Inorganic Composition Research Articles

Chemical and Imaging Analysis of Questioned Document Paper by FTIR, ICP and Video Spectral Comparator (VSC) for Forensic Discrimination

AbstractForensic document examination has been considered one of the most important fields in the forensic science. For this, a quick, effective, and cheap techniques for evaluation of forensic evidence is highly required. This study explores the comparison of A4 document paper by chemical and physical analysis. 16 of white A4 paper from different brands were analyzed by FTIR for investigation of structural characteristics. Video Spectral Comparator 8000 has been used to compare the A4 papers under different light source. The inorganic filler composition in the paper is also explored by ICP‐OES. The calcium carbonate content in document papers play a discriminant role which found to be between 16.02 % and 35.54 %. Also, water contact angle has been utilized in order to examine the surface of paper which is generally related to the inorganic filler and other additives. The WCA results ranged between 83° and 111° that enable quick and easy way to compare A4 document papers. The experimental results have demonstrated that besides FTIR methods, other methods such as ICP‐OES for elemental composition, WCA for wetting test, VSC for visualization under different light of source could have been applied for comparison of document papers in case of criminal cases.

Association between Long-Term Exposure to PM2.5 Inorganic Chemical Compositions and Cardiopulmonary Mortality: A 22-Year Cohort Study in Northern China.

Particulate matter with diameters ≤2.5 μm (PM2.5) has been identified as a significant air pollutant contributing to premature mortality. Nevertheless, the specific compositions within PM2.5 that play the most crucial role remain unclear, especially in areas with high pollution concentrations. This study aims to investigate the individual and joint mortality risks associated with PM2.5 inorganic chemical compositions and identify primary contributors. In 1998, we conducted a prospective cohort study in four northern Chinese cities (Tianjin, Shenyang, Taiyuan, and Rizhao). Satellite-based machine learning models calculated PM2.5 inorganic chemical compositions, including sulfate (SO4 2-), nitrate (NO3 -), ammonium (NH4 +), and chloride (Cl-). A time-varying Cox proportional hazards model was applied to analyze associations between these compositions and cardiorespiratory mortality, encompassing nonaccidental causes, cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), nonmalignant respiratory diseases (RDs), and lung cancer. The quantile-based g-computation model evaluated joint exposure effects and relative contributions of the compositions. Stratified analysis was used to identify vulnerable subpopulations. During 785,807 person-years of follow-up, 5812 (15.5%) deaths occurred from nonaccidental causes, including 2932 (7.8%) from all CVDs, 479 (1.3%) from nonmalignant RDs, and 552 (1.4%) from lung cancer. Every interquartile range (IQR) increase in SO4 2- was associated with mortality from nonaccidental causes (hazard ratio: 1.860; 95% confidence interval: 1.809, 1.911), CVDs (1.909; 1.836, 1.985), nonmalignant RDs (2.178; 1.975, 2.403), and lung cancer (1.773; 1.624, 1.937). In the joint exposure model, a simultaneous rise of one IQR in all four compositions increased the risk of cardiorespiratory mortality by at least 36.3%, with long-term exposure to SO4 2- contributing the most to nonaccidental and cardiopulmonary deaths. Individuals with higher incomes and lower education levels were found to be more vulnerable. Long-term exposure to higher levels of PM2.5 inorganic compositions was associated with significantly increased cardiopulmonary mortality, with SO4 2- potentially being the primary contributor. These findings offer insights into how PM2.5 sources impact health, aiding the development of more effective governance measures.

Enrichment of Perfluoroalkyl Acids on Sea Spray Aerosol in Laboratory Experiments: The Role of Dissolved Organic Matter, Air Entrainment Rate and Inorganic Ion Composition

Enrichment of Perfluoroalkyl Acids on Sea Spray Aerosol in Laboratory Experiments: The Role of Dissolved Organic Matter, Air Entrainment Rate and Inorganic Ion Composition

Multicolor tunable persistent luminescence mechanism in well-designed inorganic composites.

Herein, by ball milling CsPb(Br/I)3 quantum dot glass powder with Sr2MgSi2O7:Eu2+, Dy3+ phosphor, multicolor tunable long persistent luminescence (LPL) in inorganic composites with more than 700 min attenuation time can be obtained via a radiation photon reabsorption process. Attractively, the wide color gamut of LPL spectra overlaps the National Television System Committee space 74%. Notably, the luminescence intensity remains stable when the inorganic composites are composed with UV light for 100 h. Finally, practical anticounterfeiting application is successfully realized based on the prepared LPL inorganic composites. This work provides a new, to the best of our knowledge, perspective to achieve polychromatic adjustment of LPL.

Sustainable Electrolytes: Design Principles and Recent Advances.

Today, rechargeable batteries are omnipresent and essential for our existence. In order to improve the electrochemical performance of electric fields, the introduction of electrolytes with fluorine (F)-based inorganic elemental compositions is a direction of exploration. However, most fluorocarbons have a high global warming potential and ozone depletion potential, which do not meet the sustainability requirements of the battery industry. Therefore, developing sustainable electrolytes is a viable option for future battery development. Although researchers have made much progress in electrolyte optimization, little attention has been paid to developing low-toxic and safe electrolytes. This review aims to elucidate the design principles and recent advances in this direction for solvents and salts. It concludes with a summary and outlook on future research directions for the molecular design of green electrolytes for practical high-voltage rechargeable batteries.

Optimizing Eriochrome Black T adsorption through In-Situ polymerization of Poly(aniline-co-formaldehyde) on biochar: Multivariate approach using full factorial Design, Box-Behnken, Artificial intelligence, and DFT

Over the past few years, using organic–inorganic composites in wastewater treatment through adsorption has become increasingly widespread. The combination of activated carbon and polyaniline (AC@PANI) has garnered significant interest in these composites. This study introduces a novel type of coating known as poly(aniline-co-formaldehyde) (PAF), which is classified as a copolymer and exhibits crosslinking properties. Compared to polyaniline, PAF forms a three-dimensional network structure, a rapid process for the synthesis of AC@PAF. Moreover, PAF demonstrates a notable enhancement in adsorption capacity for the anionic Eriochrome Black T (EBT) dye. In this study, we coated activated carbon, previously activated using H3PO4 (ACNgG-P), with PANI and PAF. Our findings reveal that the PAF coating exhibits an exceptional adsorption capacity of 700.01 mg/g for EBT, surpassing ACNgG-P and ACNgG-P@PANI.Furthermore, the adsorption of EBT onto the surface of ACNgG-P@PAF was optimized and modeled using artificial intelligence (AI), specifically an artificial neural network (ANN). The ANN was employed to predict and maximize adsorption by analyzing the complex relationships between various parameters. Finally, the Density Functional Theory calculations were used to elucidate the adsorption mechanism by identifying the active sites on the surface of ACNgG-P@PAF and analyzing the molecular structure of EBT.

Exploring the impact of copper excess on soybean genotypes: insights from root morphology and plant ionome

ABSTRACT Global growing demand for food production and commodity increased prices stimulate soybean cultivation in Brazil even in areas with high soil copper (Cu) concentration. This can promote root injuries and nutritional imbalances, reducing the growth and yield of Cu-sensitive soybean genotypes. The study aimed to investigate soybean genotypes potentially adapted to Cu-contaminated zones. Four soybean genotypes (NA 5909, DM 5958, M 6410, and DM 6563) and three Cu concentrations in the nutrient solution (0.03, 1.2, and 2.4 mg L−1) were evaluated. Root and shoot dry mass, root morphology, and inorganic composition of plant tissues were determined. The shoot and root dry mass was affected by Cu excess, especially in DM 5958 genotype, which decreased by up to 46%. Otherwise, the DM 6563 genotype stood out for growing satisfactorily under Cu excess and keeping significant amounts of Cu in the belowground biomass. The Cu excess promoted root thickening and shortening, and altered the ionome of soybean plants by decreasing the concentrations of K, Ca, Mg, and Fe, yet increasing P and N, which caused decreased plant growth. Finally, our outcomes indicated DM 6563 genotype exhibits promising traits for Cu phytostabilization, making it preferable for cultivation in Cu-contaminated areas.

Inorganic Composition Modulation of Solid Electrolyte Interphase for Fast Charging Lithium Metal Batteries.

The solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) with lithium fluoride (LiF) is critical to the performance of lithium metal batteries (LMBs) due to its high stability and mechanical properties. However, the low Li ion conductivity of LiF impedes the rapid diffusion of Li ions in the SEI, which leads to localized Li ion oversaturation dendritic deposition and hinders the practical applications of LMBs at high-current regions (>3 C). To address this issue, a fluorophosphated SEI rich with fast ion-diffusing inorganic grain boundaries (LiF/Li3P) is introduced. By utilizing a sol electrolyte that contains highly dispersed porous LiF nanoparticles modified with phosphorus-containing functional groups, a fluorophosphated SEI is constructed and the presence of electrochemically active Li within these fast ion-diffusing grain boundaries (GBs-Li) that are non-nucleated is demonstrated, ensuring the stability of the Li || NCM811 cell for over 1000 cycles at fast-charging rates of 5 C (11mA cm-2). Additionally, a practical, long cycling, and intrinsically safe LMB pouch cell with high energy density (400Wh kg-1) is fabricated. The work reveals how SEI components and structure design can enable fast-charging LMBs.

Tracing the Late Quaternary coastal evolution of Central Kerala, India, around the lost ancient port Muziris using multi-proxy study of the sedimentary archives

The Central Kerala coast in Southwest India serves as a valuable natural archive for studies of the Late Quaternary coastal evolution, palaeoclimate, and maritime trades. The coast is an archeologically and culturally significant region in South India, located in the mouth of the longest river in Kerala, the Periyar River. The riverbank of the Periyar at its mouth is believed to host the ancient port Muziris, whose remnants are found in the areas around where the Periyar River joins the Arabian Sea. Sea level oscillations and climate variabilities in the past have played a pivotal role in the destruction of the Muziris port. Recent excavations unearthed many artifacts from nearby areas of the river confluence; however, the exact location of the port remains unresolved. The present study is an attempt to trace out the coastal evolutionary processes and palaeoclimatic conditions that prevailed in the area during the Late Quaternary period using three drilled cores retrieved from this stretch of the coastal lands. A multi-proxy approach, combining geochemical, mineralogical, palynological, and geochronological tools was used in the study. The Holocene deposit in the study area is composed mainly of sand and clay-dominant sediments that fall within an age range of 1.1–8.1 cal kyr BP, whereas the underlying sedimentary sequence dates to a maximum of 31.5–37.9 cal kyr BP. The inorganic and organic elemental compositions, together with the textural and palynological attributes, indicate that Holocene sedimentation occurred here under fluctuating environmental conditions with significant changes in climate and sea level positions. The upper part of this section bears the signature of the humid depositional environment that prevailed during the Late Holocene when sand-dominated sediments were deposited and brought in under the influence of longshore drift. The sediments from the lower part of the section carry the signature of the Holocene transgression when deposition took place under submerged conditions with considerable marine influence but receiving significant terrestrial inputs. The study highlights the location of the historically significant lost ancient port of Muziris at Kodungallur near the mouth of the Periyar River. A three-fold evolutionary model proposed for the coastal segment revealed that the location of the Muziris port was part of the Periyar River near Kodungallur, as mentioned by the historians, and the settlement near Pattanam may be considered a satellite township of the ancient Muziris port.

Utilization of waste high calcium oxide fly ash as hybrid activator for vulcanization of natural rubber/carbon black composites: Reducing zinc oxide requirement

A high calcium oxide fly ash (FA), a by-product waste of electric power generation has been used as hybrid activator in natural rubber (NR) composites filled with carbon black (CB). The aim of using FA is to reduce the environmental contamination by zinc oxide (ZnO) needed as activator for sulfur-vulcanization/crosslinking in final NR products. The FA was varied by adding in the composites with and without ZnO, and it was observed that chemical crosslinking could be generated although no ZnO was used anymore. The synergistic FA/ZnO-blend with FA 9 phr and ZnO 3 phr presented the best fit for the NR/CB composites, where it showed a proper crosslink density, reinforcement efficiency, cure characteristics, and mechanical properties in terms of modulus, tensile strength, elongation at break and tear resistance. This relates to the inorganic composition of the FA, in particular calcium oxide (CaO), which induces the thermal conductivity throughout the NR matrix and activates crosslinking between the NR molecules. The results showed effective use of FA in the composites, which can be applied to the CB-based formulations used in commercial NR applications like tires, barriers, and elastic stopper.

Understanding secondary particles in a regional site of Yangtze River Delta: Insights from mass spectrometric measurement

Submicron particulate matter (PM1) poses significant risks to health risks and global climate. In this study, secondary organic aerosols (SOA) and inorganic compositions were examined for their physicochemical characteristics and evolution using high-resolution aerosol instruments in Changzhou over one-month period. The results showed that transport accompanied by regional static conditions leaded to the occurrence of heavy pollution. In addition, regional generation and local emissions also leaded to the occurrence of light and moderate pollution during the observation period in Changzhou. Organic aerosols (OA) and nitrate (NO3−) accounted for 45 % and 23 % of PM1, respectively. The increase in PM1 was dominated by the contribution of NO3− and OA. SOA was dominance in OA (63 % with 40 % MO-OOA), which was higher than primary organic aerosols (POA). Besides, photochemical reactions and the high oxidizing nature of the urban atmosphere promoted the production of OA, especially MO-OOA in Changzhou. Our results highlight that secondary particles contribute significantly to PM pollution in Changzhou, underlining the importance of controlling emissions of gaseous precursors, especially under high oxidation conditions.

Poly (aniline-co-aniline-2,5-disulfonic acid) / L-ascorbic acid / Ag@SiO2 / polysafranin nanocomposite: synthesis, characterization and anomalous electrical behaviour.

We report the synthesis of sulfonated copolyaniline/polysafranin/L-ascorbic acid/Ag@SiO2 fine powdered nanocomposites and investigate the influence of incorporating the dye on their conductivity. The composite was characterized via IR, UV, cyclic voltammetry (CV), electric, dielectric, SEM, TEM, TGA and DSC measurements. Microscopy images revealed intensified spherical particles that were dispersed across the entire surface, and the SiO2/Ag particles were distributed on the surface. The XRD results exhibited peaks at many 2q values, and their interatomic spacing (d) and crystallite (grain) sizes were calculated. The thermal degradation curves exhibited an interesting model of stability. The cyclic voltammogram exhibited redox peaks identical to those of the reported analogues. The d.c. conductivity of the oligomer varied from 0.06 - 0.016 (s/cm), and that of the composite varied from 0.008 to 0.016 (s/cm). The material changed from a semiconductor to a metallic material. The observed conductivity is mainly attributed to self-doping between the sulfonate groups and the charged nitrogen atoms in the polymer chains. The frequency dependence of the permittivity, ε', showed a marked effect on the frequency window under consideration. The permittivity, ε', is independent of the increase in the frequency of the oligomer and the composite. This behavior supports the non-Debye dependency by confirming the occurrence of electrode polarization and space charge effects. In conclusion, the incorporation of safranin dye with a thermally stable, highly sulfonated polyaniline derivative/Ag@SO2 nanocomposite achieved improved conductivity after heating. The d.c. conductivities are comparable to those of many commercial inorganic or organic composites, and because of their attractive electrical properties, we suggest that these materials are promising for electronic field applications.

Amount of Dentifrice and Fluoride Concentration Affect the pH and Inorganic Composition of Dual-Species Biofilms of Streptococcus mutans and Candida albicans.

This work assessed the influence of the amount of dentifrice and fluoride (F) concentration in the product on the pH and inorganic components of Streptococcus mutans and Candida albicans dual-species biofilms. The biofilms were treated with suspensions of fluoride dentifrices containing 550 or 1100 ppm of F (550 F or 1100 F, respectively) administered at comparable intensities: (i-1) 550 F/0.08 g or 1100 F/0.04 g; (i-2) 550 F/0.16 g or 1100 F/0.08 g; and (i-3) 550 F/0.32 g or 1100 F/0.16 g. A placebo dentifrice (without NaF, 0.32 g) was used as a negative control. After the last treatment, the biofilm pH was measured and the F, calcium (Ca), and phosphorus (P) concentrations were determined. Data were subjected to an ANOVA/Kruskal-Wallis test, and a Student-Newman-Keuls test. The highest biofilm pH and F concentrations (biomass and fluid) were observed for 1100 F at i-3. Overall, 1100 F resulted in F levels similar to 550 F for i-1 and i-2. In addition, 550 F applied at i-2 and i-3 led to higher F in the biomass/fluid compared to 1100 F applied at i-1 and i-2, respectively. In biomass, the lowest Ca concentrations were observed for 1100 F at i-3. The conclusion drawn is that the treatment intensity holds greater significance as a parameter compared to the concentration of F or the amount of dentifrice when considered individually.

Radiation-Assisted Assembly of a Highly Dispersed Nanomolybdenum-Functionalized Covalent Organic Framework.

Two-dimensional covalent organic frameworks (2D COFs), featuring a large surface area and 1D pore structure, serve as promising scaffolds for anchoring functional guest compounds, which can significantly enhance their performance and thus expand their potential applications. Postsynthetic strategy for COFs functionalization is versatile but challenging because of their tedious procedure with high time and energy consumption, generation of excess reaction waste, and damage to COF crystallinity. We report in this work a general strategy for the synthesis of inorganic nanocompound-functionalized COF composites in a one-pot way. Specifically, a high-crystallinity nanoscale molybdenum compound is successfully introduced into a COF skeleton with high dispersion in situ during the crystallization process of the COF induced by gamma ray radiation under ambient conditions. The obtained COF@Mo composites exhibit remarkable sorption performance for methylene blue and many other organic dyes in aqueous solution with the advantages of ultrarapid uptake dynamics and high removal efficiency.

Multi-elemental composition of botanical preparations and probabilistic evaluation of toxic metals and metalloids intake upon dietary exposure

The aim of this study was to evaluate the inorganic elemental composition (49 elements) of 29 botanical preparations obtained from fruits, leaves, peels, seeds, roots, fungi, and spirulina by using inductively coupled-mass spectrometry and a mercury analyzer. Simultaneously, the risk associated with the chronic dietary exposure to 12 toxic metals and metalloids among the European population was evaluated by using a probabilistic approach based on Monte Carlo simulations. The analysis revealed worrying intake levels of Al, As, and Ni, primarily stemming from the consumption of spirulina-, peel-, and leaf-based botanicals by younger age groups. The intake of As from all analyzed botanicals posed a significant risk for infants, yielding margins of exposure (MOEs) below 1, while those deriving from peel-based botanicals raised concerns across all age groups (MOEs = 0.04–2.3). The consumption of peel-based botanicals contributed substantially (13–130%) also to the tolerable daily intake of Ni for infants, toddlers, and children, while that of spirulina-based botanicals raised concerns related to Al intake also among adults, contributing to 11–176% of the tolerable weekly intake of this element. The findings achieved underscore the importance of implementing a monitoring framework to address chemical contamination of botanicals, thus ensuring their safety for regular consumers.

Artificial Intelligence Driving Materials Discovery? Perspective on the Article: Scaling Deep Learning for Materials Discovery.

The discovery of new crystalline inorganic compounds-novel compositions of matter within known structure types, or even compounds with completely new crystal structures-constitutes an important goal of solid-state and materials chemistry. Some fractions of new compounds can eventually lead to new structural and functional materials that enhance the efficiency of existing technologies or even enable completely new technologies. Materials researchers eagerly welcome new approaches to the discovery of new compounds, especially those that offer the promise of accelerated success. The recent report from a group of scientists at Google who employ a combination of existing data sets, high-throughput density functional theory calculations of structural stability, and the tools of artificial intelligence and machine learning (AI/ML) to propose new compounds is an exciting advance. We examine the claims of this work here, unfortunately finding scant evidence for compounds that fulfill the trifecta of novelty, credibility, and utility. While the methods adopted in this work appear to hold promise, there is clearly a great need to incorporate domain expertise in materials synthesis and crystallography.

Physicochemical and antioxidant properties of Apis cerana honey from Lombok and Bali Islands.

Limited honey production worldwide leads to higher market prices, thus making it prone to adulteration. Therefore, regular physicochemical analysis is imperative for ensuring authenticity and safety. This study describes the physicochemical and antioxidant properties of Apis cerana honey sourced from the islands of Lombok and Bali, showing their unique regional traits. A comparative analysis was conducted on honey samples from Lombok and Bali as well as honey variety from Malaysia. Moisture content was found slightly above 20% in raw honey samples from Lombok and Bali, adhering to the national standard (SNI 8664:2018) of not exceeding 22%. Both honey types displayed pH values within the acceptable range (3.40-6.10), ensuring favorable conditions for long-term storage. However, Lombok honey exhibited higher free acidity (78.5±2.14 meq/kg) than Bali honey (76.0±1.14 meq/kg), surpassing Codex Alimentarius recommendations (≤50 meq/kg). The ash content, reflective of inorganic mineral composition, was notably lower in Lombok (0.21±0.02 g/100) and Bali honey (0.14±0.01 g/100) compared to Tualang honey (1.3±0.02 g/100). Electric conductivity, indicative of mineral content, revealed Lombok and Bali honey with lower but comparable values than Tualang honey. Hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) concentrations in Lombok (14.4±0.11 mg/kg) and Bali (17.6±0.25 mg/kg) were slightly elevated compared to Tualang honey (6.4±0.11 mg/kg), suggesting potential processing-related changes. Sugar analysis revealed Lombok honey with the highest sucrose content (2.39±0.01g/100g) and Bali honey with the highest total sugar content (75.21±0.11 g/100g). Both honeys exhibited lower glucose than fructose content, aligning with Codex Alimentarius guidelines. The phenolic content, flavonoids, and antioxidant activity were significantly higher in Lombok and Bali honey compared to Tualang honey, suggesting potential health benefits. Further analysis by LC-MS/MS-QTOF targeted analysis identified various flavonoids/flavanols and polyphenolic/phenolic acid compounds in Lombok and Bali honey. The study marks the importance of characterizing the unique composition of honey from different regions, ensuring quality and authenticity in the honey industry.

Application and progress of inorganic composites in haemostasis: a review

Application and progress of inorganic composites in haemostasis: a review

Promoting Effect of Organic–Inorganic Self-Assembled Composites on Methane Hydrate

Promoting Effect of Organic–Inorganic Self-Assembled Composites on Methane Hydrate

High-temperature resistant, low dielectric SiO2@Quartz fiber composites for high fidelity communication cables

High-fidelity communication in extreme environments has attracted significant attention due to its potential applications in aerospace, polar, deep-sea exploration, fire rescue, and nuclear industries. Yet, challenges persist in constructing dielectric layers with both low dielectric constant and high-temperature stability in communication cables. Herein, low-dielectric inorganic composites utilizing pure silicon oxide (SiO2) are employed as a substitute for conventional organic materials or their composites. By incorporating the in-situ growth of SiO2 microspheres (m-SiO2) on the quartz fiber structure, the composites exhibit a reduced dielectric constant while improving mechanical performance. The flexural stress of the m-SiO2@quartz fiber composites is twice as high as that of the composites prepared by the ex-situ synthesis method. Furthermore, the m-SiO2@quartz fiber composites display high-temperature resistance up to 800 °C with a mass loss less than 1 %. With 30 wt% of quartz fibers, 20 nm of m-SiO2, and 6 wt% of the foaming agent, the composites exhibit a dielectric constant of 1.95. Based on the low-dielectric m-SiO2@quartz fiber composites, the cable demonstrates a voltage standing wave ratio (VSWR) of 1.46, an attenuation of 1.22 dB, and a characteristic impedance of 48 Ω.