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Gdańsk University of Technology

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  • Modeling 5G-NR-Based Positioning Accuracy in Urban Environments
    • Piotr Rajchowski
    • Luis M. Correia
    • Pedro Tareco
    • Krzysztof Cwalina
    2025 IEEE Access

    Modeling phenomena influencing radiocommunication networks, such as 5G-NR, is a key aspect during their development and further optimization. In this paper, one proposes a model, for three different scenario types in urban environments, for user localization accuracy. The model is supported by measurements of real 5G-NR downlink signals carried out in three different urban environments, corresponding to the typical user localization. The main goal of the paper is to present a model for estimating the relation between the environment type, i.e., its statistical parameters, and the estimated localization accuracy in outdoor, light-indoor and deep-indoor environments. Results show that the localization accuracy may degrade from 5 to 295 m when the localization process is performed, just by moving the terminal from outside a building to its inside. This can make the localization service invalid, not only from a user-related perspective but also as a method to adjust beamforming parameters in downlink.

  • Modeling of damage interaction due to uniaxial creep and subsequent LCF pure torsional loading
    • Adam Tomczyk
    • Andrzej Seweryn
    2025 ENGINEERING FAILURE ANALYSIS

    This paper presents experimental results of creep-rupture, preliminary creep and low-cycle torsional fatigue of 2024 aluminum alloy. It analyzes the effect of pre-deformation on fatigue life under pure, cyclic torsion loading conditions. Two different pre-deformation levels were considered in the creep process at 200 ◦C and 300 ◦C. A significant influence of creep predeformation on the cyclic properties of the tested material was obtained. This influence was characterized by, above all, improvement of fatigue life (during strain-controlled loading) of predeformed material in the case of large plastic strains. Two damage accumulation models were presented on the basis of these experimental test results. One makes it possible to determine the material’s damage state in the axial creep process. The other allows for predicting of fatigue life under low-cycle torsion conditions for the as-received material and material with different creep pre-deformation histories.

  • Modeling of microstructure evolution during high-temperature oxidation of porous Fe-Cr steels
    • Samih Haj Ibrahim
    • Damian Koszelow
    • Małgorzata Makowska
    • Sebastian Molin
    2025 MATERIALS & DESIGN

    Research on the high-temperature oxidation of metals and alloys is experimentally challenging due to the requirement for long-term corrosion exposure, and in the case of porous alloys, due to their complex internal microstructure. In this study, a corrosion model based on the morphological operations of dilation and erosion has been developed. This approach allows for a utilization of various raster representations of the microstructure as input to investigate the microstructure evolution of porous alloys during the corrosion process. Herein, porous microstructures of the porous Fe-Cr steels obtained from SEM imaging, X-ray tomography, and artificial 3D models generated with the use of Generative Adversarial Networks were used as test cases. The obtained results demonstrated high compliance with the experimental evaluation of porosity evolution and chromium content decrease during oxidation at 700 °C for 3000 h. Additionally, new material microstructures were studied and the influence of initial porosity on the chromium content depletion and alloy lifetime during long-term oxidation was revealed.

  • Modeling the effect of external load variations on single, serie and parallel connected microbial fuel cells
    • Szymon Potrykus
    • Janusz Nieznański
    • Filip Kutt
    • Francisco-Jesus Fernandez-Morales
    2025 BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY

    This paper presents a microbial fuel cell (MFC) model designed to analyze the effect of the external load on MFC performance. The model takes into account the voltage and the chemical oxygen demand (COD) dependence on the external load. The value of the model parameters were calibrated by means of the voltage relaxation method tests using a controlled load current. Laboratory measurements and MATLAB Simulink model computations were used to validate the proposed model. The tests results demonstrated that the proposed model accurately predicts the voltage and COD evolution during the batch cycle of the MFC. The root mean square error (RMSE) was used to assess the fitting goodness of the model. The RMSE of COD and voltage generation was in all the cases lower than 4%, predicting accurately the behaviour of single MFC as well as MFC connected in series or parallel.

  • Monitoring of absorptive model biogas purification process using sensor matrices and gas chromatography
    • Edyta Słupek
    • Dominik Dobrzyniewski
    • Patrycja Makoś-Chełstowska
    • Bartosz Szulczyński
    • Jacek Gębicki
    2025 MEASUREMENT

    This study examined the process of purifying model biogas using a new type of absorbent based on a Deep Eutectic Solvent (DES) and a commercially available absorbent (Genosorb) to remove acetone, toluene, and cyclohexane. The main aim of the research was to control the purification efficiency using gas chromatography (GC) and an alternative method based on sensor matrices (SM). As a result of comparing the multidimensional SM signals with the GC result, the lowest difference between SM and GC (3.69%) was achieved with the DES. When using Genosorb, the differences between the methods were slightly more pronounced, reaching 10.26%. The studies also confirmed that SM results showed significant agreement, accuracy, precision, and equivalence compared to GC results. Nowadays, the literature has not reported this issue. The presented research fills the current gap in the literature and contributes to the development of knowledge in the practical application of SM.

  • Morse homology for the Hamiltonian action in cotangent bundles
    • Luca Asselle
    • Maciej Starostka
    2025 CALCULUS OF VARIATIONS AND PARTIAL DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS

    In this paper we use the gradient flow equation introduced in Asselle and Starostka (Calc. Var. 59: 113, 2020) to construct a Morse complex for the Hamiltonian action AH on a mixed regularity space of loops in the cotangent bundle T ∗M of a closed manifold M. Connections between pairs of critical points are realized as genuine intersections between unstable and stable manifolds, which (despite being infinite dimensional objects) turn out to have finite dimensional intersection with good compactness properties. This follows from the existence of an additional structure, namely a strongly integrable (0)-essential subbundle, which behaves nicely under the negative gradient flow of the Hamiltonian action and which is needed to make comparisons. Transversality is achieved by generically perturbing the negative gradient vector field −∇AH of the Hamiltonian action within a class of pseudogradient vector fields preserving all good compactness properties of −∇AH . This follows from an abstract transversality result of independent interest for vector fields on a Hilbert manifold for which stable and unstable manifolds of rest points are infinite dimensional. The resulting Morse homology is independent of the choice of the Hamiltonian (and of all other choices but the choice of the (0)-essential subbundle, which however only changes the Morse-complex by a shift of the indices) and is isomorphic to the Floer homology of T ∗M as well as to the singular homology of the free loop space of M.

  • Multimodal Augmented Reality System for Real-Time Roof Type Recognition and Visualization on Mobile Devices
    • Bartosz Kubicki
    • Artur Janowski
    • Adam Inglot
    2025 Applied Sciences-Basel

    The utilization of augmented reality (AR) is becoming increasingly prevalent in the integration of virtual reality (VR) elements into the tangible reality of the physical world. It facilitates a more straightforward comprehension of the interconnections, interdependencies, and spatial context of data. Furthermore, the presentation of analyses and the combination of spatial data with annotated data are facilitated. This is particularly evident in the context of mobile applications, where the combination of real-world and virtual imagery facilitates enhances visualization. This paper presents a proposal for the development of a multimodal system that is capable of identifying roof types in real time and visualizing them in AR on mobile devices. The current approach to roof identification is based on data made available by public administrations in an open-source format, including orthophotos and building contours. Existing computer processing technologies have been employed to generate objects representing the shapes of building masses, and in particular, the shape of roofs, in three-dimensional (3D) space. The system integrates real-time data obtained from multiple sources and is based on a mobile application that enables the precise positioning and detection of the recipient’s viewing direction (pose estimation) in real time. The data were integrated and processed in a Docker container system, which ensured the scalability and security of the solution. The multimodality of the system is designed to enhance the user’s perception of the space and facilitate a more nuanced interpretation of its intricacies. In its present iteration, the system facilitates the extraction and classification/generalization of two categories of roof types (gable and other) from aerial imagery through the utilization of deep learning methodologies. The outcomes achieved suggest considerable promise for the advancement and deployment of the system in domains pertaining to architecture, urban planning, and civil engineering.

  • MXene-based materials as adsorbents, photocatalysts, membranes and sensors for detection and removal of emerging and gaseous pollutants: A comprehensive review
    • Mohammad Hadi Dehghani
    • Nadeem Hussain Solangi
    • Nabisab Mujawar Mubarak
    • Natarajan Rajamohan
    • Subrajit Bosu
    • Amina Othmani
    • Md. Ahmaruzzaman
    • Soumya Ranjan Mishra
    • Baishali Bhattacharjee
    • Vishal Gadore
    • Talib Hussain Banglani
    • Nawab Waris
    • Ali Hyder
    • Ayaz Ali Memon
    • Khalid Hussain Thebo
    • Payal Joshi
    • Grzegorz Boczkaj
    • Rama Rao Karri
    2025 Full text Arabian Journal of Chemistry

    2D materials have garnered significant attention as potential solutions to various environmental challenges. Graphene, molybdenum disulfide, MXenes, and boron nitride have emerged as the most popular candidates among these materials. This article presents a comprehensive review and discussion on the emerging applications of MXenes in environmental engineering. MXenes have demonstrated immense potential as future materials for adsorption purposes. They have proven to be highly effective in removing emerging pollutants (heavy metals and organic pollutants) through the adsorption phenomenon. The effectiveness of MXenes in removing lead (Pb2+), chromium (Cr6+), copper (Cu2+), uranium (U6+), and mercury (Hg2+) has been confirmed, with a sorption capacity ranging from 100 to 250 mg g−1. Furthermore, MXenes have effectively removed several radionuclides, including uranium, europium, strontium, barium, and thorium. MXenes have proven to be highly efficient in treating water through adsorption in emerging organic pollutants, even for various organic dyes such as methylene blue, acid blue, congo red, methyl orange, and rhodamine B (RhB). Additionally, MXenes exhibit high treatment performance in adsorbing several pharmaceuticals like cloxacillin (CLX), ampicillin (AMP), amoxicillin (AMX), ciprofloxacin (CPX), amitriptyline (AMT), verapamil (VRP), carbamazepine (CBM), 17 α-ethinyl estradiol, ibuprofen (IBP), and diclofenac (DCF). Overall, MXenes offer several advantages, such as good conductivity, thermal performance, high surface area, and selectivity of intermolecular interactions. However, their application requires thoroughly evaluating their environmental impact and life cycle assessment.

  • Nano-adsorbent Modification by Deep Eutectic Solvents for Wastewater Treatment Applications
    • Amir Asadi
    • Grzegorz Boczkaj
    • Elaheh Kowsari
    • Seeram Ramakrishna
    2025

    The Greek “εύ” and “τήξις” term is the root of the “eutectic” word that refers to the low melting of mixture. Generally, an eutectic solvent depicts a mixture of components (at least one is in solid phase) that under particular ratios weak molecular interactions allow to obtain a mixture having melting point at a much lower temperature than that of each component (García-Álvarez 2019). Although A. P. Abbott et al. discovered the deep eutectic solvents and provided the fundamental study of DESs, the prominent eutectic mixtures such as honey and syrup have been used in daily life for ages. As it is already known, DESs consist of at least two components that can provide hydrogen-bond interactions (Abbott et al. 2003).

  • Nanoparticle Skin Penetration: Depths and Routes Modeled In-Silico
    • Natsumi Maeda
    • Haixin Jiao
    • Ilona Kłosowska-Chomiczewska
    • Wojciech Artichowicz
    • Ulrich Preiss
    • Patrycja Szumała
    • Adam Macierzanka
    • Christian Jungnickel
    2025 Full text SMALL

    Nanoparticles (NPs) are increasingly explored for targeted skin penetration, particularly for pharmaceutical and cosmetic applications. However, the complex system between NP properties, skin structure, and experimental conditions poses significant challenges in predicting their penetration depth and pathways. To what depth do NPs penetrate the skin, and which pathways do they follow? These are the questions we tried to answer in this paper. To explore this, we developed an in-silico human skin model based on 20 years of literature on NPs skin penetration. The model incorporated 19 independent parameters, including a wide range of NP properties, skin across species, and test conditions. Using random forest analysis coupled with Kennard-Stone sorting, the model achieved a high predictive accuracy of 95%. The study identified hair follicle diameter as the most critical factor influencing NP penetration across skin layers, surpassing other skin properties, NP properties, or experimental variables. Pig and rabbit skin were the most suitable models for simulating human skin in NP penetration studies. Additionally, the in-silico model revealed that NPs in emulsions and oil-based media predominantly followed the intercellular and transappendageal route. In contrast, those embedded in aqueous media favored the intracellular route. These findings offer insights for optimizing NP-based drug delivery systems.

  • Nanotechnology meets radiobiology: Fullerenols and Metallofullerenols as nano-shields in radiotherapy
    • Paulina Kazmierska-grebowska,
    • Maciej Jankowski
    • Elena Obrador
    • Joanna Kolodziejczyk-czepas
    • Grzegorz Litwinienko
    • Jacek Grebowski
    2025 Full text BIOMEDICINE & PHARMACOTHERAPY

    Despite significant advances in the development of radioprotective measures, the clinical application of radioprotectors and radiomitigators remains limited due to insufficient efficacy and high toxicity of most agents. Additionally, in oncological radiotherapy, these compounds may interfere with the therapeutic effectiveness. Recent progress in nanotechnology highlights fullerenols (FulOHs) and metallofullerenols (Me@FulOHs) as promising candidates for next-generation radioprotectors. These nanostructures possess unique antioxidant properties, demonstrating greater efficacy in rediucing oxidative stress compared to conventional agents. Moreover, their potential to minimize pro-oxidative risks depends on the precise identification of cellular environments and irradiation conditions that optimize their radioprotective effects. In parallel, Me@FulOHs serve as powerful theranostic tools in oncology. Their strong imaging signals enable high-resolution PET and MRI, facilitating early detection and accurate localization of pathogenic alterations. This dual functionality positions Me@FulOHs as key components in advanced radiotherapy. By integrating these nanomaterials with modern theranostic approaches, it is possible to enhance the precision of treatment while minimizing side effects, addressing a critical need in contemporary oncology. This review emphasizes the importance of systematic evaluation of context-dependent effects of Me@FulOHs, particularly in pre- and post-irradiation scenarios, to optimize their clinical relevance. The dual role of Me@FulOHs as both radioprotectors and diagnostic agents distinguishes them from traditional compounds, paving the way for innovative practical applications. Their use in radiotherapy represents a significant step toward the development of safer and more effective strategies in radiation protection and cancer treatment. We also review ionizing radiation effects, classifications, cancer radiotherapy applications, and countermeasures.

  • Net-zero policy and forward default risk in the energy sector:Evidence of corporate environmentalism using (a)symmetricmodels
    • Muhammad Mushafiq
    • Błażej Prusak
    • Nicholas Apergis
    2025 Business Strategy and the Environment

    This study aims to examine the impact of the net-zero policy on forward default risk atthe firm level within the energy sector of the US, spanning over the period 2007–2021.The research employs Panel Vector Autoregression (PVAR) modeling, as well as linearand non-linear Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) models to investigate this rela-tionship. The findings suggest that the implementation of net-zero policy measures canhave complex effects on firms' default risk in both the short and long run. The PVARresults confirm a unidirectional negative impact of net-zero policies on forward defaultrisk over 2, 3, and 5 years. The symmetric ARDL model results show a negative long-runimpact on the future probability of default, with short-run impacts being positive acrossall time horizons. The asymmetric ARDL model findings indicate that positive net-zeromeasures reduce the probability of default in the long run and increase it in the shortrun across all time horizons. Conversely, negative shocks of net-zero measures lead toan increase in the forward probability of default in the long run. The differences in find-ings between the long and short run are attributed to the effects of capital expenditureson infrastructure expenses required to achieve net-zero results. This study contributesto the literature on financial outcomes and the impact of adopting sustainable develop-ment and net-zero goals. The policy implications suggest that a supportive institutionalframework must be provided to reduce the financial default in energy sector firms,which will assist in capital and infrastructure expenditures in the short run.

  • Neutral pH, multioxidants Fenton oxidation of dimethyl sulfoxide and acetamidophenol as water pollutant models
    • Aswin Kottapurath Vijay
    • Gifty Sara Rolly
    • Vered Marks
    • Virender K. Sharma
    • Dan Meyerstein
    2025 Full text Environmental Chemistry Letters

    Organic water pollution is calling for advanced remediation methods such as the Fenton process, yet actual procedures involve transition metals at acidic pH, and generate only one oxidant, the hydroxyl radical. Here we used a solution of magnesium ions, bicarbonate ions, and hydrogen peroxide at pH 7.4 to generate reactive oxygen species for degrading dimethyl sulfoxide and acetamidophenol, as models of water pollutants. The performance and the identifcation of degradation products were assessed by nuclear magnetic resonance and high-performance liquid chromatography. Results show the generation of several oxidizing agents such as hydroxyl radical, carbonate anion radical, and superoxide. The novel aspect is that the Fenton-like process can be achieved with Mg2 ⁺ serving only as a template to facilitate redox reactions rather than participating directly. The mechanisms for generating oxidizing radicals suggests potential applications in both environmental cleanup and biological processes.

  • New insight into selective catalytic reduction of nitrogen oxides on zirconia decorated with vanadium oxide
    • Katarzyna Siwińska-Ciesielczyk
    • Aleksandra Dudzińska
    • Bogdan Samojeden
    • Zuzanna Bielan
    • Anna Zielińska-Jurek
    • Mietek Jaroniec
    • Teofil Jesionowski
    2025 COLLOIDS AND SURFACES A-PHYSICOCHEMICAL AND ENGINEERING ASPECTS

    Solvothermal synthesis of zirconia decorated with vanadium oxide is investigated with the aim of using it in the catalytic conversion of nitrogen oxides. The effect of the mass ratio of vanadium (1.9; 3.8 and 5.7 wt%) to pure zirconia on the physicochemical and catalytic properties of the fabricated materials is demonstrated. The physicochemical characterization of catalysts indicates a slight reduction in the size of particles as well as an improvement in the textural properties with increasing mass of vanadium. The X-Ray diffraction analysis proves that the introduction of vanadium precursor inhibits crystallization of monoclinic zirconia and leads to the formation of different vanadium oxide moieties. The reported data on the selective catalytic reduction prove that zirconia catalysts decorated with vanadium mass ratio of 3.8 wt% and 5.7 wt% achieved the highest conversion of nitrogen oxides, reaching 80 % in the temperature range 480–520 ◦C. The obtained results suggest that in the fabricated catalysts, V2O5 species are the main active sites for the SCR-NH3 reaction process.

  • New insights into structural, optical, electrical and thermoelectric behavior of Na0.5Bi0.5TiO3 single crystals
    • G. Jagło
    • Kamila Kluczewska-Chmielarz
    • J. Suchanicz
    • A. Kruk
    • A. Kania
    • D. Sitko
    • M. Nowakowska-Malczyk
    • Marcin Łapiński
    • G. Stachowski
    2025 Full text Scientific Reports

    The single crystals of lead-free Na0.5Bi0.5TiO3 were grown using the Czochralski method. The energy gaps determined from X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and optical measurements were approximately 2.92 eV. The current-voltage characteristics, depolarization current, dc (σdc) and ac (σac) electrical conductivity, and Seebeck coefficient of the crystals were investigated. The frequency/temperature-dependent electrical properties were also measured and analyzed through complex impedance spectroscopy. An overlapping reversible insulator-metal transition (resistive switching) on nanoscales, caused by the electric field, was detected. Most of these properties were measured for the first time. The activation energy values determined from the conductivity data, the imaginary part of the electric impedance and the modulus indicate that the relaxation process in the high-temperature range is attributable to both single and double ionized oxygen vacancies, in combination with the hopping of electrons between Ti4+ and Ti3+. P-type electrical conductivity was also found. These discoveries create new possibilities of reducing the electrical conductivity of NBT and improving the process of effectively poling this material. Our results indicate the possibility of tuning the material properties by intentionally creating non-stoichiometry/structural defects (oxygen vacancies, cation excess and cation deficiency).

  • Noisy (Binary) Searching: Simple, Fast and Correct
    • Dariusz Dereniowski
    • Aleksander Łukasiewicz
    • Przemysław Uznański
    2025

    This work considers the problem of the noisy binary search in a sorted array. The noise is modeled by a parameter p that dictates that a comparison can be incorrect with probability p, independently of other queries. We state two types of upper bounds on the number of queries: the worst-case and expected query complexity scenarios. The bounds improve the ones known to date, i.e., our algorithms require fewer queries. Additionally, they have simpler statements, and work for the full range of parameters. All query complexities for the expected query scenarios are tight up to lower order terms. For the problem where the target prior is uniform over all possible inputs, we provide an algorithm with expected complexity upperbounded by (log₂ n + log₂ δ^{-1} + 3)/I(p), where n is the domain size, 0 ≤ p < 1/2 is the noise ratio, and δ > 0 is the failure probability, and I(p) is the information gain function. As a side-effect, we close some correctness issues regarding previous work. Also, en route, we obtain new and improved query complexities for the search generalized to arbitrary graphs. This paper continues and improves the lines of research of Burnashev-Zigangirov [Prob. Per. Informatsii, 1974], Ben-Or and Hassidim [FOCS 2008], Gu and Xu [STOC 2023], and Emamjomeh-Zadeh et al. [STOC 2016], Dereniowski et al. [SOSA@SODA 2019].

  • Nowy algorytm: alfa max i beta min
    • Robert Smyk
    • Maciej Czyżak
    2025 Full text Przegląd Elektrotechniczny

    . In this paper we present an improved version of alpha max plus beta min algorithm. We have proposed a new algorithm for approximating the alpha max and beta min coefficients. This leads to less complex algorithm formulas. Hardware architecture of alpha max plus beta min algorithm is also presented and analyzed.

  • Numerical Simulation of Light to Heat Conversion by Plasmonic Nanoheaters
    • Maria Nevárez Martínez
    • Dominik Kreft
    • Maciej Grzegorczyk
    • Sebastian Mahlik
    • Narajczyk Magdalena
    • Adriana Zaleska-Medynska
    • P. Demosthenes Morales
    • Jennifer Hollingsworth
    • James Werner
    2025 Full text NANO LETTERS

    Plasmonic nanoparticles are widely recognized as photothermal conversion agents, i.e., nanotransducers or nanoheaters. Translation of these materials into practical applications requires quantitative analyses of their photothermal conversion efficiencies (η). However, the value of η obtained for different materials is dramatically influenced by the experimental setup and method of calculation. Here, we evaluate the most common methods for estimating η (Roper’s and Wang’s) and compare these with numerical estimates using the simulation software ANSYS. Experiments were performed with colloidal gold nanorod solutions suspended in a hanging droplet irradiated by an 808 nm diode laser and monitored by a thermal camera. The ANSYS simulations accounted for both heating and evaporation, providing η values consistent with the Wang method but higher than the Roper approach. This study details methods for estimating the photothermal efficiency and finds ANSYS to be a robust tool where experimental constraints complicate traditional methods.

  • On a fully three-dimensional bending analysis of very thick smart composite cube-like bulk structures
    • Mohammad Malikan
    • Shahriar Dastjerdi
    • Victor Eremeev
    • Mehran Kadkhodayan
    2025 Full text COMPOSITE STRUCTURES

    Here we discuss the behaviour of very thick composite plates considering electro-magneto-elastic coupling of various types using fully three-dimensional (3D) kinematics. Published research highlights a lack of studies on the 3D mechanics of smart composite plates that integrate both higher-order (flexoelectric/flexomagnetic) and lower-order (piezoelectric/piezomagnetic) multiple physical fields (electro-magneto-elastic). The common approach to achieving the targeted and desired mechanical behavior within such composites could involve using structural elements. This gap can potentially be addressed by amalgamating the term ∂/∂z with the 2D governing equations of plates. This expression indicates alterations in thickness, in which z is the coordinate dedicated to the thickness. The governing equations can be created by operating on the variational method which enables us to establish and settle the 3D bending equations of the bulk structure. The pointed-out equations have been influenced by the implementation of additional hypotheses, such as von Kármán’s strain and complicated 3D tensor relations. Inserting the term ∂/∂z into the mathematical model renders that the analytical solution techniques are unable to assist us in obtaining numerical results. Consequently, a semi-analytical solving method grounded on the polynomial phrases facilitates the acquisition of the required solution. This fully 3D bending study of very thick piezocomposite cube-like bulk structures (CBS) can be an original reference in the field of mechanics of intelligent plate-like structures.

  • On nonlinear 3D electro-elastic numerical modeling of two-phase inhomogeneous FG piezocomposites reinforced with GNPs
    • Mohammad Malikan
    • Shahriar Dastjerdi
    • Magdalena Rucka
    • Mehran Kadkhodayan
    2025 Full text INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENGINEERING SCIENCE

    The novelty here comes from not only the perfect nonlinear three-dimensional (3D) electro-elasticity investigation but also the mixed material itself. The literature widely showed mechanical assessments on the piezoelectric structures; however, a lack of nonlinear three-dimensional elasticity studies has been witnessed on these kinds of smart materials. Therefore, a nonlinear 3D elasticity-piezoelectricity coupling is considered in this study. What is more, this research brings about an era in the field of sensing manufacturing such as sensors and actuators by proposing the construction of these devices in an advanced composite framework. The piezoelectric medium can be electro-mechanically improved with the aggregation of graphene platelets/nanoplatelets (GPLs/GNPs) based on the functionally graded (FG) composition. The assumption for such a smart composite has been made to provide higher flexibility smart tools while their elastic strength can also get further. To accomplish this, the derivation of a rigorous mathematical model has come out for a transversely isotropic inhomogeneous FG-piezoelectric beam-like sensor/actuator using 3D kinematic displacements, geometrically nonlinear strains, Lagrange technique, 3D stress-strains tensors, linear elastic material, and in particular Halpin-Tsai micro-mechanic model. Numerical modeling has been built by the generalized differential quadrature (GDQ) technique. A comprehensive parametric study has also been established for intelligent FG beams.

  • On the use of black tea waste as a functional filler for manufacturing self-stabilizing polyethylene composites: In-depth thermal analysis
    • Joanna Aniśko-Michalak
    • Paulina Kosmela
    • Mateusz Barczewski
    2025 INDUSTRIAL CROPS AND PRODUCTS

    Thermal and oxidative stabilization are critical aspects in the processing and exploitation of polyolefins. Black tea contains many natural antioxidants, the largest group of compounds in its composition. When used as a filler for composite manufacturing, the thermo-oxidation process of polyethylene can be slowed down. Black tea waste (BTW) generated during the process of packing tea into sachets was introduced into a bio-based low-density polyethylene (LDPE) as a filler. The composites containing 1, 2, 5, and 10 wt% were produced by melt extrusion. In order to assess the antioxidant capacity of the used filler, an analysis was carried out using the DPPH solution on both the filler extracts and the produced composites. The total phenolic content and total flavonoid content analysis were also carried out on black tea waste extracts. Thermogravimetric analysis of composites was held in an inert and oxidative atmosphere, and data from the test in a nitrogen atmosphere was used to calculate degradation kinetics. The composites were also evaluated in terms of their thermal behavior by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) to describe their crystallization process and oxidation induction time (OIT) to confirm stabilization effects caused by functional waste fillers on polyethylene. Adding 10 wt% of black tea waste elongates OIT nearly 36 times compared to LDPE. The thermo-oxidation process was also conducted at 90 °C for 1, 2, 4, 7, 11 and 15 days. The composites aged this way were subjected to the FTIR test. Thanks to this study, the carbonyl index (CI) was determined, which showed that adding tea waste limits the oxidation of polyethylene.

  • On three-dimensional dynamics of smart rotating micro-disks
    • Shahriar Dastjerdi
    • Mohammad Malikan
    • Masoud Tahani
    • Mehran Kadkhodayan
    • Amir Ameli
    2025 INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENGINEERING SCIENCE

    In this paper, three-dimensional (3D) dynamic analysis of a rotational smart piezomagnetic-flexomagnetic (PFM) multi-functional micro-disk has been investigated. In the mathematical modeling, an attempt has been made to develop a wide range of factors influencing the analyzed structure, which is intended to be used as a micro-sensor/actuator. The investigated smart micro-disk could have many sensitive and accurate applications, especially in the aerospace industry. The geometry is assumed to be an annular microscale structure. Flexomagnetic property, observable on the small scale, has been considered for the material of the analyzed disk, and is one of the principal factors influencing the present research. Due to the angular rotation of the annular micro-disk, it is possible to control the sensing process in delicate conditions, particularly in environments influenced by microgravity. A comprehensive dynamic simulation is performed according to the 3D elasticity, then the governing equations of the smart micro-disk are extracted using the energy method. The effect of several parameters on the numerical results has been thoroughly examined. The deformation results, based on the piezo-flexomagnetic effect of the analyzed structure, have been obtained, enabling the design of precise sensors/actuators for advanced technological applications. The presented theoretical model offers a suitable approach for extending experimental tasks. It should be noted that the equations presented in this paper are original and can serve as a benchmark reference in this field. In conclusion, we found that there is a direct link between the rotational speed of the micro-disk and the surrounding magnetic field, and high angular velocities can impede the influence of the magnetic-induced mechanical load.

  • On-site medical wastewater treatment enabling sustainable water reclamation: Merged advanced oxidation process for disinfection, toxicity, and contaminants removal
    • Emilia Bączkowska
    • Mattia Pierpaoli
    • Filip Gamoń
    • Aneta Łuczkiewicz
    • Sylwia Fudala-Książek
    • Rafał Bray
    • Małgorzata Szopińska
    2025 Journal of Water Process Engineering

    Due to increasingly scarce water resources worldwide, their reclamation is essential. Therefore, the water sector explores solutions that comply with EU requirements for water reuse. Wastewater advance oxidation processes (AOPs) are promising methods to increase the circular economy in the water sector. This investigation evaluated the combination of two different AOPs – electrolysis (EO) using boron diamond doped electrodes, and ozonation (O3) – for medical wastewater (MWW) treatment. MWWs are rich with pharmaceuticals and personal care products at the level of μgL− 1 . The synergistic effect of EO-O3 under the studied parameters is most visible in the disinfection process, which led to 99.99 % of E. coli and Enterococcus spp. bacteria deactivation within 2 h of the process, which was not observed in the single process (EO or O3) under the same settings. The positive effect of the combined AOPs method in terms of metoprolol, sulfamethoxazole and acetaminophen is visible in the removal of 99.4 %, 99.4 % and 99.5 %, respectively. This work shows that the EO-O3 process enhances disinfection potential and reduces environmental risk and wastewater toxicity compared to ozonation and electrolysis alone. The strength of AOPs increases when modules are combined, enabling proper adjustment of parameters based on the initial load of pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) (fit-for-purpose). However, to ensure the safe reuse of treated wastewater, it is still essential to evaluate the presence of PPCPs’ transformation products, enabling sustainable water reclamation and supporting climate change mitigation, particularly in remote areas.

  • Opposite effect of the Cu photodeposition on the ∙OH generation and diclofenac degradation depends on the exposed anatase facet
    • Szymon Dudziak
    • Jakub Smoliński
    • Adam Ostrowski
    • Aleksandra Szkudlarek
    • Mateusz Marzec
    • Krystian Sokołowski
    • Karol Sikora
    • Anna Zielińska-Jurek
    2025 Full text CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL

    Exposition of a specific crystal facets and modification with co-catalysts are often used in order to improve photocatalytic activity of a material. However, considering complexity of these interactions, it is still challenging to fully understand and predict activity of a specific system. Here, we report combination of the {0 0 1} and {1 0 1} crystal facets of anatase TiO2 with CuXO co-catalyst, applied for diclofenac degradation, ∙OH generation and 4-nitrophenol reduction. Interestingly, we observed opposite effect of Cu for ∙OH generation and DCF degradation, with clear enhancement of the activity observed only for the {0 0 1} facets. EPR measurements further proved that for the most active material in this series, Cu exist as an atomically-scattered Cu2+ species at the surface, achieved as the result of high surface development and high adsorption energy (from DFT). Based on the absorbance measurements and XPS analysis, these species are shown to be further reduced to Cu2O during degradation process. Compared to this, all other systems ({1 0 1} and all results for nitrophenol) showed reduction of the activity due to the CuXO presence. In this regard, CuXO cannot be seen as an universal reduction co-catalyst for TiO2, with final effect being clearly dependent on exposed facet and reaction. This is despite TiO2/CuXO was found to form analogical, well-known Z-scheme junction in case of both surfaces. Ultimately, we showed that specifically {0 0 1} with CuXO make highly synergistic combination for ROS generation.

  • Optimal bandgap of a single-junction photovoltaic cell for the mobile Internet-of-Things
    • Grażyna Jarosz
    • Ryszard Signerski
    2025 iScience

    The procedure for determining the maximum power of a single-junction photovoltaic cell operating in various types of lighting is presented. This is a key issue for photovoltaics powering the mobile Internet-of-Things (IoTs). The simulations performed are based on the detailed balance principle, without any of simplifying assumptions included in the Shockley-Queisser model. Optimal energy bandgap for diffuse solar light was found to be 1.64 eV with a cutoff generated power of 37.3 W/m2. For the LED lighting considered in this work, the optimal energy bandgap and maximum power limit are 1.86 eV, 1.63 W/m2 and 1.79 eV, 1.51 W/m2 for cool and warm lighting, respectively, at 900 lux. Considering that the maximum power limit of diffuse solar radiation is much higher than the limit for LED lighting, we concluded that 1.64 eV is the optimal bandgap for most mobile IoT devices operating outdoors all or almost all the time.

  • Optimization of constitutive law for objective numerical modeling of knitted fabric
    • Agnieszka Tomaszewska
    • Daniil Reznikov
    2025 JOURNAL OF THE MECHANICS AND PHYSICS OF SOLIDS

    This paper discusses the problem of macroscopic modeling a knitted technical fabric with the aim to determine a constitutive law for adequately modeling the material response under real-life load. As phenomenological, hyperelastic material laws reveal different parameters due to different test modalities used to identify such parameters, an optimization scheme is proposed to determine an objective solution. The study is conducted for three medical textiles which are differentiated by anisotropy ratios and designed to cover abdominal hernia. The optimization parameters are defined by a constitutive law and the bi-axial test modality. State variables are taken from ex-vivo reference tests on ‘operated’ hernia models subjected to simulated real-life loads generated by post-operative coughs. The objective function is different for isotropic and anisotropic mesh. However, in both cases a numerical model of a mesh placed in the abdominal wall with different variants of the constitutive law is used. The model is constructed according to the finite element method framework. The objective function for isotropic mesh is defined by the variance of reaction forces in mesh fixation points, calculated in the numerical model, while for anisotropic mesh, it is generated by the difference between angles which determine the position of maximal reaction force in the numerical and experimental reference models. Three constitutive laws and five modalities of bi-axial tests are considered. This analysis proves the need for a constitutive model, itself validated by a suitable reference test, instead of an arbitrary decision on bi-axial test modality selected to identify the material law parameters. These conclusions may help to increase the reliability of numerical modeling of operated hernia and increase the effectiveness of hernia treatment

  • Optimization of Hydrogen Utilization and Process Efficiency in the Direct Reduction of Iron Oxide Pellets: A Comprehensive Analysis of Processing Parameters and Pellet Composition
    • Angelo Perrone
    • Pasquale Cavaliere
    • Behzad Sadeghi
    • Leandro Dijon
    • Aleksandra Mirowska
    2025 Full text STEEL RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL

    The article deals with the H2 consumption for different processing conditions and the composition of the processed pellets during the direct reduction process. The experiments are carried out at 600–1300 °C, with gas pressures of 1–5 bar, gas flow rates of 1–5 L min−1, and basicity indices of 0 to 2.15. Pellets with different compositions of TiO2, Al2O3, CaO, and SiO2 are analyzed. The gas flow rate is crucial, with 0–10 L min−1 leading to an H2 consumption of 0–5.1 kg H2/kg pellet. The gas pressure (0–10 bar) increases the H2 consumption from 0 to 5.1 kg H2/kg pellet. Higher temperatures (600–1300 °C) reduce H2 consumption from 5.1 to 0 kg H2/kg pellet, most efficiently at 950–1050 °C, where it decreases from 0.22 to 0.10 kg H2/kg pellet. An increase in TiO2 content from 0% to 0.92% lowers H2 consumption from 0.22 to 0.10 kg H2/kg pellet, while a higher Fe content (61–67.5%) also reduces it. An increase in SiO2 content from 0% to 3% increases H2 consumption from 0 to 5.1 kg H2/kg pellet. Porosity structure influences H2 consumption, with the average pore size decreasing from 2.83 to 0.436 mm with increasing TiO2 content, suggesting that micropores increase H2 consumption and macropores decrease it.

  • Optimizing conductivity in Na-V-Te-O glass through controlled heat treatment
    • Michalina Wanat
    • Piotr Okoczuk
    • Marcin Łapiński
    • Barbara Kościelska
    • Stefania Wolff
    • Sharafat Ali
    • Natalia Wójcik
    2025 CERAMICS INTERNATIONAL

    Semiconducting Na2O-V2O5-TeO2 glasses with various Na2O contents were melted and subjected to controlled heating to improve conductivity. Topography analysis were performed using confocal microscopy and scanning electron microscopy on both as-quenched and heat-treated samples. X-ray diffraction confirmed the amorphous nature of the samples post-melting, with subsequent heating resulting in the formation of nanocrystallites primarily composed of vanadium ions. The Na2O addition caused progressive depolymerization of the tellurite-vanadate network, as evidenced by IR spectroscopy, although heating exhibited an opposing effect, particularly noticeable in vanadate-related bands. Thermal properties revealing a decrease in the glass transition temperature, crystallization process, and thermal stability with increasing sodium ion concentration. Electrical properties were investigated using impedance spectroscopy, which enabled determination of DC conductivity values, polaron jump energies, and disturbance energies in the samples. The electrical conductivity mechanisms were described as mixed ionic-polaronic, with polaron hopping predominating. Heat treatment significantly enhanced polaron conductivity and altered its nature.

  • Optimizing electrochemical removal of perfluorooctanoic acid in landfill leachate using ceramic carbon foam electrodes by coupling CFD simulation and reactor design
    • Mattia Pierpaoli
    • Paweł Jakóbczyk
    • Małgorzata Szopińska
    • Jacek Ryl
    • Chiara Giosué
    • Maciej Wróbel
    • Gabriel Strugała
    • Aneta Łuczkiewicz
    • Sylwia Fudala-Książek
    • Robert Bogdanowicz
    2025 Full text CHEMOSPHERE

    Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), a persistent and bioaccumulative pollutant classified as a 'forever chemical', poses a global environmental and health risk due to its widespread use and resistance to degradation. The development of effective and efficient removal technologies is crucial to mitigate its long-term impacts. In this study, we present a novel approach to address the growing concern of emerging contaminants, particularly PFOA, in landfill leachate. We investigate the use of ceramic carbon foam electrodes (CCFE) as a cost-effective and efficient alternative to traditional electrode materials for the electrochemical degradation of PFOA. Computed microtomography was used to reconstruct the actual three-dimensional geometries of the samples from which porosities were calculated. We also coupled computational fluid dynamics simulations of the actual geometries and optimized the working conditions to minimize pressure drop and improve treatment efficiency. Our design significantly reduces energy requirements by operating at lower potentials, a critical factor in sustainable waste management practices. The optimized CCFE system demonstrated superior performance in the degradation of PFOA in landfill leachate, offering a promising solution for the treatment of emerging contaminants. This study not only provides a viable method for mitigating the environmental impact of PFOA but also sets a precedent for the development of low-energy, high-efficiency treatment technologies for various persistent pollutants. In addition, the proposed solution, as part of closed-loop water systems, will enhance water reuse and recycling, thereby preserving and regenerating natural water bodies.

  • Optimizing nature-based solutions for urban flood risk mitigation: A multi-objective genetic algorithm approach in Gdańsk, Poland
    • Anahita Azadgar
    • Artur Gańcza
    • Sina Razzaghi Asl
    • Stefano Salata
    • Lucyna Nyka
    2025 SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT

    Nature-based Solutions (NbS) have emerged as a sustainable approach to managing flood risks by enhancing natural water retention and reducing surface runoff in urban areas. As climate change and rapid urbanization exacerbate flood hazards, optimizing the spatial deployment of NbS is crucial for improving urban resilience and mitigating flood impacts. This study presents a comprehensive optimization framework for the spatial allocation of fourteen different NbS types aimed at mitigating urban flood risks in Gdańsk, Poland. Leveraging a genetic algorithm alongside the Urban Flood Risk Mitigation (UFRM) model of the Integrated Valuation of Ecosystem Services and Tradeoffs (InVEST) software suite, we identified areas of the city most vulnerable to pluvial flooding and optimized NbS placement to maximize water retention and reduce runoff. The optimization process balanced multiple objectives, including minimizing implementation costs and maximizing water retention capacity, ensuring that the solutions are both economically feasible and environmentally effective. Three distinct scenarios were proposed: a cost-effective solution, a high-retention solution, and a balanced solution, offering urban planners a range of strategies to address flood risks based on their specific priorities and constraints. Results demonstrated considerable variations in water retention effectiveness across different NbS configurations, with denser urban regions showing the most significant improvements from targeted interventions. The optimized placement of NbS resulted in estimated total water retention improvement of approximately 15.5 % for the best solution considered. These findings provide valuable insights for integrating NbS into urban flood management strategies, enhancing citywide resilience, sustainability, and long-term flood mitigation.

  • Paving the way for green cross-linker substances for the fabrication of polymer membranes — a review
    • Roberto Castro Munoz
    • Grzegorz Boczkaj
    2025 Current Opinion in Chemical Engineering

    Chemical cross-linking in membrane fabrication aims to face limitations of polymer membranes, including poor chemical resistance, low mechanical stability, swelling, etc. Typical cross-linkers do not fit green chemistry and sustainable principles due to their toxicity. Thus, this article discusses the successful application of green cross-linkers (including organic acids — citric, gallic, ferulic, and tannic acid, calcium chloride, deep eutectic solvents, pectin) and less toxic substances in polymer membranes (including biopolymeric ones based on chitosan or cellulose) fabrication. This article also mentions how to make it ‘greener’. Important areas for these developments include food biopackaging materials, 3D printing materials, and biomedical items.

  • Performance assessment of disposable carbon-based immunosensors for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 infections
    • Olga L. Agudelo
    • Vanessa Reyes-Loaiza
    • Lina Giraldo-Parra
    • Mariana Rosales-Chilama
    • Sammy Perdomo
    • María Adelaida Gómez
    • John W. Rodriguez
    • Viviana Ortega
    • Carlos F. Daza Rivera
    • Diana Galindo
    • Drochss P. Valencia
    • Mauricio Quimbaya
    • Simón Plata
    • Robert Bogdanowicz
    • Fernando Rosso
    • Andres Jaramillo-Botero
    2025 Scientific Reports

    We designed, developed, and clinically tested two rapid antigen-based immunosensors for SARS-CoV-2 detection, enabling diagnosis and viral load quantification for under USD $2. In a first clinical study, a screen-printed disposable carbon-based (SPC) sensor was assessed on prospectively recruited adult participants classified into three study groups: healthy donors (n = 46); SARS-CoV-2-infected symptomatic patients (n = 58); and co-habitants of patients without prior testing (n = 38). Nasopharyngeal aspirates (NA), oropharyngeal swabs (OS), and saliva (SA) samples were obtained from all participants. Performance was measured in terms of clinical sensitivity and specificity against a reference diagnostic RT-qPCR kit and analytical sensitivity (limit of detection, LoD) and specificity using recombinant material in lab tests. A second study was performed using the same sensor design, albeit with laser-induced graphene (LIG) electrodes, using nasopharyngeal swabs (NS) on 224 patient samples obtained at different stages of the pandemic, of which 110 tested negative and 114 positive via RT-qPCR. We find OS was the most informative sample, when compared to NA and SA. The SPC-based sensors had a 93.8% sensitivity and 61.5% specificity with OS samples, while the LIG-based sensors with NS had a lower sensitivity of 68.93%, albeit a significantly higher specificity of 86.17%. We believe specificity values for the SPC sensors were driven by positive results from co-habitants and healthy donors and were affected by the low sensitivity (75.5%) and high LoD (> 20,000 viral copies/mL) of the reference RT-qPCR kit used, and the lower sensitivity of the LIG-based was due to a reduced set of effective antigen-binding sites caused by the non-covalent LIG-mAb ligands used. The immunosensor’s LoD to spike protein in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) for both types of sensors was near 1 fg/mL and showed no cross-reactivity to recombinant structural proteins of Epstein-Barr and Influenza. Performance metrics and time-to-result (5 < 12 min) provide proof-of-principle of the immunosensor’s applicability as a low-cost, rapid technology for determining SARS-CoV-2 infections.

  • Performance evaluation of green and conventional solvents in reversed-phase liquid chromatography based on the separation of non-polar and polar substances
    • Oktawia Kalisz
    • Gabriela Hulicka
    • Marek Tobiszewski
    • Szymon Bocian
    2025 GREEN CHEMISTRY

    This study investigated the potential for replacing conventional solvents such as acetonitrile (ACN) and methanol (MeOH) with greener alternatives – ethanol (EtOH) and dimethyl carbonate (DMC) – in chromatographic separations. The aim was to assess whether these environmentally friendly solvents could achieve comparable separation performance while reducing the environmental impact of the analyses. Chromatographic separations were carried out on two different mixtures: non-polar and polar, using three stationary phases with different surface properties (C18, diphenyl and perfluorinated phenyl). The Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution algorithm (TOPSIS) was used to select the optimal conditions for ultra-high performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC) separations, integrating multiple criteria, including chromatographic run time, tailing ratios, resolution and solvent-related environmental hazards. The results show that EtOH and DMC can effectively replace traditional solvents without compromising separation performance, confirming that sustainable analytical methods for mixtures of non-polar and polar compounds are achievable with green solvents.

  • Performances, mechanisms, and strategies for methane removal via gas biofiltration
    • Wu Xin
    • Chunping Yang
    • Lin Yan
    • Shaohua Wu
    • Piotr Rybarczyk
    • Jacek Gębicki
    2025 Frontiers of Environmental Science & Engineering

    Control of methane emissions has attracted widespread attention in the context of worldwide efforts to alleviate the greenhouse effect. Biofiltration, a green and cost-effective treatment process, has been widely used for the purification of methane. Currently, there is still a lack of comprehensive information on methane biofiltration. Herein, the state-of-the-art development trends of methane removal via biofiltration were comprehensively reviewed and commented on. First of all, this article reviewed the mechanisms of methane removal and the possible degradation pathways in biofilters. Secondly, the removal characteristics of single methane, methane mixed with volatile organic compounds or gaseous inorganic compounds by biofiltration, were summarized and discussed. Thirdly, the practical applications of methane biofiltration were summed up and some inspirations were proposed. Finally, the effective measures to improve the performance of methane biofiltration were put forward, and corresponding insights and future research directions for methane biofiltration were provided. This article can provide references for the practical applications of methane biofiltration and the mitigation of greenhouse effects.

  • Phages as potential life-saving therapeutic option in the treatment of multidrug-resistant urinary tract infections
    • Beata Zalewska-Piątek
    • Michalina Nagórka
    2025 Full text Acta Biochimica Polonica

    Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are among the most common bacterial infections worldwide and increasing antimicrobial resistance (AMR) challenges conventional antibiotic treatments. Phage therapy (PT) has emerged as a promising alternative due to its specificity, safety and efficacy against multidrug-resistant (MDR) pathogens causing infectious diseases. PT demonstrates significant potential in treating chronic and recurrent UTIs, also including catheter-associated infection by reducing bacterial biofilms, delaying catheter blockage, and enhancing antibiotic efficacy when used in combination. Clinical trials and case studies have reported high rates of bacterial eradication and symptom improvement with minimal side effects. Although endotoxin release and immune activation during treatment should continue to be investigated. The aim of this review is to present issues related to the use of phages in the treatment of UTIs of various etiological origins in selected patients, including those with comorbidities, taking into account the legal regulations, safety and effectiveness of this experimental therapy. The growing prevalence of MDR uropathogens highlights the urgent need for alternative therapies, such as those based on phages in order to treat antibiotic-resistant infections and improve patient outcomes. Despite the great potential of PT, its clinical implementation and use of phages as a routine treatment for bacterial infections requires rigorous trials, standardized production protocols and regulatory advancements.

  • Photocatalytic activity of zinc oxide nanorods incorporated graphitic carbon nitride catalyst
    • Shanmugapriya Dharani
    • Arunachalam Saravana Vadivu
    • Anna Zielińska-Jurek
    • Arunachalam Chinnathambi
    • Md Ramesh
    • Matias Soto-Moscoso
    2025 Journal of the Taiwan Institute of Chemical Engineers

    Background Photocatalysts are user-friendly and serve as compatible materials for degrading industrial dye pollutants. This study utilizes zinc oxide/graphitic carbon nitride (ZnO/g-C3N4) nanocomposites against degrading methylene blue (MB). Methods The hydrothermal method assisted sonication technique was used to fabricate the ZnO/g-C3N4 composite with varying ratios of ZnO/g-C3N4 (1:0.25, 1:0.50, 1:1). The synthesized materials have undergone various sophisticated techniques for finding their physiochemical properties and have been utilized for photodegradation activities. Significant findings The characterized results exhibit that the nanoflakes of g-C3N4 were covered with nanorods of zinc oxide when observed through scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Furthermore, the X-ray diffraction (XRD) studies demonstrate that the ZnO/g-C3N4 material was successfully synthesized. The X-ray photoelectron spectra (XPS) and Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectra revealed the present oxidation states and chemical bonding of the materials. The photocatalytic activity results demonstrated that the concentration of ZnO molar ratio in varying g-C3N4 significantly affected the decomposition performance. The ZnO/g-C3N4 (1:0.50) presented a higher rate of degradation, reaching 92% at 120 minutes under UV light and 65% at 240 minutes under visible light irradiation. This could be explained by the mechanism that follows the separation of charge carriers, thereby producing hydroxyl radicals for the effective degradation of MB pollutants.

  • Photocatalytic membranes based on Cu–NH2-MIL-125(Ti) protected by poly(vinylidene fluoride) for high and stable hydrogen production
    • Emilia Gontarek-Castro
    • Anna Pancielejko
    • Mateusz Baluk
    • Malwina Kroczewska-Gnatowska
    • Przemysław Gnatowski
    • Krzysztof Matus
    • Justyna Łuczak
    • Adriana Zaleska-Medynska
    2025 Materials Horizons

    A porous, photocatalytically active, and water-stable composite membrane has been developed based on Cu–NH2-MIL-125(Ti), a titanium-based metal–organic framework (MOF) and PVDF polymeric matrix. To tune the structural and functional properties of the PVDF/MOF composites, the loading degree of the MOF within the polymer was systematically varied. The most effective performance of the composite material was achieved with a 10% wt/wt loading of MOF into the PVDF matrix. Analysis of the photoactivity under UV-vis revealed that increasing the MOF content from 1 to 10% led to an improvement in the H2 production rate from 86.0 to 389.1 umol h1 m2 and from 55.5 to 466.0 lmol h1 m2 for water-based and AcN-based electrolytes, respectively. Furthermore, the stability of the MOF is significantly improved when incorporated into the PVDF matrix, maintaining its structural integrity even after 20 h of the photoprocess. The SEM images and EDX mapping successfully validate the presence of the MOF within the PVDF matrix following the photoprocess. The study outlines the experimental procedures for synthesizing Cu–NH2-MIL-125(Ti), preparing PVDF composites, and details on the photocatalytic experiments. The practical application of our approach can be further expanded to enhance the photocatalytic performance of PVDF-protected unstable MOFs.

  • Photocatalytic selectivity oxidation of 2-phenoxy-1-phenylethanol coupled with Cd-MOF/S/Ni-NiO for hydrogen evolution performance and mechanism
    • Ying Zhang
    • Afaq Hassan
    • Jiang Li
    • Jide Wang
    2025 Catalysis Science & Technology

    In this study, Cd-MOF/S/Ni–NiO (MOF = metal–organic framework) composite materials were prepared using a hydrothermal synthesis method and employed for the high-efficiency photocatalytic oxidation of the lignin β-O-4 model compound 2-phenoxy-1-phenylethanol, coupled with water splitting hydrogen evolution. The Cd-MOF/S/Ni–NiO composite material retained the petal-like morphology of Cd-MOF, with Ni-BTC acting as the precursor for Ni–NiO, effectively preventing metal agglomeration. Without the addition of Ni–NiO, the main photocatalytic oxidation products of 2-phenoxy-1-phenylethanol were phenol and acetophenone, and only 2.6% of 2-phenoxy-1-phenylethanone was produced, with a hydrogen production rate of 102 μmol g−1 h−1. However, after the addition of 1 mmol Ni–NiO, 2-phenoxy-1-phenylethanol was almost completely converted, with phenol and acetophenone yields of 30% and 32%, respectively. The yield of 2-phenoxy-1-phenylethanone increased to 62%, and the hydrogen production rate reached 1058 μmol g−1 h−1. It was found that the addition of an appropriate amount of Ni–NiO facilitated the formation of the oxidation product of 2-phenoxy-1-phenylethanone. The reaction mechanism was subsequently verified, revealing that h+ is the main oxidizing species in the photocatalytic oxidation of 2-phenoxy-1-phenylethanol. This work demonstrates a dual-optimized catalytic system for the highly selective oxidation of lignin β-O-4 model compounds, coupled with simultaneous hydrogen production, providing new insights into the high-value application of lignin in the catalytic conversion of polymetallic oxides.

  • Physicochemical properties of La0.5Ba0.5Co1-xFexO3-δ (0≤x≤1) as positrode for proton ceramic electrochemical cells
    • Sebastian Wachowski
    • Iga Szpunar
    • Joanna Pośpiech
    • Daria Balcerzak
    • Aleksandra Mielewczyk-Gryń
    • Małgorzata Nadolska-Dawidowska
    • María Balaguer
    • José M Serra
    • Einar Vøllestad
    • Maria Gazda
    • Ragnar Strandbakke
    • Truls Norby
    2025 Full text ACTA MATERIALIA

    We report on essential properties of materials in the series La0.5Ba0.5Co1-xFexO3-δ as positrodes for proton ceramic electrochemical cells (PCECs). The unit cell and thermochemical expansion coefficient (TCEC) of these cubic perovskites decrease with iron content x, the TCEC of La0.5Ba0.5FeO3-δ going as low as 11·10-6 1/K. The materials behave as LaMO3 perovskites with small band gaps and Ba acting as acceptors compensated by electron holes and oxygen vacancies. The electrical properties are dominated by p-type conduction with high large polaron mobilities for the Co-rich compositions at low temperatures, shifting towards small polaron mobilities with increasing Fe content. X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) shows that Co is in a high spin state and takes on the main part of the cation oxidation state changes, and that hole states are in orbitals overlapping with the O 2p states, confirming the large polaronic behaviour, while holes on Fe are more localised at the cation. Hydration is more pronounced in inert atmospheres, as hydration of oxygen vacancies is easier than hydrogenation and increases with Fe content, in line with the commonly accepted finding that delocalization of holes disfavours protonation. Fe-rich compositions benefit from lower TCEC and higher hydration and hence expected proton permeability, at the cost of lower electronic conductivity. The surfaces are hydrophobic irrespective of Fe content, suggesting weak chemisorption of the underlaying water layer, possibly giving relatively many available surface sites for oxygen adsorption, but limited surface proton conductance – both of importance to positrodes for operando PCECs.

  • Plasma in fabrication and modification of polymeric membranes
    • Vahid Vatanpour
    • Roberto Castro Munoz
    • Başak Keskin
    • Ismail Koyuncu
    2025 DESALINATION

    Polymer materials are mostly used in the fabrication of permeable and selective interfaces, known as membranes, for distinct membrane processes. According to their application in membrane processes, there is a need to improve specific properties such as functionality, charge, stability, hydrophilicity and chemical/physical resistance. Mostly, the surface post-modification of the membranes is suitable. In this regard, plasma, as an active area for the functionalization of materials, has been extensively applied for the fabrication and modification of membranes to tailor membrane surfaces and structures and thus produce outperforming membranes. This review timely reviews the different plasma treatments in polymer membranes, including oxidative plasma, CO2, water vapor, reductive, inert plasma, corona discharge, radio-frequency discharge, dielectric barrier discharge, microwave discharge, direct current, and laser-based sources. Here, the principles, advantages, and disadvantages of the various plasma processes used in membrane fabrication and modification were addressed. Particular emphasis has been paid to the effect of the plasma treatment on the separation performance of membranes when implemented in different membrane processes for selective separations, such as membrane gas separation, liquid filtration, pervaporation and membrane distillation. After reviewing the literature, the perspectives and research gaps in the field are given as well.

  • Polymer Materials for U-Shaped Optic Fiber Sensors: A Review
    • Patryk Sokołowski
    • Jacek Łubiński
    • Paweł Wierzba
    • Jakub Czubek
    • Piotr Miluski
    • Filip Janiak
    • Shanyue Guan
    • Małgorzata Szczerska
    2025 Photonics

    Fiber optic sensors have gained popularity over the last few decades. This is due to their numerous advantages, such as good metrological parameters, biocompatibility and resistance to magnetic and electric fields and environmental pollution. However, those built from glass fiber have one main disadvantage—they are fragile, meaning they can be easily damaged, even by the presence of vibration. Due to the great progress made by material research recently, it is possible to build such a sensor with polymer fibers instead. Although those fibers have worse transmission parameters compared to telecommunication fibers, they provide the possibility to realize flexible fiber optic sensors. Taking into consideration other advantages of such fibers, including biocompatibility, electromagnetic resistance and even, biodegradation characteristics, as well as there being a variety of materials we can use, it can be seen that those materials are beneficial to produce fiber optic sensors. This paper aims to provide researchers with guidelines on the factors to consider when choosing a material for bent fiber optic sensors, depending on the application.

  • Polymer-Enhanced Active Layer Crystallization in Low-Temperature Carbon-Based Perovskite Solar Cells
    • Shih-Han Huang
    • Yu-Hsiang Chen
    • Hou-Chin Cha
    • Damian Głowienka
    • Ming-Chung Wu
    • Yu-Ching Huang
    2025 ENERGY & FUELS

    High-efficiency perovskite solar cells (PSCs) are emerging as a promising next-generation, low-cost, photovoltaic technology. A key advantage of PSCs is their compatibility with diverse manufacturing techniques, enabling the pursuit of low-cost, stable PSCs. Carbon electrodes, known for their scalability, chemical inertness, and ease of processing through screen printing, have recently seen the development of low-temperature carbon electrodes with high conductivity for use in PSCs. However, optimizing low-temperature carbon-based PSCs (LTC-PSCs), particularly improving the interface between the perovskite and carbon electrodes, remains a significant challenge. In this study, poly(3-hexylthiophene-2,5-diyl) (P3HT) was employed as an additive and a hole-transporting layer (HTL) in LTC-PSCs with low-temperature screen-printing carbon electrodes. The incorporation of P3HT in antisolvent improved the perovskite/carbon interface, reducing the defect density of the perovskite layer. This resulted in a significant average power conversion efficiency (PCE) improvement of 11%. The LTC-PSCs achieved a PCE of 10.90% and demonstrated exceptional stability, retaining 90% of initial PCE after 1200 h under ambient air. This research highlights the potential of LTC-PSCs as low-cost strategies for the commercialization of PSCs.

  • Pomiary termowizyjne temperatury w operacjach maszynowego docierania powierzchni płaskich
    • Adam Barylski
    2025 Dozór Techniczny

    W artykule przedstawiono problematykę oraz wyniki badań nagrzewania się elementów układu obróbkowego docierarki jednotarczowej do płaszczyzn o standardowej kinematyce. Badano wpływ podstawowych warunków obróbki na temperaturę docieranych materiałów oraz zmiany temperatury głównych elementów obrabiarki. W badaniach wykorzystano kamerę termowizyjną. Wyniki pomiarów mogą być przydatne m.in. do określenia przerw między cyklami obróbki poszczególnych partii elementów, w przypadku kiedy w konstrukcji docierarki nie występuje wymuszone wodne chłodzenie tarczy docierającej. W artykule przedstawiono problematykę oraz wyniki badań nagrzewania się elementów układu obróbkowego docierarki jednotarczowej do płaszczyzn o standardowej kinematyce. Badano wpływ podstawowych warunków obróbki na temperaturę docieranych materiałów oraz zmiany temperatury głównych elementów obrabiarki. W badaniach wykorzystano kamerę termowizyjną. Wyniki pomiarów mogą być przydatne m.in. do określenia przerw między cyklami obróbki poszczególnych partii elementów, w przypadku kiedy w konstrukcji docierarki nie występuje wymuszone wodne chłodzenie tarczy docierającej. W artykule przedstawiono problematykę oraz wyniki badań nagrzewania się elementów układu obróbkowego docierarki jednotarczowej do płaszczyzn o standardowej kinematyce. Badano wpływ podstawowych warunków obróbki na temperaturę docieranych materiałów oraz zmiany temperatury głównych elementów obrabiarki. W badaniach wykorzystano kamerę termowizyjną. Wyniki pomiarów mogą być przydatne m.in. do określenia przerw między cyklami obróbki poszczególnych partii elementów, w przypadku kiedy w konstrukcji docierarki nie występuje wymuszone wodne chłodzenie tarczy docierającej. W artykule przedstawiono problematykę oraz wyniki badań nagrzewania się elementów układu obróbkowego docierarki jednotarczowej do płaszczyzn o standardowej kinematyce. Badano wpływ podstawowych warunków obróbki na temperaturę docieranych materiałów oraz zmiany temperatury głównych elementów obrabiarki. W badaniach wykorzystano kamerę termowizyjną. Wyniki pomiarów mogą być przydatne m.in. do określenia przerw między cyklami obróbki poszczególnych partii elementów, w przypadku kiedy w konstrukcji docierarki nie występuje wymuszone wodne chłodzenie tarczy docierającej.

  • Porous Deep Eutectic Solvents–Unfulfilled Dream or the Next Breakthrough in Scientific Innovation?
    • Marcin Wysokowski
    • Patrycja Makoś-Chełstowska
    • Alina Brzęczek‐Szafran
    • Aleksandra Sikora
    • Adam Gorczyński
    • Teofil Jesionowski
    2025 Advanced Science

    Porous deep eutectic solvents (PDES) are capturing the imagination of scientists, promising a revolutionary leap in material science. These innovative materials, blending the versatility of deep eutectic solvents (DES) with the intricate architectures of porous structures, offer an exciting array of applications—from green chemistry and catalysis to energy storage and environmental remediation. However, the journey from laboratory curiosity to industrial application is fraught with challenges. This perspective article analyzes the realm of PDES, scrutinizing the cutting-edge advancements and the challenges that lie ahead. By exploring their synthesis, unique properties, and diverse application potential, the critical question is asked: are PDES an unfulfilled dream or the next big breakthrough in scientific innovation? A comprehensive analysis reveals a “landscape” ripe with opportunity, suggesting that with targeted research and development, PDES can indeed become a cornerstone technology, driving progress across multiple scientific domains.

  • Power Transmission for Millimeter-Wave Indoor/Outdoor Wearable IoT Devices Using Grounded Coplanar Waveguide-Fed On-Body Antenna
    • Fuad Erman
    • Sławomir Kozieł
    • Alhareth Zyoud
    • Leifur Leifsson
    • Ullah Ubaid
    • Shaker Alkaraki
    2025 Full text IEEE Access

    This paper presents for the first-time evaluation of wireless power transmission (WPT) for sustainable low-powered Internet of Things (IoT) devices in realistic indoor/outdoor scenarios using empirical propagation models at 28 GHz. The used empirical propagation models have shown that using an on-body 9×9 mm-wave rectenna array based on a proposed mm-wave antenna is able to charge IoT devices at a distance of 57 m for line-of-sight (LOS) indoor temporal environment, and at a distance of 10 m for LOS outdoor tropical propagation model using a base station with 53 dBm transmission power. Furthermore, the mm-wave on-body 9×9 rectenna array occupies an area equal to that of a single UHF rectenna, while collecting 17-fold more power. In addition, the article discusses the design and experimental results of a single-element on-body mm-wave antenna used to design the 9×9 rectenna array. The proposed mm-wave antenna is a single-layer low-profile structure. Furthermore, the antenna has a stable gain of over 9.5 dBi and a wide beamwidth. The on-body antenna structure consists of rectangular multi-slot patch fed by a 50 Ω grounded coplanar waveguide (GCPW) line. Employing the multi-slot configuration results in a wearable antenna’s impedance bandwidth of 3.73 GHz. The peak measured gain of the antenna is 10.5 for chest/arm-mounted case in the operating 28 GHz N257 5G band. The antenna’s radiation pattern forms a wide off-body forward direction beam. A prototype of the proposed antenna is fabricated and validated experimentally for both cases on a human volunteer arm/chest and in the free space. The size of the proposed structure is small and can collect power with high efficiency due to the short wavelength of millimeter wave (mm-wave) in contrast to UHF antennas.

  • Prace remontowe betonowych posadzek przemysłowych. Część II
    • Sylwia Świątek-Żołyńska
    • Maciej Niedostatkiewicz
    2025 Full text Przegląd Budowlany

    Posadzki betonowe należą do elementów w obiektach budowlanych, których projektowanie wymaga doświadczenia inżynierskiego, wykonawstwo – zachowania reżimu technologicznego, natomiast podczas ich eksploatacji niezbędne jest prowadzenie remontów okresowych. Najczęściej wykorzystywane są jako przestrzeń robocza i komunikacyjna w obiektach przemysłowych. Niezależnie od miejsca wbudowania posadzki betonowe wymagają prowadzenia okresowych prac zabezpieczających, których zakres każdorazowo powinien być indywidualnie dostosowany do aktualnego bądź też planowanego do zmiany sposobu użytkowania obiektu. Niewłaściwy dobór technologii prac konserwacyjnych oraz niepoprawne stosowanie rozwiązań technologicznych związanych z renowacją posadzek mogą spowodować pogorszenie ich stanu technicznego, co może doprowadzić do konieczności ich wyłączenia z użytkowania, a to z kolei może skutkować koniecznością przerwy w użytkowaniu obiektu budowlanego, w tym obiektów produkcyjnych obiektów przemysłowych. W pracy przedstawiono zbiór praktycznych informacji związanych z prowadzeniem prac naprawczych betonowych posadzek przemysłowych. Artykuł ma charakter studium przypadku i odnosi się do konkretnych sytuacji związanych z utratą sprawności technicznej przez betonowe posadzki przemysłowe.

  • Praktyczna ocena wpływu położenia dybli w szczelinach dylatacyjnych na ryzyko powstania zniszczeń nawierzchni z betonu cementowego
    • Maksymilian Łazarowicz
    • Piotr Jaskuła
    2025 Roads and Bridges - Drogi i Mosty

    Cement concrete pavements are mainly implemented in Poland using unreinforced, dowelled and tieded pavement technology. The task of dowels in transverse expansion joints is to ensure proper transfer of loads between slabs and to allow free operation of slabs caused, among other things, by changes in thermal load. Recently, a significant problem has been observed in evaluating and resolving the issue of improperly placed dowels in expansion joints. So far, the assessment has consisted of categorising their location into three groups and taking relevant action based on contractual provisions (leading to financial deductions) rather than verified engineering knowledge. The consequence of these actions is that the development of this technology in the express road network has been significantly halted. Contractors, given the choice between asphalt or cement concrete technology, choose the former – among others for the abovementioned reasons. This paper presents a proposal for assessing the position of dowels in expansion joints based on the use of a superposition of four types of deviations from the ideal dowel position (defined in the equivalent diameter algorithm deq) in conjunction with the usual condition of permissible compressive stresses under the dowel, which is used for dowel dimensioning. The proposal presented here was used to evaluate the position of dowels in about a hundred expansion joints in five expressway pavements. Promising results have been achieved to estimate the risk of failure of concrete slabs over their service life.

  • Predicting a passenger ship's response during evasive maneuvers using Bayesian Learning
    • Mateusz Gil
    • Jakub Montewka
    • Przemysław Krata
    2025 Full text RELIABILITY ENGINEERING & SYSTEM SAFETY

    The rapidly advancing automation of the maritime industry – for instance, through onboard Decision Support Systems (DSS) – can facilitate the introduction of advanced solutions supporting the process of collision avoidance at sea. Nevertheless, relevant solutions that aim to correctly predict a ship's behavior in irregular waves are only available to a limited extent by omitting the impact of wave stochastics on resulting evasive maneuvers. This is mainly due to the complexity of the phenomena, the existing couplings therein, and the time inefficacy in resolving the problem through real-time simulations. Therefore, this paper attempts to fill this knowledge gap by presenting a probabilistic, data-driven meta-model trained using an extensive set of 6DOF numerical simulations of vessel motions in irregular waves. For this purpose, machine learning adopting causal probabilistic modeling with Bayesian Belief Network (BBN) was employed. The latter offers two-way reasoning in the presence of uncertainty and provides insight into the meta-model's outcome. This, in turn, helps estimate a set of safety-critical parameters for a large passenger ship performing an evasive maneuver. This set comprises a huge quantity of ship turning circle parameters as well as the hull's rotational motions and resulting lateral accelerations, all simulated multiple times to consider the stochastic realization of the waves. The proposed meta-model can be used to assist watchkeeping officers’ decisions or raise their awareness concerning the possible consequences of evasive maneuvers performed. The achieved accuracy of the meta-model's prediction lies within a range from 81% to 98%, which makes it suitable for this purpose.

  • Predicting creep failure life in adhesive-bonded single-lap joints using machine learning
    • Faizullah Jan
    • Marcin Kujawa
    • Piotr Paczos
    • Victor Eremeyev
    2025 Full text Scientific Reports

    Accurately predicting the creep failure life of adhesive joints, particularly single-lap adhesive joints (SLAJs), remains still a significant challenge, requiring substantial time and resources and the ability to predict the duration of creep failure in SLAJs is critical to ensuring structural integrity and reducing the failure of creep-prone adhesive joints. In this study, machine learning (ML) was used to identify the critical features that ultimately influence the durability of SLAJs due to creep. These key features were determined through correlation analysis and sequential feature selection. Multiple ML algorithms were employed to analyze complex relationships among key features and predict creep failure life. Finally, the results of the analysis highlight the importance of features such as SLAJ creep strain, adhesive tensile strength (UTS), SLAJ creep stress, adhesive surface area (A), and Young’s modulus (E). Of the ML models tested, the random forest (RF) model was the most effective in predicting creep failure life. Moreover, the accuracy of the predictions made by the proposed ML model, using original code written in Python, has been verified in experimental tests. All datasets generated and analyzed during the current study, along with the code, are available in the repository accompanying the paper.

  • Probiotic potential of Bacillus Isolates from Polish Bee Pollen and Bee Bread
    • Karolina Pełka
    • Ahmer Hafeez
    • Randy Worobo
    • Piotr Szweda
    2025 Full text Probiotics and Antimicrobial Proteins

    The main goal of this study was the evaluation of the probiotic potential of 10 Bacillus spp. strains isolated from 5 bee bread and 3 bee pollen samples. The antagonistic interaction with Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli was a primary criterion for the preliminary selection of the isolates. Three out of ten strains—PY2.3 (isolated from pollen), BP20.15 and BB10.1 (both isolated from bee bread)—were found to be possible probiotic strains. All these strains are safe for humans (exhibiting  -hemolytic activity) and meet all essential requirements for probiotics in terms of viability in the presence of bile salts and acid conditions, hydrophobicity, auto-aggregation, and co-aggregation with the cells of important human pathogenic bacteria. They also assimilate more than 30% of cholesterol after 24 h of incubation. These three isolates are resistant to penicillin but sensitive (or exhibit moderate resistance) to the other nine antibiotics tested herein. On the basis of whole-genome sequencing, BP20.15 and BB10.1 were classified as B. subtilis and PY2.3 as B. velezensis. Moreover, genomic analyses revealed that all these isolates are potential producers of different antimicrobial compounds, including bacteriocins and secondary metabolites. The outcomes of this study have proven that some of the Bacillus strains isolated from bee pollen or bee bread are potential probiotics.