Explore the vast range of titles available.

A large amount of graphene-related research is its use as a filler for polymer composites, including thin nanocomposite films. However, its use is limited by the need for large-scale methods to obtain high–quality filler, as well as its poor dispersion in the polymer matrix. This work presents polymer thin-film composites based on poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) and graphene, whose surfaces were modified by curcuminoids. TGA, UV–vis, Raman spectroscopy, XPS, TEM, and SEM methods have confirmed the effectiveness of the graphene modification due to π–π interactions. The dispersion of graphene in the PVC solution was investigated by the turbidimetric method. SEM, AFM, and Raman spectroscopy methods evaluated the thin-film composite’s structure. The research showed significant improvements in terms of graphene’s dispersion (in solutions and PVC composites) following the application of curcuminoids. The best results were obtained for materials modified with compounds obtained from the extraction of the rhizome of Curcuma longa L. Modification of the graphene’s surface with these compounds also increased the thermal and chemical stability of PVC/graphene nanocomposites.

In this work, a method to increase the dispersion of graphene (GN) in the matrix of rigid poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) by using a natural plant extract from Curcuma longa L. (CE) is proposed. Currently, despite the increasing number of reports on the improvement of GN dispersion in PVC blends, still there is a need to find environmentally friendly and economical dispersion stabilizers. We proposed a stabilizer that can be easily obtained from a plant offering thermal stability and high effectiveness. PVC/GN nanocomposites stabilized with the proposed extract were investigated by SEM, AFM (structure), TGA, and Congo red test (thermal properties). Additionally, static and dynamic mechanical properties and electrical resistivity were measured. The use of CE as a graphene dispersant improved its dispersion in the PVC matrix, influenced tensile properties, increased the storage modulus and glass transition temperature, and extended the thermal stability time of nanocomposites. In this work, a CE extract is proposed as an efficient eco-friendly additive for the production of nanocomposites with an improved homogeneity of a nanofiller in the matrix and promising characteristics.

The rapidly growing production and usage of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) dramatically raises the number of harmful wastes. Consequently, the LIBs waste management processes, taking into account reliability, efficiency, and sustainability criteria, became a hot issue in the context of environmental protection as well as the scarcity of metal resources. In this paper, we propose for the first time a functional material—a magnetorheological fluid (MRF) from the LIBs-based liquid waste containing heavy metal ions. At first, the spent battery waste powder was treated with acid-leaching, where the post-treatment acid-leaching solution (ALS) contained heavy metal ions including cobalt. Then, ALS was used during wet co-precipitation to obtain cobalt-doped superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) and as an effect, the harmful liquid waste was purified from cobalt. The obtained nanoparticles were characterized with SEM, TEM, XPS, and magnetometry. Subsequently, superparamagnetic nanoparticles sized 15 nm average in diameter and magnetization saturation of about 91 emu g−1 doped with Co were used to prepare the MRF that increases the viscosity by about 300% in the presence of the 100 mT magnetic fields. We propose a facile and cost-effective way to utilize harmful ALS waste and use them in the preparation of superparamagnetic particles to be used in the magnetorheological fluid. This work describes for the first time the second life of the battery waste in the MRF and a facile way to remove the harmful ingredients from the solutions obtained after the acid leaching of LIBs as an effective end-of-life option for hydrometallurgical waste utilization.

This study investigates the influence of post‐processing techniques on lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) designed for miRNA delivery in in vitro transfection models. We compared blank and miRNA‐loaded LNPs (LNP‐miRNA) in terms of size, polydispersity index, zeta potential, electrophoretic mobility, and conductivity. miRNA encapsulation increases lipid particle size by 43.6%, due to structural rearrangements. Post‐processing methods, including sonication, filtration, dialysis, and thermal treatment, significantly alter particle characteristics. Sonication and filtration decrease particle size and improve uniformity, enhancing colloidal stability. Dialysis further refines the particle size but decreases its electrophoretic mobility. Non‐dialyzed, sonicated, and filtered LNP‐miRNA samples demonstrate the most favorable electrokinetic profile, maintaining low conductivity (0.003 mS/cm) and high electrophoretic mobility (3.16 ± 0.22 µm cm/V·s), suggesting optimal stability for gene delivery. Zeta potential measurements show that sonication and filtration increase the surface charge of LNP‐miRNA formulations from +18.9 to +29.3 mV, enhancing colloidal stability, while dialysis reduces it to +1.9 mV. Although sonicated and filtered LNP‐miRNA samples exhibited more favorable physicochemical properties, the dialyzed formulations modulate intracellular trafficking, resulting in earlier intracellular availability and prolonged persistence of delivered miRNA. This work establishes a framework for optimizing non‐viral miRNA delivery by showing how post‐processing shapes LNP stability and transfection performance. This study investigates the impact of various post‐processing methods (filtration, sonication, dialysis, and heating) on lipid nanoparticles produced using microfluidics. The nanoparticles are designed for efficient delivery of miRNA into cells. The work highlights how processing conditions influence nanoparticle stability and quality, providing insights into optimizing formulations for effective intracellular transfection. In particular, the study investigates how post‐processing–dependent changes in LNP properties influence endo‐lysosomal trafficking and the intracellular redistribution of delivered miRNA.

An in-situ nanoindenter with a flat tip was employed to conduct buckling tests of a single nanowire with simultaneous SEM imaging. A series of SEM images allowed us to calculate deflection. The deflection was confronted with the mathematical model of elastica. The post-buckling behaviour of nanowires is conducted in the framework of the nonlinear elasticity theory. Results show the significant effect of geometrical parameters on the stability of buckled nanowires.

Particulate-reinforced metal matrix composites (PRMMCs) with excellent tribo-mechanical properties are important engineering materials and have attracted constant scientific interest over the years. Among the various fabrication methods used, co-electrodeposition (CED) is valued due to its efficiency, accuracy, and affordability. However, the way this easy-to-perform process is carried out is inconsistent, with researchers using different methods for volume fraction measurement and tribo-mechanical testing, as well as failing to carry out proper interface characterization. The main contribution of this work lies in its determination of the gaps in the tribo-mechanical research of CED PRMMCs. For mechanical properties, hardness is described with respect to measurement methods, models, and experiments concerning CED PRMMCs. The tribology of such composites is described, taking into account the reinforcement volume fraction, size, and composite fabrication route (direct/pulsed current). Interfacial aspects are discussed using experimental direct strength measurements. Each part includes a critical overview, and future prospects are anticipated. This review paper provides an overview of the tribo-mechanical parameters of Ni-based co-electrodeposited particulate-reinforced metal matrix composite coatings with an interfacial viewpoint and a focus on hardness, wear, and friction behavior.

In this study, the AlCoCrFeNiTi 0.2 high-entropy alloy (HEA) was plasma nitrided to investigate the microstructure and mechanical properties of high-entropy nitrides formed in the surface layer of the bulk sample. XRD measurements revealed a BCC → FCC crystal structure transformation, with the σ phase disappearing and hexagonal aluminum nitride emerging. Further experimental studies on the nitrided samples, including SEM, EDS, and EBSD, uncovered element segregation into multiple FCC phases with similar lattice constants, such as the NaCl-type (AlCrCoFeNiTi 0.2 )N high-entropy nitride. These observations align with theoretical analysis based on KKR-CPA calculations. Additionally, plasma nitriding induced high surface porosity; however, micropillar compression testing combined with nanoindentation revealed localized areas with significant hardness. A substantial reduction in the coefficient of friction was also observed. These findings not only provide deeper insights into the nitriding process of complex alloys, like dual-phase HEAs, but also hold promise for further exploration in the manufacturing of super-hard surfaces with high-entropy nitrides, enhancing mechanical properties for applications in harsh environments.

In this work, a method to increase the dispersion of graphene (GN) in the matrix of rigid poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) by using a natural plant extract from Curcuma longa L. (CE) is proposed. Currently, despite the increasing number of reports on the improvement of GN dispersion in PVC blends, still there is a need to find environmentally friendly and economical dispersion stabilizers. We proposed a stabilizer that can be easily obtained from a plant offering thermal stability and high effectiveness. PVC/GN nanocomposites stabilized with the proposed extract were investigated by SEM, AFM (structure), TGA, and Congo red test (thermal properties). Additionally, static and dynamic mechanical properties and electrical resistivity were measured. The use of CE as a graphene dispersant improved its dispersion in the PVC matrix, influenced tensile properties, increased the storage modulus and glass transition temperature, and extended the thermal stability time of nanocomposites. In this work, a CE extract is proposed as an efficient eco-friendly additive for the production of nanocomposites with an improved homogeneity of a nanofiller in the matrix and promising characteristics.

Microfluidic‐Driven Lipid Nanoparticles for miRNA Delivery miRNA cell transfection faces critical challenges, including limited tissue‐specific delivery, unintended gene regulation, and the risk of immune activation. Beyond selecting an appropriate delivery vehicle, post‐processing techniques are equally important for ensuring efficient and safe intracellular delivery of miRNA. The cover illustrates how microfluidically produced lipid nanoparticles are shaped and their influence on biological performance and cellular fate by navigating the endo‐lysosomal pathway. More details can be found in the Research Article by Filippo Pierini and co‐workers (DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/advs.202519225).

In this paper, small-scale testing techniques—nanoindentation and micropillar compression—were used to investigate the deformation mechanisms, size effects, and strain rate sensitivity of (100) and (110) single-crystal Gum Metal at the micro/nanoscale. It was observed that the (100) orientation exhibits a significant size effect, resulting in hardness values ranging from 1 to 5 GPa. Conversely, for the (110) orientation, this effect was weaker. Furthermore, the yield strength obtained from the micropillar compression tests was approximately 740 MPa for the (100) orientation and 650 MPa for the (110) orientation. The observed deformations were consistent with the established features of the deformation behavior of body-centered cubic (bcc) alloys: significant strain rate sensitivity with no depth dependence, pile-up patterns comparable to those reported in the literature, and shear along the 112  slip directions. However, the investigated material also exhibited Gum Metal-like high ductility, a relatively low modulus of elasticity, and high yield strength, which distinguishes it from classic bcc alloys.