EDX Spectroscopy Research Articles

Exploration of electrochemical energy storage potential of PANI functionalized CNTs/Zn-Co(PO4)2 nanocomposites synthesized via a facile ultrasounds-assisted chemical method

Electrochemical performance of supercapacitors (SCs) is greatly affected by different factors like cyclic stability, exposed surface area, rate capability and electrical conductivity. Highly conductive carbon nanotubes (CNTs) functionalized with pseudocapacitive polyaniline (PANI) via in-situ polymerization can intrude conductivity, cyclic stability when used in combination with zinc cobalt phosphate (ZCP). So, in this study, Zn0.25 Co0.75 (PO4)2-PANI/CNTs nanocomposites have been synthesized by sonochemical approach. The hierarchical morphology of the nanocomposite has been evaluated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM). Whereas the compositional analysis and chemical grafting of ZCP on PANI/CNTs were analyzed by EDX, XRD, and FT-IR spectroscopy. Zn0.25Co0.75 (PO4)2–40 mg PANI/CNTs (ZCP40) outperformed among all compositions and presented good specific capacity of 776 Cg−1 (1410.9 Fg−1) at 0.8 Ag −1 current density. Representative asymmetric supercapacitor (ASC) device of ZCP40//AC presented excellent energy density of 88.5 Wh Kg−1 at an exceptional power density of 900 W Kg−1. Furthermore, device showed good cyclic behavior (99.7 % after 5000 GCD cycles) and, excellent coulombic efficiency (100.11 %) even after 5000 GCD cycles. Overall, the device showed hybrid behavior (72.3 % diffusive and 27.7 % capacitive) due to the highly pseudocapacitive nature of ZCP, PANI and, effective conductive nature of carbon nanotubes (CNTs). Hence ZCP/PANI functionalized CNTs nanocomposites has shown very good potential to be used as +ve electrode material in energy storage devices.

CaO-enhanced polyester for safety: experimental study on fabrication, characterization, and gamma-ray attenuation

Abstract The current work deals with studying the influence of cheap, widespread CaO on improving the γ ray-protection capacity of the lightweight, sealing polyester. Therefore, polyester composites were filled with different concentrations of CaO fillers. The fabricated CaO-reinforced polyester composites’ density ranged between 1.177 g/cm3 and 1.377 g/cm3, when CaO filler concentrations increased between 0 wt% and 60 wt%, respectively. Fabricated composites’ morphology and chemical composition, as well as CaO fillers’ grain size and distribution, were proved using SEM and EDX spectroscopy. Additionally, the influence of CaO fillers on the gamma-ray shielding properties of the fabricated composites was evaluated using the Monte Carlo simulation and confirmed using the experimental measurements. The recorded results show an enhancement in the synthesized composites’ linear attenuation coefficient from 0.091 cm−1 to 0.106 cm−1 at a gamma ray energy of 0.662 MeV. Moreover, the excess in CaO concentration from 0 wt% and 60 wt% reduces the fabricated composites’ half-value thickness values from 7.64 cm to 6.51 cm, respectively.

Determination of anticancer activity and biosynthesis of Cu, Zn, and Co hybrid nanoflowers with Tribulus terrestris L. extract

In this work, a green process for the synthesis and characterization of hybrid nanoflowers was proposed, wherein Tribulus terrestris L. extract functioned as the organic component and Cu (II), Zn (II) and Co (II) metal ions as the inorganic element during the formation of the nanoflowers. To characterize the synthesized hybrid nanoflowers (hNFs), the morphologies were investigated using SEM, EDX, FT-IR analysis, elemental mapping, and XRD spectroscopy. The cytotoxic effect of hNFs was investigated to test biological activity. A549 cell lines and the MTT staining method were used for the anticancer activity of T. terrestris L. extract and hNFs. Differences in SEM images were observed as the metal content changed. Cytotoxic evaluations have shown that Co nanoflower may be a safer therapeutic alternative than plant extracts and other nanoflowers. It was observed that Zn and Cu hybrid nanoflowers were influential on the cell line up to a specific concentration, but as the concentration increased, they increased cell viability. It was observed that metal hybrid nanoflowers increased the anticancer activity compared to T. terrestris L. extract. These results can contribute to developing adequate new-generation preparations for A549 (lung cancer) problems of nanoflowers synthesized using T. terrestris L. extract. In summary, this study has been conducted for the first time.

Sustainable coloration and analysis of cellulosic viscose fabric incorporating Rosa rubiginosa extraction and pre-mordanting approaches

Dyeing with natural ingredients has gained popularity as a sustainable option because of its numerous useful applications and favorable environmental impacts. The purpose of this study was to determine the optimal conditions for extracting natural dyestuff from the red rose flower (Rosa rubiginosa) by observing the coloring of viscose fabric. The parameters examined were the M:L ratio (1:3), temperature (80 °C), and duration (30 min). Infrared dyeing procedures were conducted on viscose fabric, employing a diverse range of mordants, both natural and synthetic, which included materials such as orange and lemon peels, tannic acid, copper sulfate, and ferrous sulfate, at different mordanting ratios. The highest results of the mordants were achieved by a single mordanting process called pre-mordanting, and their performances were compared for the first time. Here, utilizing orange peel as a natural mordant in a pre-mordanting procedure for dyeing viscose fabrics yields better results and enhanced performance than using any of the other mordants used. The CIELab results were calculated using a variety of measurement conditions, and the ideal value was determined by an experiment on the color strength (K/S) properties. The FTIR spectra confirmed the interaction of colored particles with viscose fabrics, and the SEM investigation confirmed the dye's ability to be absorbed into the fabric's surface. Elemental mapping and EDX spectroscopy both showed that there were dye particles floating about the surface of the colored fabric. The colorfastness ratings, including a rating of 4 for rubbing, 4–5 for washing, and 4 for lightfastness, were found to be satisfactory when the fabric was treated with metal mordants. Hence, Rosa rubiginosa used as a coloration of viscose fabric is a very promising alternative option to synthetic dyestuff, which can be used to satisfy the actual need for coloring and functionality of viscose fabric in the dyeing and finishing industry.

A green light emissive LaSr2AlO5:Er3+ nanocrystalline material for solid state lighting: crystal phase refinement and down-conversion photoluminescence with high thermal stability.

The present study reveals the structural and optoelectronic characteristics of a down-converted (DC) green luminous Er3+ doped LaSr2AlO5 phosphor that was produced by employing an efficient and reliable gel-combustion process assisted with urea as a fuel. Using Rietveld refinement of diffraction data, the crystal structure and phase formation were examined. The surface morphology and elemental configuration of the phosphor were analyzed via TEM and EDX spectroscopy, respectively. The band gap of LaSr2AlO5 (5.97 eV) and optimized La0.96Sr2AlO5:4 mol% Er3+ (5.51 eV) classify the optimized sample as a direct band-gap material. The PL peaks located in the visible range corresponding to transitions 2H9/2 → 4I15/2 (406 nm), 2H11/2 → 4I15/2 (520 nm), 4S3/2 → 4I15/2 (550 nm), and 4F9/ 2 → 4I15/2 (665 nm) were revealed by photoluminescence spectroscopy under 377 nm excitation. Above 4 mol% Er3+ doping, concentration quenching was observed, which was controlled by the quadrupole-quadrupole interaction. Based on the findings of the double exponential fitting of lifetime curves acquired from the emission spectra at λex = 377 nm and λem = 550 nm, the average lifetime of the excited levels of considered nanomaterials was estimated. The temperature-dependent emission spectra of the La0.96Sr2AlO5:4 mol% Er3+ sample were collected in the range 298-498 K. The considered phosphor was found to have a high thermal stability as evidenced by the luminous intensity being sustained at 74.29% at 498 K compared to the intensity at ambient temperature (298 K) with an activation energy of 0.1453 eV. The calculated color purity and superb chromaticity coordinates indicates that the phosphors have a high degree of color purity, which further supports its applicability as a green component in solid-state lighting.

Cu(dppf) complexes can be synthesized from Cu-exchanged solids and enable a quantification of the Cu-accessibility by 31P MAS NMR spectroscopy.

Herein, we apply three different copper-exchanged materials (Na-[Al]SBA-15, silica, Na-MCM-22) as hosts for a direct synthesis of CuI(1,1'-bis(diphenylphosphino)ferrocene = dppf) complexes in cationic ion exchange position. Using 31P MAS NMR spectroscopy, we show that identical complexes as after ion exchange are generated if the solids are applied as reactants directly. The homogeneity of copper exchanges is evaluated by EDX spectroscopy. Both CuI and CuII result in the formation of complexes, thereby oxidizing dppf. Cu-particles were not reactive. Optimized conditions for a maximized complex formation are identified applying quantitative 31P MAS NMR spectroscopy and ICP-OES. Only accessible copper in cationic position of the solids forms the complexes. This enables a quantification of the amount of copper in mesopores vs. the total copper amount. Thus, besides a new synthesis of the complex a suitable method for quantitative elucidation of the location of copper cations is demonstrated herein.

A supramolecular magnetic and multifunctional Titriplex V-grafted chitosan organocatalyst for the synthesis of acridine-1,8-diones and 2-amino-3-cyano-4H-pyran derivatives.

In this research, a new supramolecular magnetic modified chitosan, namely, Fe3O4@CS-TDI-Titriplex V, was designed and prepared conveniently by grafting diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (Titriplex V) onto a biopolymeric chitosan backbone having urethane, urea, ester and amide functional groups. The obtained magnetic biopolymeric nanomaterial was properly characterized by different spectroscopic, microscopic or analytical methods including FTIR spectroscopy, EDX spectroscopy, XRD, FESEM, TG-DTA and VSM. The application of the supramolecular Fe3O4@CS-TDI-Titriplex V nanocomposite as a heterogeneous solid acidic organocatalyst was investigated to promote the three-component synthesis of both acridinediones and 2-amino-3-cyano-4H-pyran derivatives as important pharmaceutical scaffolds under green conditions. The obtained nanomaterial exhibited proper catalytic activity in the above mentioned transformations through multicomponent reaction (MCR) strategies. The reactions proceeded very well in the presence of the Fe3O4@CS-TDI-Titriplex V solid acid nanomaterial in EtOH to afford the corresponding acridinediones and 2-amino-3-cyano-4H-pyran derivatives in high to excellent yields. The key advantages of the present protocol include the use of a renewable, biopolymeric and biodegradable solid acid as well as a simple procedure for the preparation of the hybrid material. Furthermore, the Fe3O4@CS-TDI-Titriplex V nanomaterial was used four times with a slight decrease in its catalytic activity.

New heterometallic Co/Zn, Ag/Co, and Ag/Zn imidazolates: structural characterization and catalytic activity in the oxidation of organic compounds.

Nanocrystalline powders of monometallic and bimetallic imidazolates of Co, Zn and Ag were produced by a reaction carried out in water. The powders were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction and the crystal structures of the new compounds Ag2ZnIm4 and Ag2CoIm4 (Im = imidazolate) were solved. Heterometallic Co/Zn imidazolates showed the known Zn-zni crystal structure while Ag/Zn and Ag/Co systems were isostructural to the copper analogs. The powders were further characterized by EDX, UV-Vis and FTIR ATR spectroscopy in the solid state. The catalytic experiments indicated that out of the studied heterometallic compounds only Ag2Co(Im)4 exhibits some catalytic activity in the oxidation reaction of 1-phenylethanol with tert-butylhydroperoxide at elevated temperatures.

An ALP enzyme-based electrochemical biosensor coated with signal-amplifying BaTiO3 nanoparticles for the detection of an antiviral drug in human blood serum.

Tenofovir (TFV) is an antiviral drug used to treat the co-infections of HIV/HBV viruses. Accurate monitoring of TFV drug levels is essential for evaluating patient adherence, optimizing dosage, and assessing treatment efficacy. Herein, we propose an innovative electrochemical sensing approach by using the alkaline phosphatase (ALP) enzyme with the support of BaTiO3 nanoparticles. An attractive sensitivity and selectivity of the developed sensor towards TFV detection were achieved. First, the nanoparticles were synthesized by following a single-step sol-gel method and characterized through various analytical techniques, including SEM, EDX, FT-IR, BET, zeta potential, XRD, and UV-vis and Raman spectroscopy. The suggested mechanism demonstrated the formation of a strong bond between TFV and the ALP enzyme, primarily through the phosphate group, resulting in enzyme inhibition. Various parameters like nanoparticle amount, electrode modification time with enzyme and BaTiO3 nanoparticles, and drug incubation time were optimized. The biosensor demonstrated an outstanding limit of detection (LOD) of 0.09 nM and recovery percentages of 98.6-106% in human blood serum, indicating adequate repeatability and selectivity. The proposed biosensor can be converted into a portable device for measuring small sample volumes and observing patients for immediate medical care or personalized therapies. It achieved better sensitivity compared to existing methods, making it suitable for precise drug detection in microdoses.

A Comparative Study of Coprecipitation and Solvothermal Techniques for Synthesizing Pure and Cu‐Doped SnO2 Nanoparticles

Tin oxide (SnO2), with its low resistivity properties and high transparency in the visible spectrum, makes it an attractive electron transfer layer (ETL) for use in perovskite solar cells. Here, we use two techniques, coprecipitation and solvothermal, to synthesize pure and 4% copper‐doped SnO2. The X‐ray diffraction patterns revealed that the films synthesized using both methods have a crystalline structure with a tetragonal arrangement. Furthermore, the lack of any secondary peaks indicated the absence of mixed tin oxide (Sn2O4) or copper oxide (CuO) components. Additionally, it demonstrated that adding a 4% Cu doping concentration reduced the crystal size in both methods. The optical results indicate adequate transmission in the central range of the visible spectrum. Calculations were performed to find the energy gap of pure SnO2 in both techniques to be 3.85 eV and 4.17 eV, respectively. When we doped SnO2 with 4% Cu, this band gap energy decreased to 3.75 eV and 3.9 eV. Furthermore, with 4% Cu doping, the particle size decreases, as demonstrated by FESEM. The EDX spectroscopy images revealed that the synthesized nanoparticles consisted of copper, oxygen, and tin. The analysis of functional groups using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra and the roughness analysis using AFM images showed a decrease in roughness from 46.1 nm to 12.3 nm in doped samples prepared by solvothermal synthesis, compared to those synthesized by the coprecipitation technique from 4.7 nm to 0.3 nm. We discovered that Cu plays an essential role in reducing nanocrystalline SnO2 particle sizes. In addition, the solvothermal technique is more impressive than coprecipitation in the synthesis of tin oxide nanostructure.

Influence of oxygen content on selective laser melting leading to the formation of spheroidization in additive manufacturing technology.

Selective laser melting (SLM) additive manufacturing technology with different oxygen contents leads to the appearance of spherical solids of different sizes on the surface of the part, which affects the mechanical properties of the part, surface roughness, etc. In this study, the SLM molding technique was applied using three different 316L metal powders with different oxygen contents. The spheroidization properties and morphology of the samples were observed using a Quanta 200 environmental scanning electron microscope (ESEM), and the samples were observed microscopically and subjected to EDX spectroscopy using metallographic microscopy, and the mechanical properties were investigated. The results of the study showed that when using gas atomized powders, no spheroidization occurred when the oxygen content of the powders was 5.44 ± 0.01% in all cases, whereas using water atomized powders produced spherical structures with larger dimensions. This observation was closely related to the shape and particle size of the powder. When 316L metal powder with an oxygen content of 4.52 ± 0.01% was used for molding, small spherical structures appeared on the surface of the samples. When metal powder with an oxygen content of 5.44 ± 0.01% was used for the molding, larger spherical structures appeared on the surface of the samples. When the powder with an oxygen content of 5.90 ± 0.01% was used for the molding, more small spherical structures and some large spherical structures appeared on the surface of the samples. This suggests that higher oxygen levels may inhibit the occurrence of spheroidization. EDX spectroscopic analysis revealed that the white matter on the surface of the samples without spheroidization was mainly composed of Fe and Cr, whereas the white matter on the surface of the large-sized spherical structures was mainly composed of Si and Mn, which may be related to the oxygenophilicity of the various substances.

Synthesis and luminescence properties of a bluish-green -emitting Sr3LiSbO6: Pr3+ phosphor for optoelectronic applications

The present work explores the significance of charge transfer band (CTB) excitation, with large absorption capacity, of Pr3+ doped Sr3LiSbO6 phosphor materials for bluish-green emission. Phosphor materials were synthesized via the conventional high-temperature solid-state method. The formation of phase structure was confirmed by XRD. The structural parameter was estimated from Rietveld refinement. Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) and High-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) coupled with mapping and EDX spectroscopy were employed to get high-resolution images of morphologic structure. Raman and FTIR spectra were investigated to detect the presence of different vibrational levels and functional groups respectively. The elemental compositions were further confirmed via XPS survey scan spectrum and their oxidation state was also explored. The optical band-gap was found to increase first with doping concentration and then start to decrease after doping of 2 mol%, this result was further supported by photoluminescence (PL) emission spectra. PL emission spectra presented the characteristic peaks of Pr3+ due to f-f transitions. PL emission spectra illustrated that the concentration quenching took place at 2 mol% doping of Pr3+, which was governed by dipole-dipole coupling. The decay curves of each sample were recorded for specific excitation and emission wavelengths of 262 nm and 490 nm respectively. All the decay curves were well-fitted with single exponential function. The observed average decay time was 10.5 μs. Afterward, photometric studies including Chromaticity International d’Eclairage (CIE), correlated color temperature (CCT) and color purity (CP) were performed. Calculated CIE values were found to lie in bluish-green regions with lower CP and higher CCT. These results obtained from various characterizations conclude that the proposed Sr3LiSbO6 phosphor, doped with various concentrations of Pr3+ (0 mol% to 7 mol% of Pr3+), reveal their applicability in the field of solid-state lighting for white light emitting diodes.

Electrochemical Sensors for Detection of Glucose based on Electrochemically Reduced Graphene Oxide: Optimization of pH and Number of Cycles

Glucose determination method had gain significant interest from the industry for a fast and efficient response especially in the medical area for diabetes patient. Reduced graphene oxide (RGO) had been reported to help and improve the sensitivity of a sensor. The investigation for the optimum pH concentrations using FESEM, EDX, XRD analysis and Raman spectroscopy indicate that the pH 9 was suited to be deposited on the SPGE. In addition to that, different number of cycles during electrodeposition process was employed. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) was used to investigate the charge transfer resistance for each cycle. All the deposited RGO on screen-printed gold electrode (SPGE) was being compared to the bare SPGE to confirmed that the electrodeposition of RGO could decrease the charge transfer resistance. For the detection of glucose, cyclic voltammetry (CV) and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) was used. 10 cycles deposition of RGO shows the highest sensitivity of 1.0525 μA·mM−1·cm−2 in the detection of glucose compared to the other cycles. The ease of use and scalability of the electrodeposition technique may make it easier to build upon the results of this work and produce glucose sensors that are more widely available and less expensive.

Effect of incorporation of calcium polyphosphate sub-microparticles in low-concentration bleaching gels on physical properties of dental enamel.

To evaluate the bleaching efficacy and effects on enamel properties of experimental gels with carbamide peroxide (CP; 10%) or hydrogen peroxide (HP; 6%) containing calcium polyphosphate sub-microparticles (CaPPs). A total of 216 bovine tooth specimens were divided for microhardness and color analyses (n = 108) and block randomized into nine groups (n = 12): (G1) commercial CP (Whiteness Perfect, FGM; Brazil); (G2) experimental CP; (G3) CP-0.5%CaPPs; (G4) CP-1.5%CaPPs; (G5) commercial HP (Potenza Bianco, PHS; Brazil); (G6) experimental HP; (G7) HP-0.5%CaPPs; (G8) HP-1.5%CaPPs; (G9) artificial saliva. The gels' pH values were determined with a bench pH meter. Color (ΔE, ΔE00, ΔWID) and microhardness variation were evaluated before and after the therapy. Part of the specimens used for microhardness was submitted to the scanning electron microscopy (SEM) (n = 3) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy EDX (n = 3) analyses. Statistical analyses were performed in the R statistical software (α = 0.05). Linear mixed models for repeated measures in time were used to analyze microhardness and L* values. Generalized linear models were used to analyze the a*, b*, ΔE, ΔE00, and ΔWID, considering a group effect. The EDX data were analyzed using a one-way ANOVA with Tukey's test. The gels' pH remained over 6,0. All gels effectively bleached the specimens and did not differ significantly. When compared to the control group, the hardness was significantly lower in the G1, G2, G6, and G7 groups. The G3, G4, G5, and G8 groups did not differ significantly (p > 0.05). The incorporation of CaPPs in low-concentration whitening gels reduces its negative effects on microhardness without interfering with their bleaching efficacy.

Development of Glutamate Sensor Based on Mxene/NiO Modified Screen Printed Carbon Electrode

Glutamate plays a vital role as a neurotransmitter, contributing significantly to both physiological and pathological processes. Although enzymatic electrochemical sensors exhibit the ability to selectively detect glutamate, the presence of enzymes introduce sensor instability. Consequently, there is a pressing need for the advancement of enzyme-free glutamate sensors [1-3]. In this study, we have developed an incredibly sensitive non-enzymatic electrochemical sensor for detecting glutamate.This was achieved by synthesizing nanoparticles of nickel oxide (NiO) and physically combining them with MXene on a Screen-printed carbon electrode (SPCE)[2]. Fig. 1 shows the MXene-NiO nanoparticles (NPs) modification process on SPCE. In this work, cyclic voltammetry and amperometric techniques were carried out in a three-electrode system with an oxygen-saturated environment, where MXene-NiO/SPCE, pt wire, and Ag/AgCl electrode were used as working, counter, and reference electrode respectively. MXene-NiO/SPCE showed significant electro-catalytic activity in catalyzing the oxidation of glutamate in 0.1 M NaOH solution. A linear relationship was established between the current response and Glutamate concentration after the electrochemical experiments were conducted while working parameters were optimized. We conducted an extensive investigation of glutamate-sensing mechanism. The optimized sensor exhibited an irreversible oxidation process for glutamate, involving the transfer of one electron and one proton. It displayed a fast response time of < 5 s and a linear response within the concentration range of 20 to 300 µM at a pH of 7, with a LOD of 17.5 µM, sensitivity of 4500 µA.mM−1.cm−2. The morphology of the MXene-NiO composites was characterized using SEM, EDX, XRD, FT-IR, and UV spectroscopy techniques. The investigation into interference on the MXene-NiO/SPCE revealed a noteworthy current response to glutamate even in the presence of uric acid and ascorbic acid. As a result, the development of a reliable, enzyme-free glutamate sensor could be enabled by this simple sensor based on MXene-NiO composites.Fig. 1. The process of MXene/NiO/SPCE electrode.Reference[1] M. Jamal et al., Microsyst. Technol., 24, 4217–4223, 2018. doi: 10.1007/s00542-018-3724-6.[2] M. Jamal et al., Biosens. Bioelectron., 40, 213–218, 2013. doi: 10.1016/j.bios.2012.07.024.[3] K. M. Razeeb et al., Vertically Aligned Nanowire Array-Based Sensors and Their Catalytic Applications. In: Vestergaard, M., Kerman, K., Hsing, IM., Tamiya, E. (eds) Nanobiosensors and Nanobioanalyses, Springer, Tokyo, 2015. Figure 1

Plant Extract Mediated Biogenic Synthesis and Characterization of Nickel Oxide Nanoparticles and its Environmental and Antibacterial Applications

This research focuses on the green synthesis of Nickel Oxide nanoparticles (NiO NPs) using Musa paradisiaca, commonly known as banana plant, as a cost-effective and eco-friendly approach. Musa paradisiaca, utilized in traditional medicine, possesses various medicinal properties, including antioxidant, antibiotic, allogeneic, and hypoglycemic antimicrobial attributes. The peduncle extract of Musa paradisiaca serves as a reducing and capping agent for NiO nanoparticle synthesis. Characterization techniques such as XRD, EDX, and UV-vis spectroscopy were employed to analyze the properties of the synthesized NiO nanoparticles. XRD analysis confirmed an average grain size of 15.26nm, while SEM images revealed round cubic-shaped nanoparticles with a highly crystalline structure. The antibacterial activity of NiO nanoparticles was investigated against bacterial strains, including Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Bordetella bronchiectasis, and Bacillus subtilis, demonstrating effective antibacterial properties. Furthermore, the catalytic power of the synthesized nanoparticles was evaluated through the degradation of methyl blue and methyl orange dyes under sunlight and UV light. The results indicated superior degradation efficiency under sunlight compared to UV light for both dyes. Additionally, the study explored the adsorption activity of NiO nanoparticles for chromium (VI) at various concentrations, with the best adsorption percentage recorded at 17.23% under pH 4.

Preparation of apricot kernel shell powder added polyester/calcium carbonate composite discs and investigation of their abrasive properties

Apricot kernel shell is suitable filler for abrasive materials with its strong, hard structure and dense cellulose content. Therefore, within the scope of this study, polyester composite (PE-CAC) discs containing apricot kernel shell powder were prepared in order to prepare abrasive polyester composite discs. In order to prevent these discs from damaging the surface on which they are applied during use, different amounts of calcium carbonate were added into the structure. The chemical structure of the obtained composite discs was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Surface morphology and structure were confirmed by scanning electron microscopy technique. The distribution of additives within the composite structures was examined by EDX spectroscopy. The effect of heat generated during the etching process on the composite disc structure was investigated using thermal analysis techniques. The added composite structures were transformed into cylindrical discs with a diameter of 45 mm and a height of 30 mm and were used to remove paint on metallic surfaces. As the amount of apricot kernel shell powder in the composite structure increases, the abrasion efficiency increases. Additionally, as the PE/CaCO3 composite disc application time increased, a significant decrease in surface roughness was observed. Ideal surface roughness was achieved, especially after 10 seconds of application time. As a result, PE/CaCO3 composite discs with apricot kernel additives present an important alternative to existing methods, especially in the cleaning of dirt, rust and paint on metallic surfaces.

Colossal antibacterial, antibiofilm and solar light-driven photocatalytic activity of nanoenhanced conjugate of bimetallic Ag-Zr nanoparticles with graphene oxide

The study focuses on structural, optical, morphological, photocatalytic, antibacterial, and antibiofilm activities of bimetallic Ag-Zr nanoparticles (NPs) decorated on graphene oxide nanosheets. The bimetallic Ag-Zr NPs were prepared using biological synthesis and were characterized by various characterization techniques such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infra-red (FTIR), Raman spectroscopy, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) along with EDX, UV-Vis, and photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy for their structural, morphological, and optical analysis. The photocatalytic activity was measured using the degradation of a well-known methylene blue (MB) organic dye under sunlight irradiation, while the antibacterial activity was tested against human pathogenic bacteria viz. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). The results revealed that the Ag-Zr NPs exhibited significantly enhanced photocatalytic and antibacterial activity with low MICs as compared to individual Ag or Zr nanoparticles. Furthermore, the nanoparticles significantly inhibited biofilm formation, with up to a 71% reduction in biofilm formation at a highest sub-MIC. The enhanced activities were attributed to the synergistic effect of the bimetallic nanoparticles and the graphene oxide support at very low concentration. This study suggests that the bimetallic Ag-Zr nanoparticles decorated on graphene oxide (Ag-Zr/GO) could be a promising material for various applications such as wastewater treatment, antibacterial and antibiofilm agents.

Magnet-responsive choline carbomer ionogels as a versatile and recyclable catalyst for one-pot synthesis of benzopyran in water

Ionogels are gaining popularity as a potential replacement for volatile organic solvents in various processes, such as catalysts, electrochemistry, spectroscopy, and medicinal chemistry, due to their low toxicity, high thermal stability, and good solubility. Magnet-responsive ion gels with high magnetic susceptibility are promising and can be used as catalysts, sensors, and MRI contrast agents. Herein, we fabricated simple and novel magnet choline carbomer ionogels using a precipitation-deposition method with carbomers and choline hydroxide. The morphology and structure of the resulting ionogels were analyzed using various characterization techniques, including FTIR, EDX, TGA, and SEM spectroscopy. These magnet ionogels were effective catalysts for a one-pot, three-component synthesis of benzopyran derivatives, providing mild reaction conditions, environmental friendliness, and good to excellent (78–96%) yields within a short reaction time (1–2 h). Additionally, the magnet ionogels were easily recyclable, and they could be reused up to five times without catalytic deactivation.

Silver-modification of ZnO thin films deposited on Zn-electroplated Cu substrate by thermal shock method for the enhanced photocatalytic performance

Ag-modified ZnO thin films on Zn-electroplated Cu substrate with different Ag-contents were prepared via a simple sol–gel spin-coating procedure followed by a thermal shock method with AgNO3, and then characterized by XRD, Raman, FTIR, FESEM, EDX, and UV-visible absorption spectroscopy. Their photocatalytic performance was evaluated by the degradation of methylene blue. Due to the sol–gel spin-coating process, the film was successfully immobilized on mechanically robust Zn/Cu plates, making it promising for applications in harsh practical conditions and facilitating recovery. When our ZnO thin films were surface-modified with AgNO3 at 1 and 2 mol%, they exhibited the best photocatalytic activity under UVA light and visible light, respectively, which can be explained by the appearance of maze-like architecture on their surface with vertical ZnO walls, surface defects and metallic silver nanoparticles. However, when the Ag-content was increased to 3 mol%, the maze-like structure collapsed, leading to decreases in photocatalytic performance.