Incorporation Of Metal Ions Research Articles

Metal-Coordinated, Dual-Crosslinked PIM Polymer Membranes for Upgraded CO2 Separation: Aging and Plasticization Resistance.

The practical use of polymers of intrinsic microporosity (PIMs) in CO2 separation is often hindered by their moderate selectivity, performance instability over time, and pressure constraints. To address these limitations, a straightforward approach is presented to enhance the CO2 separation capability of PIM-1 by incorporating metal ions into uniformly hydrolyzed PIM-1 (cPIM). This dual linking strategy, achieved via ionic and coordination bonding of metal ions with the polymeric side chains including ─COOH and ─CONH2, restructures the polymer, disrupting hydrogen bonds between cPIM chains and creating active sites for CO2 via π-complexation. This modification enhances gas permeability while maintaining high selectivity. The optimized zinc-coordinated membrane achieves an impressive CO2 permeability of ≈2,500 Barrer with CO2/N2 and CO2/CH4 selectivities of 27.1 and 23, respectively, outperforming pristine cPIM (700 Barrer; CO2/N2=27; CO2/CH4=19). Notably, this performance surpasses the 2008 Robeson upper-bound limits for both gas pairs. Additionally, the metal-coordinated membranes exhibit remarkable long-term stability, resisting aging effects for up to 20 days and maintaining anti-plasticization properties at pressures up to 20 bar. These dual-crosslinked membranes demonstrate promising potential for mixed gas separation, indicating their suitability for real-world industrial applications.

Microstructural Evaluation and Linkage to the Engineering Properties of Metal-Ion-Contaminated Clay.

The rapid progress of urbanization and industrialization has led to the accumulation of large amounts of metal ions in the environment. These metal ions are adsorbed onto the negatively charged surfaces of clay particles, altering the total surface charge, double-layer thickness, and chemical bonds between the particles, which in turn affects the interactions between them. This causes changes in the microstructure, such as particle rearrangement and pore morphology adjustments, ultimately altering the mechanical behavior of the soil and reducing its stability. This study explores the effects of four common metal ions, including monovalent alkali metal ions (Na+, K+) and divalent heavy metal ions (Pb2+, Zn2+), with a focus on how ion valence and concentration impact the soil's microstructure and mechanical properties. Microstructural tests show that metal ion incorporation reduces particle size, increases clay content, and transforms the structure from layered to honeycomb-like. Small pores decrease while large pores dominate, reducing the specific surface area and pore volume, while the average pore size increases. Although cation exchange capacity decreases, cation adsorption density per unit surface area increases. Monovalent ions primarily disperse the soil structure, while divalent ions induce coagulation. Macro-mechanical tests reveal that metal ion contamination reduces porosity under loading, with compressibility rises as the ion concentration increases. Soils contaminated with alkali metal ions shows higher compression coefficients at all loads, while heavy metal ions cause higher compression under lower loads. Shear strength, the internal friction angle, and cohesion in metal-ion-contaminated clay decrease compared to uncontaminated field-state clay, with greater declines at higher ion concentrations. The Micropore Morphology Index and hydro-pore structural parameter effectively characterize both micro- and macrostructural properties, establishing a quantitative relationship between HPSP and the engineering properties of metal-ion-contaminated clay.

Hybrid Hydroxyapatite-Metal Complex Materials Derived from Amino Acids and Nucleobases.

Calcium phosphates (CaPs) and their substituted derivatives encompass a large number of compounds with a vast presence in nature that have aroused a great interest for decades. In particular, hydroxyapatite (HAp, Ca10(OH)2(PO4)6) is the most abundant CaP mineral and is significant in the biological world, at least in part due to being a major compound in bones and teeth. HAp exhibits excellent properties, such as safety, stability, hardness, biocompatibility, and osteoconductivity, among others. Even some of its drawbacks, such as its fragility, can be redirected thanks to another essential feature: its great versatility. This is based on the compound's tendency to undergo substitutions of its constituent ions and to incorporate or anchor new molecules on its surface and pores. Thus, its affinity for biomolecules makes it an optimal compound for multiple applications, mainly, but not only, in biological and biomedical fields. The present review provides a chemical and structural context to explain the affinity of HAp for biomolecules such as proteins and nucleic acids to generate hybrid materials. A size-dependent criterium of increasing complexity is applied, ranging from amino acids/nucleobases to the corresponding macromolecules. The incorporation of metal ions or metal complexes into these functionalized compounds is also discussed.

Electrochemical aspects of Li[Ni0.6Co0.2Mn0.2]O2 cathode materials doped by various ionic radius cations

The capacity of Li[Ni0.6Co0.2Mn0.2]O2 cathode materials decreases rapidly due to layer structure degradation, grain cracking, and electrolyte side reaction during cycling. In this paper, metal ions with different ionic radius (W6+= 0.62 Å, Mg2+= 0.72 Å, Y3+= 0.90 Å) were doped into single crystal Li[Ni0.6Co0.2Mn0.2]O2, which were synthesized by high-temperature solid-phase technology. X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy dispersive spectrometry (EDS) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were employed to characterize various samples doped with different ionic radius. The results reveal that the radius of the doped ions plays a crucial role in improving the stability of material structure. It is attributed to the incorporation of metal ions into the Li+ or Ni2+ site, thus maintaining the integrity of the layer and reducing cation mixing. However, it is also detrimental to the performance of single crystal Li[Ni0.6Co0.2Mn0.2]O2 because of lattice distortion caused by the ionic radius of the doped metal being much greater than that of the doped site. These results show superior capability and reveal the performance trend of Li[Ni0.6Co0.2Mn0.2]O2 with metal ions of different radius. The initial discharge capacity at 0.1 C for the undoped sample was 183.8 mAh/g, compared with 189.9, 192.3 and 199.8 mAh/g for NCM622-W, NCM622-Mg, and NCM622-Y, respectively. After 100 cycles, NCM, NCM-W, NCM-Mg, and NCM-Y delivered retentions of 90.88 %, 98.16 %, 97.13 %, 94.37 %, respectively. The defect model is mainly responsible for the improvement in electrochemical performance.

Novel Type of Non‐Toxic, Degradable, Luminescent Ratiometric Thermometers Based on Dyes Embedded in Disulfide‐Bridged Periodic Mesoporous Organosilica Particles

AbstractDespite the excellent thermometric performance of many developed luminescent nanomaterials, their use has not gone beyond proof‐of‐concept in vivo experiments to date. An important issue that needs to be resolved before moving toward true biomedical applications of engineered nanothermometers is their potential toxicity and bioaccumulation in the human body considering the ultimate objective of clinical applications. Since most reported nanothermometers currently are not degradable materials and are mainly based on the incorporation of heavy metal ions, these aspects remain of genuine concern in the fields of nanomedicine, nanobiotechnology, nanotoxicology, and nanopharmacology. This work explores the possibility of designing visible, as well as near‐infrared, emitting luminescent ratiometric nanothermometers based on appropriate organic dye mixtures embedded in hollow disulfide‐bridged periodic mesoporous organosilica (PMO) particles. Such hybrid particles show excellent thermometric performance in the physiological temperature range (20–50 °C), favorable degradability in simulated physiological conditions, as well as no toxicity to healthy normal human dermal fibroblast (NHDF) cells in a wide concentration range. Considering the simplicity of the approach from the synthetic point of view, and the large available library of known fluorescent dyes emitting in various regions of the electromagnetic range, this motif renders a very promising approach to designing novel non‐toxic, decomposable, luminescent ratiometric thermometers.

A closer look at the fabrication of some doped metal ions in borophosphate glass system and their structural, elastic, optical, and gamma-ray shielding characteristics

Borophosphate host glasses doped with zinc oxide (ZnO), titanium dioxide (TiO2), tellurium dioxide (TeO2), or cerium oxide (CeO2) were synthesized using rapid quenching techniques. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra, along with deconvoluted FTIR spectra, were recorded in the 400–4000 cm−1 range. Using the models of Tauc and Urbach, the optical energy band gaps of these glasses were found to be 3.212, 3.289, 3.262, 3.087, and 2.475 eV respectively. Due to the incorporation of different metal ions into the prepared glasses, the density increased and the molar volume decreased, making the glass structure highly compact. Since the elastic moduli are directly related to the average cross-link density, the shear and longitudinal moduli show a forward proportionality with the average cross-link density. Detailed reporting focused on the mass attenuation coefficients (μm) and exposure build-up factors (EBF), crucial for evaluating the shielding properties of the material within the energy range of 0.015–15 MeV and penetration depth up to 40 mean free paths (mfp). Glass samples doped with tellurium dioxide exhibited the highest gamma attenuation due to their higher effective atomic number compared to the other samples. Compared to Portland concrete, the prepared glass composites showed higher mass attenuation coefficients across the entire investigated energy range. These results suggest that although Borophosphate glasses doped with cerium oxide have preferred mechanical properties compared with the other prepared glasses, Borophosphate glasses doped with tellurium dioxide could serve as transparent shielding material for medical applications due to their higher attenuation coefficient.

Light-weight flexible symmetric supercapacitors based on magnesium-zinc codoped MnO2 nanostructures on carbon cloth as enhanced-performance binder-free electrodes

Developing advanced flexible supercapacitors with high energy and power density is a critical research goal. One promising approach involves combining manganese dioxide (MnO2) with a three-dimensional carbon substrate. This strategy leads to the creation of supercapacitor electrode materials that exhibit high specific capacitance, stability, and environmental friendliness. However, the challenge lies in addressing the low electrical conductivity of MnO2, which limits the rate of electron transfer. The incorporation of metal ions enhances the conductivity of manganese oxide, resulting in a significant increase in lattice defects. These defects create abundant active sites for energy storage. In this study, we developed flexible electrodes based on magnesium-doped MnO2, zinc-doped MnO2, and magnesium-zinc codoped MnO2 nanostructures deposited on carbon cloth (CC) via a one-step hydrothermal method. The supercapacitive behavior of these electrodes was investigated using CV and GCD measurements. The as-prepared electrodes exhibit good electrical conductivity, and their interconnected network structure, composed of sponge-shaped nanostructure layers, results in a large specific surface area. This network also facilitates efficient pathways for effective electron transport. The optimized Mg-Zn codoped MnO2@CC sample exhibits a high capacitance of 79.9 mF/cm² at 0.7 mA/cm² and good rate performance, reaching around 46.59 mF/cm² up to 1.5 mA/cm² in the three-electrode system. Notably, the areal capacitance values calculated from the CV curves for all Mg-Zn codoped MnO2@CC electrodes surpass those of Mg-doped MnO2@CC and Zn-doped MnO2@CC. A flexible symmetric supercapacitor assembled using the best Mg-Zn codoped MnO2@CC as both positive and negative electrodes and PVA-Na2SO4 gel electrolyte delivers a desirable energy density of 0.196 mWh/cm2 at 2.38 mW/cm2. Furthermore, this fabricated supercapacitor demonstrates a broad voltage window of 2.25 V and remarkable cycling stability, retaining 83 % of its initial performance after 4000 charge-discharge cycles.

Cerium rare-earth ions reinforced built-in electric field to enable efficient carrier extraction for highly efficient and stable perovskite solar cells

Perovskite solar cells prepared by inorganic-organic three-dimensional hybrid have good power conversion efficiency, but their operational stability remains a major challenge for commercialization. The defect of perovskite is an important factor restricting its charge dynamics and stability. Here, the rare earth metal chloride CeCl3 is introduced into perovskite solution to passivate the defects, where the Pb2+ part of the B position is replaced by Ce3+. The prepared films have the characteristics of increasing grain size, enhancing carrier mobility and excellent crystallinity. Meanwhile, via passivating interface defects and improving carrier transport capacity, the generation of non-radiative recombination is reduced, the carrier migration length is extended, and the device performance is improved. The results show that the PCE of the standard device is only 65 % after 2880 h of N2 atmosphere at room temperature, while the efficiency of the device doped with CeCl3 can remain at 93 %. When the unencapsulated sample was placed in an air environment (40–60 % humidity), the control sample was reduced to 72 % at 1060 h, while the CeCl3 was maintained at 87 %. Additionally, the reduction of residual stress in the perovskite layer also provides good bending stability for the flexible target device. These results show that the incorporation of rare earth metal ions is an effective way to stabilize and improve the efficiency of the device.

Ultrasensitive Electrochemical Sensor for Catecholamine Detection Using Stable Covalent pH Sensitive Thin Films

Electrochemical detection of catecholamine neurotransmitters has been widely studied and possess lots of potential for the onsite analysis. Electrochemical sensors, however, have limitations that are due to strong interfering species that exist in the same sample matrix as the analyte of interest. In addition, the stability of the fabricated electrochemical sensor is important for reusability and reproducibility. Our research group activities have focused on fabricating stable thin films of electrocatalysts (phthalocyanines) and their graphene conjugates using covalent coupling reactions and electrografting method. The formed thin films exhibited excellent stability, electroanalytical and electrocatalytic properties. The flexible structural modification of phthalocyanines allowed for the incorporation of pH sensitive functional group and different metal ions for electrocatalysis. The use of pH sensitive electrocatalysts is a step away from using insulating and negatively charged polymers for screening interferents. The evaluation of modified electrodes were conducted in the negative and positively charged redox systems, such as [Fe(CN)6]3-/4- and [Ru(NH3)6]2+/3+. Excellent electrocatalytic properties were obtained and the electrodes could detect the neurotransmitters selectively and screen-off ascorbic acid, uric acid using the solution pH.

Optimization of hydrochar synthesis conditions for enhanced Cd(II) and Pb(II) adsorption in mono and multimetallic systems

The characterisation of hydrochars derived from Sargassum biomass collected along the Mexican Caribbean coast reveals their favourable morphology and chemical composition for incorporating metal ions, including Cd(II) and Pb(II). Among the synthesized materials, HCS-3, produced at 180 °C with a 2 h residence time, exhibited superior yield, specific area, carbon content, and capacity for removing Cd(II) and Pb(II). Adsorption equilibrium studies demonstrate the presence of adsorption processes during Cd(II) and Pb(II) retention on HCS-3, with adsorption capacities slightly exceeding 140 and 340 mg g⁻1, respectively. Notably, HCS-3 shows a greater affinity for Pb(II) over Cd(II) when both elements are present concurrently. The physicochemical analysis through FTIR spectroscopy, functional group analysis, point of zero charge determination, SEM/EDS, and other techniques evidenced that HCS-3 possesses favourable characteristics to serve as a heavy metal adsorbent. These findings underscore the efficacy of hydrochars from Sargassum biomass in removing heavy metals, suggesting their potential as superior adsorbents compared to traditional or novel materials, and advising its possible versatility for other pollutants. Utilizing these hydrochars could mitigate the economic and environmental impact of Sargassum biomass by repurposing it for valuable applications.

Rigid Macrocycle Metal Complexes as CXCR4 Chemokine Receptor Antagonists: Influence of Ring Size.

Understanding the role of chemokine receptors in health and disease has been of increasing interest in recent years. Chemokine receptor CXCR4 has been extensively studied because of its defined role in immune cell trafficking, HIV infection, inflammatory diseases, and cancer progression. We have developed high affinity rigidified CXCR4 antagonists that incorporate metal ions to optimize the binding interactions with the aspartate side chains at the extracellular surface of the CXCR4 chemokine receptor and increase the residence time. Cross- and side-bridged tetraazamacrocylic complexes offer significant advantages over the non-bridged molecular structures in terms of receptor affinity, potential for radiolabelling, and use in therapeutic applications. Our investigation has been extended to the influence of the ring size on bridged tetraazamacrocyclic compounds with the addition of two novel chelators (bis-cross-bridged homocyclen and bis-cross-bridged cyclen) to compare to the bis-bridged cyclam, along with novel metal complexes formed with copper(II) or zinc(II). The in vitro biological assays showed that all of the zinc(II) complexes are high affinity antagonists with a marked increase in CXCR4 selectivity for the bis-cross-bridged cyclen complex, whereas the properties of the copper(II) complexes are highly dependent on metal ion geometry. X-ray crystal structural data and DFT computational studies allow for the rationalisation of the relative affinities and the aspartate residue interactions on the protein surface. Changing the ring size from 14-membered can increase the selectivity for the CXCR4 receptor whilst retaining potent inhibitory activity, improving the key pharmacological characteristics.

Advances and Challenges in Immune-Modulatory Biomaterials for Wound Healing Applications.

Wound healing progresses through three distinct stages: inflammation, proliferation, and remodeling. Immune regulation is a central component throughout, crucial for orchestrating inflammatory responses, facilitating tissue repair, and restraining scar tissue formation. Elements such as mitochondria, reactive oxygen species (ROS), macrophages, autophagy, ferroptosis, and cytokines collaboratively shape immune regulation in this healing process. Skin wound dressings, recognized for their ability to augment biomaterials' immunomodulatory characteristics via antimicrobial, antioxidative, pro- or anti-inflammatory, and tissue-regenerative capacities, have garnered heightened attention. Notwithstanding, a lack of comprehensive research addressing how these dressings attain immunomodulatory properties and the mechanisms thereof persists. Hence, this paper pioneers a systematic review of biomaterials, emphasizing immune regulation and their underlying immunological mechanisms. It begins by highlighting the importance of immune regulation in wound healing and the peculiarities and obstacles faced in skin injury recovery. This segment explores the impact of wound metabolism, infections, systemic illnesses, and local immobilization on the immune response during healing. Subsequently, the review examines a spectrum of biomaterials utilized in skin wound therapy, including hydrogels, aerogels, electrospun nanofiber membranes, collagen scaffolds, microneedles, sponges, and 3D-printed constructs. It elaborates on the immunomodulatory approaches employed by these materials, focusing on mitochondrial and ROS modulation, autophagic processes, ferroptosis, macrophage modulation, and the influence of cytokines on wound healing. Acknowledging the challenge of antibiotic resistance, the paper also summarizes promising plant-based alternatives for biomaterial integration, including curcumin. In its concluding sections, the review charts recent advancements and prospects in biomaterials that accelerate skin wound healing via immune modulation. This includes exploring mitochondrial transplantation materials, biomaterial morphology optimization, metal ion incorporation, electrostimulation-enabled immune response control, and the benefits of composite materials in immune-regulatory wound dressings. The ultimate objective is to establish a theoretical foundation and guide future investigations in the realm of skin wound healing and related materials science disciplines.

A Review on Nano Herbicides: The Future of Weed Management

Weeds pose significant challenges to global agricultural productivity, with India alone experiencing annual losses of $11 billion due to weed infestations, despite the extensive use of herbicides. The drawbacks of conventional herbicide formulations contribute to their suboptimal performance. Rotating herbicides and use of appropriate mixtures are two key approaches to suppress the weed floral shift and resistance development to herbicide in weeds. Doubts persist regarding the effectiveness of these herbicides, prompting the exploration of more efficient control methods. Using lower amounts of herbicides is preferred because it decreases the lasting impact of herbicide residues in agricultural regions and their environmental toxicity. Nano herbicides can facilitate the efficient transport of herbicides to weed plants, thereby minimizing the buildup of residues in the soil. Nanotechnology emerges as a promising avenue for herbicide development, offering 'Smart herbicides' with heightened effectiveness and reduced application volumes. Nano herbicides employ innovative mechanisms, effectively depleting weed seed banks, degrading germination inhibitors, and facilitating gradual herbicide release. Techniques like damaging weed pollen grains and utilising carbon nanotubes demonstrate inventive approaches to seed bank depletion. Controlled release formulations ensure prolonged and efficient weed suppression while minimising environmental impact. Moreover, incorporating metal ions accelerates herbicide residue degradation, mitigating environmental persistence. Enhanced plant growth with nano herbicide application emphasizes their potential as sustainable weed control solutions. However, further research is essential to ensure their safety and efficacy before widespread adoption in commercial agriculture, addressing potential risks associated with their application. Introducing nano herbicides signifies a significant advancement in sustainable weed management practices, promising a future where agricultural productivity can be safeguarded against weed infestations.

Tackling toxicity and stability using eco-friendly metal-halide ion substituted perovskite nanocrystals for advanced display color conversion

In recent years organic–inorganic hybrid halide perovskites nanocrystals have made a remarkable impact in display color converting layer application. However, lead toxicity and stability issues always pose arduous challenges. In this regard, the incorporation of a suitable metal ion to reduce toxicity and enhance stability is a widely tested method. In this study, we used a simple ligand-assisted reprecipitation (LARP) technique to simultaneously introduce metal ion and halide ion substitution by synthesizing MAPb1-xZnxBr3-2xCl2x nanocrystals (NCs). Being eco-friendly with a smaller ionic radius than lead ion, zinc metal ion was chosen as a substitute. With the variation of Zn2+ concentration, the highest quantum yield of 95 % was recorded with an emission width of 21 nm. Temperature-dependent photoluminescence (PL) studies revealed the higher optical phonon-exciton interaction after Zn2+ incorporation leading to radiative transition in NCs. Variation of PL peak energy with temperature revealed the reduced thermal chromaticity of Zn2+ incorporated NCs making them suitable for display application. Further, these NCs maintained a stable cubic structure and luminescence up to 150 °C, indicating higher thermal stability. The MAPb0.9Zn0.1Br2.8Cl0.2 (x = 0.1 or 10 mol%) NCs embedded in PMMA (poly (methyl methacrylate) polymer matrix coated LED emits narrow width, green light with color coordinate (0.15, 0.79), which is closer to green coordinate (0.17, 0.79) in Rec.2020. This helps to reproduce close to 97 % color gamut of Rec.2020. This research paves the way for finding less toxic and stable green light-emitting materials instead of cadmium-based molecules.

Role of cation nature in crown ether appended 25-Oxasmaragdyrins with second-order NLO responses: As potential and selective metal ions detector

Crown ethers, known for their efficacy as metal ion traps, have garnered significant interest in optoelectronic applications due to their unique cavity structure and special binding ability with metals. Herein, we systematically designed and investigated the second-order nonlinear optical (NLO) properties of an intriguing compound, 18-crown-6 derivative appended with 25-oxasmaragdyrins (Cr-Prs), achieved through the incorporation of diverse metal ions into the crown ether ring. Significantly, the βtot values of compounds with alkaline earth metal ions (Mg2+, Ca2+) are greater than those compounds with alkali metal ions (Na+, K+). Interestingly, the Hg2+@Cr-Prs compound exhibits a tremendous second-order NLO property with the βtot value of 5.34 × 105 au. Further insights into substantial βtot values across all compounds were provided through a comprehensive analysis of the transition energies, the molecular orbitals, and the absorption spectra of the main excited states. The calculation results conclude that the second-order NLO properties of Cr-Prs can be modulated by incorporating metal ions into the crown ether ring. Crown ether emerges as a facilitator in detecting and identifying Hg2+ ions, serving as an effective NLO-based ion detector. These findings not only broaden the scope of cation detection and efficiency but also present innovative applications in analytical and optoelectronic research, encapsulating the essence of our study within a concise framework.

Surface modification of nitrocellulose by interfacial self-assembly of metal-phenolic network for enhanced thermal stability and eco-friendly propulsion energy

Metal-phenolic networks (MPNs) have received widespread interest owing to their ability to incorporate metal ions and phenolic ligands in a modular manner. However, the effect of MPNs on nitrocellulose (NC), an energetic material for propulsion, has not been extensively investigated. Herein, we fabricated MPN-coated NC fibers (NC@MPN) and confirmed the successful coating and homogeneous distribution of MPN on the surface of NC through Raman spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), UV–visible spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Energy Dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). The thermal stability of NC was enhanced as evidenced by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), accelerating rate calorimetry (ARC) and the ignition point test. The thermal decomposition activation energy of NC@MPN can reach 200.73 kJ•mol−1, 7.50 % higher than that of NC primitive fiber (186.72 kJ•mol−1). The ARC tests demonstrate that the implementation of MPN coating prolonged the time of entering the adiabatic section by 5.4 °C and the forecast temperatures for TD8 and TD24 have increased by 4.6 and 4.8 °C, respectively. Additionally, the ignition point was also raised by 2 °C. The aforementioned three experimental results provide evidence for the enhanced thermal stability conferred by MPNs. Besides, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) results demonstrate a reduction in the residue from thermal decomposition. The present study presents a simple and robust coating strategy for the modular surface engineering of energetic materials, which significantly improves thermal stability and reduces the residues of thermal decomposition.

Protective role of DTPA against Hylotrupes bajulus L. infestations by targeting metal ion incorporation in larval mandibles

The house longhorn beetle, Hylotrupes bajulus L., is a recognized wood pest with larvae capable of infesting and damaging various wood species. The larvae’s wood-cutting capability is attributed to the metal-reinforced chitin in their mandibles, which provides enhanced mechanical strength. This reinforcement is due to the presence of metal ions such as zinc (Zn) and manganese (Mn) bound to the chitin structure. The present study investigates the potential of diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA), a chelating agent, to sequester these crucial metal ions thereby affecting the larvae’s feeding capability. Wood samples treated with varying doses of DTPA showed significant larval mortality, with a 100% rate at a dose of 6 g/l. Electron microscopic analyses of deceased larvae revealed an absence of Zn in their mandibles, suggesting that DTPA effectively reduces its bioavailability, hindering mandible strengthening. The toxicity profile of DTPA is lower compared to many traditional wood treatments, indicating a potential for reduced environmental impact. However, the full spectrum of DTPA’s preservation capabilities and its interactions with other organisms require further investigation.

Enhanced structural, magnetodielectric, and multiferroic response in Fe and Co Co-doped Barium strontium titanate ceramics

In this paper, the ambient temperature multiferroic effect resulting from the incorporation of transition metal ions (Fe3+ and Co2+) in lead-free BST [ Ba0.7Sr0.3(Fex/2Cox/2)Ti1−xO3;x=0,0.01,0.03,0.05,0.07 ] ceramics synthesized via the solid-state reaction (SSR) procedure has been thoroughly analyzed. The investigation consistently scrutinized the effects of augmenting transition metal co-doping on the structural, ferroelectric, dielectric, magnetic, and magnetodielectric characteristics. The x-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns for all ceramic compositions demonstrated the formation of a monophasic (P4mm) crystalline structure. The Raman analysis evidenced the presence of various modes, which are associated with the occurrence of the single-phase and provide strong corroboration for the x-ray diffraction observations. Scanning electron micrographs reveals that the inclusion of transition metal ions results in the diminution of grain size. The frequency-dependent dielectric characteristics were represented over the frequency range of 1 kHz to 1 MHz. The P-E hysteresis curves demonstrate a consistent reduction in the values of Ps and Pr, whereas, the M-H curve reveals the enhancement in magnetic properties with increased doping. The magnetodielectric analysis confirmed the interplay between the ferroelectric and ferromagnetic ordering. The BST-1CF sample exhibited the highest MC % value of 5.30% along with the magnetoelectric coupling coefficient ‘γ’ of −6.01×10−1(memu/g)−2, making it a favorable entrant for the advancement of innovative non-volatile multiferroic memory gadgets.

Green synthesis of copper doped bismuth oxide: A novel inorganic material for photocatalytic mineralization of Trypan blue dye

The incorporation of appropriate metal ions into a semiconductor lattice allows for the development of innovative photocatalysts with suppressed electron/hole pair recombination rates, enhanced photon-capturing capabilities, and accelerated kinetics. In this work, we use environmentally friendly methods to produceCu-doped bismuth oxide (Bi2−xCuxO3) nanoparticles for use in the efficient removal of the diazo dye, Trypan blue (TB), from textile discharges. Doped and undoped samples were characterized using structural (PXRD & FTIR), electronic (SEM & EDX), optical (UV/vis & photoluminescence), and electrical (I-V) methods to confirm Cu-doping, nanoscale synthesis, band gap reduction and process, induced structural defects, and intrinsic conductivity enhancement. Our Bi2−xCuxO3NPs exhibit extraordinary photo-destruction capability and promising stability compared to undoped Bi2O3 NPs due to the synergistic impacts of the aforementioned developed feature. After 48 min of W-lamp light irradiation, TB dye photo-destruction efficiencies were determined to be 55.4 % over Bi2O3 and 85.5 % over Bi2−xCuxO3catalysts under optimal conditions (pH = 6, catalyst dosage = 20 mg, dye concentration = 15 ppm). The Bi2−xCuxO3 NPs still have more than 93 % photocatalytic activity after five sessions of TB dye annihilation, and the post-activity XRD demonstrates that their structure and phase have not been altered. The findings obtained from our study demonstrate that the Cu-doped bismuth oxide nanocatalyst, manufactured using environmentally friendly methods, has great potential for environmental remediation applications. Specifically, it exhibits promising effectiveness in degrading azo dyes in the wastewater of various sectors such as textile, leather, food, and printing.

The birth of zinc anode-based electrochromic devices

Since the discovery of electrochemical coloration phenomenon, electrochromic devices capable of monitoring transmittance, reflectance, and absorption at designated wavelengths have embraced great achievements. The marriage of electrochemistry and optical modulation has infused fascinating properties in electrochromic devices, which find applications in thermal management, display, smart windows, and camouflage. Inspired by the multipronged advancements in electrochemical devices, the incorporation of multivalent metal ions having rich electrochemistry into electrochromic devices is bloomed in recent years. Zinc, distinguished by its high crustal abundance, suitable standard redox potential, and inherent safety, has facilitated the assembly of highly efficient electrochromic devices. Zinc anode-based electrochromic devices with dual-band (visible and near-infrared) tunability, energy retrieval functions, multi-color options, multiple working modes (transmittance mode and reflectance mode), and scalability have been prominently showcased. Here in this review, the birth of zinc anode-based electrochromic devices will be systematically narrated, starting from the discovery of electrochromic phenomenon, to the evolution of electrochromic devices, and to the latest achievements in zinc anode-based electrochromic devices. Additionally, this review delves into the future development trends and perspectives of zinc anode-based electrochromic devices. This review serves as a handbook, which summarizes the history of electrochromism, introduces the physics behind it, highlights the development in zinc anode-based electrochromic devices, and aims to inspire future endeavors into this field, particularly those focused on developing energy-efficient electrochromic devices.