Enhancing electrical conductivity and mechanical properties of decellularized umbilical cord arteries using graphene coatings.

Traditional decellularized bioscaffolds possessing intact vascular networks and unique architecture have been extensively studied as conduits for repairing nerve damage. However, they are limited by the absence of electrical conductivity, which is crucial for proper functioning of nervous tissue. This study focuses on investigating decellularized umbilical cord arteries by applying coatings of graphene oxide (GO) and reduced graphene oxide (RGO) to their inner surfaces. This resulted in a homogeneous GO coating that fully covered the internal lumen of the arteries. The results of electrical measurements demonstrated that the conductivity of the scaffolds could be significantly enhanced by incorporating RGO and GO conductive sheets. At a low frequency of 0.1 Hz, the electrical resistance level of the coated scaffolds decreased by 99.8% with RGO and 98.21% with GO, compared with uncoated scaffolds. Additionally, the mechanical properties of the arteries improved by 24.69% with GO and 32.9% with RGO after the decellularization process. The GO and RGO coatings did not compromise the adhesion of endothelial cells and promoted cell growth. The cytotoxicity tests revealed that cell survival rate increased over time with RGO, while it decreased with GO, indicating the time-dependent effect on the cytotoxicity of GO and RGO. Blood compatibility evaluations showed that graphene nanomaterials did not induce hemolysis but exhibited some tendency toward blood coagulation.

Multi-step ahead forecasting of electrical conductivity in rivers by using a hybrid Convolutional Neural Network-Long Short-Term Memory (CNN-LSTM) model enhanced by Boruta-XGBoost feature selection algorithm.

Electrical conductivity (EC) is widely recognized as one of the most essential water quality metrics for predicting salinity and mineralization. In the current research, the EC of two Australian rivers (Albert River and Barratta Creek) was forecasted for up to 10 days using a novel deep learning algorithm (Convolutional Neural Network combined with Long Short-Term Memory Model, CNN-LSTM). The Boruta-XGBoost feature selection method was used to determine the significant inputs (time series lagged data) to the model. To compare the performance of Boruta-XGB-CNN-LSTM models, three machine learning approaches-multi-layer perceptron neural network (MLP), K-nearest neighbour (KNN), and extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost) were used. Different statistical metrics, such as correlation coefficient (R), root mean square error (RMSE), and mean absolute percentage error, were used to assess the models' performance. From 10 years of data in both rivers, 7 years (2012-2018) were used as a training set, and 3 years (2019-2021) were used for testing the models. Application of the Boruta-XGB-CNN-LSTM model in forecasting one day ahead of EC showed that in both stations, Boruta-XGB-CNN-LSTM can forecast the EC parameter better than other machine learning models for the test dataset (R = 0.9429, RMSE = 45.6896, MAPE = 5.9749 for Albert River, and R = 0.9215, RMSE = 43.8315, MAPE = 7.6029 for Barratta Creek). Considering the better performance of the Boruta-XGB-CNN-LSTM model in both rivers, this model was used to forecast 3-10 days ahead of EC. The results showed that the Boruta-XGB-CNN-LSTM model is very capable of forecasting the EC for the next 10 days. The results showed that by increasing the forecasting horizon from 3 to 10 days, the performance of the Boruta-XGB-CNN-LSTM model slightly decreased. The results of this study show that the Boruta-XGB-CNN-LSTM model can be used as a good soft computing method for accurately predicting how the EC will change in rivers.

High-performance n-Type Organic Thermoelectrics with Exceptional Conductivity by Polymer-Dopant Matching.

Achieving high electrical conductivity (σ) and power factor (PF) simultaneously remains a significant challenge for n-type organic themoelectrics (OTEs). Herein, we demonstrate the state-of-the-art OTEs performance through blending a fused bithiophene imide dimer-based polymer f-BTI2g-SVSCN and its selenophene-substituted analogue f-BSeI2g-SVSCN with a julolidine-functionalized benzimidazoline n-dopant JLBI, vis-à-vis when blended with commercially available n-dopants TAM and N-DMBI. The advantages of introducing a more lipophilic julolidine group into the dopant structure of JLBI are evidenced by the enhanced OTEs performance that JLBI-doped films show when compared to those doped with N-DMBI or TAM. In fact, thanks to the enhanced intermolecular interactions and the lower-lying LUMO level enabled by the increase of selenophene content in polymer backbone, JLBI-doped films of f-BSeI2g-SVSCN exhibit a unprecedent σ of 206 S cm-1 and a PF of 114 µW m-1 K-2. Interestingly, σ can be further enhanced up to 326 S cm-1 by using TAM dopant as a consequence of its favorable diffusion behavior into densely packed crystalline domains. These values are the highest to date for solution-processed molecularly n-doped polymers, demonstrating the effectiveness of the polymer-dopant matching approach carried out in this work.

Neural Tissue-Like, not Supraphysiological, Electrical Conductivity Stimulates Neuronal Lineage Specification through Calcium Signaling and Epigenetic Modification.

Electrical conductivity is a pivotal biophysical factor for neural interfaces, though optimal values remain controversial due to challenges isolating this cue. To address this issue, conductive substrates made of carbon nanotubes and graphene oxide nanoribbons, exhibiting a spectrum of conductivities from 0.02 to 3.2 S m-1, while controlling other surface properties is designed. The focus is to ascertain whether varying conductivity in isolation has any discernable impact on neural lineage specification. Remarkably, neural-tissue-like low conductivity (0.02-0.1 S m-1) prompted neural stem/progenitor cells to exhibit a greater propensity toward neuronal lineage specification (neurons and oligodendrocytes, not astrocytes) compared to high supraphysiological conductivity (3.2 S m-1). High conductivity instigated the apoptotic process, characterized by increased apoptotic fraction and decreased neurogenic morphological features, primarily due to calcium overload. Conversely, cells exposed to physiological conductivity displayed epigenetic changes, specifically increased chromatin openness with H3acetylation (H3ac) and neurogenic-transcription-factor activation, along with a more balanced intracellular calcium response. The pharmacological inhibition of H3ac further supported the idea that such epigenetic changes might play a key role in driving neuronal specification in response to neural-tissue-like, not supraphysiological, conductive cues. These findings underscore the necessity of optimal conductivity when designing neural interfaces and scaffolds to stimulate neuronal differentiation and facilitate the repair process.

Copper-Graphene Composite (CGC) Conductors: Synthesis, Microstructure, and Electrical Performance.

Improving the electrical performance of copper, the most widely used electrical conductor in the world is of vital importance to the progress of key technologies, including electric vehicles, portable devices, renewable energy, and power grids. Copper-graphene composite (CGC) stands out as the most promising candidate for high-performance electrical conductor applications. This can be attributed to the superior properties of graphene fillers embedded in CGC, including excellent electrical and thermal conductivity, corrosion resistance, and high mechanical strength. This review highlights the recent progress of CGC conductors, including their fabrication processes, electrical performances, mechanisms of copper-graphene interplay, and potential applications.

Dynamics of micro and macronutrients in a hydroponic nutrient film technique system under lettuce cultivation.

While hydroponics is considered an efficient vegetable production system, there is a compelling need to investigate the efficiency of the current generic nutrient dosing recommendation primarily based on electrical conductivity (EC) measurements. Such information is critical to fine-tune and optimize the current hydroponic management practices for improved nutrient uptake efficiency. This study investigated the dynamics of some micro and macronutrients (N, P, Ca, Mg, K, Fe, and Mn) in a recirculating nutrient film technique (NFT) hydroponic system under lettuce cultivation. The research was conducted in an indoor controlled environment growth chamber with lettuce grown in different EC levels (1.2 and 1.6 dS m-1). Each treatment had four hydroponic cultivation units, each one with 24 plants. Nutrient solution and tissue samples were collected two to three times per week. Nutrient dynamics, including nutrient uptake efficiencies and environmental losses, were calculated using a mass balance approach. The effects of EC level on fresh and dry lettuce biomass and nutrient uptake were insignificant. Observed variations in nutrient solution composition during lettuce cultivation included the almost complete removal of ammonia nitrogen, nitrate decreases towards the end of the experiment, consistent increases in aqueous Ca concentration, and corresponding decreases in K and Mn. Average N losses ranged between 27 and 40 %, presumably through denitrification, while 10-14 % of N was assimilated into the plant biomass. The remaining N in the recirculating nutrient solution was estimated to be between 50 and 59 %. The average P loss was 11-35 %, likely due to precipitation, while 52-77 % remained in the nutrient solution. Nutrient uptake efficiencies averaged 19-31 % K, 12-21 % P, 9-16 % Mn, 4-6 % Ca, 3-4 % Mg, and 2-4 % Fe. These results suggest that elevated nutrient concentrations in recirculating nutrient solutions led to losses and underutilization. Findings from this study provide a comprehensive dataset critical to improving hydroponic nutrient management beyond N and P. Hydroponic nutrient management should target providing essential nutrients needed by plants at the correct proportions considering the plant growth stage.

Enhancing Effect of Fullerene Guest and Counterion on the Structural Stability and Electrical Conductivity of Octahedral Metallo-Supramolecular Cages.

Metallo-supramolecular cages have garnered tremendous attention for their diverse yet molecular-level precision structures. However, physical properties of these supramolecular ensembles, which are of potential significance in molecular electronics, remain largely unexplored. We herein constructed a series of octahedral metallo-cages and cage-fullerene complexes with notably enhanced structural stability. As such, we could systematically evaluate the electrical conductivity of these ensembles at both single-molecule level and aggregated bulk state (as well-defined films). Our findings reveal that counteranions and fullerene guests play a pivotal role in determining the electrical conductivity of aggregated state, while such effects are less significant for single-molecule conductance. Both counteranions and fullerenes effectively tune the electronic structures and packing density of metallo-supramolecular assemblies, and facilitate efficient charge transfer between the cage hosts and fullerenes, resulting in a notable one order of magnitude increase in electrical conductivity of the aggregated state.

Inactivation of Bacillus cereus spores by ohmic heating: Efficiency and changes of spore biological properties.

Bacillus cereus spores pose a significant concern during food processing due to their high resistance to environmental stress. Ohmic heating (OH) is an emerging and alternative heating technology with potential for inactivating such spores. This study evaluated the inactivation effects and the biological property changes of Bacillus cereus spores during OH treatments. OH effectively inactivated spores in milk, orange juice, broth, rice soup, and buffer solution in less time than oil bath heating (OB). A decrease in NaCl content improved spore inactivation at the same temperature. Spores were more sensitive to acid at 80-85 °C with OH treatment. Furthermore, OH at 10 V/cm and 50 Hz could reduce the spore resistance and inhibit an increase in spore hydrophobicity and spore aggregation. Both heating methods resulted in significant dipicolinic acid (DPA) leakage and damage to the cortex and inner membranes of the spores. However, OH at 10 V/cm and 50 Hz had the lowest DPA leakage and inflicted the least damage to the inner membrane. The damage to the spore's inner membrane was considered the primary reason for inactivation by OB and OH treatments. Still, OH at 10 V/cm and 50 Hz might also block the germination or outgrowth of treated spores or cause damage to the spore core.

Building a Layer-Structured Aluminum/Graphene Composite with Significant Improvement in Electrical Conductivity.

Aluminum (Al) and its alloys are widely used in various fields due to their excellent physical properties. Although many efforts have been made to fabricate an Al-based composite, they usually results in a significant decrease in electrical conductivity. Herein, a special layer-structured Al/graphene (Gr)/Al composite was successfully designed and fabricated through a facile method using the ultrasonic spraying of graphene powder with alumina removal and a subsequent vacuum hot-pressing process. The as-obtained Al/Gr/Al composite presents a significantly enhanced electrical conductivity of 66% IACS, which is much higher than that of other reported Al-based composites, while it still maintains similar mechanical properties. This work provides a new strategy for the development of highly conductive Al-based composites, which would be very useful and important for practical applications.

Development and Calibration of a Microfluidic, Chip-Based Sensor System for Monitoring the Physical Properties of Water Samples in Aquacultures.

In this work, we present a compact, bifunctional chip-based sensor setup that measures the temperature and electrical conductivity of water samples, including specimens from rivers and channels, aquaculture, and the Atlantic Ocean. For conductivity measurements, we utilize the impedance amplitude recorded via interdigitated electrode structures at a single triggering frequency. The results are well in line with data obtained using a calibrated reference instrument. The new setup holds for conductivity values spanning almost two orders of magnitude (river versus ocean water) without the need for equivalent circuit modelling. Temperature measurements were performed in four-point geometry with an on-chip platinum RTD (resistance temperature detector) in the temperature range between 2 °C and 40 °C, showing no hysteresis effects between warming and cooling cycles. Although the meander was not shielded against the liquid, the temperature calibration provided equivalent results to low conductive Milli-Q and highly conductive ocean water. The sensor is therefore suitable for inline and online monitoring purposes in recirculating aquaculture systems.

Facile Preparation of High-Performance Reduced Graphene Oxide (RGO)/Copper (Cu) Composites Based on Pyrolysis of Copper Formate.

Graphene has attracted much interest in many scientific fields because of its high specific surface area, Young's modulus, fracture strength, carrier mobility and thermal conductivity. In particular, the graphene oxide (GO) prepared by chemical exfoliation of graphite has achieved low-cost and large-scale production and is one of the most promising for Cu matrix composites. Here, we prepared a high strength, high electrical conductivity and high thermal conductivity reduced graphene oxide (RGO)/Cu composite by directly heating the GO/copper formate. The oxygen-containing functional groups and defects of RGO are significantly reduced compared with those of GO. The tensile yield strength and thermal conductivity of RGO/Cu composite with RGO volume fraction of 0.49 vol.% are as high as 553 MPa and 364 W/(m·K) at room temperature, respectively. The theoretical value of the tensile yield strength of the composite is calculated according to the strengthening mechanism, and the result shows that it agrees with the experimental value. After hot-rolling treatment, the ductility and conductivity of the composite materials have been greatly improved, and the ductility of the RGO/Cu composite with RGO volume fraction of 0.49 vol.% has been increased to four times the original. This work provides a highly efficient way to fabricate a high-performance RGO-reinforced Cu composite for commercial application.

Effects of Hydrogen Plasma Treatment on the Electrical Behavior of Solution-Processed ZnO Thin Films.

In this study, the effect of atmospheric hydrogen plasma treatment on the in-plane conductivity of solution-processed zinc oxide (ZnO) in various environments is reported. The hydrogen-plasma-treated and untreated ZnO films exhibited ohmic behavior with room-temperature in-plane conductivity in a vacuum. When the untreated ZnO film was exposed to a dry oxygen environment, the conductivity rapidly decreased, and an oscillating current was observed. In certain cases, the thin film reversibly 'switched' between the high- and low-conductivity states. In contrast, the conductivity of the hydrogen-plasma-treated ZnO film remained nearly constant under different ambient conditions. We infer that hydrogen acts as a shallow donor, increasing the carrier concentration and generating oxygen vacancies by eliminating the surface contamination layer. Hence, atmospheric hydrogen plasma treatment could play a crucial role in stabilizing the conductivity of ZnO films.

Design and Optimization of NR-Based Stretchable Conductive Composites Filled with MoSi2 Nanoparticles and MWCNTs: Perspectives from Experimental Characterization and Molecular Dynamics Simulations.

Stretchable conductive composites play a pivotal role in the development of personalized electronic devices, electronic skins, and artificial implant devices. This article explores the fabrication and characterization of stretchable composites based on natural rubber (NR) filled with molybdenum disilicide (MoSi2) nanoparticles and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs). Experimental characterization and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations are employed to investigate the static and dynamic properties of the composites, including morphology, glass transition temperature (Tg), electrical conductivity, and mechanical behavior. Results show that the addition of MoSi2 nanoparticles enhances the dispersion of MWCNTs within the NR matrix, optimizing the formation of a conductive network. Dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) confirms the Tg reduction with the addition of MWCNTs and the influence of MoSi2 content on Tg. Mechanical testing reveals that the tensile strength increases with MoSi2 content, with an optimal ratio of 4:1 MoSi2:MWCNTs. Electrical conductivity measurements demonstrate that the MoSi2/MWCNTs/NR composites exhibit enhanced conductivity, reaching optimal values at specific filler ratios. MD simulations further support experimental findings, highlighting the role of MoSi2 in improving dispersion and mechanical properties. Overall, the study elucidates the synergistic effects of nanoparticles and nanotubes in enhancing the properties of stretchable conductive composites.

A coherent engineering assessment of ABS/biochar biocomposites in MEX 3D additive manufacturing.

Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) composites were prepared in filament form compatible with the material extrusion (MEX) 3D printing method, using biochar as a filler at various loadings of up to 10.0 wt %. Samples were fabricated to experimentally investigate their mechanical performance. The ABS/biochar composites were characterized using thermogravimetric analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, Raman spectroscopy, and rheological tests. The electrical properties of the composites were investigated using broadband dielectric spectroscopy. Scanning electron microscopy was utilized to analyze the morphological features of the fabricated specimens by examining their side and fracture surfaces. The results indicate that the composite with 4.0 wt % biochar content compared to pure ABS showed the highest mechanical response between the prepared composites (24.9 % and 21 % higher than the pure ABS tensile and flexural strength respectively). The composites retained their insulating behavior. These findings contribute to expanding the utilization of the material extrusion (MEX) 3D printing method while also unlocking prospects for potential applications in microelectronics, apart from mechanical reinforcement.

Evaluation of Cold Plasma-Activated Water " Enriched Metal " Cations as an Antifungal Agent for Controlling of Penicillium Italicum and Penicillium Digitatum Molds.

The utilization of Cold Plasma (CP) technology for decontamination and disinfection has garnered considerable attention across diverse industries. This study aims to investigate the interaction between pH and electrical conductivity (EC) (µS/cm) in Cold Plasma-Activated Water (CPAW) enriched with metal cations and its potential as an antifungal agent against two Penicillium (P.) mold strains. The investigation focuses on elucidating the augmented chemical interactions induced by plasma between radicals, charged particles, and microorganisms' cell membranes within an aqueous environment. Our findings demonstrate a positive correlation between the inactivation potential of CPAW (operating at 10 kV voltage, 2.5 kHz high frequency, and 500 mA current intensity) and pH and EC(µS/cm) values. Notably, the relative chemical reactivity and solubility of calcium oxide emerge as significant factors, highlighting the pronounced link between P. Italicum and Plasma-Activated Water containing Copper cations (CPAW+Cu+2) (p<0.05). Our study distinctly emphasizes: 1) the substantial impact of both activated water type and mold species on CFU/mL values (p < 0.05); 2) the mold-specific effect of activated water on CFU/mL; and 3) the noteworthy EC(µS/cm) enhancement and pH decrease with prolonged activation time, attaining statistical significance (p < 0.01).

Prediction model of browning inhibitor concentration and its optimal composition for mass processing of ready-to-eat fresh-cut 'Fuji' apple (Malus domestica Borkh.) strains.

In this study, we optimized the composition of the browning inhibitor for apples and established a prediction model for the browning inhibitor concentration in mass-processed fresh-cut apples based on electrical conductivity measurements. The "Fuji" apples that were harvested in Chungju, Korea, were used for this study. Vitamin C mixture (VCM) and trehalose (Tre) were used as browning inhibitors at a 4% ratio. The browning reaction under Δ3 of BI (browning index) for 5 days was defined as the target shelf-life of the apple flesh. The ΔBI of VCM and Tre was lower than that of VCM by 4%. It is revealed that the electrical conductivity of the browning inhibitor was highly correlated with its concentration and the number of soaked apples. Finally, the regression of the conductivity was fitted as Y = -0.0024 (number of soaked apples) + 0.5111 (R2 = 0.9931). In the validation test, the conductivity must be maintained at 0.4373 S/m or higher to maintain the target anti-browning level of Δ3 or less, which corresponded to ∼80% of the initial qualitative level after manufacture. The conductivity measurement of the browning inhibitor is suitable for monitoring and predicting its concentration in the mass processing of fresh-cut apple production due to the convenience of this method. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: The conductivity measurement of browning inhibitors can be applied not only to the mass processing of apple production but also to the anti-browning treatment of other fruits and vegetables, due to the convenience of this method. From these research results, it is expected to derive a formula that can predict the concentration of browning inhibitors through simple experiments for other fruits or vegetables.

Anionic Effect on Electrical Transport Properties of Solid Co2+/3+ Redox Mediators.

In a solid-state dye-sensitized solar cell, a fast-ion conducting (σ25°C > 10-4 S cm-1) solid redox mediator (SRM; electrolyte) helps in fast dye regeneration and back-electron transfer inhibition. In this work, we synthesized solid Co2+/3+ redox mediators using a [(1 - x)succinonitrile: x poly(ethylene oxide)] matrix, LiX, Co(tris-2,2'-bipyridine)3(bis(trifluoromethyl) sulfonylimide)2, and Co(tris-2,2'-bipyridine)3(bis(trifluoromethyl) sulfonylimide)3 via the solution-cast method, and the results were compared with those of their acetonitrile-based liquid counterparts. The notation x is a weight fraction (=0, 0.5, and 1), and X represents an anion. The anion was either bis(trifluoromethyl) sulfonylimide [TFSI-; ionic size, 0.79 nm] or trifluoromethanesulfonate [Triflate-; ionic size, 0.44 nm]. The delocalized electrons and a low value of lattice energy for the anions made the lithium salts highly dissociable in the matrix. The electrolytes exhibited σ25°C ≈ 2.1 × 10-3 (1.5 × 10-3), 7.2 × 10-4 (3.1 × 10-4), and 9.7 × 10-7 (6.3 × 10-7) S cm-1 for x = 0, 0.5, and 1, respectively, with X = TFSI- (Triflate-) ions. The log σ-T-1 plot portrayed a linear curve for x = 0 and 1, and a downward curve for x = 0.5. The electrical transport study showed σ(TFSI-) > σ(Triflate-), with lower activation energy for TFSI- ions. The anionic effect increased from x = 0 to 1. This effect was explained using conventional techniques, such as Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray diffractometry (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), UV-visible spectroscopy (UV-vis), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA).

High amylopectin in waxy maize synergistically affects seed germination and seedling vigour over traditional maize genotypes.

Waxy maize grains rich in amylopectin have emerged as a popular food and industrial raw materials. Here, a set of waxy inbreds having recessive waxy1 (wx1) gene derived through marker-assisted selection (MAS), and their original versions were evaluated for germination, seed vigour index-I and vigour index-II, electrical conductivity (EC) and enzymatic activities viz., dehydrogenase (DH), esterase (EST), peroxidase (POX), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and α-amylase (AMY). Waxy inbreds under study possessed average 97.8% amylopectin compared to 72.4% in original inbreds. Waxy versions showed 15.2% more test weight, 4.3% increase in germination, 22.7% higher seed vigour index-I and 28.3% higher seed vigour index-II, respectively, over the original inbreds. Further, activity of DH, EST, POX, SOD and AMY of MAS-derived waxy inbreds was more than that of original inbreds, whereas EC was less in improved inbreds compared to originals. Amylopectin exhibited strong positive correlations (r = 0.69 to 0.97**) with seed germination, vigour index-I and -II, DH, SOD, POX, EST and AMY activity. However, amylopectin showed negative correlation of - 0.82** with EC. Seed germination and seed vigour indices were also positively correlated with all enzymatic activities (r = 0.58 to 0.92**). The analysis revealed that waxy inbreds possess better seed vigour and enzymatic activities over traditional inbreds. This is the first report of synergistic effects of wx1 gene on seed germination, vigour and enzymatic activities in maize endosperm.

Theoretical Study of the Phonon and Electrical Conductivity Properties of Pure and Sr-Doped LaMnO3 Thin Films.

The film thickness, temperature, substrate and doping dependence of the phonon energy ω and damping γ, as well as the electrical conductivity, of pure and Sr-doped LaMnO3 thin films near the phase transition temperature TN are investigated using a microscopic model and the Green's function technique. Due to the strong spin-phonon interaction, there appears a kink at TN in the temperature dependence of ω(T) and γ(T). The softening and hardening of the ω = 495 cm-1 (A1g) and ω = 614 cm-1 (B2g) modes is explained by the different sign of the anharmonic spin-phonon interaction constant R. The damping increases with T for both cases because it is proportional to R2. ω decreases whereas γ increases with an increasing Sr concentration. This is due to the strain caused by the difference between the ionic radii of the La and Sr ions. The film thickness dependence is also considered. ω and γ increase strongly with the decreasing film thickness. The electrical conductivity is enhanced after the doping of the LMO thin films with Sr, which could be used for energy storage applications. The observed results are in good qualitative agreement with the experimental data.

Enhancing the Conductivity and Dielectric Characteristics of Bismuth Oxyiodide via Activated Carbon Doping.

Activated carbon/BiOI nanocomposites were successfully synthesized through a simplistic method. The produced composites were then characterized using XRD, TEM, SEM-EDX, and XPS. The results showed that BiOI with a tetragonal crystal structure had been formed. The interaction between activated carbon and BiOI was confirmed via all the mentioned tools. The obtained nanocomposites' electrical conductivity, dielectric properties, and Ac impedance were studied at 59 KHz-1.29 MHz. AC and dc conductivities were studied at temperatures between 303 and 573 K within the frequency range of 59 KHz-1.29 MHz. The 10% activated carbon/BiOI nanocomposite possessed dc and AC conductivity values of 5.56 × 10-4 and 2.86 × 10-4 Ω-1.cm-1, respectively, which were higher than BiOI and the other nanocomposites. Every sample exhibited increased electrical conductivity values as the temperature and frequency rose, suggesting that all samples had semiconducting behavior. The loss and dielectric constants (ε' and ε″) also dropped as the frequency increased, leading to higher dielectric loss. The Nyquist plot unraveled single semicircle arcs and a decreased bulk resistance, indicating decreased grain boundary resistance. Consequently, the electrical characteristics of BiOI, 1C/BiOI, 5C/BiOI, and 10C/BiOI implied their applicability as dielectric absorbers, charge-stored capacitors, and high-frequency microwave devices.