Gehad N. Aboulnasr *1; Sara E. Mousa2, and Mervat A. B. Mahmoud3

Improving the pseudocapacitance performance of layered double hydroxides (LDH) based catalysts is critical for enhancing energy density in electrochemical storage applications, such as supercapacitance and batteries. This study examines the effect of decoration with Ni, Co, and NiCo nanocomposites (NCs) on the pseudocapacitance performance of NiCo LDH nanoflowers. The NiCo LDH nanoflowers are electrodeposited using the cyclic voltammetry technique, while metal decoration is performed using the cathodic chronoamperometry technique. A clear dependence on the decorated transition metal type is observed in the surface morphology, chemical bonding states, and corresponding pseudocapacitance performance. The decoration of NiCo LDH nanoflowers with excess transition metals of the same kind, Ni and Co, strongly enhances electron coupling and charge transfer kinetics. The hybrid NiCo@NiCo LDH nanoflowers exhibit better pseudocapacitance performance than those decorated with only Ni or Co. The hybrid NiCo@NiCo LDH nanoflowers demonstrate the highest specific capacitance (C_sp) of 2110 mF∙cm^–2 (211 mA∙cm^–2) at 1 mA∙cm^–2 and retain 86 % of their C_sp at 10 mA∙cm^–2. The assembled asymmetric supercapacitor of NiCo@NiCo LDH || activated carbon reveals high energy density (E) of 145.1 μWh∙cm^–2 at a powder density (P) of 5.12 mW∙cm^–2, keeping a high E of 75 μWh∙cm^–2 at a higher P of 51.92 mW∙cm^–2.

Understanding irradiation-induced strain in silicon carbide (SiC) is essential for designing radiation-tolerant ceramic materials. However, conventional methods often fail to resolve nanoscale strain gradients, especially in polycrystalline forms. In this study, we employ nano-beam precession electron diffraction (N-PED) to perform high-resolution, multi-directional strain mapping in both single-crystal 4H-SiC and polycrystalline α-SiC subjected to helium and hydrogen ion irradiation. The high-resolution X-ray diffraction (HR-XRD) simulations of He + H irradiated single-crystal 4H-SiC closely match the strain profiles obtained from N-PED, demonstrating the reliability and accuracy of the N-PED method. In He-irradiated polycrystalline α-SiC at high temperatures, a bubble-depleted zone (BDZ) near the grain boundary (GB) reveals that GBs act as active sinks for irradiation-induced defects. N-PED further shows strain amplification localized at the GBs, reaching up to ∼2.5 %, along with strain relief within the BDZ. To explain this behavior, density functional theory (DFT) calculations of binding and migration energies indicate a strong tendency for Si, C, and He atoms to segregate toward the GB core. This segregation reduces the availability of vacancies to accommodate He atoms and leads to local strain relaxation near the GB. Furthermore, first-principles tensile simulations reveal that Si and C interstitials mitigate He-induced GB embrittlement. Charge density and DOS analyses link this effect to the bonding characteristics between point defects and neighboring atoms at GB. These insights underscore the importance of grain boundary engineering in enhancing radiation tolerance of SiC for nuclear and space applications.

In close proximity to quantum emitters (QEs), plasmonic nanoparticles (NPs) facilitate energy exchange with the QEs, which is known as plasmon–exciton coupling. The strong coupling regime, associated with Rabi splitting, is crucial for advanced nanophotonic devices, including solar cells, single-photon nonlinear optics, and nanolasers. Recently, high refractive index semiconductor NPs (typically Si NPs) have emerged for designing strongly coupled systems. However, their large mode volumes of magnetic Mie resonances have limited their success in achieving strong coupling. This study investigates the plasmon–exciton coupling between an Ag–Si core–shell and a monolayer QE of WS₂ (Ag–Si–WS₂ system) in air and water environments. Here, we compare the coupling dynamics of the hybrid Ag–Si–WS₂ system to that of the Si–WS₂ system as a benchmarking system. Employing Mie’s theory of core–shell scattering, in conjunction with Maxwell–Garnett effective medium theory, we analyze the optical responses of both configurations. Then, we calculate the Rabi splitting frequency for each system to identify the coupling regime. Our results suggest that the Ag–Si–WS₂ system can achieve a deep-strong coupling regime when the Ag core radius is less than 30 nm, with enhanced coupling strength in water compared to air. Conversely, the Si–WS₂ system does not achieve strong coupling in either medium. The hybrid modes in Ag–Si–WS₂ demonstrate remarkable symmetrical spectral characteristics compared to the asymmetric spectral line shape observed in the Si–WS₂ system. The findings suggest avenues for utilizing the plasmon–exciton strong coupling in the Ag–Si–WS₂ system to enhance optoelectronic and quantum electronic devices.

In the literature, many studies have reported Ti, Ag, and Ta significantly improve the thermal stability of nanocrystalline NC-W for high-temperature applications. However, their segregation behavior and impact on the mechanical properties of NC-W remain poorly understood. This study investigates the segregation behavior and its effects on the mechanical properties of W-M binary alloys (where M represents Ti, Ag, or Ta). Advanced transmission electron microscopy techniques and atomistic modeling are utilized for a comprehensive analysis. After high-temperature annealing, distinct behaviors are observed for each alloying element. Ti and Ag exhibit heterogeneous segregation in NC-W, resulting in solute-depleted/enriched grain boundaries (GBs). Conversely, Ta atoms form a solid solution without forming clusters. Hybrid Monte Carlo (MC)/molecular dynamics (MD) simulations support and elucidate these …

This research focuses on the characterization of a simple organic molecule incorporating biphenyl, methacrylate,
trimethylsilyl acetylene, and liquid crystal compounds. Extensive analysis of the molecule’s physical and optical
properties, including refractive index, extinction coefficient, dielectric constant, and conductivity, was conducted.
Complementary TD-DFT computations validated the experimental findings. The molecule exhibited
intriguing behavior in terms of extinction coefficient and refractive index, showing an initial increase followed by
a decrease with increasing photon energy. CASTEP/DFT simulations confirmed these results. The molecule
demonstrated surfactant properties, indicated by its increasing dielectric constant and optical conductivity,
suggesting enhanced charge transfer and energy storage potential. Additionally, the study investigated the
impact of flexible spacer length on organic compounds, revealing that shorter spacers improve refractive index,
extinction coefficient, and optical conductivity, indicating enhanced light absorption and bending capabilities.
The observed differences in optical values between compounds with different spacer lengths can be attributed to
factors such as molecular packing, dipole moment, molecular orientation, and light interactions. Furthermore,
the removal of the TMS group from the main compound impacted the optical properties by influencing molecular
arrangement, electronic states, and energy levels. These findings provide valuable insights for the design of
materials with tailored optical properties.

The ability of materials to exhibit efficient fluorescence in both solution and aggregated states opens up new
possibilities for their application in areas where both solution-based and solid-state emissions are essential. In
this study, we developed a luminescent molecule and conducted investigations into its thermal stability, liquid
crystal properties, absorption, and emission behavior. The studied material possesses a simple molecular
structure and demonstrates high thermal stability and liquid crystallinity. It also exhibits high emission quantum
yield in various states, including crystals, liquid crystals, and liquids, while maintaining stable emission even at
high temperatures. The molecule also emitted blue linearly polarized light. This unique combination of features
can be attributed to factors such as the rigidity of the molecular structure, the intermolecular interactions of the
fluorophore, and the presence of specific functional groups that enhance both thermal stability and emission
behavior. The molecule’s unique properties have significant potential for various applications in optoelectronics,
sensors, displays, and photonics, with a particular emphasis on organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) and
photovoltaics.

This study investigates a series of bromine-substituted alkoxy biphenyl derivatives to explore their potential as
luminescent and optical materials for applications in display technologies, sensors, and photonic devices. Four
compounds were synthesized, including 5-Br, 6-Br, 7-Br, and a comparative non-halogenated molecule 6-H. The
findings reveal that the bromine-substituted derivatives exhibit enhanced thermal stability as the alkoxy chain
length increases, though none of the compounds displayed liquid crystalline phases, likely due to molecular
flexibility and steric hindrance from the bromine atoms. Photophysical studies showed that the compounds
exhibit tunable emission colors ranging from green to blue, depending on the side chain length and the presence
or absence of bromine. Importantly, the introduction of bromine was found to enhance the photophysical
properties, including increased quantum yields and longer emission lifetimes, compared to the non-halogenated
analog. Moreover, these luminescent molecules can maintain strong fluorescence both in solution and when
forming aggregates. Furthermore, the optical properties, such as dielectric constant, extinction coefficient,
refractive index, and optical conductivity, were thoroughly examined. The results indicate that structural variations,
including alkyl chain length and bromine substitution, significantly influence the capability of these
materials to store and dissipate electrical energy. Their strong optical responses, high energy storage capabilities,
and sensitivity to structural modifications suggest that the studied materials have substantial potential for applications
in energy storage, sensing, optoelectronics, and non-linear optics. These findings offer important
guidelines for the rational design of multifunctional luminescent and optical materials, representing a significant
step forward in the development of practical applications of smart materials and advanced photonic devices.

The Barramiya region holds significant importance within the Mubarak-Hamash block because of its substantial gold mining activities. The primary aim of this research is to locate the structural framework of Barramiya, a subject that has not been previously investigated. This will have an impact on the mineralization in the area. To address this issue, we have employed various analytical techniques, namely the theta (TM), tilt angle of the gradient amplitude (TAHG), second normalized gradient amplitude (STDX), gradient amplitude of NTilt (THGNTilt), logistic function of the gradient amplitude (LTHG), and gradient amplitude-based edge detection (THGED). These techniques have been applied to aeromagnetic data with the purpose of delineating the structural features of the studied region. The depth of structures in the area has also been determined through the utilization of the tilt angle-based approach. The majority of magnetic sources in the region exhibit a depth that is less than 500 m. The findings obtained in this study indicate that the edge detection filters utilized in this research can simultaneously detect the boundaries of buried geological bodies with different depths. The findings additionally indicate that the N-S, NE-SW, and NW-SE directions have significant influence and control on mineralization in the Barramiya region.