Crystalline Size Research Articles

An effective synthesis of carbon nanotube foams over three ambient atmospherically calcined Fe–Mo/MgO catalysts: Structural characterization with growth mechanism

Our research attempted to investigate the impact of calcination on the synthesis procedure, thickness dependency, and catalytic phases of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) exhibiting a foam-like design. The sol-gel technique of combustion was used to generate three different stoichiometric molar proportions of extremely active Fe:Mo:MgO catalyst significantly powder (namely 1:0.5:13, 1:1:13, and 1:1:50). The crystalline phases of the catalysts were modified by calcination under Air, inert (Ar) and reduced (H2) atmospheres. XRD, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), in addition to Energy Dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis were utilized to examine the development of the catalytic compounds' morphological phases, size of particles, shape, and composition of elements.The crystalline shapes, sizes and other morphological characteristics of the highly active catalysts were studied by TEM. Additionally, the BET surface area as well as the average particle diameter, volume of pore, and radius of pore were ascertained using the N2 sorption isotherm evaluation. Then, the combination of uncalcined and calcined catalysts were employed to generate CNT foams through CVD approach. The CNT foam development findings were examined using a variety of physicochemical strategies. From these studies, we established the relation between the catalytic phases and the growth of MWCNTs with foam-like morphology. Finally, the change of the growth mechanism and diameter of the MWCNT foams over the active catalysts based on the stoichiometric molar ratios between the catalyst and support was analyzed through TEM studies.

High-performance tin perovskite transistors through formate pseudohalide engineering

The lack of high-performance p-type semiconducting materials hinders the integration of complementary metal-oxide semiconductors with well-established n-type metal-oxide counterparts. Although tin halide perovskites are promising p-type material candidates, their practical implementation is hindered by excessive hole concentrations and difficulties in precisely controlling crystallization, which leads to poor device performance and yield. In this paper, we propose a formate pseudohalide engineering method to overcome these issues and demonstrate high-performance tin perovskite thin-film transistors (TFTs). The incorporation of formate anion greatly suppresses the vacancy defects at the surfaces of the perovskite films with an increase in crystallinity and grain size. This reduces the hole concentration and eliminates the dependence on the addition of excessive tin fluoride for hole suppression. Hence, high-performance TFTs with a high average field-effect hole mobility of 57.34 cm2 V−1 s−1 and on/off current ratios surpassing 108 can be achieved, approaching p-channel low-temperature polysilicon devices.

Design of PVDF hollow fiber membranes with stable crystalline and porous structure by solvent‐free method

AbstractOne of the critical principles of green chemistry and environmental sustainability is to avoid using harmful solvents in chemical processes. In this study, a novel solvent‐free method was employed to prepare poly (vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) hollow fiber composite membranes with stable crystalline and porous structures. Utilizing the cold‐hot stretching method, the crystalline structure and orientation of PVDF were effectively redesigned, resulting in improved mechanical and penetration properties of the membrane. Additionally, an investigation into the internal crystalline structure of the PVDF hollow fiber membrane was conducted, focusing on crystalline changes induced by ion‐dipole interactions. Results indicated that the addition of neutral ion‐dipole functional particles (N‐P) promoted the conversion of α crystalline to β crystalline, leading to stable β crystalline and controllable pore sizes in the prepared PVDF hollow fiber membrane. Furthermore, the internal crystalline structure significantly contributed to enhancing the membrane's mechanical properties and penetration performance. Notably, a PVDF hollow fiber with high β crystalline content was achieved through 150% cold‐hot stretching and the addition of 20. wt% N‐P further enhanced the β‐crystalline content in the membrane. This study presents a promising approach for reducing solvent consumption and minimizing environmental impact in the field of environment‐friendly membrane fabrication.

A novel starch‐based composite hydrogel enhanced by activated charcoal from the banana peel for water decontamination

AbstractThe efficient removal of potential toxic elements (PTEs) from aqueous systems is an important challenge in water purification and industrial effluent treatment. Starch‐based hydrogels have shown promise in this context due to their unique properties, such as high absorption capacity and water retention. This work synthesized a novel hydrogel with and without activated charcoal (AC) from banana peel (5 wt.%) and trisodium citrate as a crosslinking agent and starch to remove PTEs. These hydrogels were characterized by Fourier‐transformed infrared (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy, TGA, XRD, water absorption, and zero‐charge point techniques. Subsequently, the affinity of AC, neat hydrogel, and the composite hydrogel for removing Cr6+, Cd2+, Ni2+, Mn2+, Zn2+, and Cu2+ in aqueous solution was evaluated. FTIR confirmed a crosslinking reaction between the starch molecules and the crosslinking agent (trisodium citrate). Besides, the addition of hydrogel+5%AC altered the crosslinking process. Adding AC to the hydrogel composite increased crystallinity, thermal stability, and porous size. The highest removal efficiency of neat hydrogel and hydrogel+5%AC was for Cr6+, obtaining 83.2% and 98.5%, respectively. As for the AC, the removal of Cu2+ was satisfactory, with 80.4%. Thus, hydrogel+5%AC proves to be a highly viable adsorbent for posttreatment of wastewater due to its ability to efficiently remove PTEs.

Effect of calcination temperature on structure evolution of hematite nanoparticles

The objective of this study is to investigate the transition structure of iron oxide, specifically the change from magnetite to hematite, as well as the influence of calcination temperature on the structural growth of hematite nanoparticles. The magnetite was extracted from the native iron sand in Indonesia using the coprecipitation procedure. To generate hematite, magnetite was calcined at various temperatures (350, 500, 650, and 800 °C). The structural changes resulting from the effect of calcination temperature were investigated by combining a number of characterisation methods. The crystal structure was examined using synchrotron x-ray diffraction (SRD) and the local structure was examined using x-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS). Crystallite size was calculated using the Debye-Schrerrer equation at the most dominant SRD peak. Surface morphology was investigated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). SRD data revealed that the sample calcined at 350 °C displayed both the Fe3O4 and α-Fe2O3 phases, while higher temperatures revealed the single-phase α-Fe2O3. Furthermore, an increase in calcination temperature was shown to be associated with an increase in crystallinity and crystallite size. For the samples H350 and H800, the crystallinity increased from 95.56 to 98.17%. In the magnetite, H350, H500, H650, and H800 samples, the crystallite size increased from 9.57 to 29.55, 16.40, 28,48, 29.26, and 29.55 nm. Higher calcination temperatures, on the other hand, increase the interatomic distance while decreasing the Debye–Waller factor, according to XAS fitting data. It can be inferred that around 500 °C, the transition from Fe3O4 to single-phase α-Fe2O3 was observed. While a greater calcination temperature of at least 800 °C would alter the structural parameters, it would not affect the phase.

Structural and dielectric analysis of Cu-doped NiCo2O4 nanoparticles synthesized by green synthesis approach

The synthesis process of nanoparticles profoundly influences the chemical and physical properties of materials. Green synthesis, utilizing plant extracts as precursor materials, presents an environmentally friendly approach for producing metal oxide nanoparticles. In this study, we synthesized copper-doped nickel cobaltite (Ni1-xCuxCo2O4, x = 0.5) nanoparticles via a green synthesis method employing aloe vera leaf extract. Analysis of the XRD pattern revealed the formation of cubic spinel Ni0.5Cu0.5Co2O4 nanoparticles well-crystalline in nature (space group: Fd-3 m), free from secondary impurity phases. Crystalline size, determined using Debye Scherrer, modified Scherrer, and Williamson-Hall models, yielded values of ∼ 27 nm, ∼ 35 nm, and ∼ 62 nm, respectively. Dielectric studies conducted at room temperature revealed a frequency-dependent increase in dielectric constant. At lower frequencies, tangent loss (tan δ) showed higher values, which gradually decreased as frequency increased. Additionally, the AC conductivity demonstrated a significant increase with higher external field frequencies.

Chitosan-mediated tailoring of cadmium sulphide nanoparticle: Synthesis, properties, and interactive mechanisms

This study explores the synergistic effects of chitosan-coated cadmium sulphide (CdS) nanoparticles (NPs) at varying concentrations on their structural, optical, and photocatalytic properties. CdS NPs are known for their promising photocatalytic potential, but their practical application often requires stability enhancement and reduced toxicity. Chitosan, a natural biopolymer, offers unique advantages such as biocompatibility and heavy metal adsorption capabilities, making it an attractive candidate for surface modification of CdS NPs. Our investigation reveals that chitosan-coated CdS NPs exhibit concentration-dependent changes in their crystalline structure, bandgap energy, particle size, and vibrational characteristics. Notably, CdS NPs synthesized with 1.5 g chitosan concentration display the smallest bandgap and particle size, suggesting optimal photocatalytic activity. This research provides valuable insights into tailoring CdS NPs for efficient visible light photocatalysis, with implications in environmental remediation and energy conversion.

Investigating the effects of synthesis parameter on textural and catalytic properties of ZnO–CuO–Al2O3–Cr2O3 mixed oxide in water gas shift reaction

The present study has investigated the influence of preparing conditions, including aging temperature and time, pH, and Tcalcination, on the co-precipitated ZnO–CuO–Al2O3–Cr2O3 mixed oxide at a high-temperature water gas shift reaction. XRD, BET, FTIR, TG-DTA, SEM, TEM, and H2-TPR were used to characterize the relationships between the synthesis parameters and the physicochemical features. The investigation proved that the activity in aging 5 h could be related to higher pore volume and lower crystalline size of 0.24 cm3g-1 and 6.4 nm, respectively. Also found that increasing the aging temperature to 60 °C results in a rise in the surface area and particle size of less than 6 nm, enhancing the catalyst activity. The findings showed that raising the Tcalcination reduced the surface area from 132 to 65 m2 g−1. It has been concluded that the CO conversion of 70 % was obtained when aged at 60 °C and calcination temperature of 400 °C.

Optical and morphological studies of Titania nanotubes by varying anodization parameters

In this study, the self-organized Titania (TiO2) was created by anodizing pure titanium in a mixture of ethylene glycol, ammonium fluoride, and distilled water using an electrochemical cell. This study aims to examine how changes in anodization parameters impact the morphology and optical properties of Titania. The nanotubes achieved 10 μm length by applying less ammonium fluoride (NH4F) electrolytes. The energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) reveals that the prepared samples are essentially composed of TiO2. Mixed phases of rutile and anatase are obtained by increasing the annealing temperature from 360 to 480 ℃ and crystalline size seems to be reduced by increasing anodization potential, calculated by X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD), diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS) helps to identify the bandgap value and the minimum value attained at 2.56 eV without doping and the electron-hole recombination rates calculated through the intensity of photoluminescence (PL) analysis. Ultimately, the optimal values of the anodization parameters for the generation of the most effective sample are determined.

Environmental Sustainability and Physicochemical Property Screening of Chitin and Chitin-Glucan from 22 Fungal Species.

Thanks to its biobased character with embedded biogenic carbon, chitin can aid in the transition to a sustainable circular economy by replacing fossil carbon from the geosphere. However, meeting current demands for material availability and environmental sustainability requires alternative methods limiting conventional chemical and energy-consuming chitin extraction from crustaceans. To assist future chitinous bioproduct development, this work analyzes the physicochemical properties and potential environmental sustainability of fungal chitin-glucan complexes. A conventional isolation procedure using sodium hydroxide, a weak acid, and short reaction times are applied to the fruiting body of 22 fungal species. Besides, the valorization of underutilized waste streams including Agaricus bisporus and Agaricus brunnescens stipes is investigated. The carbohydrate analysis renders chitin fractions in the range of 9.5-63.5 wt %, while yields vary from 4.2 to 29.9%, and the N-acetylation degree in found in between 53.0 and 98.7%. The sustainability of the process is analyzed using life cycle assessment (LCA), providing impact quantification for global warming potential, terrestrial acidification, freshwater eutrophication, and water use. With 87.5-589.3 kg·CO2-equiv per kilo, potentially lower global warming potential values in comparison to crustacean chitin are achieved. The crystallinity degree ranged from 28 to 78%, while the apparent chitin crystalline size (L020) is between 2.3 and 5.4 nm. Ten of the species yield α-chitin coexisting with semicrystalline glucans. Zwitterionic properties are observed in aqueous solutions, shifting from cationic to anionic at pH 4.5. With its renewable carbon content, fungal chitin is an environmentally sustainable alternative for high-value applications due to its balance of minimal treatment, low carbon footprint, material renewability, ease of isolation, thermal stability, zwitterionic behavior, biodegradability, and noncytotoxicity.

Impact of Cl- on the performance of magnesium oxysulfate (MOS) cement

As magnesium oxysulfate (MOS) cement finds more applications in the engineering field, the influence of Cl- on the mechanical properties of MOS cement has gained more attention. In this paper, MgCl2·6 H2O served as the source of Cl- to investigate its influence on the evolving properties of MOS cement. The results showed that MgCl2·6 H2O extended the formation time of the 5Mg(OH)2·MgSO4·7 H2O phase, reduced the dispersion of the MOS cement system, and decreased the crystalline size of the 5Mg(OH)2·MgSO4·7 H2O phase (200) crystal plane. The addition of MgCl2·6 H2O had a positive effect on improving flexural strength and increasing the content of gel. During the curing process, the presence of Cl- facilitated the dissolution and recrystallization of Mg(OH)2, altering its growth tendency and promoting the formation of hexagonal crystal Mg(OH)2. During soaking in water, the increased content of MgCl2·6 H2O led to a decrease in the softening coefficient due to the dissolution of excess MgCl2. The structure of the 5Mg(OH)2·MgSO4·7 H2O phase underwent changes as Cl- entered the crystal interior, leading to an increase in the d-spacing of the 5Mg(OH)2·MgSO4·7 H2O phase at the (222) crystal plane. The introduction of Cl- endowed the 5Mg(OH)2·MgSO4·7 H2O phase with the potential to transform into 5Mg(OH)2·MgCl2·8 H2O. Following immersion in water, the modified structure of the 5Mg(OH)2·MgSO4·7 H2O phase retained its relative integrity, resulting in a higher softening coefficient of 0.73 after a 90-day soaking period, attributed to the proper introduction of Cl-.

An Enhanced Optical Response and Interfacial Charge Separation Of rGO Supported Cu2+ Doped Co3O4 Heterojunction For Photo‐Fenton‐Like Activity

AbstractIn recent years, clean water and increasing the usage of renewable energy have been the two main goals to be focused on in developing a sustainable living environment. These goals can also be fulfilled by using photocatalytic processes which is a promising direction, photocatalyst is quite effective for water purification and sustainable energy resources. For the first time, we report a visible‐light‐driven photocatalyst of rGO/Cu−Co3O4 nanocomposite for photo‐Fenton‐like degradation activity. The structural, morphological, surface chemical and optical properties of the samples were deeply analysed. The Cu2+ replacement reduces the crystalline size of the Co3O4 nanoparticle and rGO addition enhances the active surface area and charge mobility towards the better catalytic activity. The effect of operating parameters such as pH, catalyst dose, dye concentration, and H2O2 was also investigated for methylene blue (MB) dye degradation: kinetic studies, active radicals finding, and percentage of total organic carbon removal were also discussed in detail.

The Optimal Doping Ratio of Fe2O3 for Enhancing the Electrochemical Stability of Zeolitic Imidazolate Framework-8 for Energy Storage Devices

This paper aims to discover a novel composite material that has great potential for manufacturing high-performance supercapacitors suitable for diverse applications, such as electric vehicles, portable electronics, and stationary energy storage systems. Zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 (ZIF-8) doped by different concentrations up to 5 wt.% of nanosized Fe2O3 have been prepared (ZIF-8/Fe2O3). The effect of doping ratio 1, 3, and 5 wt.% on the structural and electrochemical properties of ZIF-8/Fe2O3 has been investigated. The structural characterization has been carried out using TGA, BET, XRD, and FTIR. The XRD analysis revealed that the crystalline size of our sample increased by approximately 16% as a result of doping ZIF-8 with 5 wt.% of Fe2O3. The structural analysis of the doped samples revealed that the material exhibited enhanced thermal stability and porosity, with an increase of approximately 105 m2/g. The introduction of doped nanometal oxides improved the capacitance value of ZIF-8 by significantly increasing its surface area. Additionally, the electron transport efficiency within ZIF-8/5 wt.% Fe2O3/electrode is increased. The Nyquist plot decreases as the doping of Fe2O3 increases. This indicates a decrease in the charge transfer resistance at the electrode–electrolyte interface, which is desired in applications such as batteries, fuel cells, or electrochemical sensors where faster electron transfer is needed for improved performance.

Characterization and biological prospects of various calcined temperature-V2O5 nanoparticles synthesized by Citrus hystrix fruit extract

In this study, a simple green synthesis of vanadium pentoxide nanoparticles (VNPs) was prepared by the extract of Kaffir lime fruit (Citrus hystrix) as a green reducing and stabilizing agent, along with the investigation of calcination temperature was carried out at 450 and 550 °C. It was affirmed that, at higher temperature (550 °C), the VNPs possessed a high degree crystalline following the construction of (001) lattice diffraction within an increase in crystalline size from 47.12 to 53.51 nm, although the band gap of the materials at 450 °C was lower than that of the VNPs-550 (2.53 versus 2.66 eV, respectively). Besides, the materials were assessed for the potential bioactivities toward antibacterial, antifungal, DNA cleavage, anti-inflammatory, and hemolytic performances. As a result, the antibacterial activity, with minimal inhalation concentration (MIC) < 6.25 μg/mL for both strains, and fungicidal one of the materials depicted the dose-dependent effects. Once, both VNPs exhibited the noticeable efficacy of the DNA microbial damage, meanwhile, the outstanding anti-inflammatory agent was involved with the IC50 of 123.636 and 227.706 μg/mL, accounting for VNPs-450 and VNPs-550, respectively. Furthermore, this study also demonstrated the hemolytic potential of the VNPs materials. These consequences declare the prospects of the VNPs as the smart and alternative material from the green procedure in biomedicine.

Exploration of the optical characteristics in sol-gel synthesized europium-doped zinc oxide thin films for potential optoelectronic use: a comprehensive characterization approach

Abstract In this study, we present our findings on the spin coated pure Zinc-Oxide (ZnO) nanowire arrays and Europium doped ZnO (Eu3+: ZnO) nanostructure thin films. These arrays were grown on soda lime (silica) coated glass substrate. We conducted a comprehensive analysis of the structural and optical properties of the as-synthesized nanostructures. The characterization techniques included x-ray Diffraction, FESEM Analysis, Raman Spectroscopy, Photoluminescence and UV–vis Analysis. The XRD findings indicate the incorporation of Europium (Eu3+) into the ZnO crystalline lattice, potentially replacing Zn2+ ions. This doping with Europium (Eu3+) led to a reduction in crystalline size, as determined by Scherrer’s equation decreasing from 48 nm to 28 nm demonstrates a decrease in defects within the films. Raman Shift analysis revealed changes in the optical properties of films with inclusion of Europium in host matrix. Photoluminescence studies demonstrated a distinctive 5D0 to 7F2 transition arising from the Eu3+ ions, observed at approximately 612 nm. We have thoroughly examined the optical characteristics of both Europium-doped and pure ZnO thin films through a systematic study. The optical properties were assessed by analyzing the absorption spectra (220–600 nm) and transmission spectra within the wavelength range of 200 to 1200 nm. The film exhibited an impressive 80% transparency, particularly noteworthy for window layer application. The refractive index (n), extinction coefficient (k) and all other associated parameters were found to be impacted by the doping of Europium. The refractive index dispersion relation has been explored using a single oscillator model. Furthermore, the non-linear optical susceptibility (χ 3) and non-linear refractive index were computed using semi-empirical relationships based on the linear optical parameters. The Europium (Eu3+) doping in ZnO led to an increase in the χ 3 value elevating it from 4.07 × 10–1° to 5.91 × 10–1° e.s.u. These findings suggest that Europium-doped ZnO nanostructures have the potential to be a promising platform for the development of efficient multispectral light-emitting diodes (LED’s) and optical devices.

Effect of the ex situ physical and in situ chemical modification of bacterial nanocellulose on mechanical properties in the context of its potential applications in heart valve design

Bacterial nanocellulose (BNC) is a promising material for heart valve prostheses. However, its low strength properties limit its applicability in cardiovascular surgery. To overcome these limitations, the mechanical properties of BNC can be improved through modifications. The aim of the research was to investigate the extent to which the mechanical properties of BNC can be altered by modifying its structure during its production and after synthesis. The study presents the results of various analyses, including tensile tests, nanoindentation tests, X-ray diffraction (XRD) tests, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and Raman spectroscopy, conducted on BNC chemically modified in situ with hyaluronic acid (BNC/HA) and physically modified ex situ through a dehydration/rehydration process (BNC 25DR, BNC105DR, BNC FDR and BNC/HA 25DR, BNC/HA 105DR, BNC/HA FDR). The results demonstrate that both chemical and physical modifications can effectively shape the mechanical properties of BNC. These modifications induce changes in the crystalline structure, pore size and distribution, and residual stresses of BNC. Results show the effect of the crystalline structure of BNC on its mechanical properties. There is correlation between hardness and Young's modulus and Iα/Iβ index for BNC/HA and between creep rate of BNC/HA, and Young's modulus for BNC vs Iα/Iβ index.

CO2‐Steam Bi‐Reforming of Methane Over La1−xSrxNi0.8Zr0.2O3 Perovskite Catalysts to Generate Hydrogen Rich Syngas

AbstractThe present study proposes La and Sr‐containing La1−xSrxNi0.8Zr0.2O3 (x=0.1, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8) perovskites as potential catalysts for bi‐reforming of methane (BRM) with CO2 and steam to produce hydrogen rich syngas. The catalysts were prepared by sol‐gel method and characterized using various techniques such as XRD, H2‐TPR, BET, CO2‐TPD and CHNS analysis. The characterization studies revealed that metal‐support interaction increased with the increase in the composition of Sr and the reduction behavior of Ni found to vary with the addition of Sr. The total energy calculations reveal that the addition of Sr to the LNZ system shirnks the volume due to low atomic and high ionic radii of Sr over La, which increases the total energy of system driving towards instability with increasing doping concentration of Sr. CO2‐TPD results suggest that a small amount of Sr can change the basicity of the support. The BRM activity results revealed that La0.8Sr0.2Ni0.8Zr0.2O3 perovskite is the most promising and active catalyst. The proposed catalysts are found to be advantageous w.r.t less carbon deposition due to the increased dispersion, small crystalline size, and required basicity of the support. The disclosed catalyst has shown excellent stability for a studied period of 100 h.

An R-type hexagonal ferrite nanoparticles-based electrochemical sensor for Levofloxacin detection in pharmaceutical and clinical specimens

The usage of Levofloxacin (LEV) has increased in recent years for the treatment of bacterial infections in both human and veterinary fields. In this context, there has been a significant demand for the development of a highly sensitive and cost-effective approach to LEV quantification. In this study, R-type hexagonal ferrite nanoparticles (SrSn2Fe4O11-NPs) were prepared by an auto-ignition methodology and various analytical techniques were used for the materiaĺs characterization, including X-ray diffraction (XRD), Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Brunauer Emmett and Teller (BET) analysis, dynamic light scattering (DLS), and vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) analysis. The characterization confirmed that the prepared material has a crystalline structure single-phase with a crystalline size of 35.02 nm. The R-type hexagonal ferrite nanoparticles were immobilized on a glassy carbon electrode (GCE) by a simple drop-casting approach to developing an efficient electrochemical sensor (SrSn2Fe4O11-NPs/GCE) for sensitive and selective LEV detection through an extended concentration range (0.06 × 10−6 to 170 × 10−6 M) and a low detection limit of (41.5nM). The developed sensor was applied successfully to quantitatively determine LEV in clinical samples and pharmaceutical preparations with excellent recoveries from 95.2 to 102.5 %.

Green synthesis of CuO nanoparticles using Ligustrum lucidum extract, and the antioxidant and antifungal evaluation

Biosynthesis of metal oxide nanoparticles using plant extract is an inexpensive, simple, rapid, and environmentally friendly approach to obtaining nanoparticles for biological applications. Herein, copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO-NPs) were successfully synthesized using an aqueous extract from Ligustrum lucidum leaves. The structural, optical, and morphological characteristics of the nanoparticles were assessed using x-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, UV-visible spectrophotometer, transmission and scanning electron microscopy (TEM and SEM), and energy-dispersive x-ray (EDX). Nanocrystalline CuO with an average crystalline size of 22.0 nm and a band gap energy of 1.4 eV were confirmed from the XRD and UV-vis spectrophotometer, respectively. Morphological studies showed spherical nanoparticles, whose particle size estimation (30 ± 5 nm) agrees with the crystalline size deduced from the XRD pattern. A free radical scavenging activity of the CuO nanoparticles, evaluated using the 1, 1-diphenhyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay, showed that it exhibited high antioxidant activity (IC50: 63.35 μg ml−1) that is concentration dependent. Antifungal evaluation using four different fungal strains (Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus niger, Fusarium oxysporum, and Trichoderma harzianum) indicated a direct relationship between the potency of the particles and their concentration, with 1 ppm solution exhibiting the highest potency. The green synthesized CuO-NPs using Ligustrum lucidum may be potentially used as an antioxidant and antifungal agent for therapeutic applications.

Extraction and characterization of microcrystalline cellulose from Vachellia nilotica plant leaves: A biomass waste to wealth approach.

Biobased waste utilization is an intriguing area of research and an ecologically conscious approach. Plant-based materials can be used to render cellulose, which is an eco-friendly material that can be used in numerous aspects. In the current investigation, cellulose was extracted from the leaves of the Vachellia nilotica plant via acid hydrolysis. The application of this research is specifically directed toward the utilization of undesirable plant sources. To validate the extracted cellulose, FT-IR spectroscopy was applied. The cellulose was measured to have a density of 1.234 g/cm3. The crystallinity index (58.93%) and crystallinity size (11.56 nm) of cellulose are evaluated using X-ray diffraction spectroscopy analysis. The highest degradation temperature (320.8°C) was observed using thermogravimetry and differential scanning calorimetry curve analysis. The analysis of particle size was conducted utilizing images captured by scanning electron microscopy. Particle size of less than 30 μm was found and they exhibit non-uniform orientation. Additionally, atomic force microscopy analysis shows an improved average surface roughness (Ra), which increases the possibility of using extracted cellulose as reinforcement in biofilms.