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Mbarek Amjoud

Publications and source records attributed to Mbarek Amjoud.

11 recordsLinked to original sources
arXiv2026

Improvement of piezocatalytic performance of Na0.5Bi0.5TiO3 perovskite using K doping for efficient Rhodamine B degradation

Piezocatalysis, based on the piezoelectric properties of catalysts, breaks down the barrier between mechanical energy and chemical energy. It describes the use of charges induced by piezoelectricity to assist typical chemical processes while harvesting various forms of mechanical green energy. The performance of piezocatalysis is predominantly governed by the piezoelectric properties of materials. The main aim of this work is to evaluate and analyze the potential of potassium doped sodium bismuth titanate Na0.5-xKxBi0.5TiO3 abbreviated as NKxBT (0, 0.15, 0.20, and 0.25), as a piezocatalyst in the degradation of the organic dye Rhodamine B RhB under ultrasonic vibration. The synthesis of NKxBT nanopowders was conducted using the sol-gel autocombustion method. Coupled structural analysis reveals the presence of an intermediate Morphotropic Phase Boundary (MPB, where two phases coexist) in the optimal NK15BT composition. The piezocatalytic degradation results showed a total piezo-degradation in only 90 min and a rate constant 8 times higher than the undoped NK0BT. The enhanced piezocatalytic activity results from a synergistic effect of MPB presence, reduced particle size, optimal bandgap and high lattice strain. The NK15BT sample also demonstrated good reusability and good mineralization.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗
arXiv2026

Multiferroic Properties of Electrospun CFO-BCTSn Nanocomposites for Magnetoelectric and Magnetic Field Sensing Applications

Multiferroic CFO-BCTSn composite nanofibers were synthesized using a sol-gel electrospinning method. Electron microscopy revealed well-defined fibers with diameters of 120-150 nm. Structural analyses using X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy confirmed the coexistence of the spinel CFO phase and the perovskite BCTSn phase without detectable secondary phases. Magnetic hysteresis measurements demonstrated the magnetic behavior of the nanofibers, while piezoresponse force microscopy confirmed their piezoelectric properties. Magnetoelectric coupling was evidenced by differences between the magnetic hysteresis loops of electrically poled and unpoled samples. These lead-free composite nanofibers show potential for nanoscale magnetoelectric devices and magnetic field sensing applications.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗
arXiv2026

Role of Bi3+ ion substitution on the piezocatalytic degradation performance of lead-free BaTi0.89Sn0.11O3 at low vibrational energy

Harnessing low ultrasonic vibration energy to drive piezocatalytic reactions has attracted increasing attention in response to current environmental and energy challenges. In this study, we investigate the effect of heterovalent bismuth doping on the piezocatalytic degradation of Rhodamine B (RhB) under low-power ultrasonic excitation. Bismuth ions (Bi$^{3+}$) were substituted into the lead-free ferroelectric BaTi${0.89}$Sn${0.11}$O$_3$, yielding BTSn11-xBi with x = 0, 0.02, and 0.04. The powders were synthesized by the sol-gel method as submicron cubes. The structural, morphological, optical, and piezocatalytic properties were strongly influenced by the Bi content. Compared with pristine BTSn11 and BTSn11-0.04Bi, the BTSn11-0.02Bi sample exhibited the lowest band gap (3.22 eV), the smallest particle size (283 nm), the highest piezoelectric current (approximately 8 microA cm$^{-2}$), and the lowest coercive field required to obtain piezoresponse force microscopy hysteresis loops. As a result, BTSn11-0.02Bi showed the highest RhB degradation efficiency and the largest apparent kinetic rate constant, confirming its superior piezocatalytic performance. Total organic carbon measurements revealed significant mineralization of RhB. In addition, BTSn11-0.02Bi demonstrated good reusability and stability, maintaining high degradation efficiency over three consecutive cycles. These results highlight the potential of Bi-doped BTSn11 ferroelectric materials, particularly BTSn11-0.02Bi, as efficient piezocatalysts for environmental remediation.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗
arXiv2026

Ferroelectric KNbO3 nanoplatelets for thermally driven pyrocatalytic hydrogen evolution and dye degradation

Day- and night-induced thermal cycling offers a promising route for harvesting ambient thermal energy to drive sustainable hydrogen production and pollutant degradation. Pyroelectric materials enable this process by converting temperature fluctuations into surface charges capable of promoting catalytic water splitting and advanced oxidation reactions. In this work, we demonstrate efficient pyrocatalytic hydrogen evolution and Rhodamine B (RhB) degradation using orthorhombic ferroelectric Potassium niobate (KNbO$_3$) nanoplatelets (KN-np). Under thermal cycling between 20 and 50 $^\circ$C, KN-np achieved a hydrogen yield of 680 $\mu$mol g$^{-1}$ after 30 thermal cycles, corresponding to an average hydrogen production rate of 22.67 $\mu$mol g$^{-1}$ per cycle. In addition, KN-np exhibited excellent pyrocatalytic activity toward RhB degradation, reaching 84% removal after only 16 thermal cycles with an apparent kinetic rate constant of 0.11 cycle$^{-1}$. The remarkable catalytic performance is attributed to the strong spontaneous polarization and excellent pyroelectric properties of the KNbO$_3$ nanoplatelets, which promote efficient charge generation and interfacial redox reactions. These findings highlight the potential of KNbO$_3$ nanostructures as efficient pyrocatalysts for clean hydrogen production and environmental remediation.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗
arXiv2025

BCZT/LSMO/BCZT multilayer films for high temperature energy storage capacitors

Ba0.85Ca0.15Zr0.1Ti0.9O3/La0.8Sr0.2MnO3/Ba0.85Ca0.15Zr0.1Ti0.9O3 (BCZT/LSMO/BCZT) sandwich films were elaborated using the sol-gel spin coating process. The dielectric properties displayed excellent thermal stability with the temperature coefficient of capacitance, TCC, remaining within 10% between -50 C and 300 C. The high energy storage density, Wrec, of 11.8 J/cm3 observed in this sandwich films, is nearly twice as high as that of the BCZT films, with an efficiency, n, of 77% under a weak electric field of 800 kV/cm. Furthermore, the stability of Wrec and n was observed along the studied temperature interval making them promising candidates for high-temperature energy storage capacitors.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗
arXiv2024

Impact of Polymeric precursor and Auto-combustion on the Structural, Microstructural, Magnetic, and Magnetocaloric Properties of La0.8Sr0.2MnO3

In this work, La0.8Sr0.2MnO3 (LSMO) nanopowders are synthesized using two different methods: Pechini (LSMO-PC) and auto-combustion (LSMO-AC). Nanoparticle sizes, structural, magnetic, and magnetocaloric properties were determined and compared. The X-ray diffraction confirms the coexistence of two phases; rhombohedral symmetry with space group R-3c and orthorhombic symmetry with space group Pbnm, with the rhombohedral phase dominating. The scanning electron microscope images show that LSMO-PC has larger nanoparticle sizes (~495 nm) than LSMO-AC (~195 nm). The samples exhibit ferromagnetic properties with distinct hysteresis loops and Curie temperatures 340 K and 290 K for LSMO-PC and LSMO-AC respectively. The variation of the magnetic entropy was measured indirectly using the Maxwell approach with increasing magnetic field. For LSMO-PC it reaches a maximum -dSM=1.69 J/kg.K at 340 K and dH= 5 T. The associated adiabatic temperature change dTM is 1.04 K. While LSMO-PC demonstrates superior magnetic and magnetocaloric properties, LSMO-AC displays significant magnetocaloric thermal stability. The obtained values make LSMO-PC and LSMO-AC promising candidates for eco-friendly room-temperature magnetocaloric applications.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗
arXiv2023

Structural, dielectric and energy storage properties of BaO-Na2O-Nb2O5-P2O5 glass-ceramic

A series of (1-x)[(2BaO-0,5Na2O)-1P2O5] -xNb2O5 (BNPN, x=0,41, 0,43, 0,45, 0,48) glass-ceramics based on phosphate glasses have been prepared via a controlled-crystallization route. The structure, dielectric properties, interfacial polarization, and energy storage properties were systematically investigated. The x-ray diffraction results showed the simultaneous presence of Ba2NaNb5O15 tungsten bronze structure (TTB) and the NaNbO3 perovskite. A stable dielectric constant over a temperature range from 25-200{\deg}C, low dielectric losses less than 0,03, and excellent frequency stability at room temperature were obtained. The decrease in niobium content promoted TTB crystallization with the improvement of the high dielectric properties of the system. The optimum of the dielectric constant and recoverable energy storage density were obtained for BNP41 crystallized at 1000{\deg}C. Analyses of the complex impedance indicated that the niobium content and crystallization temperature affect the interfacial polarization.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗
arXiv2023

Effect of the BaO-Na$_2$O-Nb$_2$O$_5$-P$_2$O$_5$ glass addition on microstructure and dielectric properties of BNN ceramics

Barium sodium niobate Ba$_2$NaNb$_5$O$_{15}$ (BNN) ceramics with different amounts of BaO-Na$_2$O-Nb$_2$O$_5$-P$_2$O$_5$ (BNNP) glass were prepared via the conventional solid-state method. The effect of glass content on the structural, microstructure, and dielectric properties of BNN ceramics was investigated. The XRD results showed that no secondary phase was formed after adding BNNP glass. It was found that such additions reduce the average grain size and refine the microstructure of the obtained ceramics. Moreover, the samples exhibited a stable dielectric constant over the temperature range of 25$^\circ$C-150$^\circ$C, and their dielectric constants were significantly improved. The ceramic with 7.5 wt% BNNP glass content showed a dielectric constant which is more than twice as much as that of pure BNN ceramic, as well as a low dielectric loss of less than 5%.

physics.app-ph↗
arXiv2020

Structural, Dielectric and Ferroelectric Properties of Lead-free BCZT Ceramics Elaborated by Low-temperature Hydrothermal Processing

Lead-free Ba0.85Ca0.15Zr0.10Ti0.90O3 (BCZT) ceramics have demonstrated excellent dielectric, ferroelectric and piezoelectric properties in comparison to lead-based materials. The synthesis of pure and crystalline BCZT nanopowders at low temperatures of 25, 80 and 160 C was reported previously by using a sol-gel method followed by a hydrothermal route. In this study, the structural, dielectric and ferroelectric properties of sintered BCZT ceramics at 1250 °C for 10h were investigated. XRD measurements revealed the presence of a single perovskite phase at room temperature with the coexistence of the orthorhombic and tetragonal symmetries. The increase of grain size and the ceramic density in BCZT ceramics result in an enhancement of the dielectric and ferroelectric properties of BCZT ceramics. More interestingly, the synthesis temperature of BCZT powders with high dielectric and ferroelectric properties could be decreased to a low temperature of 160 °C, which is about 1200 °C lower when compared with solid-state reaction and 840 °C lower when compared with sol-gel methods. The BCZT ceramics elaborated at 160 °C revealed excellent electrical properties. Hence, the use of low-temperature hydrothermal processing can be encouraging for the synthesis of lead-free ceramics with high dielectric and ferroelectric properties.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗
arXiv2019

Structural, dielectric and electrocaloric properties of (Ba0.85Ca0.15)(Ti0.9Zr0.1-xSnx)O3 ceramics elaborated by sol-gel method

Ferroelectric ceramics (Ba0.85Ca0.15)(Ti0.9Zr0.1-xSnx)O3 (x=0.00, 0.02, 0.04, 0.06) were prepared by a sol-gel method. Structural investigation revealed the co-existence of tetragonal (P4mm) and orthorhombic (Pmm2) symmetries at room temperature for the undoped ceramic, while only a tetragonal structure (P4mm) was observed for the doped ceramics. Dielectric measurements indicate a dielectric relaxation process at high temperatures which is essentially related to the hopping of oxygen vacancies. Furthermore, a down shifting of the Curie temperature (TC) with increasing Sn4+ doping rate has been revealed. The temperature profiles of the Raman spectra unveiled the existence of polar nanoregions (PNRs) above the Curie temperature in all ceramics. The ferroelectric properties were found to be related to the microstructure. Electrocaloric effect was investigated in this system that revealed an electrocaloric responsivity of 0.225 10-6 K m/V for the composition with x = 0.04 Sn doping, where other remarkable physical properties were also observed.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗