Hybrid nanostructures made of gallium oxide (Ga₂O₃) and reduced graphene oxide (rGO) are synthesized using a facile hydrothermal process method, where the Ga₂O₃ nanostructures are well dispersed on the rGO surface. The formed Ga₂O₃-rGO hybrids are characterized via Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), a diffuse reflectance Ultraviolet-visible-near infrared (UV-Vis-NIR) spectrophotometer, Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET), and photoluminescence (PL). Gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was used for analyzing volatile organic compounds (VOCs). The photocatalytic activity of the hybrid nanostructures is evaluated via the degradation of the 2-butanone, representing the VOCs under 254-nm radiation in the atmosphere. That activity is then compared to that of the Ga₂O₃ and commercial TiO₂-P25. The Ga₂O₃-rGO hybrid shows enhanced photocatalytic degradation of 2-butanone compared to Ga₂O₃ and TiO₂-P25, which is attributed to the enhanced specific surface area. The results indicate that the Ga₂O₃-rGO hybrid could be a promising method of enhancing photocatalytic activity and thereby effectively degrading VOCs, including the 2-butanone.

Poly(L-lactic acid) (PLLA) and PLLA/gelatin polymers were prepared via electrospinning to evaluate the effect of PLLA and gelatin content on the mechanical properties, water uptake capacity (WUC), water contact angle (WCA), degradation rate, cytotoxicity and cell proliferation of membranes. As the PLLA concentration increased from 1 wt% to 3 wt%, the tensile strength increased from 5.8 MPa to 9.1 MPa but decreased to 7.0 MPa with 4 wt% PLLA doping. The WUC decreased rapidly from 594% to 236% as the PLLA content increased from 1 to 4 wt% due to the increased hydrophobicity of PLLA. As the gelatin content was increased to 3 wt% PLLA, the strength, WUC and WCA of the PLLA/gelatin membrane changed from 9.1 ± 0.9 MPa to 13.3 ± 2.3 MPa, from 329% to 1248% and from 127 ± 1.2° to 0°, respectively, with increasing gelatin content from 0 to 40 wt%. However, the failure strain decreased from 3.0 to 0.5. The biodegradability of the PLLA/gelatin blend increased from 3 to 38% as the gelatin content increased to 40 wt%. The viability of L-929 and MG-63 cells in the PLLA/gelatin blend was over 95%, and the excellent cell proliferation and mechanical properties suggested that the tunable PLLA/gelatin barrier membrane was well suited for absorbable periodontal tissue regeneration.

In the present study, we have demonstrated a facile and robust way for the fabrication of Cu-graphite composites (CGCs) with spatially-aligned graphite layers. The graphite layers bonded to the copper matrix and the resulting composite structure were entirely characterized. The preferential orientation and angular displacement of the nano-sized graphite fiber reinforcements in the copper matrix were clarified by polarized Raman scattering. Close investigation on the change of the Raman G-peak frequency with the laser excitation power provided us with a manifestation of the structural and electronic properties of the Cu-graphite composites (CGCs) with spatially-distributed graphite phases. High resolution transmission electron microscopy (TEM) observation and Raman analysis revealed that reduced graphite oxide (rGO) phase existed at the CGC interface. This work is highly expected to provide a fundamental way of understanding how a rGO phase can be formed at the Cu-graphite interface, thus finally envisioning usefulness of the CGCs for thermal management materials in electronic applications.

The photoluminescence properties of crystalline Y2O3:Tb(3+)nanoparticles fabricated using a liquid-phase reaction have been examined over a certain sintering temperature range for dopant activation. X-Ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were used to examine the size and the morphology of Y2O3:Tb(3+)particles and disclosed the cubic Bragg peaks of the Y2O3:Tb(3+)particles regardless of the sintering temperature with no substantial peak shift. The maximum photoluminescence (PL) emission intensity was observed from the Y2O3:Tb(3+)phosphors sintered at 400 degrees C. The photoluminescence excitation (PLE) spectra of the Y2O3:Tb(3+)phosphors are composed of broad bands at similar to 260 nm (similar to 4.7 eV) and shoulder bands at similar to 306 nm (similar to 4.05 eV). The experimental results revealed that the particle size and the crystallinity of the Y2O3:Tb(3+)phosphors played a critical role in the luminescence. Over the entire range of sintering temperatures, the room-temperature decay time was found to be similar to 2.81 ms.