Topic Review
Polyurea in Impact Penetration Resistance and Blast Mitigation
Polyurea has gained significant attention in recent years as a functional polymer material, specifically regarding blast and impact protection. The molecular structure of polyurea is characterized by the rapid reaction between isocyanate and the terminal amine component, and forms an elastomeric copolymer that enhances substrate protection against blast impact and fragmentation penetration. At the nanoscale, a phase-separated microstructure emerges, with dispersed hard segment microregions within a continuous matrix of soft segments. This unique microstructure contributes to the remarkable mechanical properties of polyurea. 
  • 173
  • 11 Mar 2024
Topic Review
Annealing Methods for Perovskite Solar Cells
Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) have garnered significant attention in the photovoltaic field owing to their exceptional photoelectric properties, including high light absorption, extensive carrier diffusion distance, and an adjustable band gap. Temperature is a crucial factor influencing both the preparation and performance of perovskite solar cells. The annealing temperature exerts a pronounced impact on the device structure, while the operational temperature influences carrier transport, perovskite band gap, and interface properties. 
  • 70
  • 28 Feb 2024
Topic Review
Smart Applications of Self-Healing Polysiloxanes
Organosilicon polymers (silicones) are of enduring interest both as an established branch of polymer chemistry and as a segment of commercial products. Their unique properties were exploited in a wide range of everyday applications. The research attention polysiloxanes attracted as the materials of choice for various emerging technologies was tremendous. A rapid improvement in bulk modification strategies can be observed as well as the design of a new generation of PDMS-based smart materials, including flexible wearable electronics, sensors, coatings or e-skin. 
  • 73
  • 21 Feb 2024
Topic Review
Agro-Food Waste Valorization for Sustainable Bio-Based Packaging
The increase in the generation of agro-food processing waste, coupled with uncontrolled disposal and inefficient recovery methods, has raised concerns among society, industries, and the research community. This issue is compounded by the accumulation of conventional synthetic packaging. Owing to their significant environmental and economic impacts, the development of sustainable, biocompatible, and biodegradable materials has become an urgent target. In this context, research efforts have been directed toward developing new packaging materials based on renewable sources, such as agro-food waste, contributing to the circular economy concept.
  • 143
  • 17 Feb 2024
Topic Review
Antibiotics-Coated Gold Nanoparticles to Combat Antimicrobial Resistance
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has become an alarming threat to the successful treatment of rapidly growing bacterial infections because of the abuse and misuse of antibiotics. Traditional antibiotics bear many limitations including restricted bioavailability, inadequate penetration and the emergence of antimicrobial-resistant microorganisms. Recent advances in nanotechnology for the introduction of nanoparticles with fascinating physicochemical characteristics have been predicted as an innovative means of defence against antimicrobial-resistant diseases. The use of nanoparticles renders several benefits including improved tissue targeting, better solubility, improved stability, enhanced epithelial permeability and minimal side effects.
  • 1.9K
  • 07 Feb 2024
Topic Review
Migration and Safety of Plastic Food Packaging Materials
The conventional packaging materials used for the preservation of foods may exhibit many disadvantages that are related to the migration of micromolecular chemical substances incorporated in the packaging material net to the packaged food. There are many chemical substances in the matrix of plastic packaging materials and epoxy-resins that are used in food packaging materials, varnishes, and can coatings. Many migrants have high toxicity, such as acetaldehyde, antimony, antimony (III) oxide, 2,4-di-tert-butylphenol, tris (2,4-di-tert-butylphenol) phosphate, tris(2,4-di-tert-butylphenyl) phosphite, bisphenol A, and the plasticizers di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate), di-n-butyl phthalate, benzyl-butylphthalate, di-isononylphthalate, and di-isododecylphthalate.
  • 104
  • 06 Feb 2024
Topic Review
Preparation of Ceramic Phase-Reinforced High-Entropic Alloy Composite Coatings
The production of ceramic phase-reinforced high-entropy alloy composite coatings with excellent mechanical properties, high-temperature oxidation resistance, and corrosion resistance via laser cladding is a new hotspot in the field of surface engineering. However, as high-entropy alloys have a wide range of constituent systems and different kinds of ceramic particles are introduced in different ways that give the coatings unique microscopic organization, structure, and synthesized performance, it is necessary to review the methods of preparing ceramic phase-reinforced high-entropy alloys composite coatings via laser cladding.
  • 111
  • 01 Feb 2024
Topic Review
g-C3N4 Photocatalysts
Graphitized carbon nitride (g-C3N4), as a metal-free, visible-light-responsive photocatalyst, has a very broad application prospect in the fields of solar energy conversion and environmental remediation. The g-C3N4 photocatalyst owns a series of conspicuous characteristics, such as very suitable band structure, strong physicochemical stability, abundant reserves, low cost, etc. Research on the g-C3N4 or g-C3N4-based photocatalysts for real applications has become a competitive hot topic and a frontier area with thousands of publications over the past 17 years. 
  • 159
  • 31 Jan 2024
Topic Review
Bio-Based Wood Protective Systems
Natural compounds and biopolymers materials contribute to protective matrices that safeguard wood surfaces against diverse challenges. Essential oils, vegetable oils, and bio-based polymers are explored for their potential in crafting eco-friendly and durable coating matrices. 
  • 123
  • 29 Jan 2024
Topic Review
Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles Seed Priming against Environmental Stresses
Drastic climate changes over the years have triggered environmental challenges for wild plants and crops due to fluctuating weather patterns worldwide. This has caused different types of stressors, responsible for a decrease in plant life and biological productivity, with consequent food shortages, especially in areas under threat of desertification. Nanotechnology-based approaches have great potential in mitigating environmental stressors, thus fostering a sustainable agriculture. Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) have demonstrated to be biostimulants as well as remedies to both environmental and biotic stresses. Their administration in the early sowing stages, i.e., seed priming, proved to be effective in improving germination rate, seedling and plant growth and in ameliorating the indicators of plants’ well-being. Seed nano-priming acts through several mechanisms such as enhanced nutrients uptake, improved antioxidant properties, ROS accumulation and lipid peroxidation. The target for seed priming by ZnO NPs is mostly crops of large consumption or staple food, in order to meet the increased needs of a growing population and the net drop of global crop frequency, due to climate changes and soil contaminations. 
  • 86
  • 11 Jan 2024
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