Pradeep Kumar Panda

This study explores the use of Sn-doped sodium superionic conductor (NASICON)-type Li1+xAlxTi2–x(PO4)3 (LATP) electrolytes in solid-state pouch cells with Ni-rich ternary cathodes that exhibit high-rate capability, low inner resistance, and superior cyclability. The pouch cell configuration includes two types of Ni-rich NCM cathodes, LiNi0.5Co0.2Mn0.3O2 (NCM523) and LiNi0.6Co0.2Mn0.2O2 (NCM622), paired with artificial graphite anodes (MG11) and synthesized LATP-containing composite solid electrolytes (CSEs). These cells demonstrate superior cyclic performance with high energy and power densities. Sol–gel and thermal calcination produced highly ionic conductivity Sn-LATP powders for CSEs. The equivalent ionic radii of Sn4+ and Ti4+ in NASICON-type lattices reduce distortion, but Sn4+’s greater Pauling electronegativity (∼1.96) improves the stability. The Sn-LATP powders in CSEs enhance the high-rate capabilities and cyclic stability of the solid-state pouch cells. NCM523 and NCM622 pouch cells with cathode-equipped pouches showed enhanced rate capability, with NCM523 achieving 58.9% capacity retention at 3C to 0.2C and NCM622 achieving 91.1% retention and ∼99.5% Coulombic efficiency over 200 cycles. Sn-LATP powders dramatically lower ESR values, according to the equivalent circuit impedance analysis. The diffusion coefficients for NCM523||Sn-LATP||MG11 and NCM622||Sn-LATP||MG11 pouch cells are 2.18 × 10–8 cm2 s–1 and 1.47 × 10–8 cm2 s–1, respectively, while the energy densities of NCM523||Sn-LATP||MG11 and NCM622||Sn-LATP||MG11 pouch cells are 132 and 172 Wh kg–1 at high-power densities of 717 and 778 W kg–1, respectively. The optimum CSE layer design using Sn-LATP particles presented in this work may lead to enhanced solid-state energy storage devices.

The fabrication of sustainable packaging films based on chitosan/starch (CTS/Starch) blends, reinforced with Chitosan Nanoparticles (CNPs), was achieved via the casting blend technique. This research explored the impact of varying CNPs loading on critical physicochemical properties, including water vapor permeation (WVP), thermal stability, and mechanical strength. To elucidate the structural and chemical complexities of the blend films, surface morphology was investigated via Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), internal architecture was visualized using Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), and molecular interactions were probed through Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The reduction in WVP from 6.18 ± 0.54 to 5.38 ± 0.93 g.m⁻¹.s⁻¹.pa⁻¹, equilibrium moisture content (EMC) from 16.52 ± 1.03% to 12.5 ± 1.05%, and water absorbency (WA) from 340 ± 1.63% to 88.65 ± 1.12% in CTS/Starch blend films demonstrated loaded with (0–8 wt%) CNPs loading. Concurrently, films with 2–8 wt% CNP loading exhibited an increase in opacity from 2.38 ± 1.01 mm⁻¹ to 4.83 ± 0.83 mm⁻¹, accompanied by a decrease in transmittance from 89.20 ± 0.50% to 79.70 ± 1.20%. These findings collectively indicated that the CNP-incorporated chitosan/starch composites offer enhanced ultraviolet light shielding and improved water barrier capabilities compared to the non-reinforced chitosan/starch films, underscoring their promising utility in food and pharmaceutical packaging applications.

Developing efficient and durable electrocatalysts for oxygen reduction (ORR) and oxygen evolution reactions (OER) is crucial for energy conversion technologies. In this study, core-shell graphene quantum dot (GQD) composites embedded with Co, Zn, and CoZn alloy nanoparticles were synthesized using a solid-state microwave synthesis method and systematically investigated for their electrochemical performance. The structural and compositional analyses confirm that the integration of transition metal nanoparticles enhances the electronic properties of GQDs, providing abundant active sites and facilitating charge transfer. Electrochemical characterization reveals that GQD-CoZn-3 (GQD:Co:Zn = 10.5:0.5:0.5) exhibits superior ORR and OER catalytic activities, achieving the highest current densities of 205 A g^-1 and 102 A g^-1 at 100 mV s^-1, respectively. These performance values surpass those of pristine GQDs and single-metal (Co or Zn) embedded counterparts, emphasizing the strong synergistic effect between the CoZn alloy and the functionalized carbon framework. Impedance measurements further reveal a substantial reduction in charge-transfer resistance, while chronoamperometry tests demonstrate excellent catalytic stability and CO tolerance, highlighting the robustness of the core-shell GQD structure. These findings provide valuable insights into the design of advanced carbon-based electrocatalysts for energy applications.

Nowadays, the food industry is prioritizing many innovative processing technologies that can produce minimally processed foods with superior and higher quality, lower costs, and faster operations. Among these advancements, cold plasma (CP) processing stands out for its remarkable capabilities in food preservation and extending the shelf life. Beyond its established role in microbial inactivation, CP has emerged as a transformative tool for modifying food biomolecules through reactive plasma species, addressing the versatile requirements of food industries for various applications. This review focuses on the interactions between reactive plasma species and essential food macromolecules, including proteins, lipids, and polysaccharides. The novelty lies in its detailed examination of how CP technology triggers structural, functional, and biochemical changes in proteins and lipids and explains the mechanisms involved. It connects fundamental molecular transformations to practical applications, such as enhanced protein functionality, lipid stabilization, and improved oxidative resistance. CP induces alterations in protein structure, especially in amino acid configurations, that can be applicable to the formulation of advanced gel, 3D printing, thermostable emulsions, enhanced solubility, and sensory materials. This review explores the ability of CP to modify protein allergenicity, its different effects on the mechanical and interfacial properties of proteins, and its role in the production of trans-fat-free oils. Despite its potential, a detailed understanding of the mechanism of CP’s interactions with food macromolecules is also discussed. Furthermore, this review addresses key challenges and outlines future research opportunities, positioning CP as a sustainable and adaptable approach for innovating next-generation food systems. Further research is crucial to fully understand the potential of CP for food processing, followed by product development.