Journal of Sol-Gel Science and Technology最新文献

{"title":"Synthesis of dopamine-functionalized quantum graphene dot-dopamin-hyaluronic acid nanocomposite loaded with parthenolide and assessment of its impact on cancer cells: an in vitro model","authors":"Maryam Nouri,&nbsp;Maryam Ghobeh,&nbsp;Zahra Kianmehr,&nbsp;Ali Es-haghi","doi":"10.1007/s10971-026-07205-0","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10971-026-07205-0","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background and aims</h3><p>Nanocarriers can enhance the delivery of parthenolide (PTL) to cancer cells while reducing toxicity to normal tissues. We developed Dopamine-Functionalized Quantum Graphene Dot-Dopamin-Hyaluronic Acid Nanocomposite Loaded with PTL (GQD-DA-HA-PTL NCs) and assessed their cytotoxic, apoptotic, and antioxidant effects in vitro on MCF-7 and other cancer cell lines (HCT116, A2780, HepG2, HeLa), and compared these results with those obtained from normal human dermal fibroblasts (HDF).</p><h3>Methods</h3><p>GQD-DA-HA-PTL NCs were synthesized and characterized by DLS, FESEM, and FTIR. Encapsulation efficiency and PTL release were measured at 219 nm. Cytotoxicity was evaluated via MTT in cancer cell lines (0–125 µg/mL) after 48 h. Apoptosis was assessed with Annexin V-FITC/PI and AO/PI staining. Mechanistic insights included real-time PCR for NF-κB, p53, caspase-8, and caspase-9. Antioxidant capacity was measured using ABTS and DPPH scavenging assays, as well as an SOD1 activity assay.</p><h3>Results</h3><p>GQD-DA-HA-PTL NCs exhibited high PTL encapsulation and sustained release. They demonstrated strong cytotoxicity against MCF-7 cells, with an IC50 lower than that of free PTL, and reduced toxicity to HDF cells. The GQD-DA-HA-PTL NCs reduced viability across other cancer cell lines, particularly HeLa and HCT116, with minimal effects on HepG2. Apoptosis was confirmed as the primary cell death mechanism, with real-time PCR showing upregulation of NF-κB, p53, and caspase-9, indicating activation of intrinsic apoptotic pathways. Antioxidant assays demonstrated significant radical-scavenging activity and increased SOD1 levels.</p><h3>Conclusion</h3><p>GQD-DA-HA-PTL NCs exhibit appropriate in vitro cytotoxicity against multiple cancer cell lines with selectivity over normal cells, accompanied by apoptosis induction and antioxidant modulation. While these findings support the potential of this nanodelivery system to enhance PTL efficacy, further studies are required to clarify mechanistic details and to evaluate safety and efficacy in more complex models.</p><div><figure><div><div><picture><source><img></source></picture><span>The alternative text for this image may have been generated using AI.</span></div></div></figure></div></div>","PeriodicalId":664,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Sol-Gel Science and Technology","volume":"119 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2026-06-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s10971-026-07205-0.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148261766","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":"Mesoporous anatase TiO₂ nanopowders with tunable electrical relaxation and low-k dielectric properties via sol-gel processing","authors":"Nouf Ahmed Althumairi,&nbsp;Imen Hammami,&nbsp;Sonia Soltani,&nbsp;R. A. El-Kasaby,&nbsp;Mokhtar Hjiri,&nbsp;Majdi Benamara,&nbsp;S. Soreto Teixeira,&nbsp;M.P.F. Graça,&nbsp;Manuel Almeida Valente","doi":"10.1007/s10971-026-07206-z","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10971-026-07206-z","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Nanostructured TiO₂ nanopowders were synthesized via a modified sol–gel route followed by supercritical drying and thermal treatment at 400 °C in order to investigate their structural, electrical, and dielectric behaviors. Structural analyses confirmed the formation of a pure anatase TiO₂ phase with tetragonal structure and an average crystallite size of approximately 17 nm, demonstrating the successful synthesis of nanocrystalline TiO₂ without detectable secondary phases. Nitrogen adsorption–desorption measurements revealed a highly mesoporous structure with a specific surface area of about 102 m²·g⁻¹, which strongly contributes to the electrical response of the material. The electrical and dielectric properties were investigated over a broad frequency and temperature range using compacted mesoporous pellets. The AC conductivity increased with both frequency and temperature, following Jonscher’s universal power law, indicating a thermally activated hopping conduction mechanism. The dielectric relaxation behavior was further analyzed using the electric modulus formalism, where the peaks observed in the imaginary modulus (M″) confirmed the presence of temperature-dependent relaxation processes associated with charge carrier dynamics and interfacial polarization effects. At room temperature, the material exhibited a dielectric constant of approximately 157 together with a relatively low dielectric loss (tan δ ≈ 1.6), highlighting its potential for dielectric-related applications. The observed electrical response is mainly attributed to localized charge carrier hopping, oxygen-vacancy-related defects, grain boundary contributions, and interfacial polarization within the mesoporous TiO₂ nanostructure. Overall, these findings demonstrate that the synthesized mesoporous anatase TiO₂ nanopowders possess promising characteristics for potential applications in dielectric devices, sensors, and energy storage technologies.</p><div><figure><div><div><picture><source><img></source></picture><span>The alternative text for this image may have been generated using AI.</span></div></div></figure></div></div>","PeriodicalId":664,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Sol-Gel Science and Technology","volume":"119 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2026-06-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s10971-026-07206-z.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148261800","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":"Morphology-controlled bandgap engineering and antifungal selectivity in Ca-doped CdFe2O4 nanoferrites synthesized by flash autocombustion","authors":"Wafia M. Gamal,&nbsp;H. K. Abdelsalam,&nbsp;Yusuf. H. Khalafalla,&nbsp;Jana H. Khalafalla,&nbsp;Manar Mansour,&nbsp;Asmaa. A. H. El-Bassuony,&nbsp;R. S. Hafez","doi":"10.1007/s10971-026-07201-4","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10971-026-07201-4","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Cadmium ferrite (CdFe₂O₄) and calcium-doped (Cd_0.5Ca_0.5Fe₂O₄) nanoferrites were synthesized through a rapid flash autocombustion method followed by annealing at 600 °C. Their surface morphology, optical properties, and antifungal activities were systematically examined as components of a multifunctional nanomaterial platform. Two-dimensional atomic force microscopy revealed that calcium ion (Ca²⁺) substitution modifies a relatively coarse, highly agglomerated surface into a finer and more uniform nanostructure, decreasing the mean particle size derived from AFM from 51.7 nm to 41.06 nm and increasing the surface factor, S, from 1.943 × 10⁵ to 2.392 × 10⁵ cm² g⁻¹. UV–Vis–NIR diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, analyzed with Tauc plots, revealed a notable blue shift in the fundamental absorption edge, accompanied by an increase in the direct bandgap from 3.0 eV in CdFe₂O₄ to 3.3 eV in Cd_0.5Ca_0.5Fe₂O₄. This change aligns with the compositional tuning of the electronic structure in nanoferrites. Furthermore, substantial Urbach energies (1.36 eV for CdFe₂O₄ and 1.14 eV for Cd_0.5Ca_0.5Fe₂O₄) clearly indicate that low-energy absorption is predominantly governed by dense defect-related tail states rather than intrinsic band-edge transitions, highlighting an unusual defect landscape that significantly influences optical responses. The refractive index, derived from reflectance data, decreases slightly with Ca²⁺ doping, offering additional avenues to manipulate optical constants relevant to nanophotonic and optoelectronic applications. Antifungal assays conducted against <i>Aspergillus flavus</i> and <i>Candida albicans</i> demonstrated that undoped CdFe₂O₄ exhibits potent, broad-spectrum antifungal activity, with inhibition zones measuring 19 mm and 14 mm, respectively, and surpasses <i>Amphotericin B</i> against A. flavus. In contrast, Ca-doped Cd_0.5Ca_0.5Fe₂O₄ maintains moderate activity exclusively against A. flavus and shows no activity against <i>C. albicans</i>. This composition-dependent antifungal specificity, coupled with morphology and defect-controlled optical properties, underscores the potential of calcium-doped CdFe₂O₄ nanoferrites as a versatile nanoplatform. These findings hold promising implications for the development of nano-enabled antifungal surface coatings strictly for inanimate, high-risk industrial environments, contingent on minimizing cadmium leaching via polymeric encapsulation.</p><div><figure><div><div><picture><source><img></source></picture><span>The alternative text for this image may have been generated using AI.</span></div></div></figure></div></div>","PeriodicalId":664,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Sol-Gel Science and Technology","volume":"119 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2026-06-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s10971-026-07201-4.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148261799","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":"Biocompatible pluronic F127 coated TiO₂/ZnTiO₃ hybrid nanomaterial: Structural insights and bioactivity against bacteria and blood cancer cells","authors":"Ahmed A. Bhran,&nbsp;Zainab M. Almarhoon,&nbsp;Indumathi Thangavelu,&nbsp;Mohamed Bechir Ben Hamida,&nbsp;Thalakulam Shanmugam Boopathi","doi":"10.1007/s10971-026-07196-y","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10971-026-07196-y","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Leukemia, a type of blood cancer affecting white blood cells, impairs immune function and hematological stability, thereby highlighting the need for the development of effective multifunctional therapeutic agents. Titanium dioxide/zinc titanate (TiO₂/ZnTiO₃) is a dual-metal oxide system that combines the anticancer and antibacterial properties of Zn²⁺ ions with the chemical stability and photocatalytic efficiency of Ti⁴⁺ ions. In this study, TiO₂/ZnTiO₃ and Pluronic F127-coated titanium dioxide/zinc titanate hybrid nanomaterial (TiO₂/ZnTiO₃–PF127 HNM) nanoparticles were synthesized via a sol–gel method. XRD analysis confirmed a rhombohedral crystal structure with average crystallite sizes of 28 ± 1.2 nm (TiO₂/ZnTiO₃) and 24 ± 1.6 nm (TiO₂/ZnTiO₃–PF127 HNM), while TEM revealed spherical nanoparticles in the 20–30 nm range. EDAX verified elemental composition, and FTIR spectra evidenced strong interactions between PF127 and the TiO₂/ZnTiO₃ surface. Photoluminescence studies showed green emission bands (519 nm for TiO₂/ZnTiO₃ and 510/527 nm for TiO₂/ZnTiO₃–PF127 HNM), attributed to oxygen vacancies, with PF127 coating enhancing defect density and charge trapping. Antibacterial studies against Gram-positive (<i>S. aureus, B. subtilis</i>) and negative pathogens (<i>K. pneumoniae, S. dysenteriae, E. coli, V. cholera, P. aeruginosa</i>, and <i>P. vulgaris</i>) revealed enhanced activity for TiO₂/ZnTiO₃–PF127 HNM compared to its counter parts, with MIC and MBC of 1000 µg/mL and 1250 µg/mL, respectively. Histidine supplementation (0.5–4 mM) significantly attenuated antibacterial efficacy. The TiO₂/ZnTiO₃–PF127 HNM also exhibited enhanced antioxidant activity compared to TiO₂/ZnTiO₃. Furthermore, TiO₂/ZnTiO₃–PF127 HNM demonstrated superior cytotoxicity against MOLT-4 leukemia cells (IC₅₀ = 11.8 ± 0.59 µg/mL) while remaining biocompatible in zebrafish embryo models. Overall, this study highlights TiO₂/ZnTiO₃–PF127 HNM as a promising multifunctional nanoplatform for antibacterial and anticancer applications.</p><h3>Graphical Abstract</h3><div><figure><div><div><picture><source><img></source></picture><span>The alternative text for this image may have been generated using AI.</span></div></div></figure></div></div>","PeriodicalId":664,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Sol-Gel Science and Technology","volume":"119 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2026-06-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s10971-026-07196-y.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148261706","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":"Hydrogen production under visible illumination on NiFe0.8Mn1.2O4 synthesized by sol–gel processing","authors":"M. Trari,&nbsp;G. Rekhila,&nbsp;K. Cherifi","doi":"10.1007/s10971-026-07192-2","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10971-026-07192-2","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>The spinel NiFe_0.8Mn_1.2O₄ synthesized by sol–gel processing was successfully exploited for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) under visible light. XRD studies indicated that the oxide crystallizes in a spinel structure with a crystallite size of 51 nm, smaller than that observed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM, 465 nm), indicating an agglomeration process. <b><i>p</i></b>-type conduction is indicated by a positive thermoelectric power (<i>S</i>_300K = +134 µV K⁻¹), with an activation energy of 290 meV. The direct band gap (<i>E</i>_g = 1.10 eV), arising from the lifting of degeneracy of the <b><i>3d</i></b> orbital in (Fe, Mn)O₆ octahedra, was obtained from the diffuse reflectance, ideal for the exploitation of the visible solar spectrum. The correlated physical and electrochemical properties predict the feasibility of NiFe_0.8Mn_1.2O₄ for HER from an energy diagram. The “<i>Capacitance –Potential</i>” characteristics yield a hole concentration (N_A) of 2.8 × 10¹⁵cm^-3 and a flat band potential (E_fb) of −30 mV_<i>SCE</i>. The cathodic conduction band (−0.84 V_<i>SCE</i>) is ideally positioned relative to the H₂O/H₂ couple (~ −0.48 V_<i>SCE</i>), facilitating HER upon visible light irradiation. The optimization of NiFe_0.8Mn_1.2O₄ dose, pH and S₂O₃^2- concentration has been undertaken, giving a maximum HER volume of 73 µmol with an evolution rate of 8.1 µmol g⁻¹ min⁻¹.</p><div><figure><div><div><picture><source><img></source></picture><span>The alternative text for this image may have been generated using AI.</span></div></div></figure></div></div>","PeriodicalId":664,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Sol-Gel Science and Technology","volume":"118 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2026-06-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s10971-026-07192-2.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148236685","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":"Amorphous and crystalline silica nanoparticles recovered from polymer-silica hybrid films","authors":"Abdullah A. Al Haddad,&nbsp;Ali Bumajdad,&nbsp;Fakhreia Al Sagheer","doi":"10.1007/s10971-026-07195-z","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10971-026-07195-z","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>This work is concerned with thermal recovery of sol-gel-prepared mesoporous silica nanoparticles, SiO2 NPs, from organic (aramid or chitosan)−inorganic (SiO₂ network) hybrid films. Aramid-SiO₂ hybrid films are divided into bonded aramid-SiO₂ hybrid (B-Ar-Si) and unbonded aramid-SiO₂ hybrid (UB-Ar-Si) films. In bonded hybrid films, a coupling agent (3-isocyanatopropyl)triethoxysilane (ICTEOS) is added to study its effect on the SiO₂ network formation and dispersion of the prepared NPs. The same study was carried out using the biodegradable chitosan as the polymer (Cs-Si). The hybrid films were calcined at 500, 800 and 1100 °C to study the effect of temperature on surface area, morphology, porosity and particles size. EDS and FTIR were used to confirm the composition of the hybrid films and NPs, while XPS analysis proved that the surfaces of NPs are made up of silicon and oxygen atoms of SiO₂. Surface area and porosity of NPs were tested using N₂ sorption analysis and confirmed the synthesis of porous (as high as 1.20 cm³/g) high specific surface area (as high as 810 m²/g) NPs. The prepared SiO₂ NPs have a spherical form with particles as tiny as 3 nm and a tendency to sinter at high temperatures, according to SEM, AFM, TEM, HRTEM, and XRD data. Additionally, even at high temperatures, UB-Ar-Si and B-Ar-Si hybrid films produced amorphous SiO₂ NPs, but larger NPs recovered from Cs-Si hybrids produced crystalline phases (α-<i>quartz</i> or β-<i>cristobalite</i>), controlled by the used SiO₂% in the hybrid films and by the recovery temperature.</p><h3>Graphical Abstract</h3><div><figure><div><div><picture><source><img></source></picture><span>The alternative text for this image may have been generated using AI.</span></div></div></figure></div></div>","PeriodicalId":664,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Sol-Gel Science and Technology","volume":"118 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2026-06-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s10971-026-07195-z.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148236730","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 DC electrical properties of samarium-substituted cobalt nanoferrites synthesized by citrate-gel auto-combustion method","authors":"Puli Nageswar Rao,&nbsp;Nehru Boda,&nbsp;Vankudothu Nagendar,&nbsp;Kanchana Latha Chittury,&nbsp;R. Nithya,&nbsp;A. Raju","doi":"10.1007/s10971-026-07177-1","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10971-026-07177-1","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Samarium-substituted cobalt nanoferrites (CoSmₓFe₂₋ₓO₄, <i>x</i> = 0.0 to 0.10) were synthesized via the citrate-gel auto-combustion method and calcined at 500 °C for 4 h. XRD confirmed a single-phase cubic spinel structure, with lattice parameters increasing with Sm content from 8.419 ± 0.002 Å to 8.458 ± 0.002 Å, following Vegard’s law. SEM and EDS revealed uniform, minimally porous microstructures with elemental homogeneity. FTIR spectroscopy confirmed preferential Sm³⁺ occupancy at octahedral B-sites through systematic redshift of the ν₂ band (364 → 352 cm⁻¹). The material exhibited semiconducting behavior, with optimal properties at <i>x</i> = 0.05–0.07, enhancing electrical conductivity to (1.2 ± 0.1) × 10⁻³ S/cm at 500 K (a tenfold increase), improving dielectric relaxation with impedance as low as (8.0 ± 0.4) × 10² Ω at 500 °C, and tailoring magnetic performance with Curie temperature tunable between 663–683 K ( ± 5 K). Piecewise linear regression revealed statistically significant slope changes at <i>x</i> ≈ 0.06 for conductivity (<i>p</i> = 0.02) and activation energy (<i>p</i> = 0.01), indicating a mechanistic transition in charge transport. These findings, driven by Sm³⁺-induced lattice strain and cation redistribution, advance nanoferrites for high-frequency devices and energy storage. The citrate-gel method’s energy efficiency highlights its sustainability for scalable synthesis.</p><div><figure><div><div><picture><source><img></source></picture><span>The alternative text for this image may have been generated using AI.</span></div></div></figure></div></div>","PeriodicalId":664,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Sol-Gel Science and Technology","volume":"118 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2026-06-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s10971-026-07177-1.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148236686","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":"Investigation of photocatalytic properties of Cu & Rb Co-doped ZnO thin films via sol-gel spin coating method","authors":"Nasrin Ferdous Talukder,&nbsp;Zunaid Hasan Tajim,&nbsp;Mohammad Salman Haque,&nbsp;S. M. Nasim Rokon","doi":"10.1007/s10971-026-07186-0","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10971-026-07186-0","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>This study outlines the synthesis and evaluation of pristine and Cu/Rb: ZnO thin films, developed via the sol-gel spin coating methodology. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis confirmed that all the thin films had a hexagonal wurtzite structure and a preferential orientation along the c-axis at various levels of doping (1, 3, and 5%). The maximum crystallite size was 18.88 nm at a doping concentration of 3%, and lower at 1% and 5% due to dopant-induced lattice distortion and strain effect. FESEM analysis demonstrates that the particle size of ZnO decreases systematically and consistently between the pristine (115 nm) and the 5% doped (60.14 nm) sample, and that the morphology grows more irregular and agglomerated with increasing dopant concentration. The successful inclusion of Cu and Rb into the ZnO matrix was confirmed by Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS). Moreover, the transmittance of Cu/Rb: ZnO thin films exceeded 50% in the visible spectrum. It is observed that the absorption edge is shifted to higher wavelengths (red shift) that correspond to a decrease in bandgap with the addition of 1 and 3 at% Cu/Rb: ZnO thin films, resulting in the narrowing of the bandgap to a minimum of 3.21 eV. A slight widening of the bandgap observed at 5 at% Cu/Rb concentration is attributed to the Burstein-Moss effect. Experiments of photocatalytic degradation revealed that doping greatly enhanced the activity in the UV light, and Cu/Rb: ZnO thin films had the highest rate of degrading methylene blue (39.39%), relative to 4.82% in pristine ZnO thin films. The findings highlight the possibilities of Cu/Rb: ZnO thin films in the treatment of wastewater and any other environmental application, as they have enhanced structural, optical, morphological, and photocatalytic properties.</p><h3>Graphical Abstract</h3><div><figure><div><div><picture><source><img></source></picture><span>The alternative text for this image may have been generated using AI.</span></div></div></figure></div></div>","PeriodicalId":664,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Sol-Gel Science and Technology","volume":"118 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2026-06-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s10971-026-07186-0.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148236687","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":"Visible light-driven photocatalytic and photo-Fenton degradation of methylene blue and eosin yellow dyes using ZnO/NiFe2O4 nanocatalysts","authors":"T. Senthil Ganesh,&nbsp;N. M. Ganesan,&nbsp;N. Senthilkumar,&nbsp;T. S. Senthil","doi":"10.1007/s10971-026-07198-w","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10971-026-07198-w","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>This work investigated the photocatalytic performance of ZnO/NiFe₂O₄ nanocomposites with varying ZnO contents for the removal and degradation of organic contaminants from textile effluents. ZnO/NiFe₂O₄ nanoparticles were created using a chemical one-pot technique. The morphology was revealed by field emission scanning electron microscopy(FESEM), and the hexagonal wurtzite phase of ZnO and a cubic spinel phase of ZnFe₂O₄wereverified by X-ray diffraction (XRD). The optical bandgap of the optimized composition was found to be 1.46 eV. Methylene blue (MB) and eosin yellow (EY) dyes were used to measure the catalysts’ photocatalytic capacity, with the optimum nanocomposite degrading 84 and 85% of EY and MB, respectively, under visible light. The reaction rate constant value reached 0.0246 min⁻¹ and 0.0249 min⁻¹ for EY and MB, respectively. Scavenging studies revealed that •OH radicals and photo-induced holes (h⁺) are the primary species involved in the elimination of MB and EY.</p><div><figure><div><div><picture><source><img></source></picture><span>The alternative text for this image may have been generated using AI.</span></div></div></figure></div></div>","PeriodicalId":664,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Sol-Gel Science and Technology","volume":"118 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2026-06-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s10971-026-07198-w.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148172177","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":"Titanium surfaces coated with alginate/hydroxyapatite composites by dip-coating technique","authors":"Thaís Cristina Viana de Carvalho,&nbsp;Andreza Menezes Lima,&nbsp;Wesley Brito Jalil da Fonseca,&nbsp;Carlos Alberto Senna,&nbsp;Rodrigo Prioli Menezes,&nbsp;Marcelo Eduardo Huguenin Maia da Costa,&nbsp;Roseli Marins Balestra,&nbsp;Alexandre Antunes Ribeiro","doi":"10.1007/s10971-026-07194-0","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10971-026-07194-0","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Alginate/Hydroxyapatite (Alg/HA) composites at different ratios (Alg_pure, 5:1, 4:1, 3:1, 2:1) were deposited on titanium (Ti) surface using the dip-coating technique. The influence of composition on coating homogeneity, morphology, and physicochemical properties was systematically investigated. FITR, Raman, XRD, and SEM/EDS analyses confirmed the presence of HA phase within the polymer matrix. The Alg2:1HA coating displayed cracks in the Alg/HA interface, suggesting saturation of polymer matrix. The rheological assays displayed all suspensions exhibited non-Newtonian shear-thinning behavior. The profilometry assessments indicated that all coatings exhibited suitable micro-roughness for promoting osseointegration. SEM/FIB and optical microscopy revealed that the Alg3:1HA and Alg2:1HA coatings demonstrated good adhesion and mechanical strength when subjected to tensile stress in a three-point bending test. However, Alg3:1HA coating demonstrated a more favorable properties, with no cracks in the Alg/HA interface. Overall, these findings contribute valuable insights toward the development of bioactive, mechanically resistant coatings for orthopedic and dental applications.</p><div><figure><div><div><picture><source><img></source></picture><span>The alternative text for this image may have been generated using AI.</span></div></div></figure></div></div>","PeriodicalId":664,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Sol-Gel Science and Technology","volume":"118 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2026-06-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s10971-026-07194-0.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148172176","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}