial for K-12 students, providing practical understanding and hands-on experience with the meter bridge concept. This research contributes to enhancing STEAM education by offering a tangible and accessible tool for teaching electrical circuit principles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research unveils a transformative methodology for fabricating flexible printed circuit boards (PCBs), focusing on the unique attributes of filter paper substrates. A meticulous parametric exploration scrutinizes critical aspects such as buckling resistance, charging current, plating time, and electrode configurations for copper electroplating. Key findings highlight the exceptional stability of copper electroplating on filter paper, exhibiting robust resistance against environmental variations and bending angles spanning +180° to −180°. Utilizing higher pencil grade material and maintaining a minimum 4 cm distance with a voltage range of 3 to 1.44 V ensures uniform, controlled plating without burning, optimizing the electrode area below 1 cm2 for enhanced practicality. The research underscores the longevity and durability of copper‐plated filter paper, with negligible resistance changes even after 1000 folds. Over a year, the shelf‐life assessment emphasizes the excellent stability of electroplated filter paper. Practical applications, including fully functional circuits and a bio‐degradable piano, underscore the versatility and real‐world feasibility of the proposed electroplating technique. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ferroelectric 0.5Ba(Zr0.2Ti0.8)O3-0.5(Ba0.7Sr0.3)TiO3 (BST-BZT) ceramic composition was fabricated using a solid-state reaction route. Porosity was introduced in the BST-BZT ceramic pellet using polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) up to 30% weight proportion. Successful pore formation was observed using scanning electron microscopy. The synthesized porous BST-BZT ceramic pellet was investigated for the piezocatalytic process under ultrasonication for the demineralization of methylene blue (MB) dye. An increasing trend in MB dye degradation was found with an increase in porosity, with the highest degradation observed for the 30% weight PMMA BST-BZT ceramic pellet. This was attributed to the increase in surface area due to introduced porosity in the BST-BZT ceramic pellet. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the newly light on processes utilized in applications for cleaning water is piezocatalysis. Mechanical vibrations generated through ultrasonication are generally used to separate out the charges in ferroelectric ceramics. The current research presents a novel prospective methodology of ball milling, where it is used as a facile and green technique for water remediation. The movement of the planetary ball mill imparts enough force such that reactive species are produced which are responsible for organic dye degradation. One of the results in the parametric analysis showed that by using 0.30 g of the 0.5Ba(Zr0.2Ti0.8)O3–0.5(Ba0.7Sr0.3)TiO3 (BST–BZT) powder, 62% of the methylene blue (MB) dye was degraded in 60 minutes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ferroelectric materials with a spontaneous polarization are proven to be potential multicatalysts in water remediation applications. The composition of 0.5Ba(Zr0.2Ti0.8)O3-0.5(Ba0.7Sr0.3)TiO3 (BST-BZT) was examined for photocatalysis, piezocatalysis, and piezo-photocatalysis processes by degrading an azo dye named methylene blue (MB). Generally, dis-aligned dipoles restrict the catalytic activities due to which the BST-BZT powder sample was poled by the corona poling technique. Coupled piezocatalysis and photocatalysis process, i.e., the piezo-photocatalysis process has shown maximum dye degradation. There was a significant improvement in degradation efficiency by using a poled BST-BZT sample compared to the unpoled sample in all processes, thus the results suggest an extensive scope of poled ferroelectric ceramic powder in the catalysis field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]