Desired Elements Research Articles

Influence of Zinc Ion Concentration on the Structural, Surface Morphology and Optical Properties of Zinc Selenide Thin Films

ZnSe thin films were deposited on nonconducting glass substrates using different Zn[Formula: see text] ion concentrations. The films were deposited at 80[Formula: see text]C for 2.0[Formula: see text]h via photo-assisted chemical bath technique and annealed for 2.0[Formula: see text]h at 250[Formula: see text]C. X-ray diffraction revealed a hexagonal structure with preferred orientation along the (002) plane and the average crystallite size decreased from 10.5[Formula: see text]nm to 6.8[Formula: see text]nm with increased Zn[Formula: see text] ions. Raman spectra were used to confirm ZnSe phonon modes whose intensity increased with Zn[Formula: see text] ion concentrations although with fluctuation. Optical analysis showed higher absorbance and low transmittance in the visible region than near infrared making the thin films good materials for selective absorber surfaces. The band gap increased from 2.52[Formula: see text]eV to 2.78[Formula: see text]eV as the Zn[Formula: see text] ion concentration varied from 0.05% to 0.25%. The presence of the desired elements was confirmed by the EDS. Photoluminescence studies revealed three emission peaks which were all ascribed to defect state levels in ZnSe and all the samples emitted in reddish color according to CIE color chromaticity analysis. The selective absorption, wide band gap and broad emission properties suggest that the material is promising for optoelectronic applications.

Fe3O4@ATA‐Mo Complex as a Suitable and Reusable NanoCatalyst for Solvent‐Free Synthesis of Dihydropyrimidinones

AbstractFe3O4 nanoparticles were synthesized and functionalized by molybdenum aurintricarboxylic acid. Complex physicochemical characteristics of the catalyst were investigated by various methods such as infrared spectroscopy, X‐ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, vibrating sample magnetometry, and X‐ray energy diffraction spectroscopy. The results confirmed the spherical morphology, nanoscale size, magnetic properties, and the presence of the desired elements in the synthesized catalyst. Efficiency of the catalyst was determined by the synthesis of dihydropyrimidinone derivatives via Biginelli condensation. Under optimal conditions, a variety of dihydropyrimidinones derivatives were synthesized with good and excellent yields. The magnetic nature of the catalyst, easy separation of the reaction mixture, and catalyst reusability are the advantages of this work. The use of solvent‐free conditions is the other advantage.

Hybrid magnetic nanocomposite NiFe2O4/TiO2 for Photocatalytic dye degradation and green hydrogen (H2) generation

The present paper focuses on designing and developing nanocomposites to modify their properties to increase the ability to generate hydrogen and degrade photocatalytic dyes. A nanocomposite of nickel ferrite (NiFe2O4)/Titanium dioxide (TiO2) was formulated using the sol-gel self-ignition method. X-ray diffraction (XRD) tool was adopted to analyze the structural behavior of pure nickel ferrite (NiFe2O4), pure titanium dioxide (TiO2), and nanocomposite of NiFe2O4/TiO2. XRD pattern of NiFe2O4 and TiO2 shows a monophasic nature whereas the XRD pattern of nanocomposites shows mixed phases of NiFe2O4 and TiO2. FTIR spectra confirm the formation of NiFe2O4, TiO2, and their composites with absorption bands near 400 cm-1 and 600 cm-1, 1500 cm-1. Raman spectra unveiled the presence of five active Raman modes in the case of NiFe2O4 whereas three active Raman modes are seen in TiO2. Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) images exposed the dense structure with spherical cluster-like morphology in the case of NiFe2O4. Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) analysis confirms the presence of all the desired elements of NiFe2O4, TiO2, and their composites in stoichiometric proportions. BET analysis of nickel ferrite NPs suggests a large surface area of the order of 31.54 m2/gm in comparison with TiO2 (19.23 m2/gm). The optical characterization was made through the UV-visible spectroscopic technique. TiO2 shows a maximum band gap of the order of 3.02 eV while NiFe2O4 shows a low band gap of the order of 1.74 eV. A typical M-H curve with saturation magnetization of the order of 27.54 emu/gm was observed for pure NiFe2O4. No magnetic properties were observed for TiO2 as it is a semiconductor. Enhancement in magnetic properties is observed with increases in NiFe2O4 content in a composite of NiFe2O4/TiO2. The photocatalytic activities were examined by degrading Methylene Blue (MB) dye under sunlight for pure nickel ferrite (NiFe2O4), pure titanium dioxide (TiO2), and a nanocomposite of NiFe2O4/TiO2. Photocatalytic hydrogen production reactions were carried out in a methanol/water solution under visible light. Consequently, the best configuration of the photocatalyst was determined as 25% wt% NiFe2O4/ TiO2 which had shown the maximum hydrogen (H2) production rate as 146.3 μmol/g/h after 8 h owing to its reduced bandgap energy and delayed e- / h+ recombination.

Impact of Gd doping on structural and magnetic characteristics of SrFeO3 perovskite nanomaterial

The SrFeO3nanoparticles doped with 5% and 10% Gd were synthesized using the solution combustion method. The phase formation of the synthesized nanoparticles was confirmed by powder x-ray diffraction analysis. Field emission scanning electron microscope and HRTEM were employed to examine the morphology of the samples, revealing well-ordered, agglomerated nanoparticles. Energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy analysis was conducted on all samples, confirming the presence of the desired elements. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy confirmed the presence of mixed oxidation states of Fe3+and Fe4+. Magnetization studies, performed using a SQUID magnetometer, showed ferromagnetic behaviour in all samples, with a significant increase in magnetic moment observed with higher Gd doping. The enhanced magnetic moments and reduced coercivity in Gd-doped SrFeO3suggest that these materials could be suitable for spintronic applications.

Selectivity analysis of diaminopyrimidine-based inhibitors of MTHFD1, MTHFD2 and MTHFD2L

The mitochondrial enzyme methylenetetrahydrofolate dehydrogenase (MTHFD2) is involved in purine and thymidine synthesis via 1C metabolism. MTHFD2 is exclusively overexpressed in cancer cells but absent in most healthy adult human tissues. However, the two close homologs of MTHFD2 known as MTHFD1 and MTHFD2L are expressed in healthy adult human tissues and share a great structural resemblance to MTHFD2 with 54% and 89% sequence similarity, respectively. It is therefore notably challenging to find selective inhibitors of MTHFD2 due to the structural similarity, in particular protein binding site similarity with MTHFD1 and MTHFD2L. Tricyclic coumarin-based compounds (substrate site binders) and xanthine derivatives (allosteric site binders) are the only selective inhibitors of MTHFD2 reported till date. Nanomolar potent diaminopyrimidine-based inhibitors of MTHFD2 have been reported recently, however, they also demonstrate significant inhibitory activities against MTHFD1 and MTHFD2L. In this study, we have employed extensive computational modeling involving molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations in order to investigate the binding modes and key interactions of diaminopyrimidine-based inhibitors at the substrate binding sites of MTHFD1, MTHFD2 and MTHFD2L, and compare with the tricyclic coumarin-based selective MTHFD2 inhibitor. The outcomes of our study provide significant insights into desirable and undesirable structural elements for rational structure-based design of new and selective inhibitors of MTHFD2 against cancer.

Electrochemical Detection of Ornidazole By Means of an Electrode Modified with Copper-Iron Nanoparticles and Carbon Black

Antibiotics have become fundamental tools in our fight against disease but their accumulation in the aquatic environment due to discharges from manufacturing plants, hospitals and farms, and to misuse by the public has seen them emerge as water pollutants. Their presence constitutes a serious environmental and health risk due to their toxicity and due to the risk of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), which may render antibiotics ineffective when employed to fight infection. Assessing the impact of antibiotic pollution on water quality, drinking water, recreational/bathing water, and the impact on life is critical for our health and wellbeing.Ornidazole is a member of the nitroimidazole antibiotic family that is heavily employed in the treatment of both human and animal infections [1]. This widespread use has led to the accumulation of the antibiotic in aquatic environments, posing a serious health risk due to its toxicity and the risk of AMR [2]. For this reason, novel and environmentally friendly methods of rapidly and accurately detecting its presence in the environment are vital to mitigate its pollution and harmful effects.In this study two materials are combined to enhance the conductivity and ability of a glassy carbon electrode sensor to detect ornidazole. Carbon black, a material composed of 95% carbon with a structure similar to graphite [3] is functionalized using a novel green method with tannic acid. This is then combined with a layered double hydroxide (LDH) to act as a source of metal nanoparticles. LDH’s are a combination of transition metals with the general formula [M1-x 2+M3+ x(OH)2]x+(An-)x/n.mH2O where M is two different metals and A is the intercalated anion between the stacked layers of M2+/M3+ ions to produce a 2D layered nanosheet structure [4]. These LDHs are synthesized hydrothermally, which involves combining sources of the desired metals into a sealed autoclave and heating to produce a high vapour pressure environment.Functionalized carbon black was dispersed and drop-casted onto the surface of the electrode. After drying, it was decorated by means of drop-casting with a dispersion of the LDH containing the desired elements. The LDH is then easily reduced by means of cyclic voltammetry to embed the nanoparticles of the desired elements into the carbon black, producing a stable modified electrode. LDH’s containing a variety of elements were investigated for their ability to detect ornidazole. The optimum element combination was concluded to be copper-iron nanoparticles. The procedure for the synthesis and modification of the electrode can be seen in Figure 1.The carbon black-copper iron (CuFe) modified sensor shows excellent sensitivity compared to bare glassy carbon and is capable of detecting ornidazole concentrations from 0.2 μM to 600 μM, displaying excellent stability over multiple uses. Studies were performed to characterize the carbon black-CuFe material using SEM, XRD, XPS, FTIR, and EDX. Investigations were carried out into the behaviour of the sensor at varying pH values and to determine the reaction kinetics of detection. To study the selectivity of the sensor interferants were introduced to the antibiotic solution and experiments were performed in real water samples gathered from various locations.[1] Q. Wang, C. Wang, Q. Wang, & Z. Wang, Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry., 2019, 67(41), 11527-11535[2] W. El, N. Tajat, A. Idelahcen, M. Tamimi, S. Qourzal, A. Assabbane, & I. Bakas, Microchemical Journal, 2023, 195, 109397[3] J. M. Martín-Martínez, Adhesion Science and Engineering : Surfaces, Chemistry and Applications, 2002, Chapter 13, 573-675[4] A., Karmakar, K., Kannimuthu, S., Sam Sankar, K., Sangeetha, R., Madhu, & S., Kundu. Journal of Materials Chemistry A. 2020 Figure 1

Layered Double Hydroxides As a Method for Decorating Electrodes with Metal Particles for Sensing the Antibiotic Ornidazole

The use of metallic particles and nanoparticles to improve the detection capabilities of sensors has been widely reported in literature and thus, a method of decorating electrodes reliably and easily with metallic particles is of great interest. In this regard, Layered Double Hydroxides (LDHs) are of particular interest to act as a source of metal particles. LDHs are inorganic two-dimensional compounds with the general formula [M1-x 2+M3+ x(OH)2]x+(An-)x/n.mH2O where M is two different metals and A is the intercalated anion between the stacked layers of divalent and trivalent M2+/M3+ ions to produce a 2 nanosheet structure [1]. In this study LDHs are synthesised hydrothermally, which involves placing metallic salts of the desired metals into an aqueous solution in a sealed autoclave and heating to a high temperature to produce a high vapour pressure environment. From this method various elements can be combined to produce bimetallic and trimetallic LDHs.The obtained LDH powder is then dispersed in ethanol and water using ultrasonication and layered onto the electrode surface by means of drop-casting. It can then be easily reduced using cyclic voltammetry to act as an efficient method of decorating an electrode with metallic particles of the desired elements. In this study, a variety of layered double hydroxides were synthesised using combinations of different elements and then subsequently used to reduce metal particles onto a glassy carbon electrode.A variety of bimetallic and trimetallic LDH compounds containing copper, iron, cobalt, and nickel were investigated. To compare the sensing capabilities of these reduced metal particles, the reduction of the antibiotic ornidazole was used as an analyte. Ornidazole is a member of the nitroimidazole antibiotic family that is heavily employed in the treatment of both human and animal infections [2]. This widespread use has led to the accumulation of the antibiotic in aquatic environments, posing a serious health risk due to its toxicity and the risk of antimicrobial resistance [3]. Thus, a sensor capable of quickly and reliably detecting the antibiotic is of great importance. To enhance the conductivity of the modified sensors, a drop-casted layer of functionalised carbon black was combined with the metallic particles.For the detection of ornidazole, the copper-iron (CuFe) particles were concluded to be optimum, displaying a detection range of 0.2 uM to 600 uM. Characterisation studies were performed on the CuFe particles using SEM, XRD, XPS, FTIR, and EDX. Investigations were carried out into the behaviour of the sensor at varying pH values and to determine the reaction kinetics of detection. To study the selectivity of the sensor interferants were introduced to the antibiotic solution and experiments were performed in real water samples gathered from various locations.[1] A., Karmakar, K., Kannimuthu, S., Sam Sankar, K., Sangeetha, R., Madhu, & S., Kundu. Journal of Materials Chemistry A. 2020[2] Q. Wang, C. Wang, Q. Wang, & Z. Wang, Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry., 2019, 67(41), 11527-11535[3] W. El, N. Tajat, A. Idelahcen, M. Tamimi, S. Qourzal, A. Assabbane, & I. Bakas, Microchemical Journal, 2023, 195, 109397

Fabrication of novel vildagliptin loaded ZnO nanoparticles for anti diabetic activity

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a rapidly prevailing disease throughout the world that poses boundless risk factors linked to several health problems. Vildagliptin is the standard dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitor type of medication that is used for the treatment of diabetes anti-hyperglycemic agent (anti-diabetic drug). The current study aimed to synthesize vildagliptin-loaded ZnO NPs for enhanced efficacy in terms of increased retention time minimizing side effects and increased hypoglycemic effects. Herein, Zinc Oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles (NPs) were constructed by precipitation method then the drug vildagliptin was loaded and drug loading efficiency was estimated by the HPLC method. X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD), UV–vis spectroscopy, FT-IR, scanning electron microscope (SEM), and EDX analysis were performed for the characterization of synthesized vildagliptin-loaded ZnO NPs. The UV–visible spectrum shows a distinct peak at 363 nm which confirms the creation of ZnO NPs and SEM showed mono-dispersed sphere-shaped NPs. EDX analysis shows the presence of desired elements along with the elemental composition. The physio-sorption studies, which used adsorption isotherms to assess adsorption capabilities, found that the Freundlich isotherm model explains the data very well and fits best. The maximum adsorption efficiency of 58.83% was obtained. Further, In vitro, anti-diabetic activity was evaluated by determining the α-amylase and DPP IV inhibition activity of the product formed. The formulation gave maximum inhibition of 82.06% and 94.73% of α-amylase and DPP IV respectively. While at 1000 µg/ml concentration with IC50 values of 24.11 μg/per ml and 42.94 μg/ml. The inhibition of α-amylase can be ascribed to the interactive effect of ZnO NPs and vildagliptin.

The Complete Inpatient Record Using Comprehensive Electronic Data (CIRCE) project: A team‐based approach to clinically validated, research‐ready electronic health record data

AbstractIntroductionThe rapid adoption of electronic health record (EHR) systems has resulted in extensive archives of data relevant to clinical research, hospital operations, and the development of learning health systems. However, EHR data are not frequently available, cleaned, standardized, validated, and ready for use by stakeholders. We describe an in‐progress effort to overcome these challenges with cooperative, systematic data extraction and validation.MethodsA multi‐disciplinary team of investigators collaborated to create the Complete Inpatient Record Using Comprehensive Electronic Data (CIRCE) Project dataset, which captures EHR data from six hospitals within the University of Pennsylvania Health System. Analysts and clinical researchers jointly iteratively reviewed SQL queries and their output to validate desired data elements. Data from patients aged ≥18 years with at least one encounter at an acute care hospital or hospice occurring since 7/1/2017 were included. The CIRCE Project includes three layers: (1) raw data comprised of direct SQL query output, (2) cleaned data with errors removed, and (3) transformed data with standardized implementations of commonly used case definitions and clinical scores.ResultsBetween July 1, 2017 and December 31, 2023, the dataset captured 1 629 920 encounters from 740 035 patients. Most encounters were emergency department only visits (n = 965 834, 59.3%), followed by inpatient admissions without an intensive care unit admission (n = 518 367, 23.7%). The median age was 46.9 years (25th–75th percentiles = 31.1–64.7) at the time of the first encounter. Most patients were female (n = 418 303, 56.5%), a significant proportion were of non‐White race (n = 272 018, 36.8%), and 54 625 (7.4%) were of Hispanic/Latino ethnicity.ConclusionsThe CIRCE Project represents a novel cooperative research model to capture clinically validated EHR data from a large diverse academic health system in the greater Philadelphia region and is designed to facilitate collaboration and data sharing to support learning health system activities. Ultimately, these data will be de‐identified and converted to a publicly available resource.

Structural, magnetic, low and high frequency dielectric properties of Al-substituted M-type SrCe hexaferrites synthesized in the presence of tecomastans (yellow bell) leaves extract

This paper represents a study of the effect of Al-substitutions on structural, magnetic, and dielectric properties of Sr0·8Ce0·2Fe12-xAlxO19 (x = 0.00, 0.25, 0.50, 0.75 and 1.00) ferrites synthesized in presence of yellow bell leaves extract. All samples were synthesized using the sol-gel combustion technique with the influence of green synthesis by using leaves of Tecomastans (yellow bell) plant. These samples were preheated at 550 °C for 4 h and finally calcinated at 1150 °C for 6h. These samples were characterized using XRD, FTIR spectroscopy, SEM, VSM, LCR measurements, and VNA measurements. XRD analysis confirm the formation of a magnetoplumbite M-phase (hexagonal) with a minor impurity phase of CeO2 in all samples. Lattice parameters a and c are obtained from rietveld refinement, which are found in the range from 5.859 Å to 5.883 Å, and 22.96 Å to 23.05 Å respectively. FTIR spectra confirm the absence of organic compounds and the presence of an absorption band in the fingerprint region, which are linked to the stretching of the metal-oxygen bond at the octahedral and tetrahedral sites. The surface morphology of these samples is analyzed using SEM images. Grains with hexagonal plate shapes were observed in each sample. The average grain size varies in the range of 0.565 μm–1.455 μm. EDS data confirms the presence of desired elements in the respective sample. VSM analysis shows hard magnetic behavior in all samples. Magnetic parameters were found in the range, Ms: 36.281–43.397 emu/g, Mr: 12.297–19.841 emu/g, Hc: 2.0987–3.814 kOe. In low-frequency (20 Hz-2 MHz) dielectric measurements, the dielectric constant is high at low frequencies, which rapidly falls as frequency increases. Loss tangent curve shows a relaxation peak for each sample above 200 kHz. AC conductivity is very low in the order of 10−5 S/m in plateau region below 2 kHz, which increases as frequency increases. Cole-Cole plot suggests the effect of grain boundary contribution is higher in non-substituted sample compared to Al-substituted samples. In high-frequency (0.2 GHz–20 GHz) measurements, the dielectric constant remains almost constant. These values are found in the range 5–7.5. Low loss tangent of 0–0.16 were observed in every sample in this frequency domain, with AC conductivity of the order of 10−2 S/m.

Scalable Synthesis Methods for High‐Entropy Nanoparticles

High‐entropy materials (HEMs) represent a revolutionary class of materials that have garnered significant attention in the field of materials science due to their extraordinary properties in diverse fields of applications such as catalysis and electrochemistry. The past decade has witnessed a substantial increase in the study of these materials, exploring new synthesis routes and compositions. What began as the synthesis of high‐entropy alloys has expanded to encompass several classes of HEMs such as oxides, hydroxides, sulfides, nitrides, and carbides, among others. Several synthesis methods have been developed to produce these materials. This review therefore highlights the fundamental concepts of HEMs, including their core effects, with a major emphasis on their scalable synthesis routes. The advantages and drawbacks of these methods are also discussed. As HEMs transition from the lab to large‐scale production, there is a growing need for cost‐effective and scalable synthesis methods with high material yield suitable for a variety of applications like hydrogen storage, catalysis, batteries, supercapacitors, and fuel cells. Hence, this review serves as an introduction to scalable synthesis routes based on crystal structure, desired elements, synthesis times, and equipment costs.

Implementing and Evaluating a National Integrated Digital Registry and Clinical Decision Support System in Early Intervention in Psychosis Services (Early Psychosis Informatics Into Care): Co-Designed Protocol.

Early intervention in psychosis (EIP) services are nationally mandated in England to provide multidisciplinary care to people experiencing first-episode psychosis, which disproportionately affects deprived and ethnic minority youth. Quality of service provision varies by region, and people from historically underserved populations have unequal access. In other disease areas, including stroke and dementia, national digital registries coupled with clinical decision support systems (CDSSs) have revolutionized the delivery of equitable, evidence-based interventions to transform patient outcomes and reduce population-level disparities in care. Given psychosis is ranked the third most burdensome mental health condition by the World Health Organization, it is essential that we achieve the same parity of health improvements. This paper reports the protocol for the program development phase of this study, in which we aimed to co-design and produce an evidence-based, stakeholder-informed framework for the building, implementation, piloting, and evaluation of a national integrated digital registry and CDSS for psychosis, known as EPICare (Early Psychosis Informatics into Care). We conducted 3 concurrent work packages, with reciprocal knowledge exchange between each. In work package 1, using a participatory co-design framework, key stakeholders (clinicians, academics, policy makers, and patient and public contributors) engaged in 4 workshops to review, refine, and identify a core set of essential and desirable measures and features of the EPICare registry and CDSS. Using a modified Delphi approach, we then developed a consensus of data priorities. In work package 2, we collaborated with National Health Service (NHS) informatics teams to identify relevant data currently captured in electronic health records, understand data retrieval methods, and design the software architecture and data model to inform future implementation. In work package 3, observations of stakeholder workshops and individual interviews with representative stakeholders (n=10) were subject to interpretative qualitative analysis, guided by normalization process theory, to identify factors likely to influence the adoption and implementation of EPICare into routine practice. Stage 1 of the EPICare study took place between December 2021 and September 2022. The next steps include stage 2 building, piloting, implementation, and evaluation of EPICare in 5 demonstrator NHS Trusts serving underserved and diverse populations with substantial need for EIP care in England. If successful, this will be followed by stage 3, in which we will seek NHS adoption of EPICare for rollout to all EIP services in England. By establishing a multistakeholder network and engaging them in an iterative co-design process, we have identified essential and desirable elements of the EPICare registry and CDSS; proactively identified and minimized potential challenges and barriers to uptake and implementation; and addressed key questions related to informatics architecture, infrastructure, governance, and integration in diverse NHS Trusts, enabling us to proceed with the building, piloting, implementation, and evaluation of EPICare. DERR1-10.2196/50177.

Boosted charge separation via Ce2S3 over dual Z-scheme ZnO–Ce2S3–MnO2 core double-shell nanocomposite for the degradation of diverse dye pollutants

Herein, core double-shell direct dual Z-scheme ZnO–Ce2S3–MnO2 nanocomposite was synthesized via a hydrothermal route along with pure ZnO, Ce2S3, MnO2, and characterized by numerous characterization tools for application in synthetic dyes degradation. The XRD, Raman, and FTIR analyses have confirmed the nanocomposite formation. TEM images exhibited the core double-shell morphology with an average particle diameter of 81 nm and stacking of ZnO, Ce2S3, and MnO2. EDX confirmed the existence of desired elements in the grown composition. The varied oxidation states, presence of defects, and fast charge transfer were also revealed from XPS, PL, and EIS. The ZnO–Ce2S3–MnO2 nanocomposite has an optical energy bandgap of 2.84 eV, capable of decomposing harmful dyes with excellent efficiency, 99.81% MB, 97.62% MO, 88.5% MR, and 58.9% EY in 40 min sunlight exposure. The effect of several operating parameters is also observed and obtained results showed the optimal catalyst dose was 20 mg, pH of 8, and dye concentration of 10 ppm. The scavenger's experiment suggests that •O2− and •OH are the main active radicals in the photodegradation reaction which is also evident in the dual Z-scheme formation. The MnO2 and ZnO layers covered the Ce2S3 (core) and dual Z-scheme formation allows rapid kinetics of redox reaction and provides plenteous channels for transfer of photo-generated charge carriers during photocatalysis. Thus, core double-shell direct dual Z-scheme photocatalysts having inorganic components could be an excellent choice for photocatalysis at the industrial level, particularly for water purification.

High performance triboelectric nanogenerator based on purified chitin nanopaper for the applications of self-powered humidity sensing, gait monitoring, and hyperhidrosis sensor

Pollution caused by electronic wastes (E-wastes) is a global problem due to the use of haordous materials and chemicals in electronic devices therefore, green materials should be used to reduce the burden on our ecological system. Triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) are among those electronic devices that have a huge scope of replacing currently used hazardous materials with green materials as their triboelectric layers and substrates. Herein, we used king mushroom powder as an electropositive layer of a TENG, but its output performance was compromised due to the presence of unwanted elements in it. Chitin was the most desirable element in mushroom powder for achieving triboelectricity therefore, we isolated it via non-acidic approach to fabricate a transparent thin film (234.5 μm) of chitin nanopaper (CN). A significant increase of 287% in the output performance was shown by isolated CN based TENG including higher voltage (151 V) and current (11.4 μA) with a maximum power density of 1.78 Wm−2. The fabricated CN-TENG was used to power micro electronic devices including (50 red LEDs) and charging/discharging 6 different capacitors ranging from 9.5 nF to 47 μF. Furthermore, the potential use of CN as a self-powered humidity sensor was explored by observing its response towards variations in relative humidity (RH). Analysis of obtained results verified the implication of isolated CN as the self-powered humidity sensor with a fast reaction/recovery time (7/10 s) and wide operating range (21–95 %RH). The fabricated device was successfully used for the practical applications of hyperhidrosis sensing and gait monitoring. Electronic devices like CN-TENG proved to be a substantial step-forward in contributing towards reduction of cost and global pollution caused by E-wastes.

Recent advances of rare earth iron garnet magneto-optical single crystals

R3Fe5O12 (RIG) crystals are the most desirable elements for magneto-optical isolators in the near-infrared (NIR) to mid-infrared (MIR) region, with ever-growing demands for optical fiber communication and high-power laser system. Now, this system is the only commercialized Faraday rotator for optical isolators in 5G wireless communications. However, the growth of high-quality bulk RIG single crystals has been a big challenge for a long time, due to the typical incongruent melting characteristic and complex phase relationships. This work comprehensively summarizes the recent advances for the growth of RIG single crystals, including the proper choice of flux and innovative strategies on several growth techniques, like the flux-Bridgman, edge-defined film-fed growth (EFG) and top seeded solution growth (TSSG), etc. Effective modulation on the optical and magneto-optical performance is highlighted. Some ongoing perspectives are also proposed and discussed. It is anticipated that this work will provide deeper insight into the exploration of high-performance magneto-optical crystals for potential applications in NIR-MIR wavelength.

Pseudomonas sp. Bacteria: potentially toxic metal-contaminated soil remediation potentials - minimum inhibitory concentration investigation and application

Agricultural inputs used for correction or nutrition in agriculture have a composition that, in addition to containing desirable elements, often includes potentially toxic metals that contaminate the soil. Faced with this scenario, one can observe the appearance of various remediation techniques, amongst them, bio-remediation. This technique has been shown to be highly promising, as there is a wide variety of genera and species of microorganisms. In this study, the application of Pseudomonas sp. bacteria in soil from bean cultivation was investigated, with the aim of removing Zn2+ and Ni2+ ions. Analyzes were carried out of soil parameters, pH in water and KCl, Zero Charge Point, exchangeable acidity, quantity of organic matter in soil and initial concentrations of ions. To evaluate the tolerance of bacteria to metal concentrations in the soil, studies of Minimum Inhibitory Concentration were conducted. A bioremediation experiment was then carried out, applying the bacteria to the soil and monitoring the process over 21 days. The results showed that Pseudomonas sp. bacteria showed good resistance to high metal concentrations, as well as remarkable capacity and efficiency in the absorption of metals, reaching 0,063 mg kg-1 and 90.5% efficiency in the removal of Ni2+ ions, and 0,012 mg kg-1 capacity and 47.9% efficiency in the removal of Zn2+ ions. These results suggest that the Pseudomonas sp. bacteria are promising for the bioremediation of soils contaminated with potentially toxic metals.

Structural, morphological and optical properties of ZnFe2O4-decorated reduced graphene oxide nanocomposite for antibacterial applications

In this study, the zinc ferrite decorated reduced graphene oxide (ZnFe2O4-rGO) was synthesised by using a simplified one-pot solvothermal technique. The synthesised nanomaterials were examined for structural, morphological and optical characteristics is greatly aided by the XRD, HRTEM, SAED, EDX spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy and UV–Vis spectroscopy. The crystallite size calculated from XRD and HRTEM of the ZnFe2O4-rGO nanocomposite was around 10 nm. The presence of desired elements in the synthesised nanomaterials was confirmed using EDX spectroscopy. The Raman spectroscopy aided in identifying the active functional modes. The absorption maximum (λmax) was found to be approximately ∼310 nm and the optical bandgap of ZF was reduced from 2.1 eV to 1.97 eV in ZF-rG. The antibacterial activity of ZnFe2O4-rGO nanocomposite was discussed against Enterococcus faecalis, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumonia and Escherichia coli bacteria at different concentrations by agar gel diffusion method among which the highest bacterial growth inhibition was seen in Klebsiella pneumonia in all different concentrations in which 86% at 100 μg/ml was the most effective.

Fe3O4@WO3-E-SMTU-NiII: as an environmentally-friendly, recoverable, durable and noble-free nanostructured catalyst for C-C bond formation reaction in green media.

In the present study, NiII immobilized on Fe3O4@WO3 functionalized by aminated epichlorohydrin using S-methylisothiourea (Fe3O4@WO3-E-SMTU-NiII) as a novel magnetically separable nanostructured catalyst was successfully synthesized and characterized using FT-IR, XRD, TEM, FE-SEM, EDX, EDX mapping, VSM, TGA, H2-TPR, ICP-OES and CHNS techniques. Characterization results revealed the spherical morphology and superparamagnetic behaviour of the as-synthesized catalyst with mean diameters of 19-31 nm as well as uniform distributions of the desired elements (Fe, O, W, C, N, S and Ni). The antibacterial activity of Fe3O4@WO3-E-SMTU-NiII was evaluated against a set of Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria, and the catalyst showed considerable activity against the Staphylococcus aureus strain. The aforementioned nanostructured catalyst exhibited perfect catalytic efficiency in the Heck-Mizoroki and Suzuki-Miyaura reactions under mild conditions without using toxic solvents (EtOH as a green solvent and WEB as a benign base). Desired coupled products were obtained from the reaction of different Ar-X (X = I, Br, Cl) with alkyl acrylates and arylboronic acids. A high nickel content with negligible metal leaching during the course of reactions led to the high catalytic performance and stability of Fe3O4@WO3-E-SMTU-NiII under optimized reaction conditions. The magnetically separation and ease of recovery and reusability of up to six cycles without a discernible decrease in catalytic activity or metal leaching are the most important features of the catalytic system from both industrial and environmental viewpoints.

Controllable multi-polarization laser beam generation and manipulation in a cylindrical cavity

The manipulation of spatial and polarization attributes in vector laser beams can be intricately controlled through a variety of methodologies including spatial light modulators, q-plates, optical cavities, and mode-selective coupling. Among these techniques, optical cavities exhibit notable merits as they enable the targeted amplification of desired polarization elements with significant efficiency and stability. This research article introduces a direct methodology to generate multiple polarized laser beams, leveraging a cylindrical laser cavity housing a birefringent c-cut Nd:YVO4 gain crystal. This technique facilitates the creation of Hermite-Gaussian modes exhibiting distinct polarization states. By exploiting specific geometrical arrangements involving optical Z-mode and W-mode, the degenerate laser cavity facilitates the concurrent production of numerous distinguishable elliptically and linearly polarized beams, obviating the necessity for supplementary optical components. Notably, this approach provides advanced control over the polarization of resulting beams through precise adjustments of pumping offset and cavity length. The polarization states are subjected to quantitative scrutiny through phase retardation analysis. This investigation introduces an innovative avenue for the generation of coherent multi-beams, thereby propelling progress across a wide spectrum of scientific and technological domains.

Effect of Titanium Alloying of Zn-Al-Cu Alloys for High Pressure Die Casting in Production Conditions

The paper presents the possibility of the industrial production of Zn4Al3Cu alloy with the addition of 0.41% Ti. Tests are described on the manner of introducing the ZnTi2 master alloy to the alloy, so that the chemical composition of the desirable elements proportion is obtained. The chemical persistence of the Zn4Al3CuTi was determined as low in the conditions of the long heating of the alloy before casting. Tests on the microstructure and mechanical properties of the obtained alloys were also conducted. The strength of the die-cast Zn4Al3Cu alloy was 265 MPa and, when measured on samples taken from the high pressure die-cast, it reached 369 MPa. It was determined that the addition of titanium to the Zn4Al3Cu alloy causes significant refinement of the structure and contributes to the formation of intermetallic phases.