This study reports on the bio-synthesis and the main physical properties of p-type Co₃O₄ nanoparticles for the first time by a completely green chemistry process using Aspalathus linearis's natural extract as an effective chelating agent. Their surface/interface and optical properties are reported. In addition to the X-ray diffraction investigations, the Raman, and infrared as well as X-ray photoelectron spectroscopies confirmed the single phase of the Co₃O₄ nanoparticles. As their average size can be as low as ⟨φparticle⟩ ∼3.6 nm, the reticular atomic plans are under a slight compressive state.

NiO is one of the most important candidates for semiconductors metal oxide nanocrystals by the arrangement of photocatalytic application. However, the photocatalytic performance of biosynthesized nanocrystals using Aspalathus linearis (Burm.f.) R. Dahlgren has not been investigated yet. In this contribution, we synthesize α-Ni(OH)₂ using an A. linearis. A heat treatment of the α-Ni(OH)₂ is carried out at 300–400°C for 2 h at normal air yields. Furthermore, we have characterized the structural, optical and photocatalytic activity of the samples. The optical results indicate that biosynthesized nanocrystals exhibit UV–visible light absorption and a narrow range distribution of intense green light (518.95 nm) emission, which decreases significantly as annealing temperature increases. The bandgap energies of the sample annealed at 300–400°C shift to lower photon energy, compared to bulk NiO (∼ 4 eV). Moreover, the photocatalytic experimental results reveal that NiO nanocrystals enable color switching of methylene blue. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT

This cutting-edge review highlights the fundamentals, design, and manufacturing strategies used for sandwich composites. Sandwich composite structures have the advantages of light weight, high strength, impact resistance, stability, and other superior features for advanced applications. In this regard, different core materials have been used in the sandwich composite structures, such as cellular polymer foam, metallic foam, honeycomb, balsa, tubular, and other core geometries. Among these, honeycomb sandwich composite materials have been effectively applied in space engineering, marine engineering, and construction applications. The foremost manufacturing techniques used for sandwiched composite structures include hand lay-up, press method, prepreg method, vacuum bagging/autoclave, vacuum assisted resin infusion, resin transfer molding, compression molding, pultrusion, three-dimensional (3D) printing, four-dimensional (4D) printing, etc. In advanced composite manufacturing, autoclave processes have been the method of choice for the aerospace industry due to less delamination between plies and easy control of thickness dimensions. Moreover, machining processes used for sandwich composites are discussed in this article. In addition to aerospace, the high-performance significance of sandwiched composite structures is covered mainly in relation to automobile engineering and energy absorption applications. The structure-, fabrication-, and application-related challenges and probable future research directions are also discussed in this article.