This study investigates the crystallite size of Fe₃O₄/activated carbon (AC) nanocomposites using X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis combined with Scherrer, Williamson–Hall (W–H), and size–strain plot (SSP) methods. The results show that increasing the AC content reduces crystallite size due to lattice strain and dislocations caused by bonding rearrangements between Fe₃O₄ and carbon atoms. Among the analytical approaches, the SSP method demonstrates the best agreement with transmission electron microscopy (TEM), indicating higher reliability for estimating crystallite size. TEM analysis further reveals that particle sizes are larger than crystallite sizes because particles consist of multiple agglomerated crystallites. The study also finds that lattice strain, stress, and energy density increase with AC concentration, influencing crystallization and structural properties. Overall, these findings highlight effective methods for structural characterization of Fe₃O₄/AC nanocomposites with potential applications in electromagnetic wave absorber materials.  

Nano-Structures and Nano-Objects, 20, 2019. DOI: 10.1016/j.nanoso.2019.100396 

(2026/02/06).

This paper investigates starch/chitosan biocomposites reinforced with pineapple leaf microfibers (PLM) as environmentally friendly materials for food packaging applications. Structural, mechanical, and chemical analyses (XRD, tensile testing, and FTIR) show that adding PLM leads to the formation of a new amorphous-dominated structure with stronger interfacial bonding, particularly through increased C–H and C=C interactions. The mechanical performance improves significantly with increasing PLM content, reaching the highest tensile strength at 9% PLM, confirming the reinforcing role of natural microfibers. Biodegradation tests reveal that PLM strongly enhances degradation behavior, with more than 80% degradation after 28 days for composites containing 9% PLM. In addition, food-packaging performance evaluated via browning index tests on fresh cherries shows a reduced browning index (as low as 37.5%), indicating good moisture-control capability. Overall, the study demonstrates that PLM-reinforced starch/chitosan biocomposites combine mechanical robustness, rapid biodegradability, and effective food preservation potential.  

IOP Conference Series: Materials Science and Engineering, 593 (1), 2019. DOI: 10.1088/1757-899X/593/1/012024

(2026/02/05).

This paper investigates how incorporating activated carbon (AC) into copper(II) oxide (CuO) composites systematically modifies their electronic, structural, and magnetic properties. Using XPS, REELS, FTIR, XRD, and VSM, the authors demonstrate that increasing AC content (10–25%) leads to strong interfacial bonding characterized by the formation of stable O–C–Cu₁₋ₓ–O linkages. The electronic bandgap is shown to increase from 2.1 eV to 3.1 eV with higher AC concentration, indicating significant tuning of the electronic structure through carbonaceous organic linkers. Structural analysis reveals that the CuO monoclinic phase is preserved while lattice parameters, porosity, and crystallite characteristics are subtly modified by AC incorporation. Magnetic measurements show enhanced saturation magnetization and coercivity at higher AC loadings, attributed to effective pore-assisted bonding and interfacial interactions. The composites also exhibit strong electromagnetic wave absorption, achieving reflection loss values as low as −22 dB in the GHz frequency range. Overall, the study highlights CuO–AC composites as promising multifunctional materials for electronic, magnetic, and electromagnetic absorber applications due to their tunable properties and stable bonding architecture. 

Materials Research Express, 6 (3), 2019. DOI: 10.1088/2053-1591/aaf7da

(2026/01/30).

This study develops fly ash–based geopolymer concrete enhanced with Fe₂O₃ and graphite to improve gamma radiation shielding performance through increased magnetic and electrical properties. The optimal composition of 2% graphite–Fe₂O₃ achieves the best attenuation coefficient (0.174 cm⁻¹) and a half-value layer of 3.980 cm, demonstrating strong potential as a cost-effective radiation shielding material. 

Materials Science Forum, 966 MSF, pp. 41-47, 2019. DOI: 10.4028/www.scientific.net/MSF.966.41

(2026/01/29).

This paper reports the low-temperature synthesis of carbon nanospheres (CNs) from bamboo fiber through carbonization followed by KOH activation, providing a sustainable and economical approach to nanocarbon production. Structural analysis using XRD shows a shift toward predominantly amorphous carbon as activation temperature increases, indicating successful structural transformation. FTIR results reveal decreased O–H and C–O bonding, suggesting enhanced carbon purity after activation. TEM observations confirm the formation of spherical nanostructures with particle sizes of approximately 16–34 nm at an activation temperature of about 105 °C. These findings demonstrate that bamboo fiber is a promising natural precursor for producing carbon nanospheres at significantly lower temperatures than conventional synthesis methods.   

Materials Science Forum, 966 MSF, pp. 163-168, 2019. DOI: 10.4028/www.scientific.net/MSF.966.163

(2026/01/28).

This study reports the fabrication of a honeycomb-structured composite made from ZnMnO₂ derived from waste conventional batteries and activated carbon, aimed at improving electromagnetic wave absorption. Structural and bonding analyses confirm stable incorporation of Zn and Mn oxides within the porous activated carbon matrix, producing a crystallite size of about 90 nm and strong interfacial interactions that enhance wave attenuation. The composite achieves a reflection loss of approximately −21.7 dB at ~4.6 GHz (6 mm thickness), demonstrating its potential as a low-cost and sustainable electromagnetic absorber.  

Journal of Applied Biomaterials and Functional Materials, 17 (1), 2019. DOI: 10.1177/2280800018820185

(2026/01/27).

This paper explores the design and performance of advanced composite materials engineered for high-efficiency electromagnetic wave absorption. The authors synthesize a tailored nanocomposite structure and analyze its morphology, structure, and electromagnetic parameters to understand the mechanisms responsible for microwave attenuation. Results show that the optimized material achieves strong reflection loss due to the synergistic interaction between dielectric and magnetic losses, along with improved impedance matching. The absorber demonstrates broad effective bandwidth and high absorption intensity, indicating its suitability for lightweight and thin shielding applications. These properties are attributed to enhanced interfacial polarization, multiple scattering pathways, and well-distributed filler particles within the matrix. Overall, the study highlights a promising strategy for developing next-generation microwave absorbers with improved performance for electromagnetic interference mitigation.  

Journal of Electron Spectroscopy and Related Phenomena, 229, pp. 47-51, 2018. DOI: 10.1016/j.elspec.2018.09.008

(2026/01/26).

This paper reports the successful synthesis of Fe/activated carbon/polyvinyl alcohol (Fe/AC/PVA) nanocomposites designed for efficient microwave absorption to address electromagnetic interference in the GHz range. By utilizing the pores of activated carbon as traps for Fe magnetic particles and PVA as a continuous polymer network, the composite achieves stabilized interfacial bonding and enhanced dielectric and magnetic losses. Structural and chemical analyses (XRD, XRF, and FTIR) confirm that Fe is chemically bonded within the AC pores, reducing natural resonance and conductivity-related losses. Microwave absorption measurements using a vector network analyzer reveal strong performance in the C-band (4–6 GHz). The optimal composition, 20% AC with a thickness of 3 mm, exhibits a maximum reflection loss of −32.5 dB at 4.65 GHz, outperforming many comparable Fe-based absorbers. These results demonstrate that pore-engineered carbon–magnetic nanocomposites are a promising route toward lightweight, high-performance microwave absorbers. 

Journal of Nanomaterials, 2018. DOI: 10.1155/2018/9823263 

(2026/01/25).