The synthesis of polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) spheres with different sizes has been a challenge. PMMA has promise for future applications, e.g., as a template for preparing porous oxide coatings by thermal decomposition. Different amounts of SDS as a surfactant are used as an alternative to control PMMA microsphere size through the formation of micelles. The objectives of the study were twofold: firstly, to determine the mathematical relationship between SDS concentration and PMMA sphere diameter, and secondly, to assess the efficacy of PMMA spheres as templates for SnO₂ coating synthesis and their impact on porosity. The study used FTIR, TGA, and SEM techniques to analyze the PMMA samples, and SEM and TEM techniques were used for SnO₂ coatings. The results showed that PMMA sphere diameter could be adjusted by varying the SDS concentration, with sizes ranging from 120 to 360 nm. The mathematical relationship between PMMA sphere diameter and SDS concentration was determined with a y = ax^b type equation. The porosity of SnO₂ coatings was found to be dependent on the PMMA sphere diameter used as a template. The research concludes that PMMA can be used as a template to produce oxide coatings, such as SnO₂, with tunable porosities.

The current work presents the influence of the magnesiothermic synthesis method on titanium carbide (TiC). In this method, powdered titanium precursors and two carbon sources—turbostratic carbon and carbon nanotubes—were employed in proportions of 10 wt.% and 20 wt.%. The refinement of the X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns using the Rietveld method for TiC suggests suggested coexistence of two phases, cubic with Fm-3m space group and hexagonal with P3₁21 space group. In particular, for the sample with 20 wt.% of carbon sources, the XRD refinement revealed that the cubic phase accounted for 94% of the composition, in contrast to a secondary hexagonal phase, Ti₆C_3.75, which comprised 6%. The influence of carbon on the morphology (particle size and shape) and crystallite size was monitored through bright-field transmission electron microscopy (BF-TEM) imaging and XRD. In samples containing 20 wt.% carbon, a homogeneous morphology in both size (around 11 microns) and shape was observed, along with a reduction in crystallite size (from 22.7 to 17.8 nm). Raman band analysis further revealed vibrational modes indicating that carbon induced disorder in the TiC structure. The magnesiothermic synthesis method developed in this work offers a low-cost approach of interest in the aerospace and automotive industries. Additionally, the study provides significant insights for particles used as additives or reinforcing agents to enhance the mechanical properties of metal matrix composites (MMCs).

We present a rapid, energy-efficient, and ecofriendly route for the synthesis of alkaline earth titanate perovskites—CaTiO₃, SrTiO₃, and BaTiO₃—using an affordable, commercially available CO₂ laser engraver, commonly found in makerspaces and small-scale workshops. The method involves direct laser irradiation of compacted pellets composed of low-cost, abundant, and non-toxic precursors: TiO₂ and alkaline earth carbonates (CaCO₃, SrCO₃, BaCO₃). CaTiO₃ and BaTiO₃ were synthesized with phase purities exceeding 97%, eliminating the need for conventional high-temperature furnaces or prolonged thermal treatments. X-ray diffraction (XRD) coupled with Rietveld refinement confirmed the formation of orthorhombic CaTiO₃ (Pbnm), cubic SrTiO₃ (Pm3⁻m), and tetragonal BaTiO₃ (P4mm). Raman spectroscopy independently corroborated the perovskite structures, revealing vibrational fingerprints consistent with the expected crystal symmetries and Ti–O bonding environments. All samples contained only small amounts of unreacted anatase TiO₂, while BaTiO₃ exhibited a partially amorphous fraction, attributed to the sluggish crystallization kinetics of the Ba–Ti system and the rapid quenching inherent to laser processing. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) revealed nanoparticles with average sizes of 50–150 nm, indicative of localized melting followed by ultrafast solidification. This solvent-free, low-energy, and highly accessible approach, enabled by widely available desktop laser systems, demonstrates exceptional simplicity, scalability, and sustainability. It offers a compelling alternative to conventional ceramic processing, with broad potential for the fabrication of functional oxides in applications ranging from electronics to photocatalysis.