Lin Jia, Qiang He^*

Journal of Polymer Materials, Vol.43, No.1, 2026, DOI:10.32604/jpm.2026.077807 - 03 April 2026

Abstract Aerogels, renowned as ultra-lightweight solids with exceptional porosity and specific surface area, have emerged as pivotal materials for thermal insulation, catalysis, energy storage, and biomedicine. This review comprehensively evaluates the recent strides in sustainable, high-performance cellulose-based aerogels, emphasizing their fabrication, functionalization, and application prospects. It details the extraction of cellulose from diverse sources and its subsequent processing into nanocellulose (e.g., cellulose nanofibrils and nanocrystals), which serves as the fundamental building block for aerogel synthesis. The critical sol-gel transition, solvent selection, and the pivotal role of drying techniques—freeze-drying, supercritical drying, and ambient pressure drying—in determining final… More >

Nazeeha S. Alkayal^*

Journal of Polymer Materials, Vol.43, No.1, 2026, DOI:10.32604/jpm.2026.073588 - 03 April 2026

Abstract The development of polymer nanoparticle composites with enhanced thermal and antibacterial properties is essential for next-generation biomedical materials. However, conventional polymers often exhibit limited bioactivity and poor resistance to degradation, restricting their functional applications. The novelty of this study involves the combination of the bio-derived cross-linker 2,5-bis(aminomethyl)furan (BAF) into poly (methyl methacrylate) PMMA to form a cross-linked network incorporated with various ratios of ZnO nanoparticles (ZnO NPs), resulting in improved biological and thermal properties. The surface morphologies, material crystallinity, and thermal degradation properties of the synthesized BAF–PMMA/ZnO were investigated using Scanning Electron microscopy (SEM), Energy-Dispersive… More >

Md. Rakib Hasan¹, Afrina Sharmin², Mimi Mondal^1,3, Md. Ahasan Habib¹, Rinku Majumder¹, Muhammad Shahriar Bashar^2,*, Md. Salahuddin Mina^1,*

Chalcogenide Letters, Vol.23, No.3, 2026, DOI:10.32604/cl.2026.079270 - 03 April 2026

Abstract In this work, spin-coated Cu₂ZnSnS₄ (CZTS) thin films with systematically varied thicknesses were investigated to understand their influence on structural, compositional, and optical properties relevant to high-performance photovoltaic applications. CZTS absorber layers were fabricated using a sol-gel spin-coating technique, which offers simplicity, low cost, and excellent thickness control, followed by annealing at 450°C under a nitrogen atmosphere to promote crystallization and phase formation. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis revealed that films with a thickness of approximately 608 nm exhibited the highest crystallinity and a preferred orientation along the (112) plane, indicating enhanced structural order and improved grain… More >

Wei Kang^1,*, Juan Jin²

Chalcogenide Letters, Vol.23, No.3, 2026, DOI:10.32604/cl.2026.077859 - 03 April 2026

Abstract A sulfate–chloride electrolyte was used to deposit alloy layers on AISI 1018 coupons while co-introducing ZnS nanoparticles (5–20 g/L) to tune microstructure and durability under combined saline exposure and dry sliding. Cross-sectional SEM confirmed continuous deposits of ~24–26 μm, and XRD indicated γ-phase dominance with pronounced grain refinement: crystallite size decreased from 42 ± 3 nm (particle-free) to 28 ± 2 nm at 15 g/L. In 3.5 wt% NaCl, polarization data showed a progressive ennoblement of E_corr from −1.032 to −0.981 V (vs. SCE) together with a reduction of i_corr from 8.47 to 1.82 μA/cm² at 15… More >

Preetha K. C.^1,2,*, Bini S.²

Chalcogenide Letters, Vol.23, No.3, 2026, DOI:10.32604/cl.2026.076854 - 03 April 2026

Abstract The increasing depletion of fossil fuels and the escalation of global temperatures have intensified the need for sustainable energy sources such as solar power. Copper Zinc Sulphide (CuZnS) is a potential absorber for solar cells. This study reports the structure and composition of annealed CuZnS samples using X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) analysis technique. CuZnS thin films prepared using low-cost chemical bath deposition (CBD) technique are annealed at 100°C, 200°C, and 300°C. The samples are analysed using Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDX), X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), UV Visible NIR spectroscopy (UV-VIS) and Hall… More >

Naoual Houaidji¹, Kenza Kamli^2,*, Zakaria Hadef², Houssem Eddine Chouial³, Marwa Bendaia¹

Chalcogenide Letters, Vol.23, No.3, 2026, DOI:10.32604/cl.2026.076383 - 03 April 2026

Abstract We present a systematic investigation of FeS₂ thin films deposited by ultrasonic spray pyrolysis (USP) at different deposition times (15–40 min), with the aim of understanding their structural, optical, and electrical evolution and their suitability for heterojunction device applications. Particular attention is given to the integration of the optimized FeS₂ layer with a Co-doped SnS₂ bottom layer to form a p–n heterojunction. Structural analysis by X-ray diffraction reveals a transition from an amorphous/oxidized phase at short deposition times toward well-crystallized pyrite after 25 min, while the 40-min film exhibits the most intense reflections and the largest crystallite… More >

Trinh Thi Nhu Quynh¹, Hoa-Cuc. Nguyen², Bich-Ngoc. Mach², Thanh Q. Nguyen^3,4,*

Structural Durability & Health Monitoring, Vol.20, No.2, 2026, DOI:10.32604/sdhm.2025.070202 - 31 March 2026

Abstract This study introduces a method for processing various types of random real-world signals from bridges in both experimental models and real-world scenarios using a wireless sensor system. By analyzing and processing signals collected during actual traffic on bridges, the study identifies and provides parameters that meet current quality inspection requirements to ensure the safety of bridge users. The parameters investigated in this study include deformation, natural frequency, amplitude, impact factor, and damping coefficient. Research has determined and highlighted key parameters to assess the quality of bridge spans to meet quality inspection standards. Using actual traffic More >

Ilsun You^1,*, Gaurav Choudhary², Gökhan Kul³, Francesco Falmieri⁴

CMES-Computer Modeling in Engineering & Sciences, Vol.146, No.3, 2026, DOI:10.32604/cmes.2026.080244 - 30 March 2026

Abstract This article has no abstract. More >

Muhammad Adnan Tariq¹, Sunawar Khan², Tehseen Mazhar^2,3, Tariq Shahzad⁴, Sahar Arooj⁵, Khmaies Ouahada⁶, Muhammad Adnan Khan^7,*, Habib Hamam^8,9,10,11

CMES-Computer Modeling in Engineering & Sciences, Vol.146, No.3, 2026, DOI:10.32604/cmes.2026.078672 - 30 March 2026

Abstract The contemporary smart cities, smart homes, smart buildings, and smart health care systems are the results of the explosive growth of Internet of Things (IoT) devices and deep learning. Yet the centralized training paradigms have fundamental issues in data privacy, regulatory compliance, and ownership silo alongside the scaled limitations of the real-life application. The concept of Federated Deep Learning (FDL) is a privacy-by-design method that will enable the distributed training of machine learning models among distributed clients without sharing raw data and is suitable in heterogeneous urban settings. It is an overview of the privacy-preserving… More >

Hengdong Zhang^1,2,*, Rongji Wang^1,2, Jianchong Zhang^1,2, Fali Zhang^1,2, Zhiwang He^1,2

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.95, No.3, 2026, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2026.077976 - 31 March 2026

Abstract Spent mushroom substrate (SMS), the residual byproduct of mushroom cultivation, represents a nutrient-rich agro-residues with potential for paddy field application. This study evaluated the effect of direct SMS application on rice yield, yield components, biomass production, and nitrogen uptake (NU), aiming to provide useful information for fresh SMS utilization in paddy. Field experiments were conducted using a split-plot design with three replications, three SMS rates (0, 9, and 18 t ha⁻¹ dry matter) as the main plots and three nitrogen (N) (0, 90, 180 kg ha⁻¹) as subplots in 2023 and 2024. Each plot was planted… More >