Light-activated antimicrobial coatings are currently considered to be a promising approach for the prevention of nosocomial infections. In this work, we present a straightforward strategy for the deposition of a photoactive biocidal organic layer of zinc (tetraamino)phthalocyanine (ZnPcNH₂) in an electrochemical oxidative process. The chemical structure and morphology of the resulting layer are widely characterized by microscopic and spectroscopic techniques, while its ability to photogenerate reactive oxygen species (ROS) is investigated in situ by UV–Vis spectroscopy with α-terpinene or 1,3-diphenylisobenzofuran as a chemical trap. It is shown that the ZnPcNH₂ photosensitizer retained its photoactivity after immobilization, and that the reported light-activated coating exhibits promising antimicrobial properties towards Staphyloccocus aureus (S. aureus).

Poly(3-hexylthiophene) thin films containing carbon-based nanostructures, i.e. fullerenes such as buckminsterfullerene (C₆₀) or phenyl-C₆₁-butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM), or single-walled carbon nanotubes, were investigated as heterogeneous photosensitizers producing singlet oxygen (¹O₂) in aerated organic solvents. Thin films were deposited on borosilicate glass using spin coating and characterized by profilometry, UV-vis, Raman and XPS. Photogeneration of ¹O₂ was confirmed by photooxidation of 1,3-diphenylisobenzofuran and by reaction of 1,5-dihydroxynaphthalene to juglone. The photochemical efficiency of the blends was found to depend on the carbon-based photosensitizer and can be increased by varying its concentration in the poly(3-hexylthiophene) matrix.

Conventional methods for wastewater treatment are not always efficient in persistent organic pollutant degradation processes. Therefore, low-cost and effective methods of their removal from sewage are constantly sought. This study presents an attempt to fabricate thermally sprayed ceramic coatings on glass and their characterization. Granulation of TiO_2, Al₂O_3, and their blends in different mass ratios was done. Assessment of actual density and specific surface area was performed, and TiO₂, Al₂O₃, and TiO₂/Al₂O₃ were then used as a coating material for the deposition on glass substrates in atmospheric plasma spraying. Surface analysis of coatings was done by evaluating their roughness and wettability. Both powder and coatings samples were characterized using the X-ray diffraction method and scanning electron microscopy. The photocatalytic activity was estimated in the Eosin Y degradation process under UV light. UV–Vis spectroscopy was applied to observe the changes in the dye concentration. Additional tests for color measurements before and after photodegradation were carried out using a sphere spectrophotometer in CIELab color space. Particle size distribution was examined for the powder samples after the granulation and d₅₀ was stated at 48.42–63.28 µm. Characterization of coatings via roughness measurements showed the average roughness of a surface equal to 4.90–9.65 µm. Moreover, most of the coatings appeared to be hydrophobic with water contact angles between 100° and 130°. All of the coatings showed Eosin Y degradation ability and the highest efficiency was reached for 100T/C, A75T/C, and A50T/C samples and stated at 71%, 62%, and 51%, respectively. Graphical abstract

Methods for the fabrication of metallic sinters via powder metallurgy techniques have been widely discussed in materials engineering for many years. Depending on the final purpose of the finished products, it is primarily important to ensure their appropriate mechanical properties. Numerous works on this topic are devoted mainly to the modification of conventional metallic materials, and one of the promising research directions is the addition of refractory metals to metal alloys. Thanks to the advantageous impact on thermal stability, mechanical properties, and corrosion resistance, the proposed solutions fit perfectly into the trends of searching for new, functional engineering materials. This work presents a review of scientific reports on the modification of metal alloys with the addition of refractory metals published over the last 15 years. First, a brief characterization of refractory metals along with a description of the basics of processing metallic materials using powder metallurgy are presented. In the following part of the article, the research results on the influence of the addition of high-melting metals on the mechanical properties and corrosion resistance of heavy and light metal alloys are discussed. The conclusion consists of data on the global metal alloys market, taking into account its current state and forecasted changes for the next few years