Ewa Mijowska

• Professor
• Head of Department at West Pomeranian University of Technology

Photocatalytic hydrogen production offers a sustainable and innovative solution to address environmental challenges and global energy shortages by leveraging solar energy. Developing highly efficient photocatalysts is pivotal for advancing photocatalysis technology and facilitating its practical applications. In this study, Ti3C2TX MXene was used a...

Electrocatalytic water splitting is recognized as one of the most effective methods for sustainable hydrogen production, with visible light integration recently emerging as a promising enhancement strategy. To address this, we developed a 2D/2D heterostructure of borophene and molybdenum disulfide (B/MoS 2) to investigate its efficiency in photo-(p...

Photocatalytic hydrogen production offers a sustainable and innovative solution to address environmental challenges and global energy shortages by leveraging solar energy. Developing highly efficient photocatalysts is pivotal for advancing photocatalysis technology and facilitating its practical applications. In this study, Ti 3 C 2 T X MXene was u...

Controlling the microorganisms employed in vinification is a critical factor for successful wine production. Novel methods aimed at lowering sulfites used for wine stabilization are sought. UV-C irradiation has been proposed as an alternative for reducing the viable cell count of microorganisms in wine and grape juice. Nevertheless, UV-C treatment...

Zinc‐ion capacitors (ZICs) have attracted great attention due to a series of advantages. However, the cathode materials are still the bottleneck for high‐performance ZICs to be achieved. Therefore, ZIF‐8‐derived porous carbons are one of the most promising candidates but ZIF‐8 nanoparticles with different sizes exhibited various electrochemical per...

Near‐infrared (NIR) emitting phosphors draw much attention because they show great applicability and development prospects in many fields. Herein, a series of inverse spinel‐type structured LiGa5O8 phosphors with a high concentration of Cr³⁺ activators is reported with a dual emission band covering NIR‐I and II regions. Except for strong ionic exch...

Here, we report a general strategy for designing a metal/carbon system, via a facile and environmentally friendly one-step approach, from metal acetate as an active electrocatalyst in oxygen evolution reaction (OER) during water decomposition. As a demonstration, a nanostructured Ni/C composite induced from nickel acetate is revealed in great detai...

Near‐infrared (NIR) emitting phosphors draw much attention because they show great applicability and development prospects in many fields. Herein, a series of inverse spinel‐type structured LiGa 5 O 8 phosphors with a high concentration of Cr ³⁺ activators is reported with a dual emission band covering NIR‐I and II regions. Except for strong ionic...

The same elements can yield disparate nanoproducts that may elicit different harmful effects in cells and organisms. This study aimed to compare the effects of copper (Cu NPs) and copper oxide (CuO NPs) nanoparticles and Cu²⁺ (from CuSO4) on the physico-biochemical variables of rainbow trout spermatozoa. The cell death assay, along with the activat...

Near‐infrared‐II (NIR‐II) phosphors are extensively used as NIR phosphor‐converted light‐emitting diodes across various applications. Nonetheless, their application in fiber communication remains underexplored. Furthermore, efficiency challenges persist in developing broadband NIR crystal fiber amplifiers. A series of the Y3−yAl5−xO12:xCr,yCa²⁺ pho...

As the most successful new energy storage device developed in recent decades, lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) are ubiquitous in the modern society. However, current commercial LIBs comprising mainly intercalated cathode materials are limited by the theoretical energy density which cannot meet the high storing energy demanded by renewable applications....

Carbon dots (CDs), emerging as a promising class of nanomaterials, have garnered significant interest in the field of biomedicine due to their unique physicochemical properties. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the recent advancements in the biomedical applications of CDs, emphasizing their potential for revolutionizing diagnostics,...

Photocatalytic hydrogen evolution holds great promise for addressing critical energy and environmental challenges, making it an important area in scientific research. One of the most popular photocatalysts is graphitic carbon nitride (gCN), which has emerged as a noteworthy candidate for hydrogen generation through water splitting. However, ongoing...

This study presents a new approach towards the production of sol-gel silica-coated Bi2O3/Gd2O3 cement additives towards the improvement of early mechanical performance and radiation attenuation. Two types of silica coatings, which varied in synthesis method and morphology, were used to coat Bi2O3/Gd2O3 structures and evaluated as a cement filler in...

Nanoparticles (e.g., graphene oxide, graphene oxide-Fe3O4 nanocomposite or hexagonal boron nitride) loaded with anti-cancer drugs and targeted at cancerous cells allowed researchers to determine the most effective in vitro conditions for anticancer treatment. For this reason, the main propose of the present study was to determine the effect of grap...

This study delves into the pressing challenges of climate change and the escalating carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by exploring hydrogen technology as a sustainable alternative. In particular, there is focus on nickel phosphide-based electrocatalysts, known for their promising performance in hydrogen evolution reactions (HERs) and oxygen evolution...

Developing robust electrocatalysts based on nonprecious metals with high activity in the sluggish oxygen-evolution reaction (OER) is crucial for achieving large-scale hydrogen production.

Achieving the desired properties of paper such as strength, durability, and printability remains challenging. Paper mills employ calcium carbonate (CaCO3) as a filler to boost paper’s brightness, opacity, and printability. However, weak interaction between cellulose fibers and CaCO3 particles creates different issues in the papermaking industry. Th...

Photocatalytic hydrogen evolution holds great promise for addressing critical energy and environmental challenges, making it an important area in scientific research. One of the most popular photocatalysts is graphitic carbon nitride (gCN), which has emerged as a noteworthy candidate for hydrogen generation through water splitting. However, ongoing...

Incorporating metal oxide nanoparticles into cement-based composites delays the hydration process and strength gain of cementitious composites. This study presents an approach toward improving the performance of bismuth oxide (Bi2O3) and gadolinium oxide (Gd2O3) particles in cementitious systems by synthesizing core–shell structures via a sol-gel p...

Recently, water oxidation or oxygen evolution reaction (OER) in electrocatalysis has attracted huge attention due to its prime role in water splitting, rechargeable metal-air batteries and fuel cells. Here, we demonstrate a facile and scalable fabrication method of a rod-like structure composed of molybdenum disulphide and carbon (MoS2/C) from pare...

Disposable aluminum cans and plastic bottles are common wastes found in modern societies. This article shows that they can be upcycled into functional materials, such as metal-organic frameworks and hierarchical porous carbon nanomaterials for high-value applications. Through a solvothermal method, used poly(ethylene terephthalate) bottles and alum...

The family of graphene-based materials welcomed a new member, borophene, in 2014. Research on synthesis routes and experimental study on physicochemical and biological (especially in vivo) properties still is strongly desired in order to evaluate its practical potential as a drug delivery-system. The effect of two-dimensional borophene nanoflakes o...

Zinc‐ion capacitors (ZICs) are regarded as highly promising candidates for electrical energy storage systems (EESs). However, some challenges must be met to achieve high energy density and long cycling life in practical applications. Herein, we report on design and preparation of 2D nanosheets of N,P‐co‐doped hierarchical porous carbon (GNPCs) by a...

The dominance of plastics in the packaging market is due to their low weight and thickness, which save transportation costs. However, their non-biodegradability poses a significant threat to the environment. Paper, on the other hand, is considered as a safer alternative due to its natural composition and biodegradability. The porous structure of pa...

To fill the knowledge gap for borophene, as the youngest member of the two-dimensional (2D) nanomaterials family, a facile, cost effective, scalable and reproducible fabrication route is still strongly required. Among so far studied techniques the potential of pure mechanical processes such as ball milling is not explored yet. Therefore, in this co...

Hydrogen is a promising energy source to replace fossil fuels. Among the methods of generating hydrogen, electrochemical water splitting is distinguished by its ecologically friendly, high efficiency, sustainability, and ability to produce this element without the limitation of geological conditions and scaling devices. However, electrochemical wat...

Water electrolysis is one of the most crucial processes in the development of new energy sources, where ultra-clean fuel is produced - hydrogen. Oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is the sluggish process of overall water splitting. Therefore, this study presents the design, characterization and electrochemical study of cobalt-based electrocatalysts em...

We report a nanocomposite material exhibiting ultra-small Fe3O4 nanoparticles uniformly decorated on hollow carbon spheres (Fe3O4@HCS). The unique hierarchically-structured material displays excellent electrochemical cycling performance that exceeds the theoretical bulk capacity of Fe3O4 when used as an anode in lithium-ion batteries. In particular...

In this study, a facile strategy to promote electrochemical performance of free‐standing Li‐ion battery electrode composed of titanium dioxide (TiO2) via composite formation with reduced graphene oxide (RGO) using ultrafast and self‐expansion reduction reaction (USER) was proposed. This approach induced self‐expansion through rapid heating providin...

In this contribution, a sustainable approach to fabricate one-dimensional (1D) graphitic carbon nitride (gCN) for photocatalytic hydrogen generation is reported. The strategy was based on L-ascorbic acid (LAA) modification of two-dimensional (2D) gCN leading to the formation of a 1D structure. The resultant gCN_1D exhibits an increased photocatalyt...

An efficient electrocatalyst is crucial for sustainable hydrogen-fuel production, where cobalt oxyhydroxide is one of the most active catalysts for alkaline water splitting. Here, we designed a series of Co-based catalysts fabricated by direct low-temperature calcination of ZIF-67 for electrocatalytic oxygen evolution reaction (OER). Interestingly,...

Since its discovery, graphene has been widely considered a great material that has advanced the Li-ion battery field and allowed development in its performance. However, most current graphene-related research is focused on graphene-based composites as electrode materials, highlighting the role of graphene in composite materials. Herein, we focused...

Facing the ever-increasing production of municipal plastics, great efforts have been made to recycle plastic waste into high-value-added products. As the main components of plastic wastes, polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE), and polystyrene (PS) are uncharred polymers that are difficult to carbonize under normal conditions. To address this issue...

It is of great scientific and economic value to recycle waste poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) into high-value PET-based metal organic frameworks (MOFs) and further convert it into porous carbon for green energy storage applications. In the present study, a facile and cost-effective hydrothermal process was developed to direct recycle waste PET b...

We report outstanding properties of the antiperovskite cathode material (Li 2 Fe)SeO which for the first time was synthesized via direct ball-milling. The unique structured material displays excellent electrochemical cycling performance of...

Surgical face masks waste is a source of microplastics (polymer fibres) and inorganic and organic compounds potentially hazardous for aquatic organisms during degradation in water. The monthly use of face masks in the world is about 129 billion for 7.8 billion people. Therefore, in this contribution the utilization of hazardous surgical face masks...

In this paper, thin free standing films based on ultrafast self-expanded reduced graphene oxide (ERGO) and exfoliated molybdenum disulfide (ex-MoS2) were prepared via vacuum-assisted filtration and tested as anodes in Li-ion half-cells. Three films with GO to ex-MoS2 ratio of 1:1, 1:2 and 2:1 were assembled (ERGO/MoS2-1, ERGO/MoS2-2, ERGO/MoS2-3, r...

Electrochemical exfoliation of nonconductive boron to few-layered borophene is reported. This unique effect is achieved via the incorporation of bulk boron into metal mesh inducing electrical conductivity and opening a venue for borophene fabrication via this feasible strategy. The experiments were conducted in various electrolytes providing a powe...

An eco-friendly pre-treatment coupled with surface functionalisation were developed to enhance the quality of wheat straw particles to be used for development of high-performance polylactic acid (PLA) compressed strawboard. Eco-friendly hybrid pre-treatment (i.e., hot water followed by steam, H+S) and surface functionalisation processes employing a...

In this contribution, the heterostructure based on exfoliated graphitic carbon nitride (ex-gCN) coated by a porous carbon layer was fabricated by a simple approach and tested as a photocatalyst for hydrogen evolution under simulated solar light illumination. Bulk-gCN was firstly exfoliated and annealed under a hydrogen atmosphere in carefully selec...

Three-dimensional (3D) graphene-based nanocomposites have received considerable attention in both fundamental research and industrial applications, as they combine the functionalities of well-controlled nano-architectures and the integrity of bulk materials. Actually, among these materials, spherical structures are attracting more and more attentio...

It is still a great challenge to develop epoxy resin/glass fabric (EP/GF) composites with well-balanced enhancements on flame retardancy and mechanical properties. Herein, a novel strategy that polyhydric SiO2 coating assistant to graft organophosphorus (DOPO) onto GF was developed for simultaneously improving flame retardancy and mechanical proper...

Little is known about interactions of non-filamentous, complex-structured lytic phages and free, non-ordered nanoparticles. Emerging questions about their possible bio-sanitization co-applications or predictions of possible contact effects in the environment require testing. Therefore, we revealed the influence of various nanoparticles (NPs; SiO2,...

This work reports a facile fabrication method to modify exfoliated molybdenum disulfide (e-MoS2) nanosheets with magnetite nanoparticles with various size distribution. The obtained materials have been utilized as nanofillers of polyethylene to enhance its thermal properties and flame retardance. The incorporation of magnetite modified MoS 2 nanosh...

The potential of nitrogen‐doped carbon nanofibers with encapsulated Ni nanoparticles as a bifunctional catalyst in H2 and O2 evolution reactions (HER and OER, respectively) was studied. The proposed heterostructure is fabricated via a facile chemical vapor deposition on Ni supported on graphitic carbon nitride (GCN) as a precursor. HER was an effec...

Utilising wheat straw reinforced OPC-free composites in the construction industry requires efficient, eco-friendly pre-treatment coupled with surface functionalisation methods to turn it into a high-performance material. Herein, alkali-activated material (AAM) was used as an OPC-free matrix, while eco-friendly hybrid pre-treatment and surface funct...

Semiconductor based photocatalysis is considered as a promising route for remediation of polluted water. However, there is still intensive research to overcome high recombination rate of electrons and holes, and low reaction rate, limiting large-scale applications. Therefore, it is crucial to focus on the fabrication of the optimal photocatalysts w...

The discovery and characterization of nanoparticles represent a multidisciplinary issue. Their properties and applications within many fields depend on their size, shape, aspect ratio, and so on. No single methodology can currently analyze all characteristics and reveal their influence on the specific performance. Here, antibacterial and mechanical...

A cable-like photocatalyst, [email protected], based on TiO2 belts and mesoporous g-C3N4 nanosheets, is fabricated by an in situ hydrothermal self-assembly approach. The mesoporous g-C3N4 nanosheets (MCN) are prepared by a chemical etching method and the TiO2 belts (TiBs) by a hydrothermal method. Several characterization analyses such as SEM, TEM,...

In this research, facile and highly reproducible route for fabrication of self-cleaning and self-disinfecting cellulose-based substrate enriched by exfoliated graphitic carbon nitride flakes deposited with silver nanoparticles (gCN_Ag) is reported. Cellulose-based sheets were studied in photocatalytic degradation of Rhodamine B (RhB) solutions with...

Bacterial infectious diseases are serious health problem which extends to economic and social complications. Moreover, bacterial antibiotic resistance, lack of suitable vaccine or emergence of new mutations is forcing the development of novel antimicrobial agents. The objective of this study is to synthesize and characterize star-like zinc oxide na...

Heteroatom-doped three-dimensional (3D) porous carbons possess great potential as promising electrodes for high-performance supercapacitors. Inspired by the inherent features of intumescent flame retardants (IFRs) with universal availability, rich heteroatoms and easy thermal-carbonization to form porous carbons, herein we proposed a self-assemblin...

With the purpose to turn wastes into wealth and develop renewable energy, much effort has been focused on converting biowastes into porous carbons and exploring their application for supercapacitors. In this study, inspired by natural porous structure of biomass and small size of Sn nanoparticles, a one-step strategy was developed to convert waste...

Recently, to meet the growing demand for stable and flexible batteries, anodes in the form of thin films have drawn the attention of researchers. It is clear that mass production of such batteries would bring the worldwide distribution of flexible devices and wearable electronics closer. Currently, electrodes are deposited on a flexible substrate a...

In this contribution, the effect of hydrogenation conditions atmosphere (temperature and time) on physicochemical properties and photocatalytic efficiency of graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4, gCN) was studied in great details. The changes in the morphology, chemical structure, optical and electrochemical properties were carefully investigated. Inte...

With the worldwide pandemic of COVID-19, a tremendous amount of face masks have been consumed and discarded, resulting in serious environment pollution and infectious hazards. Herein a green and high-yield route has been developed to recycle waste masks (WMs) into CNTs/Ni hybrids via catalytic carbonization. Our results exhibited that the yield of...

Here, we report that mesoporous hollow carbon spheres (HCS) can be simultaneously functionalized: (i) endohedrally by iron oxide nanoparticle and (ii) egzohedrally by manganese oxide nanorods (FexOy/MnO2/HCS). Detailed analysis reveals a high degree of graphitization of HCS structures. The mesoporous nature of carbon is further confirmed by N2 sorp...

Here, we designed a molecular structure fabrication route based on spherical mesoporous TiO2 and exfoliated graphitic carbon nitride (mTiO2_ex-gCN) by combining hard templating and hydrothermal methods. The mTiO2_ex-gCN boosted two photocatalytic processes: hydrogen evolution under simulated solar illumination and degradation of Rhodamine B (RhB) w...

In our study, we got carbon nanotubes by the Green engineering method. In this approach, the key element is silica nanospheres, that act as a catalyst carriers, prepared from the recycled ethanol-ammonia solution and copper wire from used cables. We used copper wires as a source of metal ions that were adsorbed by the silica nanospheres and then se...

Poly(butylene succinate) is one of the most promising biodegradable polymers, but its applications are limited by poor flame retardancy. In this work, poly(butylene succinate)/diethylphosphinate (PBS/AlPi) composites were fabricated to investigate the effect of AlPi on their thermal stability, flame retardancy, and mechanical properties. It was fou...

Here, we designed paper sheets coated with chitosan, bacterial cellulose (nanofibers), and ZnO with boosted antibacterial and mechanical activity. We investigated the compositions, with ZnO exhibiting two different sizes/shapes: (1) rods and (2) irregular sphere-like particles. The proposed processing of bacterial cellulose resulted in the formatio...