Journal of Sol-Gel Science and Technology最新文献

{"title":"Pressure-dependent structural, electronic, optical, and mechanical properties of cubic PbTiO₃ perovskite: A DFT–GGA study","authors":"Mansy Samy","doi":"10.1007/s10971-026-07231-y","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10971-026-07231-y","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>In this study, the structural, electronic, optical, and mechanical properties of cubic PbTiO₃ perovskite were systematically investigated using first-principles calculations based on density functional theory (DFT) within the generalized gradient approximation using the PBE functional. The calculations were performed with CASTEP. The optimized lattice parameter of the cubic phase is 3.96 Å, in good agreement with reported experimental and theoretical values. The electronic band structure indicates semiconducting behavior with an indirect GGA-PBE band gap of 1.70 eV. The upper valence band is dominated mainly by O-2p states with minor Pb-6p contributions, whereas the lower conduction band is dominated by Ti-3d states, confirming strong Ti-O hybridization. The optical response, derived from the complex dielectric function, shows strong activity in the ultraviolet region, with prominent absorption features near 3.89 and 6.78 eV. The calculated static dielectric constant and refractive index are 8.74 and 2.99, respectively. The optical conductivity exhibits a main peak at approximately 11.2 eV at ambient pressure. Under hydrostatic pressure from 0 to 50 GPa, the lattice parameter decreases monotonically, while the bulk modulus increases from 115 to about 298 GPa. In addition, the energy-loss function shows a pressure-induced blue shift of the plasmon peak from 11.02 to 13.01 eV. The novelty of this work is the unified analysis of the coupled pressure-dependent structural, electronic, optical, and mechanical properties of cubic PbTiO₃ up to 50 GPa within a single GGA-PBE framework. These results provide theoretical insight into the pressure-tunable behavior of PbTiO₃ and indicate its potential relevance for ultraviolet optoelectronic and high-pressure functional applications.</p><h3>Graphical Abstract</h3><div><figure><div><div><picture><source><img></source></picture></div></div></figure></div></div>","PeriodicalId":664,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Sol-Gel Science and Technology","volume":"119 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2026-08-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s10971-026-07231-y.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148837679","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Waste-derived SnO₂–polystyrene nanocomposites: structural, optical, and photocatalytic performance for dye degradation applications","authors":"Y. C. Goswami,&nbsp;Jyoti Bala","doi":"10.1007/s10971-026-07229-6","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10971-026-07229-6","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>The growing accumulation of non-biodegradable plastic waste and the discharge of persistent industrial dyes represent two critical environmental challenges worldwide. Developing sustainable materials that simultaneously address plastic recycling and wastewater remediation remains an important scientific goal. In this context, converting waste expanded polystyrene (EPS) into functional photocatalytic materials offers a promising circular-economy strategy. In this work, tin oxide (SnO₂) embedded polystyrene (PS) nanocomposites were successfully synthesised using waste-expanded polystyrene (EPS) as a recyclable precursor, thereby addressing plastic pollution through a sustainable materials approach. Unlike previously reported SnO₂–polymer systems that typically rely on virgin polymers or powder photocatalysts, the present work demonstrates the fabrication of reusable self-supported SnO₂–PS nanocomposite films derived from plastic waste, enabling easy catalyst recovery and improved environmental sustainability. The structural, morphological, and optical properties of the nanocomposites were systematically characterised. While pristine PS was amorphous, incorporation of SnO₂ induced crystallinity consistent with the tetragonal phase, as confirmed by prominent (110), (101), (200), and (211) diffraction peaks. AFM analysis revealed a unique vertically aligned hollow chain-like architecture, with surface roughness increasing as SnO₂ loading increased. UV–Vis absorption spectra showed a progressive redshift and band gap narrowing (from ~3.2 to ~3.0 eV), enhancing visible-light harvesting. Photoluminescence intensity decreased with higher SnO₂ content, suggesting suppressed electron–hole recombination and improved charge separation. Photocatalytic activity was evaluated against Indigo Carmine dye, chosen for its wide industrial use, recalcitrant structure, and environmental toxicity. Using a custom-designed 40 W LED photoreactor, the optimum composite achieved ~99% degradation within 30 minutes, with kinetics following a pseudo-first-order model. Preliminary recycling tests confirmed the reusability of the films over multiple cycles with minimal loss of activity. These results demonstrate not only the novelty of converting non-biodegradable EPS into functional photocatalyst films but also their practical potential for wastewater treatment. While advanced photoelectrochemical studies remain a future scope, this work establishes a green, low-cost, and scalable strategy for fabricating reusable polymer–inorganic nanocomposites for environmental remediation. This approach simultaneously addresses plastic waste valorization and dye-contaminated wastewater treatment, highlighting the potential of waste-derived nanocomposites for scalable environmental remediation technologies.</p><div><figure><div><div><picture><source><img></source></picture></div></div></figure></div></div>","PeriodicalId":664,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Sol-Gel Science and Technology","volume":"119 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2026-08-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s10971-026-07229-6.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148837681","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Interfacial coupling-induced electrochemical enhancement for excellent energy storage in Mo3Sn@WO3 heterostructures","authors":"Fahad K. Alshammari,&nbsp;A. F. A. Kadir,&nbsp;Aqsa Saeed,&nbsp;Ali Mujtaba,&nbsp;Babar Ali,&nbsp;Manal F. Alshammari,&nbsp;Amjad Salamah Aljaloud,&nbsp;Bandar F. Alsaleh,&nbsp;Mohamed Bouzidi","doi":"10.1007/s10971-026-07239-4","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10971-026-07239-4","url":null,"abstract":"<p>The escalating worldwide energy crisis and the ecological consequences of fossil fuels have heightened the demand for high-performance energy storage systems, such as supercapacitors. In this study, a Mo₃Sn@WO₃ heterostructure was fabricated to enhance the electrochemical performance of WO₃. Mo₃Sn enhances electrical conductivity and provides synergistic redox-active sites, leading to improved charge transfer, structural, and electrochemical kinetics. XRD analysis confirmed the formation of a pure heterostructure with an average crystallite size of approximately 21.4 nm. Raman spectroscopy reveals strong interfacial bonding through W-O, Mo-O, and Mo-O-Sn vibrational modes. SEM images demonstrate that it has a porous and interlaced structure with high surface area, while EDX shows that the elements are distributed uniformly. CV curves show strong redox peaks indicating high pseudocapacitive behavior with high reversibility. GCD analysis delivers a specific capacitance of 309 Fg^–1 at 0.8 Ag^–1, with outstanding rate capacity. The heterostructure also demonstrated excellent cycling stability with 88.7% capacitance retention after 5000 charge–discharge cycles, confirming its outstanding long-term electrochemical durability. The EIS results show that the charge transfer resistance is minimal (0.92 Ω), so there is rapid electron and ion transport. The improved electrochemical performance is due to the synergistic interaction between Mo₃Sn and WO₃. This study illustrates that the rational engineering of Mo₃Sn@WO₃ heterostructures significantly improves interfacial charge transfer and ion diffusion, presenting a viable approach for the advancement of high-performance supercapacitor electrodes and energy storage applications.</p>","PeriodicalId":664,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Sol-Gel Science and Technology","volume":"119 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2026-08-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s10971-026-07239-4.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148837608","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Comparative study of Neem, Guava, and mixed Neem–Guava extracts in green-synthesized CuO nanoparticles: structural, optical, and antibacterial insights","authors":"Dipti Shukla","doi":"10.1007/s10971-026-07235-8","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10971-026-07235-8","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>This study presents a systematic comparative investigation of green-synthesized CuO nanoparticles using distinct phytochemical systems derived from <i>Azadirachta indica</i>, <i>Psidium guajava</i>, and their mixed extracts. Unlike conventional single-plant-mediated green synthesis approaches, this work introduces a dual-extract phytochemical strategy that enables cooperative biomolecular interactions for controlled nucleation, lattice relaxation, and defect-state modulation without the use of external stabilizing agents or chemical additives. X-ray diffraction confirms phase-pure monoclinic CuO formation in all samples. Williamson–Hall analysis reveals that the mixed-extract sample exhibits larger crystallite size and reduced lattice strain, indicating improved crystallographic ordering driven by synergistic phytochemical effects. The apparent discrepancy between crystallite size (XRD) and particle size (SEM) is attributed to agglomeration of multiple crystallites into larger secondary particles. Optical characterization demonstrates systematic defect engineering. The band gap decreases from 2.60 eV to 2.54 eV, accompanied by reduced Urbach energy, confirming suppression of band-tail disorder and improved structural homogeneity. Photoluminescence analysis shows enhanced radiative recombination with controlled deep-level defect contributions, reflecting effective surface passivation and optimized defect distribution. Furthermore, antibacterial studies indicate superior activity, attributed to defect-mediated reactive oxygen species generation and improved nanoparticle–cell interaction. Notably, this study establishes for the first time a dual-extract phytochemical system as an intrinsic defect-engineering platform, demonstrating that cooperative biomolecular interactions can simultaneously regulate crystallinity, lattice strain, and defect-state distribution without external chemical modifiers. It also provides new insight into the role of phytochemical diversity in tuning structure–property relationships and offers a scalable, sustainable, and cost-effective pathway for designing next-generation metal oxide nanomaterials for optoelectronic, photocatalytic, and biomedical applications.</p><h3>Graphical Abstract</h3><div><figure><div><div><picture><source><img></source></picture></div></div></figure></div></div>","PeriodicalId":664,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Sol-Gel Science and Technology","volume":"119 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2026-08-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s10971-026-07235-8.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148837680","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Synergistic enhancement of charge transport, dielectric behavior, and impedance response in Cu/ZnO dual-nanofiller-loaded NaAlg/CMC biopolymer nanocomposites for biodegradable solid polymer electrolytes","authors":"M. A. Ahlam,&nbsp;Maha A. Alenizi,&nbsp;Munirah A. Almessiere,&nbsp;G. M. Asnag,&nbsp;Tahani M. Alresheedi,&nbsp;Nadiyah M. Alshammari,&nbsp;Helal S. Alharbi,&nbsp;Ahmed N. Al-hakimi","doi":"10.1007/s10971-026-07237-6","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10971-026-07237-6","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>ZnO nanoparticles were synthesized via a sol-gel method and then incorporated as Cu/ZnO dual nanofillers into sodium alginate (NaAlg)/carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) biopolymer composite films using the solution-casting technique. The structural, dielectric, electrical, and impedance characteristics of the prepared films were systematically evaluated. XRD analysis showed that Cu/ZnO incorporation progressively disrupted the crystalline domains of the NaAlg/CMC matrix, with the optimum effect observed at 4.0 wt.% filler content. FTIR spectra indicated strong intermolecular interaction between the functional groups of the polymers (–OH/–COO⁻) and the nanofillers through hydrogen bonding and electrostatic coordination. SEM images showed improved dispersion of nanofillers at lower concentrations, while higher loading led to partial agglomeration. The dielectric parameters (<i>ε</i>′ and <i>ε</i>″) strongly depended on the filler content, consistent with Maxwell–Wagner–Sillars (MWS) polarization arising from charge accumulation at the polymer–nanofiller interfaces. The AC conductivity increased with Cu/ZnO incorporation and reached a maximum value of ~2.1 × 10⁻⁵ S.cm⁻¹ at 4.0 wt.% filler loading at high frequency (10 MHz). The Nyquist plots exhibited depressed semicircles, indicating a non-Debye response associated with the bulk resistance of the polymer matrix and interfacial charge-transport processes. Overall, the optimized NaAlg/CMC:Cu/ZnO nanocomposite exhibited enhanced dielectric and electrical properties, indicating its potential as a biodegradable solid polymer electrolyte platform for future energy-storage and electronic applications.</p><h3>Graphical Abstract</h3><div><figure><div><div><picture><source><img></source></picture></div></div></figure></div></div>","PeriodicalId":664,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Sol-Gel Science and Technology","volume":"119 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2026-08-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s10971-026-07237-6.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148837682","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Anticorrosive potential of Garcinia mangostana L. peel extracts-doped hybrid sol-gel films on low carbon steel in salty water","authors":"Tuan Sherwyn Hamidon,&nbsp;Mimisyuhadah Puaad,&nbsp;M. Hazwan Hussin","doi":"10.1007/s10971-026-07238-5","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10971-026-07238-5","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>This study investigates the corrosion inhibition potential of <i>Garcinia mangostana</i> peel extracts using ethanol (MPE) and water (MPW) as corrosion inhibitors for low carbon steel in aqueous 3.5 wt.% NaCl. To ensure the purity of MP extracts, complementary spectroscopy techniques such as FT-IR, NMR, and TGA were adopted to characterize their structure as well as phytochemical analyses. MPE extract exhibited higher total phenolic content, total flavonoid content, total condensed tannin content, and antioxidant activity compared to MPW. Hybrid sol-gel matrices were synthesized using APTES and TEOS silanol precursors, where prepared films were applied via dip-coating. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and potentiodynamic polarization (PDP) studies revealed that 50 ppm MPE-doped hybrid sol-gel coating achieved the highest inhibition efficiency (81.64%), followed by 75 ppm MPW-doped sol-gel coating (73.87%). Both extracts incorporated coating systems rendered mixed-type corrosion protection, predominantly influencing the cathodic reaction. SEM analysis surfaced an improvement in the surface morphology of low carbon steel in the presence of both inhibitors. The projected corrosion inhibition mechanism has also been discussed regarding anticorrosion behavior. Hence, the present work affords a value-added application by exploiting mangosteen peel as a waste material towards potential anticorrosion applications.</p><div><figure><div><div><picture><source><img></source></picture></div></div></figure></div></div>","PeriodicalId":664,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Sol-Gel Science and Technology","volume":"119 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2026-08-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s10971-026-07238-5.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148837606","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Recent progress in the ferro-photocatalytic properties of KNbO3: a multifunctional material","authors":"Syed Irfan,&nbsp;Saman Zahra,&nbsp;Bo Dai,&nbsp;Xianhua Wei,&nbsp;Fei Zhou,&nbsp;Aiman Anwar,&nbsp;S. AlFaify,&nbsp;Nayyar Abbas Shah","doi":"10.1007/s10971-026-07216-x","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10971-026-07216-x","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Potassium niobate (KNbO₃) has shown unique performance in photocatalysis due to its effective strategy for mitigating charge-carrier separation. For instance, KNbO₃ (KN) is a ferroelectric semiconductor with some extraordinary photocatalytic properties (i.e., non-toxic, high stability, and chemical inertness). KN serves as a ferro-photocatalyst, offering sustainable solutions to environmental degradation. This review summarizes the fundamental characteristics and ferro-photocatalytic applications of KN and KN-based nanostructures. Initially, various fabrication techniques and structures of KN will be discussed. Subsequently, the review examines the design methods for KN-based photocatalysts to understand their functionality. Recent developments in KN photocatalysts are enabling the synthesis of composites and nanostructures with enhanced surface area and morphology, thereby improving ferroelectric and photocatalytic properties. Finally, we conclude with an outlook on the unique properties of KN and KN-based nanostructures for photocatalytic applications, including organic dye degradation and hydrogen production. In the future, KN-based nanostructures have the potential to be used for CO₂ reduction and antibiotic degradation, making them a multifunctional material.</p><h3>Graphical Abstract</h3><div><figure><div><div><picture><source><img></source></picture></div></div></figure></div></div>","PeriodicalId":664,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Sol-Gel Science and Technology","volume":"119 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2026-08-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s10971-026-07216-x.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148782417","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Hierarchical graphene oxide/Co-metal-organic framework/Fe₃O₄ structures for high-performance applications","authors":"Elham Mazaheri,&nbsp;Ahmad Gholizadeh","doi":"10.1007/s10971-026-07228-7","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10971-026-07228-7","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) and ferrites face drawbacks such as poor conductivity and self-aggregation. Optimized synthesis methods partially alleviate these issues, while a complementary strategy is to design nanocomposites that integrate both materials. We engineer three-dimensional hierarchically porous nanoparticles, where graphene nanosheets act as a robust substrate that tightly encapsulates Co-MOF/Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles. This architecture increases active sites, enhances the electrode–electrolyte interfacial area, improves electron conductivity, and prevents aggregation during charge–discharge cycling. The heterogeneous structure optimizes reaction kinetics, while the graphene nanosheets provide abundant electroactive sites, boosting electrochemical performance. Electrochemical measurements show a specific capacitance of 1710 F g⁻¹ at 0.5 A g⁻¹ in a three-electrode configuration. As a supercapacitor electrode, the material delivers 869 F g⁻¹ at 0.5 A g⁻¹, an energy density of 212.2 Wh kg⁻¹ at a power density of 8905 W kg⁻¹, and 96.8% capacity retention after 10,000 cycles, demonstrating significant promise as an innovative electrode material. This study introduces a hierarchical GO/Co-MOF/Fe₃O₄ hybrid synthesized through a two-step solvothermal process, providing an integrated conductive and redox-active framework that achieves outstanding electrochemical performance, achievement of high specific capacitance, and excellent cycling stability due to synergistic ion- and electron-transport pathways.</p><h3>Graphical Abstract</h3><div><figure><div><div><picture><source><img></source></picture></div><div><p>Schematic illustration of the synthesis route and electrochemical mechanism of the hierarchical GO/Co-MOF/Fe3O4 composite electrode.</p></div></div></figure></div></div>","PeriodicalId":664,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Sol-Gel Science and Technology","volume":"119 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2026-08-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s10971-026-07228-7.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148752403","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Structural and electrochemical investigation of Fe-doped sheet-like ZnCo₂O₄ as battery-type electrode for high-performance hybrid supercapacitors","authors":"Ramanadha Mangiri,&nbsp;Joonho Bae","doi":"10.1007/s10971-026-07108-0","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10971-026-07108-0","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Nanostructured multi-transition metal spinel oxides have emerged as promising candidates for enhancing the electrochemical performance of next-generation supercapacitors. In this work, the structural and electrochemical impacts of iron incorporation into ZnCo₂O₄ (ZCO) spinel structures were systematically explored by synthesizing pristine ZCO, 5% Fe-doped ZCO, and 10% Fe-doped ZCO. Detailed characterization confirmed that the sheet-like morphology of both undoped and Fe-doped ZCO effectively minimizes ion/electron transport resistance and provides abundant active sites for ion adsorption, thereby improving redox kinetics. Notably, Fe doping induced favorable structural and electronic modifications within the spinel lattice, leading to superior electrochemical behavior. All electrode showed with battery-type footprints and the 10% Fe-doped ZCO electrode and delivered an impressive specific capacity of 421.3 C g⁻¹ at 10 A g⁻¹ and maintained 85% of its initial capacity after 2000 charge–discharge cycles, demonstrating excellent cycling stability. Therefore, this study underscores the potential of Fe-doped ZnCo₂O₄ as a high-performance battery-type electrode material for advanced hybrid supercapacitor applications.</p><h3>Graphical abstract</h3><div><figure><div><div><picture><source><img></source></picture></div><div><p>Schematic representation of Fe-doped ZCO nanomaterials synthesis process.</p></div></div></figure></div></div>","PeriodicalId":664,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Sol-Gel Science and Technology","volume":"119 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2026-08-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s10971-026-07108-0.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148752402","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Sol–gel auto-combustion synthesis of enzyme-assisted MnFe2O4/MWCNTs for enhanced photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue and eco-toxicity mitigation","authors":"Hissah Hamad Altilasi,&nbsp;Eman Aldosari,&nbsp;Mohammad Ashraf Hossain,&nbsp;Shamil Mahmudov,&nbsp;Alim Asamatdinov,&nbsp;Francisco J. Cano,&nbsp;Muhammad Jamshaid","doi":"10.1007/s10971-026-07225-w","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10971-026-07225-w","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Water pollution from industrial dye effluents remains a critical global concern, necessitating the development of sustainable and high-performance remediation materials. In this work, manganese ferrite (MnFe₂O₄) nanoparticles were synthesized using banana peel enzymes as an eco-friendly reducing and stabilizing agent and subsequently integrated with multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) to fabricate MnFe₂O₄/MWCNTs and enzyme-functionalized (MnFe₂O₄/MWCNTs) nanocomposites. Structural, morphological, electrical, and surface features of the synthesized materials were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), BET, and EIS, confirming phase purity, functional groups, and uniform nanoparticle dispersion. The average crystallite sizes were found to be around 31 nm. The photocatalytic activity of the nanocomposites was systematically evaluated for the degradation of methylene blue (MB) under natural sunlight irradiation. Optimization studies revealed that a 25 ppm MB concentration, a catalyst dosage of 1.25 g/L, neutral pH (7), and 100 min of irradiation yielded the highest degradation efficiency. Among all samples, the enzyme-assisted MnFe₂O₄/MWCNTs composite achieved the maximum removal efficiency of 91%, attributed to enhanced charge separation and improved surface reactivity. To assess the environmental safety of the treated water, an eco-toxicity evaluation was performed using a barley seed germination assay. Seeds irrigated with treated water exhibited improved germination rate and seedling vigor compared to untreated dye solution, confirming the effective detoxification of MB and the suitability of the treated water for safe reuse. Overall, the enzyme-treated MnFe₂O₄-MWCNTs nanocomposite demonstrates strong potential as a green, efficient, and environmentally benign photocatalyst for wastewater treatment applications.</p><div><figure><div><div><picture><source><img></source></picture></div></div></figure></div></div>","PeriodicalId":664,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Sol-Gel Science and Technology","volume":"119 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2026-08-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s10971-026-07225-w.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148751549","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}