Noraiham Mohamad

The transition towards sustainable workspaces has gained momentum in recent years, particularly with the rising popularity of co-working spaces as flexible and shared environments that support wellbeing, collaboration, and environmental sustainability. Despite this growth, no comprehensive framework currently consolidates the physical attributes of a sustainable co-working space. This review addresses this gap by systematically analysing existing literature to uncover the core elements that contribute to the sustainability of co-working spaces. This study aims to define the physical attributes of an environmentally sustainable co-working space by applying an advanced search strategy using the Scopus and IEEE Xplore databases, focusing on publications with keywords such as “sustainable space”, “co-working space”, “green environment”, and their synonyms. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) framework guided the screening and selection process, which resulted in a final dataset of 55 relevant articles. Through qualitative thematic analysis of the abstracts, four dominant themes emerged: (1) Green Environment, which includes thermal comfort, indoor air quality, acoustic control, and natural light; (2) Green Materials, highlighting the importance of recycled, low-carbon, and environmentally-friendly construction materials; (3) Open Layout, emphasizing flexible and collaborative spatial arrangements that enhance social interaction and space efficiency; and (4) Smart Technology, referring to the integration of IoT systems and data-driven solutions that optimize energy use and user experience. The findings suggest that a combination of these attributes is important in creating high-performance, user-centred, and environmentally responsible co-working spaces. This review provides a foundation for future research and practice in sustainable co-working space design to architects, developers, and policymakers who are seeking to promote healthier and more resilient shared work environments. This is the first study to define the physical attributes of a sustainable co-working space.

The rapid proliferation of electronic devices has heightened the demand for efficient electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding materials, as conventional alternatives increasingly fall short in mitigating harmful electromagnetic radiation. In this study, we report the fabrication of acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) nanocomposite films reinforced with graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs), offering a promising solution to this growing challenge. A persistent issue in incorporating GNPs into the ABS matrix is their poor wettability, which impedes uniform dispersion. To overcome this, a sonication-assisted casting technique was employed, enabling effective integration of GNPs at loadings of 1, 3, and 5 wt%. The resulting nanocomposite films exhibit uniform dispersion and enhanced functional properties. Comprehensive characterization using FESEM, UV-Vis spectroscopy, TGA, DSC, FTIR, and dielectric/EMI analyses revealed significant improvements in thermal stability, UV absorption, and dielectric behavior. Notably, the films demonstrated moderate EMI shielding effectiveness, reaching 0.0064 dB at 4 MHz. These findings position the developed GNP-reinforced ABS nanocomposites as promising candidates for advanced applications in the automotive, aerospace, and electronics industries.

Co-working spaces have gained significant attention as flexible work environments. However, the specific attributes of sustainable co-working spaces that most influence human interaction, particularly in educational institutions, remain underexplored. There is a lack of such space in education institutions for students’ self-studying and self-development outside of formal learning hours. This study focuses on respondents within educational institutions, addressing a significant research gap in sustainable co-working space design for these settings. It aims to identify and evaluate the impact of sustainable co-working space attributes on human interaction. An online survey was developed on Google Forms and distributed via social media platforms, resulting in 65 responses from persons from various levels of education institutions. Using survey data collected from participants, the perceived impact of various attributes – ranging from functional attributes to sustainable attributes – was analysed. A combination of descriptive statistics, ANOVA tests, and post-hoc analyses were conducted to examine significant differences in the perceived impacts of these attributes. Results reveal that core attributes like internet access and open layouts significantly enhance human interactions, while sustainability-focused attributes like green furniture and energy-efficient designs exhibit lower perceived impact. The findings were translated into a prototype sustainable co-working space for a future validation study. These findings underscore the importance of prioritising attributes that foster communication and collaboration in sustainable co-working space design for educational institutions. The study provides actionable recommendations for creating user-centric, sustainable co-working spaces that optimise human interaction.

Co-working spaces have gained significant attention as flexible work environments. However, the specific attributes of sustainable co-working spaces that most influence human interaction, particularly in educational institutions, remain underexplored. There is a lack of such space in education institutions for students’ self-studying and self-development outside of formal learning hours. This study focuses on respondents within educational institutions, addressing a significant research gap in sustainable co-working space design for these settings. It aims to identify and evaluate the impact of sustainable co-working space attributes on human interaction. An online survey was developed on Google Forms and distributed via social media platforms, resulting in 65 responses from persons from various levels of education institutions. Using survey data collected from participants, the perceived impact of various attributes – ranging from functional attributes to sustainable attributes – was analysed. A combination of descriptive statistics, ANOVA tests, and post-hoc analyses were conducted to examine significant differences in the perceived impacts of these attributes. Results reveal that core attributes like internet access and open layouts significantly enhance human interactions, while sustainability-focused attributes like green furniture and energy-efficient designs exhibit lower perceived impact. The findings were translated into a prototype sustainable co-working space for a future validation study. These findings underscore the importance of prioritising attributes that foster communication and collaboration in sustainable co-working space design for educational institutions. The study provides actionable recommendations for creating user-centric, sustainable co-working spaces that optimise human interaction.

The growing concern over plastic waste and the depletion of natural aggregates has spurred interest in sustainable construction materials. This study examines the mechanical and morphological performance of recycled polypropylene (rPP) composites reinforced with activated carbon (AC)-treated clay for use as lightweight concrete aggregates. The novelty lies in the hybrid filler system combining clay and AC within a recycled polymer matrix; an approach rarely explored for structural concrete applications. Composites were fabricated using a single-screw extruder at 185°C and 50 rpm, incorporating AC at 1, 3, 7, and 15 wt%. Mechanical testing revealed that 3 wt% AC achieved the highest tensile strength due to enhanced filler dispersion and interfacial bonding, while 15 wt% AC increased stiffness but reduced elongation due to agglomeration and brittleness. The highest yield strength at 7 wt% AC suggests a percolation threshold effect, improving load transfer efficiency. FESEM and EDX analyses confirmed better filler distribution and matrix-filler interaction at lower AC contents, aligning with mechanical results. These findings highlight rPP/clay/AC composites as eco-friendly, lightweight concrete aggregate alternatives with a balance of strength, stiffness, and flexibility. This study underscores the environmental benefits of repurposing plastic and carbon-based waste while recommending further investigation into their long-term durability and real-world performance.

Cutting force attenuation in AWJ induces surface defects (high Ra, large theta) in metals and delamination in composites, especially in thick sections that limiting industrial adoption and requiring post-processing. A robust Taguchi experimental design was employed to optimize AWJ cutting parameters to minimize these issues when cutting thick aluminium blocks. An L8 orthogonal array with three factors; waterjet pressure (WP), stand-off distance (SOD), and traverse speed (TS), each at two levels, was used and analyzed via Minitab software. Other parameters remained constant: nozzle diameter (1.0 mm), abrasive size (80 mesh), and abrasive flow rate (0.3 kg/min). Traverse speed was found to be the most critical factor affecting Ra and theta, though waterjet pressure and stand-off distance also had significant impacts. The optimal parameters, higher waterjet pressure (315 MPa), lower traverse speed (38 mm/min), and lower stand-off distance (3 mm), yielded the best results for both Ra (4.2 µm) and theta (1.24°). In conclusion, the interaction of optimized AWJ parameters enhances kinetic energy and momentum transfer, improving material removal efficiency and cutting surface quality. The study systematically evaluates critical abrasive waterjet parameters to optimize cutting strategies, demonstrating applicability for thick aluminium and diverse material types.

Co-working spaces have gained significant attention as flexible work environments. However, the specific attributes of sustainable co-working spaces that most influence human interaction, particularly in educational institutions, remain underexplored. There is a lack of such space in education institutions for students’ self-studying and self-development outside of formal learning hours. This study focuses on respondents within educational institutions, addressing a significant research gap in sustainable co-working space design for these settings. It aims to identify and evaluate the impact of sustainable co-working space attributes on human interaction. An online survey was developed on Google Forms and distributed via social media platforms, resulting in 65 responses from persons from various levels of education institutions. Using survey data collected from participants, the perceived impact of various attributes – ranging from functional attributes to sustainable attributes – was analysed. A combination of descriptive statistics, ANOVA tests, and post-hoc analyses were conducted to examine significant differences in the perceived impacts of these attributes. Results reveal that core attributes like internet access and open layouts significantly enhance human interactions, while sustainability-focused attributes like green furniture and energy-efficient designs exhibit lower perceived impact. The findings were translated into a prototype sustainable co-working space for a future validation study. These findings underscore the importance of prioritising attributes that foster communication and collaboration in sustainable co-working space design for educational institutions. The study provides actionable recommendations for creating user-centric, sustainable co-working spaces that optimise human interaction.

The aim of this study is to create and examine thin layers of Mn-doped potassium sodium niobate (KNN) using the sol-gel method. The objective is to examine and resolve the problem of elevated leakage current density that arises at high electric fields in KNN films. The objective is to enhance the dielectric and ferroelectric characteristics by including manganese (Mn) dopants at various concentrations ranging from pure KNN to 0.9%, while maintaining acceptable insulation resistance. X-ray diffraction (XRD) was employed to investigate the crystalline structure of Mn-doped KNN thin films. Based on the XRD analysis, the Mn-doped KNN thin films exhibit an orthorhombic crystal structure during manufacture. The presence of KNN thin films is confirmed by the XRD peaks, indicating a successful synthesis. The microstructure and surface morphology of the thin films were examined using field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM). The most significant outcomes in terms of dense grain growth and uniform grain size were observed in thin films of KNN doped with 0.3% Mn. Based on the findings from the FESEM and AFM, the cracks were covered with thin films of uniform thickness, and the surface data of the KNN thin films did not provide any support for them. Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) and Piezoresponse Force Microscopy (PFM) analysis indicate a notable enhancement in the surface morphology and the value of the piezoelectric coefficient in Mn-doped KNN thin films, with an increase of 0.3%.

This study explores the use of charcoal waste ash, a by-product of human activities, as a filler in polypropylene matrices. The samples were mixed using the melt compounding method using an internal mixer at 1wt%, 2wt%, 5wt%, 7wt% and 10wt%. Tensile strength peaked at 29.85MPa at 2wt% while the flexural strength peaked well above pure PP at 45.5MPa at 7wt%. Charcoal waste ash is possible to enhance the mechanical properties of polypropylene, suggesting its potential as a sustainable material in polymer composites.

The global electrical industry is looking for sustainable materials in various domains, including electrical insulation cable materials. Tin dioxide (SnO2) nanoparticles combined with deproteinized natural rubber (DPNR) have the potential to produce an excellent and green electrical insulation material that combines their parents’ electrical properties. Yet, the processability is highly influenced by the curing system. The cure characteristics of rubber nanocomposites were investigated for the influence of different accelerators and SnO2 content. The 2,20-dithiobis (benzothiazole) (MBTS)-cured compounds exhibit ultrafast curing and higher melt viscosity than the N-Cyclohexyl-2-benzothiazole sulphonamide (CBS)-cured nanocomposite compounds, regardless of the increment in SnO2 loadings. Therefore, CBS-cured nanocomposites exhibit acceptable process safety, good processability and properties. The morphological, thermal and compositional analyses further supported the density, swelling behaviour and hardness of the DPNR nanocomposites of the selected accelerator system.