Maryam Hina

In this research work, a new series of zinc-borate glasses with the formula (50−x)B ₂ O ₃ –20TeO ₂ –5Bi ₂ O ₃ –(25 + x )ZnO (where x = 0–25 mol%) was fabricated using conventional melt–quenching method, labeled as BTBZ1 to BTBZ6. By analyzing the data of density and the molar volume, it was found that as the amount of ZnO increased from 25 % to 50 % in the BTBZ glasses, the density also increased from 4.02 to 4.87 g cm ⁻³ because the heavier Zn ions contributed to the glass network to form a more compact and densely packed structure . The FTIR spectroscopy results indicated that BO ₃ , BO ₄ , TeO ₃ , TeO ₄ , ZnO ₄ , and Bi–O groups are part of the glass structure, confirming that the bonds are mixed and that the network of glass is highly connected. In addition, the radiation-shielding behavior was tested not only via Phy-X/PSD software, but also using actual gamma-ray sources: Co-60, Cs-137, and Ba-133. For shielding of γ-radiations, following parameters were determined: mass attenuation coefficient, linear attenuation coefficient, half-value layer, tenth-value layer, and mean free path. The research showed that raising the amount of ZnO enhanced the glasses’ gamma-ray attenuation, suggesting that these glasses can be the suitable candidates as transparent shields in medicine, nuclear, and aerospace applications.

Hydrothermally synthesized ZnS/NrGO/PANI (ZnPG) ternary nanocomposite exhibits ultrahigh capacitance (2645.94 F g ⁻¹ ), high energy density (111.2 Wh kg ⁻¹ ), and excellent cycling stability (95.3%), enabling high-performance asymmetric supercapacitors for next-generation energy storage.

In the present review, we focused on the fundamental concepts of hydrogels—classification, the polymers involved, synthesis methods, types of hydrogels, properties, and applications of the hydrogel. Hydrogels can be synthesized from natural polymers, synthetic polymers, polymerizable synthetic monomers, and a combination of natural and synthetic polymers. Synthesis of hydrogels involves physical, chemical, and hybrid bonding. The bonding is formed via different routes, such as solution casting, solution mixing, bulk polymerization, free radical mechanism, radiation method, and interpenetrating network formation. The synthesized hydrogels have significant properties, such as mechanical strength, biocompatibility, biodegradability, swellability, and stimuli sensitivity. These properties are substantial for electrochemical and biomedical applications. Furthermore, this review emphasizes flexible and self-healable hydrogels as electrolytes for energy storage and energy conversion applications. Insufficient adhesiveness (less interfacial interaction) between electrodes and electrolytes and mechanical strength pose serious challenges, such as delamination of the supercapacitors, batteries, and solar cells. Owing to smart and aqueous hydrogels, robust mechanical strength, adhesiveness, stretchability, strain sensitivity, and self-healability are the critical factors that can identify the reliability and robustness of the energy storage and conversion devices. These devices are highly efficient and convenient for smart, light-weight, foldable electronics and modern pollution-free transportation in the current decade.