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        <title>Frontiers in Materials | New and Recent Articles</title>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/materials</link>
        <description>RSS Feed for Frontiers in Materials | New and Recent Articles</description>
        <language>en-us</language>
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        <pubDate>2026-11-15T06:51:51.132+00:00</pubDate>
        <ttl>60</ttl>
        <item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmats.2026.1889289</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmats.2026.1889289</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Machine learning-driven prediction of perovskite properties for PV applications]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-11-13T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Amondulloi Burhonzoda</author><author>Sulhiya Mahmudova</author><author>Mekhrdod Kurboniyon</author><author>Dilshod Nematov</author><author>Farhod Shokir</author><author>Makhmadzoir Kayumov</author><author>Iskandar Raufzoda</author><author>Kholmirzo Kholmurodov</author><author>Nguyen Hai Chau</author><author>Tomoyuki Yamamoto</author>
        <description><![CDATA[This article presents a study of the fundamental properties of β-CsYX3 (Y = Ca, Cd, Ge, Pb, Sn, Sr; X = I, Br, Cl) perovskite materials using machine learning methods. Six algorithms, such as linear regression, Ridge regression, robust regression, k-nearest neighbors regression, ElasticNet, and Lasso regression, are used to predict the bandgap, Debye temperature, and unit cell volume. Based on MAE, MSE, and R2 metrics, it was determined that linear regression yields the best results for a number of the properties under investigation. However, analysis of the RMSE revealed that, for certain properties, lower RMSE values were achieved using robust regression and Ridge regression. Thus, model performance depends on both the target property and the chosen evaluation metric. Residual analysis also demonstrated relatively stable prediction behaviour across all models considered. Overall, the results confirm the potential of machine learning methods for the accelerated screening and discovery of perovskite materials with favourable electronic and structural characteristics. The predicted values for band gap, Debye temperature, and unit cell volume serve as useful descriptors for the preliminary assessment and comparison of candidate materials for optoelectronic applications.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmats.2026.1998254</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmats.2026.1998254</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Effects of dissolved oxygen and cold work on the stress corrosion crack growth behavior of 316L stainless steel in high-temperature high-pressure water]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-11-13T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Hongyuan Li</author><author>Zhaoguang Zhu</author><author>Chengtao Li</author>
        <description><![CDATA[This study investigates the effects of cold work (with deformation levels of 10%, 16%, and 20%) and dissolved oxygen (DO) concentration on the stress corrosion cracking (SCC) growth behavior of 316L stainless steel in high-temperature, high-pressure water. It is found that sustained intergranular crack growth requires a minimum cold-work deformation of 16% or a DO concentration of 50 ppb. Under conditions of 10% cold work and low DO, only short, predominantly transgranular cracks were observed, with a growth rate (≈1.6 × 10-12 m/s) more than an order of magnitude lower than that under any other tested condition. Once intergranular cracks are initiated, the average crack growth rates across all conditions fall within a relatively narrow range (6 × 10-11 to 3 × 10-10 m/s); further increases in cold-work deformation or DO concentration result in, at most, a roughly fivefold increase in the crack growth rate. Consequently, for 316L stainless steel, limiting cold-work deformation is an effective mitigation strategy—provided that the DO concentration is maintained at a low level. However, fluctuations in DO concentration on the order of tens of ppb are sufficient to trigger intergranular cracking, even in materials with only slight deformation. This paper discusses the synergistic effects of cold work and DO on the SCC growth behavior of 316L stainless steel, as well as the underlying micro-mechanisms.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmats.2026.2002723</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmats.2026.2002723</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Field-evaluated constitutive modeling of Nanning silty clay for excavation above existing metro tunnels: implications for resource-efficient design]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-11-12T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Linhai Lv</author><author>Zhe Zhao</author><author>Zhendong Zhang</author><author>Xiao Chen</author><author>Shizheng Qiu</author><author>Mingjie Jiang</author><author>Guoxiong Mei</author>
        <description><![CDATA[Reliable prediction of soil and structural deformation is important not only for safety but also for resource-efficient underground construction. Excessively conservative constitutive modeling may lead to unnecessary use of retaining, bracing, and cementitious ground-improvement materials, whereas underestimated deformation can result in infrastructure damage and resource-intensive remediation. In this study, parameters for the Modified Cam-Clay (MCC), Hardening Soil (HS), and Hardening Soil with small-strain stiffness (HSS) models were determined for silty clay sampled at the investigated site in Nanning, China, using laboratory tests on undisturbed samples, in situ shear-wave velocity measurements, and empirical correlations. The three parameter sets were then implemented in PLAXIS 2D to simulate a representative excavation section above existing twin metro tunnels, and the calculated responses were compared with field monitoring data. The MCC and HS models reproduced the overall deformation patterns of the retaining system and tunnels but systematically overpredicted tunnel heave. The HSS model provided closer predictions of tunnel vertical displacement and central-column rebound than the MCC and HS models at the final excavation stage, although the agreement varied with monitoring location and excavation stage. For tunnel sidewall displacement, however, the HSS model tended to underestimate deformation near the central column, whereas the HS model showed better local agreement. These findings suggest that accounting for small-strain stiffness and adopting site-specific constitutive parameters may help reduce overprediction of excavation-induced rebound in the investigated case. The field-evaluated parameter sets provide a modeling basis for safer excavation design and may support more rational use of retaining, bracing, and ground-improvement measures, although the associated material and environmental benefits were not directly quantified in this study.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmats.2026.1924521</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmats.2026.1924521</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Optimized hybrid-chemical synthesis with morphology-controlled synthesis of copper-based nanomaterials as a response to emerging fungal drug resistance]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-11-12T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Laura Maria Slavu</author><author>Cristina Nicoleta Ciurea</author><author>Liana Georgiana Hănțoiu</author><author>Francesca Rossi</author><author>Giorgio Capuzzello</author><author>Sanosh Kunjalukkal Padmanabhan</author><author>Adrian Man</author><author>Rosaria Rinaldi</author>
        <description><![CDATA[The rapid development of nanoscience and nanotechnology has unlocked new possibilities in biomedicine, particularly in diagnostics, imaging, and targeted therapies. Among various nanomaterials, metallic nanoparticles, especially those based on copper, have attracted growing interest due to their unique physicochemical properties, ease of synthesis, and broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity. In this study, we report the synthesis and characterization of copper-based nanoparticles with significant antifungal activity against Candida spp., a genus responsible for a wide range of fungal infections, including life-threatening invasive candidiasis. Two distinct synthetic approaches were employed: a green, plant-mediated method to produce bimetallic Cu@Au nanoparticles with novel morphologies, and conventional synthesis routes for metallic Cu2O and Au nanoparticles. All nanoparticles were evaluated under the same experimental conditions to assess their antifungal efficacy against Candida albicans and Candida krusei, the latter being intrinsically resistant to fluconazole. In addition to their antifungal activity and moderate cytocompatibility at the effective concentrations, the Au@Cu nanoparticles exhibited intrinsic peroxidase-like catalytic activity, as demonstrated by colorimetric assays, UV–Vis spectroscopy, and steady-state kinetic analysis. The enzyme-like catalytic behavior suggests that oxidative catalytic processes may contribute to their antifungal mechanism, complementing the well-known antimicrobial effects of copper ions. Overall, our findings demonstrate that Au@Cu nanoparticles represent multifunctional nanomaterials with promising potential for antifungal and nanozyme-based biomedical applications, while highlighting the importance of sustainable synthesis strategies in the development of next-generation nanomedicines.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmats.2026.2012097</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmats.2026.2012097</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Decoupled pre-freeze properties and earlier freeze–thaw deterioration in RDP–defoamer-modified joint-filling mortar]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-11-11T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Wenjie Xiao</author><author>Xiaozhang Wang</author><author>Cheng Qian</author><author>Leilei Han</author>
        <description><![CDATA[Redispersible polymer powder (RDP) and defoamers are widely used to tune the workability and hardened response of cementitious mortars, but favorable pre-freeze indicators do not necessarily translate into freeze–thaw durability. This study examined a polypropylene-fiber-reinforced joint-filling mortar for prefabricated pavement bases using reference (REF), RDP-modified (RDP), defoamer-modified (DF), and combined RDP–defoamer (RDP–DF) formulations, with a commercial grout as an external benchmark. The primary comparison was between RDP and RDP–DF: both mixtures contained 280 kg m-3 mixing water and differed by the incorporation of 0.15% defoamer by binder mass. Pre-freeze mechanical, transport, and volume-stability responses were characterized, followed by longitudinal freeze–thaw tracking using mass loss and relative dynamic elastic modulus (RDEM) and by residual mechanical evaluation. Relative to RDP, RDP–DF reduced water absorption and 28-day drying shrinkage by 46.0% and 50.0%, while secant modulus increased by approximately 23%. Flexural and compressive strengths decreased by 28.8% and 25.4%, and permeability did not improve. After 15 freeze–thaw cycles, mass loss increased from approximately 0% to 5.48% and RDEM decreased from 83.94% to 64.59%. The median first observed cycle at which mass loss reached or exceeded 5% decreased from 50 to 15 cycles. In an independent 15-cycle batch, post-freeze–thaw compressive strength was 23.8 MPa for RDP and 17.2 MPa for RDP–DF, a difference of −27.7%. For similar RDP-modified joint-filling mortars, the results support combining pre-freeze properties with deterioration trajectories and residual mechanical capacity when assessing freeze–thaw durability.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmats.2026.1951456</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmats.2026.1951456</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Synthesis and characterization of lithium barium diphosphate [Li2Ba3(P2O7)2] and Li2Ba3(P2O7)2:Cu2+ nanopowders]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-11-11T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>K. Surendra Babu</author><author>Ch. Aswini</author><author>R. V. S. S. N. Ravikumar</author>
        <description><![CDATA[We synthesized lithium barium diphosphate [Li2Ba3(P2O7)2] and Cu2+-doped lithium barium diphosphate nanopowders using a novel wet-chemical method. X-ray diffraction was used to calculate the crystallite size, dislocation density, and micro-strain. Scanning electron microscopy revealed the surface characteristics of both nanopowder samples, while energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy was used to study the qualitative and quantitative elements present in the synthesized samples. Vibrational modes of phosphates were studied using FT-IR and Raman spectroscopy. Optical absorption spectroscopy was used to determine direct and indirect bandgaps, which were found to be 4.55 eV and 4.08 eV, respectively, for the pure sample, whereas for the Cu2+-doped nanopowder, they were 4.03 eV and 3.84 eV, respectively. A single peak was observed at 825 nm in the optical spectrum. The Lande g-splitting factor was calculated using the EPR spectrum, and it was g∥ = 2.3658, g⊥ = 2.1109. The hyperfine splitting constant A was also calculated to be A∥ = 128X10−4 and A⊥=72X10−4 cm-1. The photoluminescence of the pure sample exhibits bands at wavelengths of 415, 465, 514, 580, 600, and 619 nm, and the Cu2+-doped sample exhibits bands at wavelengths of 413, 438, 465, 513, and 618 nm. The excitation wavelengths of the PL spectra are approximately 321 and 324 nm, respectively, for the pure and Cu2+-doped nanopowders. The color coordinates of the pure host are located in the whitish-orange region, with CIE coordinates of x = 0.3551 and y = 0.3179, whereas the color coordinates for Cu2+-doped Li2Ba3(P2O7)2 show a yellowish-orange region with CIE coordinates of x = 0.4187 and y = 0.3593. The color characteristic parameters are calculated for both pure and Cu2+-doped samples. CRI and color fidelity index (Rf) values of the pure sample are 83% and 87%, respectively, whereas the Cu2+-doped sample shows CRI and Rf values of 88% and 88%, respectively. Gamut factor (Rg) is a crucial parameter for fabricating light-emitting diodes, and the values of Rg for the pure and Cu2+-doped samples are 111 and 110, respectively. These Rg values confirm that light emitted by the prepared sample enhances the saturation of colors; i.e., it is more vibrant when compared to that from an ordinary light source.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmats.2026.1963005</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmats.2026.1963005</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Microscopic diffusion mechanism of linezolid in carbon-based nanoporous materials: a molecular dynamics simulation study]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-11-10T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Haoxin Song</author><author>Ying Ma</author><author>Luying Su</author><author>Xiaofan Li</author>
        <description><![CDATA[IntroductionGraphene aerogels are promising antibiotic delivery carriers owing to their ultralow density, hierarchical porous architecture, and high specific surface area. However, molecular transport within their nanoscale confined spaces remains poorly understood, limiting the rational design of carriers with controllable release performance. This study investigated linezolid diffusion within graphene aerogel-like confined structures.MethodsAll-atom molecular dynamics simulations using the OPLS-AA force field were performed with a solvent-free model containing more than 10,000 atoms. Randomly overlapping graphene sheets were used to represent the disordered porous framework. A controlled-variable approach was adopted to quantify the independent effects of temperature (240–380 K), carrier dosage (20–150 graphene sheets), and drug loading (1,000–5,832 molecules) on diffusion coefficients. Grid-based pore-size analysis was used to examine the relationship between local pore geometry and molecular transport.ResultsIncreasing temperature enhanced diffusion nonlinearly over the investigated range. At fixed drug loading, increasing carrier dosage enlarged the mean local pore size from 3.97 to 7.32 Å and increased the diffusion coefficient overall, reaching 3.120×10‐12 m2/s. Increasing drug loading shifted the calculated pore-size distribution toward smaller local voids, with the mean local pore size decreasing to 2.11 Å. Nevertheless, the highest drug-loading condition exhibited enhanced diffusion despite the smaller mean local pore size. An empirical power-law relationship between diffusion coefficient and mean local pore size was obtained for the carrier-dosage series; the high drug-loading systems were excluded from this fit.DiscussionThese findings suggest that pore geometry, molecular interactions, and the confined environment jointly influence linezolid transport, and that mean local pore size alone cannot explain diffusion under all loading conditions. The results provide microscopic insights and a preliminary structural reference for further studies of carbon-based drug carriers. Because the simulations excluded explicit solvents and ions, the reported diffusion coefficients should not be directly interpreted as values under physiological aqueous conditions.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmats.2026.1923528</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmats.2026.1923528</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Boronic acid-functionalized graphene aerogels for selective catechol removal in complex multicomponent phenolic aerosols]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-11-05T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Mengnan Yin</author><author>Xiaoxi Si</author><author>Zhenjie Li</author><author>Wei Zhang</author><author>Wei Jiang</author><author>Fengmei Zhang</author><author>Lin Shi</author><author>Di Zhang</author><author>Mingfeng Wang</author><author>Zhikan Yao</author>
        <description><![CDATA[Selective adsorption in complex multicomponent aerosols remains challenging because structurally similar molecules often compete for identical adsorption sites. Herein, a boronic acid-functionalized three-dimensional graphene aerogel was developed as a selective adsorbent for phenolic compounds. Following 1,2-benzenediboronic acid modification, the specific surface area of graphene aerogel increased from 380.69 to 539.88 m2 g−1. In dynamic multicomponent aerosol experiments, the detected catechol amounts after filtration through B-14/CA and B-18/CA were 65.94 and 65.21 μg/cig, respectively, compared with 106.13 μg/cig for the conventional cellulose acetate filter. Other representative phenolic compounds exhibited responses distinct from that of catechol, demonstrating differential filtration in the competitive system. Density functional theory calculations showed that the optimized catechol complex did not correspond to a conventional boronate ester. Instead, a noncovalent B···O contact of approximately 2.06 Å closed a seven-membered pseudo-cyclic adsorption configuration without dehydration. The similar adsorption energies of catechol and guaiacol, −0.34319 and −0.34799 eV, respectively, indicated that a single optimized adsorption energy was insufficient to explain the experimental difference. These results suggest that the combination of hierarchical porous transport and configuration-dependent noncovalent recognition contributes to preferential catechol retention in multicomponent aerosols.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmats.2026.1972351</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmats.2026.1972351</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Waste tire rubber powder enhances Asphalt’s low-temperature performance and viscoelastic temperature interval as revealed by dynamic mechanical thermal analysis]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-11-05T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Baocai Gao</author><author>Yanzhu Wang</author><author>Zhen Liu</author><author>Guangyong Wang</author><author>Qi Liu</author><author>Xufeng Wang</author>
        <description><![CDATA[Asphalt, a typical viscoelastic material, significantly affects the performance of asphalt mixtures. Dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA) is employed to examine the viscoelastic properties of asphalt and investigate the effects of heating rate and loading frequency on its phase-transition characteristics. The dynamic mechanical response curves and characteristic temperatures of asphalt are determined, providing a basis for evaluating its properties. The results show that the temperature spectrum of mechanical response parameters and the phase-transition temperature (PTT) shift to higher temperatures with increasing heating rates and loading frequencies. Heating rate and the logarithmic value of loading frequency exhibit a linear relationship with the phase-transition temperature. A three-dimensional spatial relationship model is established to predict the PTT under various test conditions. T1, T0, and Tg are used as dynamic indicators of low-temperature performance, and their ranking is consistent with BBR results. Adding SBS or waste tire rubber powder modifiers improves the low-temperature performance of neat asphalt, with rubber asphalt demonstrating superior performance compared to SBS-modified asphalt. This highlights the potential of using waste tire rubber as a value-added modifier in eco-friendly asphalt materials. For high-temperature performance evaluation, neat asphalt and modified asphalt require separate analysis based on T2. The viscoelastic temperature interval (VTI) provides a phase-transition-based candidate service temperature interval for asphalt. Incorporating SBS modifiers or rubber powder into neat asphalt effectively broadened the viscoelastic temperature interval, with rubber asphalt exhibiting the widest VTI.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmats.2026.1991878</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmats.2026.1991878</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Interfacial interactions between crumb rubber-polyphosphoric acid composite-modified asphalt and aggregates]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-11-05T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Qi Li</author><author>Juan Li</author><author>Guangguo Wu</author><author>Tangxin Xie</author><author>Yuchen Wang</author>
        <description><![CDATA[Waste crumb rubber and polyphosphoric acid (PPA) were incorporated into asphalt mastic through a staged shearing process under controlled temperatures. Their combined effects were examined using a cross-scale framework that linked surface free-energy measurements, atomic force microscopy, rheological sweeps, and pull-off tests. The combined use of crumb rubber and PPA shifted the asphalt colloidal system from a sol-like state toward a more interconnected gel structure. This transition increased surface roughness, promoted microscale mechanical interlocking, and restrained interfacial slippage. The anti-stripping agent further improved interfacial wetting and polar compatibility, while the fibers supported the mastic skeleton and maintained continuous stress transfer within the material. CRA-PPA-2, containing crumb rubber, PPA, an anti-stripping agent, and lignin fibers, achieved dry pull-off tensile strength (POTS) values of 2.76 and 2.86 MPa and wet POTS values of 2.29 and 2.43 MPa for basalt and diabase, respectively. The corresponding pull-off strength retention ratios (TSR) reached 83.0% and 85.0%, indicating improved resistance to moisture-induced bond deterioration. This combined modification approach effectively alleviated water-induced adhesion loss and interfacial debonding, offering a practical strategy for improving the interfacial durability of asphalt pavements.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmats.2026.1984323</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmats.2026.1984323</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Waste-derived Fe-Co zeolitic imidazolate framework as an additive for enhanced methane production during anaerobic digestion of food waste]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-11-05T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Jones Joseph Abel</author><author>Mohamed Soud Mohamed</author><author>Amani Abdallah Hepautwa</author><author>Fina Lesafi</author><author>Register Mrosso</author>
        <description><![CDATA[The growing demand for renewable energy and sustainable waste management has increased interest in anaerobic digestion (AD) of food waste; however, limitations in substrate conversion and methane-production kinetics can restrict energy recovery. This study investigated waste-derived iron–cobalt zeolitic imidazolate framework (Fe-Co ZIF) as an additive for enhancing methane production during anaerobic co-digestion of food waste. Fe-Co ZIF was synthesized using iron recovered from waste iron filings and characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) analysis. Batch digestion was conducted under mesophilic conditions using Fe-Co ZIF dosages of 20, 40, and 60 mg g-1 volatile solids (C20, C40, and C60), with an untreated control (C). Methane-production kinetics were evaluated using the Double-Gompertz model, while treatment effects were assessed using one-way ANOVA, effect size (η2), coefficient of variation and Tukey HSD multiple comparisons. Fe-Co ZIF produced a significant, non-linear dosage response. Cumulative methane production increased from 324.93 ± 13.46 mL g-1 VS in the control to 376.10 ± 10.59 and 384.80 ± 31.87 mL g-1 VS at C20 and C40, representing increases of 15.7% and 18.4%, respectively, whereas C60 produced only 329.00 ± 14.70 mL g-1 VS. The overall dosage effect on cumulative methane production was significant (F (3,8) = 7.624, p = 0.0099, η2 = 0.741), with C20 and C40 significantly exceeding the control but remaining statistically comparable to each other. C20 exhibited the highest first-phase methane potential (P1 = 117.42 ± 4.85 mL g-1 VS) and maximum first- and second-phase production rates (R1 = 70.04 ± 6.15 and R2 = 24.25 ± 2.14 mL g-1 VS Day-1), indicating superior kinetic acceleration and response consistency. Conversely, C40 produced the highest second-phase methane potential (P2 = 266.07 ± 6.08 mL g-1 VS) and total methane potential (Ptotal = 380.31 ± 15.31 mL g-1 VS), demonstrating greater ultimate methane-production capacity. Increasing the dosage to C60 provided no statistically supported methane-production advantage over the control while significantly prolonging the kinetic lag phases. Overall, the results identify 20–40 mg g-1 VS as the favorable Fe-Co ZIF dosage region, with C20 preferable for rapid and consistent methane generation and C40 advantageous for maximizing methane-production capacity. These findings demonstrate the potential of waste-derived Fe-Co ZIF for integrating iron-waste valorization with enhanced renewable methane recovery from food waste.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmats.2026.1942932</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmats.2026.1942932</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Tailoring surface and structural properties of WO3 thin films via mixed-gas plasma deposition for optimized H2 gas sensing performance]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-11-03T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Santosh Kumar</author><author>Archana Singh Kharb</author><author>Shristi Bist</author><author>Hritik Yadav</author><author>Amit Kumar Chawla</author><author>Shikha Awasthi</author><author>Amol Singh</author><author>Ratnesh K. Pandey</author>
        <description><![CDATA[Detecting hydrogen at low concentration is essential for the early identification of leaks in hydrogen storage and transportation systems, thereby improving operational safety. In this work, thin films of tungsten trioxide (WO3), a well-known hydrogen-sensing material, were deposited via DC reactive magnetron sputtering under systematically varied gas environments to elucidate the role of deposition conditions in tailoring film morphology and sensing performance. Introducing mixed Ar/O2, Ar/He/O2, and He/O2 sputtering atmospheres with varying gas flow rates at a substrate temperature of 400 °C produced a marked reduction in grain size and film thickness compared with films grown in an equal flow-rate Ar/O2 plasma. The film synthesized in the Ar/O2 environment exhibited superior resistance modulation upon H2 exposure and significantly enhanced sensitivity compared with the other films. Gas sensing characteristics toward H2 were evaluated at operating temperatures of 100, 150, and 200 °C, and the optimized film was further investigated for low H2 concentrations down to 25 ppm. These findings demonstrate a strong correlation between microstructure and sensing response and highlight the critical influence of the deposition environment on the morphological and electronic properties of WO3 thin films, providing a viable strategy for developing next-generation high-performance hydrogen gas sensors.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmats.2026.1986968</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmats.2026.1986968</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Beyond single-property retention: how multifunctional composites lose serviceability under irradiation]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-11-02T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Review</category>
        <author>Eugeniy Beliayev</author>
        <description><![CDATA[Retention of a single measured property does not, by itself, establish the serviceability of an irradiated multifunctional composite. This critical narrative review examines differential property evolution in radiation-shielding composites, silicon-carbide and carbon-based thermostructural composites, and fusion-magnet insulation. Comparisons are made within documented material and irradiation conditions, without treating absorbed dose, particle fluence and displacements per atom as a universal damage coordinate. Selected SiC/SiC studies show substantial thermal-transport degradation alongside retained flexural strength; C/SiC can stiffen while losing strength and deformation capacity. Cryogenic insulation illustrates a different limitation: a high measured breakdown voltage may coexist with structural damage, and the test medium can change the failure path. Direct post-ageing attenuation measurements in PP/PbO composites show reported dose-dependent differences between shielding, tensile and impact responses, but do not establish a universal failure order or component lifetime. Serviceability is defined at component level, relative to specified functions, loading and environmental conditions. A signed margin expresses each requirement relative to its own acceptance boundary; the first exhausted margin, not necessarily the fastest-changing property, limits serviceability under this convention. The review distinguishes measured response, validated surrogate inference and component qualification, and provides a reusable failure-route test matrix. Quantitative comparisons require appropriate uncertainty treatment, traceable irradiation histories and explicit post-irradiation conditioning. Where acceptance limits or adequate source statistics are unavailable, differential response remains informative but cannot be promoted to a demonstrated service-limit crossing.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmats.2026.1934520</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmats.2026.1934520</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Weak-phase competition and damage redistribution in shale ceramsite–basalt mixed-aggregate concrete: experimental observations and discrete element simulations]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-11-02T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Luyuan Yan</author><author>Weiyu Xu</author><author>Yiding Liu</author><author>Yang Liu</author><author>Hongwu Gao</author>
        <description><![CDATA[The compressive failure of shale ceramsite–basalt mixed-aggregate concrete involves competition among matrix cracking, interfacial bond breakage, and intra-aggregate fracture. This study combines experimental peak responses and representative fracture observations for concrete with shale ceramsite replacement ratios of 0%, 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100% with calibrated two-dimensional discrete element method (DEM) analyses. Mortar, shale ceramsite, and basalt were represented as distinct material phases, and five contact categories were distinguished to track phase-specific bond breakage. The absolute relative deviations between the experimental calibration targets and simulated peak compressive stresses were 0.04%–1.38%, whereas the corresponding peak-strain deviations were 2.38%–14.66%. At the simulated peak-strain state, the contribution of intra-ceramsite fracture to the cumulative bond-breakage population increased from 19.99% in C25 to 34.12% in C100, while the matrix contribution decreased from 83.78% in C0 to 57.40% in C100 but remained the largest single contribution. Coupled enhancement of the ITZ parameters from 0.1 to 0.2 of the corresponding mortar values increased peak compressive stress by 34.87%, 28.31%, and 18.14% for C0, C50, and C100, respectively, with generally smaller additional gains at higher ratios. Increasing intra-aggregate cohesion and tensile strength to 300% of the baseline values increased peak stress by approximately 0.65% for C0 but by 18.01% for C100. These results indicate a composition- and resistance-dependent redistribution of phase participation rather than a discrete transfer of failure control among individual phases. The findings provide a mesoscale interpretation of damage competition within the investigated mixtures and calibrated two-dimensional numerical framework.]]></description>
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        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmats.2026.1944252</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmats.2026.1944252</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Performance evaluation of zinc oxide nanomaterial coated titanium grade–5 alloy for superior biomedical applications]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-11-02T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Manjit Singh Jadon</author><author>Gaurav Bhanjana</author><author>Ravinder Lamba</author><author>Neeraj Dilbaghi</author><author>Jyotsana Mehta</author><author>Nitin Kumar Singhal</author><author>Sandeep Kumar</author>
        <description><![CDATA[IntroductionThis study investigates the comprehensive performance of ZnO nanoparticles coated Titanium grade–5 (Ti-6AI-4V) alloy, across diverse domains, including wear resistance, corrosion protection, cytotoxicity, and antimicrobial efficacy.MethodsThe ZnO nanoparticles were synthesised using a wet-chemical precipitation method and comprehensively characterized using various techniques including UV-Visible spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Energy Disperse X-ray (EDX) analysis, and element mapping for investigating the structural, morphological and compositional properties. The ZnO nanoparticles were meticulously deposited on the titanium grade–5 alloy surface using spin coating technique, and the resulting coated alloy was characterized through SEM, EDX and element mapping to verify the compositional details and uniformity of coating on the surface. Wear resistance was evaluated using ball-ondisc tribometer method at various speeds, revealing the impact of the ZnO nanoparticles coating on mitigating surface abrasion.Results and DiscussionIt was observed that ZnO nanoparticles coated titanium grade–5 substrate shows minimum value of wear which is 114.22 μm at 200 rpm under a 30 N load. Potentiodynamic polarization was employed to assess the corrosion resistance, highlighting the protective role of the ZnO nanoparticles coating against corrosive environments. The results show that ZnO nanoparticles coated substrate is more resistant to corrosion compared to the uncoated substrate. Cytotoxicity was investigated through MTT (3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazolyl-2)-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assay using mouse embryonic fibroblast cell line (NIH-3T3), shedding light on the biocompatibility of the coated titanium grade–5 alloy. The results showed 22.1% increase in cell viability of coated substrate compared to the uncoated substrate. ZnO-coated sample shows a 13.6% reduction in corrosion current (Icorr), a 5.3% increase in polarization resistance (Rp), and a 43 mV shift of the observed corrosion potential (Ecorr) toward more noble (less negative) values, all of which are internally consistent indicators of improved corrosion resistance. Additionally, antimicrobial properties were examined against the indicator strains Escherichia coli (E.coli, MTCC-16521) and Staphylococcus aureus (S.aureus, MTCC-3160), elucidating the potential of ZnO nanoparticles coated titanium grade–5 alloy to inhibit bacterial growth.]]></description>
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        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmats.2026.1924578</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmats.2026.1924578</link>
        <title><![CDATA[TEMPO-oxidized cellulose nanofibrils increase tensile strength by 80% and enhance barrier and biodegradation performance in PLA/PBAT nanocomposites: a systematic meta-analysis]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-11-02T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Rafael Aguirre Flores</author><author>Francisco J. González</author><author>Felipe Avalos Belmontes</author>
        <description><![CDATA[BackgroundBiodegradable poly (lactic acid)/poly (butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PLA/PBAT) blends suffer from poor interfacial adhesion and suboptimal mechanical performance, limiting their use in sustainable packaging.MethodsA PRISMA-compliant systematic meta-analysis of 34 peer-reviewed publications (2018–2025) was conducted. Inclusion criteria required studies reporting tensile, thermal, or barrier data on PLA/PBAT blends with nanocellulose ≥2 wt%. Heterogeneity was assessed using Cochran’s Q and I2 statistics; sensitivity analysis confirmed robustness. Data were normalized to a 70/30 PLA/PBAT reference composition using a validated linear mixing-rule protocol (R2 = 0.91), acknowledging that this approach may introduce systematic bias for properties exhibiting nonlinear composition dependence, particularly barrier properties.ResultsSurface-modified TEMPO-oxidized CNFs at 5 wt% achieved the most significant improvements: tensile strength increased 80% (28.4 → 51.2 MPa), Young’s modulus increased 158% (1.2 → 3.1 GPa), thermal degradation onset temperature improved by 35 °C (295 → 330 °C), and water vapor permeability decreased 57% (15.2 → 6.5 g mm/m2·day at 100 μm reference thickness). Crystallinity increased from 32% to 55%, and activation energy for thermal degradation rose from 155.8 to 205.3 kJ/mol. Nanocellulose incorporation accelerated biodegradation under industrial composting conditions (ISO 14855-1, 58 °C, 60%–65% RH), reducing half-life from 12.0 to 7.9 weeks and increasing degradation (weight loss) to 86% at 12 weeks (CO2-based mineralization efficiency: 81%). The tortuosity factor increased from 1.2 to 2.4, consistent with Nielsen’s tortuous path model.ConclusionSurface-modified nanocellulose enables high-performance, fully biodegradable composites suitable for sustainable packaging, with biodegradation rates meeting the ISO 14855-1 threshold of EN 13432. Full certification additionally requires disintegration and ecotoxicity data not available in the present meta-analysis corpus. Performance is comparable to, or exceeds, that of synthetic nanoreinforcements (CNTs, organoclays) in independent studies—though direct comparison under identical conditions would be needed to establish definitive superiority—while offering full biodegradability.]]></description>
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        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmats.2026.2007637</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmats.2026.2007637</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Reliability analysis of soil-rock composite slopes based on dimensionality reduction response surface method]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-10-30T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Libiao Feng</author><author>Song Chen</author><author>Jinglai Sun</author><author>Boyuan Jia</author><author>Baodong Zhao</author><author>Yashen Gu</author><author>Zhuohang Li</author><author>Ke Zhang</author><author>Yafang Xue</author><author>Yuetong Zhou</author>
        <description><![CDATA[To address the “curse of dimensionality” caused by high-dimensional parameters and the computational bottlenecks of 3D numerical simulations in the reliability evaluation of “overlying silty clay and underlying weathered mylonite” composite strata slopes, a reliability analysis framework combining 2D limit-equilibrium screening and a response-surface surrogate constructed from quasi-3D FLAC3D simulations is proposed. First, by combining the limit equilibrium method with an orthogonal experiment and multivariate analysis of variance (ANOVA), the 9-dimensional random variable space is reduced, identifying the cohesion, internal friction angle, and unit weight of the moderately weathered mylonite as the dominant parameters. Secondly, based on the equivalent continuum assumption for the fractured weathered rock mass, a quasi-3D finite-difference model implemented in FLAC3D is constructed, which demonstrates the progressive development of a deep-seated rotational failure mechanism in the composite slope. According to this, a second-order response surface surrogate model with a coefficient of determination R2 = 0.9990 is developed using the Box–Behnken Design (BBD), which effectively captures the nonlinear coupling effects among the controlling parameters. Lastly, 100,000 Monte Carlo simulations using truncated-normal input distributions yield a baseline slope failure probability of 2.767% and an equivalent reliability index of 1.916. A Gaussian-Copula sensitivity analysis further shows that the estimated failure probability is influenced by the assumed dependence between cohesion and internal friction angle. The results demonstrate that probabilistic parameter variability can produce a non-negligible failure risk even when the deterministic mean - value condition gives FoS>1.0. This dimensionality-reduction response-surface framework provides an efficient approach for the probabilistic reliability assessment of heterogeneous Soil-Rock composite slopes.]]></description>
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        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmats.2026.1984896</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmats.2026.1984896</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Fly ash replacement and sand-to-binder ratio shape trade-offs among workability, strength, and stiffness in joint-filling mortar]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-10-30T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Zhengxin Wu</author><author>Bing Han</author><author>Zhiqing Zhu</author><author>Leilei Han</author>
        <description><![CDATA[IntroductionJoint-filling mortars must retain placement mobility while developing adequate load-bearing capacity without excessive stiffness.MethodsA 5 × 3 full-grid experiment was conducted using 40%–60% fly ash (FA) replacement, sand-to-binder ratio (S/B) of 0.35–0.55, a fixed water-to-binder ratio (W/B) of 0.30, and polypropylene (PP) fiber at 2.0 vol.% of total mortar volume. Strength and 28-d compressive secant modulus were evaluated using nested empirical regression models with leave-one-mixture-out cross-validation, while a targeted three-block randomized complete block design (RCBD) with a fixed high-range water reducer (HRWR) dosage was used to validate the principal FA and S/B response gradients and to support three-objective Pareto screening.ResultsAcross the full grid, increasing FA from 40% to 60% reduced mean 28-d compressive strength and secant modulus by 10.28 MPa and 5.0 GPa, respectively. At FA = 60% under fixed HRWR, increasing S/B from 0.45 to 0.50 reduced free spread by 7.17 mm while increasing 28-d compressive strength by 5.20 MPa, with no resolved modulus change; the subsequent increase to 0.55 reduced free spread by 20.50 mm, decreased 28-d compressive strength by 2.53 MPa, and increased modulus by 1.92 GPa. Strength development remained age dependent, with the 60% FA group showing the largest ratio of group-mean 28-d to 7-d compressive strengths in the full-grid dataset. Pareto screening of the five fixed-HRWR validation mixtures identified M9, M10, M11, and M12 as non-dominated alternatives.DiscussionWithin the tested material and processing window, equal S/B increments therefore did not retain the same marginal response, and the non-dominated mixtures represent application-dependent trade-off options among workability, strength, and stiffness.]]></description>
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        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmats.2026.1911252</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmats.2026.1911252</link>
        <title><![CDATA[5-fluorouracil-loaded Mn-doped ZnO nanocomposite: synthesis, characterization, and antibacterial activity]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-10-30T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Rida Zafar</author><author>Irum Jamil</author><author>Samreen Bibi</author><author>Faisal Nawaz</author><author>Syed Waqas Hassan</author><author>Md Enamul Hoque</author>
        <description><![CDATA[Antimicrobial resistance has intensified the search for alternative strategies to combat drug-resistant bacterial pathogens. Although 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) exhibits intrinsic antibacterial activity, its clinical antimicrobial application may be limited by dose-dependent toxicity. This study aimed to develop a 5-FU-loaded Mn-doped ZnO nanocomposite and evaluate its structural characteristics and antibacterial activity against the Gram-positive bacterium Staphylococcus aureus and the Gram-negative bacterium Escherichia coli. The nanocomposite was synthesized by co-precipitation and characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), UV–visible spectroscopy, and Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. Complementary spectroscopic and structural analyses evaluated the optical band-gap characteristics and successful incorporation of Zn, Mn, and 5-FU. The 5-FU-loaded Mn-doped ZnO nanocomposite demonstrated notable antibacterial activity against both bacterial strains. At concentrations of 15 and 10 μL, the nanocomposite produced inhibition zones of 16.8 and 13.8 mm against S. aureus, respectively, and 14.8 and 12.5 mm against E. coli. The greater inhibition against S. aureus indicates comparatively higher susceptibility of the Gram-positive strain to the nanocomposite. Overall, the findings demonstrate that 5-FU-loaded Mn-doped ZnO nanocomposites exhibit promising broad-spectrum antibacterial activity and may offer a nanomaterial-based strategy to enhance the antimicrobial utility of 5-FU while potentially reducing the required drug dose.]]></description>
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        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmats.2026.1962211</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmats.2026.1962211</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Wheat straw-derived lignin nanoparticles combined with postbiotics for antimicrobial, antibiofilm, and antioxidant applications in topical formulations]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-10-30T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Subrat Pandey</author><author>Bhanu Kushwaha</author><author>Pranav Shukla</author><author>Rakesh Kumar Sharma</author>
        <description><![CDATA[IntroductionPlant-derived bionanomaterials have emerged as an important interest as a sustainable platform for new drug delivery and antimicrobial applications. In this study, biopolymer-based lignin nanoparticles were synthesized using wheat straw lignin.MethodLignin from wheat straw was extracted and used for the preparation of nanoparticles. The lignin nanoparticles (LNPs) were then characterized using UV–visible spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared, and the engineered LNPs were then mixed with cell-free supernatant (CFS) of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum to build a multifunctional, antibiotic-free nanotherapeutic system against dermatological pathogens Cutibacterium acnes using Aloe vera gel. All the combinations were checked for growth and biofilm inhibition of the pathogen.ResultsSpherical to subspherical LNPs were formed with a mean diameter ranging between 53 and 107 nm. These LNPs in combination with the postbiotic showed excellent growth inhibition of C. acnes (95.5%) in broth assays, compared to the postbiotic CFS alone (63.6%) and the conventional antibiotic azithromycin (35.9%). Quantitative fluorescence microscopy also confirmed a significant decrease in the amount of bacteria associated with the biofilm (47.5% relative fluorescent compared to 58.0% for azithromycin). The formulated nanocomposite gel also demonstrated strong 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl free radical-scavenging activity, with an in vitro sun protection factor (SPF) of 10.0, compared to an SPF of 0.53 for the base gel.DiscussionThe improved antimicrobial and antibiofilm activities of the LNP–postbiotic formulation indicate a combined interaction between wheat straw-derived lignin nanoparticles and L. plantarum postbiotic metabolites, leading to greater C. acnes inhibition than the individual components and the tested azithromycin control. The antioxidant and photoprotective properties of the nanocomposite gel provide additional proof of its potential as a multifunctional, sustainable, antibiotic-free topical biomaterial for acne treatment. However, further investigation may be required to assess its physicochemical stability, skin compatibility, permeation, and in vivo therapeutic efficacy.]]></description>
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