Two-dimensional (2D) noble-metal dichalcogenides exhibit exceptionally strong thickness-dependent bandgaps, which can be leveraged in a wide variety of device applications. A detailed study of their optical (e.g., optical bandgaps) and electrical properties (e.g., mobilities) is important in determining potential future applications of these materials. In this work, we perform detailed optical and electrical characterization of 2D PdSe₂ nanoflakes mechanically exfoliated from a single-crystalline source. Layer-dependent bandgap analysis from optical absorption results indicates that this material is an indirect semiconductor with bandgaps of approximately 1.37 and 0.50 eV for the monolayer and bulk, respectively. Spectral photoresponse measurements further confirm these bandgap values. Moreover, temperature-dependent electrical measurements of a 6.8-nm-thick PdSe₂ flake-based transistor show effective electron mobilities of 130 and 520 cm² V⁻¹ s⁻¹ at 300 K and 77 K, respectively. Finally, we demonstrate that PdSe₂ can be utilized for short-wave infrared photodetectors. A room-temperature specific detectivity (D^*) of 1.8 × 10¹⁰ cm Hz^1/2 W⁻¹ at 1 μm with a band edge at 1.94 μm is achieved on a 6.8-nm-thick PdSe₂ flake-based photodetector.

In this work Macadamia nutshell (MS) was used as filler in fused deposition modeling (FDM) of Poly (lactic acid) (PLA) composites filaments. Composites containing MS both treated and untreated with alkali and silane were investigated by means of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-Ray diffraction (XRD), Thermogravimetry (TG), scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results showed that the treated MS composites had better thermal stability. Furthermore, compression tests were carried out. The PLA with 10 wt% treated MS composite was found possessing the best mechanical properties which was almost equivalent to that of the pure PLA. Finally, porous scaffolds of PLA/10 wt% treated MS were fabricated. The scaffolds exhibited various porosities in range of 30–65%, interconnected holes in size of 0.3–0.5 mm, micro pores with dimension of 0.1–1 μm and 37.92–244.46 MPa of elastic modulus. Those values indicated that the FDM of PLA/MS composites have the potential to be used as weight lighter and structural parts.

This paper presents the study of the properties of objects that were fabricated with fused deposition modeling technology while using Poly (lactic acid)/Walnut shell powder (PLA/WSP) biocomposite filaments. The WSP was treated while using NaOH followed by silane. The infrared spectrum of treated and untreated WSP was characterized. The result was that thermal and mechanical properties could be improved by adjusting the concentration of silane. The experimental results showed: the surface compatibility between WSP and PLA was dramatically improved through treatment with KH550. The crystalline, thermal gravity, and thermal degradation temperatures of biocomposite with untreated WSP were improved from 1.46%, 60.3 °C, and 239.87 °C to 2.84%, 61.3 °C, and 276.37 °C for the biocomposites with treated WSP, respectively. The tensile, flexural, and compressive strengths of biocomposites were raised each by 8.07%, 14.66%, and 23.32%. With the determined silane concentration, PLA/10–15 wt.% treated WSP biocomposites were processed and tested. The results showed that the tensile strength was improved to 56.2 MPa, which is very near to that of pure PLA. Finally, the porous scaffolds with controllable porosity and pore size were manufactured.

In this work, fused deposition modeling (FDM) technology was used to prepare poly(lactic acid)/walnut shell/hydroxyapatite (PLA/WS/HA) composite filaments. HA was treated with silane and characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The composites were investigated by using simultaneous thermal analyzer, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and a universal mechanical testing machine. The results showed that incorporating either HA or WS improved the thermal stability and water absorption of PLA, but lowered the tensile and compression strength. Fillers toughened the PLA matrix, resulting in higher tensile elongation and compressive strain. The tensile and compressive strengths of samples significantly dropped after water-immersion for 6 weeks. Finally, scaffolds were manufactured by using FDM. The compression modulus and structural feature of scaffolds indicated that the PLA/WS/HA composites have the potential to be applied in structural parts, such as bone implants.