Vinča Institute of Nuclear Sciences
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Hydrothermal carbonization vs. pyrolysis in the race for sustainable solid biofuels: A comparative review
No full textBy 2050, global energy demand is expected to rise by 16–57%. At the same time, international agreements set the goal of reaching net-zero emissions. In that context, waste biomass appears as one of the renewable options that could serve as a solid fuel with a lower carbon footprint. Although it is widespread and to obtain, it comes with several drawbacks. High moisture and ash content, and a low calorific value (e.g., 10–16 MJ kg⁻ 22–26 MJ kg⁻ 1 1 biomass vs. coal), explain why biomass cannot replace coal. Hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) and pyrolysis are two thermochemical routes being explored for turning waste biomass into carbon-rich products, known as hydrochar and biochar. These materials have shown promising fuel properties, with biochars in some cases reaching calorific values above 30 MJ kg⁻ 1 , while hydrochar values are generally lower. In this review, we focus on HTC and pyrolysis, primarily through the changes they induce in biomass and the ways operating conditions shape the structure and fuel properties of the resulting chars. It is argued that the properties of the feedstock and the required end use largely determine the choice between these technologies. Direct comparison of HTC and pyrolysis in terms of combustion kinetics and pelletization remains limited. Therefore, this review considers combustion behavior, reaction kinetics, and pelletization, as they are crucial for advancing these materials toward practical energy applications. The goal is to outline what has been achieved so far, what can realistically be expected from these technologies, and where more research is still needed
Smart Ag/P(HEMA/IA) nanocomposite hydrogels for wound dressing obtained by different radiation approaches
No full textSmart silver nanocomposite hydrogels, based on 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) and itaconic acid (IA), were developed using one-step and two-step radiolytic synthesis methods. In the latter, P(HEMA/IA) hydrogels were synthesized by gamma radiation, and subsequently used as a matrix for the formation of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), whereas the one-step method involves the formation of Ag/P(HEMA/IA) nanocomposites in a single step. The results showed that Ag/P(HEMA/IA) exhibited strong antimicrobial activity. Importantly, the one-step synthesis combines fabrication and sterilization, reducing both production time and costs. Together, these advantages establish the one-step method as an efficient approach to producing antimicrobial hydrogels for wound dressings
Hot injection synthesis parameters effects on the structure, crystallinity, microstructure and optical properties of Sb2S3 nanopowders
No full textAntimony sulfide amorphous and crystalline nanoparticles were synthesized by the hot-injection method. X-ray diffraction analysis confirmed the gradual growth and crystallization of amorphous particles with synthesis time and temperature. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) revealed spherical shapes of amorphous nanoparticles of 10–50 nm in radius and clothespin-shaped crystalline particles with a radius and length of several micrometers and an approximate aspect ratio of 2.5. Diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS) implied a 1.8–2.0 eV, size-tunable, indirect band gap for the amorphous phase and a smaller, ∼1.6 eV, direct band gap for the crystalline phase. Thermogravimetry (TG/DSC) and Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy studies show that amorphous powders have a low concentration of organic molecules, which are primarily eliminated during crystallization. The powders were spray deposited as an absorber layer in ITO/TiO2 + Sb2S3/P3HT/I2(I−)/Al-composed solar cells, giving up to 1.2 % energy conversion efficiency when illuminated by a 290 W/m2 tungsten lamp as a source
An AI-assisted multimodal diagnostic test for heart failure
No full textHeart failure (HF) – inability of the heart to provide a sufficient amount of blood for normal body function, represents an immense societal burden due to a high mortality rate (50% of patients die within 5 years from diagnosis), global pandemic proportions and high healthcare expenditures. When diagnosed in an early phase, HF can be arrested or even reversed, while a late diagnosis inevitably leads to the fatal outcome. However, 70% of cases are diagnosed only upon a series of tests: ECG, biochemical and echocardiographic, in secondary care [1], leaving many patients not treated timely or at all. Hence, coordinated efforts are underway across medical and engineering communities to establish new tests suitable for primary care and screening. We joined these efforts through the project SensSmart, focused on the development of multimodal sensor technology for timely HF diagnosis. SensSmart technology relies on non-invasive synchronized measurement of electrical and mechanical processes in the cardiovascular system, including the electrocardiogram, heart sounds and movement, and arterial pulsations. Rooted in earlier investigations [2], our technology leverages modern electrical, mechanical and photonic sensing [3], along with AIbased data processing [4], to provide an HF diagnostic test suitable for primary care. We stress the enabling role of deep learning, noting that its capability to simultaneously process numerous features of different physiological signals and their interdependences surpasses that of humans. The algorithm was trained on data from the SensSmart clinical study conducted from Oct 2023 to Sep 2025 at two centres of the University Clinical Centre of Serbia. Based on the preliminary analysis, the system performs binary HF classification with a sensitivity of 90% and an F1-score of 87%, while demonstrating a clear trend of performance improvement with the addition of new modalities. During the talk, I will provide details of the sensing system, classification algorithm and clinical training set and outline future system upgrades.19th Photonics Workshop, (International Conference), Kopaonik, March 08-12, 2026
Beyond Sustainable: Geo-Adaptive Design of Carbon-Based Adsorbents Through Aligning Pesticide Remediation with Regional Agricultural Practices and Food Safety Needs
No full textThe persistence of pesticide residues in food and water poses a significant challenge to global food safety, particularly under the pressures of intensive agriculture and climate variability. Despite significant progress in developing adsorbent materials for pesticide remediation, most approaches remain chemically optimized but geographically blind. This review introduces the concept of geo-adaptive design of carbon-based adsorbents, emphasizing that remediation materials should be tailored to the regional profiles of pesticide use, environmental conditions, and available biomass precursors. Pesticide contamination patterns vary widely across climates and agricultural systems, resulting in distinct chemical signatures that determine adsorption behavior. Simultaneously, locally abundant agro-industrial byproducts, such as walnut shells, rice husks, olive stones, or fruit pomace, offer sustainable carbon sources for region-specific materials. By correlating pesticide structure, adsorbent surface chemistry, and environmental parameters, geo-adaptive materials can be designed to maximize efficiency, selectivity, and sustainability in environmental remediation contexts, including the treatment of pesticide-contaminated soils and water streams. In addition, these materials may be integrated into food processing and packaging systems, where they can function as localized, low-cost mitigation strategies aligned with circular economy principles. The review highlights how regionally optimized carbon materials could connect advances in environmental remediation with the practical needs of food technology, leading toward food safety strategies that are both globally relevant and locally adaptable
Er3+/Yb3+ co-activated YNbO4 nanocrystalline phosphors: Up-conversion luminescence under the 980 nm excitation and integrated lifetime thermometry
No full textThis paper presents the structure, morphology, optical and photoluminescent properties of erbium (1 at %) and ytterbium (2 at %) doped yttrium niobium oxide (YNbO4) as a potential temperature sensor material. Obtained powder samples of fergusonite-β-like monoclinic crystalline structure of YNbO4, confirmed by X-ray diffraction analysis, showed particles of about 1–3 μm in size. Photoluminescence emissions were detected in the visible (Vis) and near-infrared (NIR) regions after excitation at 980 nm as a result of the energy up-conversion (UC) process. The lifetime of the most intense Er3+ excited state 4S3/2 level measured at 300 K was 0.238 ms. Thermometric properties were recorded at different temperatures and analyzed for the first time using the luminescence emission decay method. The relative sensitivity decreases from 0.23 % to 0.085 % K−1, by varying the temperature from 300 to 600 K, indicating a good potential of this material for lifetime-based phosphor thermometry
Influence of different irradiation modalities on post-irradiation behavior and properties of highly-crystalline PP and its implications for radiation sterilization of medical devices
No full textConcerns regarding the dangers of EtO to health, security, and environmental risks are driving single-use (SU) medical device manufacturers more and more toward radiation technologies. Sterilization can be successfully applied for most biomaterials and disposable medical devices using any of the three ionizing radiation modalities (gamma, X-ray, and e-beam (EB)). However, it is well known that ionizing radiation can significantly alter their structure and properties. Undesired structural changes and property deterioration can occur long after irradiation, i.e., during storage and implementation. Semicrystalline thermoplastic polymers such as isotactic polypropylene (iPP) are particularly sensitive to these effects due to the structural peculiarities and presence of long-lived free radicals in the crystalline core. The evolution of long-lived free radicals in the highly crystalline PP structure and their impact on changes in thermal properties, crystallinity, and microstructure after irradiation, i.e., during storage, was investigated. Two different PP homopolymers with a high degree of isotacticity were prepared by slow cooling after compression molding to obtain structures with the highest possible crystallinity. Subsequently, the samples were irradiated by electron beam and gamma radiation, focusing on the maximum sterilization dose of 50 kGy. The presence and evolution of free radicals were followed using electron spin resonance (ESR) spectroscopy for up to 6 months. Additional characterization was conducted by optical microscopy (OM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), wide angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC)
High-color-purity orange luminescence from Sm³⁺-doped NaY₉Si₆O₂₆ oxyapatite nanophosphors for optoelectronic applications
No full textLuminescent Sm³⁺-doped NaY₉Si₆O₂₆ oxyapatites were hydrothermally synthesized and studied for their structural, morphological, and optical properties, aiming for high-color-purity orange emission. X-ray diffraction confirmed a single-phase oxyapatite host lattice across 0.1–6 mol% Sm³⁺ doping, with nanoscale crystallites. Transmission electron microscopy revealed elongated sphere-like nanoparticles with an average size of ∼44 nm. All samples emitted intense orange light under 405 nm excitation, with chromaticity coordinates within the high-purity orange region of the CIE 1931 diagram. It was also shown that concentration quenching of Sm³⁺ emission in NaY₉Si₆O₂₆ host is predominantly governed by dipole–dipole electric multipolar interactions. The optimized NaY₉Si₆O₂₆:0.5 mol% Sm³⁺ sample demonstrated excellent thermal stability, maintaining 100 % of its emission intensity up to 200 °C and showing consistent luminescence during extended operation at 100 °C for 300 min. A prototype LED–phosphor device produced bright orange light under electrical excitation, confirming the potential of Sm³⁺-doped NaY₉Si₆O₂₆ nanophosphors for high-quality solid-state lighting
Seasonal, compositional, and meteorological drivers of PM2.5 oxidative potential: Evidence from a year-long multi-assay study in Melbourne
No full textThis study investigates the oxidative potential (OP) of PM2.5 in Melbourne's inner-west region, using three complementary acellular assays: dithiothreitol (DTT), ascorbic acid (AA), and dichlorodihydrofluorescein (DCFH). PM2.5 samples were collected over a one-year period from two urban sites located approximately 2 km apart. A clear hierarchy of assay responses was observed, with the highest mean volume-normalised OP values recorded by DTT (Site 1: 0.71 ± 0.40; Site 2: 0.80 ± 0.39 nmolmin−1 m−3), followed by AA (Site 1: 0.44 ± 0.25; Site 2: 0.60 ± 0.31 nmolmin−1 m−3)and DCFH (Site 1: 0.12 ± 0.05; Site 2: 0.13 ± 0.06 nmolH2O2equiv.m−3). Strong correlations were identified between OP and carbonaceous species, particularly organic carbon (OC) and elemental carbon (EC), across all assays (r = 0.52–0.77). OP also showed significant associations with traffic- and crustal-related metals (r = 0.34–0.65), underscoring the role of multiple emission sources. Seasonal trends were assay-specific, with DTT peaking in winter, AA in autumn, and DCFH showing no seasonal variation. The study highlights pronounced temporal and spatial variability in PM2.5 toxicity potential, demonstrating the importance of using multiple assays and compositional metrics to assess the health relevance of particulate pollution in urban environments
Electrochemical Detection of 1,3-Dinitrobenzene Using Bimetallic CoAg/rGO and CuAg/rGO Nanocomposites
No full textThis study introduces an electrochemical sensing platform based on bimetallic CoAg/rGO and CuAg/rGO nanocomposites for the detection of 1,3-dinitrobenzene (DNB), a highly toxic nitroaromatic compound commonly encountered in industrial effluents and contaminated water systems. The prepared nanocomposites were characterized using SEM, TEM, AFM, XPS, and electrochemical techniques, providing detailed insight into their structural, morphological, and surface properties relevant to electrochemical sensing. The electrochemical behavior of DNB was investigated in phosphate buffer solutions using cyclic voltammetry under optimized experimental conditions. Both CoAg/rGO and CuAg/rGO electrodes exhibited pronounced electrocatalytic activity towards the reduction in DNB, characterized by well-defined reduction peaks. The developed sensors exhibited good analytical performance, with limits of detection of 2.21 µM and 2.47 µM for the CuAg/rGO and CoAg/rGO electrodes, respectively, both showing linear responses in the concentration range of 5–50 µM. Moreover, a clear response to DNB was obtained in the presence of phenols as interferents as well as in spiked real water samples. The integration of characterization results with electrochemical measurements and validation in real water samples supports process-oriented research in environmental monitoring and electrochemical process control. These results confirm that bimetallic rGO-based nanocomposites represent efficient and cost-effective electrode materials for the electrochemical detection of 1,3-dinitrobenzene